Located on a quiet street one block off the historic Sonoma Plaza, the DEPOT RESTAURANT is a beautifully restored plumstone building, one of the landmarks of the "Valley of the Moon" in California's famous Sonoma Valley wine country. Once the local hotel for 19th century passengers arriving on the train from San Francisco, the original owners opened the restaurant to serve the local townspeople and their visitors as well.

Today, the historic old hotel building houses the DEPOT RESTAURANT, with casual and charming "country-inn" style. At the rear wall of the Restaurant is the glass-enclosed "Garden Room" which opens onto a beautiful private garden with shady decks and brick terraces surrounding a central reflection pool with sparkling fountains. Always a favorite spot with locals, the Restaurant takes pride in extending Sonoma hospitality to visitors and sharing with them the cuisine and wines of Sonoma Valley.

The Food The Wine

Food is a serious passion at the DEPOT RESTAURANT --whether it is making our house made salumi and charcuterie, or hand made pasta, or our own fresh ricotta. The search for the best local products is always a treasure hunt and a pleasure as well--involving a trip to the coast, or a local farm, a new cheesemaker, or a baker.

Sonoma Wine Country is an endless source of new artisanal products from bakers, farmers, fishermen, and cheesemakers. The local wineries, too, keep us hopping to keep up with the latest varietals and vintages--that rival Napa, Italy, and France in quality, if one knows where to look.

The menu focuses on the healthy, straightforward, rustic food of the Tuscan countryside and the Mediterranean basin. Within this framework, both Chefs Ghilarducci have created a menu that showcases the meats, poultry, seafood, bread, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables that are locally produced in Sonoma County. They also produce their own house made salumi and charcuterie, their own fresh ricotta, and hand made fresh pasta. The menu prices are extremely reasonable, ranging between $8 and $29. Food portions are also consistently generous, reflecting the spirit of their family in Italy.

Wine by the glass from a large variety of Sonoma Valley wineries is served at the cozy wine bar and at the fireside tables in parlor. Wine service is also available on the decks and brick terrace overlooking the pool and garden. The wine cellar has also been personally selected by Chef Ghilarducci and represents one of the most extensive collections of wines from the Sonoma Valley and Carneros region. The Sonoma appellation is widely recognized by wine connoisseurs as an area that yields premium wines -- equal to, and sometimes surpassing, the wines of Napa Valley and Europe. When one travels in Europe, it is widely expected that the traveler will choose a wine from the local vineyards to accompany the meal. Wine lists in each province in Europe feature the local wines almost exclusively. The wine list at the DEPOT RESTAURANT reflects this pride in the wines that are produced here in the Valley. Sonoma Valley wines consistently offer a variety and quality that all wine-lovers appreciate and savor. Wine prices are also very approachable. It is the policy of the Chefs that guests should always be able to find a quality wine on the list to match both their palate and their pocketbook -- that even the most premium wines should still be priced fairly.

THE DEPOT RESTAURANT is located one block off the Sonoma Plaza, at 241First Street West, just north of Spain Street.

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HOURS: THE DEPOT RESTAURANT & garden is open for lunch Wednesday through Friday from 11:30 to 2:00 pm, and for dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. (Closed Monday and Tuesdays.)   THE VINOTECA ANTIPASTO BAR is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5:00 pm on. (Closed Monday and Tuesdays.)   THE DEPOT RESTAURANT & garden is also available for weddings and private parties.

The Ghilarducci Family Michael was born in the Italian-speaking area of North Beach known as "Little Italy." At the age of eleven he began working in the kitchens of his father's restaurant and, with the exception of time spent attending and graduating from the culinary program at the Hotel and Restaurant Administration at City College of San Francisco, he has been working professionally in the kitchen ever since. In addition to his formal training in the Classical French tradition, he has worked at some of the most prestigious restaurants in San Francisco. His credits include L'Orangerie, and working as Chef de Tourneau at Ernie's on Montgomery Street. On the Peninsula he worked as Sous Chef of L'Auberge and as Chef of the Villa d'Este. In more recent years, he has been Chef-Owner of Chez Joseph in Oakland, Liaison in Palo Alto, and Columbus Street in Los Altos. Chef Ghilarducci and his wife Gia purchased the Depot Hotel building in December of 1985, and opened the DEPOT RESTAURANT & garden .  In 2008, they celebrated their 23rd year in Sonoma. When their schedule permited, the Ghilarduccis have traveled extensively in Europe to gather recipes and to enjoy the food of the great restaurants of France and Italy. Chef Ghilarducci also enjoyed trips to Northern Italy to visit his family near Lucca. Through these trips, he came to acquire a deep appreciation for the home cooks of each small town, and has developed a great respect for the variety and naturally healthy style of cooking that distinguishes the rustic, "country-style" of cooking in Italy. In 1998 the Ghilarducci purchased established vineyards in Lake County.  The wine is currently produced under the Wildhurst Vineyards label, with single vineyard designated as Ghilarducci Vineyards Merlot, Fume Blanc, or Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2001 the Ghilarduccis began taking groups of cooking class students to Europe for "food and wine" tours of France and Italy.  In 2006, he joined Crystal Cruise Lines roster of guest chefs teaching classes on board ship to new groups of cooking class students. In 2008, they also took cooking class students to the wine regions of Chile and Argentina. Today, Chef Ghilarducci continues to oversee the restaurant, develops new dishes for the menu, supervises the wine list and cellar, and teaches cooking classes.   His wife Gia develops new desserts for the dessert menu, and manages the banquets, weddings, and cooking classes.  Their daughter Gianna is a Patent Agent and manages her husband's law office in Sonoma. She is also the mother of their first grandchild, Siena, born Christmas eve 2007. The Ghilarducci's son Antonio is also a professional chef. After graduation from culinary school, Antonio has cooked at La Folie in San Francisco, Angele in Napa, the French Laundry in Napa, Shiso and El Dorado Kitchen in Sonoma. In 2008 he has at last joined the family at the DEPOT RESTAURANT , where he is now Executive Chef.   He is developing new dishes for the menu, new cooking classes, private dinners, producing salumi, and supervising the VINOTECA ANTIPASTO WINE BAR .

707 938 2980

gia@depothotel.com



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