Mel's Fish and Chips: Little more than a hole-in-the-wall spot off Hopper Ave., the walk-up counter has been turning out all manner of fried and battered seafood since 1988.

Simply Vietnam in Santa Rosa: Great pho, bbq pork sprig rolls and lemongrass beef are tops

Shangri-La Himalayan and Tibetan Food

Antojitos La Texanita: Located on Sebastopol Ave., Texanita is a perennial taqueria favorite for locals, with constantly changing daily specials. Avoid the obvious: A serious burritophile friend got burned by the lackluster pollo asado. Weekends are for serious eaters, with posole, menudo and goat on the menu.

Stark's Steakhouse: Organic, dry aged, corn and grass-fed cuts of beef hand-picked by the city's favorite chef.

Santa Rosa's airport restaurant isn't quite ready for takeoff

Entirely unimpressive from the outside, this Kenwood sleeper slips my mind in the winter. Not that it should--here's a cozy fireplace and plenty of steamy pasta dishes that will warm your cockles year round. But the outdoor patio is such a perfect summer hangout--sipping raspberry lemonade and nibbling insalada Caprese throughout July and August--I tend to whiz by in January and February. Well, that and the fact that the parking lot's always packed to capacity.