The Girl & the Fig

The Girl & the Fig opened in 1997 in Glen Ellen, but it wasn't long before the French restaurant found a new home in Sonoma, in the historic Sonoma Hotel. It has since expanded to include a fig cafe and wine bar, a cookbook and a gourmet food line. So what's so special about the place? Aside from the quaint, homey feel, the dishes here evoke a simple sort of elegance that happens when you use clean, seasonal ingredients to the best of their ability. A fig and arugula salad is both rich and uncomplicated, while the restaurant's popular quiche Lorraine—a massive slice that could feed three people—comes piled high with matchstick fries and a simple salad. Stick around for dessert, like a lavender crème brûlée or chocolate-dipped fig kisses, and be sure to make reservations.