Valette is the more formal end of Healdsburg's dining scene — a handsome room on Center Street where the cooking is precise, the wine list is deep in Sonoma producers, and the service has the kind of ease that comes from a staff that genuinely likes what they do.
Chef Dustin Valette grew up in Healdsburg and trained in San Francisco before returning to open the restaurant in 2015. The menu is firmly Californian in its sourcing and sensibility but French in its technique: expect tasting menus and à la carte options built around local seafood, Sonoma lamb, and vegetables from nearby farms. The bread program is serious; the house-made charcuterie board is a reliable way to start.
The bar program is strong and the room fills quickly on weekends. A reservation is advisable for dinner; lunch is more relaxed. One of the two or three best restaurants in town.