Tag: Rohnert Park

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Dining Ambiance Up the Wazoo

20151229_181126My Auntie J and Cousin April met me and Lulu at the Doubletree Sonoma County in Rohnert Park. I was craving chowder so we went to a place in Cotati near Oliver’s Market. Alas, it is now a falafel place. I was not feeling like middle eastern food, so we decided to try the new Jaded Toad in the same shopping center. (So new that it is not in TripAdvisor yet.)

Most of the seating is outside near heaters or around fireplaces. There is a bar focal point. It was 50 degrees so we were not sure if we could last eating outside. The fire added enough warmth and so we shared a firepit with another group.

Protein platter at the Jaded Toad
Protein platter by firelight. It is like camping out without having to sleep in a tent or sleeping bag.

The food is pub food, with local beers and an attractive wine list. My half chicken was delicious and moist with a choice of cajun or Memphis barbeque. (Memphis of course.) My Aunt ordered the protein platter and April enjoyed the drumsticks and a green salad.

 

The food was yummy and the company was terrific. The service was a little slow, and we did not notice so much because we were busy talking.

It was a memorable evening and it would have been epic if it was just a little warmer outside.  There are a couple of indoor tables without nearly any fun ambiance.

Lulu stayed in the car but dogs are welcome outside.

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Road Trip: Amy’s Drive Thru

Love the garden on the roof. Drip irrigation is drought friendly and the living roof should aid energy conservation.
Love the garden on the roof. Drip irrigation is drought friendly and the living roof should aid energy conservation.

UK Sarah sent me a Facebook post about Amy’s Drive Thru. I was delighted to learn this new vegetarian fast-food restaurant was located in Rohnert Park because I could combine it with a visit to my Auntie J.

Auntie knew exactly where it was located–conveniently off 101 near the new casino :(, Costco :), and an In-N-Out (what is symbol for irony?). We pulled in at about 1:00 p.m. and the tables were full, there was a healthy drive-thru line of cars and the parking lot was full. For the next 1.5 hours there was a steady line of customers and cars. It has only been open a few weeks but the popularity appears to be growing. The restaurant itself has a garden on the roof and beautiful landscaping.

Earth friendly packagingWe took a few minutes to decide between the Amy veggie burger, the various macaroni and cheese options, burritos, pizza and brown rice bowl. There are non-dairy shakes and no-brand soft drinks. Auntie ordered the Amy veggie burger. I ordered the Broccoli Cheddar Mac. We split french fries with organic ketchup. We both had ice tea and added water to this very steep brew.

The packaging is very earth-friendly without falling apart. We had choices to recycle most of the cartons and utensils. But then there was only landfill left. We thought there would be a compost option. Still a marked step up from any fast food establishments in NorCal. It is also priced as cheap eats but not as inexpensive as McDonalds or Taco Bell; however, very affordable for the quality of food.

Broccoli Cheddar MacWe sat at an outside picnic table and enjoyed talking to the other guests, including Nancy who is a big fan of Amy’s Drive Thru. This was her fourth visit and she returned to satisfy her craving for the veggie burger on a gluten free bun.

I found the Broccoli Cheddar Mac very rich and satisfying. The portion was normal size but small by fast food standards. The french fries were tasty and not at all greasy. Auntie is normally a dainty eater but she chowed down on her Amy’s burger. We would definitely go back and wish them success in this endeavor and in changing our expectations of fast food restaurants everywhere!