Full flavored dishes. Portions are abundant. If you don't feel like an opulent libation, share one entrée and save room for dessert. We reviewed our dinner at: http://www.stillservedwarm.com/cafe-la-haye-sonoma-napa/ read more

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Cafe La Haye is a small place but worth the wait to get in. We had a great meal a few weeks ago in there. We started with the carrot soup, a very nice start. My wife had fish and I went with the hand torn papardelle with pork and was not disappointed. We saved room for dessert and both enjoyed our butterscotch pudding and almond cake. We had a half bottle of the 2010 Tempier Rose--if you like Rose's you will like this one. Very refreshing and a good complement to the fish. read more

Very solid choice for dinner right near the square in Sonoma. Very friendly greeting from manager ( owner?). We tried the smoked trout app and a bowl of their nightly special soup- something with parsnip, very good. We had one filet mignon and one flounder special for dinner. I'll spare ya all the fuss about the accompaniments and preparation. Sufficed to say, the dishes were nicely presented and were delicious. Portions aren't huge but are satisfying. Forgot to mention that you have to ask for bread to be served. But don't be shy. The bread was also top notch. Kir Royals for aperitif and a nice glass of local Pinot noir to wash down the meal! Other diners were friendly and it was nice to talk to other visitors. Very nice dinner experience. Cafe La Haye is NMD ( Notorious MD) approved. read more

'This ain't no tired-ass French Laundry,' eloquently stated by our good friend David Harris who insists on visiting Cafe la Haye every time he's in from NY. And he's right. Cafe la Haye's menu is simple, fresh, and innovative. I like to start with a glass of sparkling (NV Gosset 'Grand Rose' Brut) to reinvigorate the otherwise wine saturated buds before diving into either the Robert Foley Charbono or better yet, Saul's own Blue Farm Pinot. We've been fortunate enough to buy several cases of the Blue Farm from Saul and have enjoyed it immensely. The carnivores in our traveling wine country caravan always go for the seared lavender filet mignon with gorgonzola-potato gratin. While I, unafflicted by their tiny cow addiction, am free to roam the menu from the daily fresh fish to the daily risotto or pasta special. We often share one of the cobblers for desert along with an incredible espresso. Start to finish, Cafe la Haye is my favorite dining experience in California. read more

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We really enjoyed our time here last Tuesday. I had the risotto and my partner had the hanger steak. Both were great. We shared a salad and a desert. Best meal in our 3 days in Sonoma. read more

Best meal on our trip to wine country. A lot smaller inside that what I'd have thought, but not uncomfortably so. We started with the salad that was on special, a creamy burrata and arugula salad, which was light and tasty. I then had the salmon which was also on special. It had a beautiful broth, and was served with shishito peppers, summer squash, and a delicious saffron couscous. Highly recommend. My husband had the pappardelle pasta, which was served with scallops which had been cooked on a Rosemary sprig skewer. He loved his, as well. We did save room for dessert, but I wish we had. Service was great, as well. Definitely recommend trying to get a reservation if you're in the area. read more

So surprised that there were still tables available at this gem of a restaurant. Great wine and amazing food. You must try their beef carpaccio. read more

Cafe La Haye - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

Love this place, it's a favorite dining location for me and I live in Sonoma, small dining room so make reservations early. One of the BEST wine list in both Napa and Sonoma, Saul knows what he's doing. He's very friendly, quick witted, and always willing to help. My last experience was New Years Eve and it was Mind Blowing. My friends and I ordered the veal with the eggplant appetizer, (which I got to get the recipe for). Bottle of Rochioli SB and a bottle of Pinot that I cannot remember. awesome. A meal for the royalty. The wait staff were tops, considering it was the busiest night of the year. I would recommend Cafe La Haye in a heart beat. Nice job and I look forward to my next meal there. read more

Outstanding experience on a Wed night! Service was impeccable and the meal was heavenly. We ordered salmon and quail - both were full flavored and presented well. We started with scallops ceviche which did not disappoint. A strong endorsement from an OC couple on a bday adventure... read more

We had reservations and arrived early, which the maitre d was not happy about. The menu was not available as it was digital but the wi fi was not working. We waited to see a hard copy of the menu which took some time. Then we asked for a wine list, but that was not available either. The waitress asked what genre of wine we were interested in, but we decided to forego the wine since there was no list and she did not have a suggestion. My wife ordered shrimp risotto which had 4 small shrimp and a lot of pasty risotto. I asked for the quail which had been listed on the internet menu, but we were told the quail has been unavailable for days. I had the pork chop which was good but came with a hard, crusty portion of hash browns which was over cooked and bland. By the way, it took 50 minutes for the food to arrive. The dinner was needless to say a disappointment. read more

I have dined here several times over the past few years and I am never disappointed. The owner Saul, is one of the coolest people on the planet. You can tell he understands good customer service and teaches this value to his staff. Saul is genuinely friendly and truly cares about your dining experience. The cafe is small but trendy. The food coming out of the kitchen is more than consistently good it's exceptional. I had the fillet mignon, and it simply melted in my mouth. My wife had the fresh caught salmon straight from Bodega bay. The menu is well worth the price whatever you may choose to order and there are always very cool specials. The next time you find yourself in Sonoma, if you haven't been here please give it a try. I promise you won't be sorry. BTW, reservations a must. read more

I took my girlfriend here for her birthday. I knew it was one of the top restaurants in Sonoma and they definitely proved it for us! We started with escargot and sparkling. Out of this world! We had the pork chop and beef filet. Also probably the best we've had in years! The wine list is also spectacular! It has something for everyone. Service was extremely professional , friendly and helpful, explaining each dish carefully. No wonder this is one of the best dinner spots in all of the Sonoma Valley. They certainly live up to their reputation! I would highly recommend stopping by whether you're a local or just visiting from out of town. read more

Very disappointing. Main courses were mediocre at best. Felt rushed through the whole dinner process. Could not enjoy our dessert with all the racket the staff were making with the silverware in the background. Restroom was not clean or sanitary. I could go into great detail about our food order and the service etc. but I'm sure how much is needed here. Would not recommend. read more

Outstanding! Restores my faith in spending the time and money to eat at restaurants. In general while at home in the SF burbs I eat at home...simply not worth it. But then there's a short road trip to Sonoma and this joint. Beautiful clean brightly lit interior. Amazingly friendly staff. Simple menu with top notch ingredients and preparation. 'Simple' is not to be confused with easy to prepare or hasty. 'Passionate' and 'intentional' are watchwords here. I had a special, Filet and Foie...just like it sounds with a healthy side of perfectly oiled and salted charred kale. Texture of another side, the potato gallete, was perfect. One of the best restaurant meals I've had in a very long time. read more

Amazing food & incredible service! They also had a fantastic wine list with a myriad of options. Easily one of the best restaurants I've been to. Will most definitely be back! read more

Great place! Service was great! Food was amazing! Although we ate at the bar, the bartender recommended some good vineyards to go!

Five stars. An inventive use of a small, multi-leveled space studded with really cool art and an open kitchen. One star. A staff that works seamlessly at being quick, unobtrusive, helpful and knowledgeable. One star. A menu that doesn't use local foods to death, mixes in delicious and unusual items, executes flawlessly, and always pleases. One star. An almond cake that, even after two years, still has me wanting to bribe the chef for the recipe. One star. For making every Valentine's Day I've had with Capt. Arbuckle special. One star. And because I read a lot of Dr. Seuss as a kid and I like rhyming names. Cafe La Haye gets one extra star. read more

Sometimes I deeply regret not sending a dish back or making a formal complaint. This is definitely one of these moments. We were there for a late dinner (8:45 seating) on a sat night. 2 appetizers: trout crepe and pan seared shrimp kabobs. I could tell the ingredients were good (large and very succulent shrimp), but both dishes were too salty. I thought so, my wife thought so, and we overheard the same comments from the table next to us. I had the beef (flat iron steak). It was good. Some sides (again, pretty salty, but the brussel sprouts were very interesting). Well cooked to order and tender. Because of this and the decent service, the place earns 2 stars. My wife had the chipotle glazed pork and it was bad. When we first saw it, I was like "wow, it must be 2 inches thick w/ no char on the outside...can't possibly be cooked thru". Well it was cooked thru, but it was almost inedible. So tough, my wife simply gave up cutting. She trimmed off a bit, took a bite and then spat it out. I gave it a go. It was tough. The meat was white w/ a slight pink hue...the "chipotle" flavor was akin to a weird thai curry taste. We think the pork was boiled and then thrown into the smoker for a few minutes, because we tasted no smoke and didn't notice any glaze. The polenta side was ok. we suspect that because we were in the last seating, some compromises were made in the prep. Overall a disappointing experience. read more

Came here for a birthday dinner last week and was really underwhelmed. The menu is very limited and changes frequently so what I expected was unavailable. My boyfriend and I ordered a skirt steak, mine with the sauce on the side. I enjoyed the steak it was cooked well but I'm glad I got my ginger sauce on the side. My boyfriend enjoyed his a lot less because of the sauce. The Brussels sprouts looked unappealing so I didn't try them and my boyfriend said they were "just ok". As far as ambiance it's very plain, almost like a small museum of modern art. They were also out of mashed potatoes by 8pm which again was another disappointment. Not bad but really not as good as everyone's glowing and raving reviews. read more

I have to admit I was not excited to come here. I wanted to go to Girl and The Fig and wound up here instead. My mom found this place after trolling the Sonoma square and was like "Oh this is neat. They have one of those stickers on the door!" I bit my lip and looked only to see that it was Michelin recommended and not just the AMEX sticker. PHEW! Well, mom picked out a good one and we had some of the best seafood of our trip. The chef here knows how to cook fish up to New England standards and that is a feat in itself. Bravo. read more

4th of July 3 Brats (2 with fabulous handbags) 1 excellent meal I invited Brat 1 to Sonoma to play and most of all to eat for the 4th of July. We required 1 thing: an exquisite meal at a chic establishment. Not overdone. Not stuffy. NOT overpriced. Enter Cafe La Haye. I was wary that the staff would be uptight and pretentious (that p word that I just cannot tolerate!) but they could not have been nicer. But who even cares when the food is this good? Fresh, bright and refreshing - you don't leave here with that heavy tired feeling after a stick to your ribs coma meal that are much more common. They prepare the food in such a way that it is the best version of itself, paired with everyday flavors that are unlikely bed fellows. Brat 1 was kind enough to let me sample the pork tenderloin masterpiece on her plate. Stuffed with cherries alongside savory cornbread pudding with snap peas. There was nothing to elevate this dish. Succulent, sweet, tangy - it has it all. The cornbread is crisp on the outside, cheesy and moist on the inside with a touch of honey flavor. Brat 2, that's me - Got hold of the best halibut interpretation yet. Lightly pan seared with lemony fresh flavor, served atop green pea risotto garnished with a walnut basil puree. Sophisticated & simple. Few restaurants grasp that essential ingredient, simplicity. Food doesn't need 50 flavors pulling your taste-buds in every direction. Give me flavors that work together to make one overall outstanding burst and you've done something that not just any place can do. That's why you'll love Cafe La Haye and remain loyal. Brat 3?, She charmed the entire restaurant while producing lovely artwork and looking fabulous. read more

After hoping to dine here for years, I finally had to settle for a table at 5.45p on a glorious summer Saturday afternoon, which forced me to cut short pool time at the local inn. I should have slathered on more suntan lotion and kept baking. Although the food was competent, it was not memorable. The impression that remained, however, was of having been processed through a human feedlot, as the principal goal of the restaurant was to rush us out within 60 minutes so they could turn the table. After a bit of a lag in uncorking the bottle of champagne we ordered, the starter and entrees came so rapidly that we barely had time to catch our breath between courses. Haste wasted what could have been a pleasant, if undistinguished, dining experience. read more

We booked a table at Cafe La Haye when we went to stay in Glen Ellen for the weekend. The food was gorgeous. It was the perfect place on a warm, mid-summer night. Excellent, fresh food. read more

Cafe La Haye is one of the very best restaurants in Sonoma County - and that's saying something! They have an excellent location, right off the historic Sonoma Plaza so you can walk around and sip and shop before dinner. The well edited, farm fresh, seasonal menu never disappoints and they always have quite a few specials which are always tempting. Excellent appetizers, simply perfect salads, on point wine list and fantastic service. Insider tip: It can be hard to get a reservation but, the lovely owner Saul always holds back a few tables for walk ins. Come right when they open and you might get lucky! read more

Solid restaurant in downtown Sonoma. Came here with as part of a group of 7 for dinner this weekend and was not disappointed. The wine selection is good, the food is tasty and arrives relatively quickly, and service is attentive. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal. I got the sweet pea ravioli appetizer (5/5), and the daily special risotto (3/5.. it was kind of bland and tasteless). I got the cheesecake for dessert (5+/5). I also tried the daily special soup, which was exquisite. The menu doesn't appear to be all that veggie friendly, but it really wasn't bad - there was more than enough for me to eat. By the time we left, I was so full I had to do a few laps around the square before getting back into my car. Overall, it was a great dinner experience, albeit a bit pricey (roughly ~$100 per person, for apps, entree, dessert, wine). read more

Oh my goodness gracious this was the BEST meal of our vacation!!! Seriously. We were staying at the Renaissance and they provided us with a list of restaurants nearby, this happened to be the first on the list (after their own). They noted that reservations were needed far in advance, but we took a chance and called over to check on availability. They had the kitchen bar open on a walk in basis, so we hurried over and were seated right away. We had the shrimp skewer which was very good, the sweet pea puree it was on was excellent. I had the pork chop as my entree and it was absolutely phenomenal. Hubby does not like pork chops, and he ate half of mine. It was perfectly cooked, so juicy, and the polenta it was served with was such a good compliment. Hubby had the Arctic Char which was the special, and it was also very good, just not as good as my pork chop... DO NOT LEAVE without having the Butterscotch Pudding. Seriously. We went back the next two nights for that dessert, not kidding. Great wines of course, and the service was truly wonderful. Oh, if you end up at the kitchen bar, it's a great spot, so much to watch!! read more

This small restaurant is very popular, so booking in advance is a good idea. With a great wine selection and fantastic food, dining here is always a pleasure. The chef produces a refined menu accompanied by daily specials. Having a small menu means your food has received the best possible care and attention from the chef enriching your dining experience. This is the second time we have eaten here and if we were to go back to Sonoma we would definitely eat here for a third time. read more

I was excited to try this place based on the reviews. I found it high priced for mediocre food.i made a comment about the small portion of wine that I was served in my glass and there was no effort made by the server to remedy the issue. it was if they don't care at all.The meatballs were heavy and not tender at all, the pasta was less than al-dente, meaning undercooked.The salmon was good and the sauce that went with it, however the rice and lentils that went with it was very bland. I was not impressed and would not go back. read more

Cafe La Haye, well very good, is a bit over-hyped in my opinion. I've been to the El Dorado Kitchen, Girl & the Fig and Meritage (the oyster and martini bar) in Sonoma now, as well as a sprinkling of nearby places. Of these, I prefer El Dorado Kitchen, which is odd because it seems to be the most unrecognized of all while Cafe La Haye and Girl & the Fig receive lots of hype. According to the winemaker we talked to at Loxton, El Dorado Kitchen was taken over by a former French Laundry chef. The quality of the food really shows. Everything is delicious, and while not cheap it's not as expensive as Cafe La Haye. Cafe La Haye is sturdy... we had a good steak, nice red wine, and a sinful wedge of chocolate tart with sea salt. Oh, and I almost forgot the radicchio salad, which was seared with fennel, pancetta and a fried egg. The vinaigrette was awesome. We asked what was in it... apple cider, apple cider vinegar (i think), a touch of balsamic. Mmmm. That was the highlight for me. Bottom line for me... if you're willing to spend a bit, and want to throw another restaurant into the mix during a longer stay Cafe La Haye is very good (but not great). If you're there for a short weekend, go elsewhere, like El Dorado or Fig Cafe (in Glen Ellen, no corkage, better than Girl & the Fig in my opinion). read more

DEEEEELICIOUS. Yummy yummy yummy. Can you tell? I am a 5-year old at a candy store again. Cream of cauliflower soup....simple but full of flavor. Roasted pork tenderloin with cherry-pistachio stuffing, savory corn bread pudding, snap peas & fresh cherry pan sauce - quite possibly the best pork I have ever had in my life. So tender and juicy. Salivary glands....stop it!!! Roasted marinated natural 'Angus' hanger steak with twice baked potato-bacon pie - though not usually a hanger steak fan, but holy culinary gods, this hanger steak was so good. What the heck did they marinate this in?? And folks...TWICE BAKED POTATO-BACON PIE. How can you say no to that? Unfortunately, we were totally overstuffed to enjoy the dessert, but I would definitely come back here again. Food was fantastic, the service was excellent with an A++, and a nice hole-in-the wall feel. read more

We had dinner at this restaurant on our road trip to Sonoma/Napa. We made reservations ahead of time and were seated right away. Our table was in the corner of the higher level and we love it as we had a view of the entire dining room. This cafe is small and intimate with a two-level elegant layout. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Our server was attentive and answered all of our questions. The food was exceptional, but the portions were a little too small. I ordered a quail, which was absolutely delicious, yet I was still hungry. For dessert, we split a chocolate-pecan cake (don't remember the name of it), the flavor was very modern with a hint of salt. Overall, we really enjoyed our dinner at Cafe La Haye and would go back, although next time we'll order a couple of appetizers before out entree so we don't leave hungry! read more

So I was eager to try this long time SF Chronicle Top 100 restaurant just off the heart of quaint Sonoma Square and so when the opportunity arose to check it out with some friends, I jumped on it. First of all, it's a really cozy space that fits around 35 ppl but it's well designed on tiered levels so as to give the impression that it's more spacious. When we got there (with reservations), it was already packed outside. A good sign. The menu is fairly compact (6 starters, 8 entrees) with a few daily specials (for us, it was bacon and potato soup or burrata for apps and a steelhead trout entree). I ordered the scallop appetizer, which were arranged elegantly in a row (4 of them) on a bed of arugula. The scallops were tender and well prepared. Nice dish but nothing spectacular. I had a taste of the bacon and potato soup which was excellent, with a nice bacon taste that seemed to linger pleasantly afterwards. The burrata on toast also stood out. For main entrees, I was looking forward to trying the daily roast chicken as it's been so highly touted. Unbelievably, they were out of the chicken (we weren't a particularly late seating so it's a bit surprising that the restaurant couldn't have figured out the relative number of chicken orders per night). But my initial disappointment quickly evaporated when I took one bite of my chipotle glazed pork chop with red lentil puree. The pork chop was so juicy and tender; one of the best I can recall in recent memory (along with Foreign Cinema's lavender-rubbed version). For dessert, the famed butterscotch pudding was good but what made it excellent was the side of salted chocolate that provided texture and balance to the sweet pudding. Even better was the summer fruit crisp (with peaches) and vanilla ice cream. Simple but amazing! We also had bottles of the the 2005 Counterpoint Cabernet, which is a bold, complex wine with a silky texture and hints of spice and berry fruit. read more

First off let me tell you I am local in Sonoma and have eaten at just about every restaurant in town (multiple times). I can tell you that the meal I just had at Cafe La Haye was, without a doubt, top 5 best meals in Sonoma... EVER. (I've lived here almost 40 years) Pros - Food was amazing. Everything from the salad to the soup (my wife and I split them) and then to the entrees (filet mignon and pork chops) and finishing with split deserts (granny smith apple crisp with ice cream and chocolate silk cake). Service - it took a while for the wait staff to initially contact us but after that the service was great. The host (I think he was the proprietor) was very attentive and present. A big plus in my book. Cons - Tough to get a reservation because the place is pretty small which is my second con - it is small and a little noisy because of that. However, as the night went on and a few tables cleared out the noise level was just fine. Overall I highly recommend eating here. The food was fantastic and let's face it... That is why to go out - for the food! I will definitely be eating here again! read more

Wonderful little spot with a comfortable ambiance and tasty food. My husband and I planned to eat here during our trip and made reservations well in advance, then family we don't see often because of distance were able to meet us that night. When I called to adjust the reservation they were fast to respond and very accommodating! He added three to our reservation and said he would then need to seat us 15 minutes later, no problem! However when we got there we were seated right away which was the original time. We enjoyed appetizers, main courses and desserts, since we shared it all it was a great cross section of the menu and I can say every bite was delicious. The blood orange sorbet was excellent and probably my favorite flavor of the night. We would recommend this sweet restaurant to others! read more

This is the best meal I have had since Thanksgiving. Classic light, fresh and delicious California cooking with excellent wine to go with it. For my appetizer, I had the mushroom with spinach, now as this was supposed to be "crispy" (aka breaded), it could easily have been messed up but it wasn't too greesy and you could still tell the mushroom was the focus. As my main dish I order their special, the Arctic Char. Yummy light a flavorful fish. Not too fishy but just tender enough. The dessert was the highlight. If you eat here and only get one thing, you must order the lemon crepes. They are amazing. The fifth star comes from great service. They are quick to greet you, quick to serve you and attentive all the way through. I showed up 15 minutes early and every table was filled. When I returned on time, there were two tables open. Now that's what I call good planning! read more

Great service, average food, mediocre wine by the glass (in the middle of the wine region, reallY???), tiny & somewhat loud place that will offer very little privacy during dinner - in all and all, overhyped... Might come back, but wouldn't be dreaming about it. read more

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We were in town for a quick weekend away and after reading all of the phenomenal reviews, knew we had to try out Cafe La Haye. We showed up at our reservation time but they were running late. The staff was so friendly though that they offered us a free glass of wine while we waited. It's a very small place where you can see into the kitchen which I always enjoy. We started off with the Burrata arugula and heirloom tomato and it was good but probably the least favorite of what we ordered. My wife had the quail with corn bread chive stuffing and a huckleberry a jus with roasted spinach. That sentence alone makes my mouth water. It was very flavorful. I got the filet with savory bread pudding and green beans with garlic butter. The filet was cooked perfectly. We couldn't pass up dessert and got the butterscotch pudding (out of this world!) and chocolate silk pie. Do not pass up the desserts. Excellent service at a wonderful restaurant in a quaint town. read more

Cafe La Haye is far and away my favorite restaurant in downtown Sonoma. With a simple, elegant, and ever changing seasonal menu, I am always delighted my by experience here. I would say I have eaten here 15 times, and only one one occasion did the kitchen have a bad night. Bad nights happen to even the best of kitchens, and 14 for 15 is pretty spectacular to me. The owner Sal is a gentlemen and seems to always find a space for me and my family, regardless of how few seats there are in his cute little place (seats roughly 36 people at a time). 5 stars across the board. I 'heart' Cafe La Haye read more

This is an absolutely delicious find. The smallish restaurant is friendly and inviting and the service is amazingly prompt. The gnocchi was great and light... I am not a big fan of typical doughy lumps and here the gnocchi is light and flavorful. The organic green salad was refreshing and quickly devoured. the pork was succulent and a sizable helping. yum The hanger steak was perfectly cooked but the horseradish drizzle kind of over powered the rich flavors of the steak... I would have wished for the drizzle to be an option next time. For dessert the fruit crisp with a dollop of ice cream was perfectly crispy and the pudding was decadent but not overly rich. A great place for a nice casual meal. read more

Lived up to the hype in every way. This place was great, showcasing local veggies and simple dishes that let the food speak for itself. I don't mean simple in a bad way either. Everything tasted just as I would imagine it as I read the menu. The menu is the perfect size and I don't think you could go wrong with anything on it. Had a bottle of the Dunom pinot off the reserve list and it was amazing as well. Make A Reservation Because This Place is tiny.... The kitchen can be seen from any seat in the restaurant which I love because you can really watch all the magic happen and there are no secrets. I would request a seat at the kitchen bar next time as it only sits 4 and you are just a few feet from all the cooking and it seems like a fun kitchen to watch. GET THE DONUM PINOT, you can thank me later. read more