The 16 Best Restaurants In Sonoma, California

Despite the fact that Napa gets all of the attention, Sonoma is an equally charming wine-centered town located in the rolling hills of NorCal. According to Sonoma County, Sonoma is only about 30 miles north of San Francisco, making it a great destination for city dwellers looking to escape for a fun weekend filled with great wine and great food. Though the downtown area of Sonoma is super small, it is scattered with incredible tasting rooms and restaurants that showcase the fresh fare of wine country.

Whether you're seeking vineyard views or good eats without all of the flair, Sonoma has you covered. From French cuisine that pairs wonderfully with local wines to comforting Mexican food that caters to the most specific of cravings, there really is something for every kind of eater in Sonoma. That said, we've rounded up the best restaurants in Sonoma for locals, visitors, and wine lovers alike.

Located at The Lodge at Sonoma, Wit & Wisdom is an elegant and sleek restaurant helmed by celebrity chef, Michael Mina. The restaurant has everything from cozy booths to a fresh patio, making it a great option for hotel guests and locals looking to get a true taste of Sonoma. The diverse menu has something for every diner, but the pizzas are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Those looking to branch out will find bold flavors in the clam pizza, but guests should also ask about special pizza offerings that are off the menu.

The hand-made pasta rotates with the seasons, and the seafood entrees revolve around sustainability. That said, the W&W steak frites is a top-notch main that is served with the crispiest and most decadent duck fat potato wedges.

With the vision of bringing Sonoma's flourishing agriculture to the forefront of the menu, Folktable is focused on serving seasonal fare that is fresh and clean. Sourcing the majority of the ingredients from local organic farmers and artisans allows Folktable to create a dining experience that highlights the high-quality food being grown across the Sonoma Valley, as well as the beautiful community of chefs, farmers, and wine experts working together at Folktable.

The menu at Folktable is creative and ever-changing with the seasons. However, every iteration of the contemporary California menu features a wide array of bright and delicately seasoned dishes. The soup and farm salad menu allows the organic local produce to shine, offering chef-created combinations of the freshest vegetables, seeds, spices, and dressings with the choice to add any protein for the perfect fall meal.

Since 1998, Chef Manuel Azevedo's LaSalette has been serving a unique fusion of contemporary Portuguese meets California farm-to-table cuisine. Blending traditions, ingredients, and flavors from his homeland of Portugal with local California produce has allowed Chef Azevedo to create a breathtaking seasonal menu. Chef Azevedo also brings bold flavors into the mix with exciting seasonings from around the world.

The menu at LaSalette is concise yet full of variety. The Tasca Board starter is reminiscent of the undeniably trendy charcuterie board with a Portuguese flair, and pairs beautifully with any selection from the carefully curated wine list. The main plates section of the menu features everything from traditional fisherman's stew to wine and garlic-braised pork shoulder. Each dish is perfectly refined and boasts an impressive articulation of successful food fusion.

Located just off of central Sonoma Square, Cafe La Haye is serving up simple yet delicious California-style cuisine. A small menu of carefully curated dishes drives the dining experience at Cafe La Haye, allowing the chef to conceptualize, refine, and execute the highest quality plates for guests to enjoy.

The menu of this charming local spot changes seasonally and the ever-changing chef's specials are listed on the blackboard daily, ensuring even the most loyal regulars are excited by new dishes. From crowd-pleasing appetizers like fried cauliflower and broccoli & cheddar soup to extraordinary entrees like the grilled marinated filet mignon and the market price seasonal fish, every dish is a lesson in taste and technique. The wine list at Cafe La Haye is just as impressive as the food menu. With bottles ranging in price from $44 to an incredible $3,450, the selection of local Sonoma wines is truly impressive.

Nestled in the charming and historic Sonoma Plaza, Oso Sonoma is bringing wine-country fare to a casual yet inviting dining room. The mission is to deliver the same flavor and high-quality ingredients as some of its fine-dining counterparts in a more relaxed setting. The menu created by chef and owner, David Bush, boasts simple yet undeniably tasty dishes across the board.

The start of the menu offers chef-inspired renditions of classic American bar bites that are designed to pair perfectly with one of the many cocktails, wines, and draft beer "libations" Oso Sonoma has to offer. The entree section of the menu is where Chef Bush's skills really shine, offering local selections like a seared halibut, miso-glazed king salmon, and seared New York steak, highlighting the true finesse and fine cookery at this no-frills establishment.

The Red Grape is a family-owned and operated spot serving crowd-pleasing hand-made pizzas, pasta, and other Italian-inspired favorites in Sonoma. For over 15 years, this local favorite has mastered thin, crispy crust pizzas topped with ingredients sourced from local farmers, merchants, and purveyors of quality Sonoma goods. Whether you choose to dine in the charming dining room with a view of the wood-fired pizza oven or on the charming patio lined with trees, you're sure to feel right at home. That said, you can also order take-out and indulge from the comfort of your couch.

From classic cheese pizzas topped with The Red Grape's signature house-made plum tomato sauce to more unique fixings like the seasonal special that recreates your favorite Thanksgiving feast on top of a pizza, every pie is supremely delicious.

Another standout restaurant from chef Manuel Azevedo is Tasca Tasca. This beloved spot draws inspiration from bar-style dining found in Portugal. The menu of tapas-style bites ranges from classic and approachable American favorites like mac and cheese with handmade sausage, to more unique dishes like the fried spicy pig's ears or goat stew with fingerling potatoes. Because the menu is designed to encourage tasting and sharing, guests pay a fixed price for a select number of any dishes on the menu, allowing for playful culinary exploration.

That said, it wouldn't be a true Tasca experience without a trip to the bar. Enjoy a selection from the diligently curated, exclusively Portuguese wine and port selection to fully immerse yourself in Southern European delight. If wine isn't your thing, check out the list of signature cocktails or draft beers to savor with your tasting bites.

El Molino Central is bringing authentic Mexican Food to the Sonoma restaurant scene. This inviting family-owned spot takes family recipes and elevates them with ingredients sourced from local farmers, creating the perfect blend of Mexican heritage and Sonoma Valley produce. The menu is accessible and delicious offering a wide array of crowd-pleasing Mexican dishes.

El Molino is known for its bright and citrus-forward Bohemia Beer Battered Fish Tacos, served with salsa de Arbol and a house-made avocado-lime mayonnaise. The crisp, perfectly fried fish is balanced by the creamy yet tangy mayo and the spice from the salsa. Enhance your meal by pairing it with a selection from the local wine and beer list and experience the truly ultimate level of comfort food.