Kalimera Bar and Grill — Restaurant in Santa Rosa

Kalimera Bar and Grill – A Taste of Turkey in Downtown Santa Rosa

If you’re visiting the Museum of Sonoma County, don’t miss the chance to explore a hidden gem just across the street—Kalimera Bar and Grill, a newly opened Mediterranean restaurant that’s quickly winning hearts with its authentic flavors and warm hospitality. I found this place thanks to a friendly recommendation from the museum staff, who also mentioned a 10% discount for museum visitors—always a nice perk!

At first glance, the restaurant may seem modest from the outside, but step in and you’ll be transported to what feels like a cozy corner of Istanbul. The interior is stunning, with traditional Turkish hanging lights, blue-painted walls, and white chairs that perfectly complement the Mediterranean theme. The space features a high ceiling that lets in plenty of natural light, creating a bright and welcoming dining atmosphere. TVs display scenic views of Turkey, and artwork on the walls adds to the authentic feel. There’s also a bar area offering wines and beers for a relaxed evening.

I ordered the Combo Skewer Bowl, which included beef, chicken, and lamb skewers, served with chickpea rice, pita bread, chimichurri, and tzatziki—a wholesome, hearty meal loaded with protein, carbs, and flavor. Each skewer was well-seasoned and grilled to perfection. The chicken skewer especially stood out for its generous portion and tenderness.

For dessert, I had the Walnut Baklava with Vanilla Ice Cream—a sweet ending to the meal. While the Pistachio Baklava was unfortunately sold out, the walnut version was rich and syrupy, though a bit sweeter than I expected.

One of the most memorable parts of my visit was speaking with the manager, who warmly shared his personal story—immigrating from Istanbul, settling in Sonoma County with his family, and bringing a piece of his heritage to Santa Rosa. He explained how many of the spices and decor items were brought directly from Turkey, and emphasized the restaurant’s mission: to offer freshly prepared, traditional Mediterranean cuisine in a town that’s been lacking such an option. He even invited me to try Turkish tea, allowing me to customize the level of sweetness—a small but delightful experience.

While I did mention the slightly high prices, the manager explained that they use fresh ingredients and prepare everything from scratch—a philosophy that certainly reflects in the quality of the food. And honestly, the experience was well worth it.

Final Thoughts Kalimera Bar and Grill is more than just a restaurant—it’s a cultural experience. Whether you're a local or a visitor exploring downtown Santa Rosa, this place deserves your attention. With authentic food, a thoughtful atmosphere, and a heartfelt mission, it’s a welcome addition to the city’s dining scene.

🌟 Highly recommended for anyone seeking delicious Mediterranean cuisine with a...

I want to preface by saying the quality of the food was exquisite and the ambience cannot be denied!- however I will defer that in spite of the great quality of the food the portions were very meager for the cost-ratio even for fine dining.

For example, my lunch time menu skewer was 4 tiny pieces of lamb with a small portion of rice and a salad. Yes the lamb was good but I have never gone hungry at a Mediterranean restaurant for almost 30$!

I only bring this point up for people with eyes bigger than your wallets, I don’t think there is a good satiation-to-cost ratio. I am wholly sympathetic to the cost of operating a brick and mortar restaurant with razor thin overhead margins so I don’t know what can be the rectifying factor for fullness but needless to say unless you plan on eating more than 2 entrees and 100$ just for yourself- you will probably leave hungry as I have.

With all respect to the restaurant and staff, I hope they prosper long but for myself I will turn to other mediterranean and greek restaurants with a more...

I've been to Turkey twice and everything here brings me right back to one of my favorite countries. Feels fresh, authentic, and delicious! We are regulars here as we're lucky to live right down the street & this has been my partners favorite restaurant since they were the Grill at the mall. Some of our favorite dishes: Warm Cabbage dolmas are amazing, as is the moussakka, falafel are the best ive had in sonoma county, also love the fried goat cheese and beet salad! The owner is one of the best parts of the experience - always gives us a laugh and loves to converse and share fascinating stories. And the customer service is great, even when something didnt come out quite right, they were very accomodating, apologetic, and happily took it off our bill. Perfect spot for a casual delicious healthy dinner or a special occasion where you need a place that can fit a lot of people. Highly recommend checking it out and supporting this restaurant - this is a Santa Rosa gem and we want to keep them...