The Spinster Sisters

The Spinster Sisters Restaurant Review:

This vibrant neighborhood restaurant could be dropped on a side street in any big city. Instead, it brightens an artsy block in Santa Rosa that needed the kind of place where everybody knows your name. Rough cement walls are warmed by street-facing picture windows, dangling filament lamps in jars and an amiable, dedicated staff. The dining room’s energy center is a square bar with roughly two dozen stools, almost a communal dining table; the polished wood planks are hewn from single trees, edges left naturally undulating. It’s a fine setting for sharing or hoarding the array of small plates that tends to override the handful of mains. Begin with clever snacks such as fresh garbanzo pods with lime, chili and sea salt; deviled eggs with kimchi and bacon; or an abundant plate of variously pickled produce, perhaps watermelon radish, fennel, carrots or pear. Generous step-ups include grilled calamari with Thai-dressed shredded cabbage, zucchini and mint; watermelon-marinated feta salad with Berkshire pork belly, at once meaty, crisp and melt-in-your mouth; or a trio of grilled lamb merguez sausages with red quinoa set in cumin yogurt. Food menus are seasonal. An intriguing wine list features ample by-the-glass selections, including some on tap. Don’t miss the hot fudge sundae with crunchy homemade banana chips. The brunch line on weekends might twist down the block.