Monte Rio, a quaint town nestled along the Russian River in Sonoma County’s wine country, offers a charming getaway destination with its redwood forests, river beaches and laid-back atmosphere. Despite its small size, Monte Rio boasts an impressive selection of delicious dining options to cater to any taste preference. Whether you’re in the mood for fine dining with scenic river views, a casual bite from a roadside café or tasty comfort food at the local watering hole, Monte Rio has something to offer. This charming town promises a delightful culinary experience amidst its natural beauty and relaxed ambiance.
Here is my list of the absolute best restaurants to check out during your next visit to charming Monte Rio.
Villa Grande Vista 21521 Canyon 2 Road
Perched atop a hill overlooking the Russian River, Villa Grande Vista quite possibly offers the most breathtaking dining views in all of wine country. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide guests with stunning vistas of redwood trees, river beaches and vineyard-covered hills while they savor Executive Chef Santana Diaz’s contemporary California cuisine. With a focus on high-quality, seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients, the menu changes frequently but consistently excels. Notable standouts include the velvety wild mushroom risotto, the crackling skin Sonoma County salmon with basil pistou, the sous vide filet mignon with Point Reyes blue cheese butter and the ever-changing Chef’s tasting menu, which offers a fabulous way to experience the kitchen’s creativity.
Beyond the incredible food and views, Villa Grande Vista also boasts an extensive award-winning Sonoma wine list with over 500 selections and a swanky cocktail bar specializing in artisanal craft cocktails made with seasonal fruit purees and housemade bitters and tinctures. With its fantastic ambiance and the most romantic sunset views in Monte Rio, Villa Grande Vista is absolutely deserving of its longtime Michelin star rating. While pricey, it’s perfect for a special occasion. Reservations are essential.
The Boathouse Bar & Restaurant 15340 Canyon 2 Road
Right on the riverfront with unbelievable beach and water views, The Boathouse Bar & Restaurant is certainly Monte Rio’s most picturesque and iconic restaurant. Since opening in the early 1900s, generations of visitors have enjoyed The Boathouse’s relaxed, nostalgic vibe, cold drinks and satisfying American fare. The current owners have kept intact the restaurant’s sunroom full of windows overlooking the colorful River Road beach while expanding the outdoor seating area to accommodate dozens more guests on the sprawling deck.
While every seat offers a great view, the coveted deck tables at sunset are Monte Rio’s hottest dining reservation. Though the interior decor embraces The Boathouse’s long history with local’s photos, vintage wood paneling and eclectic memorabilia, the menu offers a nice mix of classic and contemporary dishes focused on quality ingredients and robust flavors. Favorite starters include the homemade clam chowder in a bread bowl, Greek salad with grilled chicken and pan-fried Willapa Bay oysters. Hearty standbys like the half rack of ribs with tangy BBQ sauce, grilled ribeye with garlic butter and king salmon filet retain their legendary status, while newer additions like the rainbow trout fish and chips, grilled vegetable panini and blackened mahi tacos appeal to lighter appetites.
Big Bottom Market Café 16228 Main Street
Big Bottom Market Café is the go-to spot for homestyle comfort food and baked goods in Monte Rio. This cozy café, tucked into a corner spot on Main Street, prides itself on serving high-quality, homemade meals and treats at honest prices to both visitors and locals alike.
Big Bottom is known first and foremost for its delicious all-day breakfast fare. Options range from fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes, hearty breakfast sandwiches on fresh-baked bread and various Benedicts, to chilaquiles loaded with salsa verde and carnitas, decadent French toast bread pudding made with challah bread and crème brûlée batter,and the “SBLT” featuring thick-sliced bacon, sautéed spinach, lettuce, tomato, avocado and garlic aioli.
For lunch, choose from an array of classic sandwiches, burgers, salads and wraps. While every menu choice is delicious, standouts include the spicy fried chicken sandwich with housemade ranch and bread & butter pickles, the Monte Cristo sandwich stuffed with smoked turkey, ham and Swiss cheese, then battered and griddled golden and the grilled Atlantic salmon BLT made with candied bacon, peppery arugula and a whole grain mustard aioli. No trip to Big Bottom is complete without trying at least one freshly baked sweet or savory treat from their in-house bakery, like fruit galettes, specialty cupcakes, mile-high pies, cookies, brownies and oversized cinnamon rolls.
With its warm, welcoming vibe and consistently tasty offerings, Big Bottom Market Café is a can’t-miss Monte Rio eatery. It’s budget-friendly, serving breakfast and lunch daily, with homestyle comfort food specials for dinner on summer Fridays and Saturdays only. Reservations are not accepted.
Cafe Aquatica 14107 River Road
Cafe Aquatica is a stylish yet casual eatery that offers California-inspired dishes with a focus on sustainably farmed and harvested ingredients. Tucked away on pastoral River Road with serene river views from the outdoor patio, Cafe Aquatica excels with its seasonally inspired lunch, dinner and weekend brunch menu favoring quality over quantity in both flavor and presentation. Co-owners and head chefs Nora Wilson and Vicente Ramirez take tremendous pride in developing relationships with the area’s many specialty food purveyors, small family farms, fishing co-ops and foragers to furnish their kitchen with the best of the region.
This unwavering commitment to top-quality ingredients shines through in every thoughtfully composed dish, from the Dijon and herb-marinated Petaluma chicken breast to the pan-roasted rock cod served with English pea falafel, marinated beets and salsa matcha, to the rich wild mushroom ravioli bathing in a white wine truffle cream sauce. The “Aquatica” burger, featuring a gruyere brioche bun topped with caramelized onions, arugula, honey mustard and an alluring fig-balsamic ketchup, is equally satisfying. Brunch dazzles with options like Dutch baby pancakes with lemon curd and roasted strawberries, seared paprika tuna Niçoise salad and a Monte Cristo sandwich with fig jam that gives the Monte Rio classic an upscale spin.
Desserts change often, but the Meyer lemon pot de crème and the warm sticky toffee pudding cake remain menu staples. With a stylish atmosphere mixing industrial chic and wine country vibes, exquisite fare and wonderful service, Cafe Aquatica is one of Monte Rio’s most sophisticated dining options. Reservations are strongly recommended.
The Garden Grill at Dunbar Garden 20510 Bohemian Hwy
The Garden Grill at Dunbar Gardens is a semi-hidden gem offering alfresco riverside dining paired with garden-fresh cuisine. By day, visitors can roam this beloved community garden filled with vibrant vegetable beds, fruit trees, a tranquil koi pond, organic greenhouse and whimsical mosaic sculptures. By night, the storybook grounds come alive with strings of sparkling lights illuminating intimate tables scattered across the property, where guests indulge in Chef Ava Santiago’s rustic yet refined culinary creations crafted primarily from the surrounding edible bounty.
Chef Santiago’s seasonally inspired dishes utilize herbs, fruits and vegetables harvested daily from the property, while responsibly sourced fish, meats, cheese and dairy from neighboring producers round out her locavore-focused menus. Signature dishes include blistered shishito peppers with Meyer lemon and sea salt, creamy burrata salad with estate olive oil and garden tomato jam, wood-fired diver scallop crudo on grilled peach with a drizzle of chili-infused honey, sweet corn risotto with garden kale, quinoa and beet stuffed squash blossoms, grilled lamb sausage with braised cannellini beans and farm egg ravioli with parmesan-truffle brown butter sauce. Fresh-baked breads and rotating dessert selections also delight.
The Tides Wharf Restaurant & Bar XM4+627 Wharf Road
Nestled right on the river, The Tides Wharf Restaurant & Bar serves up excellent seafood and California fare on it’s sprawling wooden deck and adjoining romantic dining room that provides air conditioning and open beam ceilings on warm days. One of the area’s most scenic settings for al fresco wining and dining, The Tides greets patrons with unbeatable river vistas, colorful beach views, lush landscaping and unpretentious character that harkens the Russian River’s freewheeling past.
Though the restaurant remains popular with visitors and wedding parties, it retains much of the laidback, local’s favorite personality it embraced when opening over 30 years ago. Seafood plays a starring role with a host seasonal fish flawlessly prepared in a variety of styles. Must tries include the signature cedar plank baked wild king salmon served with seasonal vegetable sauté; the pan fried local petrale sole with classic brown butter sauce; and the cioppino brimming with plump prawns, clams, seasonal fish and head-on spot prawns in a zesty tomato fish broth. For land lovers, options range from grilled Porterhouse pork chops with stone fruit chutney to burgers loaded with fixings to slow roasted prime rib Fridays and Saturdays. Beyond the traditional Russian River-focused offerings.
The Tides also serves up nightly specials like ribeye steak diane, chicken mole enchiladas and seafood bouillabaisse that keep diners coming back. Enjoy a local microbrew, regional wine or signature cocktail on the umbrella-shaded deck by the water then linger to take in one of Monte Rio’s incomparable sunsets. With it’s quintessential Russian River vibe, generous portions and superb service, The Tides Wharf Restaurant & Bar is a cherished Monte Rio tradition. Reservations recommended.
Heidi’s Pies and Other Good Stuff 14540 Canyon One Road
What started as a humble roadside pie stand has blossomed into one of Monte Rio’s most cherished dining destinations. Visitors and locals alike flock to Heidi’s for sugary confections, hearty savory fare, espresso drinks and the irresistible laidback atmosphere that comes from the owner’s relaxed outlook on life. While Heidi’s legendary fruit and nut pies like olallieberry, honey-roasted apple walnut, mixed berry peach and chocolate peanut butter supreme remain the star attraction, this charming spot also serves drool worthy breakfast sandwiches, creative flatbread pizzas, monster-sized sandwiches like the tri-tip panini and the pastrami reuben, fresh salads, sinful brownies and blondies and real old fashioned milkshakes made with premium ice cream.
Dine at one of the shaded picnic tables out front or order your meal to go for an impromptu Russian River picnic at nearby Sunset Beach. Heidi’s hippie-chic personality complete with it’s Volkswagen camper turned food truck and string lights galore gives off a perpetual summer of love ambiance that keeps people smiling. Stop by for the heavenly baked goods but stay for the colorful atmosphere and seriously tasty bites. No reservations available but most items available to take away or for quick outdoor dining on premises. Cash only establishment.
Wild Flour Bakery + Café 14045 Armstrong Woods Rd
Tucked into a sweet Victorian-era gingerbread house trimmed with sky blue and white gingerbread trim, Wild Flour Bakery + Café charms with it’s fairytale façade and comfort-driven menu of baked goods, soups, salads and sandwiches crafted from locally sourced ingredients. The aroma of freshly baked bread, scones and fruit galettes wafts into the quaint dining room and patio where relaxed patrons soak in the sunshine and people watch. But Wild Flour’s looks don’t outshine it’s flavors. Stop in for just about anything from their glass bakery cases overflowing with oversized muffins, bread puddings, giant cinnamon rolls dripping in frosting, cookies the size of saucers and pie after pie after pie.
Hearty breakfast sandwiches start the day on freshly baked ciabatta while hot pressed paninis make ideal grab-n-go lunches. Build your own grain bowls allow for healthy, veggie-filled options while the signature Monte Cristo and the fried green tomato BLT prove hard to resist. And the wild boar chili and roster of freshly prepared soups satisfy classic comfort food cravings. Beyond the sweet and savory café menu, Wild Flour also supplies breads and baked goods to several other Monte Rio eateries and offers custom order cakes and desserts from their onsite bakery. So whether you dine in or take out, you’re sure to find something crave-worthy. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and weekend dinners. Everything is prepared in house so allow extra time if ordering offsite custom cakes.
Village Inn & Restaurant 20522 Highway 116
The historic Village Inn & Restaurant located right on the main road offers guests a quintessential bed & breakfast retreat with charming accommodations and a critically acclaimed new American restaurant led by Chef Jeffrey Jake. Built in the late 1800s, this sprawling Victorian estate dazzles with gorgeous gardens, soaring redwoods and a pastoral creekside location next door to the Barlow apple processing plant which provides fruit for many menu creations.
Guests staying in one of the property’s romantic suites get complimentary breakfast treats delivered picnics style while dinner reservations allow visitors a first look at Chef Jake’s seasonal New American dishes crafted from regional bounty. Utilizing what he calls a “root-to-flower cooking philosophy”, Chef Jake’s menus change frequently based on ripening crops from neighboring farms and availability of just-caught sustainable seafood from the coastline under 60 miles away.
To highlight natural flavors, the chef embraces simple yet artistic presentations like his signature crudo selections; salt-baked whole fish entrées; creative crabless cakes made from squash and chickpeas; mushroom spaetzles with crispy leeks; and whole roasted chicken and rainbow carrots cooked in an outdoor wood fired oven. End on a sweet note with nostalgic desserts like warm beignets showered in powdered sugar and served with housemade blackberry jam; a magnificent Meyer lemon tart with torched meringue; and Cast Iron Skillet Blackberry Brown Betty topped with creamy Chantilly. With it’s wine country charm and effortlessly elegant dishes, the Village Inn & Restaurant offers a world class, destination-worthy dining experience using humble ingredients from the surrounding land and sea. Reservations strongly recommended. Jackets required in main dining room.
Rialto Rum Bar & Café 14540 Mill Street
Embrace your wild side at Monte Rio’s hottest happy hour destination and late night dining spot – the boisterous Rialto Rum Bar & Café. This casually hip eatery with a New Orleans inspired personality serves a globetrotting menu of crackers, dips, tacos, sliders, shared plates and chef driven specials. The comprehensive cocktail program starring the namesake rum focuses on craft libations utilizing housemade shrubs, tinctures, purees and seasonal herbs from the onsite garden.
An extensive list of reserve Rums sourced from Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Barbados and Guatemala impress while the punch bowls meant for sharing will quickly get the good times rolling. Beyond goblets of booze, the kitchen도 turns out intriguing small plates at an equally fast pace. Creative offerings like the Korean fried chicken wings with gochujang honey; Lebanese garlic knots with za’atar; pork & plantain empanadas with avocado crema; chicken tikka masala lettuce cups; and brown butter lobster rolls on brioche delight diners with contrasting flavors and textures. More substantial entrees after dark feature dishes like Dominican chimi sliders on sweet King’s Hawaiian rolls; red Thai curry mussels with grilled bread; Cajun jambalaya pasta; proper Cheesesteak hoagies; and weekly cast iron skillet specials.
For those seeking late night options after the River bars close down, Rialto offers a fun, lively atmosphere and satisfying menu of shareable munchies. Stop in any evening for happy hour then linger for dinner if seeking flavors from around the globe and inspired cocktails that emphasize rum. Reservations strongly suggested on weekends.
Redwood Drive-In 15000 River Road
A blast from the past, the Redwood Drive-In is Monte Rio’s only remaining drive-in fast food burger stand, delivering classic cheesesburgers, hearty sandwiches, crispy fries and hand spun milkshakes from it’s tiny red shack since 1952. Revel in nostalgia by dining al fresco on picnic tables facing the Russian River then letting the kids play on swings and lawn games set up on site. Food wise, keep is simple with the quintessential Oakland Burger, the chili cheeseburger or a towering pastrami sandwich.
Rio Theater Diner 20396 Bohemian Hwy
Attached to Monte Rio’s historic art deco single screen theater built in 1949, the Rio Theater Diner transports guests back to the golden era of soda fountains, jukeboxes and chrome accented dining rooms. Alongside movie showtimes, the retro diner dishes out satisfying comfort cuisine like patty melts, Reubens, chicken pot pies, meatloaf and other greasy spoon grill classics. Save room for slice of pie or a gooey ice cream sundae.
Lucy’s On the River 16981 Highway 116
Just downstream from Monte Rio’s main drag, Lucy’s on the River provides scenic outdoor riverside seating warmed by standing fireplaces along with comforting American fare focused on burgers, sandwiches and brick oven pizzas. Signature dishes feature local flavors like the Sonoma County burger piled high with bacon and blue cheese. Live music on summer Sundays.
Rio Enchiladas 20396 Bohemian Hwy
Connected to the Rio Theater, Rio Enchiladas dishes out traditional plates of enchiladas, burritos, tacos and other Mexican favorites to satisfy comfort food cravings with hearty portions and wallet-friendly prices. The seafood enchiladas overflowing with cheddar and monterey jack cheese prove a local legend while daily lunch specials keep everyone happy. Open for lunch and dinner.
ly with vegan and gluten-free options. Everything prepared from scratch in house.
That’s a wrap! Monte Rio offers no shortage of tantalizing dining, drinking and dessert options whether your ideal meal necessitates river views, an adventurous cocktail list, garden fresh fare or just humble comfort foods done right. From scenic fine dining to beachfront cafes to local watering holes to roadside pie stands, this Russian River hamlet hits all the right dining notes. Use this list to guide your tastebuds on their next delicious Monte Rio adventure!
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