Now, my favorite restaurant in Healdsburg. The menu is varied but short: 1 fish, 1 red meat, 1 pork, 1 fowl, 1 vege, and a chef's choice, as is the by-the-glass wine list. The bottled wine list is extensive. The service, the presentation, the food was, in a word, "perfect." The appetizers are imaginative. I loved the caviar served with creme fresh and seared threads of leaks. The duck breast was the best I have ever had: pink and warm on the inside with the skin seared to a crust with essentially no fat. The deserts were hard to choose from. We could tell that the staff, including the chef and owner are all proud of what they have and do. Expensive but not the most expensive in town. We are looking forward to going back.
We used to visit that place for several times per year for many years and missed only last year. We got used to interesting sauces and spices presented in unusual way. I made my reservation several months in advance and was denied earlier time, regular menu choices or inside seating right away. When we arrived the restaurant was partially empty and definitely understaffed. I have no idea what changed but tasting menu was super plane and boring with standard old school food. Nothing exciting or interesting. Same course was arriving with intervals for different people. Portions didn't look the same size. Whole presentation was unprofessionally fast and boring. Overpriced charge and mandatory tip build into the bill left a bad aftertaste. Half of our group was first time there and everyone left disappointed after such an expensive experience. Going to look for new places for our regular trips to Healdsburg. Leaving 3 stars instead of 2 just because of previous years experience
We had the 5 course tasting menu with the tuna and buratta appetizers, duck breast and New York steak as mains and the not snickers dessert. Food was tasty and the wine pairing was excellent, but our servers rushed through the menu and wine explanations which really diminished the experience. Most annoying was when the bill came, we saw some unexplained charges and had to inquire which was removed afterwards - this is highly unprofessional and spoiled the overall experience.
FernandoM
We live in San Diego County. This our second visit to Valette. I wish it was closer to home. Outstanding dining experience again. Thank you Sean and Jacob for taking such good care of my son and I.
KimB
Delicious food, beautifully presented. All properly cooked, nicely seasoned, exquisite flavors. Smooth, professional service. Nicely paced meal. We had a five-course "trust me" tasting menu, which was wonderful. If you're dining in Healdsburg, there are a lot of good choices. Valette is among the best.
SherylB
We enjoyed our dinner very much. This is one of our favorite places to dine when we travel to the area. This is our second time for the chefs tasting menu. It never disappoints. From the delicious bites of food to the impeccable staff-what more could you ask for. We love getting five different dishes each and then we actually share those so we get ten. Also had the special cocktail, with tequila and guava. Very refreshing and part of the proceeds go to charity! Thanks Valette/Issac, staff and chef.
PinotPaul
Hard to go wrong with their menu. Everything is top quality and prepared with creative care. Don't miss the Scallops en croute. Nice to dine at a restaurant that doesn't rip you off on wine prices (approx 2x retail). By the way, they have an excellent wine list from which to choose.
Ken Cunningham
Great dinner for 32 anniversary along with BYOB 1982 Mouton Rothschild. Staff all congratulated us as did the father of the owner. Great to taste 10 different bites (share 2 Chef's menu) although the "bites" were quite large. Stars were the Wagu Tartar, Duck with the Agnolotti with Boar Ragu getting a WOW from me. Lots of attention to detail by both the kitchen and wait staff. 5 stars in all categories.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Daniel Van Dellen
Decent food (the scallops in pastry were great) but the wait staff (and especially manager) need a lot of help. We were seated at a table near the bar/kitchen and watched as the manager Shaun stood and supervised but rarely helped the guests or the staff. A guest at the bar was having a medical issue and instead of staff offering to help one of the guests in our party got up to help a gentleman who repeatedly was passing out and offer her chair to him. The manager Shaun seemed so annoyed with the situation and unwilling to help. By the time the medical issue was resolved we had just finished dessert. Shaun then came over to our table to set down bread and ask if we wanted any appetizers. I don’t think he could be more out of it. I don’t think hospitality is a good fit for him.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Day Boat Scallops En Croute, Duck Confit
Ronald
One of the best places I have ever eaten, anywhere. The scallop dish is honestly the best food I have ever eaten. If you're in Healdsburg and don't try Valette, you are cheating yourself.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Day Boat Scallops En Croute, Charcuterie Plate, Sashimi Grade Hawaiian Ahi Poke, Honey Brined Pork Porterhouse, American Wagyu New York Steak, Snickers Bar, Chef Valette's 'Trust Me' Tasting Menu
We enjoyed a beautiful experience of cuisine, service, wine and atmosphere. We were a party of six with everyone walking out the door praising the restaurant for the experience. The appetizers of scallops, ahi, and burrata were outstanding and entrees were exceptional. Thank you to all at Valette. You made our night!!
JenniferB
With the prices ask for itwas mediocre. Pork chop good every thing else rated a c. Ice cold mashed potatoes with chewy $51 steak! The scollops dish with 2 in a puff pastry good . Waiter rushed . Would not return.
Valette is a fabulous restaurant in the center of healdsburg. The food is excellent and I would highly recommend the 5 course tasting menu for $20 a course with the meal left to the chef with your input. I loved every course and found the restaurant low key and relaxing as I dined on my exquisite meal. Wish I lived closer!
charlie badaoui
Loud . Cement design of the restaurant .
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
BillM
It was our first time to visit Valette. From the time we arrived our service was excellent. The waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and made suggestions that made sense for us. The scallop appetizer and the carrot soup were excellent. My wife and I both had the duck breast and it was cooked a perfect medium rare and was seasoned well. We could not have had a better meal or experience.
Now, my favorite restaurant in Healdsburg. The menu is varied but short: 1 fish, 1 red meat, 1 pork, 1 fowl, 1 vege, and a chef's choice, as is the by-the-glass wine list. The bottled wine list is extensive. The service, the presentation, the food was, in a word, "perfect." The appetizers are imaginative. I loved the caviar served with creme fresh and seared threads of leaks. The duck breast was the best I have ever had: pink and warm on the inside with the skin seared to a crust with essentially no fat. The deserts were hard to choose from. We could tell that the staff, including the chef and owner are all proud of what they have and do. Expensive but not the most expensive in town. We are looking forward to going back.
We used to visit that place for several times per year for many years and missed only last year. We got used to interesting sauces and spices presented in unusual way. I made my reservation several months in advance and was denied earlier time, regular menu choices or inside seating right away. When we arrived the restaurant was partially empty and definitely understaffed. I have no idea what changed but tasting menu was super plane and boring with standard old school food. Nothing exciting or interesting. Same course was arriving with intervals for different people. Portions didn't look the same size. Whole presentation was unprofessionally fast and boring. Overpriced charge and mandatory tip build into the bill left a bad aftertaste. Half of our group was first time there and everyone left disappointed after such an expensive experience. Going to look for new places for our regular trips to Healdsburg. Leaving 3 stars instead of 2 just because of previous years experience
We had the 5 course tasting menu with the tuna and buratta appetizers, duck breast and New York steak as mains and the not snickers dessert. Food was tasty and the wine pairing was excellent, but our servers rushed through the menu and wine explanations which really diminished the experience. Most annoying was when the bill came, we saw some unexplained charges and had to inquire which was removed afterwards - this is highly unprofessional and spoiled the overall experience.
We live in San Diego County. This our second visit to Valette. I wish it was closer to home. Outstanding dining experience again. Thank you Sean and Jacob for taking such good care of my son and I.
Delicious food, beautifully presented. All properly cooked, nicely seasoned, exquisite flavors. Smooth, professional service. Nicely paced meal. We had a five-course "trust me" tasting menu, which was wonderful. If you're dining in Healdsburg, there are a lot of good choices. Valette is among the best.
We enjoyed our dinner very much. This is one of our favorite places to dine when we travel to the area. This is our second time for the chefs tasting menu. It never disappoints. From the delicious bites of food to the impeccable staff-what more could you ask for. We love getting five different dishes each and then we actually share those so we get ten. Also had the special cocktail, with tequila and guava. Very refreshing and part of the proceeds go to charity! Thanks Valette/Issac, staff and chef.
Hard to go wrong with their menu. Everything is top quality and prepared with creative care. Don't miss the Scallops en croute. Nice to dine at a restaurant that doesn't rip you off on wine prices (approx 2x retail). By the way, they have an excellent wine list from which to choose.
Great dinner for 32 anniversary along with BYOB 1982 Mouton Rothschild. Staff all congratulated us as did the father of the owner. Great to taste 10 different bites (share 2 Chef's menu) although the "bites" were quite large. Stars were the Wagu Tartar, Duck with the Agnolotti with Boar Ragu getting a WOW from me. Lots of attention to detail by both the kitchen and wait staff. 5 stars in all categories.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Decent food (the scallops in pastry were great) but the wait staff (and especially manager) need a lot of help. We were seated at a table near the bar/kitchen and watched as the manager Shaun stood and supervised but rarely helped the guests or the staff. A guest at the bar was having a medical issue and instead of staff offering to help one of the guests in our party got up to help a gentleman who repeatedly was passing out and offer her chair to him. The manager Shaun seemed so annoyed with the situation and unwilling to help. By the time the medical issue was resolved we had just finished dessert. Shaun then came over to our table to set down bread and ask if we wanted any appetizers. I don’t think he could be more out of it. I don’t think hospitality is a good fit for him.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Day Boat Scallops En Croute, Duck Confit
One of the best places I have ever eaten, anywhere. The scallop dish is honestly the best food I have ever eaten. If you're in Healdsburg and don't try Valette, you are cheating yourself.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Day Boat Scallops En Croute, Charcuterie Plate, Sashimi Grade Hawaiian Ahi Poke, Honey Brined Pork Porterhouse, American Wagyu New York Steak, Snickers Bar, Chef Valette's 'Trust Me' Tasting Menu
Restaurantji Recommends
We enjoyed a beautiful experience of cuisine, service, wine and atmosphere. We were a party of six with everyone walking out the door praising the restaurant for the experience. The appetizers of scallops, ahi, and burrata were outstanding and entrees were exceptional. Thank you to all at Valette. You made our night!!
With the prices ask for itwas mediocre. Pork chop good every thing else rated a c. Ice cold mashed potatoes with chewy $51 steak! The scollops dish with 2 in a puff pastry good . Waiter rushed . Would not return.
Valette is a fabulous restaurant in the center of healdsburg. The food is excellent and I would highly recommend the 5 course tasting menu for $20 a course with the meal left to the chef with your input. I loved every course and found the restaurant low key and relaxing as I dined on my exquisite meal. Wish I lived closer!
Loud . Cement design of the restaurant .
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
It was our first time to visit Valette. From the time we arrived our service was excellent. The waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and made suggestions that made sense for us. The scallop appetizer and the carrot soup were excellent. My wife and I both had the duck breast and it was cooked a perfect medium rare and was seasoned well. We could not have had a better meal or experience.