Fantastic and creative dishes with unique takes on traditional menu items. We'll see you again in summer of 2024!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Jack H.
Thank you, everyone at Animo. You were amazing every time. Turbot, duck, porterhouse... gonna miss them
Lian T.
Maybe the best meal I've eaten?The vibe of this restaurant is so good. It's unpretentious, tiny, and feels like you're at home waiting for your friends to feed you from their awesome wood burning kitchen. I wish I'd captured pictures of the ambience because it really felt like you were being served magic!You can see the kitchen fridge when you walk in and during the dinner you see it get emptied as they bring out dish after delicious dish. It's pretty special to see the ingredients listed in their raw form and have it appear in front of you all alchemised.Everything we ate was so different and unique from anything I've eaten and the portions were amazing too. It's hard to pick standouts but I'd order everything again in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, we were so full we couldn't order dessert (basque cheesecake) but I'll take any excuse to come back.Service was 100. Food 100. Ambience 100
LaurenT
We always loved coming here. The food is delicious and always good. The prices reflect the detail and the quality they spend so please be mindful. This is not some burger joint. We will miss it dearly- but we will be back for more at Golden Bear Station!
goose
One of the very best restaurants in the Sonoma/Napa area. Four of us shared plates of appetizers: clams, mushrooms, scallops and tuna puttanesca. Each of these was fabulous: tremendous flavors. We also shared a whole turbot that was spectacularly good. The entire evening was exceptional.
SusanB
Amino certainly lived up to its reputation. Without exception every dish was delicious and beautifully presented. A large group of men celebrating the holidays was loud and somewhat marred the ambience, but other than that the experience was excellent.
Howie
First time at Animo, knowing it will be closing soon (for a while, at least, while owners open a new place). Lived up to the high expectations. Food was excellently prepared and was flavorful in ways not usually experienced in restaurants. Service was very friendly and personal without being intrusive. Clearly the quality and effort mean higher-than-average costs, but worth it for the experience. Looking forward to their new venture. Only issue here was a noisy room. Couldn't hear dinner companion easily, and she had to tell me The Rolling Stones (my favorite) was playing on the background music...I couldn't even hear it. A small price to pay for a delicious evening.
Megand
This was our first time at Animo. We had an amazing time! The food and service was so great! I wish they weren't closing and I wish I would have found them sooner! I would go back this week if they had any reservations open. I can't wait to try their new restaurant in Kenwood?
Hugh
Excellent food and good sized portions. Not cheap by any means, but worth the price. It's a shared dish place. For appetizers, we had the mushrooms, clams and lobster and they were fantastic - especially the mushrooms and the lobster. Our entre was the pork which was also fantastic and we had sides of brussels sprouts (good, but not the best I've had) and the rice, also fantastic. We shared the cheesecake for dessert and it was excellent - very smooth and creamy (but not as good as my wife's :-) ) It's a small place, but they are moving to Kenwood, so we'll have to see what it's like then. Service was friendly and attentive. A definite must-try place. We plan to return.
AnnieC
It was too bad we felt a little rushed as they had another service to clear our table for the next guests. It seemed their timing was a bit off as we didn't order for some time when we were seated. It's a higher price point and a special place. We have eaten here 4 times and loved coming here.
1st time here. The appetizers were delicious. Highly recommend the Grilled Hen in the Woods (mushrooms) & Manila clams! So good! Also had the dry aged ribeye, Kimchi fried rice & burnt cheesecake. Looking forward to visiting the new location.
Everything was exquisite... from the food to the service. This restaurant has earned its Michelin stars for sure!!! I'm only sad that they are closing in December... but will follow them to their new location and menu!!
RachelS
What an unexpected surprise to discover Animo in the process of an impromptu overnight visit to Sonoma, late November long nights getting longer at both ends. Little did I know that the proprietors plan to close this location in 3 weeks, so visiting the restaurant in its farewell days was an additional surprise. I had the pleasure of inviting and introducing a good friend who lives a few blocks from the Animos's present location and had never checked it out. Food was inventive and impeccably prepared and beautifully served. Heidy was a gracious and engaging host, who provided excellent counsel regarding ingredients and combinations and just the right proportions for sharing, as well as imparting history of Animo and clues regarding forthcoming move. I shall eagerly anticipate the next incarnation.
Kevin Raheja
Absolutely incredible. The appetizers are impeccable. The duck entree is divine. Amazing atmosphere. 10/10 experience. This place should be Michelin rated, IMO.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ralph Jaquez
Outstanding experience. Secluded, out of the way, but worth the visit. It felt like we were being invited to dinner with old friends. Thank you Animo!!
Fantastic and creative dishes with unique takes on traditional menu items. We'll see you again in summer of 2024!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Thank you, everyone at Animo. You were amazing every time. Turbot, duck, porterhouse... gonna miss them
Maybe the best meal I've eaten?The vibe of this restaurant is so good. It's unpretentious, tiny, and feels like you're at home waiting for your friends to feed you from their awesome wood burning kitchen. I wish I'd captured pictures of the ambience because it really felt like you were being served magic!You can see the kitchen fridge when you walk in and during the dinner you see it get emptied as they bring out dish after delicious dish. It's pretty special to see the ingredients listed in their raw form and have it appear in front of you all alchemised.Everything we ate was so different and unique from anything I've eaten and the portions were amazing too. It's hard to pick standouts but I'd order everything again in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, we were so full we couldn't order dessert (basque cheesecake) but I'll take any excuse to come back.Service was 100. Food 100. Ambience 100
We always loved coming here. The food is delicious and always good. The prices reflect the detail and the quality they spend so please be mindful. This is not some burger joint. We will miss it dearly- but we will be back for more at Golden Bear Station!
One of the very best restaurants in the Sonoma/Napa area. Four of us shared plates of appetizers: clams, mushrooms, scallops and tuna puttanesca. Each of these was fabulous: tremendous flavors. We also shared a whole turbot that was spectacularly good. The entire evening was exceptional.
Amino certainly lived up to its reputation. Without exception every dish was delicious and beautifully presented. A large group of men celebrating the holidays was loud and somewhat marred the ambience, but other than that the experience was excellent.
First time at Animo, knowing it will be closing soon (for a while, at least, while owners open a new place). Lived up to the high expectations. Food was excellently prepared and was flavorful in ways not usually experienced in restaurants. Service was very friendly and personal without being intrusive. Clearly the quality and effort mean higher-than-average costs, but worth it for the experience. Looking forward to their new venture. Only issue here was a noisy room. Couldn't hear dinner companion easily, and she had to tell me The Rolling Stones (my favorite) was playing on the background music...I couldn't even hear it. A small price to pay for a delicious evening.
This was our first time at Animo. We had an amazing time! The food and service was so great! I wish they weren't closing and I wish I would have found them sooner! I would go back this week if they had any reservations open. I can't wait to try their new restaurant in Kenwood?
Excellent food and good sized portions. Not cheap by any means, but worth the price. It's a shared dish place. For appetizers, we had the mushrooms, clams and lobster and they were fantastic - especially the mushrooms and the lobster. Our entre was the pork which was also fantastic and we had sides of brussels sprouts (good, but not the best I've had) and the rice, also fantastic. We shared the cheesecake for dessert and it was excellent - very smooth and creamy (but not as good as my wife's :-) ) It's a small place, but they are moving to Kenwood, so we'll have to see what it's like then. Service was friendly and attentive. A definite must-try place. We plan to return.
It was too bad we felt a little rushed as they had another service to clear our table for the next guests. It seemed their timing was a bit off as we didn't order for some time when we were seated. It's a higher price point and a special place. We have eaten here 4 times and loved coming here.
Restaurantji Recommends
1st time here. The appetizers were delicious. Highly recommend the Grilled Hen in the Woods (mushrooms) & Manila clams! So good! Also had the dry aged ribeye, Kimchi fried rice & burnt cheesecake. Looking forward to visiting the new location.
Everything was exquisite... from the food to the service. This restaurant has earned its Michelin stars for sure!!! I'm only sad that they are closing in December... but will follow them to their new location and menu!!
What an unexpected surprise to discover Animo in the process of an impromptu overnight visit to Sonoma, late November long nights getting longer at both ends. Little did I know that the proprietors plan to close this location in 3 weeks, so visiting the restaurant in its farewell days was an additional surprise. I had the pleasure of inviting and introducing a good friend who lives a few blocks from the Animos's present location and had never checked it out. Food was inventive and impeccably prepared and beautifully served. Heidy was a gracious and engaging host, who provided excellent counsel regarding ingredients and combinations and just the right proportions for sharing, as well as imparting history of Animo and clues regarding forthcoming move. I shall eagerly anticipate the next incarnation.
Absolutely incredible. The appetizers are impeccable. The duck entree is divine. Amazing atmosphere. 10/10 experience. This place should be Michelin rated, IMO.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Outstanding experience. Secluded, out of the way, but worth the visit. It felt like we were being invited to dinner with old friends. Thank you Animo!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kimchi Fried Rice, Dry-Aged Ribeye