One can’t help but to feel incredibly stylish while dining at Sonoma. Cool is the only word to describe the atmosphere.
It’s not uncomfortably trendy, nor is it uncomfortably snooty. Tall bistro-like tables and chairs are in the dining area. Candles surround the room creating a nice ambiance. The ladies room is comfy, spotless and equally cool. For those who wish to have drinks and relax, there are cozy couches and chairs.
I was immediately impressed by the appetizer selection—salads, crab, tuna tartare, and cheeses are just a few of the options. Sonoma lets you build your own cheese board with a variety of cheeses and meats, which is something I rarely find in our area restaurants. Typically if a restaurant offers cheese, it is only on the dessert menu. A cheese and meat selection before the main course is a favorite of mine. The presentation was beautiful. The meats and cheeses were complimented by fruit, candied pecans, olives, pickles, crackers and dried figs. They also offer an extensive selection of wine as well.
The main course menu offers several choices—everything from duck to ahi tuna. The meat for my main course was tasty, but it was not extremely memorable. It wasn’t as juicy as I would have liked it to be. The corn on the cob was succulent and perfect.
Desserts included sorbets, cheeses, and various mouth watering chocolate desserts. However, the cheeses listed on the dessert menu were the same ones listed on the appetizer menu. It would be nice to see additional chesses for dessert. Over all, I enjoyed my experience at Sonoma. The service was good, atmosphere was great, and my dinner was pleasant. I would definitely recommend Sonoma Wine Bar & Bistro.
Sonoma feels a little more like a formal restaurant than a bistro, and that’s fine by me. Perhaps some diners don’t mind forking over a few hundred dollars for a meal in a “bistro” environment, but I do. I feel cheated somehow. Luckily, Sonoma uses the word bistro in name only, and steps up the seating and service making the dining experience on par with their pricing.
The menu at Sonoma has something for everyone, and everything we tried met or exceeded our expectations. I’m a fan of the dual appetizer configuration of their menu, which progresses from first to second and a third plate, the last being the entree. This encourages people to relax, slow down their dining experience and try new things, rather than using that staid appetizer-entree-desert formula.
The decor is modern but not trendy. The venue is flush with warm hardwoods and soft ambiance. The bar is above average and there is some comfortable seating with a fireplace near the bar in case you’re not in the mood for a stool. Sonoma a nice switch from formal dining, but that comes at a cost. Seating in the dining area isn’t as comfortable as it could be and you tend to feel surrounded at times, depending on your table location. Also, there is no coat checking so you’re forced to find a free chair to rest your extra garments and other items on. I believe all quality restaurants should at least have a coat rack.
Service was pretty good, though not anything special. The staff is courteous and knowledgeable – covering the basics well enough. I enjoyed my visit to Sonoma and look forward to returning and sampling some other items from their wonderful seasonal menu.
Contact Information for Sonoma Wine Bar & Bistro:
Sonoma Wine Bar & Bistro
189 Central Park Avenue
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
757-490-WINE
http://www.sonomatowncenter.com
