When dining out with my father, it is imperative to be ready to order from the moment your butt hits the chair. This flusters most servers who have not encountered the one-man force field that is my father.
The Girl and the Fig in downtown Sonoma
opens at 11:30 for lunch. At the locked door at 11:25 on a rainy Friday, we were denied entry by a wave of the hostess. Thankfully the owner soon saw us and promptly opened the door. Seated moments later and not even out of my coat, Dad was placing his order. Much to her credit, our server was at the table within moments and took his order without a visible trace of irritation or surprise then proceeded to ask about drinks for the rest of us.
The damp winter weather brings out the roasts and the confits on local menus and The Girl and the Fig's menu is no exception. Arugula salad is served with Laura Chenel chèvre, decorated with chewy roasted pancetta bits and roasted pecans. A leg of duck confit surprisingly was a bit dry when served with roasted potatoes and frisee salad. Wild boar makes an appearance on the menu (confirming my suspicion of game meats becoming more important this year), served braised with polenta.
Wild flounder a la meunière generated a chuckle among the Muellers ("meunière" is French for "Miller's Wife") but arrived perfectly cooked atop sautéed spinach and mashed potatoes.
The food is focused on the freshness and locality of the ingredients. The list of wines by the glass is global and chosen for their food-friendliness. The well-made food continues to be a draw but what made the difference in my recent experience at "The Girl" was the bright interior and cheery, prompt service.Labels: bay area restaurants, sonoma