Sonoma Cellar

I'm not sure there is enough space to write about SC. The wine was paired perfectly with the hanger steak. Despite being a small portion for the fig and brie app, the flavor made up for it. We came back for a second night and the short rib pasta was tremendous. Light but flavorful. I'm not sure I could complain about any of it. The best combination was the Manager Sophia and somollier/does everything Brian. They were open to their fans and paid the meals perfectly with the wine. Their passion for the food, wine, and the business were truly evident. They went above and beyond.

Great place to hear gossip from 50 year divorcees. Wine flights are bomb and well priced. Food looks good too — we saw the avocado toasts and they looked very good. Nice bar vibe. Staff is great, very friendly and knowledgeable.

I went here for dinner during restaurant week. It’s a Monday night so it was a pretty quiet night with a fantastic vibe. The wine and the food was all delicious.

The food and the wine list are fantastic, but the service is almost unbearably bad. The staff makes it seem like they’re doing you a favor by allowing you to dine and drink with them. Our server was a brunette woman who rushed us through our meal (asking what we wanted to order multiple times in a 5-7 minute span). My friends and I ordered a bottle of wine and some food and it was great, but we decided to go to another wine bar for the second bottle because we felt so uncomfortable. Such a bummer because we had really high hopes for SC.

We came here for an early dinner and had a great time! They gave some great happy hour deals ($2 off wine by the glass, good small plates). Service was very helpful and friendly. The back patio is a little hidden gem that you wouldn't know existed unless you went into the restaurant. We enjoyed a great wine tasting, along with some wonderful cheese and crostini. We then had shrimp tacos and the chicken pita, both very good. Finally we split the red wine brownie, which was flavorful and soft of the inside. Absolutely recommend coming in for a glass of vino and some plates right in old town.

Great food, unique and beautiful restaurant, great atmosphere and decoration. Great selection of wines and beers. Excellent service. The staff was very knowledgeable and helpful.

Great restaurant in the heart of Old Town Alexandria on King Street. The bar area downstairs is great for wine tasting, while upstairs is perfect for fine dining. Sasha was our waiter: he was funny and informative. The food was fantastic, as they have a number of options for vegetarians. My only comment is that the butternut squash soup is a little bland, and missing some body. Otherwise everything was perfect. Would definitely return.

I noticed walking that they allowed dogs with an inviting bowl of water and some treats outside. Naturally, I said yes I will come and sit outside in the lovely garden to enjoy a glass of wine. We ordered the artisan cheese board and the wine flights while the pup enjoyed some iced water and also some cheese :-) Jacob was such a great host and was very attentive to all of our needs and took time to explain the menu. He was also very cognizant of it being a hot day and providing us with prompt ice and water.

Sometimes things just fall perfectly into place. Exactly our story at Sonoma Cellar last night. Delicious wine selection, impeccable service, and amazing food. As an older guy, it's nice to land somewhere where the music isn't blaring so loud that it makes having a conversation impossible. SC was almost library-like, with the ability to speak in normal voices, while still enjoying the ambient chatter from nearby tables and noisy King Street. The cheese and charcuterie board was easily the best one we've had in Alexandria: enough bread, incredible fig jam, and a beautiful assortment of just the right sizes of artisanal cheeses and meats. Nights like these make dining so much more fun and worthwhile.

I really enjoyed the chill and airy vibe in here. Situated on King Street, this sweet wine bar is nestled between shops and offers a nice reprieve. A friend and I sat at the bar on Sunday for some drinks. She had a wine flight, which she enjoyed overall, and I had a mango-mosa with a cup of their truly delightful butternut squash soup. The soup was the star for me! It was so well done and the pumpkin seeds and sour cream drizzle definitely elevated it. Service was friendly, and the prices were reasonable. The patio out back looked cute too. I'd absolutely consider a return on future trips to Alexandria.

Its our second time here. They have great service and a diverse wine menu. We had a great time last night.

I was visiting my sister who lives nearby. We stopped in a late lunch and sips. We had my sister's dog, and their back garden was like a hidden gem- not too crowded, intimate, and shaded. They set us up with a dog bowl. The bartender inside was also the server outside- he was friendly, and idk how he knew when people needed him, but he seemed to be available whenever people were ready. The food was high-quality and tasty, nicely seasoned- I did feel the Sonoma, CA vibe. We thought ordering two crostinis would be too heavy, but they were perfect and different enough! Savory vs sweet. The tender Blackened Chicken was big enough to share between the two of us. Lastly, the wine flights were all good- 1 dry white (sauv blanc), 1 rose, 2 dry reds (blend + merlot)... as if it was made for me!

A cute Wine Cellar with a nice selection of California wines in addition to select wine from other countries. You can also order somewhat pricey small plates, lunch and dinner. Out back is a nicely shaded patio area. A big bowl of dog bones and water bowl for your fur baby on the entrance steps. We stopped for a cold Mimosa on our way to the Torpedo factory.

I'm sad to give Sonoma Cellar a 3-star review because I want to rate it higher, but I can't based on this visit. Our first visit there last year was very good--good food, service, and atmosphere. This time we were in town for one night, and of all the restaurants in Old Town Alexandria, we chose this restaurant based on our last experience. This visit in May 2023 was lackluster. The atmosphere is still a winner--especially their outdoor seating in the back. But the food and service were not great. My order of short ribs came with three pieces of meat, but two were very fatty, and one of those was completely inedible. When we pointed this out to our server (at the end of the meal), the table behind us said there's was fatty too. One of our party ordered a glass of the weekly wine specials. After the wine had been delivered to our table and partly consumed, we were told that wine special was sold out, and they showed us a bottle of the wine they substituted. It was very good. When our bill arrived, though, we were charged $5 more for the substitute wine without anyone asking us if that it was ok or offering us optional wines. On the positive side, the French Onion soup was excellent, and the blacken chicken entree was a unique preparation that our friend greatly enjoyed.

Cute tasting area, they also have a terrace in the back. I just came for a tasting. Their June flight had 4 wines, good size pours. Wide selection of great wines.

Sonoma Cellar is one of my favorite spots in Old Town. I'm definitely a regular at this point, and a proud one at that! Perhaps my favorite thing about Sonoma Cellar is the patio: it's beautiful. Cozy with string lights and just enough room between tables -- what's not to love? Admittedly this is less of a selling point during the winter, but it's what first attracted me to the place. The wine is good, the service is consistently awesome, and the food is solid too. I'm a huge fan of their mushroom risotto (quite filling for a side, too!) and the gluten-free chocolate cake (dense and decadent). I know I'll be back.

I always stop here when visiting Virginia - the staff is very knowledgeable and makes excellent recommendations

Hidden green in Old Town. I've walked past this place multiple times, but wanted somewhere 4 friends could just have a nice wine or beer. This was a great option. We had the burger and wine and the server was knowledgeable to sides something for our tastes. We sat outside and the leaves kept falling from the trees and I got ate up by bugs, so please be mindful. I look forward to returning

Very great wine selection. Loved the flight and how affordable it was. Can't wait to come back and try the food!

Great wine selection here and really tasty charcuterie boards. Service is knowledgeable and friendly if you ah e any questions about the wine.

Okay. If you want a girls day out in Old Town, it is a MUST. Wine is phenomenal and the food. The cheeseboard I could live off. The employees were so kind and answered every question about the food/wine.

I was disappointed in this place! The interior is very plain and the wine in the wine flight was just not good. Only one wine was decent. The food was really simple and could have been made at home. The chicken skewers were a bit dry and the artichoke dip was so plain. It was lacking something and I'm not sure what. I won't be back!

My group of 5 liked this place overall. We went for brunch. I had carbonara, which wasn't the best one ever so I recommend trying other dishes. I sampled the shrimp avocado crostini and it was really good. Excellent shrimp and fresh bread and avocado. My friends liked the fish and beef tacos and beef brisket as well. Drinks are only beer and wine, but they do have mimosas by the glass or pitcher. Service wasn't the best but was adequate.

My wife and I tried Sonoma Cellar for Alexandria's Restaurant Week. We got good food, good wine, and good service, eating in a very pleasant backyard area. My meal started with a great deviled eggs appetizer. For my main course, I got the gnocchi. The browned butter sage sauce was delicious. For dessert, I got the Flourless chocolate cake. That was fantastic. Definitely better than most such cakes. My wife and I each got the rioja on the menu, which was among their less expensive wines, and it was a well-selected bottle. Flavorful, but without the bitterness that some riojas have, and very smooth. With the restaurant week special, the price for our meal was reasonable. Without it, SC is a little on the pricey side, but not hugely unreasonable. The wines start at $10/glass and are almost all well under $20. The gnocchi is $20 on the regular menu. There are less expensive places to eat. But, if you're up for a bit of a premium to have a good meal and good wine on King Street, Sonoma Cellar delivers pretty well.

Loved this place! The staff were friendly and very knowledgeable about the wine. I did the tasting and loved everything I tried. They have happy hour and lots of nightly specials. Additionally they have a lovely back patio and an upstairs seating area. I plan on coming back to try the food and enjoy more wines. For those that don't drink wine... they have beer too!

Stumbled across this gem while searching for things to do on EventBrite, and I'm so glad I did. I purchase tickets for their July Sparkling Wine Class for BFF and bestie and I enjoyed everything from start to finish. We had the chance to taste 5 different wines and champagnes PLUS light appetizers. Our instructor was super knowledgeable, and I ended up purchasing 2 bottles at the end of the event since the bottles were 40% off - Can't. Beat. That. At. All. There is also a cute little outside dining section that we caught a glimpse of while walking up the steps to the wine tasting room. Def an excuse to come back!

This was my first time at Sonoma Cellar and will not be my last. I had a great experience with Jose at the bar. I arrived by myself and was greeted promptly when I came into the restaurant and I opted to sit at the bar and decided to do a tasting along with the charcuterie and cheeseboard. Jose was extremely helpful and gave great recommendations for me to decide which wines to taste as well as giving me samples. The place is small and cute with nice decorations. Due to the weather no one was sitting on the outside patio but they had indoor seating on two levels. It was pretty busy for a rainy Sunday afternoon. Despite the ugly weather outside the energy inside was amazing. The cheese and charcuterie board was plentiful and filling. I'm extremely excited to go back and sample some other food items that are on their menu.

We had some time to kill before a dinner reservation and found this wine bar using Yelp. The wine offerings by the glass were okay (I, of course, ordered one that was listed on the menu but that they were out of) - nothing unusual or particularly exciting. But more than the wines, I just didn't like the vibe of the place very much. We sat at the bar since we were just getting a glass of wine before heading out for our dinner reservation, and we just didn't feel super welcome? We kind of felt like we were in the way. The staff seemed kind of unhappy and stressed, and we had to kind of wave service down to order and for our check. It just wasn't a place I felt very welcome or where I'd want to spend a lot of time. Based on this experience, I probably wouldn't return. Next time I'm in the area, I'll try to find a place for wine that's further out from the most touristy area of Alexandria.

Joe ABSOLUTELY saved this review! This was 100% going to be a one star review, if it weren't for our bartender/server. We came to the restaurant early in the day to see if we could come back in the afternoon after our activities. We were never asked to make a reservation. When we came back, just like we said, we did everything we were supposed to--entered with masks, waited to be seated, etc. However, despite this, we were greeted horrendously. It truly felt like the hostess did not want to sit us, and then entire indoor part of the restaurant was EMPTY! I mean.... Emmmpty! We relayed we really just came for a quick sampling of their wine flights, and then nothing happened. It took about 10 minutes for our server to come by and ask what we'd like, and we relayed the same... we'd just like to try the wine flights. My mom was so hurt by how this all started, she literally asked Joe "why does no one want to serve us? Do you not want us here?" At this point, her experience was ruined. However, Joe absolutely turned it around. He quickly served us our flights, and despite being slammed eventually, still took time to tell me about their monthly wine classes. We eventually explained to him why we weren't too happy and the reasoning behind my mom's earlier question, detailing how we were treated. Eventually, I ran out of water and walked to the bar, as I knew they were busy, and another server kindly brought me a large water carafe. And in the end, as he knew how hurt my mom was, Joe comped my mom's wine tasting, which we absolutely weren't expecting. So, that is service, and again, Joe made this experience everything that it was. For the wines, the flight had a gorgeous presentation, and I LOVED all four in the flight. My mom enjoyed the first white and the rose the best! So, with all that being said, happy sipping, friends! Tip: if you'd like to sit in the garden, make a reservation!

I went here with some coworkers after work. It's definitely nothing to brag about. The server wasn't very friendly. She had a bit of an attitude. There were people of all races included in our party and when certain ones left the remaining group of us were told we had to leave in the next 5 minutes because reservations were coming. Overall I wouldn't suggest this place if you plan on staying for a while after you eat.

They have an adorable garden with very well spaced out/distanced tables. You walk in, give your information (for contact tracing), they take your temperature, and escort you to your table. St the table, you scan a QR code to view the menu. Everyone is very focused on safety and we felt extremely safe. The wine is great and highly encourage the tasting flight. Prices are also affordable! A great spot for a drink and snack in Old Town with all of the proper precautions to keep you safe.

Last night (Saturday, Nov. 25 ) we returned to Sonoma Cellar for the first time under its new ownership. We were not impressed with the restaurant under the prior owner's purview. We were very impressed with the menu, service and price for food and drinks. The atmosphere was nice. I deducted a star as three items on the drink menu were not available (a beer and two ciders), but hopefully they will be better stocked on our next visit.

if you get a chance to swing by, I definitely recommend the Greek trio as an appetizer and if you're there for breakfast or brunch -- I enjoyed the omelette with potatoes. Annnnnnnd this is your sign to try a mangosa.

Great environment, very awesome sommelier/bartender named Kellie who recommended wine pairings and taste tests. The cheese board and artichoke dip paired well with the red. I highly recommend if you're looking for a good wine bar.

Where have you been all my life? Jose was fantastic at making us feel at home. We had the cheese plate, shrimp on Avocado toast and brie crostini. All of it delicious but the shrimp avocado toast was amazing! We had to order a second round. The pimento dip and artichoke dip was fantastic. We tried so many different types of wine and all were fantastic. I can't wait to come back.

Outdoor patio is great. Location is perfect for strolling king street before or after. We shared the charcuterie and cheese boards (includes GF crackers!) the waitress was very friendly. Wine is a little pricey imo

I found this place on Yelp and decided to give it a try based on other Yelp reviews. My cousin and I, wanted to do a local wine tasting without going to a vineyard. So we headed to Old Town Alexandria to Sonoma Cellar. When I walked in the establishment the decor was very beautiful and relaxing. I felt as if I instantly transferred to Sonoma California! The hostess greeted us and we requested outdoor seating. It was a whole vibe. Relaxing colors, serene mood and the staff is well informed about their wine. I had just come from brunch so I wasn't able to try the menu items however, everyone's food looked delicious as we looked to see what people were ordering. We did get a charcuterie with meat, fruit, jam and cheese. It was by far the freshest I have had and again I felt as if I were in California. I highly recommend this establishment for friends catching up to a night date place or a low key chill spot. I'll be back again. Hope to see you there! Enjoy the pictures! It was really as good as it looks!

I came here for a girlfriend birthday, I was very impressed with the food and service provided here. I had some delicious steak paired with some wine, for desert I had a flourless chocolate cake, one the best I ever had. I highly recommended this place.

Live this place- great fresh food, great wine selection, they do a tasting, great atmosphere on King street. It's very Alexandria.

An ok ambiance, the food was delicious but the service was average. The courtyard smelled like trash, probably a dumpster nearby.

An absolutely lovely place to enjoy some delicious appetizers, friends and of course...Vino! This place is small but super charming, and full of character. With an indoor bar area as well as an outdoor patio there's plenty of seating for friends and or family to gather and enjoy some of life's finest libations. Certainly a hip place to chill with a great selection of music and the bar tender pretty much rocked my socks off with his kindness and customer service. The food was outstanding (in all honesty we only had the appetizers) I highly recommend the charcuterie board, and the crab cake sliders...super delicious. The outdoor seating is wonderful on good weather nights with lovely mood lighting to boot...and if it's chilly there are outdoor heaters! Seriously...I love this place. Seating: plenty outside, bar seating, and some indoor tables Ambiance: casual to hip Menu: a fine assortment of appetizers, pasta dishes, salads, chicken, steak etc... Swing in and grab a bar stool...and don't forget to invite your friends!

I had a chance to visit Sonoma Cellar for the first time earlier this week for the first time, and I'm glad to say I wasn't disappointed. Overall the staff are welcoming, accommodating, and very helpful. A couple highlights from the visit: Positives: -a compact but well-rounded wine selection. -I ordered the hanger steak which was done perfectly (medium-rare) with scalloped potatoes and fresh broccoli. I was skeptical of the pesto but gave it whirl and was not disappointed! -Very generous pour at the bar. -atmosphere is welcoming, lively, but relaxed. -Several vegetarian options. -Overall our group was pleased with the experience (food, wine, service, and ambiance). -The 30% off for a bottle on Wednesday applies to the entire list and is a great deal! -For those who partake, they have a Tuesday cigar night on the patio with a local cigar vendor where you can enjoy great wine, company, and cigar. Areas for improvement: -Ordered a bottle of Bordeaux (2019), a 2020 bottle came out - we were a few bottles in and didn't notice until afterwards. -The servers, although very helpful and engaged, could use some additional coaching / training on wine knowledge.

LOVED IT! LOVED IT! Best happy hour value, exquisite little nibbles so tastefully presented, great bartender. Lovely. Wonderful wines. And I am NOT a California wine lover. But they have such a nicely curated variety, you will find a thirst quencher of choice. Lovely little place - bright and cozy. It's a wonderful place to start your evening on the right "Happy" happy hour foot!

We were looking to sit outside for a cocktail after brunch yet everything had such a long wait. POOF! As serendipitous as it was we stumbled upon Sonoma Cellar! This place is so adorable and is the perfect location to enjoy an afternoon glass of Rose in the shaded cobblestone backyard patio. They offer a full menu but we were so stuffed from brunch that we only had room for wine ! We'll definitely venture in again soon!

This review is not about the wine, the wine was fine. The ambience was nice. This is about a server, possibly a sommelier, that shushed my friends and I because we were "too loud" in a 4x4 foot room. It was in fact loud because where could the sound possibly travel in a tiny room. We were visiting from out of town anyways so unlikely to go back.

A cute little place for dinner. I stopped by here with friends a while ago, and we had a good time. I grabbed a salad with protein, and found it quite tasty. The outdoor dining area was pretty pleasant and enjoyable. The wine options were voluminous and fun. The staff were a bit busy, but they were extremely gracious and even brought us out free drinks when they made a small mistake. I'd definitely eat here again.

I would recommend asking to be seated on the back patio, as it's green and intimate and beautiful. The coffee is good quality, and all of the brunch options are good. I also recommend ordering a cinnamon roll for the table if you come for brunch.

I have been to Sonoma cellars before and had a good experience. Service is typically good, their light fare menus is usually tasty. We made reservations and were told there system was down and we would have to wait 30 - 45 minutes. It's unfortunate this was one of my favorite spots and the experience tonight ruined it.

A bit small but they have good and wine. If you're party is medium to small; you'll be fine. If medium to large consider renting the whole venu.

Such a nice place and great staff. Love the family feeling when welcomed and attended by the owner Rick. The wait staff is friendly and very attentive. Amazing selection of wines for all budgets. The burgers are to die for and the charcuterie board a great treat when just enjoying some drinks and cigars on a Tuesday night. The hidden gem of this place is its romantic yet cozy patio with fire pit for those cool days. If you want to find the best cigars in town, visit a Tuesday night and look for a Pucho (cigar name).

Walked by this place so many times not realizing it's a hidden gem! Wonderful wine list and delicious small plates. Friendly service. Beautiful indoor decor and an awesome outdoor dining area. Will revisit for dinner soon!

Awesome brunch spot out back on the patio. Definitely recommend the "taste in place" wine tasting and the avocado smash garlic shrimp crostini! Only reason I gave a four instead of a five was that we felt their brunch menu was somewhat limited.

We love it here! Whether you're a solo traveler or looking for a cute brunch with friends -- I highly recommend. Great happy hour! Guaranteed a nice glass of wine. Loved the salmon crostinis!!!

This was my first visit to Sonoma Cellars in a couple of years. I was pleasantly surprised to see they now have tables set up outside in King Street. After going through COVID protocols (temperature checks and contact info), we were promptly seated. It was a great and positive experience and we were lucky to meet one of the managers, Manny and the rest of the team. We were helped this afternoon by an entire team including assistant manager Jenn and our waiter Moises. The wines, appetizers, and food were fantastic. If you want a tasty plate of food, I recommend the salmon and risotto.

My friends and I came to Sonoma Cellar for Alexandria restaurant week. The restaurant is a cute row house located in old town Alexandria. We made a reservation and were seated upstairs. Upon arrival we were given the menu, the restaurant week menu, a suggested wine list and a full wine book. Our dinner was on a Wednesday so we took advantage of the wine down Wednesday deal -30% off a bottle. The service was good. She suggested an alternative wine when something we ordered was out of stock which was appreciated. We all took advantage of the restaurant week menu so I didn't look at the full menu. I had the ahi tuna with wonton crisps as my appetizer and it was good! The fish was fresh but was a bit spicy (something I wasn't really expecting). For dinner I had the garden pasta and I was a little disappointed. The menu indicated it had a touch of balsamic but mine did not taste or have any color at all. I also felt the portion was small. Others enjoyed the steak and the salmon, both were a bit bland but the accompaniments were loved. The mushroom risotto was raves about! For dessert, I had a small glass of a sweet Riesling. It was sweeter than what I'd normally drink, but was a good end to the meal. The girls enjoyed the Devil food cake more than the raspberry custard cake. I would go back for the wine and the atmosphere! Maybe try a few more dishes in the hopes to find the best items on the menu.

Was very excited to try this establishment. As a paying customer, never have I felt that I inconvenienced staff as much as I did at this business. No, we didn't ask for anything extra, or special, or crazy. Just felt unwelcome. We won't come back. This is pretentious. Our server didn't offer their name, we were left for extended periods unattended amd were told, "the menu is pretty standard" and otherwise left to our own devices. Management could consider hiring more weight staff, perhaps they are understaffed. Food palatable and wine selection drinkable but nothing I would write home about.

I had high hopes for this location for a going away party for a dear friend who is moving out of state. I don't even know where to begin. We waited a while to order our drinks and the server stated it was because our entire party hadn't arrived- but we still wanted to order drinks, of course. When we ordered an app she dropped the plates and silverware on the table and asked us to pass it out. She brought over a second round of drinks... WITHOUT ANYONE ORDERING IT. I did not want a second glass of wine, yet was delivered it and forced to pay for it. The other two ladies wanted different wine. We weren't check on after our food arrived and the food runner took better care of us than the server. We had to get up to go inside twice to get her attention after she forgot to deliver a drink and did not take our food order. I wish we had a better experience for my friend. Food was average, at best.