Bill Foss – Co-Founder of Netscape, Owner of Kenwood Restaurant & Fish

Bill Foss is not your typical restaurateur as he comes from the high tech world. He started in high tech in 1987 working for PDI where he started as a production assistant and then became an animator. He eventually went to Wavefront where he worked on software and animation and then to Silicon Graphics in marketing where he met Jim Clark. He left with Jim to start Netscape which was best known as for it’s the web browser, which went public and then was purchased by AOL. After Netscape, Bill started an internet hosting business that became Global Crossing helping many companies including Yahoo begin their start.

After his success in the high tech field, Bill began his involvement in the restaurant business. Bill’s first venture was in 1998 with the opening of The Basin restaurant in Saratoga, CA which is a successful restaurant still operating today. In 2003, Bill then started Fish which is a busy ultra-casual harbor view restaurant in Northern Sausalito that features outstanding fresh fish sustainably harvested which is still thriving today.

Restaurant Realty had the pleasure of selling Kenwood Restaurant & Bar, the real estate and adjoining vineyards in Kenwood to Bill last month. Bill has been remodeling the restaurant for the last few weeks and will be opening in early November with the menu focusing on high quality and flavor with an emphasis on using local ingredients, defining regional cuisine and Sonoma County wines and craft beers.

Bill’s operating philosophy is that the restaurant represents the customers wants and preferences and it is imperative to take care of the customer and give him what he wants. We wish Bill continued success in all his future endeavors.