Sonoma Misses the Mark
Posted: August 25th, 2009 | Author: JR | Filed under: American, Bistro, Casual/Pub Food, Salem | Tags: gastropub, Salem Restaurants, Sonoma | 5 Comments »
On the recommendation of some folks on Chowhound, we had dinner last weekend at Sonoma, a gastropub that opened at the beginning of the summer on Congress Street in Salem, about six blocks from Pickering Wharf.
The place looks terrific, with an attractive bar and a freshly painted interior. The menu looked good, too, with many tapas selections and some interesting sounding entrees. Unfortunately, our meal did not match the surroundings.
The flatbread pizza ($10) was the only good selection of the night: crisp and flavorful with shrimp and pesto. They were out of the shrimp and avocado salad, the chorizo was fine but nothing special, and the torta espanola had no flavor at all. Appetizers run $8 to $10; hot and cold tapas are $6. We sampled a cosmopolitan and a drink special with vodka, chambord, and pineapple ($10); both could have used more booze and less mixers.
Neither of our entrees was a success. The thick-cut pork chop was tender but the sauce and everything else on the plate was bland ($19). The duck pasta in wine sauce was worse, with stringy, flavorless meat and pasta cooked to mush ($18).
With only eight tables, Sonoma is quite small, but it’s still more than one waitperson can cover. Although our waitress was nice, she was completely overwhelmed. Water glasses stayed unfilled, and used dishes sat on our table for most of the evening. Judging by how long we waited for our main meal, the small kitchen was also struggling to handle the Friday night crowd.
We give the folks at Sonoma credit for opening a restaurant in this economy and for getting creative with the menu. Hopefully, the kitchen will begin focusing more on quality than variety and the front of the house will solve its staffing issues.
Sonoma
75 Congress Street, Salem
(978) 607-0140
www.sonomasalem.com
Don’t let the above negative review fool you or turn you and your guests away from a fine night of dining and drinks at Sonoma. I was there with a group of friends for a night out, and we loved it! We’re definitely headed back again soon. We’ve given Sonoma a 1st tier spot. The setting is cozy and relaxed, and yet you didn’t feel on top of everybody at the table. The setup of this gastropub seems well thought out, not gimmicky or eclectic. The food received high marks from each of us. Our entrees were excellent. I had the filet mignon topped with shitake sauce. It melted in your mouth! Some shared the flatbread pizza, which was also incredible. Every plate was delicious. Everything is made from scratch by the chef, who is a professionally trained culinary chef. Sauces, toppings, dressings, you name it, everything from scratch. After our meal, the chef came to the table to ensure our expectations were met. The waitress was attentive throughout, and even the owner briefly checked on us to make sure things went well. As for dessert, no problem. I’ll be sure to recommend the creme brulee to anybody who hadn’t made up their mind yet. The chocolate cake was to die for too! Anyway, you have to try this new Sonoma gastropub for yourself and make up your own mind. A food critic needs to give a balanced critique of a restaurant. This review by JR was so skewed to the downside, it kind of lost all credibility. You have to check it out for yourself. You will not be disappointed.
Angela
Angela,
We are always happy to have readers give us feedback, and I’m glad you had such a positive experience at Sonoma.
The reason that we went was because of people just like you—we had heard terrific things about it. I don’t doubt those who recommend it for a moment, I’m sure they had a great meal.
However, what Jill wrote accurately depicts the dining experience of our party on that particular night. And that is what we do here: share our experiences.
Whether the problems were due to staffing, supply or kitchen issues I can’t say. Given what others like you have reported, that evening may very well have been an exception, and eventually we’ll return at some point to find out.
Thanks for taking the time to comment,
Kristen
If I had been the first to write a review I would have to agree with everything that Angela has written. I had a very similar experience, and probably the only difference was that I did not get the opportunity to try the chocolate cake! Sonoma was a highlight during a vacation to the area, and will be sure to dine again when I return. I will definitely be ordering the double stuffed pork, but then will it be that delicious filet with velvety shiitake sauce? I hope duringt my next holiday I get to sample from Oscar’s menu to discover more favorites!
I need to agree with the review, my experiences were not good, and I really want to like this place. The staff really tries, but the food falls very short, and the concept is oddball. I’ve been top GastroPubs in London, and been to Sonoma, and what the two have to do with each other makes no sense, especially on this menu that is neither Brit nor Cali in its influences.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for letting us know about your experience. Based on comments here, it seems Sonoma is hit or miss—sometimes great, sometimes not. Not sure why.