By David Landis, The Gay Gourmet (with considerable help from Jerry Lee, Sierra Repertory Theatre)—
Over the years, my husband and I (with our dogs) have taken numerous trips to California’s Gold Country, along state route 49 south of Sacramento. It’s an underrated, yet doable, 3-hour trip from the Bay Area. Visiting Sonora, Columbia, and Jamestown provides a historical glimpse into California’s past, especially insight into the 1849 gold rush boom—and what it meant for our state’s phenomenal growth. Plus, there’s rewarding hiking, shimmering lakes, apple orchards, stunning 19th century towns, and more.
I remember one trip where we stayed at the Jamestown Hotel and had an encounter with a ghost. It was a bit unsettling, but isn’t that part of the fun?
We haven’t been back in a couple of decades. So, we were excited about the prospect of visiting again this fall. Unfortunately, a family emergency intervened. So, I asked my new pal, Jerry Lee (the gay artistic director of the popular Sierra Repertory Theatre in Columbia), if he might give us some thoughts about where to visit, and, more importantly, where to eat. Of course, he told me that “theatre is worth the journey, but there’s food worth staying for.” Herein are his recommendations.
Jerry Lee: There are two things I love: theatre and great food.
One of the great pleasures of making theatre in Tuolumne County is getting to introduce people to this place. Every year, thousands of theatergoers make the trip to Sonora and Columbia to see a show at Sierra Rep, and inevitably I get asked the other important question: Where should we eat?
Here are my answers. Actually, these are just my personal favorites. One of the things I love about eating around here is just how wonderfully eclectic the options can be. There’s a lot more than you might expect tucked into these little Gold Country towns, and there really is something for everybody.
If I have to name my favorite restaurant, I’m going with Cocina Michoacana. Either location in Sonora. I love this place. The staff is incredibly friendly, the service is consistently terrific, and the Baja shrimp tacos are amazing.
For one of my quintessential Jerry orders, head to The Standard Pour and get the turkey Reuben or the grilled teriyaki salmon salad. The fries are ridiculously good, too, and there’s a great selection of IPAs. And the Brussel sprouts!! It’s exactly the kind of place I want after a long day at the theatre: relaxed, unfussy, really good food, and a beer.
Breakfast requires a trip to Papa’s New Roost. It is about as charming as you could possibly hope a breakfast joint would be!
Then there are the Motherlode Cookies at The Sugar Shack. Kryptonite.
For a cocktail, my pick is the Elderflower Collins at Perch at Chicken Ranch Casino Resort. Perch has also become a favorite dining experience for me and my partner.It’s a true event. I cannot talk about The Perch without mentioning the most important part: Dusty is the greatest server. He’s just the best. Great service can turn a good meal into a favorite restaurant, and Dusty has done exactly that for us.
And then there’s the (Tuolumne) burger.
My favorite is the build-your-own burger from Barrow’s Café and Grill. I always add an egg. Tuolumne County is definitely burger country. In fact, Visit Tuolumne County (the local tourism bureau) has an online Craft Burger Trail where you can find eight great burger places. If you need help planning a visit, they’re the experts.
Of course, this barely scratches the surface. The Armory, Emberz, and St. Charles Saloon are just several of so many places worth discovering. Part of the fun is finding yourown favorite. So, make a day of it. Wander through historic Columbia, or downtownSonora. Have breakfast somewhere that feels like a real breakfast joint. Find aridiculous cookie. Have a cocktail. Eat something with a fried egg on it simply becauseyou can. And, yes, come see a show. What is better than a great meal followed by agreat night at the theatre? Sonora and Columbia give you plenty of opportunities forboth.
So, join us in the foothills and bring your appetite!
David Landis: At Sierra Rep, future shows include Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors and Shrek the Musical. Other activities in Tuolumne County include: taking the railroad in Jamestown, staying at the beautifully remodeled and dog-friendly Hotel Lumberjack in Sonora, exploring Columbia State Historic Park (an authentic gold rush town where you can pan for gold and explore an historic working blacksmith shop), wine tasting at Inner Sanctum Cellars Winery, hard cider sampling at the Indigeny Reserve, and rappelling into the Moaning Cavern (just outside Tuolumne in Calaveras County).
Bits and Bites
Sushi Ran might be my favorite Marin restaurant, and it’s celebrating 40 years in business. Congratulations! Restaurateur Yoshi Tome has some of the most tantalizing sushi in the Bay Area, and it’s definitely worth a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge. In his comments to Marin Dish, Tome explains that the experience “is not just about expensive fish, but also about pristine, fresh rice, well-seasoned miso soup, flawless cooked greens, and a thoughtful Japanese-inspired cooked food menu. Simple is hard.”
In mid-October, The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco is opening Bruma, a new cocktail lounge and modern San Francisco salon. Tucked inside the hotel’s landmark 1909 building atop Nob Hill, it’s named for the Spanish word for “mist.” Bruma is built around the fog that settles over the neighborhood, the residential elegance of the block, and San Francisco’s own restless, Pacific-facing spirit. The concept draws on Nob Hill’s character and San Francisco’s history as a Pacific port city, with a beverage program built around four distinct passages—World’s Edge, Open Water, Golden City, and High Ground—each inspired by a different facet of the city’s geography and mood. Signature rituals include a tableside martini service chilled with liquid nitrogen, and a reimagined Nob Hill Pisco Punch finished with a pineapple brûlée.
Shinka is a new fine-dining restaurant from Omakase Restaurant Group, opening this October on the ground floor of The Jay, Autograph Collection in San Francisco. Taking over the former Prelude space, Shinka will be led by Executive Chef Fumio Yonezawa, bringing together Japanese sensibilities and French technique through the ingredients of Northern California.
Halloween is getting a little more terrifying in San Francisco. Nightmare Bar is returning to San Francisco at the Blue Light on Union Street this Halloween, running October 8–31, with immersive horror, cocktails, live entertainment, interactive games and spooky surprises. This year, Smirnoff Ice joins as an official partner, bringing exclusive Halloween cocktails and surprises to the experience. Each ticket includes a 90-minute immersive Halloween experience, with guests entering a world filled with themed cocktails, nibbles, interactive games, live entertainment, and appearances from Nightmare Bar’s resident ghosts, ghouls, and creatures of the night.
Visit Tuolumne: www.visittuolumne.com
Sierra Repertory Theatre: https://www.sierrarep.org/
Sushi Ran: https://sushiran.com/
Bruma: https://tinyurl.com/22dwjrxw
Shinka: https://www.shinkasf.com/
Nightmare Bar: https://feverup.com/m/740427
Jerry Lee is Sierra Repertory Theatre’s (SRT) Artistic Director. He has appeared in the SRT productions of “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Of Mice and Men,” “Sunday in the Park with George,” and many more. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC). A resident of the Gold Country, he lives in Sonora, California.
David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a freelance writer, and a retired PR maven. You can email him at: davidlandissf@gmail.com Or visit him online at: www.gaygourmetsf.com
The Gay Gourmet
Published on September 24, 2026
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