Right on Main Street in downtown Sebastopol, Portico Social is where to go when you want a proper sit-down meal without any fuss. It’s a trattoria and gourmet market rolled into one — handmade pasta, a well-chosen list of natural wines, espresso strong enough to fix a slow morning, and gelato for whenever you need it, which in our experience is often. The dining room is small and warm, with big windows onto the street, so you can watch downtown Sebastopol go by while you eat. It works for a quick espresso and pastry on your way somewhere else, or a lingering dinner if you order a bottle and let the pasta courses come slowly. Weeknights are quieter and easier to walk into without a wait; Friday and Saturday evenings get lively, so a reservation is worth making if you know your plans. It’s an easy walk from most of downtown, making it a natural stop to bookend an afternoon of browsing the shops on Main Street.
