You will love Healdsburg’s Lo & Behold restaurant and bar for its laser-focused botanical cocktails, unique comfort food, and laid back vibe where everyone is welcome. The enchanting garden patio and cozy lounge make this one of the best restaurants in Healdsburg.
When you’re ready to wine(d) down the day, and get ready for an evening in downtown Healdsburg, go where the locals go for cocktails and sharable plates: Lo & Behold. There are a lot of great restaurants in Healdsburg, but Lo & Behold stands out for its unique, globally-inspired comfort food that seamlessly blends timeless California cuisine with the flavors of South-east Asia, Mexico, and France.
The sign of a really good restaurant is one that the locals flock to, and if you live in Healdsburg, you almost always see someone you know at Lo & Behold – the restaurant is that popular with the community. Trying to figure out where to eat in Healdsburg? Look no further than this cocktail-centric spot.
Lo & Behold’s Downtown Healdsburg Location & Parking
Lo & Behold is located just a block from the Square in downtown Healdsburg at the intersection of Healdsburg Ave and Mill St. Staying at the H2 Hotel? The restaurant is right across the street.
Street parking is usually available on Healdsburg Ave, but if you’re struggling to find a spot, park in the lot behind the Matheson. You can almost always find parking there.
Pro tip: If you park in The Matheson, just remember that this is metered parking, and it is enforced. The parking meter only accepts credit and debit cards.
What’s on the Menu at Lo & Behold
Lo & Behold’s menu is an eclectic mix of globally influenced dishes from Mexico and Southeast Asia, but also California and classic American cuisine (hello, tasty chicken tendies!). If you need a break from the region’s ubiquitous “wine country cuisine”, go to Lo & Behold.
Start with a few items from the “Cold Box” like always-in-style crudo, fresh oysters on the half shell, or a zippy shrimp cocktail served with a sweet chili sauce, peanuts, and crispy wontons.
The ‘Snacks, Smalls, & Sharables’ Section of the menu has plenty of bar snacks and starters to pair with your wine or cocktail. Think fall-off-the-bone Crispy Pork Spare Ribs, a French bistro-inspired Goat Cheese Tart with caramelized onions, frisee, and bacon bits, and Edamame with salsa macha, lime and flake salt.
There’s no shortage of entree options at this Healdsburg restaurant. The Brazen Burger, topped with melty white cheddar cheese, sweet onions, lettuce, and fries really hits the spot after a day of wine tasting. Craving something lighter? Go with the Housemade Kimchi Noodles tossed with water chestnuts, egg, zingy black vinegar, and sesame. Add some healthy shrimp or chicken to balance out all of that wine you sipped during your tastings.
The Cocktails & Wine List at Lo & Behold
I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Lo & Behold has a decent wine list, but locals don’t go to Lo & Behold for the wine, they go for the can’t-stop-yourself-from-sipping cocktails. These drinks are crafted with the precision of an engineer who designs sports cars, and they are dangerously good.
Case in point, the Savasana. This beautiful magenta cocktail is made with fleurette gin, beet-ginger shrub, cucumber, cardamom, bergamot, and lemon. It tastes like a healthy tonic or elixir you would at a luxury health spa, but, oh, wait, it’s a gin-based cocktail. I’ve dined at Lo & Behold about a dozen times now, and I always order a Savasana.
Other favorites include the tongue-in-cheek, Fifty Shades, a lusty blend of bourbon, toasted pecan wood, sherry, sweet vermouth, and brucato amaro. The Love Bizarre, a cocktail of mezcal, cucumber, chareau, shiso, fennel, and lime, is refreshingly sublime.
Must-Order Menu Items at Lo & Behold
If you’ve checked out any reviews about Lo & Behold, there’s one dish that diners can’t get enough of (yours truly included!): the “Almost Famous” Chicken Tendies.
These golden and crispy on the outside, and moist (sorry, I know it’s the worst word, but it’s true) on the inside Chicken Tenders are amazing. They’re just about as perfect a bar food as you can get.
The other must order menu item at Lo & Behold is the Crispy Mushroom Egg Rolls served with truffle hot mustard and duck sauce. These egg rolls are super eggy and delicious, and mushrooms housed within are ultra savory with a slightly umami kick.
Other homeruns include the light and refreshing Pea Shoot Salad with sesame, yogurt, and sunflower seeds, and the Confit Beef Brisket Tacos with chili negra, refried white beans, asada onions, and consomme.
Cost of dinner for two: $55 per person, not including tax, gratuity.
This is calculated by ordering one cocktail and one glass of wine per person, one small plate to share, and two entrees.
Atmosphere: Casual, Comfortable & Rustic
There’s no better way to describe the atmosphere at Healdsburg’s Lo & Behold than by saying: this restaurant has good energy. Walking in, you just feel welcome. Couple that with all of the seating options, and you’ve got the recipe for an amazing meal.
The patio feels like you’re sitting in a friend’s garden. Lush plants line the walls, cute bulb lighting hangs from above. It’s absolutely dreamy at night.
Inside is just as homey. Sit at indoor tables in the lounge or dining room, or at the bar. No matter where I’ve sat at this Healdsburg restaurant, I’ve received great service. The food always comes out promptly and everyone is friendly and ready to help.
Making a reservation at Lo & Behold
On the weekends and during peak tourist seasons, Healdsburg restaurants are buzzing, so booking a reservation is always a good idea. You can easily make an online reservation for Lo & Behold here.
Forgot to make a reservation? Don’t worry, you can also try to walk-in to this downtown Healdsburg restaurant without a reservation and still find a table or a seat at the bar.
Tips
- Like many Healdsburg restaurants, Lo & Behold is closed on Tuesday & Wednesday. Be sure to plan accordingly if you’re in town early or mid-week.
- The best seats in the house are at the bar. The bartenders are fantastic, and if you’re having trouble deciding between cocktails, they’re happy to customize something for you.
- Try the Savasana with an egg white. I’m obsessed with egg white cocktails, and ever since a server told me that I could add an egg white to this gorgeous drink, it became my go-to.
- Lunch at Lo & Behold is just as tantalizing as dinner. Service runs straight through from 11:30am to midnight. The kitchen closes at 10pm, but you can hangout and sip your cocktail until midnight,
FAQs
What is the dress code at Lo & Behold?
Lo & Behold does not have a dress code. The restaurant draws a nice mix of locals and California wine country tourists, so you will find out-of-towners still in their winery outfits, locals in jeans and flannel shirts, women in summer dresses and jean jackets, and everything in between. Just come as you are!
Who owns Lo & Behold Healdsburg?
Lo & Behold is owned by Tara Heffernon and Laura Sanfilippo, two talented bartenders that helped define the cocktail scene in Healdsburg. Together with Chef Sean Raymond Kelley, the trio owns this innovative restaurant and cocktail bar.