Just weeks before the announcement of California’s 2024 Michelin star awardees, Healdsburg’s Molti Amici restaurant has been named among 13 culinary gems throughout the state considered “too good to keep secret” by the renowned restaurant guide.
Though the recognition will not necessarily translate into a coveted star or Bib Gourmand award (for value-priced restaurants) at the Aug. 5 ceremony in Half Moon Bay, it’s a nice feather in the cap. Molti Amici will now be included in the “recommended” section of the 2024 Guide.
“The Molti team couldn’t be more excited and honored to receive this recognition. (We) are very thankful for everyone who has been a part of this special journey, past and future staff, guests and our community. We’re looking forward to a bright 2025,” said owner Jonny Barr.
Also included in the recent list of notables were restaurants in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Oakland (Burdell) and San Francisco (Azalina’s, Hed 11, Tiya). Ten other restaurants — primarily in Southern California — were added to the guide in March and five in May. This is the first nod to the North Bay this year.
“Wine Country certainly has no shortage of this sort of casual Italian eatery, with a menu featuring the expected wood-fired pizzas and housemade pasta — but few of them manage to hit their mark quite so dead on as they do here,” said Michelin Inspectors in a news release Wednesday.
“They may not be reinventing the wheel, but those pizzas are ideally blistered and feature simple but compelling toppings like squash blossom with fontina and balsamic, and the pasta, like a satisfying take on bucatini amatriciana topped with crunchy breadcrumbs, offers an ideally al dente chew,” the press release continued. “On one of Healdsburg’s not-infrequent balmy days, the enclosed patio, complete with bocce court, is indeed an excellent spot to gather with ‘many friends,’ as suggested by the name.”
Molti Amici opened in the former Campo Fina space last July with former SingleThread employees Jonny Barr and chefs Sean McGaughey and Melissa Yanc at the helm. McGaughey and Yanc, who are married, own Healdsburg’s Quail & Condor Bakery, Troubadour and Le Diner, a prix-fixe dinner hosted at Troubadour.
The restaurant was named among sonomamag.com’s “Best of 2023 Openings” for its stellar lineup of woodfired pizzas, fresh pasta and craft cocktails.
330 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-756-3169, moltiamici.com