Sonoma Wine Bar and Bistro

I've heard plenty of things about Sonoma so I put it on my list of places to visit this summer. I had the opportunity to try it out last night. It's located in the heart of Town Center in Virginia Beach on Central Park Avenue. I showed up at 7:00 p.m. without a reservation and was seated immediately.

The atmosphere in Sonoma is very cozy and exactly what I would expect from a wine bar and bistro except that the noise level was pretty high.

The menu is a combination of steak, seafood and pasta and entrees average about $27. Check the website for brunch and holiday specials.

I ordered the caprese salad to start and as you can tell from the picture it really is a beautifully simple dish. Just tomatoes, mozzarella and basil with a balsamic reduction. The tomatoes were room temperature, which for me makes the salad perfect.

I followed the salad with the "Spring" Salmon.

The fresh Atlantic salmon was served over shitake mushrooms, asparagus and Yukon gold hash. The portion was more than enough and the salmon was cookd perfectly. I really loved it.

My sister ordered the pasta sonoma

Which was prepared with shrimp and scallops sauteed with fire roasted red peppers, zucchini, olives, tomatoes and tossed with feta cheese. She said it was delicious.

Sonoma has a pretty varied wine list with many choices by the glass or bottle. They also feature wine tastings on Wednesdays for $30.

I enjoyed dinner at Sonoma and would recommend it based on the quality of food and the service. It is a bit pricey but I felt that it was worth it. They also provide outdoor seating which I believe would be lovely for a Sunday brunch. Check their website to view the full menu and hours of operation.



189 Central Park Avenue
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
(757) 490-9463
www.sonomatowncenter.com