Equus Restaurant at the FountainGrove Inn Hotel & Convention Center

GOLF & Lifestyle Magazine's restaurant reviews are usually the result of recommendations or suggestions from our readers.  On rare occasions when visiting the restaurants and preparing for the review we encounter those special things that really get our attention!  This happened while in the Sonoma County Wine Country to review the Equus Restaurant at FountainGrove Inn Hotel & Convention Center.

An extremely friendly and truly customer oriented staff greeted us when we arrived.  After meeting and spending time with General Manager Ken Murakami we knew why the staff was so impressive… Ken's well above-average people skills, which were reflected by each and every staff member we encountered, are among the many reasons that the FountainGrove Inn is truly a special place.

We began our meal with the Dungeness Crab Cakes served with a tomato-ginger chutney and lemon beurre blanc.  The tomato-ginger chutney added a nice sweet acid balance to the fresh and abundant crab.

Next we sampled the Red and Golden Beet Salad. I love a beet salad, and this one was really top-notch!  It contained organic sliced roasted beets with goat cheese-stuffed Medjool dates, blood orange slices and hydroponic watercress sprinkled with pistachios and an aged sherry vinaigrette. Besides the amazing taste of the entire salad, the sweetness of the dates and richness of the goat cheese put this salad at the top of my all time favorites.

For the entrée, we had to try the Pan Roasted Alaskan Halibut. It was served on jasmine rice with a fish sauce and coconut lemongrass broth. English peas, sweet potato, shitake mushrooms and carrots accompanied this exceptional dish. The combination of perfectly cooked halibut with the fusion of authentic Asian flavors made the dish come together really well. It was light enough for spring, but could hold its own being served in any season.

For dessert, we finished with the Classic Tiramisu. Served in a martini glass, the lady fingers were soaked with espresso, crème de cocoa and brandy. It was topped with a combination of whipped mascarpone, eggs and sugar then sprinkled with cocoa powder. Heavenly!!

The restaurant staff, including Executive Chef Jeff Reilly, Food and Beverage Manager Cohen Jay, Sommelier and server Larry Van Alst, and the very efficient bus boys, gives dining at Equus that special touch, making each diner feel they are the most important person there.  The combination of outstanding cuisine and exceptional service has added Equus to our list of favorite places to dine.

The hotel is one of the wine country's finest, the convention - special event facilities are outstanding, and their lounge is on top of our list for “19th holes” after a round of golf at one of the nearby courses.  Bartenders Loren and Armand are friendly and professional, plus excellent mixologists.  The selections are awesome, including an impressive wine list as well as over 75 single malt scotches.  Every Friday there is a wine tasting featuring Equus' winery of the month.  To top it off, they feature $2. Tuesday and Thursday Happy Hours, with $2. beer and appetizers.

The hotel's rooms are above average, ranging from deluxe king size to 2 room suites of over 700 square feet including a dining area and wet bar - there are also spa suites which feature oversize jet-tubs.  FountainGrove's convention facility can handle groups of up to 350 for meetings, banquets and other special events.  Its close proximity to the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts make it the ideal place to stay when attending an event such as the upcoming appearances of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Huey Lewis, Sheryl Crow, The Beach Boys or any of their other scheduled entertainment.  Plus, on numerous occasions the headliners stay at FountainGrove Inn, often found in the Equus Restaurant or relaxing in the lounge.

When you experience the FountainGrove Inn and Equus Restaurant & Lounge you'll understand why they really got our attention!  To find out more about the FountainGrove Inn and Equus visit www.fountaingroveinn.com.