Stark Reality Restaurants Joins as Newest Executive Member

The Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome Stark Reality Restaurants as its newest Executive Member. Mark and Terri Stark together own and operate five of Sonoma County’s favorite, and most highly rated, restaurants. Mark is executive chef and Terri handles all business operations for the restaurants. It all started with Willi’s Wine Bar, which in 2002 was the first “small plates” restaurant in the area. By 2004, Mark and Terri had opened two more restaurants in Sonoma County, and by 2006 they had launched Stark Reality Restaurants LLC to centralize managerial support, concept development, future growth opportunities, and individual unit support for their restaurant enterprises.

Here’s the current roll call: Willi’s Wine Bar (2002), Monti’s (2004), and Stark’s Steak & Seafood (2008) in Santa Rosa, and Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar (2003), and Bravas Bar de Tapas (2012) in Healdsburg. Their sixth venture, Bird & The Bottle, is slated to open in summer 2015 on Fourth Street in Santa Rosa. Stark Reality Restaurants also operates Stark & Co Catering, bringing the fun and flair of the Stark restaurants to Wine Country and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Mark and Terri were semifinalists for the prestigious James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurateur of 2013. Their restaurants have consistently earned top accolades and praise including San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 Bay Area Restaurant status (Willi’s Wine Bar and Bravas), Michelin Bib Gourmand (Monti’s Rotisserie, Willi’s Wine Bar), and Travel + Leisure Top 20 US Tapas Restaurants (Bravas).

San Francisco Chronicle restaurant critic Michael Bauer recently said of the Starks, “What sets Mark and Terri Stark apart from many restaurateurs who have multiple locations is that each location is different. If their names weren't written on the menu, in fact, you probably wouldn't know it was one of their properties… "

More than awards and accolades, Terri and Mark are most proud of being able to provide mentorship and employment to over 285 workers in the local hospitality field. They’ve offered health care to their full time employees since the day they opened, a rarity in the days before the Affordable Care Act. Many employees have been with them for ten years or more. The Starks are committed to promoting from within, what Terri refers to as "stocking our own pond." The biggest measure of success, according to Mark, "At least 20 employees who started out washing dishes and bussing tables now own their houses; more than anything else, that is our greatest accomplishment."