I recently got a very exciting email in my inbox from Healdsburg chef Jacob Harth, the man behind those Winnie’s pop-ups at the Maison Healdsburg wine bar. He wrote: “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.
Well, well! The new restaurant, called Bistro Lagniappe, will serve “wood-fired country cooking in the heart of Healdsburg, inspired by the rural bistros of France,” according to its website — and the plan is to open later this month. “Lagniappe will be open for dinner service Wednesday through Sunday, starting at 4pm daily,” Jacob wrote in his email to me. “We aim to open May 2025, with plans to introduce weekend brunch service at a later date.” Here’s what he said to expect, food- and vibe-wise:
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: /lan’yap/) 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, the legendary Campo Fina — a casual Italian eatery that for years served as a warm, bustling meeting place and community hub for locals near the plaza. Now, Bistro Lagniappe will take its shot. The San Francisco Chronicle is calling the space “embattled.” And this is the saucy Eater SF headline: “Maligned Molti Amici Is Out. A French Bistro From a Hype Oregon Chef Is in.” Here’s to hoping this one works out better than the last, for all of our sakes! In the meantime, keep an eye on Chef Jacob’s Instagram page, where he’s been posting sneak peaks and updates.
Also worth noting: Bistro Lagniappe’s announcement comes right as another hopeful French bistro along Old Redwood Highway down in Windsor, called Maison Porcella, closes its doors after around two years. (Ever heard of the two-year restaurant curse?) Their last day open was April 25. “It’s a lot of hard work for little compensation, plus our location is a little off the beaten path,” Chef Marc-Henri Jean-Baptiste told the Press Democrat. “It was really hard to get people out here on a regular basis so we decided that we’re shutting down the restaurant.” However, owners say on Facebook that “you can still privatize our space for groups of 10 and more until the end of June” and that the Maison Porcella team will still be selling charcuterie boards, pastries and catered meals. More info here. And of course, you can still find them at the Healdsburg Farmers Market!
Note from Simone: This piece was crafted for the weekly email newsletter I write for the Healdsburg Tribune, called Healdsburg Today. Subscribe here!
Can’t wait to try it! Sounds delicious and delightful!