I won't rate this resteraunt a poor because I am giving them the benefit of the doubt, assuming their food is as good as everyone says it is. Unfortunately I did not get to try it. I took my... More

I won't rate this resteraunt a poor because I am giving them the benefit of the doubt, assuming their food is as good as everyone says it is. Unfortunately I did not get to try it. I took my grandmother there on the day that her doctor told her that she was cancer-free to celebrate. She is 91 years old and very sweet and I wanted to do something nice to celebrate our happy day. I had seen good reviews for this place on the internet and the papers and I thought it would be great. We walk in their for lunch - no smiles and no service intiallly. We walked into the door that I had seen others walk into on other occassions as I passed by - I assumed it was a front door. It looked like a front door. But there was no one behind that door to great us. We had to go up to the bar and stand there before people noticed us and then we got a very chilly reception. No smiles, no welcome. The bar was too loud for my grandmother, and too loud for me even - you couldn't even hear yourself think. They tried to seat next to the bar and we nicely asked if they had somewhere else they could seat us, as the tables were cramped and the bar was impossibly noisy. There were only about 12 people there, but the accoustics of the place made them sound like a whole army! The host flat out refused, saying that only the bartender was there - that there was no other waitstaff, even though there was clearly another waiter or bartender on hand. We begged them to seat us someplace decent. What do they do? They finally say that they will seat us outside (although what logic does that make, since the bartender apparantly has to stay at the bar?). WE say ok, thinking of the nice tables we saw in front of the door when a lady was sitting sipping a drink when we came in. But no, we can't sit there (although apparanrly others could) - we have to sit in the broke down, dirty cigarette strewn tables at the far far back of the lot and are told that we will have to order at the bar. At this point, I was just so fed up that we left. There were plenty of tables near the bar that they would not let us sit at, where they could have watched us, which was apparantly what the bartender's job was (never knew they were supposed to babysit the customers!) but they just couldn't let us sit there, even though the bar was way too noisy and my grandmother is ninety. I will not be returning anytime soon, especially as their demeanor was cold and disagreable through the whole interaction.
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Driving through the Sonoma County countryside you long for a meal of distinguished tastes and flavors in an atmosphere that is a bit romantic and fun. Enough of the Black Bear Diners and the... More

Driving through the Sonoma County countryside you long for a meal of distinguished tastes and flavors in an atmosphere that is a bit romantic and fun. Enough of the Black Bear Diners and the roadside luncheonettes that dot the road as you pass through Santa Rosa. A Mecca for the chains, along the highway, it is time to exit onto Rte 116. Head West. Follow the road through Sebastapol as though you were headed for Bodega Bay. But, there is no need to travel that far. A few miles up the road, a sign will point to Graton. You will feel as though you are in the middle of no where, but suddenly, a small intersection becomes cluttered with parked cars and without any sense of conformity, as would be appropriate in this Bohemianville, park the auto and run to The Underwood Bar and Bistro. Upon entering, forget the dining room banquettes. Although most inviting with their warm tones of deep red accented by the mahogany and brass of the stylized bistro, the bar is the place to be. Sit on the hook so you have a clear view of the room and your neighbors, The diversified crowd of liberal lovers and foods connoisseurs who not only no their herbs, but their wines, is a significant part of the evening..., or afternoon. Once the bat tender notices your arrival, he immediately convivially invites you onto the stage and begins to bring you into his act. Soon, you will be chatting with neighbor as though you had been there before carrying on conversations about the food, the weather and the war. Not a place for the faint of heart, the Underwood is a food lovers paradise that caters to the locals, but makes visitors feel like they belong. Although a bit transcontinental for the Sonoma Countryside, the Underwood serves some of the most respected food in Northern California. And, the atmosphere cannot be duplicated.
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