Sonoma Wine Shop / La Bodega Kitchen — Restaurant in Sebastopol

Ok. Imma bout to gush 💖 and it's a long one.

Today is the 5th anniversary of my marriage to Ron Guptill. We have been so incredibly blessed in a few different restaurants to be "adopted" and truly treated like deeply loved family. I've posted about TIPS Roadside recently and this evening I'm posting about Sonoma Wine Shop and La Bodega Kitchen in Sebastopol.

Early in our relationship I discovered "Restaurant Week". I am not from Santa Rosa so I didn't know that was a thing. I'm gluten free due to Celiacs, so finding a place where I can equally enjoy the menu can be challenging.

Anyway, I was looking at menus online and stopped on one that had the yummiest sounding menu, had lots of specifically gluten free options and had one of my mother's absolute favorite desserts, alfahores (She grew up in Argentina). It was a total win.

We went and were surprised by the fun family style way of service. Our hostess Meekk immediately felt like family. The food was delicious and we enjoyed our time thoroughly.

Fast forward. We've gone to La Bodega Kitchen many times, often spending special holidays there like Mother's Day, birthdays and the like..and every time, we are treated like long lost family. Her partner Brian hung out at our table for well into an hour one Mother's Day taking about wine, food and like. We love the house chicken who sometimes comes to visit us outside.

One evening we were sitting in their new outdoor area, when restaurants were just beginning to reopen. Despite all of our visits, hugs and the family vibe every time, we had not become members of the wine club. We decided that evening to do so. She was surprised and said she thought we had been members for years. She took her time testing our palates, giving suggestions and coming up with our likes and loves. We became members and get wine every few months now.

So what are the pictures about?

My husband got sick yesterday. We had planned our Anniversary dinner for this evening and called late afternoon to let them know that unfortunately we were not able to come in person and we needed to do to takeout. We wanted to be responsible and stay home. He was devastated that we couldn't dine in for our celebration.

Meekk herself came out to the car, and joked about us taking pictures of our Anniversary picnic. She had told my husband she'd have something special for us and she was NOT JOKING. It was dark so I had no idea what she was talking about until we opened the trunk when we got home and saw that there was a huge basket filled with amazingness inside.

The food was carefully wrapped and piping hot. Fresh flowers, a white tablecloth, a candle, a little dessert tray and our incredible food. And instead of being in to-go containers, almost everything was on its own real plate or in a bowl including the hot dishes which were in porcelain boats.

My husband immediately teared up seeing how much love, care and effort was put into making our stay at home Anniversary dinner so incredibly special.

Oh and we broke out one of our bottles of wine from our membership too

Our dinner was spectacular. Yummy to the max and so incredibly special.

Thank you Meekk for your generosity, your beautiful spirit and your kindness. We love you to the moon and...

Feels Like Visiting a Good Friend’s Home- Sonoma Wine Shop | La Bodega

Sonoma Wine Shop | La Bodega is one of those rare places where you walk in once and feel like you’ve been coming for years. The hospitality here is seriously next-level, super warm, friendly, and personal. It’s not just “good service,” it’s like they genuinely care about making sure you have the best time possible.

One of the coolest things is how individualized the whole dining experience is. They really take the time to get to know what you like, and suggest wines individualized to your palate. It never feels rushed or cookie-cutter. Just relaxed, thoughtful, and totally enjoyable.

And let’s talk about the food. Everything is made with fresh, high-quality ingredients, and you can absolutely taste the difference. The minestrone and lentil soups are both rich, comforting, and packed with flavor. Their shepherd’s pie? Total comfort food perfection. And don’t even get me started on the desserts—the clafoutis is light and lovely and the kind you dream about later.

If you’re in Sonoma and want a place that’s cozy, welcoming, and genuinely delicious, La Bodega should be at the top of your list. It’s the kind of spot you’ll want to come back to...

We celebrated a birthday last night at La Bodega Kitchen. One of the best dining experiences. The welcome appetizers in the outdoor area were a perfect start. The warm pitas, the hummus, the eggplant dips so delicious. Prosecco was served. Such great Prosecco that I am calling today and reserving a few bottles. I was touched by the attention to details. The old fashioned China and silverware reminded me of wonderful dinners in Provence. The family style dinner included salad, mushroom pasta and a vegetarian dish. All outstanding in flavor and quality of ingredients. The Morrel mushrooms made the pasta so very exquisite. The owners were so warm. It felt that they were welcoming us to their own house. Different wines were offered with explanations of their origin and reason for pairing. The kids had a special table with pizza and Mac and cheese.... and room to run outside in the garden. As we were getting ready to leave, kids got balloons and treats. It was a memorable evening. We plan to go back to the restaurant to keep enjoying the great food and...