Reason's Profile

The Applewood Inn is an amazing B&B located just a short stroll from "downtown" Guerneville. However, in spite of its proximity, it feels like it is a world away -- very understated, peaceful, and with a beautiful pool and gardens. The restaurant here is one of the area's jewels, and it is hard to believe that this gourmet experience is so close to the offhand trashiness of the Russian River. The meals that we had here were nuanced and delicious, the service was knowledgeable, friendly, and polite, and the wine selection was local and interesting.

The new sign for the renovated bar has gone up, and the place is going to be named 18th Street Bar. Not a great name (IMHO) and not a great sign either -- it's a crazy, rainbow-striped circus tent. My guess is that the interior won't be understated elegance. You can see a picture at http://castroshopper.vox.com/library/post/its-all-about-the-awnings.html .

My partner and I love Martuni's because it is great fun to listen to the piano player's patter and the bar can attract quite a high caliber of singers for its continuous open mike. The down side is that the fun depends on the quality of the piano player, and our favorite retired a couple years ago. But still, a lovely place to sit and listen to music.

I've only been here as a diner, but this is actually one of my favorite lunch spots in the Castro. The food is not spectacular -- the portions are on the small side and the sandwiches are better than the salads -- but the banks of large windows make for a bright, sunny place to relax and watch the crowds pass by. There are some seriously fine waiters here as well.

The defining feature of Mecca is that it is one of the loudest spots on God's earth. That's good if you want to people watch in a bustling environment, but it's bad if you want to retain any of your high-frequency hearing range. I've only been here as a diner, and the food is good, but quite pricey. It's definitely not my first choice.

Loud, flashy, often packed. This is a fun place to people watch, although conversation is difficult. The specialty drinks I've had there have all been quite tasty. Standing or sitting in the lounge area are not very comfortable, so it's best to fight for a bar seat or one of the oval tables. The rear seating is for diners only, and it is worth it to buy one of the tasty appetizers in order to grab a chair. Note that the men's room has no lock and no stall, so it's not for the shy.

If you are looking for a place to go with friends where you can actually have a conversation, this is the perfect bar. It's decorated like an English study with comfortable leather chairs and banquettes, the lighting is subdued, and there is no throbbing club music. This is my favorite place to bring friends when they are visiting the Castro. The mixed drinks are good, although I didn't care for the Mandarin Orange Drop.