Here's a polished review that keeps it personal while highlighting Chef Armando's consistency and accomplishments: El Dorado Kitchen continues to deliver one of the best dining experiences in Sonoma. The service was impeccable from start to finish, and the food was outstanding. Chef Armando Navarro has been consistently raising the bar for over 15 years. His attention to detail and commitment to quality show in every dish. The Halibut Wellington was absolutely worth the wait and one of the best meals I've had in a long time. Chef Armando's culinary background speaks for itself--having helped open the former Michelin-starred Auberge du Soleil in St. Helena as a Sous Chef, he brings that same level of excellence to El Dorado Kitchen. If you're visiting Sonoma, El Dorado Kitchen is a must. The patio is a fantastic option, especially on a beautiful wine country afternoon. Highly recommended. -While waiting ask Tony to make you a killer cocktail !! read more

See all

Had an excellent peaceful meal over the weekend, everything was cooked to perfection and the service was seamless. Thank you Matt for being wonderful. Sometimes, I sit and think I can't imagine the number of Karen's or disgruntled guests that come through establishments just looking for something wrong. What a waste of a life, as I overheard one lady complaining about the noise of an AC unit. Sounds like you may need a wake up call to remember how beautiful life is. I needed to say that so bad! read more

We recently attended a rehearsal dinner at this restaurant as guests of the wedding party. Overall, the food quality was quite good; however, we encountered a service issue that significantly impacted our experience. Due to a flight delay beyond our control, we arrived partway through the evening and missed the first course. When we politely requested the opening salad, a dish that had been prepaid by the wedding party as part of a three-course package for all guests, we were informed that the kitchen could not accommodate us given our late arrival. We found this response difficult to understand, as a simple salad should present minimal operational burden to prepare outside of the standard service flow. For a venue that hosts out-of-town guests for milestone events such as rehearsal dinners, we would expect a greater degree of flexibility and hospitality, particularly in circumstances outside a guest's control. Accommodating a straightforward request of this nature would have gone a long way in demonstrating the kind of service that warrants a recommendation. Regrettably, based on this experience, we would not feel comfortable recommending this restaurant to out-of-town guests attending future events. read more

I absolutely loved El Dorado kitchen! It was a perfect stop for lunch after our morning of tastings in Sonoma. It came highly recommended through all of my research on social media so of course I had to give it a try. We had the EDK burger and EDK Carbonara which were both delicious. I'd definitely go back anytime. It was packed so service was pretty great considering. read more

See all

We sat out back on a lovely afternoon for brunch, even though it took a few minutes to get our water and services to start but it was prompt after the first initial delayed. I ordered the lobster sandwich but feel.as though the lobster meat was frozen and not fresh lobster. It was my least favorite lobster sandwich I ever eaten. You definitely can not go wrong with The Chinese chicken salad. Overall it was a pleasant afternoon dining alfresco. 3.5 star read more

See all

Was with my mom for dinner time yesterday and we ordered paella plus a fillet mignon. The paella was burned and my mom barely enjoyed it. The fillet mignon was not tasty and dry. Didn't enjoyed the dinner at all. Which i was surprised as we been here before and food has been amazing. Paid over $130 and it was not worth the money or the far drive. read more

El Dorado Kitchen - Fillet mignon - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

See all

Sonoma has so many wonderful dining options, however, El Dorado Kitchen is far from being one of them. The view from outside El Dorado Kitchen's French paned windows looking into their dining room is cozy and cute. The lit candles on each table add a romantic touch. And that is exactly where the good times end. El Dorado Kitchen's ventilation system is non-existent when the windows are closed. This is important to make note of because once inside the dark and noisy dining room, your senses may be overwhelmed by the very intense aroma of multiple types of seafood cooking just steps from your table. Everything you wear, your hair, and skin will smell until you bathe. Unless you are accustomed to reading by the light of a candle, you may find reading the menu's extra-tiny, lightly printed text a challenge, but don't fret. You can hold your menu next to one of the small battery-operated accent lamps on El Dorado Kitchen's windowsills! Please do not wait for bread, breadsticks, or similar items to arrive at the table; they will not be coming. I ordered the 'Seasonal Soup': butternut squash, and the Hamachi & Teriyaki Unagi Bowl. The teeny tiny portions of food arrived almost immediately. The soup had one flavor note: butternut squash, no seasoning of any kind included. Dinner was a disappointment, and I left hungry. I visited the El Dorado Kitchen's Ladies' restroom prior to leaving, and a final surprise awaited me: no toilet seat cover holder, and no toilet seat covers. I was appalled that an establishment who claims to be "the ultimate beacon" on their website could not provide items meant to maintain cleanliness and sanitary conditions. read more

El Dorado Kitchen - The entrance. - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

Cute hotel restaurant and bar. Open to anyone. Many families were dining early on a Tuesday evening. They have indoor and outdoor style tables. We took the last two seats at the bar. Service was prompt and friendly. We had two drinks prior to our dinner reservation at another restaurant. They have a great selection of tequila. The food menu looked good! We will have to come back to eat here. It got super busy during the hour we visited. Parking is out on the street but this place is centrally located so like we did, you can just walk there and walk to your next place. Check em out for drinks! Will report back again when I eat there. read more

See all

I went here for my honeymoon and me and my husband got 3 different dishes and we shared them back and forth between us. Everything was 10/10. I'm definitely coming back for the spectacular food and service. Ambience was nice and inviting and the staff were so friendly and easy going. read more

See all

Great service, despite being extremely busy the evening we were there. We were centrally located in the dining area so it was pretty loud. The wine selection was good, and the food was great. We would go back! read more

See all

Located in the hotel this was a really really good dinner! We showed up early evening and were seated right away. Our server immediately greeted us and got us water and told us about the drinks and dinner options. The absolute star was the paella - the seasoning of the rice was excellent. Some of the fish could have used a little more seasoning but it was very good. I'd stay at the hotel just to get quicker access to the restaurant! read more

El Dorado Kitchen - SEAFOOD PAELLA - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

What a pleasant surprise! Food, service, beautiful ambiance. We requested a table outside and it was lovely. We loved everything! Focaccia - light and tasty Caesar salad - so good!! Housemade papardelle with bolognese & maitake mushrooms - perfect bite on the pasta, umami bolognese and maitakes Short ribs - hubby practically licked his plate Will be back! read more

See all

Outstanding brunch and service! Enjoyed our time here and it was fresh and flavorful! Had the burrata, EDK Carbonara which was killer and the Tuna Poke Bowl which was so enjoyable! Will be back read more

See all

The most accommodating place I've ever experienced with my vegan diet and allium allergy. When I explained my dietary needs, they immediately said everything is made to order, so it was no issue at all--no questions asked. I was so relieved and genuinely pleased. I came for dinner and had a wonderful cauliflower vegetable dish along with a fresh salad. Everything was delicious. They truly made me feel taken care of and welcomed. Highly recommend--and bonus points for the great mocktails. read more

Great food ,cold beer . Waitress Elizabeth was delightful excellent service.. love our local restaurant read more

Stopped by this place for a quick dinner and wasn't disappointed! Prices are about average for what you'd expect in Downtown Sonoma but I didn't mind. My bowl was delicious and definitely fresh. I only wish they had some bread or something brought to the table beforehand. The ambiance was causal and calm. And my service was good. I would definitely recommend the next time you stop in Sonoma. read more

El Dorado Kitchen - HAMACHI & TERIYAKI UNAGI BOWL - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

The food, the staff, the ambience was fantastic. Came here after much research and pre-planned thought having moved to Sonoma County over 3 years ago now. This is the #1 mentioned spot recommended to me on my post/inquiry for great romantic restaurants in the area on Facebook page "Sonoma county foodies." I have my list from them and was excited to use one of the best excuses ever to go-my mother-in-law's 75th birthday and flying in to town to see us. We got a sitter and reserved a table weeks ahead. Entering in to the restaurant, it has a cool vibe as it's also a hotel. We got there before the dinner rush, so it was relaxed when we arrived. We were seated at a table; the staff knew ahead it was my MILs bday, and they kindly wished her happy birthday several times in our time. We ordered the mushrooms for appetizer; a generous portion, but not too big to ruin dinner. It was an unusual dish we hadn't had before; beautifully plated with arugula and a slightly spicy purée. I would order it again. I got a glass of Walt Chardonnay and my MIL a sparkling wine, which she and my husband really liked. For entrees, I got the Petaluma Chicken-which was crispy outside and tender on the inside. Polenta (very creamy) and broccolini. I would say my dish was light on salt, so I added some to taste, and all was good. My husband got the vegan plate with salmon, and it looked so healthy and fresh. The tofu was crispy too, even for my hubby that doesn't eat tofu. My mother in law got the flat iron steak and frites. The steak was cooked to her liking and looked delicious. The fries were ok--I thought they were a bit under-whelming (like them piping hot) but that can't always be achieved in a busy restaurant. Mid-meal the place started buzzing with activity, and it got a bit loud but not too bad. The staff was very kind and brought us a small fudge brownie (very rich and dense) and all 3 of us had 1-2 bites and satisfied our sweet tooth for end of meal. The waiter was fantastic! I would love to return and try some different dishes and some signature cocktails as they were so tempting. read more

See all

El Dorado Kitchen staff outdid themselves. Service was awesome and food was so good. We got the prix price menu which had the lobster risotto (so good) and short ribs. Everything was so yummy. read more

El Dorado Kitchen - Lobster risotto - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

See all

This review is for the EDK Cantina. I was on my way out of Sonoma and again looking for a quick bite for dinner. El Dorado Kitchen Cantina to the rescue. The Cantina is a walk-up window located outside of the hotel on Spain Street. They offer a small menu of casual Mexican/Latin eats to-go. Think: chips/salsa/guac, tacos, taquitos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and a burrito. The burrito was so good last time that I had to order it again, and it was just as delicious as I'd remembered. I added chicken but you can also add pork carnitas, al pastor, or short rib birria. Inside the burrito: refried black beans, tomato rice, oaxaca cheese, guacamole, crema, & pico de gallo in a flour tortilla. It's substantial and oh so flavorful! I ate half in my car before driving away, and then half the next day. read more

We were in Sonoma and we tried this place very classy good service delicious food. The outdoor patio was nice to hang out. read more

See all

Stopped in for breakfast in our way out of town. It's a cute little space, but they only make coffee in the actual restaurant area, everything else I'd brought out from another part of the hotel. This meant that simply brining ice tee took far longer than expected. But I will say, the huevos rancheros surprisingly good. They used Spanish chorizo instead of Mexican, which I thought was great. But I'd suggest disclosing this on the menu, as it really changes the dish and I could see people being unhappy with it. But overall the dish was quite flavorful, and the over easy eggs perfectly cooked. I'd certainly have breakfast there again. read more

El Dorado Kitchen - HUEVOS RANCHEROS - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

Came here for my birthday dinner and immediately loved the decor, ambience, and overall vibe. We were greeted warmly by both the host and our waiters, and they even had a cute happy birthday sign waiting for us, which was a really thoughtful touch. That said, I was a little disappointed there wasn't a complimentary dessert, which would have been such a nice way to end a birthday dinner. I ordered the Shanghai Sour cocktail with five spice seasoning and it was good for what it was, interesting and different, though not something I'd rush to order again. The real highlight of the night was the appetizer. We ordered the hamachi crudo and it was beautifully prepared, well seasoned, and visually stunning. I just wish they gave more than four slices because it was honestly delicious. For entrées, we ordered the highly recommended seafood paella, which definitely lived up to the hype, and the lobster risotto. The risotto was good overall, but a bit watery for my liking. Overall, it was a lovely birthday dinner with great atmosphere, friendly service, and good food. read more

See all

I have been coming to El Dorado Kitchen for few years now, last time I was here my experience was kind of sad. I promised myself not to return but who am I kidding? I returned today to celebrate my friends birthday. Everything was on point since we entered the restaurant. Lily was extremely Great and made us feel so welcomed. The food was amazing as always, and the drinks were to die for. The whole experience was beyond great! I'm still craving the butternut squash soup! read more

El Dorado Kitchen - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

See all

Had a lovely time here for dinner! We sat outside and it was a beautiful warm evening under the fig tree, surrounded by wisteria. The staff was all so nice and accommodating as well. We shared the street corn (this wasn't it for us, it was essentially a bowl of steamed corn topped with cotija), the maitake mushrooms (INCREDIBLE), and the beet salad. The mushrooms are a must! Then we shared the scallops and they were fabulous and perfectly seared. The finale was the Creme brûlée.... So so good. The strawberry sorbet tasted freshly homemade and made the meal! read more

See all

We had a wonderful time celebrating our dear friends' rehearsal dinner in the private dining space at [restaurant name]--an evening that felt both elegant and easygoing in the best possible way. The private room is a gem: intimate, thoughtfully designed, and just far enough from the main dining area to feel special while still full of energy. Natural light streamed in through the tall windows, the dark navy walls gave it a cozy sophistication, and the mix of fresh florals and soft lighting created a perfectly relaxed vibe. Now, the food! We started with the house focaccia--pillowy, golden, and topped with delicate slivers of onion--served with clarified butter that was creamy to keep us reaching for more. The menu was beautifully curated (see photo!) and everything was plated with care. It's clear the kitchen puts love and intention into each course without overcomplicating the flavors. Service was seamless--attentive but never intrusive. They handled everything gracefully, from dietary notes to wine pairings. This space made our evening feel personal and memorable, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it for anyone planning an intimate celebration. Truly a standout experience. read more

See all

Excellent high-end restaurant in a hotel on Sonoma Square. Paella and skirt steak are awesome, as is the Caesar's salad. Beautiful outdoor patio. Great customer service. I highly recommend for special occasions or if money is not an issue, as it's pricier than other local restaurants, but worth it. The hotel is also great to stay at. read more

El Dorado Kitchen - Paella and steak frites. The restaurant kindly splint the steak frites plate for us. These are the top 2 dishes served here. - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

Nice atmosphere. Excellent service. Very nice and helpful waitress. The food quality is good but the menu is limited. I thought the salmon main dish was solid but the sides I did not care for. The biggest disappointment is the online website. It is either wrong or dishonest or both. It lists filet mignon as a main course option. No filet mignon option was available when we sat down and looked at the menu in the restaurant. The only steak options were ribeye and Denver steaks which I hate both. I had to order a dish that in the end I didn't love. I specifically chose this restaurant for the filet mignon dish listed on the website which wasn't even on the menu. Get your website menu correct and be honest. That said it was still a good quality restaurant and earned four stars. It may have earned five if the online menu actually matched the restaurant menu. read more

Stopped in the town square for lunch on a day trip wine tasting in Sonoma. We walked around the entire square before deciding on this spot after smelling a wonderful aroma out front and checking out the menu. The restaurant is located on the first floor of a hotel. The interior is very nice and they also have outdoor seating. We were seated right away and our server came over with water and told us about the soup of day. After that she disappeared and we sat there for more than 15 minutes questioning whether she was our actual server or someone else. Finally my husband and snagged someone who appeared to be a manager and he immediately apologized and took our complete order. I did get the soup of the day ($14) creamy tomato and it was very good. The manager let us know he would comp the soup when he brought it out. We ordered steak frites ($39) and a burger ($18) which came with lettuce, tomato, red onion and aioli. Both were served with skinny fries. The entrees were good and the burger was seasoned perfectly. We opted to skip dessert as time was limited. We started off poorly but the manager made a great recovery. read more

See all

It was one of those perfect afternoons where the sun was bright but the air was not hot. The Patio at the El Dorado was full of diners and as we walked to our table I knew we might be in for a treat as we looked at what was being eaten. We started with bloody Mary's accompanied by the delicious truffle fries with two great sauces to enhance the flavour. Yum! Once we finished our drinks and appetiser we ordered our lunches and were not disappointed when they arrived. Two guests who ordered the risotto said it was delicious...a perfect balance between different flavours, Crunchy and smooth textures and a great presentation. My salmon was also delicious. Cooked just right and the plate was finished off with sides that enhanced the flavor of the salmon. The carbonara ordered by one guest was up for another rave. She said the balance between the bacon, egg and sauce was one of the most interesting combinations she had ever enjoyed. A nice compliment. Yes, we were full, satisfied and ready to enjoy the rest of the afternoon after dining at a respected restaurant in one of our favorite towns to visit in the greater Bay Area. read more

See all

We stopped in for breakfast/brunch on a Sunday with a couple friends and sat in the back patio. The service was fantastic, as it usually is. We ordered a bottle of sparkling wine and it was lovely - my only complaint is that they put very big blocks of ice into the ice bucket so it was next to impossible to actually cover the bottle with ice - smaller ice and some water in the bucket would've helped a lot. I usually order either the chilaquiles or the short rib hash and that day felt like a short rib hash day. This is one of my absolute favorites and if you love tender short rib, potatoes, and poached eggs, you will love this. I've also asked for the eggs to be done over easy/medium before so that's always an option if you prefer it. My wife had the lobster sandwich special and it was okay. We thought it would be more like a lobster roll on some sort of toasted brioche roll, but it came out on a rather large ciabatta roll instead, which was a bit tough to bite without half of the lobster falling out. Overall, the lobster was cooked well and nicely seasoned and dressed, but as a sandwich, it was unexpectedly messy and just felt like way too much bread to lobster. Overall, EDK is always a solid option for breakfast/brunch. If you plan ahead, there are better options on the plaza, but EDK almost always has space, which is great for us because we never plan ahead! read more

After doing a tasting nearby at Buena Vista Winery we were ready for food! This was one of the recommendations that we got from our host. We were seated right away. Service was quite fabulous! Food was delicious! Can't say I would drive here for the sole purpose of eating at this spot but if I'm in the area I would definitely return. I had the chicken sandwich. it was crispy and flavorful with juicy meat read more

See all

I was hosting a group of 16 people for a day of wine tasting in the Sonoma area and we came here for dinner. We did arrange group dining with them ahead of time. We sat in the main dining room and ordered off the regular menu but we were well taken care of. We had a food & beverage minimum to meet and ended up taking home a bunch of bottles of wine to get closer to the minimum amount. We all enjoyed our food and drinks. Service was good as well. I started with the Potato leek soup: house made croutons, smoked salmon, olive oil, chives. This was really delicious. Nice flavor. My VP ate the smoked salmon off the top as I don't like it. He enjoyed it. For my entree, I had the SEARED SCALLOPS: golden raisins, citrus, capers, almonds, spinach, yukon gold potatoes, cauliflower curry purée. This was really tasty. The scallops were cooked nicely and I loved all the other items in the dish. Overall a really nice dinner. And a great location right on Sonoma Square. read more

El Dorado Kitchen - Potato leek soup - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

See all

Holiday Date night with friends. Step into El Dorado Kitchen, where culinary magic happens under the talented hands of Executive Chef Armando Navarro! With a menu that celebrates local, seasonal ingredients, each bite is a delightful adventure. STARTERS *Beet Salad *Burrata *Roasted Maitake Mushrooms *Truffle Fries DRINKS *Espresso Martini *Irish Coffee *Brut Rose *Pinot Noir ENTREES *Grilled Salmon *Filet Mignon *Mushroom Risotto *Pork Chop *Flat Iron Steak Frites DESSERTS *Molten Chocolate Cake *Apple Blueberry Crisp *House Made Ice Cream With a charming ambience, atmosphere, and attentive service, El Dorado Kitchen is a must-visit for food lovers seeking an unforgettable dining experience. Staff: A special thank you to Sam for his outstanding service. read more

See all

I came here with 2 girlfriends for a relaxing day wine tasting, eating and visiting. We chose to eat outside where they have lots on umbrellas in a cute courtyard. Their service was a little slow, but their food is delicious. We got appetizers only with drinks. The burrata was good paired with the peaches and decorated with edible flowers, the French fries had a beautiful mound of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and the crab cake was the best I ever had, more crab than bread filled. So good. read more

See all

Horrible burrito $18 for a nasty burrito with little to no meat in it pastor. Old guacamole this thing was terrible.

These stars are for the service and ambiance. We thought the food was terrible. I can't understand why anyone likes this place. My daughter and I shared 5 appetizers. The shrimp in the shrimp cocktail was flavorless. The cocktail sauce tasted like a Bloody Mary mix. Burrata cheese- flavorless, crab salad -bland, white asparagus w mushrooms. That was a special $28 for minimal food and hamachi crisp which was the best of our choices. It was costly for lousy food. Surprises me that this restaurant is so popular. read more

Date: Saturday, November 17th, 2024 Time: 11:15am Party of: 6 adults, 1 child Meal: Breakfast / Brunch / Lunch Reservation Made: via OpenTable about 2 weeks prior *Ham Omelette ($22) *Flat Iron Steak ($39) *Brunch Pizza ($22) *Bowl Soup ($14) x2 *Salmon ($36) *Vegan Plate ($25) *Fritto Misto ($20) *Truffle Fries ($14) *Kid's Pizza ($14) *Bloody Mary ($16) *Cleary Sour ($18) *Paloma ($15) x4: Well Tequila ($11) x2 *Lemonade ($4.50) *Pellegrino ($7.50) Our group was going wine tasting and wanted to grab a bite beforehand. After looking around at nearby spots, I decided on El Dorado Kitchen. (I've had brunch here prior, back in 2021.) It was rather easy to find a rezzie two weeks in advance, so no need to plan ahead much if you'd like to dine here. We were seated at their long communal table and had the end furthest away from the entrance. There was plenty of space between us and the party on the other end, so it didn't feel like we were really sharing a table. Food wise, my party loves fries. And when I say loves, they tend to order multiples to share. Since my steak came with regular fries, we only got one order of the truffle fries. (We were originally going to get two additional orders of fries to share between four people.) They were fried nicely and came with parmesan and chives. I didn't get much of a truffle aroma / flavor tho. The steak I ordered was cooked perfectly temp wise. A nice rare plus. We had a vegetarian at the table and he seemed to enjoy the soup. Another in our party tends to stick to healthier options and got the vegan plate and soup as well. He said the vegan plate was a big portion. I tried the brunch pizza toppings and they were fine. Drinks wise, I like my cocktails dark and boozy. I completely missed the note about the whisky sour being clear. I did not enjoy this. It tasted like a light watery syrup with a hint of liquor. So not my jam. My follow up, a double paloma was much better. Definitely enjoyed this more. Our server was great. Tho I think she had a bit too many tables as she was always at a different table taking orders, etc. We had told her we had a wine appointment at 1:30pm which she noted. When it came time to get the bill and pay, it was harder to flag her down. Convenient and easy place to grab a meal before wine tasting in Sonoma. REVIEW #3627 read more

See all

We went during off hours so it was not very busy. We shared the shrimp cocktail and al pastor tacos. The tacos were really tasty and not too greasy. I would order those again. read more

El Dorado Kitchen - Al pastor - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

See all

We celebrated my friend's 50th birthday and enjoyed the three course meal for eleven of us. The staff were so kind and attentive. The drinks were pretty and tasty and the food was delicious. The ambiance of the restaurant was on point during the holidays and perfect for celebrating a milestone birthday. Definitely recommend this restaurant located in Sonoma square. read more

EDK is a must try if you've never been! The location is perfect, nestled in the Square. I always find myself coming back everytime I'm in town. From their food, to the service, and their hospitality, everything is amazing! Their Truffle fries w/ aioli is always the first on my app order + their burrata, and don't even get me started on all their yummy drinks! read more

See all