A student-operated publication at Santa Rosa Junior College.

The Oak Leaf

A student-operated publication at Santa Rosa Junior College.

The Oak Leaf

A student-operated publication at Santa Rosa Junior College.

The Oak Leaf

Oak Leaf guide to highly recommended places in Santa Rosa

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Sit-down restaurants

1. Hang Ah ($$): Don’t believe the drive-thru signs, and go in for the dim sum.

2. Gaia’s Garden ($): You don’t have to sacrifice taste for health any longer… at least not completely.

3. SEA Thai Bistro ($$): Don’t let the acronym of this fusion Asian restaurant de-SEA-ve you; it stands for South East Asia.

4. Las Palmas ($): A great bang-for-your-buck food joint with the best tacos.

5. SuperBurger ($$): Choose from a variety of hand-mixed shakes and malts to compliment a huge grass-fed beef burger.

6. Goji Kitchen ($$): This fusion Asian restaurant is pricier than other Vietnamese restaurants, but where else will you find delicious, organic goat cheese spring rolls in town?

7. Crepevine ($$): A mouth-watering brunch destination for those with a free morning or afternoon.

8. Adel’s Restaurant ($$): Breakfast for dinner until midnight? Give us all the bacon and eggs you have!

9. Hank’s Creekside Restaurant ($$): Their eggs Benedict are a perfect hangover cure for those who can afford it.

 

Open after 10 p.m.

10. Joey’s Pizza ($$) & The Belvedere ($$): Grab drinks at the Belvedere and climb the stairs for some late-night pizza.

11. Heritage Public House ($$): Maybe a five-minute walk from Emeritus Hall. Totally worth it.

12. Sprenger’s Tap Room ($$): Trivia nights on Monday with  dollar-off draft beers Tuesday make this a popular hangout.

13. Third Street Aleworks ($$): Look out for $2.50 pints on Tuesday nights and happy hour specials like a $3 personal pizza.

 

Shopping

14. Treehorn Books ($$): Find used hardbound first-edition books in this nostalgic alternative to corporate bookstores.

15. Outer Planes Comic and Games ($$): Packed with nerds of all kinds on any night. If you like Magic: The Gathering, you’ve found your people.

16. Whistlestop Antiques ($$): Poke around this two-story maze of knick-knacks to find a unique gift.

 

Coffee shops

17. Flying Goat Coffee ($$): Better coffee and loose leaf tea. Plus that hipster je ne sais quoi.

18. A’Roma Roasters ($$): Better atmosphere with plenty of seating, pretty fairy lights and the occasional live music.

 

Movie theaters

19. 3rd Street Cinema ($): Only $3 to catch that movie that you totally meant to see but didn’t.

20. Roxy Stadium 14 ($$): Come for the blockbusters and the $10 cult film series every Thursday.

 

Food on-the-go

21. Awful Falafel ($): Don’t let false advertising keep you away from this Middle Eastern treat.

 

Places outside Santa Rosa

 

ROHNERT PARK/COTATI

1. Shari’s Restaurant & Pies ($$): Apparently SSU students study here. Just go for the pies. Open 24/7.

2. Double Decker Lanes ($$): Bowling, plus arcade games, karaoke, pool tables and a bar.

3. Sonoma Mountain Village ($$): Features a new, promising event center with an outdoor theater.

4. Oliver’s Market ($$): Grab a hot or cold lunch here. Good salad bar. Great burritos.

5. Reading Cinemas ($$): One of the nicer theaters in Sonoma County. If you happen to be in Rohnert Park, try to catch a flick.

 
PETALUMA

1. The Sitting Room (Free): You may not find Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein in this feminist library, but it offers tea, comfy seating and free WiFi.

2. Taps ($$): A locals-approved brewery on the river with great beer and delicious food.

4. The Phoenix Theater ($): Affordable shows in a colorful — in every sense of the word — concert venue.

5. Petaluma Cinema Series ($): Great chance to watch well-curated films in a state-of-the-art auditorium for $5. No concession stand, though.

6. Petaluma Village Premium Outlets ($$-$$$): Cha-ching.

7. Lagunitas Brewing Company ($$): Birthplace of amazing beers like Censored and Little Sumpin’. There’ss no better place to enjoy them.

8. Thai Issan Restaurant ($$): A higher-end dining experience for those looking for a nice atmosphere and great Thai food in Petaluma.

 
SEBASTOPOL

1. Screamin’ Mimi’s ($): Best ice cream ever. Don’t question it; just go.

2. Aubergine Vintage Emporium & Cafe ($$): Vintage store by day, full bar and live music by night.

 
OTHER AWESOME PLACES

 
WINDSOR Omelette Express ($$): Breakfast lovers can’t do much better than this place, with its amazing omelettes and friendly staff.

SONOMA Sebastiani Theatre ($$): The last single-screen theater in Sonoma County.

GUERNEVILLE Dick Blomsters ($$): Crazy-weird, crazy-good Korean-inspired fusion menu featuring Korean Fried Crack — sorry, it’s just chicken — and vanilla ice cream with pop rocks. Who knew?

MONTE RIO The River. Need we say more?

SAN FRANCISCO
The sky’s the limit once you hit the Golden Gate, and Yelp will be your friend.

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