I have now eaten here several times. I still think it's the best in Sonoma, which is an indication of a very high standard. The positives are a lovely, intimate dining room, with friendly and knowledgeable staff. The menu is short but well balanced with a wide range of possibilities. Likewise the wine list, which focuses almost exclusively on California but is very much not limited to Sonoma. My last visit sadly revealed a few negatives - I don't know if it was that particular evening, or whether this is a new thing. First off, I found some criticism with the food. My carpaccio with polenta was nearly excellent but failed at the last hurdle. Both main ingredients were delicious (and I should say I've never had polenta prepared so well), but the heat of the polenta cooked the carpaccio - which ruins the point of the carpaccio. Our main courses were papardelle with short ribs and various veggies mixed in. It was a heavy dish and, in my view, far too peasant to fit in with the ambience at such a restaurant. The other main (chosen principally because we weren't particularly enthused by the five other choices), was chicken - which was fine but gargantuan and not particularly special. In short, it was 4 stars, not 5 for the food. The more troubling issue for me was the atmosphere that evening. We were pushed into a 7:15 reservation, with the only later choice being 8:30. Fine, it's a small, popular, restaurant and we only booked a couple of days before. The food came out really quickly and we felt we weren't given time to pause (I know that the American way is to serve the food without pause, but usually less so in better establishments). We were out of the place by 8:45 - which is ridiculous for a three course meal. But the irritating thing was that very few people arrived after us, and tables remained open from 7:30 onwards. They could easily have accommodated us at 8:00, which was what we wanted, or 7:45. But it seemed that they were keen to have everyone out by 9:00. Not the sign of a restaurant at the top of its game. read more

This place is truly spectacular! Their service is on point, the environment is quaint and their food is superb! Had their risotto last night - it was perfectly cooked and not overly seasoned, my friend had the pork chop which is seriously my favorite dish on the menu! My other friend had the fish special and it was perfectly prepared. And finished our meal off with the most decadent and mouth watering flourless chocolate cake I've ever had!!! Cafe la Haye is truly a cut above the rest! read more

Cafe La Haye - Almond cake and flourless chocolate cake are both fantastic! - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

After receiving recommendations from numerous people in Sonoma to visit Cafe La Haye, we decided to give it a shot and were glad that we did. We ordered the Grilled Pork Chop and Daily Roasted Chicken and were not disappointed. The portions were a good size and the presentation of the food was great. The flavors were also really delicious on both dishes. Also, we decided to order the Butterscotch Pudding for dessert after seeing it show up on Yelp several times and loved it! It was the perfect way to end a great meal. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone staying in the Sonoma are. (just make sure to make a reservation before - the restaurant isn't that large!) read more

Exquisite. And starting with Saul (I hope I'm spelling his name correctly!), rarely have I ever been cared for with such generosity, he is SO beyond the beyond. Go just to meet him - he is an awesome human being. The service, the food. Fabulous. Very easy, very chic. Order the beef carpaccio, its polenta is exxxxxxcellent, its arugula citruzesty, and then there's this cream ooh la la... supremely perfect. I was stoked. On to the night's special, Halibut Extraordinaire. Flawless. Literally. If I was the fish, I would be so proud. Darling, bright pea shoots atop, then this kale that was mesmerized into the most feastable version I have ever had (I plan on calling just to order the kale to bring home and eat all week), and then the potatoes. Yes, the potatoes. How does this happen? They're not mashed, nor pureed, they're cosmified. And the sauce surrounding this gentle castle of gorgeousness?...D I V I N E. What is going on in there? I went early, at 6p, and already the house was half full - I cannot imagine how much fun it would be be at 8 or 9 p! Totally call ahead and ask to speak with Saul, he will make your night magic. Thank you to everyone at Cafe La Haye - your work was fantastic! read more

What a gem! The food was amazing, mushrooms in savory pastry were so good, we ordered two. Pork chops and almond basmati rice - incredible! Papardelle paste with braised lamb - delicious, daily fish special - so, so good! Service was very attentive and the owner regularly walks by the tables and checks on the guests. Also, don't be fooled by the "cafe", it's definitely a white tablecloth restaurant. They are open only for dinner. read more

This was a huge disappointment. In general, the food was just not good. I understand that they are going for classic American fine-dining flavors but if you aren't going to use interesting ingredients then you have to nail the execution. If you are going to be one among the limited dining offerings in Sonoma Plaza, you need to bring it and this place DOES NOT. Everything was extremely bland (missing salt and acid). So instead of "classic", it read as sinfully outdated. I sent back my overcooked pasta special and then tried for the risotto of the day which was utterly flavorless. After a day of wine tasting, I went home hungry. read more

Cafe La Hayes is a classic that has been around for some time. It's reputation is well deserved so their is not too much to add. The food is so fresh and the flavors to pure that it's subtlety may be lost on some people expecting a big wow. But, it really is fantastic. I may have given four and a half stars if I could have for an overlooked pork chop. It still tasted great. If you're looking for a quintessential wine country restaurant, this is a pretty good bet. read more

Excellent restaurant very close to the Sonoma square with attentive staff and small, intimate environment. Fresh rotating menu selections, along with standard staples, and a great wine list (great = even reasonable prices for outstanding bottles... every price point imaginable.) Fresh sourdough bread, amazing appetizer(s) and soup, as well as very solid entree choices. Our group selected nearly everything on the menu, from ahi, to pasta, to pork chops and steak. Everyone was very pleased. Be advised, reservations are accepted but credit card is required. Cancellation fee/penalty, as well. read more

The food is good. My experience this past Saturday makes me shutter. The open kitchen is in full view of most of the diners. Ther was a chef and two assistants. My dinner companion and I watched the salad maker rub his mustach and nose with the back of his hand three times during the hour we were there. He did not wash his hands and used them to mix the salads. The forth time we even had the sound effects from his trying to clear his nostrils and using the back of his hand to help with the task. His hands went back in the food.. The second complaint was the arrogant service and the rush to make us order. We had an 8:45 reservation and planned to have a relaxed dinner. Our server wanted to know the entire dinner order. We ordered the appetizers and informed her that we hadn't decided on the entree. She appeared every three minutes while we were eating and talking. She would interrupt and ask us if we had decided on the main course. The fifth time I informed her that I did not like the constant interruptions. She answered that the kitchen closes at 9:00 pm. I was upset that they listed the 8:45 reservation time on Opentable. read more

Amazing! Sublime! We had the carpaccio, tender, flavorful and the oysters were fried to perfection. The crust reminded me of Ad Hoc fried chicken. We had the smoked trout appetizer. Delicious! We split the pork pasta dish, the pasta was a great al dente. We had a perfect kir royale and a bottle of Ernest Bloom Pinot Noir. If you can get a seat at the kitchen counter, you get dinner and a show. I'll be back next time I'm in Sonoma. read more

Guess I don't follow the masses. We went to Cafe La Haye on a Friday evening for dinner. It is nice to find a good restaurant that is "off the plaza" for a change. The space is interesting as it is small with two levels of seating, upper overlooking the lower. We were placed in the "most obvious" location, which is in the middle of the dining room, on the second level. Great view of everyone and everything from that vantage point. Our server was very prompt, and capable, with a great smile and sense of humor. I like a server with a sense of humor. We both requested the cauliflower soup, which was very rich and creamy. Excellent soup. I ordered the chipotle pork chop, with polenta. The polenta was very good. The pork seemed to be missing the mark. Not a flavourful as I would think it would be, and I don't want to say it was tough, but it was a bit of a challenge to cut through. My partner ordered the flat iron steak with demi glace, and brussel sprouts. Again, the steak was missing the flavor it should have. And, the brussel sprouts, which is your vegetable here, were micro-planed and caramelized, but they still rendered the bitterness of a brussel sprout, I don't like. One of us ordered the "famous" butterscotch pudding. Ok, it's just pudding. I don't get the raves on this one. The other ordered the Callebaut chocolate silk cake. Now THIS was rich and very decadent. I would recommend the silk cake over the pudding any day. Overall, the meal was a split. Soup and dessert were good, the main courses not impressive to me. I expected more from such grand reviews. read more

My wife and i celebrated our anniversary in Sonoma and were fortunate enough to have dinner here. Highly recommend reservations, small cozy restaurant. I really enjoyed sitting at the bar, if you are a foodie and appreciate the hard work and dedication that goes into fine dining, you must sit at the bar. from the bar you can see all the food preparation and watch the chef at work, the chef is from PA, nicest guy and everyone i came in contact with was so sincere and friendly. the food was great, i appreciate the half bottle of bubbly as a choice (instead of a regular bottle), excellent wine list, great service, i only wish the restaurant was a bit bigger but the location is perfect and the food was memorable. read more

The best fine-dining in Sonoma. There are plenty of great restaurants off the square, but this one has always been the most consistent, honest, and outright delicious. I've never had a disappointing meal here, and have always been surprised by the quality of the food. Sure, I've had a dish or two that didn't amaze me, but overall the dining experience is awesome. If you haven't been here yet, you are missing out on one of the best restaurants in the Bay Area. read more

Do we really even need to review this little jewel? Been around awhile and they NEVER disappoint. Took 2 friends who declared it having the best salmon ever. Just another favorable review among the many! Love this place. Only wish they too AmEx. My bad...... read more

Charming small place in downtown Sonoma. Ate here with a group and they were very attentive wth their service, coordinated everything well, and we were quite happy! Our party had some excellent dishes - the quail was highly rated by those who had it, and there was an excellent fried oyster starter. The menu changes a bit or has specials, although I think the desserts remain the same - I loved the butterscotch pudding! read more

This place is a perfect example of what is right with fine dining. The place is small and very intimate - but well thought out - and you are always close to the wait staff should you need anything. But the reason you come is for the food and it is exceptional. I started with a salad - and it was fresh, well portioned, and dressed perfectly! It may have been the best salad I ever ate, and I consider myself a "Salad-Holic" and eat my share of greens. Others had starters consisting of fresh beet salad and ravioli. All were exquisite! For mains, we had fish - salmon and Ahi tuna, and risotto. Fish was cooked perfectly, accompaniments perfectly paired, all food was served hot. Wine list was as expected, but with some gems, and many were value priced. They took time to add great wines, at affordable prices ( I don't mind spending $40 - $80 for a bottle of good wine) and because of the great selection, we ended up drinking two bottles. You can spend more $$ elsewhere, but this place is so over the top that you will want to come back time and again. NOTE: Do make reservations, as this is a popular destination, and walk-in seating is probably not going to happen. read more

Great food and great service! Highly recommend! We had several different dishes and each were flavorful and had a beautiful presentation. AND, the service was awesome! We will be back! read more

Pretty good gnocci Incredible pasta - sausages + goat cheese. Excellent oysters. To die for Almond cake. Excellent service. read more

This is a quaint little place in downtown Sonoma...We had dinner there a few nights ago and although the food was good I believe it is overpriced! the special fish which was a fresh trout was $24.95...on a bed of polenta! Not a big portion either...The pours on wine were really small barely reaching the middle of their tiny glasses... Overall a decent place but not much value for what you pay for...pretty much the norm in this area with Napa as well! read more

Fourth night in Sonoma. Best meal all week. We started with the polenta appetizer. It was great. Then the butter lettuce Greek salad which was also outstanding. I had the braised pork chop with a chorizo butter and my wife had the favrolile pasta with pork. Both, were excellent. The service was very good as the server was very attentive. Now my favorite Sonoma dining place. read more

Cafe La Haye - Great dinner with wife after wine tours. The pork chop brined in butter milk was outstanding. - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

Can't say enough great things about this setting. We were so happy that we chose this restaurant following our engagement photos at a nearby winery. When we arrived, the owner was there and he warmly greeted us and seated us at a two top table. Our server (blonde with super pretty eyes) greeted us. Warm but not overly friendly she took our drink orders and came back to retrieve our food options. We ordered, a beet salad, scallops, quail, a side of corn in a puff pastry, a Greek salad, and ended with two desserts. All devoured All so delicious. The owner (Sol) came by several times to ask us how everything was. Being in hospitality, we felt that he genuinely truly cared about his guests. So important as it comes across genuine and not robotic. We would highly recommend making reservations and coming here during your next Sonoma visit. We are clients for life! Thank you guys! read more

Cafe La Haye - The blueberry dessert - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

This restaurant was fantastic! We didn't have a reservation so we were told we could sit outside if available when we arrived. The outside table ended up being perfect, you're separated from the inside but you still feel part of the restaurant. The waitress was awesome, very knowledgeable and had great recommendations for options! The food portions were a great size and the taste was excellent! I would definitely recommend this as a great date night spot! read more

Wow, this restaurant is fantastic. Great service, but, beyond that, the food is fantastic. Definitely the best meal I have had in the Sonoma area. Limited menu choices - which is fine - because what they do, they do well. I have eaten here 3 times in 3 years and each time it has been great. Save room for dessert. read more

The most amazing foodie experience! The stuffed quail is on the specials menu regrettably, so if you are in luck that is the dish to try. For desert there is nothing in this entire world like the chocolate silk cake. The service is also impeccable. This is a small restaurant so booking early is a must. Highly recommend. read more

I loved our meal here. I felt that they did an excellent job making food taste the way it's meant to. The trout on polenta was great, a perfect fall soup and an apple crisp that had a distinctively local taste. The atmosphere is cool--interesting art work, good lighting and a nice layout for a smaller restaurant--not overwhelming and not boring. I'll definitely come back. I'm baffled by the one-star reviews, but to each his own. read more

Came here for a birthday dinner, selected the location based on the wine list. Do not let the short and sweet menu fool you, everything is fantastic and the daily specials are fresh and delicious. In the party we had a sampling of everything- fish, pork, steak, vegetarian- and everyone was happy. I had the special marinated skirt steak with collard greens and white cheddar gnocchi. As a southerner I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious the collards were, the steak was perfectly cooked although I did not taste the marinade. The pork chop was amazing, if I were to return I would have to order that from the regular menu as the single bite I tasted left me wanting more. The almond cake for dessert I think was the best of the offerings. And, of course, superb wine list!! I very much enjoyed the interaction with all members of the staff, all helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable read more

I loved the bone-in pork chop, perfectly cooked, and presented in two pieces balanced like a meat lean-to over braised kale and red pepper/cannelini bean puree. As for dessert, all the Yelpers who raved about the butterscotch pudding are dead on. Don't miss it! Minus one star for an acrid pinot noir that I didn't touch, but I was never asked if I wanted a different wine. Consecutive bickering couples at the window table. Seating one was holding the "what?" (glare) (counter-glare) "not here" conversation. Seating two were attempting to ascertain whose parents were the most objectionable. Chill out and enjoy the food, people! read more

If you are in Sonoma you should definitely make it a point to go here. I had the risotto, it was delicious, and my boyfriend had the steak, whuch was cooked perfectly. I am a dessert person and don't usually rave about them, but the butterscotch pudding is so dreamy and right on with the flavor, it is a must have! As stated in most reviews the menu does not have a lot of choices, but the simplicity of it make all the food there delicious and a restaurant not to miss! read more

We made reservations here to celebrate my 70th birthday. So, when the waitress asked to take our order, I explained that due to medical issues, I could not eat a lot nor eat quickly. That we desired to be able to split items and have time between salad, appetizer, entree and desert. Also, because I never know ahead of time how much I can eat, due to serving sizes and speed at which they deliver each course, I wanted to be able to order one thing at a time and then wait a bit to order more. I ordered a reasonably expensive bottle of wine (an '09 Stony Hill 'Napa Valley' Chardonnay $68) and then a nice salad for the 2 of us to split and asked that they split it in the kitchen for us. She said "the chef would not split salads" and she "would bring an extra plate and we could do it ourselves". She was obviously upset that I would not order everything all at once, which I refuse to do! Then, I ordered the "fish special" (grilled salmon) and again requested they split it for us in the kitchen. When it arrived, she brought it on one plate and set down a smaller empty plate. When I questioned that and complained, she just had an attitude. I told her if I knew they wouldn't split the entree, I would not have ordered, but would have left to go someplace where they might appreciate my business. A gentlemen came over and asked what the problem was, after I explained, he took the plate and returned later with two plates, "split" ... The salmon was terrible and definitely not up to the level you should expect from a very high-end restaurant. I would never set foot in the place again and would advise everyone I know not to either. read more

My seafood entree came with asparagus which I do not like. Even at the last seating, I asked for any other vegetable which I was told I could not substitute. Really? Not even some peas or spinach or green beans? Even the owner as we were leaving said the vegetables are paired to dishes and I could not be accommodated. What would have happened if I had ordered a different dish at this last seating. Plus the waitress dissed me after she said I could not substitute. We're not going back. read more

We went to dinner with my wife's old boss and his partner. The interior is nice, simple and clean, the menu is diverse but not expansive, you can tell that they'd rather do a few things well than try to do everything. Service was outstanding. It's not showing on the menu now, so I'll try to describe it well enough, it was a braised pork and mushroom ragu over papparadella noodles. Just the right sized portion. We finished with a few different desserts, as others have noted, the butterscotch pudding is a nice touch! read more

The place is busy and a good reason for it too. We reserved it through www.opentable.com and it was worth it. Located in the heart of Sonoma and frequented by locals, thats a good proof. Salad of endive, bosc pear, pomegranate & caramelized walnuts with buttermilk bleu is delicious, wakes up your taste buds. Make sure to check out the soup of the day, they have some creative things there. Red wine braised flat iron pot roast over horseradish mashed potatoes is tender and flavorful. Make sure to check out their pasta special, they make it to the perfection. I highly recommend this place, but make sure you reserve in advance and best is online. read more

Great, friendly service and wonderful location right off the square. Everyone in my party ordered the Hangar Steak and loved it. I wish I had. It looked delicious! I went with the chicken. It was on the dry side and was a little too salty. The seasoning definitely overpowered. For dessert, I had the chocolate silk cake, but again - wish I had ordered what everyone else had - the lemon cheesecake. The place is small, but makes well for intimate dining. For a Wednesday night, they had a decent size crowd. I may swing by if I'm in the area again with different people. read more

Felt totally happy with our dinner choice. We decided against the posh Michelin star "Sante" restaurant at the hotel we were staying, instead, wandered out to downtown Napa for dinner. We had a reservations, and yes, you will need it because the place is really small and cozy. Anticipation built up as all locals we talked to (prior to dinner that night) all highly recommended the place. We had the mushroom puree soup that was just perfect on a cold wet winter night... followed by fresh oysters for appetizers. My entree was divine. Crispy Quail with cranberry sauce and orange, served with pork belly pieces blended nicely with quinoa and served with pickled cabbage on the side. Hubby had the grilled flat iron and he said it was the best. Instead of sharing desserts, we made an executive decision that it was not a wise suggestion that evening. I had the apple crisp with oatmeal and brown sugar, topped with homemade vanilla ice cream, and hubby ordered a butterscotch pudding that was equally delicious (i know because I tried it). The place is an eclectic art gallery / neighborhood restaurant. We loved the decor and the crowds appear to be foodies/ other hardcore locals. If you are in Sonoma, this is a place not to be missed. read more

What a delicious, artfully prepared meal! Everything we ordered was great, and the flavors highlighted the fresh ingredients. I would recommed the Smoked Trout with Corn Fritters and Creme Fraice appetizer -- three of us shared it, and it was a perfect amount. The waitress told us it's her favorite, as she cleared the plate. Two of us had the Pork Tenderloin with fresh spätzel noodles, peas, greens, and a sherry-cream sauce -- awesome! One of us had the quail with cornbread stuffing, also excellent. There was still room for dessert -- the special was a peach crisp, pretty good, but the silken chocolate cake with pecan/walnut crust was a chocolate lovers' dream!!! Save room for it!!! Cheerful waitstaff, nice ambience (a bit loud), it was fun looking into the kitchen, and all the paintings displayed were beautiful. read more

Sadly, this could be a neat restaurant. My wife and I visited on 3/12 and had terrible service. We sat down and weren't seen for about 10 minutes. I think the waitress visited our table a total of 3 times throughout the meal. The food was ok at best - we ordered the pappardelle, tuna appetizer, and drinks, and didn't really enjoy any of the food. I would not recommend or come back. read more

Excellent food in a casually elegant setting. If you can snag the highly coveted outside spots, you're in luck. Their pork was so tender it was falling off the bone, and the salmon was grilled to perfection. The sauces were light and flavorful, and I'm a huge fan of them not overdoing it in that regard. Highly competent and friendly service. read more

Actually a 4.5. Food was excellent, with complex but pleasing combinations that are nicely balanced. Smoked trout crepe really balanced some disparate elements: the capers were salty and crispy. The roe was oily and fishy. The green sauce was topped with minced hard-boiled egg white. The greens were bitter and refreshing to the palate against the rich smokiness of the filled crepe. Each accompaniment changed the flavor slightly, in fun and unexpected ways. This dish could so easily have been heavy and pedantic, and instead became something more interesting. Rotisserie chicken was just slightly overcooked, but skin was juicy and flavor was great. Hanger steak was outstanding. Desserts were a pedestrian list that didn't interest us, so we settled for some of their fabulous Flying Goat coffee and espresso. read more

Quail + Angels Camp Pinot = 5 in 2015. "Your review is beaming with potential, but it's currently shorter than most reviews on Yelp. Consider adding a few more details to help other Yelpers learn" Dear Yelp, sometimes being direct in a 'game over' fashion can say as much as some blathering wanna-be food critic. read more

Exquisite on every level. Saul and his team do it right on every dish with fantastic service from beginning to end. A must try when you're in the area. read more