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The Plaza Bistro

3.5 (343 reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

The Plaza Bistro Photos

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THE PLAZA BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Dogs allowed
Happy hour specials

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Bar bill
Marc S.

Went for a late afternoon snack at the Plaza Bistro Bar. Ordered the bruschetta (really good), a mixed green salad (also good), and an old-fashioned--which was unfortunately not good. Anytime a bartender adds soda water to an old-fashioned, it completely ruins it. I drank it anyway, but I never thought I'd have to ask whether they put soda water in an old-fashioned ‍. Service was slow. After finishing my meal, I asked for the check. Instead of bringing it, the bartender made drinks for guests who weren't even at the bar (they were outside smoking), then took another order from a different table. I had to ask again before finally getting my bill, at least 15 minutes later. At the time, there were only a couple outside and one other couple at the bar, so it wasn't busy. Forgot to grab a picture of the bruschetta and salad, but both were worth ordering.

Schnitzel
Sean J.

It had been awhile since we had gone out in the Sonoma Square and the Plaza Bistro was the only place that had openings. It was still quite warm outside in the evening, so we sat inside with the AC. Our waiter gave us some time to peruse the menu before ordering. For starters we got the fried calamari and the caprese salad. The breading for the calamari was a little thick, however the sauce was delicious. The caprese salad was chilled and no complaints. For mains, we got the Schnitzel, Seared Scallops, and Chicken Picatta. The schnitzel was fried in the same oil as the calamari, so the seafood flavor came out. The meat was tender and the mushroom sauce was amazing. The scallops were a tad overcooked so they were a little chewy. The chicken picatta was the best dish, with a lovely sauce, but the mashed potatoes could have used some salt. This was a good restaurant for tourists coming in town and may need a meal after a few winery tastings, but there are better options for food on the Square for locals. Hopefully this was an off night for the kitchen.

Expertly prepared char burger with all the right trimmings and fries.
Tom P.

Schnitzel the last time wasn't as good. More bland sauce. Spaetzle over done. Chicken battered and not totally cooked through had a mealy mouthfeel instead of crispy. 5 out of 10. So much potential for true greatness when it's done well. I've gained enough confidence that I would come back. I will send it back next time if it's a repeat performance.

Rude owner/Manager. They don't accommodate people with disability
shahriar m.

I came here with friends and one of them has a service dog. As soon as we arrived, we were approached by the owner saying " you can't bring the dog and asked for id". We told him that he was not supposed to ask for an id". He rudely disagreed. They charge $5 for a soft drink with lots of ice with no refills. Flies flying all over our food as they had the front door wide open so they don't have to turn on their AC. On top of it they charge an admin fee . I asked what this was for? They said it was for cc fee. I would not recommend this place to anyone Not worth it Please see the pic of my spaghetti . It was more like soup than spaghetti. Very little spaghetti with lots of sauce. The owner is very greedy and do not care about anything other than his pocket

Denver omelette.
Cesar G.

The food was unbelievably delicious for a Bistro. I was amazingly surprised by the menu and options for any palette. The ambiance is Italian cafe. Thank you for the sweet and honest service.

Steak and mashed potatoes with green beans.
Bianca G.

Our server was amazing! She was very attentive and constantly checked in on us. She also gave suggestions that were honest. Place is mellow, we sat outside, nice vice of the park. The food was pretty good and decently priced. I wish I would've tried more of the foods. I got the steak, and it was a good size and surprisingly good, loved the sauce. Oh get the bruschetta, pretty good as well. I'd probably come back again to try new items. Definitely cool little spot, recommend going here and giving it a chance.

NY steak with mash potatoes and green beans

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7 months ago

The food, service, and ambiance were perfect for a dinner after a concert at the Sebastiani Theatre.

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Extremely rude staff. Refused to let an elderly gentleman use the restroom. Don't give them your business.

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OSO Sonoma - Grilled sourdough topped with fresh cheese spread, a mix of sauteed mushrooms and spinach with fried slivers of garlic.

OSO Sonoma

4.2(706 reviews)
0.1 mi
•$$

We stopped here for lunch in between wineries on our Sonoma County wine‑tasting tour, and it turned…read moreout to be one of the highlights of our day. The entire staff was so nice, friendly, and genuinely attentive you could feel the hospitality the moment we walked in. We sat at the bar, and the bartender deserves a special shout‑out. He took amazing care of us. On his recommendation, we ordered the burgers, and they were honestly the best, juiciest, most delicious burgers we've ever had! Everyone we encountered in town had that same warm, welcoming energy. It made our quick lunch stop feel like a real experience, not just a meal. We left saying we have to come back and spend more time in downtown Sonoma this place and its people made a lasting impression.

Came here on the rec of a local and I'm glad we did! It was the perfect meal for our group of three…read moreto easily share, even with a gluten allergy. We ordered oysters, deviled eggs, and a ceasar salad to start, then got the steak and broccoli for a main course. I loved the oysters, steak, chimichurri that came on it, crispy potatoes, and deviled eggs. These might have actually been some of the best crispy potatoes I've ever had, they did them pretty perfectly. The Caesar salad was a little mayo heavy in some bites and anchovy heavy in others, dressing could have been mixed a little better, but it was still good for the most part and a good portion too. I was glad we got the broccoli to have another vegetable, but didn't love the sauce on it. It didn't really go with what we were eating, and just felt like it could've been rounded out a little more. We lucked out, didn't have a reservation but they had a spot for us on the outdoor patio, which ended up being the perfect spot to dine on a nice warm evening. It was quaint and felt like someone's backyard, highly recommend sitting back here when the weather is good.

Photos
OSO Sonoma - Light and delicious, these are not the Deviled Eggs of old.Bright and flavorful topped with fresh crab.

Light and delicious, these are not the Deviled Eggs of old.Bright and flavorful topped with fresh crab.

OSO Sonoma - Succulent pork ribs in tasty sauce with red onions and spicy peppers

Succulent pork ribs in tasty sauce with red onions and spicy peppers

OSO Sonoma

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Wit & Wisdom - Jack London - Weller High Proof-MINA Select Barrel, Amaro Nonino Smoked Table Side

Wit & Wisdom

4.3(621 reviews)
1.1 mi
•$$$

We recently visited Sonoma and stayed at the Lodge. During our stay, we dined at Wit & Wisdom and…read morehad an incredible dining experience. The service led by the food and beverage Director, Luka was best in class. We will definitely be back again.

I'm not even a big tuna lover but do NOT skip the tuna dip with crème fraiche. It had delicately…read moresliced cucumbers and onions on it, my personal fav veggies to pair with my occasional tuna sandwich. Delicious! My partner got the patatas bravas with his salmon. So crispy and garlicky! And, the kitchen (plus our amazing server Gustavo!!) was kind enough to make a custom pesto cavatelli for me because I didn't want the cavatelli with morel mushrooms! I will be thinking about the texture of this pasta + the pistachio pesto for a long time. They kept the corn pudding of the original dish at the bottom and it was such a good combination of flavors. I got chicken added on top. I got an espresso martini with gin; pretty good, just wished there was a bit more espresso flavor. Probably would order one of their house cocktails instead next time. Lastly we had the stone fruit cobbler with ice cream and a pine nut/pistachio brittle. Unlike any other cobbler I've ever had. Perfection of different textures. Also, we had the duck fat fries on another day; they were delightfully crispy and lightly seasoned with garlic. The ranch it came with was so yummy and definitely dill-forward. I'd definitely come back! Thank you for your hospitality.

Photos
Wit & Wisdom - Wow!!! WILD MUSHROOM PIZZA - the amount of gourmet mushrooms include truffles was out of this world. Definitely must try!!!

Wow!!! WILD MUSHROOM PIZZA - the amount of gourmet mushrooms include truffles was out of this world. Definitely must try!!!

Wit & Wisdom - Rear Patio

Rear Patio

Wit & Wisdom - HAMACHI CRUDO

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HAMACHI CRUDO

Layla - Chilaquiles

Layla

4.0(369 reviews)
0.6 mi

Great atmosphere in beautiful outdoors. Nice Bar and dining…read moreas well. Dog friendly with menu. Food prep good

We had dinner at Layla with a party of six, and while the food was excellent, the service was…read moredisappointing enough that it overshadowed the entire evening. The biggest issue was that a mandatory 20% gratuity was automatically added to our bill. If you're going to require guests to pay a 20% tip regardless of the experience, the service should at least meet that standard. Unfortunately, it didn't. Our server, Chloe, seemed far more occupied with spending time in the kitchen or attending to guests seated outside than checking on our table. We were dining inside, where the restaurant was nearly empty, yet she would disappear for 10-15 minutes at a time, leaving us with no way to ask for refills, order additional drinks, or get simple questions answered. To make matters worse, our wine glasses arrived visibly dirty. We pointed it out, but they were never replaced. That's a basic service expectation at any restaurant, especially one at this price point. She also volunteered recommendations for her "favorite" dishes, despite us never asking for suggestions--and they happened to be among the most expensive items on the menu. It felt more like upselling than genuine hospitality. The kitchen deserves credit because the food was genuinely very good. But great food can't make up for inattentive service, especially when guests have no choice but to pay a mandatory 20% gratuity. If Layla is going to automatically add a 20% tip, then they should ensure the service earns it--not simply collect it regardless of how poor the experience is.

Photos
Layla - Hallway leading to Layla

Hallway leading to Layla

Layla - Duck breast, sirloin

Duck breast, sirloin

Layla - MacLemon Martini

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MacLemon Martini

The Girl & The Fig  - Pan-seared scallops

The Girl & The Fig

4.1(4.8k reviews)
0.1 mi
•$$$

Wow! I came back years later, and I'm still incredibly impressed by this restaurant. The girl & the…read morefig has truly mastered its sauces, elevating the dishes from great to excellent. Our waiter, Willie, was very knowledgeable about the menu, seemed genuinely happy to be there, and provided excellent service throughout the night. My only caveat was the radish appetizer. I was surprised that it was literally chopped raw radishes served with butter. Thankfully, Willie brought us an aioli that significantly improved the flavor, but the dish still felt underwhelming compared to everything else. Steak au poivre: One of the best dishes I've had all year. It was fantastic, memorable, and the extra sauce was also delicious with the sourdough. Flounder: Buttery, citrusy goodness. It was cooked to perfection, and the sauce took it to the next level.

3.5 stars During our Sonoma vacation last week we were…read moreexcited to dine here after hearing so much about the place and seeing so many 5 star reviews. Our experience however was somewhat mixed. The restaurant is cozy and very cute; elegantly decorated with beautiful art works painted by the owner which we enjoyed a lot. Excellent service, our waitress was warm, personable and very pleasant. We received each a glass of complimentary champagne for our anniversary. To start, we ordered a cauliflower soup and a fig arugula salad. The soup was tasty and light, very enjoyable, salad was ok, we were hoping for a little more figs and pecan. Both of us liked the scallops and the relish, it was perfectly executed and delicious. We had high hopes for the mussels unfortunately it was a let down. While the broth was flavorful, most of the mussels were tiny. Hubby even got several bites with sand and had to go to the bathroom to rinse it out. We mentioned to our waitress, the manager came over to apologize and our dessert was comped. Which was a good gesture. We did also have nice chats with a family of four sitting next to us. Not sure if we'll return any time soon, if we do will stay away from the mussels.

Photos
The Girl & The Fig  - Inside seating

Inside seating

The Girl & The Fig  - Bread and butter

Bread and butter

The Girl & The Fig  - Bar in December 2024

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Bar in December 2024

Valley Bar and Bottle - Chicory Cesar Salad

Valley Bar and Bottle

4.3(246 reviews)
0.2 mi
•$$$

If someone was to ask me for a rec in Sonoma, this would be top 3…read more Incredible. Multiple people recommended Valley to us so we came by for brunch. The breakfast potatoes were to die for. Wow 10/10. The chilaquiles were the best I've ever had. The sauce had an incredible flavor with a salty balance from the queso. The restaurant is a vibe. It's so fun and funky. P.s as I'm sitting on the patio next door I'm tempted to go back for dinner ;)

I heard a lot of recommendations for this place so we tried to stop in for dinner. It is a small…read morespace but they do have a back patio. We came in and stood around 5-8 minutes waiting for the hostess to even arrive, which I thought was a bit strange. When we were sat, we got a small table near the kitchen. We did also wait a while to get someone at our table and then we got a pretty chill surfer like dude who helped us maneuver the menu, etc. We started off with a glass of Chardonnay and they did have a great wine selection. We ordered the tomato toast to start and it may have been the best bite I had my whole Napa/Sonoma trip. I would recommend ordering TWO of these, they were that good. We also tried the yellowtail sashimi item with the passion fruit which was quite tasty but the tomato toast was the star of the show. For our mains we got the crispy rice and the halibut with the tomato curry, both which were recommended by our waiter. I thought both were decent - the crispy rice had good flavor but was inconsistent in the crispiness- some pieces were rock hard and others were just right, definitely too crunchy if you have sensitive teeth. The halibut dish was nice, it did have a good flavor but I just think I personally dont love halibut. Overall a good spot - reminded me of restaurants in Richmond,VA. Would like to come back for brunch or try more items.

Photos
Valley Bar and Bottle - Cute front walkway to the restaurant.

Cute front walkway to the restaurant.

Valley Bar and Bottle - Chicory Cesar salad

Chicory Cesar salad

Valley Bar and Bottle - Valley on July 28, 2024

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Valley on July 28, 2024

The Mill at Glen Ellen - Chocolate mousse

The Mill at Glen Ellen

4.8(524 reviews)
5.6 mi
•$$

I had a late lunch. As soon as I stepped in I was greeted. I sat by the water outdoors. There is…read moreoutdoor of indoor seating. All staff were super friendly, several checked in on me. They def knew their menu. Immediately brought water with cucumber and lemon, very refreshing. I ordered the bread with butter to start, it was excellent. That butter just melts on every bite, taking the bread to the next level. Staff recommended the Rachel pastrami. It did not disappoint. It was very simple. However the combination of the thousand Island, sauerkraut, the pastrami and buttered bread just made it so delicious. It was decently meat packed too. The sandwich came with fries which I inhaled the ketchup that they brought me extra. It also came with two types of coleslaw both were delish. They were not overwhelming with dressing. The yellow one was interesting bc I thought it was turmeric but it was slightly sweet. Delish as well. Also ordered their Italian prosecco. I'm into red wine but for some reason perhaps the environment I felt the prosecco would work and it did! It was bubbly refreshing, tasty, and not dry. Their restroom was big and clean. This is in the Jack London Village. They have parking on both ends. The village has other restaurants and wine tasting as well.

Such a cute, quaint little spot tucked away in Glen Ellen! The setting is beautiful, especially…read morewith the historic water wheel running alongside the restaurant. It has a cozy, rustic charm that makes you want to slow down and enjoy your meal. Here's what we tried: Lemon Drop Martini - Refreshing and well-balanced. A solid way to kick off lunch. Della Fattoria Bread - Our waiter hyped it up as "the best bread in California." Maybe my expectations were a little too high because...it was just okay to me. Good, but not the showstopper I was expecting. Brussels Sprouts - These were really good! Perfectly roasted with lots of flavor. Spicy Sweet Chili Wings - THE STAR OF THE SHOW! These were hands down the best thing we ordered. Crispy, sticky, sweet with just the right amount of heat...absolutely delicious! I'd honestly come back just for these. Clam Chowder - Creamy, comforting, and a nice starter. Bacon Cheeseburger - A solid burger that definitely hit the spot. My only real complaint? The wings. Not the flavor--the portion size. For $20, I think the order should include at least 8-10 wings. You get six (the sixth one is hiding under the garnish in my photo ), and one of them was noticeably smaller than the others. They were so good that I just wished there had been more! Overall, I really enjoyed my visit. Between the charming atmosphere, friendly service, and those unforgettable wings, I'd definitely come back again. Next time, I'll probably skip the bread and go straight for another order of those wings!

Photos
The Mill at Glen Ellen
The Mill at Glen Ellen - Potato Patties

Potato Patties

The Mill at Glen Ellen - Chocolate cake

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Chocolate cake

Sonoma Valley Farmhouse  - Eggs Benedict with Smokes Salmon

Sonoma Valley Farmhouse

4.2(147 reviews)
1.3 mi

Roasted chicken, filet, and lamb shank ...each and every one of these was a hit!…read moreThe filet was topped with a type of chimichurri and cooked perfectly..our server recommended the lamb shank..fall off the bone and meaty.. I would return...thank you!

Stopped by this place on a Saturday around 4:40 PM, walking in through the back door, and was…read morehonestly impressed the moment we walked in. The place has a beautiful country farmhouse vibe, bright, open dining room, and a separate bar tucked away in the back(right where we walked in), that makes it feel cozy without being noisy. They also have a really nice Happy Hour menu, even on weekends until 5 PM, which was a pleasant surprize. The only downside was the service. The restaurant was almost empty, but our party of three ordered a salad, two appetizers, and a mushroom pizza, then ended up waiting until about 5:30 PM. After reminding our server about the order, everything suddenly started coming out. Food was mostly very good. The beet salad was spot on, and the burrata was fresh and exactly what we were hoping for. The calamari was a little over-fried, though I really liked the seasoning. The mushroom pizza had good flavor, but it was a bit too heavy on the spices, so my four-year-old wouldn't eat it. Overall, it's still a solid 4-star place. Great atmosphere, good Happy Hour, and quality food with just a few things that could be improved. We'll definetly be back next time we're in the area.

Photos
Sonoma Valley Farmhouse  - Inside restaurant

Inside restaurant

Sonoma Valley Farmhouse  - Filet mignon

Filet mignon

Sonoma Valley Farmhouse  - Gorgeous interior!

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Gorgeous interior!

Cafe La Haye - Maryland Soft Shell Crab atop fresh angel hair pasta. AMAZING, MUST ORDER.

Cafe La Haye

4.3(387 reviews)
0.1 mi
•$$$

What delicious, 5-star dishes. Located in Sonoma, California, it is one of the most delicious…read morerestaurants in the county; for over 30 years, it has been serving excellent farm-to-table dishes, using produce from its own organic gardens.

Excellent food, but a disappointing end to a special birthday dinner…read more I booked Café La Haye over a month in advance for my wife's birthday. We loved the menu, the food was incredible, and we appreciated that they remembered the occasion. About 70 minutes before our 6:15 reservation, I received a text saying our table was ready. It made me feel like we were expected sooner, anxious that I screwed up the planning, so we arrived at 10 minutes early. After 92 minutes, the hostess told us the next group had arrived and it was time for us to leave. When I asked about it, she explained that tables for two get 90 minutes. This was the first time I learned about that policy. I hadn't understood that we would have only 90 minutes for our birthday dinner, or that arriving early would start that clock. Being asked to leave so abruptly made us feel rushed and put a damper on an otherwise lovely celebration. If there is a firm time limit, it should be clearly communicated before guests sit down. Especially when the restaurant texts them that their table is ready more than an hour early. Wonderful food and thoughtful birthday recognition, but the communication and handling of our departure were disappointing.

Photos
Cafe La Haye - Restaurant interior

Restaurant interior

Cafe La Haye - Kobe Luxe Burger

Kobe Luxe Burger

Cafe La Haye - Quail special was incredible!

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Quail special was incredible!

The Plaza Bistro - italian - Updated October 2026

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