Sweet T’s Restaurant + Bar, Windsor: Sweet T’s continues to serve southern comfort food that locals love. Aside from their famous fried chicken and Mississippi mud pie, you can’t go wrong with any of Sweet T’s barbecue plates, like the smoked tri-tip plate with fried okra, peas in the eyes. black and cookies. 9098 Brooks Road S., Windsor, 707-687-5185, sweettssouthern.com. (Photo by John Burgess)
Fried Chicken at Sweet T’s in Windsor. (Photo by Heather Irwin)
Butcher Crown Roadhouse, Petaluma: Serving barbecue comfort food with a Latin American twist, this truck stop blends flavors and ingredients locals can’t get enough of. The burgers and Bodega Bowls are unique and full of flavor, but you really can never go wrong with street tacos, such as the tri-tip and chorizo smoked tacos with sweet potatoes and goat cheese. crumbled. 1905 avenue Bodega, Petaluma, 707-559-3735, butchercrown.com. (Photo by Heather Irwin)
Outdoor patio at Butcher Crown Roadhouse. (Courtesy photo)
Gourmet Deli & BBQ from Lombardi, Petaluma: Family-owned and operated for nearly 20 years, Lombardi’s has long been a favorite spot for locals looking to gather groceries for picnics or organize family receptions. From tender, dry-rubbed ribs and savory grilled oysters, to gourmet deli sandwiches and fresh salads, Lombardi’s barbecue catering is perfect for summer events. 3413, boulevard Petaluma N., Petaluma, 707-773-1271, lombardisbbq.com. (Photo by Victoria Webb)
KINSmoke, Healdsburg: South meets Western-style barbecue at KINSmoke, where grilling and smoking tender meats is elevated to art. With good finger-licking St. Louis-style pork ribs, succulent pulled pork and brisket sandwich, and sweet cornbread muffins, it’s easy to see why KINSmoke regularly receives rave reviews. 304 Center Street, Healdsburg, 707-473-8440, kinsmoke.com. (Photo by Beth Schlanker)
Hamburger Ranch and BBQ, Cloverdale: Renowned throughout the region for its award-winning barbecue, Hamburger Ranch & BBQ has become a staple among locals and travelers for its succulent, slow-cooked chicken, brisket, pulled pork and ribs. 31195 N. Redwood Highway, Cloverdale, 707-894-5616, Facebook. (Photo by Crista Jeremiason)
Flying Pig BBQ Smoker, Sonoma: Known for the metal pig flying atop its building and a feature in a meaty episode of Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-in and Dives, this smoker from Sonoma offers delicious slow-smoked barbecue, like pork shoulder and brisket. of 14 hour beef topped with their WTF (What the Fieri) Burger. 18350 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, 707-509-5480, flying pigbbq.com. (Photo by John Burgess)
Nicole Marcotte, right, and Kelsey Blackwell from Berkeley stopped by to try food at the Flying Pig BBQ Smoke House in Sonoma. (Photo by John Burgess)
Smokehouse Bistro, Sevastopol: What happens when a classically trained French chef uses slow cooking southern barbecue techniques? You get the rich and flavorful creations of Sebastopol’s Smokehouse Bistro, including Memphis-style BBQ pork ribs falling off the bone and smoked North Carolina pulled pork for 12 hours. 6811 Laguna Park Way, Sevastopol, 707-575-3277, fumoirbistro.net. (Photo by Erik Castro)
Cuisine of Ginochio, Bodega Bay: From striking bay views to family-friendly Italian cuisine, Ginochino’s offers a little something different from most barbecues, including their homemade ravioli and famous bacon and caramel monkey bread, in addition to their smoked beef brisket. tender and juicy. 1410 Bay Flat Road, Bodega Bay, 707-377-4359, ginochioskitchen.com. (Photo from Facebook)
BBQ Red Bee, Santa Rosa and Windsor: Few, if any, places in Sonoma County offer an Asian barbecue fusion like Red Bee BBQ does, with meat-based dishes like St. Louis ribs, glazed barbecue chicken and juicy pork shoulder cooked in a tangy Asian marinade. 750 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa, 707-541-6536, and 8970 Brooks Road S., Windsor, 707-836-4099, redbeebbq.com. (Photo by Conner Jay)
Canevari’s delicatessen, Santa Rosa: This quaint old-fashioned Italian grocery store around the corner is the best place to grab a gourmet sandwich for lunch (the tri-tip sandwich with dijon aioli is a favorite) and shop for homemade ravioli and gravy in bulk – but Canevari’s also offers fresh produce – grilled meats on the grill, like the juicy Italian sausage and the tender tri-tip that never disappoints. 695 Lewis Road, Santa Rosa, 707-545-6941, canevarisdeli.com. (Courtesy photo)
Camacho’s southern style barbecue: Truly spectacular mobile barbecue. You can find them frequently at local valve rooms around Santa Rosa. facebook.com/CamachosSouthernStyleBBQ
Jaded toad, Cotati: A great place for ribs, chicken, linguica sausage and tri-tip sides in a family atmosphere. 500 avenue E. Cotati, Cotati, 707-242-3383, jadetoad.com. (Yelp Photo)