The Girl and the Fig (Sonoma)

We did some wine tasting in Sonoma Wine Country a while back and had asked several folks if they could recommend a place for dinner. One of the most common responses was The Girl and the Fig.

I tried to make a same-day reservation but the restaurant was booked solid. We decided to try our luck with an early dinner walk-in around 5pm which worked out perfectly. We were seated next to the window and had a nice view of the passerby's. I loved that they had the paper tablecloths which you could doodle on! The walls also had multiple paintings of a woman, usually holding a fig but FYI her breasts were exposed, though in an artistic way.

Some very tasty appetizer bread and an olive platter (with 2-3 different types of olives) were brought to our table complimentary! What a great start! I am not into olives because they are too salty but Dennis really enjoyed sampling multiple types. The least salty ones were the dark red-purple olives.

This was the bread they brought us. Notice the size of it, for just two people!

We ordered the small cheese platter. The waitress helped us select some cheeses per our stated tastes, which aligns with creamier and not too strong or hard. One of the two upper cheeses was by Laura Chenel Chevre, a goat's milk cheese made in Sonoma California. The other one was by Pierre Robert, a cow's milk made in Seine-et-Marne, France. Both of these cheeses were creamy and delicious. The third left bottom cheese was Fleur de Maquis, made from sheep's milk in Corsica France. It was a hard cheese but surprisingly it was nice for our palate following so much creaminess. The rind is covered with rosemary, thyme, coriander seeds, savory and some black pepper. There was also a spicy mustard-like sauce near the first cheese which was way too strong for me. I wasn't too much of a fan of the fig treat (dark half moons above) with their chewier texture and somehow not too sweet flavor. Figs are not one of my preferred fruits though.

For the main entree, I chose the Wild Flounder Meunière since it's not a fish I typically find in restaurants. The portion was very plentiful and the taste was decent. The spinach was blanched and healthy and was layered on a bed of mashed potatoes. Without the saltiness of the capers though, the dish would have been a lot more bland. I enjoyed it though.

For the main course Dennis had scallops. The scallops themselves were nicely pan-seared. There was a wasabi blend sauce but it was mild enough that it didn't really bother me. The asparagus was crisp-fried but tender. I remember liking the potato sides for some reason... I kept eating them off his plate. They don't give you much though!

To finish up, we ordered the lavender creme brulee. Dennis really liked the subtle lavendar infusion in the dish. I thought it tasted a little burnt on the top. It kind of turned me off from eating much since I usually enjoy the combo of crystalized crunch and buttery cream.

Overall, this place does offer a great selection for cheese lovers and nibbling. If that's your thing then definitely come here! The ambience is also very welcoming and relaxed. The main courses are a little more pricey but are decently portioned and slightly better than average. I think I'd pass on dessert though or try a different one.