RESTAURANT REVIEW: Langley's on the Green

Langley's on Windsor's Town Green is a melting pot of family and food from across the planet, served in an open and friendly environment.


LANGLEY’S ON THE GREEN is located at 610 McClelland Dr. in Windsor. This is a first class restaurant that the owners refer to as “user friendly”. When you have a party you know how everyone likes to hang out in the kitchen, even though you decorated the living room and made sure there were comfortable areas for people to get together all through the house. This restaurant was designed with that in mind. There is a Dining Bar facing an ‘Open Exhibition Kitchen’ so customers who are so inclined can dine there, talk to the chefs and see all the dishes coming up for service in the rest of the restaurant. If that is not your style you can choose a cozy booth or regular tables in the dining area. Weather permitting you can also sit outside on the patio.

The menu changes with the seasons. Reflecting the concept of America as a melting pot the menu can include dishes with Italian influence, Asian inspired dishes or a variety of other ethnic selections. One thing they all have in common is the standard of fresh ingredients, cooked to perfection with an exquisite presentation. Everything is made from scratch -- for example the sauces are all prepared in reduction and not thickened with flour. All seafood is sustainable (not farm raised) and fruits and vegetables are organic as much as possible. They whip the butter so it is soft for easy spreading on the bread or rolls which are all homemade. Two examples of the current menu, each of which offers a full meal or a smaller version include: House Made Seafood Linguini with Dayboat Sea Scallops, Mussels and Clams, Sauteed with Andoille Sausage, in a Garlic White Wine Cream Sauce with Shaved Parmaigiano Reggiano for $29.95 or Linguini with Vegetables and White Wine Cream Sauce and Shaved Parmiagiano Reggiano for $16.95 – or a meat dish -- Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Reduction Sauce, Hoisin Glaze, Scallion Croquette Potatoes and Miso Orange Slaw with Sesame Seeds for $27.95 or a Petite Cut for $18.95. All the entrees include a suggested wine to pair with the food or you can select from the wine list. All desserts are $8.95 and are made in the restaurant.

So who is the chef that creates all these dishes and supervises the impressive presentation and service? None other than Fred Langley. I interviewed Katrina and Albert Von Moos, Fred’s parents and part of the team that makes Langley’s successful, and learned that Fred has been interested in cooking and the restaurant business since he started at age 12 helping in the kitchen at Salt Point Lodge where his mother worked. A European trained chef on the staff of Salt Point took Fred under his wing and taught him a lot over a period of six years. Fred then went to work for John Ash & Co under Executive Chef Jeffrey Madura and became the Souix Chef there. He has extensive experience in the catering business in Sonoma along with his wife Sara, who now divides her time between taking care of 2 year old Jack and coordinating Special Events for the restaurant.

One of the unique services of the restaurant is their Happy Hour which is daily from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. and also on Friday and Saturday nights from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. There is a ‘Bar Bite Menu’ available during Happy Hour that offers Mimi Burgers or Mini Pork Sandwiches for $1.00, jumbo garlic fries for $2.00 or Pork and Ginger Pot Stickers with spicy dipping sauce for $3.50. Wells drinks are $3.00, beers on tap $3.00 and House Margaritas, Martinis or glass of wine for $5.00.

Langley’s supports the community in many ways and sponsors four major events each year which include the Croquet Invitational supporting the “Make A Wish Foundation,” the Kendall Jackson Tomato Festival benefiting the “School Garden Network” and the Crush Festival benefiting St. John’s school in Healdsburg. Fred Langley works with the culinary students at the local high schools and mentors students from the Santa Rosa Junior College Culinary program.

Langley’s on the Green is open seven nights a week from 5:30 to 8:30 and Saturday and Sunday from 5:30 to 9:00. For more information you can check the web site http://www.langleysonethegreen.com/ or call 707 837 7984.