Kenwood is one of those Sonoma Valley villages that feels like a quiet stretch of road until you slow down enough to notice it. The town sits along Highway 12 between Glen Ellen to the south and Santa Rosa to the north. Within a roughly two-mile stretch you find a tight cluster of working wineries, the road up to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, a couple of markets, and a short list of restaurants. The whole place is small enough to walk through in fifteen minutes and large enough to anchor a full day in wine country.
How Many Restaurants Are in Kenwood?
Kenwood has a small handful of sit-down restaurants rather than a long list. That is part of the appeal. Visitors plan a day around one or two stops, and locals develop loyal habits at the places that fit their week. Choosing where to eat in Kenwood is less about variety and more about finding the spot that matches the time of day, the size of the group, and the kind of meal that goes well between tastings.
Salt & Stone, the Year-Round Anchor
Salt & Stone is a casual elegant Californian restaurant at 9900 Sonoma Highway in Kenwood, California. It serves steak, seafood, and oysters alongside craft cocktails and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence wine list. The restaurant occupies the Highway 12 roadhouse that operated for decades as the Kenwood Restaurant. Chef David LaMonica and Diane LaMonica opened Salt & Stone in 2017. Longtime manager Todd L. purchased the restaurant in March 2024.
The dining room is comfortable, but the marquee feature is outside. The flagstone patio surrounds a koi pond, with covered sections, heaters, and umbrellas, and looks straight onto vineyards. The Bohemian profiled the patio under the title “The Face of Outdoor Dining in Kenwood.” On a warm afternoon the koi pond is the loudest thing on the patio. On a cool evening, the heaters and the conversation share the volume.
When to Come, and What For
Brunch on weekends
Brunch runs Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 2:30. It is a useful slot for visitors who want a slower start before an early-afternoon tasting reservation up the road, and it is one of the easier weekend reservations to land if you book ahead.
Happy hour for locals and late-tasting guests
Happy hour runs Monday through Friday into the late afternoon. It is the easiest window to find a seat on the patio without a reservation and a kind hour to wind down after a final tasting at a nearby winery.
Dinner as the centerpiece
Dinner brings the full menu, including dishes that show up repeatedly in guest reviews and press coverage: Casino Oysters, marinated grilled octopus with chickpeas and pickled red onion, hand-chopped steak tartare, crab cakes, French onion soup, truffle mac and cheese, and cioppino. A rotating Bistro Night menu features three-course French country classics including beef bourguignon, coq au vin, and braised lamb shank.
Other Kenwood Dining
Kenwood has several other places to eat along the Highway 12 corridor and at neighboring wineries, including Palooza Brewery & Gastropub and Cafe Citti. Several of the wineries in town offer light food during tasting hours, from cheese boards to on-property kitchens. For a substantial sit-down meal that runs from weekend brunch through dinner service, Salt & Stone is the most consistent option in the village.
Practical Notes for Visitors
- Address: 9900 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, California.
- Reservations: recommended for dinner, especially on the patio in summer and during fall harvest.
- Parking: on-site lot.
- From Santa Rosa: a short drive south on Highway 12.
- From the town of Sonoma: a short drive north on Highway 12.
- Closest winery: Kunde Family Winery, at 9825 Sonoma Highway, directly opposite Salt & Stone on Highway 12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salt & Stone open year-round?
Yes. Salt & Stone serves brunch on weekends, lunch and happy hour on weekdays, and dinner most evenings throughout the year.
What kind of food does Salt & Stone serve?
Salt & Stone serves casual elegant Californian cuisine with a focus on steak, seafood, and oysters, plus a rotating Bistro Night menu of French country classics.
Where in Kenwood is Salt & Stone?
Salt & Stone is at 9900 Sonoma Highway, on the same stretch of Highway 12 that hosts Kunde Family Winery, Chateau St. Jean, Ledson Winery, and Landmark Vineyards.
Your lamb satay skewers recipe is hands down our house favorite!