Juanita Juanita — Restaurant in California

Cool, backroad diner and purveyor of yummy Mexican eats is almost hidden in the quiet valley stretch between Sonoma and Napa. Staff is just so nice and friendly and at best, you'll feel like you're hanging out at your friend's place who also happens to crank out delicious food from her corner kitchen.

It's located just past the Arnold Road and Grove intersection, so it's easy to miss if you aren't watching for it. Just look for the bright mural style signboard and facade, portraying, I'd imagine, Juanita herself dancing and twirling, beckoning you to swing in for warm chips and salsa.

There's a solid lineup on burritos to choose from, as well as traditional style street tacos and other roadside fare. Burritos are most certainly of the two-handed variety and are action packed. A selection of draught beers waits to accompany what you end up going for.

The limited seating of a few tables and a full row of festively colored diner stools could make for a bit of a wait of you happen to hit a rush crowd, but that only makes your experience with the staff and your fellow Mexican-food gnoshers all the more friendly and familial. As you chow down, Elmo and the SF Giants are just two of a cast of a dozen or so piñatas that watch over you, hanging from above, sending you positive foodie vibes.

Parking can be quite tight, especially unless you get to snag one of the primo spots right in front of the restaurant (and when you back out of these main road facing spots, although it goes without saying, please be careful -- some cars go blasting down Arnold Road and can appear out...

My last visit to this restaurant was about 6 years ago and I remember really liking it, but with so many good restaurants in the area, sometimes you forget some of the great ones. I ordered the chipotle al pastor burrito which was very flavorful. It comes with a creamy chipotle sauce, beans, rice, sour cream, salsa, cheese and guacamole. Very well balanced rich flavors with a mild kick of spice. I also ordered an agua de jamaica. It had some blood orange in it and was not too sweet, just delicious. The person who took our order (who may be the owner) was extremely friendly and very patient with my disabled brother in law. She truly cares about the business and making customers comfortable and happy. Ingredients are fresh and of high quality, well...

Stopped by this place on our way home from a social gathering in Sonoma. Our first choice of restaurant was closed, so our group of 25 descended on this place unannounced, but mercifully in waves of 5 at a time until we had assembled a large enough table on the restaurant's patio.

Service went pretty well, considering. Only 3 out of 25 orders came out wrong, and they were corrected in reasonable time. A few drink orders were missed as well. Still, I think the wait staff did a good job coping and even got the bill right first go.

The food was ok. Simple texmex, just what one would expect from the restaurant's visual appearance. I don't remember anyone complaining, though some of the vegetarians lamented their limited options.

I'd...