Although it was a brisk early November day, the sun was out and my partner and I opted for an outside cafe table. The overhead outdoor heaters provided some great warmth. Eating on the sidewalk has its pros and cons (like traffic), but it was perfect for seeing and being seen. The menu is described as "Italifornia" and it has a great vodka bar and wines by the glass.
My first visit was for lunch, after a visit to a local art gallery (Owen Patrick Gallery-4345 Main St.). Sonoma's food is touted to be seasonal, local, and all organic, with the exception of six classic dishes. Its menu changes weekly and is always intriguing. We started by splitting a caesar salad with roasted peppers and Parmes
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My first visit was for lunch, after a visit to a local art gallery (Owen Patrick Gallery-4345 Main St.). Sonoma's food is touted to be seasonal, local, and all organic, with the exception of six classic dishes. Its menu changes weekly and is always intriguing. We started by splitting a caesar salad with roasted peppers and Parmesan tuille ($8.25), which was more than enough for two. My artsy friend went with a brick sandwich of three-cheeses, grilled Kennet Square (local) portabello mushrooms on restaurant-made ciabatta bread ($8.95). This came with three-bean and orzo salad.
I threw my diet to the winds and couldn't resist a pizza of roasted bell peppers, shitake mushrooms with garlic and baby pear tomatoes. It was topped with gooey mozzarella and Monterey jack cheeses on organic whole-wheat dough ($10.95). There was so much that I even took some home to hubby.
The menu listed Sonoma's classics (always available) as:
Shrimp ravioli in spinach dough with lobster-brandy tomato-butter sauce ($17.95)
Tri-colored cavatelli primavera with broccoli, peas, garlic, olive oil, tomato, asparagus, and broccoli rabe ($15.95)
The following four classics are listed as being served with mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and sauteed string beans in oil.
Garlic rib steak ($16.95)
Secret recipe roasted chicken served dark, crispy, and sweet ($13.95)
Honey-lavender hickory roasted salmon ($16.95)
Achiote-spiced grilled tuna served medium rare ($18.95)
A return trip with hubby was delicious and fun. We ate inside this time, but were seated at a window, where the atmosphere was cheery and warm for a December evening. Since I always want to try something different, I talked him into splitting the cornmeal-coated, deep-fried crimson poblano pepper stuffed with Sonoma goat cheese and Monterey jack cheese, with fire-roasted corn served on a pool of golden marconi pepper sauce ($7.95). It was hot, hot, hot . . . not for the faint-hearted. Since hubby firmly believes that a salad a day keeps the doctor away, he ordered the locally grown babyu greens with balsamic vinaigrette and tomatoes from Philly Chile. Co. It tamed the burn.
For an entrée, I was dying to try the roasted chicken raviolis in yellow tomato sauce with basil, pesto, and sweet yellow baby peppers ($13.95). The raviolis tasted like they were homemade and the sauce brought back a hint of the end of summer. Hubby went for the honey-lavender hickory-roasted salmon ($16.95), which was a little non-assertive and mildly sweet for his tastes. But he loves salmon and declared it was cooked perfectly. Since we were both pre-holiday counting calories, we skipped the dessert tray, but it looked yummy. He finished with an Irish coffee and I had a toasted almond coffee (did we really save any calories?). It was a memorable, romantic evening and we left vowing to return soon!
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