Worth the Drive: Sam’s Social Club

The legendary Indian Springs Resort and Spa, in Calistoga, recently underwent major renovations to its historic property, including the opening of a new restaurant: Sam’s Social Club.

Named after Samuel Brannan, the first millionaire in California, the restaurant and bar has attracted attention for its innovative twists on comfort food and California cuisine.

It opened little over a year ago and has provided Calistoga with a fresh, artsy, modern vibe that was much needed in the community and at the resort.

Chef Kory Stewart has spent time in the San Francisco kitchen’s of Michael Mina, Scott Howard, Town Hall and Postrio. Prior to coming to Calistoga, he served as executive chef at Amaricano.

Sam’s is a great excuse to head to Calistoga for an afternoon (or a night stay at Indian Springs for a dip in their famous mineral baths) – wander through historic downtown Calistoga and grab lunch or dinner at Sam’s, located less than a block off of Lincoln Avenue.

The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating, weather permitting. The dining room is decorated with screen printed artwork, colorful cozy pillows and teal glassware. The bar is full of more beautiful artwork, including a large mural.

Start with a cocktail in the lounge or outside at the fire pit, perhaps a Lincoln Avenue Cooler, a refreshing ode to the main drag in Calistoga. It’s made with Sipsmith gin, lavender honey, lemon juice and soda water ($13).

Wine and beer is available too, with a menu specializing in Calistoga-area vineyards, including Coquerel, Lava Vine, and Chateau Montelena.

Pair your cocktail(s) with a selection of small plates ($8 each): deviled eggs, house-made ricotta with pepper jam, and fried brussels sprouts.

Dinner in the dining room is cozy and relaxed. Request a corner booth or a table by the fireplace. Portions are hearty, so bring friends.

Launch dinner with an appetizer – the market ceviche comprises fresh catch, mixed with avocado and served with sweet potato chips for scooping ($18). It was tuna on our visit and large enough to feed a small family. The blue cheese wedge salad is a steakhouse throwback, topped with rich blue cheese dressing, cherry tomatoes, bacon and a touch of red onion ($14).

For the main course, we opted two go vegan and carnivore. The cauliflower steak was the hit of the table: baked cauliflower topped with charred tahini, hot pepper (grown on-site) vinaigrette, puffed farro, oil cured olives and a touch of pomegranate ($21). It is an exotic dish with lush flavor, think Morocco.

Meat eaters will be sated with the Allen Brother’s rib eye, which was large enough for two to share ($38). It was perfectly cooked and served with a giant dollop of decadent bone marrow butter. A side of crispy fries added the crunch.

All desserts are made in house. The churros are flavored with Candy Cap, a sweet mushroom. They taste nothing like mushroom and taste just like what you expect out of a churro – sugary sweet and soft on the  inside and crispy on the inside. The Dulce de Leche cream served on the side makes for an over the top dessert ($9).

For chocolate lovers, the Valrhona chocolate pudding is a rich experience. It’s topped with salted caramel, whipped cream and hazelnuts, and served with butterscotch cookies ($9).

A carefully curated list of after-dinner drinks are offered, including aged ports.

Stay the night at Indian Springs Resort & Spa for an added “worth the drive” bonus (indianspringscalistoga.com)

Sam’s Social Club is open all day, serving breakfast, brunch (Sat & Sun), lunch, snacks and dinner. Reservations are highly recommended. 942-4969, 1712 Lincoln Ave, Calistoga. samssocialclub.com