In this episode of The Good Stuff presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Mark (Executive Chef & Co-Founder) & Terri (Hospitality Director & Co-Founder) Stark, of Stark Reality Restaurants.
Mark and Terri Stark are the husband-and-wife team behind Stark Reality Restaurants, a collection of eight locally loved restaurants in Sonoma County. They opened their first, Willi’s Wine Bar, in 2002, introducing the small plates concept to Santa Rosa. Over the next two decades, they steadily expanded their footprint with Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar in Healdsburg (2003), Monti’s Rotisserie (2004), Stark’s Steak & Seafood (2008), Bravas Bar de Tapas (2012), Bird & The Bottle (2015), Grossman’s Noshery & Bar (2020), and most recently Augie’s French in 2023.
Mark and Terri met while working for the California Cafe Restaurant Group in Palo Alto—he was a regional chef, and she managed catering. They married in 1999 and moved to Sonoma County soon after, where Terri’s family has lived for four generations.
In 2017, the original Willi’s Wine Bar was lost in the Tubbs Fire. The Starks rebuilt and reopened it in 2019 at a new location in Santa Rosa’s Town & Country Center. Less than a year later, they opened Grossman’s just as COVID-19 lockdowns began—a reflection of their persistence and resilience.
Mark, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, oversees the kitchens, while Terri, who studied hospitality at the University of Oregon, runs front-of-house operations. Together, they’ve created distinct restaurant concepts that reflect their culinary creativity and deep local roots.
Their restaurants have earned a range of honors, including San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 recognition and Michelin Bib Gourmands. They were also named semifinalists for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurateurs.
The couple also founded Stark Reality Restaurants in 2006 to formally manage their growing team, which now includes more than 400 employees. They’ve offered health care to full-time staff from day one and are especially proud of the longevity and growth of their team. Many employees have been with them for ten years or more, and most of their chefs started as cooks or dishwashers. Terri calls it “stocking our own pond.” Mark puts it simply: “At least 20 employees who started out washing dishes and bussing tables now own their houses—more than anything else, that is our greatest accomplishment.”
Each restaurant features a carefully selected wine list tailored to the menu and ambiance. Augie’s French leans toward French imports alongside Sonoma wines; Bravas emphasizes Spanish varietals; and Willi’s Wine Bar balances local and international offerings. Across the board, Sonoma County wines remain a key focus. For the Starks, it’s never been just about food and service—those are a given. Their goal is to create an experience that keeps people coming back. With eight restaurants and a loyal following, that philosophy continues to pay off.
Restaurants:
- Willi’s Wine Bar (Santa Rosa): Introduced the small plates concept to the area, offering international flavors in a casual setting.
- Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar (Healdsburg): Combines East Coast seafood traditions with South American influences, featuring an array of small plates.
- Stark’s Steak & Seafood (Santa Rosa): A modern steakhouse known for its in-house aged beef and classic cocktails, housed in a historic building.
- Bravas Bar de Tapas (Healdsburg): Offers authentic Spanish tapas and was inspired by the Starks' culinary explorations in Spain.
- Monti’s Rotisserie (Santa Rosa): Features wood-fired meats and Mediterranean-inspired dishes in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Bird & The Bottle (Santa Rosa): A modern tavern that blends flavors from various American culinary traditions, including Southern, Asian, and Jewish cuisines.
- Grossman’s Noshery & Bar (Santa Rosa): A Jewish deli-inspired eatery offering traditional favorites with a contemporary twist.
- Augie’s French (Santa Rosa): The latest addition, paying homage to classic French bistro fare, named after culinary legend Auguste Escoffier.
The Wine:
Across their Stark Reality Restaurants, Mark and Terri Stark have curated wine lists that match each restaurant’s style and highlight Sonoma County wines. Augie’s French features mostly French wines alongside Sonoma selections. Bravas Bar de Tapas focuses on Spanish varietals, and Willi’s Wine Bar offers a broad range of local and international wines to pair with their small plates. Each list supports the food and showcases the diversity of Sonoma County wines.
And finally, Virginie and Karissa share their Tuesday Night wine picks!
