Palooza Brewery & Gastropub — Restaurant in California

Three stars because the pizza was tasty (if under cooked by about five minutes) and the price was decent - but those things DID NOT outweigh the lack of urgency by the service team or the manager's lack of presence. Also, someone please help me understand the 3% cost of living charge added to my check?! Just raise the dang prices. Absolutely unacceptable to add this to a check.

Disappointing service (long before the check arrived) as the very obvious manager greeted us at the host stand with a "he'll be right back to help you" as a hello when we walked in. After about six minutes, when the host did not return - but the manager was finished making the dinner floor plan (it was 115pm) - she went to find him, chatted with him for about three more minutes and then looked back at us and sent him in to seat us. No one acknowledged us at the table for about another five minutes and our eventual greeting was "Are you ready?" When there were only about seven other people inside and maybe four tables outside. Manager still talking to but not actually helping her team or speaking to guests. Fortunately we were ready and ordered. When I asked about the beer flight, I was given a choice of six or seven beers. I asked about the style of one of the beers, as the style wasn't listed on the menu and the server said it was a lager or ale, she wasn't sure. Brought the flight and told me it was a sour which is not a style I drink.

Overall the hapless folks who work there were all nice enough (except the manager, who avoided all contact with guests) but service was unsophisticated and amateurish.

Ultimately it was B+ pizza and B+ beer. I miiiiiight give it a second try if I could try bar service,...

We usually frequent the more pedestrian haunts in Santa Rosa proper, but on this warm summer evening, we saw a smoke plume rising ominously from the east, and following our curiosity, headed out hwy. 12 to investigate. We settled into nervous relief that the offending brush fire was well contained, at a mere five acres, an event we shrugged off with a sort of uneasy indifference; Indicative of how our perspectives have changed in these retreating years since the big blaze. So, following the path of least resistance we decided to continue on and see where the evening led us. This course can lead you into dangerous territory, from the gastronomic perspective, delving ever deeper into the Sonoma valley on a Friday night. It's mostly the silk shirt and boat shoes crowd as you strike into those touristy wine appellations full of hundred dollar bottles and haute cuisine. But on this night, Palooza struck the perfect balance- a nice place to grab a meal in the bucolic valley, but not snooty. I was pleasantly surprised by the attentive but relaxed service; the bartender, Erin, was engaging and positive... She steered me toward a fine locally distilled bourbon that I quite enjoyed to ease into meal mode. That followed by a truly flavorful and well portioned dish of Seared Ahi on black rice with a yellow coconut curry sauce, with a mellow flavor that I could not quite place- more Thai than Indian, but with a subtle profile neither sweet nor overly umami, a nice balance that did not detract from the freshness of the fish. Wherever this flavor hails from, it's worth a visit... The dish and presentation was spot on and left me wanting more, not for lack of portion size, simply because it...

Great local pub in Kenwood!

PROS *Easy to find, right off Hwy 12 *Ample, free parking *ADA friendly entrance *Indoor & outdoor seating *Patio is seasonal friendly, both shaded & heated *Friendly staff *Full bar with cocktail specials *Excellent wine list (living up to the Kenwood standard!) *Fun country, yet modern ambiance *Delicious food *Great place to catch up with a friend, or join the gang for a drink *Bar seating available, as well as tables *Hooks to hang purses *Local favorite *Cool antique truck out front *In shopping center near store, post office, etc. *An easy walk from anywhere in the village *Espresso machine & coffee drinks

CONS *Service was slightly slow, but we were chatting so maybe they were just being respectful? Was not a big deal for us, but I could see this being an issue if time was important *Can get loud when full. May be difficult for those with hearing devices *No booths *Pricey *Can get tight when full, with servers bumping your arm or chair as they scurry past. Not the worst, but not the best *Dessert menu didn't impress us,...