ESTATE Restaurant will be closing in mid-September 2012. Earlier this year, the property was purchased by Ramekins Culinary School. There is a possibility ESTATE may be opening in a new location but in the meantime you can expect some upcoming ESTATE dinners at Suite D, an event space located at 21800 Schellville Road in Sonoma. 

Sondra Bernstein, who owns and runs several restaurants and businesses including the newly-opened Estate and the ever-popular the girl & the fig, is an Entrepreneur, a Restaurateur, a Businesswoman. But, if you really want to know what to expect from a visit to Estate, you have to understand that Sondra Bernstein is an Artist. She simply has one of those personalities that forces her to create: Following a formula is not an option. So, it’s little surprise that her ventures are not only well-executed, but they’re also inspired, passionate, unique. They have soul. And Estate is no exception. Each piece is wonderful on its own: the food, the ambiance, the service. But, ah, when Bernstein brings them all together, the song can send a tingle up your spine.

The Food:

The food is Italian-inspired. Meaning, the dishes aren’t always going to follow the traditional recipes. Instead, they’re going to taste like what your Italian grandma would have made if she happened to live on a farm in Sonoma. (And if she happened to be an extraordinary cook.) Many of the same techniques for food preparation and cooking are used; and yes, there’s lots of pasta. But, the ingredients are the bounty of Sonoma County. Chef and business partner John Toulze.—another artistic soul—recently travelled through Italy looking as much for inspiration as for information. Watch the video above to get a feel for the dishes that captured his imagination.

The Ambiance:

Estate is in a beautiful, historic building located in Sonoma California. The 1884 Victorian was once the home of General Vallejo’s daughter and her husband, the son of Count Agoston Haraszathy (the “grandfather of California vitivulture”).

Before Bernstein bought it, the building was home to a popular restaurant called The General’s Daughter. A businessman would have kept the name and left everything the same as much as possible, cashing in on the reputation. But you can’t ask a true artist to live off a derivative work. Instead, Bernstein’s challenge was to take this space and make it her own.  And she did. There’s still a feel of history, and (for lack of a better way to put it) “memories” in the space. Yet, it’s hip and contemporary as well. And more fun and casual and lively than it had been in its past incarnation.

This feeling of  “historical yet hip” is echoed in the artworks, which are manipulated stills from old Italian films. Bernstein went through several movies to find the perfect stills—the ones that seemed to convey an entire story in one photo. Then the project was passed on to fellow artist Christopher Butler who created his own technique for rendering the photos.

Not only are the resulting artworks striking in their own right, but I also love the fact that the interior was designed by the owner and expresses her unique vision. I, for one, am so tired of everything having to look “right.” Does everyone who is at all in the public eye need an image consultant? Does every actress have to be dressed by a designer? Does every business owner have to hire an interior decorator who knows the proper colors? Yuk. Here we are, a country so proud of our freedom, yet grown adults are scared to dress themselves and to decorate their own rooms. So I love that Bernstein’s businesses are not only lovely but also bold and real and unique.

The Service:

Pardon me if I sound totally Northern Californian, but Estate has a “good vibe.” The wait staff is professional yet friendly, and they seem so…calm. It’s just not typical to see waiters and waitresses and bussers being so tranquil. And it rubs off, making the food—and the whole experience—more enjoyable.
What’s the secret to a tranquil staff? I’m not sure, but I’m guessing it has something to do with their boss…

Not long ago, I spoke with Bernstein for quite a long time on the phone. Not only does she have one of the nicest, most soothing voices you can imagine, but, nothing seems to get her ruffled. We spoke shortly after the restaurant’s opening and everything was still in flux. The stock market tanked that day. The economy was in shambles. And, even as I pointed out the obvious hurdles in her life (because I’m just that kind of person), Bernstein remained calm and tranquil.
And when she combines that relaxed feel with a gracious estate and incredible food, Bernstein creates a wonderful dining experience.