Fern Bar, located in Sebastopol California, focuses on fermented and pickled foods, sources their food from local farms and vendors in Sonoma County and is taking the crowd by storm.
Between the instagrammable cocktails and aesthetically pleasing environment, this restaurant has been on our list for quite a while. I was excited to finally make a reservation to taste the culinary masterpieces and report back to you.
The cuisine:
The real show stopper of the evening was a dish they call “The Board.” It consists of local cured meats, in-house pickled veggies, homemade bread and spectacular cheeses. As the board was carried out to our table, it caught each and every person’s eye along the way. Chef and Owner Joe Zobel graciously listed each ingredient below!
Priced at $40, the Board may seem like something to pass up…but that would be a huge mistake. The flavor profiles between the salty meats, crunchy veggies and the creaminess of the cow’s cheese were to die for.
“The Greens” ($15) included kale, mustard greens, ginger vinaigrette, fermented radish, sesame seed and pickled shallot. For anyone still on the fence about kale, this salad is for you. I loved the combination of delicious greens, ginger vinaigrette and the salty crunch of the pickled and fermented veggies.
We really enjoyed the flavors of the Pickled Quail Eggs ($7) and the Aged Fries ($9). The aged fries really stole the show for me. For a complete explanation of the aged fries, read this article by Chef Joe.
The Lavender Mousse ($8), paired with hazelnut, tea granita, ember cream and parsley oil, was one of the most unique desserts on the menu. Yes, you read that right, parsley oil. The sweet flavor of lavender, paired with incredibly salty hazelnuts (just the way I like it) worked perfectly with the parsley oil.
The environment:
This place is perfect for a date night or a night out with friends. The cocktails are mind-blowing – especially the Hot-Blooded (Reposado tequila, mezcal, jalapeno-blood orange cordial, lime, and egg white.) Though the restaurant was buzzing with people, it simultaneously felt intimate.
For music lovers, Fern Bar has live music every night from 9:00 pm to 11:30 pm. From jazz to a dj, there seems to be a genre for everyone. For a full list, check here.
Fern Bar is located inside the Barlow at: 6780 Depot St. #120 in Sebastopol, CA 95472.
Open Thursday-Monday 4pm-12am
