Mid-week trips to wine country can be a lot of fun, mainly due to there being fewer people trying out the tasting rooms. Conversely, it can be frustrating to try to drive back to the city after they close as it’s peak rush hour and Petaluma is impossible to drive through at that point. It does give a person the opportunity to stop in at a restaurant and try something new, to help pass the time for driving and perhaps to help a person sober up a bit from some of the wineries in town. Willi’s Seafood and Raw Bar seemed like a great place to stop in for exactly that reason.
Sadly, I couldn’t drink, but they had a pretty good menu for wine by the glass for my dining partner who could continue drinking since he was not tied to the back of a steering wheel. We decided to order a bunch of small plates to share, so we went with the crudo of the day, caramelized Brussels sprouts, uni toast and fried clams with a side of bread and butter (to help with the soaking).
Everything looked pretty amazing when it came out, and while I don’t quite remember what the crudo of the day actually was, I do remember it was incredibly flavorful and it definitely made us really happy to start our meal. The Brussels sprouts were mixed with linguisa, blue cheese and apples, and that flavor combination was definitely a winner, even if it did end up being a bit salty. Salt can help cut through the bitterness of the sprouts though, so it was overall a really well done dish.
The uni toast was fairly simple, with whipped butter and trout roe, but I’ve not really met uni I haven’t liked, and the freshness of it all made the dish a real treat. The clams were fantastic as they were also served with fried shishito peppers, so it was like getting two of my favorite things in one dish. The bread was perfectly adequate, nothing special, but it was a nice bulky addition to the meal.
Of course, I was ready for some dessert, so we got the bourbon financier with vanilla ice cream and pecan brown butter sauce. Overall, it was an okay dessert. It was a bit sickly by the end, so it was nice that we shared. I would have definitely liked something saltier to help balance all the flavors.
All together, the meal at Willi’s was a real treat. A lot of fresh seafood really makes for an amazing dining experience, and the service was friendly with just the right amount of attention. It’s frustrating that places a bit of a distance from the city really do surpass a restaurant in the city in quality of food. I really wish there were more options like this that I could go to easier, but at least I know if I want a great seafood meal, I can hit up Willi’s the next time I’m in Healdsburg. (Even if their logo is bordering on dirty.)
Score: 4/5
Recommendation: Clams and shishito peppers are a winning combo in my book!
Willi’s Seafood and Raw Bar
403 Healdsburg Ave
Healdsburg, CA 95448
