New Restaurant, Arandas, Opening Soon In Healdsburg

HEALDSBURG, CA — A new restaurant, Arandas, is getting ready to officially open to the public Monday, June 17, bringing the soul of Mexican cuisine to downtown Healdsburg.

At 29 North St. in the luxurious Hotel Les Mars, Arandas is the sister to Goodnight’s and also takes the place of a former well-regarded wine country restaurant, Chalkboard.

Helmed by Executive Chef Adrien Nieto, Arandas aims to push the envelope with purposeful intention. This distinction is important to Chef Nieto whose family hails from Jalisco on his father’s side and Matamoros on his mother’s.

"I want to offer people a different viewpoint of Mexican cuisine," he states. "My vision is modern Mexican— but still with Mexican soul."

The Food

From riffs on traditional Mexican dishes to innovative fusion creations, the food at Arandas is both a taste memory and a celebration of the bold flavors that this diverse region offers while underlining Chef Nieto’s vast arsenal of global influences.

Think ceviche with accents of Japanese ingredients; tacos with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flair; and even a Mexican-style hummus emboldened with burnt chiles, black sesame, huitlacoche, and house-made Tajin seasoning, enlivened with Persian sumac.

Arandas' à la carte menu, comprised mostly of shareable plates, highlights the fresh, seasonal bounty from the restaurant’s farm at nearby Chalk Hill Winery. At Chef Nieto’s direction, tomatillos and specialized peppers have planted on the farmand He is looking forward to highlighting them in signature dishes, some based on family recipes, including that for his mom’s salsa.

The Drinks

Arandas' wine list offers a robust range of local wines from both Sonoma and Napa counties, with an added focus on wines from various countries and territories across Latin America, including Mexico, Argentina and Chile. Pét-nats — a cousin to sparkling wine— in particular, are spotlighted, as their fresh taste and effervescence pair beautifully with the bold flavors of Chef Nieto’s menu. The restaurant’s cocktail program and spirit offerings focus largely on high-quality tequila and mezcal.

Arandas takes its name from the city in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, which happens to be the home of Tequilas El Mexicano, a third-generation, family-owned tequila producer whose portfolio will be featured prominently at the restaurant’s bar, along with a selection of mezcals and rums. The cocktail menu was created by lead bartender Reina Enriquez and features a range of classics, some tropical-inspired options, and of course, an on-point margarita. An assortment of Mexican beers are also available, with the potential of a custom brew made in collaboration with a local craft brewery.

The Design

The restaurant’s 60-seat dining room was transformed into a sophisticated hacienda with an alluring vibe. Black-and-gold snakeskin-like wallpaper embellishes the walls, while a series of artsy hanging lights evoke cascading jungle foliage. Diners can take a seat on oversized leather woven chairs at earth-tone faux leather tables.

The bar boasts a new black marble top, and the kitchen has been completely renovated. Previously open to the dining room, it is now fully enclosed, with the exciting addition of a yakitori-style grill that will help Chef Nieto impart char and smoke to his food.

The 40-seat patio outfitted with heaters and shade sails has been embellished with a new lush array of plants, creating an elegant and secluded ambiance.

What To Know

Arandas will launch with dinner nightly and weekend lunch, plus a Happy Hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with plans to add daily lunch in the coming weeks.

Chef Nieto knows precisely the type of restaurant environment he wants to foster with Arandas.

"When you visit my family’s house, my relatives will ask if you are hungry or thirsty, and if you shake your head 'no,' they will bring you a plate and a tequila anyway," he said. "It's that kind of soulful experience, of feeling you’re in our home, that I want to create here."

For more information, please visit arandashealdsburg.com and follow Arandas on social media.