Gerard's Paella y Tapas Hits the Spot During Sonoma County Restaurant Week

When looking for a lunch spot to visit during Sonoma County Restaurant Week, I decided my family couldn't pass up on the opportunity to dine at Gerard's Paella y Tapas. Although Gerard's Paella is a relatively new addition to the downtown Santa Rosa foodie scene, locals will recognize the name and delicious paella from food and wine events all across the county. Their brick and mortar location has surpassed all expectations and is absolutely worth visiting.

First, I love this place because it is so kid-friendly! My son is now 13 months and when we dine out, it can be tough to keep him in the high-chair the entire duration of a meal. At Gerard's, both patrons and staff were incredibly friendly with my son and overall, I felt that our family was very welcomed. In addition to the kid-friendly atmosphere, Gerard's is also an excellent choice for those with food sensitivities (like my son and I). Still not eating dairy, it was great to see the dairy-free and gluten-free options on the menu stated so clearly! Dining out with food sensitivities and intolerances can be hard and often risky, but that wasn't the case at Gerard's.

In addition to accommodating families with food sensitivities, the restrooms at Gerard's also feature a changing table! While this seems like a no-brainer, I am often shocked at how many dining establishments I visit that do not have a changing table. This simple item makes such a huge difference for families with babies and young toddlers, and is just another thing that makes Gerard's Paella such a great restaurant for families.

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During Sonoma County Restaurant Week, Gerard's is offering a fantastic $10 lunch menu that features a tasty and fresh salad served with your choice of paella (Rosa or Verdura). The salad is sweet, savory and full of textures with its vinaigrette, crisp romaine, peppery arugula and briney olives. The Verdura is a vegetable-packed paella with tons of flavor—my son loved this! I really enjoyed the flavors of the sweet peppers and the texture of the crispy garbanzo beans. The Rosa paella dishes up tons of flavor with it peppery arugula, fennel, chorizo bilbao and chicken. Both of these paellas were fresh, flavorful and plentiful—truly a steal for $10!

Another thing I love about Gerard's Paella is that they have happy hour every day from 3-6pm. They've got tasty bites, sangria and beer on tap for very reasonable prices. A much-needed addition to the Santa Rosa happy hour scene!

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