I got a very exciting email in my inbox this morning from Healdsburg chef Jacob Harth, the man behind those Winnie’s pop-ups at the Maison Healdsburg wine bar. He writes: “I previously announced the opening of my restaurant Winnie’s a few months ago and we did several popup previews of the concept at Maison in Healdsburg. Although we did find a location for Winnie’s, the buildout is going to take several years so I don’t have any updates on that front. However in the meantime I have been living, working, and raising my family here in Healdsburg and I recently received a unique opportunity to take over the Molti Amici space” at 330 Healdsburg Ave.
Hot dang! The new restaurant will be a French-inspired bistro called Bistro Lagniappe, and it will be opening ASAP this spring — as soon as next month, even. “Lagniappe will be open for dinner service Wednesday through Sunday, starting at 4pm daily,” Jacob says. “We aim to open May 2025, with plans to introduce weekend brunch service at a later date.”
Here’s what to expect from the food and vibe, according to Jacob:
Bistro Lagniappe is a wood-fired restaurant, which will showcase California countryside cooking inspired by the rural routiers and bistros of France, informed by the best ingredients from Sonoma County.
Lagniappe (pronounced: /lanˈyap/) means “a small gift given” or “a little something extra” — it represents the level of cuisine and hospitality we aim to provide to our guests.
The goal is to create a welcoming space for the Healdsburg community, offering thoughtful service, warm hospitality, and simple, high-quality dishes at an excellent value. We are committed to supporting local producers by sourcing nearly 100% of our ingredients from Sonoma County farms, ranches, and fishers. Our cooking style will be minimalist and straightforward, allowing our exceptional local artisans to shine.
Doesn’t sound too far off from the lofty aims of Molti Amici, which shuttered barely a year after opening last fall, due to major money drama. (Resulting in a legal saga that finally just ended this spring. Rest in peace!) Molti’s founders, a trio of SingleThread alums, hoped to recreate the spirit of the former restaurant in that space, Campo Fina — a casual Italian eatery that for years served as a warm, bustling meeting place and community hub for locals near the plaza.
Here are some more details on the vision for Bistro Lagniappe, from a job posting on the Culinary Agents website for a restaurant host:
Bistro Lagniappe is a new restaurant coming soon to downtown Healdsburg, serving French-inspired farmhouse cuisine rooted in California’s seasonal bounty. Our menu highlights pasture-raised meats, line-caught fish, and produce from regenerative farms across Sonoma County. We’re building a hospitality team that reflects the values of the producers we work with — respect, care, and craftsmanship.
Looks like there’s another job posting on Craiglist for a line cook at Healdsburg’s soon-to-open bistro. Here’s to hoping this one works out better than the last one!
Note from Simone: This piece was crafted for the weekly email newsletter I write for the Healdsburg Tribune, called Healdsburg Today. Subscribe here!
