The Best Restaurants In Sonoma, California

Cafe La Haye has been a Sonoma staple in the town square for 15 years, and has also been a ‘top 100’ restaurant selection for many food reviewers. The produce is local and organic with nearly every dish determined by the fresh, seasonable vegetables available. This 32-seat restaurant is minimalist with large windows allowing copious streams of Californian sunshine to shine through. Begin with the house-smoked trout on a potato rösti, topped with horseradish crème fraiche and served with a radish salad before moving to the local favourite, risotto. As with the ingredients featured on the menu, the wine list is local, hailing predominantly from the Napa Valley.

Serving upscale American cuisine in a sophisticated urban setting, El Dorado Kitchen is a cut above. El Dorado Kitchen offers intimate seating under a fig tree on the back patio as well as an indoor seating area next to a cosy fireplace. Executive chef Armando Navarro prides himself on sourcing sustainable farm-reared produce, creating a collection of rustic yet complex dishes that showcase a variety of seasonal ingredients. The chef’s commitment to delivering delicious, organic and local food is in line with El Dorado’s overall eco-friendly initiatives.

El Molino Central puts great pride and significant expertise into the creation of its Mexican food. Housed in an old Sonoma roastery, El Molino is a chic yet relaxed restaurant serving delicious Mexican classics. As it is owned by the same team who sell delicious tamales and homemade tortillas at Primavera in the San Francisco Farmers Market, El Molino promises great things for great value. Whilst inside seating is limited, the quaint patio accommodates guests wishing to take time over their tacos. Order the unusual potato tacos, the enchiladas suizas, the spicy chilaquiles and the daily tamales. In the morning, El Molino Central serves Blue Bottle coffee to really awaken the taste-buds and perfectly complement their famous chilaquiles.

Located off of the Carneros Highway, south of Sonoma, The Freemont Diner is a casual countryside venue serving a choice of Southern American classics compiled from ingredients sourced from local farms, ranches, waters and wineries. Reclaimed wood farmhouse tables and bar stools sit adjacent to a tidy counter in front of the kitchen, where guests can watch the bacon sizzle. There is ample outdoor seating on shaded picnic benches, allowing for a truly restful experience. For breakfast, opt for the black pepper brisket hash or traditional biscuits and gravy. If popping by for lunch order the Reuben sandwich with house-cured pastrami, choose chicken and waffles or try something truly special with a grass fed blue-ribbon burger.

Centrally located in the Sonoma Plaza, The Girl and the Fig fuses French cuisine with the flavours and ethos of California. Focused on locally-sourced produce, the dishes are varied, authentic and famously delicious. The eponymous girl is Sondra Bernstein, the dynamic personality behind both The Girl and the Fig and its upscale sister restaurant nearby. Bernstein has also penned a successful cookbook and is considered to be something of a Sonoma celebrity. The duck confit served atop white beans and lardons is an ever-popular classic, as are the bowls of mussels served with matchstick fries or the braised wild boar on a bed of creamy polenta.

The Harvest Moon Cafe has a rustic yet elegant ambience. Located in a small storefront farmhouse, the laid-back nonchalance of the restaurant’s exterior contrasts with its showcase of the best food and wine in the country. Harvest Moon Café puts emphasis on a casual vibe and excellent food, exuding a local charm and comforting familiarity. Whilst indoor dining space is limited, the large al fresco dining area provides ample room for all. Sample the marinated beets with squash and chickpeas before progressing to the succulent rib eye steak, accompanied with a glass or two from their exceptional wine list.

Hot Box Grill is somewhat off the beaten track, but well-worth the extra effort. This local gem has recently come under new management, making the people of Sonoma sit up and take notice with its eclectic menu and inventive cooking. With just 36 seats, the cosy setting consists of neutral walls with artily arranged wood block prints. The focal point of the interior is the impeccable, shiny steel of the open kitchen, visible if you choose to sit at one of the six counter seats in the front window. Order the cowboy steak with juicy, thick duck fat fries or a decadent, deep fried Cornish game hen.

Located in a picturesque alley off of Sonoma’s main square, LaSalatte offers modern Portuguese fare to be enjoyed against the backdrop of the romantically decorated interior. This beautifully rustic restuarant is placed amidst historical buildings in the bustling central plaza, offering a contemporary Californian take on traditional Portuguese food. Expect a varied selection of seafood and braised meat dishes paired with rich, creamy flavours and plenty of garlic. Try the tasca tasting plates, a Portuguese version of tapas, consisting of seven deliciously contrasted plates to share.

The high-end, premium Saddles Steakhouse is located within a stylish hotel complex that was previously the site of a prestigious 300 acre vineyard and working ranch. The 19th century estate has been transformed into a place of luxury, tempting patrons in with the promise of perfectly prepared steaks. Saddles Steakhouse is a place to enjoy an elegant dinner featuring flat-iron steak, grass fed filet and bone-in rib eye, accompanied by a large selection of martinis. Order the steaks a la carte with soft potatoes, in-season vegetables, mushrooms and a variety of sauces.

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