Page 24 - Sonoma County Gazette April 2017

YETI – Where Food is More than Folklore
By Houston Porter
After nearly a decade at its Glen Elen location, Yeti Restaurant has
established a reputation for excellent Indian and Nepalese cuisine, as
well as attentive service, an extensive wine and beer list, and a classy yet comfortable ambiance. It comes as no surprise that Yeti was voted Best Indian Restaurant in 2016 by Bohemian readers and is listed in the Michelin Guide as “recommended.” However, after just two years at its second location, Yeti Santa Rosa is forged a name for itself. This is no diamond in the rough though, instead being a fully polished, yet undiscovered gem.
At the corner of Farmers Lane and 4th Street, Yeti sits in the shadow of the historic Flamingo Hotel sign. Other than the generous parking lot, no one would know that a Lyon’s restaurant used to occupy this space, because chef/ owner Narayan Somname has done a masterful job of transforming what could have been a boring run of the mill restaurant into something warm, inviting, and unique.
24 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 4/17
If you know beer, and love IPA’s, by all means order yourself one. But, if you simply default to IPAs because that is what everyone else orders, I urge you to try something different. IPAs are at the hoppy end of the beer flavor scale, and are often so bitter that they detract from the flavors of the food you are eating.
Yeti offers several seating areas without ever feeling disjointed or chaotic, no matter how crowded it gets. The décor is attractive and comfortable and fits the space well. Yellow cloth napkins add a nice accent
to the dark wood tables, deep maroon booths, and tapestry upholstered chairs.
Even though
it is only steps
from the bustle of
passing traffic, Yeti maintains an air of calmness. The entire dining room is set for service, so the staff is never scrambling to set tables as the room fills with diners. And due to the décor, furnishings, and the very professional staff, Yeti exudes a sense of class.
At the same time, even a shorts and flip-flop wearing vacationer or jeans and t-shirt local will feel right at home dining at Yeti because it never comes across as pretentious. Yeti is warm and inviting and although fancy enough to reserve for a special occasion, yet it is also relaxed enough for someone looking to just grab a beer and bite while watching a game at the bar.
Yeti has an impressive menu and we have enjoyed their great weekend buffet on several occasions. We drove up from Petaluma to scope out the happy hour menu for a possible rendezvous with Santa Rosa friends, so we headed straight to the bar. Unique among local Indian restaurants, Yeti has a beautiful wood- carved bar, which is comfortable, well stocked, and expertly attended.
YETI cont’d on page 25