On what could be called Lagunitas’s main street, the restaurant at a restored bed and breakfast inn packs in the charm with a cute bar, open format dining room and expansive back patio.
Outside tables sport checkered cloths shaded by green umbrellas, onto which a plate of grilled cheese with Pt. Reyes toma and fontina are right at home with prosciutto and caramelized onions. Many come for the pizza, but we try and visit on Sundays when chef turns out a 12-hour smoked brisket and eggplant parmesan with burrata. And if that wasn't enough to tempt your taste buds, they also offer one of the best brunches in the valley.
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Don’t miss: Wild pizza, Brisket, Huevos Rancheros
Dressed up with local blue cheese, quartered egg, onion, and watermelon radish, a wedge salad is somehow more than the sum of its parts but fans rave about the fries which arrive crispy on the outside, soft and creamy on the inside. Pair these favorites with a burger and or a fried chicken sandwich with slaw and you have the essence of a tavern: a simple menu of favorites dressed up just enough to be fun. Tall windows cast natural light onto nearly navy interior walls and natural wood tables. The only thing missing is a Coastal Manhattan, its warmth cozying up your insides, too.
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Don’t miss: Pulled pork Sliders, Garlic Parmesan fries, Tavern burger
When “oyster” is in the restaurant’s name, ordering a half dozen raw or broiled in various styles is a must and a best bet. But all the seafood preparations, which rotate depending on availability, are winners. Whether that’s an Oregon coast shrimp Louie or Mendocino coast yellowtail, or seared local halibut, the kitchen turns out plates of fish cooked as it should be. A mix of mostly French and American bottles, the wine list adds a graceful touch to the day’s menus.
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Don’t miss: Locally sourced fish and seafood dishes, Oysters, Chicken liver pâté
One of the best historic dive bars in Marin is in the sleepy town of Forest Knolls. The Papermill has all the divey amenities -you could want a jukebox, pool tables, and live music on weekends. Plus, they carry 12 beers on tap, and over 25 popular bottled craft beers to suit every palate. Over the years, Papermill patrons have included everyone from Janis Joplin to Jerry Garcia to members of the Hells Angels.
At once a bar that regularly features country music (and many more styles), this honky tonkslash-roadhouse is about as country as Marin gets. The bar back plays host to taxidermized creatures and the room gets crowded when the music is a-thumpin’,
Order a chicken-fried steak or a classic BLT and a beer and stay a while. Outside, the views are breathtaking and a meal on the patio is a great way to while away a weekend afternoon. Be warned: portions are more than ample, and a side of steak fries can easily be a meal.
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Don’t miss: Barbecue oysters with garlic butter, anything with Steak, Grilled salmon
