I was in Santa Rosa for a reunion of friends and we dined at Josef's our first night. It was an extremely positive experience from start to finish. We were a group of ten, and they gave us a private dining room with a big, square table that facilitated conversation nicely. Our server, Kimberly, was top-notch, friendly and professional and great with one couple's kids, aged three and six. She arranged for them to have special pasta and cheese dishes while the rest of us enjoyed more adult fare. There was a busboy named Mario who juggled for the kids, and had a million dollar smile. Everyone at the restaurant and at the Hotel La Rose, which houses the restaurant, has a great, upbeat attitude.

I started with wonderful escargot, baked in herb butter, then had the boeuf bourgignon, out of this world withabout three different kinds of mushrooms, including morels. The sides were a red cabbage, a shredded spaghetti squash with butter and a little parmesan, fresh green beans and a rice and bell pepper medly that reminded me of Hoppin John. Everything was wonderful. My companions all loved their meals, too, which included salmon, roast pork, mussels, veal, lobster bisque, and shrimp and avocado salad. For dessert I had apple streudel and a wee dram of Laphroaig Scotch, a perfect pairing. A friend had the rich chocolate torte with a snifter of armagnac and was thrilled with his selection, too.

Josef's is not an inexpensive evening, but with service so professional yet friendly and relaxed, and food that good, we didn't mind the price tag. I would highly suggest giving it a try.