Fall Into Delicious Comfort Food

Fall has arrived and with it a host of satisfying comfort food options for dine-in or take-out.

Loft Wine Bar & Restaurant

BENICIA – When looking for a spectacular meal with local flavor in a casual friendly setting, try the Loft Wine Bar & Restaurant in Benicia. This is by far one of my favorite places to enjoy a great dinner with friends and family. The Loft prides itself on high-end ingredients and spectacular Napa and Sonoma wines.

You’ll enter through their new streetside patio complete with cozy fire pits and a small view of the bay. The owner and true local, Jason Diavatis, is often on-site to meet and greet his many guests and I can say he is positively obsessed with providing them all with good food and unforgettable wines and spirits. If that wasn’t enough, he has also created a secret speakeasy on-site. The “office” (reservations only), a slight Disney style experience with its own private entrance, will throw you back to the roaring twenties. Whether or not you choose to dress the part, you can enjoy an intimate date night, party with friends and family or book a private event in an intimate setting, all under the restored player piano.

On our visit, we ordered two of the house specialties; Beef Wellington (reserve yours online, as they do run out), a tender filet mignon wrapped in prosciutto with mushroom duxelles in a French pastry with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables ($60) – a real treat for special occasions – and the Roasted Lamb Chops with a divine lemon-mint sauce, a side of roasted garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables ($36). They were fall-off-the-bone and beyond amazing!

Make your way to Benicia this holiday season. A full-service bar, restaurant and speakeasy. Patio, restaurant and bar seating. Reservations recommended for the “Office,” Beef Wellington’s, tables and private parties.

280 1st Street in Benicia
Open varied hours Tues – Sun, closed Mondays.
TheLoftWineBar.com | 707.745.4200

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Mainstreet Smokehouse

VACAVILLE – A great grab-and-go lunch to dinner spot in downtown Vacaville, Mainstreet Smokehouse has a full selection of meats they smoke daily. From a selection of pulled pork, brisket, bison sausage, tri-tip and chicken, you’re sure to find one you’ll fall in love with.

We decided on take-out platters. I ordered a Keto Platter with Brisket ($9.95), which is a basic meat-only box. It does come with Keto-specific sauce, or you can choose one of their sauces: sweet, spicy or regular. I also ordered the Pulled Pork Platter ($11.95) that comes with a side (we chose the baked beans—a good-sized portion), and two mini corn muffins that are sweet little bites of heaven!

Try Mainstreet Smokehouse for smoked meats, burgers, specialty items, mixed drinks and wines.

313 Main Street in Vacaville
Open Monday – Saturday: 11:30 – 8pm, closed Sundays.
MainstreetSmokehouse.com | 707.474.9848

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Tomat’s California Cuisine

WINTERS – From the moment you arrive at Tomat’s, you’ll feel like you’ve turned back the clock, where friendly faces and great service are of the utmost importance. We opted to sit in the main dining area that was full of locals chatting and sharing the day’s events.

We ordered the Lamb Chops which included three thick-cut lamb loin chops pan-seared with an apricot bacon glaze, a baked potato and veggies ($24.95). The glaze lent a sweet and delicious flavor to the lamb. Next was the New York Bleu, a 12oz. New York Steak topped with Danish Blue Cheese, served with a baked potato and veggies ($26.95). Our steak was a bit overcooked but also very tasty. I’d order again but ask for rare. Great portions, good value, unbelievable service.

1123 Grant Ave. in Winters
Open varied hours Thursday – Sunday
530.795.3404

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Brandy Hart writes “Tastes of Your Town,” a monthly feature in the print edition of Your Town Monthly. This article was originally published in the November 2019 Solano and Yolo County print editions.