We had a wonderful dinner at the depot in Sonoma last night. It's a little away from the plaza, but has its own cute charm with the old architecture. The server was kind to welcome us with a couple of glasses of champagne on knowing that it's our anniversary celebration. We had the hand pulled mozzarella bruschetta, lemon chicken and the broccoli gnocchi. The chicken was our favorite and I highly recommend it. The bruschetta was good but 4 pieces was heavy for 2 of us to eat. The gnocchi was decent. Definitely a good place for an occasion when in Sonoma. read more

See all

I dove headfirst into a seafood extravaganza that left my taste buds cheering and my stomach questioning its life choices. The evening kicked off with Oysters on the Half Shell--each one a little oceanic gem--paired with a Champagne Mignonette that whispered sophistication and a Cocktail Sauce that thankfully didn't scream spice. For the main event, I tackled the Cioppino, a seafood stew that felt like a warm hug from the ocean. The Tomato Ragu was rich and comforting, while the Mussels and Clams were so good I half-expected them to thank me for eating them. The Calamari? Eh, not their finest hour. Scallops were impressively plump, but the Crab was playing hard to get. The Prawns, however, were unapologetically large, and the Bruschetta on top was the culinary equivalent of a mic drop. The service and vibe? Perfectly chill, with just the right amount of nostalgia. Honestly, I was amazed this gem of a location is still standing tall. If you're looking for seafood that'll make you swoon--and maybe question your pants size--this spot is worth every bite. read more

Parking was a bit difficult when we visited since they are nearby a baseball field that had a game on, so even street traffic was congested. The outdoor patio seating looked nice with the water feature, however it did get a little chilly depending on where you were seated. Now the 2-star rating is mostly for the food. The margherita pizza was fairly average and we were never offered fresh parmesan cheese. The crispy calamari appetizer was not fresh; it was way too overcooked and chewy. Prices were also on the higher side. read more

See all

Nice setting. Ambiance in the bar area with the fireplace is nice and we enjoyed our spot on the patio. Former swimming pool converted into a fountain is soothing. Service was good. Best dish was the beef/pork bolognese on tagliatelle. read more

The Depot Hotel is so pretty, especially at night with all the lights! We got seated outside, facing the pool. We had such a great view and the weather was perfect around 6pm. I recommend sitting outside, they have heat lamps if needed. They have a wine list, and the only cocktail they have are their mommenpop spritz in 4 different flavors. I got the blood orange flavor, and it tasted very bubbly and refreshing. We ordered the following: - preserved tomato focaccia: warm and liked the sun dried tomato on it, it came with oil and balsamic - arancini: crispy on the outside and the arugula basil pesto was a nice touch - beet salad: yummy dressing and they were generous with the beets. Next time I would ask for less dressing, thought there was too much of it (and I LOVE dressing on my salads) - ricotta gnocchi: PERFECTION! Made in house, the outside was crisp and inside was doughy. Sauce was delicious and the broccolini made it that much better - braised short ribs: meat was so tender it fell right off, the Brussel sprouts were simple but tasty. Everything was tasty. Service was quick, and our servers were attentive. read more

See all

We had a group dinner here while in town for a meeting and had a wonderful meal, We started with the pulled mozzarella that our server suggested which was absolutely amazing. It is made fresh in house and was so delicious. We also shared some shishito peppers and arancini which were also quite good. I had the salmon entree which was delicious. The salmon was cooked perfectly with crisp skin and all the flavors of the accompaniments went together nicely. We had wine of course as well including a Pinot noir that was particularly good. For dessert I had an affogato which was the perfect end to the meal. Service was excellent and our server knew the menu well. The atmosphere was fairly quiet on a Sunday evening and while this is a more upscale place, the atmosphere was pretty relaxed. read more

See all

Very Beautiful and clean restaurant. Ambiance was pleasant. Food was amazing, very nicely served and presented, but most importantly very delicious. We will definitely recommend it and visit it again when in the area. read more

The Depot Restaurant - Pea ravioli - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

See all

Always a great meal and excellent wine selection. Wish they were open everyday. Pizza, salads,and pastas are delicious. So are the deserts. This place is close to the plaza and parking has never been a problem. The staff is friendly and attentive. read more

I just love this restaurant! The food and service is absolutely phenomenal! Food comes out very quickly and tastes absolutely delicious. I love where it's located as well. It's a beautiful location and the outdoor space is just beautiful. The only thing it's does not have many cocktails. It's mostly wine spritzers, wine and beers. If you are in Sonoma, this is a great place to go for a nice date night, or e just to have a quiet night with great food and wine read more

See all

Came here for my sister in law's birthday, and I was pleasantly surprised in how beautiful the place was! S E R V I C E: We were seated right away outside, where they a beautiful little pool that separates other seating. Our server was nice, and attended to our needs. The appetizers came out in a timely manner, but our main dishes took a while to come. F O O D: For appetizers we tried their focaccia bread, which was amazing! We also tried their bruschetta that had mozzarella cheese on top! For the main dish, I ordered their Gnocchi with asparagus, and it was sadly underwhelming. Yes, the gnocchi was cooked nicely, but the flavors were lacking. The sauce tasted too much like regular spaghetti sauce. For dessert, my husband ordered their chocolate cake with ice cream, and I had tiramisu. The tiramisu was too light for me, so I had to steal the chocolate cake :) O V E R A L L: I enjoyed the appetizers and dessert more than the main dish. The serving sizes were crazy small, which did not match the price. It's a beautiful restaurant, but be sure to come with a quiet group. read more

See all

It was the night before Thanksgiving and our party of four had a good time at Depot hotel. The reservation at 6:15pm came handy as the place was pretty full. Our waiter was attentive despite having multiple tables to service. All of our dishes tasted good except we had to wait a while as the pork chop takes a good 45 mins to cook. Overall, our experience was fantastic and will be back again. read more

Love this place! The pastas are so fresh and so authentic! Very nice outdoor patio with a nice fountain and heaters. Aaron was our server tonight and he was fantastic. They were busy and he was the only server but he was on top of his game. Smile on his face the whole time and even apologized to us for the wait even though it was not needed and we understood. Can't wait to come back here soon! read more

We had called in for reservations, and the staff was nice and accommodating to our requests. They had called back to confirm our reservation, which was a nice surprise since it's usually the customer who calls back. The restaurant is based out of an old home with both indoor and outdoor seating. Above the restaurant is a hotel. The outdoor seating is next to a beautiful swimming pool converted into a fountain. Since it is an older building, the A/C is weaker. With Sonoma's weather, outside seating would probably be preferable. This time, we had a 6-person table on the deck overlooking the pool. The overall vibe is romantic and good for semi-formal parties. I will only be going over the antipasti and the main course (secondi). We ordered a dozen oysters, hand pulled mozzarella, and the fried calamari. All 3 of them were fairly standard. The only thing that stood out to me is that the server didn't say where or what the oysters were. Normally, other restaurants would say where they came from or what type of oysters. So we had mystery oysters. The calamari were alright. The red sauce definitely was more overpowering than the white sauce. I think the issue is the batter that they used as there was a consistency issue. To summarize, the mystery oysters were good, calamari was edible, and the mozzarella was chunky. For the main, I had ordered the gnocchi but had a few pieces of other dishes. The short ribs were really good, soft, and had beef flavor. The gnocchi was also really good, both full of flavor and unique. I definitely preferred the short ribs over the gnocchi. As for the best presentation, it has to go the sea bass, but it was also the worst dish on the menu: overcooked and tough, but edible. Note: (The server notified that they had a new team of chefs, so the menu had changed. I had come for the squid ink, but that was taken off the menu. Unfortunately the best dish of the restaurant was taken off the menu.) read more

See all

Add this gem to your Sonoma bucket list! Come and and experience delicious food and excellent service in one of the most beautiful outdoor dining venues (with a heated patio) in the Sonoma Plaza area. It's just a quick and easy walk (about a block) from the Plaza. The Depot has been a long time local favorite. The new owners have done a nice job with the remodel. There's also a great bar where you'll find locals and tourists enjoying this very well-known Sonoma restaurant. ~ A M B I A N C E ~ I LOVED patio dining here. Great for a romantic dinner, but honestly, I'd happily look for any excuse or occasion just to dine here. It's a place where you'll definitely want to linger just a little longer to soak up the ambiance. My favorite time to dine outdoors are in the evenings with the lit lights and magical vibes. The outdoor heaters will keep you warm and cozy too. Of course, you can also dine indoors, where it's a nice intimate and cozy vibe. I'd recommend snagging one of the tables that overlook the outdoor patio. ~ F O O D ~ I love their farm-to-table concept. You can taste the freshness. The menu is evolving and expanding, so expect to see some new additions. I can't wait to try their Squid Ink Pasta with Calamari next time. * Crispy Calamari A great starter! Nicely fried and not a bit greasy. * Mozzarella Bruschetta The made in-house mozzarella is a definite highlight. It's one of their specialty items. * Caesar Salad A classic salad done right. Super fresh greens and nicely dressed. Not overly drenched in dressing like you often find at restaurants. * Rigatoni Carbonara Perfectly al dente pasta with a creamy sauce. I like that their pastas are all made in-house from scratch. * Farm Lemon Herb Chicken The crispy skin and moist meat left me wanting more. * Flourless Chocolate Cake If you're into decadent chocolate, this yummy dessert is calling your name. Don't pass this one up, chocolate fans. * Limoncello Cake Another great sweet ending choice. Hard to pick just one favorite dessert, but if I had to choose just one, I'd pick this refreshing and light lemony-dessert. ~ S E R V I C E ~ Excellent! So happy with the very attentive and helpful service we received from start to finish. It rounded out a fabulous experience. I had a question about one of the dishes that our waitress didn't have an answer for, but she gladly went back to get more information from the Chef, which I really appreciated. It's easy to spot restaurants that are under good management Clearly, this is a VERY well managed restaurant. ~ P A R K I N G ~ Plenty of easy street parking. TIP: They're not yet currently taking online reservations, so just call reservations at (707) 938-2980, and someone will get back to you. read more

See all

Excellent pasta and quiet romantic atmosphere. A local favorite, not too far off the convenience of the square, but far enough to feel peacefully secluded. One my and my wife's favorite date spots! read more

Everything was wonderful the food and the service the atmosphere my favorite small restaurant in Sonoma

Everything has been absolutely perfect each time we have been here. It is officially my favorite restaurant. Every course taste freshly made and beautifully presented not to mention absolutely delicious. read more

See all

Had the pleasure of enjoying Depot Hotel Restaurant for my sisters birthday a few weeks back. Parking was a breeze and the location easy to find. The ambiance was mellow and upscale. The pool in the courtyard was a nice focal point. Service was slow considering we were not a large group and it didn't seem super busy. The food was tasty but the portion was a bit small for me. Overall a good experience in trying new restaurants in Sonoma read more

The Depot Restaurant - Tagliatelle Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

See all

I went here while on a trip to Sonoma to celebrate my best friend's 24th birthday. Beyond the amazing food, the service is simply exceptional! Immediately upon entering, they asked whose birthday it was and when dessert came, the entire staff came to sing to her. They also gave her a sweet engraved rock with a heart! Each individual made an effort to connect with us during each interaction, and in the end, we spoke to who I presumed to be the manager. She was lovely and offered us helpful recommendations. The ambiance is also beautiful. I wish I could come back and have an event here - it's such a charming space! Would recommend The Depot to everyone who comes to Sonoma. Don't miss the chicken with mashed potatoes and the creme brulee! read more

We enjoyed a great time and wonderful dinner at The Depot a couple weeks ago. We'd been planning to for some time now and wish we had done so earlier! The food was delicious and expertly prepared and presented. I had the pan seared salmon and my wife had the double cut pork chop (see pics) which was enough for 3. Needless to say she took half of home. Our server was super efficient and very welcoming, as was the manager Susan who made us feel right at home, even stopping by the table for a pleasant chat. We will be back soon, especially when the weather warms up and we are able to enjoy the beautiful outdoor garden seating. read more

The Depot Restaurant - Double cut pork chops - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

See all

After Ken and Stacy Mattson purchased and re-opened The Depot Hotel Restaurant, a former hidden gem dining experience has dropped to the caliber of a tourist trap. While the venue still offers al fresco, poolside dining as well as limited indoor seating, under the new management the food has suffered greatly. The harvest salad ($14) was miniscule. No better than a random choice from the frozen food aisle at Safeway, the pepperoni pizza ($21) was bland with flaccid crust. The tiramisu ($12) was nothing special. Service was a little confused: the waiter failed to timely deliver the selected wine and water refills had to be requested. For a restaurant in the heart of wine country, the wine list is pathetic, offering a paltry number of selections of mediocre wines. The only sparkling wines were a pitiful Prosecco ($10) and a small "split" bottle of Pommery "Pop" ($19). With numerous world-class wineries only a stone's throw away, even a novice sommelier could have designed a better wine list. Do yourself a favor: avoid this Mattson-owned excuse for a restaurant. read more

Off the beaten path gem! Nothing beats the poolside ambience of the Depot's garden patio just a few blocks off the Square. It's the perfect spot to linger and share expertly prepared and beautifully presented appetizers while sipping a lovely wine. We're never rushed at the Depot. Impeccable service. This time we drooled over burrata with heirloom tomatoes and blackened shishito peppers. For entrees we chose two unique pastas. While both were delicious, my smoked Gouda stuffed ravioli in a light heirloom tomato broth was definitely a cut above. I'll be back for that alone!! Unwisely, dessert followed but it was so worth the guilt! read more

The Depot Restaurant - Delish pastas - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

See all

A very quaint, white table cloth restaurant. Beautiful setting as the back room overlooked the pool and outdoor eating area. The wait staff were humble, kind and attentive to our needs. My husband enjoyed the butternut squash soup. The ribeye was cooked to perfection. Unfortunately, my split pork chop meal was served with a yummy sauce that was ruined after cutting the 2 chops, they were raw to the point of bleeding and I had to return it and ordered a pizza instead which was edible but came out burnt. The cost of the chops meal was removed, but after such a disappointing experience and having to wait while my husband enjoyed his meal, before I could begin eating, I would have thought that the manager/owner would have comped my meal. Additionally sad for us, we were celebrating our 26th wedding anniversary. Though the atmosphere was nice and the wait staff was perfect, we paid for a great meal of which I didn't have. I do not desire to return. read more

The service was good however the food was subpar. I ordered the rib eye medium rare. The whole outside was burnt with little flavor other than the burnt taste. The roasted potatoes were hard when eating. My wife's spaghetti with shrimp was subpar as well. Overall would not recommend read more

Good private event space in downtown Sonoma. Outdoor space especially nice on a warm day/evening. Our menu was a few different salads, fish, braised short ribs and mushroom ravioli. The ravioli was my favorite by far. read more

Nice local Italian restaurant in downtown Sonoma. The garden patio was quite nice with a center water fountain. Orchard Salad: A simple salad, but nice flavors from the blue cheese and pears. Napoletana Pizza: the crust had a good texture and was nice and chewy. The anchovies were definitely on the saltier side. Tagliatelle bolognese: the pasta had a good texture and the beef and ragu were solid. Tortellini al funghi: for fans of truffle, you won't be disappointed as the truffle flavors were very heavy. This was quite a heavy dish due to the cream. Veal parmigiana: veal was well breaded and cooked. Overall, Hotel Depot is a solid, but not exceptional Italian restaurant. Be prepared to leave satisfied, but thinking that they could have done just a bit more to be a memorable restaurant. read more

See all

We also came the night before Thanksgiving and did not have reservations for our Party of 5, yet they were so kind to find a table for us. The food was excellent and their waitstaff were very attentive. It was my Mom's Birthday and they brought a delicious flourless chocolate cake and even joined us in singing! We will definitely dine here another time. read more

This place is so cute and gives off a calming home feeling. The staff is so friendly and the decor is perfect for photos. The appetizers and desserts were my favorite. The steak was juicy and cooked to perfection. The pasta with shrimp I ordered wasn't my favorite and had an interesting sweetness to it that I wasn't a fan of. Also didn't know the shrimp came completely whole with the eyeballs. I love that the food was garnished and decorated beautifully. read more

See all

I came here for dinner after doing some wine tastings. The restaurant itself is very beautiful, especially the outdoor seating with the pool/fountain. I thought the food was great too. The bolognese pasta was good and the red wine went well with it. From the desserts, I liked the limoncello cake more than the tiramisu but both were good. For me, the beautiful outdoor seating is what would make me want to come back here again. read more

See all

Wicked Good Wine Country Food! Came here in the weekend of the Fourth of July with my friends and atmosphere is amazing. Make sure you get the outdoor seating by the pool. We ordered a variety of salads which were all amazing my entrée was the veal scallopini with a side of squid ink pasta substituted in. $15 wine corkage fee is a huge plus! I will be back! read more

The Depot Restaurant - Veal scallopini with squid ink pasta substitution - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

Had a great time celebrating my wife's 30th birthday in Sonoma. We were able to get a table on Friday night for 7 no problem and were sat outside by some heaters which was great. I would highly recommend the bolognese! read more

Depot Hotel was our go-to spot during the pandemic. It helped keep us sane in a world gone mad. While other Sonoma restaurants on the square had tables on the sidewalk, with passersby walking by, sometimes maskless, Depot seated us in the outdoor patio alongside a pool, and heaters kept us warm when necessary. The Veal Scallopine is my wife's go-to dish, while I gravitate to the (seafood) Tonnarelli. Portions are large, so sometimes we get one entree and the Ernesto Pizza and finish half the pizza so that we can get the Tiramisu for dessert. Wine pours are generous and prices (by wine country standards) are very reasonable. Only able to get the Crab Cannelloni once, though, every other time it's been sold out. So if it's on the menu, don't order it, save some for me! read more

I cannot speak highly enough about The Depot Hotel Restaurant. The restaurant was recommended to us by the folks at Roche Winery earlier that day and I'm so thankful we were able to get a reservation at Depot Hotel. From the moment we walked in the door, I was impressed! We sat in the main dining area and were waited on by the kindest young man, Cooper. Cooper was so attentive and continued to be attentive, despite the restaurant filling up and getting busier and busier. We started with the Fried Mozzarella which was so good (yet petite) that we decided to order another. I honestly don't remember what my dining companions had for their entrees but I ordered the tortellini which was prosciutto and ricotta stuffed pasta, butternut squash and topped with crispy prosciutto and boy oh boy was it delicious. I ate all of it, despite being full... it was too good not to! Another reason why I loved Depot Hotel so much was because another waiter (David) recommended a phenomenal winery for us to check out during our Sonoma/Napa stay - Benziger Family Winery - which we did, and it was a highlight of our trip. Thank you David and Cooper for making our dinner at Depot Hotel Restaurant so fabulous and for continuing the excellence in your recommendation(s). I will definitely be back the next time I am in Sonoma! Highly recommend! read more

The Depot Restaurant - Fried Mozzarella appetizer Fried Mozzarella - Italian Near Me - Sonoma, California

See all

The Amiance made you feel like you are in Italy. The service made you feel like family. The food was so delicious you'll want a second helping!! read more

Great ambience and fantastic food! We love it!! Will definitely come back again soon. Pizza and Pinot night on Wednesday is great!

This was my very first time at the Depot Hotel Restaurant and I must say I was impressed! The service was outstanding all the way. And the ambiance took me by surprise. It has an authentic old Somoma feel to it. Much like The Swiss Hotel at the plaza, only the Depot has an elegance all it's own. Sitting out near the reflecting pool on a warm evening is delightful. The food is delicious! I highly recommend the Bolognese dish. Every bite was yummy! I wanted more. In fact I think they should add just a bit more sauce/gravy for dipping bread into. The dinner rolls at The Depot are perfect for that. I tasted some of the lamb. It was the best! When I go back to The Depot I will order the lamb dish. The swordfish and veal Marsala looked good right across from me. Yet the lamb I think is a must. For appetizers we had Prosciutto with cantaloupe. I was disappointed honeydew melon wasn't included on the plate. The distinct melons each enhance the Prosciutto in their own special way. We (the entire party I was with) all enjoyed the sliced pâté with mushroom truffles. Our only wish was that there was a bit more. And for dessert we all shared the Limoncello cake, served warm and the butterscotch cannoli. We all liked the Limoncello cake but were disappointed by the cannoli. It was tasty but we barely detected any butterscotch. We recommend chef makes an actual butterscotch custard cream and not simply add a syrup or flavoring. Just a suggestion. I enjoy my caffe latte. Very satisfying. On my next visit I will have the Tiramisu cake, it's ideal with cafe latte or cappuccino. Highly recommend a visit to this venerable restaurant and it's delectable menu. And yes you will want to take food home, they provide "doggie bag" boxes. read more

See all

Took our friend who was visiting to Depot for dinner. The outdoor space was charming, so I had high hopes. The food: We ordered the Caesar salad which may have been the best thing we ate and was average at best. The peach salad was inedible because the peace was not even close to being ready. Another appetizer we were told was a specialty was the pulled mozzarella. It was huge chunks of mozzarella on cold, soggy bread. No one ate it. For entrees we shared the steak, which was the most expensive entree on the menu and was a full plate of inedible fat. We shared a pizza which was also underwhelming and had a very weird flavor/texture. We also ordered the carbonara which tasted sour. No one ate anything. I usually take photos of all of my food and the only thing that made the cut was the basic Caesar salad which really was not worth posting. The service: Thankfully the service was kind and did make it right as far as the bill. I can't say anything bad about the service, but I can tell you that giving this place does not serve even 3 star food. We won't be returning. For the price, head to Glen Ellen to go to Glen Ellen Star or The Mill and have a 5 star experience. read more

beautiful outdoor seating around a pool and fountain, great service, hearty and delicious food and an incredible value considering the setting, service and quality we came with four people, but we had enough wine tasting and showed up an hour early and they were fully booked. so we waited a few mins to come up with an alternative plan, and decided to walk back to town to figure out where to wait. the host chased us down the street to say a table had just opened up if we wanted it. wow we all had something different and loved it. I think the top choices were heirloom tomato salad, mozzarella salad, tagliatelle bolognese, tonnarelli (squid ink and shellfish) and the penne carbonara (with scallops). the tiramisu dessert was huge, enough for the four of us to share but I could have eaten more than my share :) they are doing a great job of spacing people out during Covid. highly recommended when visiting downtown Sonoma read more

I liked this place not only because of the food they serve but mostly because of the nice people who work there. First time I stopped by on a very slow day and was the only person there, nevertheless, I was greeted so nicely, was given a little tour and got the table I wanted if even it was s but far from the happy hour location. I chatted with my waiter and had a good laugh on a beautiful sunny day. Next time it was a family dinner and still we had an awesome time because of the friendliness of out waiters. Food was delicious and we had a really great time over there. read more

See all

This review is for the outdoor patio area. (Honestly the interior is drab and the carpet is just awful. I would not eat inside even without Covid.) The patio area is lovely. Warm lights and open air tented covered seating arranged around the old pool with a lighted fountain make for a romantic, cozy atmosphere. The staff from the moment we walked in to the end of the evening were all terrific. Our bus staff was super friendly and made the evening more fun. Our server, Anna, took amazing care and made the evening special. We went for a birthday dinner. All four of us ordered opening sparkling wine and appetizers. All were delicious. Chicken livers on excellent toasty bread, a bowl of bean and home made pasta soup, a spinach and a 'Sonoma' salad with fresh crusty bread. We tasted each other's dishes and liked everything. For dinner I had a pizza with excellent spicy sausage and such a rich array of wonderful cheese on a super thin, wood fired crust. We all had some and there was still left over pizza. One of the party had the chicken Parmesan which came with house made tortellini. Really good. Two had the pork medallions with the fluffiest potatoes and fresh asparagus. For dessert we tried the banana cream brûlée and the chocolate cake. Wonderful. And the coffee came with a thick rich cream that was so - creamy goodness. Entire meal start to finish was delicious and the service excellent. Made for a fantastic birthday evening and a really nice evening. read more