The story
SingleThread, at 131 North Street in Healdsburg, California, is a contemporary Californian restaurant that holds three Michelin stars (2026). The kitchen serves a 10-course tasting menu built around produce grown on the property's farm in the Dry Creek Valley.
Kyle Connaughton trained in Los Angeles, then spent years cooking in Japan for chef Michel Bras and in traditional Japanese restaurants. He later led research and development at The Fat Duck Experimental Kitchen under Heston Blumenthal. That background shows in a menu where Japanese technique meets seasonal Northern California produce. Katina Connaughton farms the land and designs the flowers.
Clay pots line one kitchen wall, and they are part of the cooking rather than décor. Each donabe is made by the Nagatani family of Iga, Japan, eighth-generation potters who also make nearly all of the restaurant's vases, bowls and plates. The kitchen is open, so guests sit close to the work. Hospitality follows the Japanese idea of omotenashi, with staff anticipating needs before they are spoken.
The wine list focuses on rare California library wines and producers from major wine regions around the world. Wine Director Chris McFall curates pairings through the year. In warmer months, aperitifs are served on the rooftop, where herb gardens and planter boxes surround a 360-degree view of downtown Healdsburg before guests move downstairs to dinner.
Recognition
Details
History
The striking pottery that lines one kitchen wall is not simply décor; the vessels are crucial to Kyle’s dish preparations. Each donabe piece is made by the Nagatani family of Iga, Japan, eighth-generation master potters who also produce nearly all of SingleThread Restaurant’s vases, bowls and plates.An open kitchen allows for a theater atmosphere, granting you a front row seat to the culinary drama.The Japanese philosophy ofomotenashi— a deep sense of hospitality where a guest’s every need is anticipated — permeates every aspect of the fine-dining room, from the service to the artfully presented plates.In warmer months, the SingleThread experience begins on the building’s rooftop with a 360-degree view of downtown Healdsburg. Among herb gardens and planter boxes, you can enjoy aperitifs before heading downstairs to the main dining room.Katina — whom Kyle calls “the heart and soul” of SingleThread — serves as both the property’s farmer and floral designer. She is dedicated to utilizing sustainable agricultural methods with an emphasis on restoring and enhancing Northern California’s native habitats.
Exceptional cuisine
Location
Facebook
Instagram