Negri’s Original Occidental

Great food, service and very friendly! always a treat to go there! I been going there at least for 40 years! go there with a appetite because there is lots of food. we always have leftovers. our favorites are the steaks, shrimp, fried chicken and the chicken marsala. the owner is always there and has been owner for 60 years! well worth it!

Been to Occidental a few times and when i go there this is our go to spot for dinner. My family loves it. The bar has great TV’s for sporting events which my hubby enjoys and the service is always great! Recommend the ravioli and the west county grass fed burger.

2.5 stars.
I know that for some people they enjoy giving bad reviews but I’m not one of them. I understand that people’s lives rely on the whims of the public to keep them afloat and it’s not my desire to disrupt that or get attention from negative publicity. Ultimately, I’d love if the restaurant worked on their quality and turned things around but at this time three stars is being extremely friendly.
First impression– what’s that smell?! We walked in maybe 30 minutes after they opened and there were only a dozen people seated which was nice but the first thing that hit us was that smell. It wasn’t garbage or bad food but it definitely didn’t smell like pasta. The closest thing I can imagine is, «institutionalized» but I don’t know if that’s a smell.
The next thing was the bread and oil. The olive oil was fine although personally I’m not a fan red pepper in my olive oil. I can’t deduct for that but the bread was not worth eating. It’s fine though, I like to save room for the main course.
I had the Fettuccine Alfredo and it had less flavor than Pasta Roni. I had to add salt and pepper which I never do. The sauce was creamy but had no flavor and after adding a generous portion of cheese it wasn’t any better.
You know the times you’re absolutely starving and anything will do and everything tastes great? This still wouldn’t taste great.
Just because something is old doesn’t mean it’s still good.
Unilocal, you failed me.

I go out to eat a lot and it’s very very rare that you go somewhere and everything is perfect. Well I went to Negri’s and it truly was an amazing experience. My business partner and I walked in Sunday around 5:30. We were kindly greeted by Michaela who was also out waitress. The first thing I noticed was how clean it was. Everything was spotless yet very homie old school Italian décor. We were quickly brought menus water and bread. We both decided to get the chicken Marsala (also suggested by Michaela). We were first brought out an old fashion metal bowl of home made minestrone soup, which was delicious. Then we were brought out salads including a plate of salami, a dish of pickled vegetables and a plate of picketed beans. (Get the house dressing it was amazing!). After we were done we were brought out a bowl of home made raviolis to share. Then the main course of Chicken Marsala came out with vegetables. It was perfect. We were to full to get desert. I am very demanding when I go out, I drink lots of water and want to be served. Well Michaela was on top of it. One of the best waitresses I’ve ever had. I have to say that this is my new favorite restaurant!!! Perfect for your family or a date. They even have the candles in the wine bottle at every table. As we were getting ready to leave this cute little old lady came to us to see if we enjoyed it. Turns out she’s the owner and comes in at 8am every day to make the minestrone. It was a PERFECT experience. Bringing the wife and kids soon! Thank You Negri’s for the PERFECT dinner experience.

I have visited Negri’s many times over the years whenever I am in Santa Rosa for business. The drive up the hill to Occidental is beautiful and getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city is a bonus. Negri’s is so relaxing, from the minute you walk in the door you feel welcome and comfortable. The food is so wonderful… the Polenta with meat sauce is my favorite comfort food there. Many times my friends and I have gone there to sit in the beautiful bar to watch sports and their bar menu is very affordable with a great selection. Beware of the Garlic Fries… a whole plate full of yumminess. I love the porch off of the bar. You can still see the TVs but you can also see the whole town and watch the people walking by, many of them with their dogs and that makes me happy. Highly recommended.

How could anyone rate this less than 5 stars. My father in law started going here in 1953 and it has been the spot to celebrate family birthdays ever since, through several generations now. We had Easter there in the back room this year, first time ever we were not in someones’ house and also first time in the big back room, which we filled with family, love, lots of great food and fun. Evelyn even came and joined us for a bit to visit. ENJOY!!!

Amazing fresh cocktails in the newly remodeled bar but also has the option of a family style dinner in the rustic dining room! Classic Italian feel! Must try the minestrone soup, one of a kind!!! :)

Negri’s is one of my favorite local spots! The food is great and the drinks are amazing! My favorite servers are Amanda and Tori. Whenever I get asked about good places to go in Sonoma County this is one of the first places I suggest. Occidental is so cute and filled with lots of good people. Go on a Tuesday night for Taco Tuesday it’s my favorite night of the week. Enjoy!

For old-​school Italian it doesn’t get any better than this place!
We’ve driven by for years on the way from Sebastapol to Guerneville, and often thought about stopping but we never did. It was a cold, rainy day this past weekend, and it didn’t look crowded (it often is), and so glad we stopped in. What a treat!
Fabulous food, fast/​friendly service, great atmosphere — I love all the vintage photos of this place, which dates back to 1938. I can see why it’s still in business after all these years. I wish I could get this place on «Check Please, Bay Area»!
Appetizers: Best bruschetta I’ve ever had and the Arancini (fried risotto balls, filled with mozzarella) was off the charts.
An entrée (no sides) would have been more than enough, but we went for the full dinner with all of the extras, what a bang for your buck! For another $ 5 – 6, you get salad with the best blue cheese vinaigrette, antipasto (traditional Italian salami and pickled vegetables), a huge pot of yummy minestrone soup (perfect for a cold day), amazing beef ravioli and a full loaf of crunchy French bread.
By the time the main course came we were basically full, but we soldiered on… I had chicken marsala — the best I’ve ever had! My partner had chicken parm, it was just perfect. Portions were so generous and we just couldn’t bear to leave one bite on our plates.
The bar area is also very cool with a fireplace and lots of comfortable seating. I believe they serve a more limited menu on that side.
I’m recommending this to everyone in San Francisco and Sonoma, we will definitely stop by again.

It’s pretty good food & service, just expensive for small portions. You need to order a not so garlicky order of garlic bread to fill up.

Family owned, Occidental classic. Arrive with an appetite! Consistently– great service, large portions and the option to add multiple sides for more money.
Liked the Chicken Marsala, my cousin had the Prawns wrapped in Pancetta, my grandmother had the Wedge Salad with Prawns and my pal had the Rav’s which he adored and shared — great!
Love the owner, has been there for 60 years!
Quick drive from Santa Rosa… beautiful country side.
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Best Bruschetta ever! Chicken Parm sandwich is the bomb!!! Service is amazing. Always friendly. Great food, fun environment and beautiful people.

One star found tissue in my food on the first bite turned me off Mariah was the server she also left a lot to be desired. I paid for two additional dinners my soup and salad. After the tissue find a better restaurant would have not charged for soup or salad. But I am happy that the rest of my party enjoyed.
When my cousin asked if gelato came with dinner Because my cousin said it used too. Mariah told her «That must have been a hundred years ago.» My cousin said to me «Do I look a hundred?» Mariah is a rude piece. The taste I had of the Alfredo had me wishing for a frozen serving sauce was weak and not very tasty. Olive Garden is better to bad there is not one there.
It is also to dark like they don’t want you to see the food. All servers checking cell phones.

Our first time dining there. We both ordered the full course N.Y. steak dinners. The minestrone was ok. Thick and hot and they gave you quite a bit, but taste was so so. We
got french bread, but no butter. I guess we could have asked for some. Then came the salad. We both ordered blue cheese dressing but couldn’t find any. The dressing was thin, it was ok as well. I liked the beans on the side but we could have done without the acrid marinated vegetables. The raviolis/​gravy were very bland. I make better italian gravy.
Then came the steaks… uk. Mine was very tough, and had no taste. The veggies were cooked the way I like them, but they were cold.
It was what it was, and I’d never go back, but the ride up was sure nice. The service was friendly.

Although I scarfed plenty of their apple fritters as I kid, we always got them as take-​out, and thus my recent dinner there was technically my first.
Service is pleasant and very attentive. We were promptly brought a plate of delightfully fresh sourdough and a balsamic & olive oil dip, and our server gave us all just the right amount of time to study the menu.
I got insalata mista and the house minestrone.
The salad was unremarkable. I suppose I’m spoiled; the words «insalata mista» bring to mind Pasta Pomodoro’s salad of the same name, and this version didn’t compare. The size of it was more than adequate, but it was just greens, walnuts, and a few scattered cherry tomatoes– not bad, but boring. One of my dining companions, got the kale salad and it was apparently sorely lacking in dressing.
I’m not usually a fan of minestrone. Indeed, I only ordered it because the Negri’s menu is short of vegetarian and dairy-​free options (it’s Italian food, I know, but can’t they offer a capellini pomodoro or something?). I was, nevertheless, very pleased with my soup when it arrived. The broth was wonderfully savory and full-​bodied, not watery and over-​herbed as many of them are, and it was thick with beans, potatoes, and some very fat, almost meaty noodles. Truth be told, I would not even have recognized it as minestrone had it not been marked as such on the menu, but this didn’t bother me one bit, because it was heavenly.
For dessert, we asked for an order of apple fritters thinking it would be as grand a serving as they’d dish up in the good olé days; we used to receive an entire bag of hot, crispy, sugary goodness. Not anymore. One order is now comprised of exactly TWO apple rings. That’s right, we somehow divided two little rings between three people. They skimped on the powdered sugar as well.
The place has decent atmosphere, especially in the bar, but it was freezing cold; I shivered my way through my meal and my toes went numb which significantly reduced my overall enjoyment.
Prices were also outrageous– part of the reason they’ll only get 3 stars from me.

If you’re trying to decide between Negri’s and the Union… I’d go with Negri’s, by a hair. The atmo is better/​more fun at the Union, but I felt the food was better at Negri’s.
Came here on the winter Solstice with my mom and sister — three hags out to enjoy some witches’ brew. After a creepy ceremony in the nearby Druids’ Cemetery, we headed to Negri’s for dinner, at the uncivilized/​geriatric hour of 5pm.
Service was friendly and prompt; we were the only people in the restaurant. We ordered a bottle of local wine and then the food assault began: course after course after course of delicious Italian stuff. I don’t even really like Italian food, but I ate myself sick — and loved it!!!
I had minestrone soup, calamari, fried risotto balls (GREAT), antipasti, salad (GREAT), ravioli and chicken marsala (also GREAT). I was too full for dessert, alas.
If I happened to be in the area again and had an inexplicable hankering for Italian (as mentioned, I don’t even really like Italian)…I’d honestly probably try the place in Valley Ford, just to see how that is. But if I was limited to Occidental only, and my options were Negri’s vs. Union… I guess I’d go with Negri’s.
If they would let you order from the full menu in the bar area, it would be even better. As it was, the dining room had a semi-​grim sort of retirement-​home-​cafeteria vibe that was slightly unsettling.

Salad, antipasto, minostrone, ravioli and then comes your entrée. Reminds me of family dinners at nonni’s. The food just keeps coming. I’m Italian and if we eat Italian, we eat at home. That is unless we go to Negri’s. Enjoy the beautiful scenic drive through the redwoods up to Occidental and stop at Negri’s for a dinner experience you won’t regret. I know we can’t wait for our next visit.

Great place to go in Occidental, especially after a long day of hiking!!! We had a drink in the bar and then dinner. The place is homey and chill.
We had:
Burrata — amazing
Ravioli — with pesto and meat sauce, delicious
Fried Oreos — wow wow wow!!!
Also our server Sarah was lovely. Will definitely return.

Delicious! Great price for two! Customer service was great! I highly recommend this place if you are ever in the area. You will not be disappointed! The meat sauce is so good and the inside of the restaurant was very clean. They have a great bar as well.

I had dinner here with my family the other day.
Service was slow, it took about an hour to get our food, we had to wait a while for everything: orders, bill, etc.
It cost $ 70 (after a mandatory 18% gratuity for a party of 6+) for 2 steaks, a good portion of which was too fatty.