My family and I came to the Hazel Hill restaurant at the Montage yesterday for breakfast to celebrate my father's birthday. While we didn't stay at the Montage, we were glad to enjoy the fresh food and the view of the vineyards from their large outdoor patio.
I made reservations ahead of time online through Open Table and had no issues getting a table. However, I think they're short on staff because when I tried to call their landline, no one answered the day of or the day before.
When we arrived, it took about 10 minutes for a hostess to come seat us. Once seated, she went through the two breakfast options with us: the Sonoma Continental and the Healdsburg Breakfast. The Sonoma Continental is what she termed "our lighter fare" whereas the Healdsburg Breakfast is a more hearty breakfast because it includes the meat options from the buffet. We went with the Healdsburg Breakfast option.
Both breakfast options include your choice of coffee, tea, or juice. I got their Vitteria coffee which was an Italian medium roast with not even the slightest taste of bitterness. It was so smooth that I think I'll order a bag of coffee when I get back home! The waitress also mentioned that the Montage has a coffee shop where they sell their own local coffee (named [something] Goat). Unfortunately, I didn't have time to try their coffee for comparison.
As far as the breakfast buffet, the pastry selection included a variety of rustic breads, bagels, muffins (including gluten free muffins), and croissants. There is also a variety of jams, whipped cream cheese, and butter to complement your pastries. The buffet also has a wide selection of cheeses, olives, and prosciutto and meats including maple smoked bacon, chicken apple sausage, scrambled eggs with creme fraiche, and smoked salmon (lox). You can also order eggs cooked to your liking. Additionally, there is fresh fruit such as sweet melon, blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, and kiwi.
The stars of the buffet though were the yogurt and fruit parfaits with gluten free hazelnut and goji berry granola and the french toast. The yogurt was super creamy and the last bit tangy! The variety of textures was perfect when paired with the scrumptious, crunchy granola and chewy goji berries. The French toast was hands down THE BEST French toast I've ever had. They use fresh brioche which just absorbs the milk and eggs like a sponge and turns the middle into a creamy custard. With a drizzle of fresh maple syrup on top, every bite is a golden bite of Heaven.
Service is exceptional. Our waitress, Gabrielle, was super friendly, personable, and attentive. She brought my father a complimentary mimosa for his birthday and really made the effort to make sure our experience was an exceptional one. The chefs were also very friendly; when the buffet was out of French toast towards the end (note the breakfast buffet hours end at 11am) , one chef was kindly enough to make more for the bar and even bring a hot fresh plate to our table. This shows to go that the employees here go above and beyond in their service.
The ambiance is also wonderful and beautifully arranged and decorated both inside and outside.
Overall: 5/5 for food, 6/5 for service, and 5/5 for views
Thanks Hazel Hill for a memorable and wonderful experience!! read more