The husband-and-wife team behind Acme Burger, Todd and Erica Kniess, are flipping the script in Occidental, turning the former Hazel restaurant into a white-tablecloth venture called Bohemian Bistro with chef James Millar at the helm. Erica Kniess has called the new restaurant “a passion project” and says the couple does not plan to handle day-to-day operations. The concept brings a full-on fine-dining tasting menu to a town better known for its laid-back, wood-fired kitchens.
According to Sonoma Magazine, the longtime Hazel space at 3782 Bohemian Highway is slated to reopen this spring as Bohemian Bistro. Early plans call for five- and seven-course prix fixe menus from Thursday through Sunday, plus a Wednesday “locals night” built around à la carte dishes. Sonoma Magazine reports that more specifics, including a firm opening date, are expected in the coming weeks.
Who’s behind the project
Todd and Erica Kniess launched Acme Burger in Cotati in 2019 and have since grown it into a multi-location operation in Sonoma County. The company’s own site highlights Todd’s Culinary Institute of America training and his background in fine dining. Acme Burger currently lists five Sonoma County locations and presents the brand as community-focused and committed to local sourcing.
Timing and permits
A liquor-license filing, along with local coverage, indicates that the owners have applied to serve alcohol at the Bohemian Highway address, and one outlet has reported that the team had hoped for a March 20 opening. What Now San Francisco notes that an official opening date has not yet been announced.
What to expect
Bohemian Bistro is expected to offer tasting menus grounded in French technique with global influences, a shift from Hazel’s wood-fired, Mediterranean-leaning cooking that previously defined the space. The collaboration pairs a fast-casual restaurant group’s broader reach with a chef whose background is rooted in fine dining, which could help turn Occidental into a more deliberate weeknight and dinner destination rather than a spot that mainly fills up on weekends…