Cool spot with a cozy atmosphere. It was a bit cutthroat to get a table. I was able to guilt a group of 3 into letting us grab a six top when it opened (as we were a group of 6 and had been waiting for a table to open up for a long time). The oysters were really good. I probably wouldn't get the tuna burger again. It was good, but didn't wow my socks off. The pumpkin side dish with mole was pretty good. They don't provide plates for sharing so it was hard to dole it out to everybody at our table. Staff was friendly and courteous. They messed up part of our order and immediately fixed it. I would try this place again. read more

Next level seafood, service and an incredible gathering space. I was searching for a dog friendly space to grab lunch while making my way back from the bay, and Handline was conveniently located on the Gravenstein highway. We took the pup to the garden seating, which is surrounded by mature trees and metal arches that have vines providing additional shelter from the afternoon sun. The back patio has both private tables and large communal tables, making it great for groups and social for smaller parties. We ordered a local, Sebastopol cider and henhouse hazy IPA to sip while we awaited lunch. The Ethics Zest Cider was organic, with no added sugars and absolutely delicious! I'm not usually a cider person, but was very impressed with this one! To eat, we started with a half dozen oysters (we prefer the smaller ones) and they were exceptional. Fresh and paired with a simple, well-made minionette, we would return just for the oysters! We also shared a trout fish sandwich with a side of fries. We had noticed that everyone else seated out back seemed to be loving the fries, and we were not disappointed! They were perfectly crisped without being greasy nor too hard. These are the fries you dream about, and their side sauces are also delicious! I liked the chipotle aioli best. Finally, the fresh fish sandwich (trout). It comes on a melt-in-your-mouth, brioche roll and was my favorite part of the meal! Based on our experience, I think it's safe to assume that everything on their menu will be delicious and prepared with great love and attention to detail. The wait staff were friendly and socialized with guests as they dropped food and cleared tables. I would strongly recommend visiting Handline! I will definitely be returning! Note: This place is incredible, but it is not cheap! Be mindful of pricing when placing your order. For example, the trout sandwich is $27 and you can add a side of fries for an additional $5, bringing our total above $30 for just one fish sandwich and fries... Still worth it for me, but we were a bit shocked when our lunch total reached $80! read more

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As others have stated, this is a walk up, order, take the number stand, and your food is delivered to your table. We had to try the fries (with homemade ketchup, I think?). Also the ceviche, two (large) fish tacos, the tuna burger, and two glasses of wine. For $102.00 dollars. Goodness. While I understand the area is a popular tourist destination and yes the food was good. Plus the young man taking our order was very friendly, and food came out quickly.... that is still very high for sitting at picnic table style seating, an interior that is similiar to Chipotle with the corrugated metal, and no real incentive to go stand in line and order another glass of wine... which would have likely been the case if offered table side. Meh. read more

Handline - Seafood Near Me - Sebastopol, California

the happy hour! with the FRESHEST oyster. had 18 oysters (one order of 1/2 dozen+ one order of 1 dozen). during happy hours u cannot chose which one u want, it is dealer's choice. but honestly it doesn't matter because they are so fresh every time we order them. read more

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It's just consistently excellent. Not just the fresh fish, but the burger and fries are about the best in Sonoma County. I know, ordering a burger at a fish restaurant! Silly, but our whole family comes here a lot and sometimes you just need some red meat! And the lovely outdoor terraces are dog-friendly and kid-friendly. read more

Best French fries in the county! We came on a drizzly day with our dog and sat in their covered outdoor dining area. This is one of those places where you order at the counter, you get a number card on a stick, and your order is brought out to you. So these French fries, perfect, and the main reason why I took a break from my zero carb diet to come here. They are all perfectly crispy on the outside while still soft on the inside. We also got mole oysters because I am a mole fiend and oysters are always lovely. Overall this has proven to be a great place and some day I'll have to come back for a larger meal. read more

We had a lovely lunch of fish tacos here. Okay, sure, a little heavy on the cabbage, but we were perfectly happy. Great fries. Awesome outdoor seating. read more

Came here because I saw they had HH oysters 12 for $34 and I love the ambiance of the spot! Great for sunny days. You order first then sit down. Besides the oysters and chowder, I wasn't too fond of the rest of things we ordered. Tostadito ($12 HH)- salmon with cheese on tortilla chips. the salmon was dry paired with the chip made this dish very dry to eat. Empanadas ($8 HH)- it was also dry Fish Tacos ($6.50 HH)- not bad but there was a lot missing like a good sauce. Rockfish ceviche- way too acidic. I would just come back for HH oysters if I was in the area, I wouldn't drive out of my way for here. read more

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Wow, we're still raving about this lunch a day later. We drove in from the city to do some antiquing and decided to stop at Handline for lunch. Food was a solid 10/10. The oysters were fresh and well sized. My husband had the tuna burger with fries. The fries were cooked to perfection! I had the fresh catch stew, which was a take on cioppino. The corn tortillas were to die for, and as a cioppino lover, I appreciated the fun take on a beloved dish. Ambiance couldn't have been better. The back patio was lively, spacious, and beautifully landscaped. The cherry on top of our day was the soft serve cone! What a great dining experience. read more

Handline - Seafood Near Me - Sebastopol, California

Great choice of fresh menu including seafood. Mine was a takeout order and everything was great. Felt respected and had very good service.

Great food, family friendly, ambiance is welcoming. Service is fast and friendly. The soft serve is always the best dessert.

Well... We decided to go back again yesterday since the food was so yummy last time. We decided to try a lunch there. The food was a totally different experience. The fries, which I greedily ate every one of before, were under cooked and not that appetizing. The fish portions were noticeably smaller... and drenched in lemon juice. And I mean drenched. One piece had so much lemon juice on it it came dripping out as I picked it up, and the crust was saturated and rubbery. The lemon was all I could taste. There was already a wedge of lemon on the plate. If I wanted lemon I could have added it myself. I like this place a lot, and their fish and chips are usually great - and worth the $24.95 price tag. Not this time... I still have some store credit, so I will return and try it one more time soon. If it's awesome, I'll post that and raise my rating (ranting?). I only gave four stars last time due to the two super rude dog owners out on the patio... not entirely the fault of the restaurant. I'll take one more off this time for the sub-par food. We'll see what happens next time I go... read more

Handline is quickly becoming my favorite "no frills", easy going, just dang good food restaurant in the area. I stand by this next statement.... Handline has the BEST french fries in the North Bay! The service is quick and efficient. Old fashioned get a number to put at your table and they bring you the food. Water is self serve (still or sparkling). The inside is relaxing and the vibe changes depending on the season. The walls open to let air or sun in. The outside patios have multiple levels and offer a whole different vibe. I highly recommend the fish sandwich's and a side of fries (get all 3 dipping sauces). read more

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I love this place. The food is always fresh, great variety, great tacos, salads, fries, everything. The food is high quality. They do not cut corners and keep their standards high read more

Great place! Cute patio dining area as well. Sufficient heating and shade. Small menu. We had fish tacos on the best corn tortillas. Fish wasn't greasy. Also tried the Al Pastor tacos. Nice sweet flavor. Oysters were fresh and clean. Ceviche was probably my favorite. read more

Handline - Seafood Near Me - Sebastopol, California

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I ordered the LA Burger for the first time. In the past I had ordered seafood, but its all fried. So thought I would try the burger. As I sat there, I saw that the 3 groups behind us were served before us. Interesting that they also had burgers. I finally get a cold burger, with white stuff oozing out the sides. I taste the white stuff and tasted sour cream...on a burger?? nope not ever. I did speak to them about it to ask, told it was Ailoli. Nope, I do not believe that for a minute. It was dairy. Everyone at my table tried it. I was not crazy. I deconstructed the burger cuz there is also a large chunk of iceberg lettuce on top, soak in Thousand Island dressing. Last straw? A large quantity of sweet pickle relish. I could not eat it. It was awful. I should have taken a photo, not plated in an appetizing way. It made me nauseated immediately. Not the Mothers Day dinner I thought. My family said the fried fish tacos were not great. There are too many choices for a good meal. Handline was not it tonight. Ambiance? lol Screaming children. Not exagerating. Screaming as loud as they could. Other diners, sh-shing them. read more

Came here with the family to enjoy a nice dinner outside in the summer weather. You order at the counter and bring a number with you to the table. Everything we ordered was tasty but took a bit of time. The highlight was the soft serve ice cream. My complaint overall was that the service was slow and also they didn't have pitchers you could fill for water. So every time you wanted to refill your water you needed to get up and refill it. read more

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This spot was recommended to me by one of the other local merchants on my first visit to Sebastopol. I love the atmosphere: comfortable with pretty outdoor seating area. The food was very good and prepared quickly. I mistakenly ordered pork tacos instead of fish and they were replaced without fuss. That level of service is pretty rare, so, well done Handline! Thanks for a great experience! read more

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The fish was spoiled no good. Had to spit it out tasted rotten and it's very mushy. Disappointed. read more

Handline - We ordered fish tacos and the fish was spoiled no good. Disappointed. - Seafood Near Me - Sebastopol, California

First time to this place. Called ahead to check to see if they allow reservations. They do not, found out when we went in the reason why. You place your order at the counter, not a fan of this option, but it worked out fine. It was not busy, there was no wait. We ordered a couple fish tacos, some fish and chips and a beer on draft (Mexican lager). First with the fish tacos, the first thing you notice is the tortilla which are nice handmade corn tortillas, there was n abundance of cabbage and the fish inside was delicious, with a very nice chipotle aioli and guacamole, we will definitely be back, the beer battered fish was nice and crispy and was not too thick. We got a side of the fish and fries and my wife raved about the fries, was so very good, the beer was great as well. Ambiance, they have ample seating, we chose to sit on the patio, it was a cold night, but the heaters made it a very good experience. Additionally they have another outdoor seating/eating area that also had a couple ping pong tables set up. Looking forward to my return visit to this place, will prob try some bbq oysters next time... and of course get me another fish taco. One thing I did not mention, the turn around time was lightening quick! read more

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Just finished watching Carla Lalli Music's YouTube video on Griffin Wilson's Nutritional Yeast Dressing and she reminded me that when I had this dressing here at Handline, I was obsessed! Well, now that I have the actual recipe, I completely forgot that I hadn't written a review of this restaurant. First of all, this place follows the farm to table concept so popular in California and in particular Northern California. I had a tomato salad here, tacos, oysters and it was all delicious California fare with a modern twist. But man, that house dressing was amazing and delicious. I really need to go back as it's been a few years since I've been back. Highly recommend! Everything I've had has been delicious. Also, I love the light and airy interiors as well as the outdoor gardens. read more

Handline is a favorite in Sebastopol, known for it's great fish tacos and so much more. Love being able to eat outside on the shaded patios and enjoy the day. Great food, conscious ingredients, something for everyone! Certainly worth a visit. read more

I don't think Handline needs any promotion... it is rightfully super popular (among locals & visitors alike) but you can get stuck ordering the wrong thing here... so my post is to help you make good choices. Handline offers top notch ceviches... like seriously, seriously good... and the fish & chips are elite (local, organic heirloom potatoes)... however the fish tacos are not very good. The handmade tortilla is not properly warmed up; their guac is pretty terrible, and the overall ratio of fillings just doesn't work. Back to the positive side, their House Salad (dressed with Vegan crack i.e., their garlicky Braggs + Nutritional Yeast sauce) is almost good enough to convince you that going vegan wouldn't be the end of the world; also their Roots & Shoots, & their Pumpkin with Mole & other veggie centric dishes are absolutely top notch. And continuing with the negative side... their Wine & Beer program is horrible... like if if you tried to really hard to come up with a White Elephant gift of Beers & Wines.... it would probably be Handline's incomprehensible list of cheesy or kombucha esque Natural Wines, terrible beers etc., @Handline you are trying too hard, with so many good local beers & wines.... you should be able to launch darts and come up with something decent. Further, the burgers are not it... they would probably be okay, but they insist on ruining them by slathering them with cheese that otherwise belongs in very small quantities on a cheese plate. I don't get it... there can't possibly be a single person that has truly enjoyed their burgers.. how can they still be on the menu. Along the same lines... skip the Al Pastor & warm stewed squid dishes. Finally, to end on a positive note... their Strauss creamery frozen cones are perfection... seriously, all the idiots are standing in long lines over at Screamin Mimi's but Handline's cones are the real deal. read more

There are good food place and good Karma places. The food was amazing but the staff is stellar. If I could give more than 5 stars I would! Especially for Nicholas. He deserves a raise read more

Handline - Nicholas is the most amazing beautiful person. - Seafood Near Me - Sebastopol, California

The food wasn't terrible but for the high prices I was expecting something better. The servers were polite and the place was clean but if you want to spend $100 for two entrees then I'd suggest going somewhere else. Overall it was just a very underwhelming experience. read more

I really like coming here after a regular appointment I have in Sebastopol about twice a month. They are open all day & have a great happy our selection. Peaceful & organic sense of style. I like the vegetarian options and the oysters are always very fresh & affordable at happy hour. read more

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Came here for happy hour & it was worth it! Food was great! We ordered the clam chowder & it's a decent size bowl & more soupy not very thick but super flavorful & yummy. Fish tacos were a good size & delish. Pastor taco had good flavor but not warm enough. It could have been served warmer, maybe because it's just cold here, food gets cold easily lol. Fried oyster slider served on a brioche bun was very yummy. Fresh raw oysters were nice & sweet. Fries were my favorite lol. read more

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We have been here a few times now, and despite the political/social issues that have come up about the management and toxic work culture, we decided to give them a shot on their food and dining environment. Each time we have visited, we have had a good food experience, with interesting and diverse notables. On our first visit, we came in for lunch and right off the bat, we both ordered a soft serve ($4.50 each)- him vanilla and me chocolate. I ordered the Veggie Tostada ($14) and he ordered the Fish Tacos ($15) and we ordered a side of the hand cut French Fries with Chipotle dip ($7) and a Vegan Horchata ($4). The wait was super brief, and we dove right in. The fish tacos were perfection with fresh fish and harmonious accompaniments, and my tostada was bright, filling, and flavorful. The fries were crisp, hot and salty, and the soft serves were magnificent, creamy and very satisfying. Overall a really nice experience, other than the parking which was a total nightmare and almost made me want to throw in the towel before we could even give them a shot. On our most recent visit, we came in for lunch again, and had a much easier time with the parking lot, and actually got parked right away. I ordered the Melrose Veggie Burger ($13), Side of Fries with all the dips ($5), he ordered the Fish Tacos again ($15), we split a Swirled Soft Serve ($4.50) and I ordered a Vegan Chai ($6). This time, our wait was long, we watched multiple people get served someone else's dish, or have something wrong with the dish they did get, which was very different from our other visit here. My burger was honestly terrible- tepid, lacking flavor and had a super mushy texture which was sad. Hubby's tacos still shone, and the soft serve was as good as ever. My chai was delicious, and the fries were as spectacular as the first time. Overall, getting here is convenient right off the 116, but getting parked can be a real test of your ability to stay calm. Getting back out of the parking lot is a disaster, because of people parked on the road, and how fast people take the road outside the restaurant. Prices are fair for Sebastopol, and for the most part, the food is pretty tasty, locally or ethically sourced, and well made. Their dining room is clean, the bathrooms are spotless, and they have a great outdoor space that welcomes kiddos and dogs alike. We will be back! read more

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Long story short, I enjoyed my first trip so much that I had to come back for a day trip date. I wanted to make sure that I'm not over-hyping the experience. Again, the food isn't cheap, but the space's design/ambiance/features/food/etc. are so thoughtful that it doesn't seem unreasonable. Staff are friendly, the bathrooms are fun, and there is soft serve! We ordered raw oysters (not photo'ed), la Roja oysters (for old time's sake), the roots & shoots salad, fries, and roasted shishito peppers. The half-dozen oysters (huge & plump!) and mignonette were delicious. La Roja grilled oysters did not disappoint me nor my company--just as good as I remember! The roasted shishito peppers were also solid and the presence of cheese, garlic, tomatoes were a nice touch. The roots and shoots salad was probably our least favorite of the bunch; however, I enjoyed it enough, but I wouldn't order it again. Fries were crispier than I remember, but we loved it! Per the staff's recommendation, we tried all three sauces. The chipotle aioli & ketchup were my favorite. I said before and I'll say it again: I look forward (to continuing) to sharing the Handline with loved ones. read more

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If you do not mind kids running like a wild pack of dogs under your table, under the bushes, tapping you on the shoulder, etc., this is the place you may want to eat. We have enjoyed the food but is it worth the wildness of the venue? This evening we decided this may well be our last evening there. The Manager was contrite, even patronizing, leaving it to us to confront the parents, placid and contrite. If you insist on going, go early before the kids are out of school. Here kids go feral and if you complain, it's your uptightness. Ugh! read more

I visited Handline restaurant for the first time this week and it will be my last. I ordered the fish tacos and when they arrived I could smell them as they were placed in front of me. I took two bites and the smell was so overwhelming, I couldn't finish them as I was afraid of getting sick. ( Side note, I owned a restaurant and know that fresh fish doesn't smell). I took the plate to the counter and quietly told the person that the fish smelled and of my concerns about eating them. He smelled them and said he didn't smell anything and did offer me another entree but I didn't like anything else on the menu and passed. I didn't ask for my money back or was I offered a refund. I just left. I have a very poor sense of smell and rarely smell anything that isn't pungent( think skunks) , and these definitely were terrible. I noticed another customer had the same complaint about the tacos and said he contracted food poisoning. I'm usually very understanding about restaurant service and food, they can have a bad day, however, besides the smelly fish, I noted the prices on the website were outdated and the staff never smiled. There is no excuse to not keep your website prices current (truth in advertising) and a smile is free. Sadly I will never return or recommend this restaurant. UPDATE management did contact me and apologized. They offered me my money back and I declined. I asked that they make some changes instead. Appreciated the follow up. read more

Pretty crowded and a bit noisy (for me). Communal tables. Great service and alcohol station/soft serve spot! Food was ok but sparse (tacos). Tough parking read more

Really good fish tacos. A little pricey in my opinion. Fun ambiance with the ping pong tables. Would def go back.

We were visiting friends in Sebastopol and they brought us to this Sebastopol standard. You can see why this place is popular. It has a great vibe, having been a Dairy Queen in a former lifetime. I would love to come back when it is summer season to also explore the outdoor spaces. It's a casual order at the window (indoors) affair, then food is brought to your table. It's a bit pricy, but that's to be expected with sustainable and locally sourced foods. We shared the Malibu Pier ahi sandwich and a house salad and that was plenty of food. We skipped the fries, not knowing they are evidently pretty good. We took advantage of the self serve bubbly water. The best feature saved from DQ was the soft serve machines and serving space. Handline now uses a Strauss organic mix that made for the best soft serve I have had since I was a kid. I look forward to another stop at Handline when I am passing through Sebastopol. read more

Absolutely phenom. Oysters delicious, best fish taco, and the salad was insane! Made the dressing this weekend

Fish and chips were FANTASTIC. The house made tartar sauce was lemony and tasty. Service was fast and they were nice. A little bit cold eating in but not too bad with coats and warm food. Highly recommend. read more

Cute spot, beautiful outdoor seating area. We came here for HH since we were in the area and wanted some oysters, here's what we ordered: - Dozen oysters (5/5), overall fresh and good quality, can't complain for $26 - Happy hour Chardonnay (3/5), I think this was their house 2020 chard, not the best but pairs well with oysters - Smoked Trout and Clam Chowder (5/5), rich and filling, plenty of clams with some trout pieces at the bottom - Tostadito (4/5), smoked trout is tasty, wish it was bigger pieces than just the 3 pieces - Roasted peppers (3/5), very oily, needed some salt, tomatoes are solid The ambiance sitting outside in the quiet atmosphere was amazing. We didn't realize there were hot sauces at most tables (besides ours) and didn't see them until when we were heading out, would have loved to try it. One of the wait staff that served us almost dropped our soup in front of us, spilled some but thankfully didn't get any on my clothes. No apologies issued, but I think he was still under training or new. It still tasted delicious! read more

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I love it here. We've been customers since they first opened. The french fries! Oh my gosh the french fries! Sometimes that's all I order. They are so outstanding. And don't leave without getting a soft serve Strauss dairy ice cream cone. I've had almost everything here. Everything is delightfully delicious. The fish tacos, the hamburgers but dare I repeat... the fries!! read more

We were heading home, but decided to stop at Handline because they had fresh oysters and we wanted to try a few. Little did we know that everything would be absolutely amazing and delicious! We were there on a busy night and they were out of some fish dishes but we got a half dozen mixed oysters, house salad, a veggie burger and regular burger, and wow, all so delicious! They also serve drinks and soft serve, it was formerly a Fosters Freeze and they continue to serve soft serve to honor that. Lots of outdoor seating and indoor as well with good ventilation! Food came out quickly and the person who we ordered from was friendly and helpful. read more

Handline - A shot from their huge outdoor patio. - Seafood Near Me - Sebastopol, California

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Super cool local spot. Was so happy with everything we tried! I can't wait to go back and get all the things when I'm back in town. This evening we ordered off the happy hour menu. The chowder was excellent, such superb quality and exquisite taste. I also had the tartare tostaditos. Small bites, perfectly executed. My friend loved her pastor taco and fried oyster slider. Beautiful inside. I love this vibe, casual and everything so well done. Impressed AF. read more

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