Handline

Sebastopol’s former Fosters Freeze location, now a 21st-century fast-food palace, won design awards for its rusted-steel frame and translucent panel-like windows. The menu, a paean to coastal California cuisine, includes oysters raw and grilled, fish tacos, ceviche, tostadas, three burgers (beef, vegetarian, and fish), and, honoring the location's previous incarnation, chocolate and vanilla soft-serve ice cream.

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In Sebastopol, restaurateur Lowell Sheldon and his partner Natalie Goble have transformed a former Foster's Freeze into Handline, where elevated fast-casual favorites highlight local recipes and ingredients with a twist of SoCal inspiration. The El Coronado fish tacos transport diners to the beach, with a generous serving of crispy rockfish in thick, hand-milled corn tortillas. The smothered pumpkin side, an earthy bowl of roasted seasonal squash covered in mole and topped with crunchy pepitas, stands out for its intense umami flavor.

Handline is a sustainable, earth-friendly fishing technique where a single line is held in the hands, rather than using a rod, or nets. So restaurant owners Lowell Sheldon and Natalie Goble salute the Sonoma County coast’s bounty with sustainably sourced ingredients like halibut, rock cod and trout, plus seasonal specialties like oysters and salmon. The huge, mouthwatering fish tacos are standouts, stuffed with fluffy batter-fried rockfish, lime slaw, avocado, radish and chipotle aioli in a warm, just made corn tortilla.

Nearby at Handline Coastal California (935 Gravenstein Highway S.), a family- friendly dinner spot, you’ll be faced with a difficult decision: linger over a bowl of cioppino or excellent fish tacos, or pay tribute to the eatery’s humble beginnings as a Foster’s Freeze with a burger topped with St. Jorge Fonduta cheese and a side of hand-cut French fries. It’s all delicious, especially when you finish up with a root beer float, made with local Strauss soft serve.

Fish Tacos: Handline, Sebastopol: This classic Baja dish is part of the fabric of California, and a bellwether for any restaurant that serves them. It’s a simple beach shack snack that can go so terribly wrong. Fortunately, Handline does everything right, from the locally sourced rockfish to a light beer battering, crispy shaved cabbage, chipotle aioli, lime, and avocado.

Handline’s modern, casual California menu extends to its happy hour, which is best enjoyed at a picnic table on their tree-shaded outdoor patio. You’ll find drink specials along with must-try food specials that change with the seasons (think tasty plates during Dungeness crab season).Happy Hour: Monday-Thursday, 4-5 p.m. and Friday-Sunday, 3-5 p.m.

Handline is a perfect spot in Sebastopol for those of you who want a casual, but tasty, dining experience as they take a modern approach to an “order at the counter” kind of restaurant. Their food is absolutely delicious with fresh and tasty options. Offering seafood from the California Coast and local produce makes this spot incredibly delicious.

Serving California-style cuisine in a breezy and approachable atmosphere, this is the ideal location for a laid-back lunch with friends or a partner. Guests here can expect seafood, tacos, burgers, and more delicious coastal-inspired dishes. Be sure to try their Grilled Oysters and the El Coronado Tacos!

(And yes, their soft-serve is still running strong—because who says you can’t finish your fish tacos with a swirl of vanilla ice cream?. Here’s what you need to order: La Sirena Tostada. Imagine poached calamari, avocado, red onion, and lime, all on a crispy tostada with a little chipotle aioli drizzle.

Yes, you still order at the counter, but the seafood-centric food is incredibly thoughtful and made with fresh, quality ingredients. Plus, the space is sleek and stylish and feels nothing like a counter-service restaurant. Start by slurping down oysters from the waters along the coast of California.

Their seafood is superb: if you love fish tacos, Handline is a must!. Also be sure to get the crisp golden fries with the Sao Jorge Portuguese sauce: we had to resist the urge to order seconds!

Handline, Sebastopol—Fresh, sustainable seafood and backyard-grown produce in an airy, order-at-the-counter space defines the appeal of Handline. Don’t miss the oysters and fish tacos.

A modern take on order-at-the-counter service, Handline offers fresh, sustainable, local seafood and locally grown produce. Beautiful inside and out. Located in south Sebastopol.

- Rating: 3.8/5 (730 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 935 Gravenstein Hwy South Sebastopol, California - Categories: Seafood, Tacos, American- Read more on Yelp