Looking for suggestions in Marin - meetings friends from the city and we’re in Sonoma so seems good half way. Not really interested in Italian, read some good reviews of Madcap but it only has tasting menu so not really enthusiastic about that. Tried Le Garage a few months ago and found it pretty so so. Please tell me there are some good options I dont know of. thanks
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I went to Sol Foid near Muir Woods several weeks ago. We got take out and really enjoyed it, but I understand there are more locations and some have sit down dining too.
This link is old.
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I express interest as well. Recently had hiking on mt tam and was looking for a casual spot on the way home, didn’t have clear recs for my group of friends. Ended up at buckeye Roadhouse which ticked a lot of boxes ( continuous service on Sunday, above average everything including alcohol) but wouldn’t have in strong rotation.
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The food at the Buckeye is good, but the prices are too high for me! Another possibility is The Junction in Tam Junction (next to the old Dipsea building). They have great pizza and beer - very popular with locals.
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We had a very good meal at Guesthouse Marin in Kentfield a few weeks ago.
Also Marinita’s in San Anselmo and Village Sake in Fairfax are also quite good.
Thanks for all the rec’s. Price is not a serious constraint for this crowd, we don’t eat together that often so it’s always a bit of an occasion. Junction is probably fine for next time, just eyeballed the beer menu and it is acceptable (a few non-hoppy choices - by the way, that’s why this group only did Alpine Inn on the peninsula once - should be perfect, but there’s only one non-IPA on tap (russian river STS, if memory serves)). Guesthouse looks very nice but we end up eating in this middle ground - start hike at 10a, stop for snacks around noonish, get off the trail at 2:30 or 3, want to have an early meal / beer / snack at 3:30, so we need a place that’s open between lunch and dinner (continuous service) which finer restaurants don’t tend to do :-). Village Sake looks my speed but one of our party is actually deathly fish allergic so we stay away from a sushi joint. Maranita’s won’t tick the beer box but otherwise looks perfect. The Pelican Inn also came up but it’s not on the way. Demanding crowd, I know :-). I always like having a good set of recs in the back pocket though - never know when I’ll be nearby and without all those constraints. Thanks!
Marin Country Mart has a branch of Hog Island Oyster Co. and El Hearache Loco is solid Mexican (also Shake Shack).
Pizza Hacker at the junction Beer Garden in Mill Valley (seem to have a good variety of non-IPAs @bbulkow ).
I’ve never regretted eating at Fish in Sausalito (except for the lines on weekends).
Hook Fish Co. opened a branch at Proof Lab Beer garden in Mill Valley.
Thanks everyone - will check into Guesthouse and Hog Island, though it does close rather early 8pm. My husband doesnt do well with lines - alas. . We’re getting together with friends whom we dont see so often so want to lots of time to catch up and also have a fun special meal. So going to pass on pizzas lol
I do think that Guesthouse will fit the bill.
We went there under the same circumstances with friends that now live up in the PNW. Drove down from west county. Great meal and atmosphere.
The same Chef opene a restaurant in Petaluma as well. I think the focus there is southern food.
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Up (or down) the street from Madcap, in San Anselmo: Insalata’s. Or, a short walk away, much more casual, but good: Taco Jane’s. Also a short walk , and if you’d not excluded Italian (but for the interest of others): Valenti & Co. In Fairfax, we certainly second Village Sushi – and, quire good, Amelie (trad/ lifted French; very casual).
My wife and I recently happened upon Playa in Mill Valley because we couldn’t get in anywhere else we wanted to go. We were pretty happy with it despite the fact that it was a little on the pricey end of things. But what isn’t in Marin? It’s fairly large with both indoor and outdoor seating. The food is high-end Mexican, and the beer and wine selection is decent if not abundant. We would both go again. They are not open for lunch Mon-Wed, but they do open at 4:00, which is close to your 3:30 window. Of course they do serve seafood, but I think it would be hard to avoid a restaurant that serves none, other than a hamburger or pizza place. Wish I had photos, but I can’t seem to find them.
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