Me and my gals came for my birthday, and I couldn't have been happier. We are DEFINITELY coming back! Food (5/5): Everything we ate was delicious. They're currently working on a limited menu, but if you don't want to order off it, you can just tell the chef the protein and spice level you want and he'll make you a dish. It was spectacular! We had a party of 6, so we got 2 chicken, 1 pork, 2 vegetarian, and 1 fish dish. The Naan was perfectly seasoned and came with chutneys for days! Now for the best part... the samosas. We got 2 orders and it came with 4 different chutneys. The main dishes had all different flavors and spices to give you an idea of the sorts of dishes that the chef could make as well as show off the spices. We have baby mouths so we got level 1 spice, but we tried a few of the higher spice levels. Ambiance (5/5): It had very cozy vibes, like someone's house. The water fixture was a perfect touch to adding background noise with the music. Lots of golds, reds, and artwork on the walls to give you an authentic experience. Service (5/5): The service was epic. We got here at 1pm and started chatting with the staff about the menu; she brought out the chef and we all got to talking about food, allergies, and likes/dislikes. The chef asked for a protein & spice level and made each of us a special dish. We had 6 curries on the table shortly with 2 bowls of Naan and 2 plates of rice. After our meal, we were not rushed out, even though they closed 30 mins prior (they have limited hours, so call ahead to make sure they're open)! We talked to the staff and found out that due to covid & a hit-and-run that demolished part of their building, the staff are volunteers who have been regulars for 13+ years! They make you feel like family there. TLDR: AMAZING food, staff, and vibe. Samosas are a must! read more

Great Indian food. Nice ambiance with Indian relics. Service was fast and efficient. It makes us very sad this restaurant is shutting down but we wish the owner success in his next life choices. read more

See all

If you're searching for a dining experience that transcends the ordinary, Sona Restaurant is the hidden gem you need to discover. Don't judge this book by its cover--the modest exterior belies a culinary treasure trove inside. The ambiance within is both clean and intimate, adorned with a decor that soothes and pleases the senses, creating the perfect backdrop for a memorable meal.The highlight of our visit was undoubtedly the chef's personal touch. Not only was the chef incredibly personable, but he also prepared a custom, surprise menu for our party that was nothing short of glorious. Each dish was a delightful surprise, showcasing a masterful blend of flavors that left us eagerly anticipating the next course.I highly recommend Sona Restaurant for anyone looking to elevate their dining experience. The cuisine is a bold exploration of tastes, the setting is wonderfully cozy, and the staff goes above and beyond to make your meal special. Don't let the unassuming exterior deter you; inside Sona, a world of exquisite culinary delights awaits. read more

See all

So so good food!! Don't miss this place. Unassuming but don't let that stop you! The flavors, the sweet ambience, and a chef that will talk to you about the beauty of the food. A true gem. read more

It has been a few years since I have been to Winchester, but since I was here, I remembered I really loved Sona. So I went back last night. The owner/chef was as personable and gracious as I remembered and the food was spectacular. If you want a well crafted Indian meal (with the perfect flavor and blend of spices) this is the place to go. read more

It's hard for me to give Sona 3 stars because the food is not bad and the atmosphere is very nice and homey. Don't let the outside of the building fool you. The problem is that the prices have gotten out of hand ( way too high ), and portion sizes are just average. The thing that really surprised me was 4 pieces of garlic naan was $20. I usually get an assortment basket of Naan at other places for no more than $10 with much larger pieces. A serving of Samosas (2) was $7. It is usually no more than $5. The menu is very limited. The chef does offer more than is on the menu, but you have to ask if he can make it and you won't know what it costs until you get the bill. We were a party of 5, and the bill was $146 and with tip $173. We had 2 orders of Samosas, 3 veggie dishes, 1 lamb, and 1 chicken dish. 1 soda, which did not come with refills. And the 4 garlic naan. I've never paid that much before, and we eat Indian once or twice a month. This place before covid use to draw decent crowds but covid almost killed this place and not many people are coming here anymore. He has cut back the hours that it's open, too. If you want help this place stay in business and money isn't a problem for you than go eat here. The food is decent, but it is used to be better. read more

Back at Sona almost two years since my last visit - I don't live in Winchester. Since I was in town had to come visit. Just as pleased as my last visit. Amazing food, very knowledgeable chef/owner. Friendly and courteous staff. Good to be back and looking forward to coming back next time I am in town. read more

Sona Restaurant - a dining room with tables and chairs - Indian Near Me - Winchester, Virginia

Best Indian restaurant in Winchester. Beautifully decorated. Peaceful ambiance, great prices, small but excellent menu, friendly staff, and the food - WOW! read more

Amazing dining experience. Owner chef personally customized our selection. Food was excellent, best outside of the beltway. Atmosphere tastefully elegant Service wonderful. Definitely a hidden gem. read more

Best Indian restaurant anywhere near Winchester and it is inside the city! Food and service is great! This is not stale food off a buffet, but freshly finished dishes served. Shiv, chef and owner, loves to greet all customers and is quite friendly. Really miss their lunch hours and their lunch specials since that is when I usually eat out. Hope Shiv brings back lunch. If you eat there once and the food isn't to your liking, go again and talk to Shiv about it. He will, when possible, adjust your serving to your tastes. read more

Always a great time! Complex and flavorful dishes along with personalized service. Shiv puts his heart into his craft! Definitely the best Indian food in the area! read more

Sona Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Winchester, Virginia

Absolutely amazing experience here!!! After a 10 hour road trip, we were met with such generosity and kindness. The owners were extremely personable and hardworking, and the food was delicious. If I were local, I would make this a regular stop! 10/10 recommend :) read more

Expensive and the portions a little too small for my appetite! I usually go to another Indian restaurant but we thought we'd try this one for a comparison.... read more

Best Indian food in Winchester!!!! Samosas, Pakoras, makhani, korma, saag...Everything is always fresh and tastes amazing. The owners are friendly and the Chef Shiv stops at your table to explain menu and is very personable! Support local restaurants in Winchester. This is a gem!! read more

Sona Restaurant - Yummy madras cauliflower - Indian Near Me - Winchester, Virginia

Once again, it has been brought home it me how good the food at Sona really is. There is nowhere else in Winchester that has REAL Indian food. The spicing is just wonderful. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. I feel at home here. read more

Can't believe there is Indian food this good in Winchester! They've only been in business for about year now but it already feels like home. The owner (Shiv Kumar) is extremely friendly and you're likely to strike up a conversation when you visit. Sona has a lunch menu, and has had a lunch buffet in the past that I believe might return. Our current favorite dish is straight from the Tandoori and is the Lamb Boti Kebab. The dish is served with cooked onions and green peppers mixed with the succulent lamb pieces over a bed of lettuce. On the side is a lentil and some other bean mixture in a tasty sauce to dip your naan in. During the buffet they have a wonderful sweet noodle dessert, wish they had it on the ala cart menu, but they do have a very tasty Badami Kheer (rice pudding) for the evenings. Of course, no India meal would be complete without a Mango Lassi which we generally have served with our entrees. If you're not in the mood for a Lassi their Chai is a great warm alternative. This is great Indian food in Winchester or in Fairfax. Try them! read more

Had a fantastic lunch today at Sona..It's truly sad to see restaurants empty due to the COVID.. But, my wife and I had the place all to ourselves. The chef (owners son) greeted us on entry. Restaurant is nicely decorated in cultural items. Very festive. We were seated and offer a drink (full bar) with a large Indian beer selection. Had a very nice IPA. For lunch I had lamb, my wife had chicken and we shared an awesome vegetable dish that featured eggplant. With the addition of chutney and pickles. Best meal we had in months. This is a great, family owned, small restaurant. A true gem. Please support business like Sona. You too will be glad you did! Enjoy Mr. Jay read more

This is just about THE BEST Indian restaurant you'll find anywhere. There may be more expensive ones or fancier ones, but nowhere will you'll find such gracious hospitality, amazing food, and - if you dare - some of the hottest, spiciest, most delicious dishes. I've eaten here many, many times. I've never once regretted a single dish, though I have frequently regretted not ordering extra to take home, it's that good! From the cocktails to the appetizers and entrées, I've come to believe that it's almost impossible to go wrong when choosing from the menu. Be sure to sit outside in good weather, or make reservations for one of their many themed evening events throughout the year. Once you get to know the staff, arriving at Sona is just like coming home and being warmly welcomed by family. read more

Amazing Indian restaurant!! Incredible super authentic Indian in rural, little Winchester... Absolutely amazing! Owner was wonderful and came out to greet us and then checked on us during and afterwards to make sure we were satisfied. Five stars plus!! So good! read more

I reviewed this before and I want to update. I ate here again a week ago and it was still amazing. The chefs passion for the food really shows through. Every dish we had was delicious and perfectly prepared. My companion and I ordered 2 different heat levels and each one was as described. The service was wonderful and friendly. read more

We ordered sona mixed platter appetizer , quinoa utappam and mushroom burj. Food lacked flavor and taste. Mushroom burji consisted of bland scrambled eggs on one side and sautéed mushrooms on the other side. Portions were very small Very disappointed. Ambience wad good. Bathroom was clean ,although one of the two bathrooms was out of order. read more

We will never forget Sona Restaurant in Winchester. This is the best Indian Restaurant in this town! My husband loves this place and goes here every time he comes to this area. I was lucky enough that I came here and get to meet the owners, who are one of the most welcoming and friendliest people we ever met. As you get to know them, you will see how passionate they are about their restaurant and keeping the Indian cuisine alive. They care so much about the customer's experience in their restaurant. The service was exceptional and the food was superb! Their food is authentic Indian cuisine. I must tell you. If you are looking for the best Indian dining experience, you should go here. No other Indian Restaurants on this town can compare. Nothing. read more

See all

Sona Restaurant is definitely a diamond in Winchester. Had lunch and absolutely loved their food. Definitely will have to go back. Lentil soup was outstanding. Lunch specials come with soup, salad, naan and rice. Samosas were delicious. read more

See all

This reminds me of home!!! Loved the spices. This is not a place for bland food! We will be coming back!!!

Chef made Punjabi curry chicken was absolutely wonderful. A bouguet of spices with exactly the preferred amount of heat for me. My wife had her favorite Chicken Saag. Wonderful meal for "date night"! read more

Sona Restaurant - Wonderful atmosphere, great Indian food - Indian Near Me - Winchester, Virginia

See all

Food is amazing. Full of flavor. Menu and drinks continue to impress. Atmosphere is fun and relaxing. You won't be disappointed.

Longer wait time. Because it is a typical Indian restaurant which doesn't hire enough staff. From menu to water to plates to silverware to food - everything came in multiple installments. Ok we were a group of 10+ people but there were hardly 4 other tables occupied in the restaurant. Food is pathetic. This is not even mediocre Indian food which you will find elsewere in any US city. One Indian curry was made from ready to cook food pack. Prices are exorbitant for no taste, no quantity and no quantity. If you are really craving for Indian food, do yourself a favor and drive little farther and find some decent tasting food. This restaurant, sitting in the middle of nowhere, serving Indian food which you can buy for a fraction of the cost from an Indian grocery shop. read more

You'll never have a more customized dining experience. The food is incredible and unique. Make a reservation for your large group or loved ones. The chef and staff are fantastic people. read more

I cannot give high enough ratings on this restaurant. We were seated quickly. The owner, Shiv, greeted us and was very gracious. He gave us a breakdown of what he serves and what we could expect from the different spices etc. He cooks/prepares everything. My wife ordered the Tikka Masala and I ordered the Ginger Curry with Chana. Both at a 'level 3' for hotness. The flavor was out of this world. It was served quickly and at a perfect portion. Shiv also brought out a chicken concoction he created just so we could sample. That too was awesome. We ordered garlic cauliflower to begin. I couldn't get enough. When we finished we got up to leave. Shiv opened the door for us. I told him "You can't do EVERYTHING." Highly recommended! read more

Enjoyed one of the best meals ever. So many flavors! Shiv, the owner and chef, takes personal pride in his food. He comes out to confirm satisfaction for everyone. Quit eating all that bland American and Italian food. Go to Sona and experience flavors unknown! read more

Sona Restaurant - Amazing tastes! Food for your last request. - Indian Near Me - Winchester, Virginia

See all

Poor services. Bad location. Failed to provide real antique look and above all - Horrible food. Entered the restaurant on a Saturday afternoon, no one to attend on the front desk. Owner came in and helped us to the table after almost 5 mins of wait. Ambience is funny. Being an Indian, I am not sure what this place is trying to depict. They have covered windows with glittery cloth - sounds humorous. Not enough lunch menu. Waitress was unable to explain why she does not have enough items on the menu. Lame excuse was "we were busy Friday night", so? Is it my fault? You should not have opened your restaurant if you didn't have food to serve. Food is third class. It appears they are actually trying to heat the frozen Indian food and serving to the customers. Being an Indian I have tried frozen food as well, Sona's dishes resembled MTRs. No Indian spices and they give you option of 10 level of chillies - ridiculous! We asked for kadhi and chana- both appeared like freshly opened frozen packets and heated to serve. Naan and rice were stale. Etiquette of the waitress were astonishing. I asked her for extra rice, she said ok but kept looking at my face. She was actually waiting to get one of the plates from our table - "I will bring in this plate...I am waiting". Icing on the cake, she poured the extra rice in my friend's plate without even asking him and headed over to the kitchen to get new rice. My demonstration of resentment was NO TIP and I achieved it. Final words - I would prefer to starve to death than eat at this Indian place. Sona means gold in Hindi. This place doesn't even qualify to be asking for the cost of a rug. You guys must be wondering why one star? my friends told me "restroom was clean". Yes, no surprises---- it would be clean as no one would visit this place. read more

The owner is a sweetie. My friend and I decided to do Easter dinner at Sona. It was truly delightful. We ordered veggie korma, garlic naan, and veggie samosas. The owner came over to check on us and give us menu recommendations. He was super sweet and suggested that we try a ginger chicken dish that he wanted to make. We gave it a try. It was a delightful chicken dish that contained tomatoes and garlic. It went well with our other menu choices. We cleaned the plates and left with full stomachs. I am super happy to have an Indian place in Winchester, but more happy to know that the owner truly cares about making his customers happy. read more

I'll be the first to admit that there is NO way I would've gone here without all the great reviews from yelp. The outside does not look appealing at all - scary actually. The inside is actually very quaint and cute. The owner/head chef is a very nice guy who makes his rounds and gets to know every table. He gauges your experience with indian food/cuisine and makes suggestions based on this. My guess is since this is the only indian restaurant in Winchester, he's used to getting newbies that need assistance. He's very easy to talk to and non-intimidating. If you've never had inidian cuisine before, this would be a very safe place to try things. He can crank up the spice as much or as little as you'd like. Everything we had was very good - even the indian white wine! Go - it's good. read more

This is the worst ever indian food I had! The owner seems very greedy, prices are way expensive for the quantity they provide. Some of the reviews made me to try this out but I regret eating here. The quantity of the food servings are very small. The Naan is just half the size of what it is elsewhere! Since there are no indian restaurant nearby, they take it granted to over charge customers! It's worth traveling 30 miles to have indian food rather than this expensive place. I gave one star for quick service. I definitely won't recommend this. read more

The cost and quality of the food don't line up. Not just for the Winchester area which is generally cheaper than NOVA. It's a bad price for the quality of the food. The only time it comes close to a good deal is the lunch special- but even then the food is woefully sub-par. I've paid 15 an entree at restaurants in Arlington and Fairfax and the food was well worth the price. Large, juicy bits of meat (or potato or paneer...), tasty sauces, and a free serving of rice with the entree. At Sona you're paying for ingredients that remind me of cafeteria food, which I've prepared and served before. Not to knock cafeteria food! But this is coming from a restaurant that defines itself as fine dining. The dishes we ordered were great initially but after the first bites we lost interest. The salad for the lunch meal was shredded iceberg lettuce with a great sauce, but the serving was incredibly small. The naan and pratha were fantastic and well priced. But the entrees? Our chicken saag, tikka masala, palak paneer, and chicken korma were mainly sauce. About 4 small pieces of chicken that aren't particularly well made or extraordinary. Again, the rice is never part of the price. I know some folks like controlling the spice content but that presents two problems to me. One, is the spice range dependent on the dish or on a set scale? We ordered several dishes and the spice point didn't seem consistent. Two, in my experience with Indian cooking some of the best flavors come from preparing the heat with the rest of the dish. And not every spice and chile is the same. It's a small distinction but one a fine dining experience should make. The service was great, but we were also the few in the restaurant. The interior was also pleasant and clean. In the end, you could get a comparable quality of food from the frozen meals at Martins at a lower cost. Or, if you're familiar with Indian food and an adventurous cook then try your hand at making Indian food yourself. If you've got money to burn and new to Indian food it's not a bad introduction. Just one you can't do often. read more

I had a pretty good experience here- mostly good and ultimately if I wanted to dine out in Winchester area, this is one place I would consider returning to. I would give this place 3.5 stars. The Good: I had one of those restaurant.com coupons. For those familiar with all the tons of fine print, I called ahead to see if I could use the coupon on a Sat night despite it being strictly forbidden in the fine print. To my delight, they said it would be fine! The owner did stop by to introduce himself at all the tables, as must be his tradition. He was personable and friendly to us and this was nice added touch. The food was excellent quality. Everything was delicious. The ambiance and decor also very nicely done inside with a upscale elegant feel- esp. for this area of town. Even though we decided against ordering dessert, we received dessert on the house. Now, I realize this may be their attempt to earn extra brownie points, but even still, the gesture and every bite of the dessert was well received The Not-So-Good Service The 15 year old boy who served us, had no clue how to wait on tables, forgot a drink we ordered and then a waitress came back but served the wrong drink. We let that slide. He also didn't check up on us to see if we needed anything else, and left us sitting there much longer than necessary. Bill/pricing I felt a little uncomfortable having to do this but was overcharged $15 and I had to ask them to correct the bill. The portions here are on the smaller side, compared to portions at other Indian restaurants I've been. The food is also kind of expensive here, fortunately for me, some of it was taken care by the coupon. read more

Went here for the first time tonight. I just moved to the area from Northern Virginia, and Indian is my favorite style of cuisine. I have surely eaten at at least thirty Indian restaurants since my first experience as a sixth grader ten years ago. I cannot believe there is Indian food this good in Winchester! Maybe I've been going to the wrong places, but nowhere I've in northern virginia even compares to this place! The samosas were absolute heaven. The crust was tender and flaky, and the insides were spiced ever so delicately and effectively. When my entree arrived, (the best lamb saag i've ever had) the aroma was absolutely intoxicating. I took one bite and knew that I had found my new favorite restaurant. The chef came to our table to ask if this was our first time at his restaurant (it was), and to thank us for coming. (!!!) He explained that he is very health conscious and avoids flavor oils and heavy cream, he grinds his own spices, and then invited us to the kitchen to see his collection. That kitchen smelled so good, and I can't believe how clean it was! When we returned to our table, he invited us about a special chef's dinner by reservation only, and informed us of his cooking classes which I am definitely going to have to take him up on. I have never felt so welcome at a restaurant in my life, and on top of that, the food was all that and a side of raita. My new favorite. :) read more

This is not an Indian restaurant. Their food doesn't have anything to do with Indian food. Customer service was really bad and so was food quality. While we are waiting the owner refused service to customers who came in 2 minutes before their closing time after they were told that they will be served. Our food was really bad. The waitress refused to give us 4 plates for our to go order eve though we were 4 people. Stay away from this crappy place. read more

The best way to describe this place is a three star restaurant at a five star price. The food itself is good, albeit scant and inconsistent in its offerings. In other words, you will leave this restaurant still feeling hungry and wanting more, in more ways than one. The Good Spice: The best part of this restaurant's menu is the spice customization. You can order your food as hot as you can handle and the chef will prepare the sauce with the spice level you order accordingly. And I'm not talking some gimmicks you'll see at places that cater to Americans' weak spice tolerance, I'm talking real, flavorful spice made specially for you with fresh peppers and spices. Other Intangibles: Chef Shiv is a kind, personable fellow as all the reviews indicate and he takes the time to meet all the patrons who dine at his establishment. The front area displays unique peppers and spices in glass jars for purchase. The drink selection is decent, but some drinks require 24 hours notice to prepare which, as you can imagine, can be pretty frustrating. And now, the bad... Service: I'm not going to accuse this place of hiring underage help but...these kids seem to be getting more confused by the minute. I understand all about learning curves, but it seems as if these kids have plateaued in their ability to provide decent customer service. They are slow, awkward and just plain in over their heads. I would feel bad for them if it weren't for the... Price: Dinner here will likely run you around $25 dollars a person which is nothing more than price gauging. No other Indian restaurants in town and the owner knows it. And you would think that with the money he saves on labor and electricity (the place is always cold in the winters and there have been multiple times where we have entered the restaurant and the lights were off) he wouldn't need to charge so much. Bottom line, this place has a ton of potential with its unique spice customization and good food, not to mention being the only Indian restaurant in Winchester. But the price gauging, service and decor just leave a bad taste in my mouth. I will continue to frequent here but for a better rating the owner will need to hire better help, drop the prices/increase portion size, and not skimp on the little things such as electricity and heating/air conditioning. read more

Although I have never been to India, I do eat Indian food frequently and have cooked Indian food with Indian friends, so I think I can trust my judgment on the quality of Indian food. Seeing so many 5-star reviews on yelp, I had great expectations for Sona. While this place had a warm ambiance and good service (the owner/chef came out to say hi during dinner), I am not thrilled about the food, and really can't understand why there are so many glowing reviews. The food was decent, it just didn't taste very authentic. Indian-inspired is how I would describe it. The chicken tikka masala, which is a standard dish that I've eaten many times before, tasted more like a pasta sauce with some spice and pieces of chicken in it. The vegetarian dish we ordered (with peas and mushroom) was better, but still quite sweet, which seemed odd to me since I was expecting savory. The veggie samosas were very good though, I did enjoy those. I read many reviews that said the servers were pushy - I didn't feel that way at all. Our waiter was probably new at his job, since he forgot a few things and had to come back a few times, but he was very nice and offered us drinks and desserts without being pushy at all. Also, I thought it was a bit overpriced. The prices here are more comparable to DC/Philly. Overall, I would say this restaurant had nice food, though maybe not the most authentic Indian dining experience you would expect from reading the amazing reviews. read more