I found this place using Yelp. I have found many places using Yelp. Sona is by far one of the best Indian Restaurants around. Quiet atmosphere friendly and great food. read more

Everything was absolutely delicious! The atmosphere is wonderful. Shiv, owner and chef, is such a gracious host as well. He is very warm and welcoming. My husband and I love finding these very rare restaurants where the chef proud of his dishes and takes such pride in his cooking. We live about three hours from here but would honestly make the trip down for a weekend just for Shiv's cusine. The flavors and spices are spectacular! read more

Very cozy atmosphere, very polite owner and VERY delicious food. I don't get the bad reviews, the website itself says it is Indian food fusion with Greek, Persian, Turkish and other origins. The owner came out and talked to us, definitely a friendly atmosphere, he seemed to know a lot of his customers by name. His food is very different and again SUPER delicious. My husband and I come from Chicago where we have tried many different Indian restaurants and this one is by far very unique and delicious. Cant wait to go back! read more

Definitely the best quality Indian food I've had.. the decor is intriguing, mouth watering aromas greet you at the door. Everything is fresh and made to order. The food has deep rich flavor that you'll crave! Sooo good!! read more

This was one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I've ever had anywhere. Add to that the amazing flavors and quality of everything I ate. Shiv, the owner and executive chef, gives individualized attention to every patron. And his wife is lovely too. I felt like I had been invited into their home and was a special guest. Don't let the exterior of the building fool you (I had driven past many times and not even realized it was a restaurant. Very unassuming structure, and then when I came to realize it was a restaurant, I hesitated to give it a chance. So very happy I decided not to judge a book by it's cover. The interior is warm and inviting, tastefully decorated, beautiful hardwood floors...not at all what I expected considering the exterior. And the food. The flavors. Everything was made with love and care. Made to order. First time will not be my last. read more

Really, really good Indian food. They can make it spicy or not. Very authentic. I highly suggest this place for people who like Indian, and for people who want to try something new. read more

I've been to Indian restaurants in NYC, Cincinnati and elsewhere. Winchester is lucky as Sona is as good as any of them. We started with the vegetable pakora, which was superbly done and then hit our favorites main dishes for comparison. The korma and saag were rich and flavorful. The lamb flavor came through the saag. Just the right amount of food. The roti was just right, not pita bread thick, but somewhere between pita and cracker, just a hint of crunch. The presentation and atmosphere was great and the extra was they had Royal Jamaican Ginger Beer on the drinks menu. read more

I visit Sona at least once a week. The food is always an adventure! My favorite is the soups, and the Samosas are delicious. Also, the Butter Chicken is wonderful. Always fresh and tasty. The staffs treat you like family. Chef Shiv and his staff are just the best. Best Indian food in the area , hands down. read more

Wonderful! This is my favorite Indian restaurant. The soups and sauces are out of this world. The wide variety of Indian breads that are available are a real treat. I always bring my out of town visitors here and they are amazed that we have such a fine Indian restaurant here in Winchester. Chef Shiv makes you feel right at home. Oh, I almost forgot: The chai is the best ever. read more

We live in Purcellville (an hour away) where we have many local restaurants at which we could eat, but Sona's is worth the trek for us. From a year ago when we first dropped in and met Shiv--the owner and chef, he's treated us like royalty. He listened to my food allergy plight--no wheat nor dairy for me--and not only directed me to the standard "safe" choices on his regular menu, but also with a little notice of when I'll be there, he's created some incredibly yummy new off-menu dishes especially for me. Everything is made from high quality, fresh ingredients and you can tell. We've been working our way through the menu and from standard vegetarian, lamb and chicken dishes to the more uncommon catfish, salmon, and goat we've never left a dish unpolished. We and our friends have tried everything from a customized heat level of 10+ to an honest ZERO, and the food is always tasty. This is no ordinary run-of-the-mill Indian restaurant. It's personalized and addictive. Shiv is passionate about his food and delights in sharing his secrets. We enjoy cooking ourselves and took him up on his offer to come to our house and teach a group of us how to cook like he does. I don't think I've ever seen so much food cranked out in such short order nor laughed and smiled and enjoyed eating as much as I did that day. If you suffer from allergies like I do or like personalized service and aren't afraid to try complex cuisines, give Sona's a try. You'll be glad you did. read more

Good Indian food, superb service. Enjoy a large Indian beer for a mere $6.95, and a wide variety of naan for $2.00 or so... read more

Sona is my favorite restaurant in the area, and I wish I got there more often than I do. It is the best Indian food I have ever had, and the staff are always super friendly, and I have never once had poor service. Shiv, the owner, is one of the nicest people you will ever meet, and he will often come out and greet the guests after he prepares their meal. It is a wonderful dining experience, and talking to the chef/owner is like talking to a friend. I highly recommend this place, even if you don't like Indian food. Ask for the owner, tell him what you like and don't like, and he will custom-prepare something fantastic for you. This is a five star dining experience for sure. read more

I love good Indian food. So, after reading the reviews here I was excited about this restaurant. But I sincerely believe many of the fine folks of Winchester, who have commented thus far, just don't know good Indian food from bad. Do yourself a favor and make the drive to a nice Indian restaurant (Herndon has a few). If you're stuck in Winchester and want a nice dining experience, there are some good places in the historic district. If you have to have Indian in Winchester, save yourself a bunch of money and heartburn by picking of a frozen Indian entree at your grocery. read more

I just discovered this resturant this afternoon and I am a very happy camper. I discovered Indian food in Az and have been seeking for a resturant locally ever since. I exterior is a little less to be disered but he inside is wonderfully decorated. The food was amazing and the protions were just right. I can't wait till I get a chance to go back again. read more

The food is SSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good!!!!!!! the absolute best Indian Food anywhere around. The wait staff are always at the table with extremely polite service. 25% tips from us. The owner is like a good friend yet not overly hovering the table. one app, two entrees, naan, + 2 glasses of wine = $50. A little steep for run of the mill food, but when you do it better than anyone else, it warrants a higher price. It's just a shame it's never a full house. This is a place to support!! You wont regret it. It's our favorite place in all of Winchester. read more

I love this place. I love that from the outside view you, don't expect to see what you see walking inside. It's quiet and personal, and moderately and tastefully decorated. I went with my boyfriend on an anniversary date, he had never tried Indian cuisine and he loved it! He had the Chicken Tikki Marsala, and I ordered the Jhinga Biryani with a level 4 heat and it was fantastic. You feel welcomed here. My guy ordered a German beer from a special list, the waitress came back apologizing that they were out. He ended up ordering a beer that was higher in price. When we got our check, they charged us for the lower priced beer they were out of. We asked and they said it was the least they could do for advertising something they were out of......you NEVER get service like this anywhere without having to fight for it, much less have it just given to you. I will be coming back here again and again. read more

We are so sorry to report that Sona is a complete waste of money for Indian enthusiasts. Perhaps the only way you would enjoy this food is if you had never stepped beyond Winchester, and had no idea what American Indian food was supposed to at least resemble. The owner is very friendly and personable, the staff helpful but awkward. We both ordered butter chicken which came out red- the first thing we cocked our heads at, and then upon tasting it we discovered it was if the chef mixed canned marinara with some spices and voila- 17.00$ mistake. If you are interested in spice? They give you a scale of 1 to 10, and my husband ordered 7, which was barely different than my one. Obviously these people mean well but are catering to happily ignorant Virginians. Whoops. read more

You can't find better Indian cuisine made to your taste! Shiv is awesome, personable & will take the time to find out what you would like & will create a custom meal for you! We go once a week & ALWAYS are happy! read more

One of the best Indian restaurants in the WORLD! The owner takes pride in his creations. We recently moved away and we miss the food so much! Especially the Butter Chicken! We hope to get back to the East Coast soon so we can enjoy it again! read more

We have been here a few times and we were underwhelmed by the food, service, and overall experience of the restaurant. We ate at a few Indian restaurants in new Jersey when we lived there and they were much better than this place. While it was okay to go here to get rid of the Indian food craving, we often drove to another town to get more authentic tasting food. And now that there is a second Indian restaurant in winchester, we go there. read more

So I am English and been in the US 8 years, Indian food is my absolute favorite dish. I have been enjoy these for over 30 years. To be honest I struggled a little when I moved here as the curry's were just not the same as I was used too I did however find a few good ones in MA , PA and CT. Whenever I travel I have to try any one that I find. This is not always a good experience, but never had a bad one, just some not as good as others. Anyway found this place on yelp, and wow. This is probably the best I have ever had in the US, the owner / chef sat down with me and asked about my likes. He then not only recommended the beer but a chicken soup and my main dish was a ginger chicken. So this was the first time in my life that I have had my meals chosen for me in an Indian restaurant. I trusted him and he didn't disappoint. His story is pretty epic too... I just wish I lived here as I would be visiting every week . It's that good. read more

We love coming to Sona, the food is fabulous and Shiv makes for a wonderful host. We always feel welcome. I have to disagree about the description that says it's not good for children. We bring our 5 and 8 year old daughters for dinner and sometimes lunch and never have the slightest problem-- they are often treated like princesses! They're favorite is the Garlic Cauliflower. If you've never been to an Indian restaurant go to this one, and they'll help you through a fabulous meal. read more

We came here for lunch with my two vegan daughters. The owner's wife is new to the country, and she was our server. When we asked about vegan dishes, she gave a couple of suggestions but then brought out her husband, the owner and chef. He greeted us warmly and said he would surprise us. We got four different vegan dishes, and they were all great. Since it would be rude to lick the bowls, we had to order extra bread (naan and roti) to get every last drop. Lunch came with cauliflower soup (amazing flavors), salad, and a drink. I would definitely go back the next time we go through Winchester. read more

Good restaurant. About half of the entrees are vegetarian which offers great options for vegans and vegetarians. Great seafood and meat options as well. read more

I have been here twice, with a while in between because I live out of the area. The food is awesome. The building is unassuming, the decor minimal and traditional. The food is reasonably priced and delicious. I have had their veggie samosas, fried veggie dumplings, naan and raita. All so tasty. I had saag paneer for dinner and the flavor was so great. Lentil Dahl was tasty as well. The service was a little slow, but I just think they are under manned. Beware, they mean it when they ask about spice level. I get a three for a pleasantly spicy bite, just a little burn and nose sniffling. read more

I want to love Sona since it is one of the few (the only?) Indian restaurants here, but... I just cant get on board. The chef is a great person - he visited our table at lunch-but we were a bit disappointed with the food. Tasted like frozen chicken was used and portions were meager. Just didnt taste as fresh as it could. read more

Amazing food and the nicest staff ever. We drove in from DC and I wish they were in DC. But well worth the drive. The Rogan Josh Lamb was the best I have ever had. The chutneys were out of this world good. All I can say is the chef/owner has a passion for cooking and that shows up in every dish we get there. read more

A pedestrian exterior houses Winchester's finest Indian cuisine. Chef Shiv is a most gracious and urbane host. Namaste!

Hands down, one of the best restaurant experiences we have ever had! We were passing through Winchester and found this lovely little place on Yelp. When I called to make sure they were open, I found out they close at 2pm for lunch. Since we were set to arrive around 1:30pm, I was on the fence about even going, as we would be arriving so late, but I was assured that it would be just fine. Upon arriving, we were greeted warmly by the chef's wife and seated right away. About 2 minutes later, the executive chef, Shiv, came over and introduced himself - how often does this happen these days?! I asked him if he could make us some vegan entrees and he happily agreed. We started with a salad, and some soup. The soup was a spicy turnip and was very flavorful and delicious! Soon after we finished with the soup, a woman came out and asked us about our bread preference, as she knew we were vegan. We were so impressed with how everyone was so in tune with our dietary preferences! Our entrees came out and they were superb. About halfway through our meal, Shiv came out and checked on us. He told us his background and how he came to open up this lovely restaurant. It was clear that he puts his whole heart and soul into making sure his guests are well cared for! At the end of the meal, Shiv's wife surprised us with a lovely vegan cake (it happened to be my birthday that day). Overall, we walked away from Sona feeling like we had just dined in the home of friends. It is such a rarity these days to find an executive chef and his wife that are so attentive to their guests, and offer such unparalleled hospitality. Whenever we pass through Winchester, we will definitely return to Sona! read more

Phenomenal food and great service! You can't possibly go wrong with this fine establishment. Very intimate setting and the best food in the business!!! read more

My boyfriend was racing at Summit Point in West Virginia, and we had a couple hours to go off-track so I suggested heading back to relatively-nearby Winchester (where we were staying) in the hopes of finding some lunch. We saw the review for Sona on Yelp and decided to give it a try, and I am so glad that we did! I love Indian food, and this was definitely some of the best I've had. We were their first customers of the day. The owner/executive chef came over to our table to welcome us, and asked us how we had found out about Sona, and we told him we found it through Yelp. (Later, we overheard another dining duo he greeted say they had found Sona through Yelp as well - which we thought was pretty sweet.) It was noon, so we got to order from the lunch menu. We were given a choice of how spicy to get our dishes, on a scale from one to ten, and we both chose five. I had chai as my choice of beverage, and I really liked it - it didn't taste like it had come from a package, it tasted homemade. The salads had a thick dressing with chickpeas in it (I wish I could describe it better!) and they were followed by a lentil soup that was light and slightly spicy. I had a chickpea and potato curry (I do not remember the name) and my boyfriend had the murg makhni. They were both excellent - my curry was cooked perfectly (it's always a bummer when chickpeas are slightly dry), and his chicken was very tender. The sauce was wonderful. The naan was gloriously crisp on the bottom, and generously drizzled with ghee. I think next time, we will both get a lower spice level - maybe a 3 or 4. I still thoroughly enjoyed it, but my nose was running as we left. The owner/chef came back to ask us how our meal was, and I really liked that he showed such care for his customers and took such pride in his cooking. Everyone that was working really seemed to enjoy being there. The decor is colorful, warm, and inviting - I really did feel like we were at someone's house, not just a restaurant. I would definitely make the drive from NoVA to Winchester, just to eat at Sona again. read more

So much diversity in the reviews of this restaurant we all feel so passionately about! It reminds me of the six blind people and the elephant, with each of us describing a small part of the whole rich sensory experience of dining at Sona. And Shiv's extremely personal way of relating to us makes each one of us feel we know it all! Considering Sona? Absolutely give it a try, and establish your own relationship with this delicious and beautiful place. My experience here has always been superb, soul-satisfying, and energizingly healthy. The wait-staff are tenderly attentive, and not only understand my every need and want but anticipate them. Shiv is, as every review has said, utterly gracious, personable, and committed to the best experience Sona can provide each of us. I love the food! And I also want to remind diners what a vast array of regional cuisines "count" as Indian/Pakistani. A dish we know as "Indian food" is actually authentic to a particular region; it may show up at Sona in a slightly different form that is equally authentic to a different part of India/Pakistan. I am a frugal person, and in my experience, the dishes are very reasonably priced, as are the drinks, and all completely hand-made, including hand-ground spices. read more

Just ate there for the first time with my husband and 8 year old. Being able to determine your spice level for any dish is great. My 8 year old had butter chicken at a 1, no spice and both my husband and I got different dishes, I got a level 4 and he a 5. All of our dishes were phenomenal. I can't wait to go back to try something new. The prices are on the higher side, each entree is about $17 and when you add an appetizer or an adult beverage, well, you see where that is going but having said that I will definitely go back. This may be our new date night place. I saw mention on other reviews regarding the portion sizes, but we had no issue. with the beer, bread and appetizer the portions were perfect. We left full, no leftovers and didn't feel like we had overdone it. I would definitely say try it at least once and then you can make your own opinion but I would highly recommend it. read more

The food was delicious, and the owner was very attentive. I recommend the Lamb Kabob! I also like that they have a scale of 1-10 so you can order to the level of spiciness that you enjoy read more

Wonderful! I was traveling along Rt 81, and stopped for the night in Winchester. I am vegan, which is sometimes a challenge while traveling, so I look for an Indian restaurant, and found this one. I told the owner I was relatively new to Indian food and vegan, and he said "close the menu and let me cook for you!" I did, and was not disappointed! Everything was delicious, prepared to the spice level I requested. I may change my return route, just so I can eat here again! You must go... read more

Some of the best food we had on our way from Washington. We loved the decoration and ambience of the place. The food was hot and with right spice level. The owners are lovable and friendly. Each person there would personally check again and again whether everything is fine. read more

Sona is about as good as it gets for homemade indian cuisine. The owner Shiv is extremely friendly and always comes to see how things are being enjoyed. All the food and sauces (both main course and dipping) are hand made by the owner every day. He also doesn't buy packaged meat. He buys fresh boat and lamb etc from a person in Virginia. Price is very fair for what you receive. The atmosphere of the restaurant is about as good as its gets. The owner also hold a cooking class where he will come into your home and teach you and your friends how to cook this fabulous food. A+ from my wife and I!!!! read more

This might be more of a review of Indian food then Sona because it was my first Indian experience. The food is just way to expensive and barely filled me up. The taste was OK but definitely not worth it. If you like East Asian food then I can't see why you'd like the food here. The spicyness must have been dumbed down too because I got an 8 and it wasn't spicy at all. They must not have thought my white tongue could take it. I feel a little bad giving them a 2 because the service and friendliness was absolutely great. One of the best I've ever had. But the food was just way to pricey for what you get. read more

Having eaten here twice, I echo what many others have written. The owner is very solicitous. The waiters are not as good as you would hope. The menu has a nice selection - plenty for vegetarians, as you would expect in an Indian restaurant. The food is not remarkable, but not bad, either. You can request your preferred level of spice. The portions could be larger, and the prices could be smaller, but if you hunger for Indian food, this fits the bill. read more

V had extremely bad exp in dis restaurant....the food was soo soo bad...it had hair n stone in it....v went there on 26th may.....he gave us puris instead of naan....n thy did not care to inform us before serving......food was tasteless....n very old..like made before 3-4 days......don ever go t her.....he cheats people.... read more