Thursday, August 05, 2010

August’s Where to Drink Now: Spoonbar

Bartender Scott Beattie infuses drinks with the regional flavors and spirits of Northern California’s Sonoma County at the recently opened Spoonbar. Housed on the ground floor of downtown Healdsburg’s H2 Hotel, Spoonbar offers a mix of reworked classics, like the Tempus Fugit Negroni, alongside modern concoctions, like the Cucumber Collins, that are available either as single-serving cocktails or in pitchers for groups. And while Beatty mixes at the bar, chef Rudy Mihal (who held positions at Gramercy Tavern and Fiamma before opening his own restaurant, Odyssey) finds Mediterranean and Moroccan influence in small plates and entrée dishes like Merguez sausage, Tunisian beef skewers and Sicilian meatballs. Get there early to snag a seat alongside the open accordion windows and settle in for a summery Sonoma night.
Coordinates: 2169 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, California; 707-922-5251; h2hotel.com