Manzanita Restaurant

We ate here Halloween night after running the Healdsburg half marathon. Our reservation was for 8, but when we arrived we were asked to sit at the bar, where we were sort of forgotten after 30 minutes but we hunted down an employee and eventually were seated.
The food here is very good! Lobster ravioli, pig trotters pizza, and nicoise salad really stood out. Everybody in our group enjoyed their food. Prices were reasonable and its a very nicely decorated restaurant.
Matt was our server and he was very friendly. We did have a mistake on the bill but he took care of it. I would definitely return!

I really had a good time here. Located near the center of Healdsburg town square. I came here for dinner. We split a salad and had the pizza of the day. The salad was okay, basic, but our pizza was exordinary. It was a truffle with quail egg. What an interesting combo. We just had to go for it. It was pretty good, not the best pizza, but such an interesting combo.
Good service and nice atmosphere. Great price too, spent under 30 for dinner.

Manzanita was generally bland, overpriced and mundane. The service was inconsistent, if not condescending. It was overly crowded but populated just enough so that we felt comfortable in our choice of eatery for the evening.
We are not wine country people but in the few times I’ve been to wine country, this is probably the first time I’ve been disappointed.
Under delivering on quantity is certainly acceptable so long as there’s enough flavor in each dish to go around. Such was not the case here.
Eggplant parm was… meh…a pretty small portion for $ 20 and not particularly remarkable in any respect.
Stick with the flatbread… it’s like eating really delicious air — bubbly and crispy.
Thumbs up on the organic roasted vegetable starter plate but the terrine on the menu on the website sounds like it would have been a better option, although, sadly, not available in real life.

What a disappointment! Our last dinner of a 10-​day wine country vacation was our worst dinner. Over half an hour went by after ordering our appetizers and entrees, we still hadn’t gotten any food so we asked for bread. No bread for over 10 minutes so we asked again and were told they ran out of bread. I’ve never heard that before.
An appetizer came out so we dug in right away since we were so hungry. We then realized it wasn’t what we ordered so informed the waiter. Instead of letting us keep it since we waited so long, he took it back and let us starve a little longer.
As for the entrees, the waiter recommended the halibut so three out of four of us ordered it. It was horrible. The portion was tiny, it was overcooked and dry, and the flavor was so-​so. My friends sent theirs back but I was hungry so just ate it.
This is just a summary of our bad experience as there were more negative details. Another thing I want to mention is that my seven-​year old daughter was with us and she ordered a kids meal. Normally, she would be first to get her food. Not here… she was last. When she finally got her chicken strips, she just shook her head after the first bite.
Oh well… the positive part is that they didn’t charge us for the halibut and corkage so I didn’ t feel totally ripped off. However, we were hoping for an awesome meal on our last night in wine country and didn’t get that.

Just a half block from the quaint Healdsburg town square, Manzanita is perfectly located for lunch and a break from wine tasting or a romantic dinner. With influences from France, Italy, and Spain, Manzanita’s offerings are the perfect complement to the wines of Sonoma County.
Divided into «bites,» salads, petite plates (appetizers), and grand plates (entrees), the menu is focused on fresh, locally grown ingredients and features numerous items cooked in the wood-​fired oven.
The hearts of romaine salad was fresh and crisp, but came topped with only 2 boquerones (small anchovies), leaving us wanting more. Crisp and hot with a deep rich flavor, the truffle fries are to die for; the only drawback was that most of the order consisted of small, broken bits, rather than the long fries for which one would hope. The thin, crispy crust of the pizza fungo (wild mushrooms, baby artichokes, roasted garlic cloves, and house-​made mozzarella) had just enough charring from the wood-​fired oven, but slightly overcooked, the Sonoma lamb ragoût was disappointing.
Focusing almost exclusively on local producers, the wine list is reasonably priced with a myriad of selections by the bottle in each category. With numerous offerings by the glass as well, diners can easily pair an appropriate wine with each course.
Service can be slow. But once at your table, the wait staff is pleasant and knowledgeable about the menu.
Manzanita is a solid choice overall. With a few tweaks, it has the potential of being a star.

I had to look at the photos to see if I ate at the same place after reading some of the reviews. We went as a party of four to Healdsburg with its collection of delightful little wineries. We frequently asked where to eat and this place came up often from the locals. The free corking was a nice touch. We actually read the menus of posted for most of the restaurants as we walked around town… and chose this as the balance between price and variety.
What attracted me was the European practice of first course and second course items (small plates– almost tapas, and large plates.) We had a nice mixture of both and shared.
One ordered the pizza of the day which was a goat cheese and tomato small thin crust appetizer. It was okay… I think it was suppose to have a meat, but we couldn’t find any. The red trout was delicious as was the porterhouse pork chop. We also had the charcuterie platter. This had three small portions identified as Foie Gras Torchon, Terrine de Campagne d’Agneau, Duck Prosciutto. I’ve had foie gras a number of times… never quite like this. It was en gelee. If there was a teaspoon of foie gras in the three bites I would be surprised: however, it tasted good. So… labeling may be a problem. The Lamb was more of a pâté and was the best of the three. The duck prosciutto tasted raw, but flavorful. Again, I would order the plate again but give them a bad time about their product descriptions. Finally, we ordered the sweet breads– a rare find in America. The portion was perfect and it was well prepared. The only critique was the use of the same basalic demiglace that was used on the porkchop. (Reminded me of a Chinese restaurant using hoisen sauce on ever thing.) I really want to give this place 3.5 stars, but the unfair reviews I have read from others makes me knock it up rather than down. The service was excellent, The staff friendly and knowledgeable. The ambiance perfect. I will go there again.

We stopped here after wandering around downtown for a bit, and were hoping for the brunch since the menu looked so yummy! It was Saturday, so we didn’t get to try brunch, however the lunch menu was just as delicious!
We ordered the hamburger with truffle fries and the ahi tuna sandwich on foccacia which came with regular fries. The waiter was very personable, and gave his recommendations. He also brought out their house foccacia with pistachio pesto. Talk about amazing! It was almost like a jelly texture, which threw me off at first, but after my first bite I was won over!
Our food came out pretty quickly, and everything was wonderful! The hamburger was perfectly cooked, the ahi sandwich was refreshing and very tasty. The truffle fries were definitely the highlight of the meal!
I highly recommend Manzanita! The wait staff was very friendly, the food was wonderful, and the atmosphere was inviting.

I’m a bit blown away by some of the negative comments. I’ve eaten at Manzanita probably 25 times. It’s true that no place is 100% consistent, either in food preparation or service. That said, Manzanita is just fantastic, especially for the price. There was definitely an issue with the service and the way things were run before, but most regulars agree that it boiled down to one particular server. She is gone now, and has been for a while. New Management is very professional, and there have clearly been positive changes on that score, so I hope some of the reviewers give Manzanita another shot. Everyone is very nice, and accommodating. One waiter, in particular, really knows his wines, and the wine selection is varied, with a lot of local wines. There is also a ‘Wine Room’, which we booked a few times for special occasions.
As to the food, of the appetizers (‘Petite Plats’), the White Corn and Scallop Chowder is delicious. I could make a meal out of it in a larger serving, with some bread and one of the salads, and would, if I could get a larger serving. I really liked the Tuna Nicoise of a few weeks ago. The lobster ravioli are also just great, and I get that a lot. Perhaps the comment in one review about excess salt struck home there, but I also rarely add salt to my food, so am sensitive to it. I still like the dish. I order the Oysters with Champagne Mignonette and Bloody Mary Granita almost every time I go. The oysters are very fresh. There are a few different species available at any given time, but I particularly like the Kumamotos.
Any seafood at Manzanita is flat-​out delicious. There is now a Dungeness Crab Fondue with Grilled Baguette. It’s pretty fatty, of course, but oh, Man! I try to avoid the Truffle Fries with dipping sauces, just because I need to lose weight, but I share them with friends, and they are really good. I also order the Pizza Fungo again and again.
Of the entrees (‘Grand Petite Plats’), I hear that the Lamb Rack is good. I don’t eat red meat, so I can’t say. No one in any of my many dining groups has ever said anything but that the lamb, and the Pork Tenderloin, was delicious. I like the Bodega Bay Petrale Sole, or the lobster raviole as an entrée, especially, when it is available. Duck is often offered, and I enjoyed that. One issue that continues to frustrate and tantalize me is that the Wood Oven Baked Dungeness Crab Stuffed Calamari contains Spanish Chorizo. My companions assure me that it’s great.
Lastly, the owner, Sharon, comes around, and is charming and gracious. Her desserts are definitely one of the highlights of the meal. Sharon creates a variety of new desserts each week. Her House-​Made ice creams and chocolate raspberry cake are incredible.
Pricing is reasonable. I take my kids all the time. The atmosphere is somewhat relaxed, but you will definitely know that you are enjoying fine dining.

They accommodated our large boisterous group of 10.
The focus is on tapas size dishes. Even the grand size entrees aren’t that grand and it’s best to split everything with friends so everyone can have a taste.
The tastes of the good and the bad, but the good won.
Fried Olives Manzanita-​Style Stuffed with Point Reyes Blues Cheese and Balsamic Shallots 6 = extremely salty but if you love salty olives this is for you.
Hearts of Romaine with Grana Padano Tuile, Boquerones & Garlic Thyme Croutons 9 = Comes in this edible cylinder so don’t be surprised
White Corn and Scallop Chowder 11 = very refreshing and you can taste all the flavors
Wood Oven Baked Raviol Filled with Scallops, Chives and White Truffle Oil topped with Grana Padano13 = the flavor of cheese can be a bit over powring but the lobster clawed their way through
Oysters on the Half Shell with Champagne Mignonette and Bloody Mary Granita AQ $ 2.70 each that night = Fresh!
Dungeness Crab and Marin French Gold Brie Fondue with Grilled Baguette 10 = definitely ask for more bread, be sure to dig for the crab
Manzanita Fries served with our Trio of Dipping Sauces 5 or Truffled Fries 10 = they were good but nothing special
House Made Charcuterie Plate, Foie Gras Torchon, Terrine de Campagne d’Agneau and Duck Rillette 13 = awesome!
Pan Roasted Natural Pork Tenderloin 15
House Made Lamb Bacon and Chive Gnocchi, Organic Pea Leaves, Crispy Zucchini and Calvados Gastrique = cooked to perfection, moist, flavorful, I’d order this again
Bodega Bay Petrale Sole Fillet 15
Sautéed Salsify with Baby Leeks and Brown Butter Gold Balsamic Sauce = cooked well
Wood Oven Baked Dungeness Crab Stuffed Calamari 14
Spanish Chorizo, Toasted Pine Nuts, Capriago Cheese, Fresh Basil and Spicy Paella Sauce = = Definitely order this as it has a smokey, spicy flavors that need to be soaked up with bread after
crème brûlée infused with coffee = mmmm mmmmm
Chocolate cake = like dark chocolate? You’ll like this
Friendly service who had some decent recommendations on food and wine.

I had not been here since 2o05 when Chef K and I threw a progressive dinner party through 4 of the restaurants of Healdsburg, and Manzanita was our starting point (and had great apps at the time!)
. that was until last Thursday when «oyster lover’ called me at work to say he had noticed that Manzanita had oysters wth a bloody mary granita as well as mignonette. (a perfect champagne mignonette is his holy grail) and um, what exactly was I doing, and was I up for more oysters? (tuesday was a big oyster day as well)
**so at this point, I checked Unilocal,saw the meh, reviews — became a little worried about his choice in places, called him back, stated my concerns, and was assured we were going for oysters only, and if I wanted more food after, we could go try something else, if we weren’t happy. ** So really this review is 95% based on the oysters.
They were um… ok. The oysters themselves were fresh. The bloody mary granita was blah, and the mignonette was ok, but no where in the same state as the ‘holy grail’ Oyster Lover gave it a 4, on a 1 — 10 rating (so i’m translating that into a 2)
Wine list is decent. We topped off the oysters with the Billecart — Salmon (always a good pick) and then had some coffee and desset. The sorbets and ice creams were good, and the ginger breads with the lemon were tastly as well.
Service was so, so, although we were really early, and the place was nearly empty. Had the service been better, I might be more inclined to come here just for dessert.
– on a side note — I know Im coming back here the 2^nd week of january, as there is a business lunch that is scheduled fo his resaturant, I’ll try to remember to update after.

What a dissapointment!
To be fair let me preface with the fact that I went with a friend on a Saturday night so that MAY have contributed to the food quality.
So, we knew that we wanted to sit at the bar since it is one of the few places to have a cocktail with dinner in Healdsburg (we work in the winery biz so needed a break from the juice). The only reason this place gets 2 stars is because the very nice bartender made us a fantastic Hangar One Vodka Gimlet. It was one of the best I’ve had for a long time. I only get them when they use fresh squeezed limes and this was it! DEE-​LISH.
Otherwise, terrible menu. There were only 3 things that sounded interesting and we ordered 2. The pizza with garlic, tomatos, etc. It was cold and boring. The second was their chicken dish, roasted in their wood ovens. The menu said served with pea greens, Organic baby carrots and broccollini. Ummm, I got 2 tiny spears of broccollini, why did they even bother putting that on the menu?! The sauce was cold and the plate felt like a plate of ice. We didn’t eat the pizza or the chicken, instead we had another plate of bread with their yummy pesto.
Sad when the free bread is better than the $ 26 dinner. Oh, by the way, our 2 drinks were $ 24. Yikes.

Very disappointing menu. The menu doesn’t have much to chose from in the first place, but even worse, everything I have ever had from here has been bad.
Everything is either salted too much or doesn’t have enough seasoning, there is no in-​between.

Truffled fries… mmmmm…
A little on the expensive side, but the food here was solid. The desserts really stood out, thanks to the owner/​pastry chef. Try the house made vanilla bean ice cream, it’s to die for.

Love Manzanita!
Right in the heart of the town… put this on your list of restaurants to try in Healdsburg.
The pizzas are great — but don’t forget to save room for dessert. The pastry chef (and owner) does an amazing job.
Nice bar area as well — if you only want to imbibe.

I’ve been to Manzanita a number of times and I’ve always enjoyed the service here. The woodfire pizzas are very good and one of the main reasons I keep going back. The décor is a bit plain, but the lighting is soft and I would be more than happy to bring a date here. There is nothing about this restaurant that makes it stick out of the crowd, but it is still a solid restaurant for Healdsburg.

Food-​meh.
Service-​disappointing.
I had high hopes for this place. We were let down.
I will let the gf write the review for Manzanita.

I’m not sure why this place isn’t getting better reviews.
Their food is actually DELICIOUS. Comparable in price to a lot of the other pretentious restarants in town, this place actually makes the meal about the food and not about any other nonsense.
Their atmosphere is mellow and casual and diners actually seem comfortable to be there.
Service is friendly. The owner came around to greet customers. Kind of a nice touch in a small town like Healdsburg.
Pizzas and flat bread: excellent. The steak so well prepared would convert a vegetarian.

Manzanita is excellent because:
a) They donated food for 4 people to the Roshambo winery World Championships Competition this past weekend.
b) Our group won the Funny Money auction! (Details under Roshambo. :))
Got there before its dinner crowd came so sat at the bar. Great pizzettas, salads and wine. Super friendly bartender. Excellent close to a winner day.

We stopped in for oysters and beer and were happy happy happy. Nice fresh sweet oysters, good local beer on tap, good service. I’d like to go back and try dinner sometime. The wood fired pizzas looked excellent.

My de facto date restaurant in Sonoma County, Manzanita is perfectly located, just a block from healdsburg square, so parking is easier, you can still take your date shopping in the area, and you can take a nice romantic walk in the park after dinner. Ambience is warm and inviting, with an open kitchen for you to see the brick oven used for the pizzas.
The food here is simply impeccable. Perfectly balanced, perfectly flavored modern american/​californian cuisine. They always have some fresh oysters to try, and they have some decent wood-​fired pizzas as well. The menu has changed every time I was here, so I can’t recommend any dishes, sorry. But prices are a little on the high side, but decent, and portions are a little on the small side, but still decent. Given it’s location in Sonoma county, of course, the wine is excellent as well.
If you plan the day out for hitting wineries in the dry creek area, I’d recommend you hit the tasting room on healdsburg square last, and then stumble drunkenly to Manzanita for dinner. ;)