Guerneville’s Lodge at Dawn Ranch Earns Three Stars From the Chronicle

A restaurant on the Russian River just got one of the Bay Area’s top restaurant reviews.

The review

San Francisco Chronicle critic MacKenzie Chung Fegan gave the Lodge at Dawn Ranch in Guerneville three stars. The restaurant serves a seven-course “chef’s experience” for $175, with a wine pairing of up to $285. SFist noted that it is the Chronicle’s first three-star review under its new star system.

The chefs

The kitchen is run by Juliana Thorpe, from Brazil, and Ignacio “Nacho” Zuzulich, from Argentina. Both have cooked at Mugaritz in Spain and at Lasai in Rio de Janeiro, the Chronicle reported.

The property

Bridgeton bought the property for $20 million in 2022. It was once Fife’s, the gay resort founded by Peter Pender, and before that Murphy’s Guest Ranch. Sommelier Genaro Gallo has since left for Naides. Braulio Juarez Rico, 22, now runs the wine program, according to the review.