Cafe Saint Rose, the quirky Sebastopol roadhouse eatery headed by Chef Mark Malicki has shuttered.
A reader tipped me off that the lights were off last night and the phone disconnected. I talked to Mark this afternoon who confirmed that he has closed the restaurant permanently due to a mound of debt that “was just overwhelming.” He says the last few months have been a real struggle for him financially. “Times being what they are, I just couldn’t do it.”
The restaurant’s last official day was Sunday, though Mark says the decision to close wasn’t final until Tuesday. “I just woke up Tuesday and that was it,” he told me. Malicki plans to keep on some remaining staff to support his catering biz. “Tell everyone I’m grateful for their support,” Malicki said.
To contact Mark for catering, call 623-5141.
Loved this place and so sad to see it go. The pricing was right and we always got great service and generous portions of food and generous wine pours. We left feeling we had gotten excellent quality food and value for our hard earned dollar.
The meal we had at his small Cafe Saint Rose was intensely memorable as is Mark. When Sebastapol opened, several times we brought friends with us to have pretty unusually good meals. The last time in late July, it felt like no one cared nor tried to make food taste good. The corn soup had cream it it that was curdled throughout which when pointed out to waiter, the response was that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Maybe if I had closed my eyes, it would have worked? Had the mussels and sausage too….yuk. Overcooked dried things floatin’ in the bowl.
Mark’s & his food is either very, very good or very, very bad.
I would find it hard to follow him next time due to his inconsistencies. Plus who want’s to get burnt?
P.S. Well, if he is really, really good again and continues to buy local….sure we’d go. Despite all, sorry to hear you closed.
Heather, thank you for your refereeing here. In fact, anonymity is quite the safeguard. some of these comments reach beyond critique and delve into cowardice cruelty, a cheap way to feel tall.
Mark was one of the most creative and spontaneous chefs I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Yes, he was very quirky, but he also was a huge supporter of this community and walked his talk when it came to committing to local purveyors. I loved seeing him Sunday mornings at the farmer’s market, picking up his ingredients for the evening’s menu, creating it as he strolled past the vendors’ booths.
It is tough for anybody trying to keep a business afloat in the current economic climate, especially for those whose business engages their creative spirit and artistic passion. Yes, he probably could have done with a bit more help on the business end…and I only say maybe, because honestly, I never had anything but great experiences with him. But I can certainly say this…I could stand one less businessman if it means that folks like Mark can grace our community…with all his wonderful, artistic, creative, quirky, fiery attributes. You will be missed, Mark!!!!! Good luck and much love.
ANonymous (mouse) You really are an unhappy, and unkind person aren’t you? What a useless and mean-spirited bunch of crap comments that was. People reading it just shake their head, and think “what a fool. poor, dumb fool”.
Good riddance as far as i’m concerned. I don’t even know the guy but he sounds like a winner. I never had any desire to go there. Small, dark, crowded…? No thanks. The parking was a mess, and looky-loos were always blocking traffic. He was trying to do too much instead of focusing on what he might have been good at. One day it was dinner and a movie, the next it was coffee and treats, then it was roadside BBQ, with odd hours. I think if he was consistent and worked on his advertising he might have done better (and by advertising I don’t mean a close-up of someone’s nose ring in the Bohemian, thanks for taking my appetite away on that one). Bill’s Farm Basket down the road does better BBQ/coffee/etc than they did, and I don’t hear them complaining!
Mark,
Get yerself a taco truck and head up to Portland. They would embrace yer hipster/Asian/quirky style. I apreciated it too. Hope you can make things right with everyone, and best of luck. – D
I was referring to the “liberal hippie” thread. Not gift certificate holders (I don’t blame you for being pissed.)
Here’s where I”m coming from: I have to face upset restaurant owners every day who take these comments very seriously. It hurts them.
However, I don’t take most of them down because I think people have a right to criticize bad food and bad business practices. I value this community (which praises as much as it jabs) and I think it keeps restaurants on their toes.
I just ask that people really think about whether what they’re saying is civil. Would you say it to that person’s face? Or are you just being vindictive and mean?
This is your community. I’m just asking that it you consider how what you say may affect people’s lives — especially when your name is hidden behind a cloak of invisibility.
When I write something that hurts someone, I usually get a late night phone call or email and I have to deal with them directly. It’s brutal and I don’t enjoy it. But its the price of writing things with your name attached to it. When someone anonymous posts, its a different game.
Just think about what you’re saying. That’s all. Back to your regularly scheduled discussion.
If I bought a gift certificate three days before he shut down or I am owed money how is it a “sucker punch” to say so???
I know there’s frustration — as there should be — when a restaurant shuts down and leaves purveyors, gift certificate holders (a PD staffer told me he bought one three days before closing) and restaurant staff get left behind in the wake of a closure.
I don’t know all the ins and outs of mark’s finances, but I did appreciate his cooking and his creative flare. I hope that we can continue the discussion with civility rather than throwing sucker punches.
“Karma caught up with him finally!” is so true. Mark has burned so many people and I suspect that all the purveyors that sold him produce, wine, meat, etc will be out a few bucks after this one. Will he pay his staff their last paycheck? History says “no”. You just cannot do business like this guy in a small, tight-knit community like Sonoma County and expect to be successful. I think Mark should do a “geographic” and head to another community to spread his good tidings. Best of luck.
Mark’s food is great… I’m remembering the harvest lunches at Iron Horse. I had to make the same decision to close my resturant PIGNOLI two years ago. My heart goes out to you Mark.
The food was great here. Mark isn’t a manager and needs business leaedership. I recommended St. Rose to a friend who is also a chef (I cook too). The meal was cold and very disappointing. When they went back to kitchen to uncover the problem, in a concerned back of the house way, Mark said, “What the fvck do you want me to do about it”. Having no idea this was the owner they just left never to return. Ownership is important in this business and it sounds like Mark just gave up and will be drinking the remaining bar inventory as he files for protection.
Gotta love it when people take someones misfortune and turn it into a opportunity to take a jab at thier lifestyle. I don’t think I would classify Mark as a liberal hippie, but if he thought being a right wing conservative would’ve exempted him from the economic downturn he might’ve jumped that bandwagon long ago. I think we can all be happy he didn’t.
Sad Sad Sad
Mark is such a great chef
One of my favorite resturaunts.
I think the location is the problem.
How many places have failed at that spot?
* Linda’s Spring Hill
* The cajun place
* Two crows
* can’t remember the name of the place before the cajun place
If Steven Singer was smart he’d close Pizza Vino 707 and hire Mark to run a resturaunt there. Then leave him alone and let him run it.
With the bad economy, high gas prices, and the rural location, Mark didn’t stand a chance.
I don’t think even the GREAT Willowside, at its prime under the original owner Mike Hale, would have survived that far out in the sticks in this economy.
Sorry to see you go.
Of the handful of really talented restaurant chefs in our county we have just lost one of the best. Mark is a true genius with food and will be sorely missed in the restaurant scene. He will do well with his catering as he exceeds all expectations when he doesn’t need to worry about the details of running a show on a nightly basis.
We need to support our favorite local chefs who buy their food products locally and support our family farmers. Let’s all vow to eat out once a month.
Went through my file of “to-go” menus and removed and disposed of the one for Saint Rose last night. It’s so sad! Like deleting someone who died from your phone book. It’s sad to see any business fail but I was sort of attached to this one.
Had a several memorable meals at the smaller location in Santa Rosa and the Sebastopol location. Mark was extremely creative with his cooking and it was always an exciting experience to eat there. I loved that when I would call to see what would be on the menu he might still be creating it as he discovered what was fresh that day. It is a sad state of affairs that a small business/resturant like this cannot survive in this area. I agree with the other comment – why do people eat at these chains? I didn’t know him personally but I enjoyed chatting with him and I lappreciate how he does not fit any sort of mold. This news really saddened me. I wish Mark the best and hope that this won’t prevent him from trying again.
You can’t stay in business if you did business like St. Rose. It was a complete organizational disaster that showed up in the wildly uneven food and service. The last time we went here, two of our dining party got sick afterwards! And yes, they ordered the same thing.
I’ve read other diners’ experiences and they mirrored my own. In the day of online reviews, you can’t treat customers the way St Rose did and expect people to be banging down the door for reservations.
I am very sad the hear this news. Mark and his staff are among the best of Sonoma County! I’ve eatten so many incredibly memorable meals at Cafe St. Rose. There was always something new for my palette to learn. Your restaurant will be Missed.
I have to agree with the negative review of the St Rose. I REALLY wanted to like this place but my experience was a dreadful combination of poor service, undercooked, overcooked and late food. Friends reported similar experiences and week after week I was stunned it continued to stay open.
Better luck next time.
Karma caught up with him finally!
Gotta love it when liberal hippies can’t run a business cuz other liberal hippies don’t have enough money to spend.
I do not like to see ANYONE fail however our dining experience MIRRORED the following comment and when there are so many quality Sonoma County restaurants competing for the almighty economically starved dollar right now you have to AT LEAST have attentive service and consistant food!
Maybe next time . . . . .
RE: My husband and I went after reading the yummy review on a Sat nite in November. Service was quick and attentave at first. There was a large party seated in the front of the restaurant and we were in the back which filled up 1/2 hour after we arrived. We split a salad and then waited and waited for our food. He had ordered the fish in parchment and I the meatloaf and mashed potatoes. It was over 50 minutes before we were served. This was after the tables seated on either side of us were served- yet they were seated after we had finished our salad. One table had the same order and we guessed they may have gotten ours. What was frustrating was no one came by to tell us about delays, our water glasses were empty, we poured our wine and had just about a glass left by the time the food came. We felt deserted! When the meal was served by other staff the waitress came by, tapped the table and said ok. OK?? Not ok how about a sorry for the delay? The fish was good and the meatloaf just OK. Need seasoning. When the buser came by to take my husbands plate I told him I was done also. Box it? no thank you. The hostess came by and asked if i wanted it boxed -no thank you- was something wrong?–no it was just OK. The waitress who had disappeared came by–Sorry you didn’t like the meatloaf- I never said I did not like it – it was just ok–need a box? NO. (not even worth day afters sandwiches sorry)
The hostess appeared to give us the dessert menu—no thank you just the check. Oh could we buy you a dessert since you did not like the meatloaf?—what ? after the fact –not an effort to comp us dessert for an hour wait and lack of service. No thank you again.
Not sure we will return any time soon.
Sonoma County once again fails to support one of it’s best and Mark was certainly that. I will remember many remarkable meals and the wonderful hospitality. Thanks Mark.
ditto, Jen, ditto. I loved the location, the food, the atmosphere. Very sad. Best of luck to Mark and the entire team there.
We will miss you, Mark…but I know you will reinvent yourself and be back soon!
Is there a reason that Sebastopol continues to RAISE taxes on businesses? Just like all of the Bay Area – STOP RAISING TAXES TO FUND ILLEGAL ALIENS.
We are losing what makes this county great.
What do you expect? Between out of control overhead, insurance costs, costs passed on because fuel was expensive, employees needing more money, utilities raising an average of 25 % in the last year, on and on and on……Small business cannot do what Washington is doing, printing more money…which ultimately makes everything cost more, and no profit to pay the bills…..It is not the fault of the struggling entrepreneur but the fault of the people that tax you to death.
Are you better off now or 25 years ago?
Sadly his dream is gone, hopefully he did not put himself into a position which will cause further problems, buy he is not the lone wolf out there! Families cannot afford the luxuries that they once could……
What do you expect? Between out of control overhead, insurance costs, costs passed on because fuel was expensive, employees needing more money, utilities raising an average of 25 % in the last year, on and on and on……Small business cannot do what Washington is doing, printing more money…which ultimately makes everything cost more, and no profit to pay the bills…..It is not the fault of the struggling entrepreneur but the fault of the people that tax you to death.
Are you better off now or 25 years ago?
Sadly his dream is gone, hopefully he did not put himself into a position which will cause further problems, buy he is not the lone wolf out there! Families cannot afford the luxuries that they once could……
It is so disappointing that we are losing our best restaurants in this challenging economy. I am frightened at the thought that Applebees, Chevys and Round table pizza will dominate Sonoma County food unless people support their favorite restaurants — which also support our community, local farmers and artisians. We all have to cut back, it’s true, but let’s walk our talk! Hopefully we won’t lose more amazing talent because we all tell ourselves we loved that restaurant and we were planning to go later.
Yep. Love Mark and Cafe St. Rose. Good luck!
This absolutely breaks my heart. Cafe Saint Rose was my favorite place in Sonoma County to eat.