OSO is truly a hidden gem on Sonoma Square. The ambiance is dark in the best way, cozy, romantic, and just a little mysterious. I love seating at the bar since you can see their open kitchen. I've visited a handful of times, solo, with friends and family, and every experience has been consistently wonderful. I don't usually write reviews, but this place deserves a shoutout! The fresh Oysters of the Day and the Baked Oysters with PARMESAN are absolutely delicious, if you love oysters, this is the spot. The Rigatoni Vodka has the perfect bit of spice, and it's served with crispy, fresh-baked bread that makes it even better. Their cheeseburger and steak are also standout dishes. Pair it all with a nice cold beer or one of their tasty cocktails, and you really can't go wrong. The service is always timely, and the staff are genuinely friendly and helpful. OSO is a must try in Sonoma! read more

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OSO Good... This cozy little (tapas?) joint off of Sonoma town square is a great place to have a lite bite or even something heavier. The staff was super friendly, service was fast, and the food surprisingly tasty. read more

OSO Sonoma - Vodka Rigatoni with ricotta and Calabrian chili pepper/honey jam. - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

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Nice spot for a large party!! Our server was great and the food is all very shareable which I enjoy. The mussels are delish and the drinks are well mixed. Overall lovely time. read more

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Cute bar/restaurant right on the Sonoma Square. They have a country vibe with wood paneled interior but the paintings on the wall say differently (IYKYK). We started with the local sourdough, herb butter and salt ($7) which was great. Patatas Bravas were just ok, but house salad was big with blue cheese, apples and candied walnuts. Enough for the 5 of us. Husband and mom had to roasted salmon ($34) with tabbouleh, snap peas and tzatziki sauce. They liked it but it wasn't the best ever. I had the shrimp and cheesy grits, which were tender, garlicky in tomato garlic cheesy goodness ($25). Brother had the roasted half chicken ($36) with fennel salad and olive salsa verde. It was super tender and delish. Sister in law had 8 oz bavette steak slice over crispy fingerling potatos. She raved about how good it was. We were too full for dessert but drink prices were reasonable (though they botched a martini). Fairly easy parking around 5pm on a Saturday night. The outside patio looked cute with picnic tables but it didn't work with my mom in a wheelchair and a few steps. The service was pleasant though a little slow. Easy reservations with OpenTable. Would definitely recommend in Sonoma! read more

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Our family of 10 had lunch at OSO over the weekend. After a long drive and circling around Sonoma Square looking for parking, we were all quite hungry and thirsty. Some of us were late for the reservation, luckily the restaurant wasn't too busy and service was friendly, attentive and pleasant. For appetizers, we had almost everything on the menu -Oysters on half shell and Rockefeller, the raw oysters were very fresh, briny and tasty. Baked oysters were rich and very flavorful. -Bread & Butter plate was exceptional, kids gobbled it down in no time, had to order seconds. -Deviled eggs with crab meat and a hint of curry were excellent as well. Patatas Bravas was also kids favorite. -The green goddess salad was super fresh which I enjoyed a lot. -Sutéed broccolini was a bit salty otherwise well cooked. The larger plates we ordered were fish tacos, steamed mussels and shrimp & grits. My personal favorite was the steamed mussels, plump mussels in an addicting coconut sauce was thoroughly enjoyed. Fish tacos came in triple in an order which we didn't expect, and ended up taking some to go. Shrimp n grits, large shrimps well seared on a bed of rich cheesy grits with bacon. A good dish, a little too heavy for me. We enjoyed our lunch at OSO very much, this place is more for adults than children. Would like to come back when it's more leisurely to enjoy the oysters and mussels. read more

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Yummy!!! Made reservations for a Sunday evening but it wasn't busy when we went. The outside patio was small and it was a nice being outside. Our server was friendly and took our order quickly. We ordered the mussels & ribeye for 2. The mussels came first and oh. my. goodness. If there is one thing you are going to try you need to try the mussels. The broth is SO good and our server even brought us more bread to dip! (which costed extra but not too much) the broth is so flavorful and compliments the mussels so well. We devoured this dish and left no crumbs. Then the ribeye steak for 2 came out, the ribeye was on top of crispy potatoes so the dish looked huge. The steak was cooked perfectly and tender, but honestly nothing out of this world. The chimichuri on top was light and complimented the steak well. The potatoes were so crispy, but I do wish they soaked up more of the oil before plating. Overall, I can't wait to be back in town to have the mussel dish again because it is amazing!! read more

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Stopped by here for lunch on a Saturday and sat on the back patio. The restaurant interior was a bit dark for a nice day, so it was nice to see the sunshine outside in the back. My husband and I split the cheeseburger and the mussels and enjoyed our meal immensely. * Only available for lunch, the cheeseburger is was solid - well seasoned and juicy. We enjoyed it so much that another restaurant worker literally came by our table to remark on how fast my husband ate his half :) * recommended by our waiter, the mussels did not disappoint either. The coconut milk broth was so delicious that we had to order more bread to sop all the liquid gold. While the mussel meat was a bit small, the flavor absolutely made up for it. Topped with a few cold draft beers, we couldn't have asked for a better lunch. We'll definitely come back for another visit. read more

OSO Sonoma - Cheeseburger and mussels - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

My husband does medical outcalls for wounded veterans in the area but he missed lunch. We made it in time for him to get a hearty snack at their super happy hour. The tacos had just the right spice and what a nice thing to see a little gem Caesar in the menu! We enjoyed the oysters before his appointment. The waiter was so gracious as were all the staff as I enjoyed my cocktail (I loved the blood orange margarita and husbands Negroni was just right) and reading my Book until he returned. And then the shrimp and grits --some of the best we have ever had--and their generous Thai based mussels. The back garden is simple and comfy lots of greenery wood and umbrellas and very pleasant. Well done! I'm sure we will be back! read more

I stepped into this place and was told that the tables were all reserved, but that there was still a spot left at the "chef's counter" which I reluctantly accepted. I did appreciate the host's attempt to "sell" the seating to me by saying "you get to see all the action!" as she led me to the seats. Despite it being counter seating, the chairs were fairly comfortable and there was enough counter space for my food and drink. My only complaint is that I couldn't find those hooks underneath the counter to hold my purse and the barstools didn't have a covered back where I could just put my purse there without it falling off the sides. One of the things that I noticed when I sat down was that the chef in front of the salad prep area wiped his nose on his finger but didn't wash his hands afterwards. Another chef itched his head a little but didn't wash his hands either. I just had to suck it hope that I wouldn't get any foodborne illnesses from my dish. Anyways, overall the experience was acceptable. Although the waiters/waitresses didn't appear very enthusiastic, they still checked in at appropriate intervals and I received my food fairly quickly. I ordered the Shrimp & Cheesy Grits which was very yummy, the shrimp was peeled, and the dish was presented well with attractive garnishes. There was adequate shrimp in it so I didn't feel too cheated. It was nice to check this place out, but it just didn't wow me enough for me to return unless someone else wanted to go. read more

OSO Sonoma - Shrimp and grits. Counter seating in front of the cooks. - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

Delicious!! We got the house salad, deviled eggs and shrimp& grits. We will absolutely be back!! Such great service and food.

We had the burrata, shrimp and grits, mussels, patatas bravas, oyster Rockefeller, and fish tacos. The burrata was topped with pesto and you can never go wrong with that. The shrimp and grits were decent. The grist had a good texture and shrimp was cooked well, but overall the dish lacked flavor for me. The mussels. OMG. Probably one of my favorite rendition of mussels! The sauce is Thai inspired and sooo freakin delicious we were dipping everything in it so as to savor every drop. Definitely coming back again for those! The oyster rockerfeller was also delicious. The parts bravas was okay, the potatoes were a bit overcooked. The fish tacos were good but we had just had fish tacos at El Molino the day prior and it's hard to compete with that lol. Service was great and food came out timely! There's a little bit of outdoor seating in the back. read more

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We recently went twice after volleyball tournaments in the area to this downtown Sonoma restaurant, and we had a wonderful time, including the same server who was friendly, attentive and helpful with regard to menu options and drinks. The restaurant is full of dark woods and local decorations, which created a warm ambiance. Terrific set of appetizers included fresh oysters (Fanny Bay and others), deviled curried eggs topped with dungeness crab, and warm rustic bread with creamy herb butter. We enjoyed several core entrees as well as one of their seafood specials. Their Thai-spiced steamed mussels were tender and steeped in a wonderful broth that we sopped up with the crusty bread. The pork chops were incredibly tender and were also Asian-inspired with a peanut sauce atop the chops and served with a tomato-based slaw. The shrimp and grits included large, nicely-cooked shrimp on top of creamy, cheesy grits with green onions and tomatoes. The seared halibut was a properly cooked filet accompanied by sauteed bok choy and tofu. We also tried a couple of their IPAs and cocktails which were excellent. We finished our meals with their butterscotch pot de creme, chocolate fudge sundae, and warm fresh berry granola, along with French press coffee. read more

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Were here for a quick bites and drinks. The ambiance is intimated, invited, chill and layback. Services are friendly, great & helpful. The foods are delicious with packed of favored. We had a wonderful time here. It's in the heart of Sonoma town square area so plenty of street parkings with shops, stores and restaurants surrounded. read more

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We were a party of 3 hoping for a relaxing dinner out on a girls getaway trip. The food was rushed, no refills on our drinks or water. The server quickly placed the bill on the table after dinner without asking if we were interested in desserts or drinks!! Not the best experience in Sonoma. Many other options where you can relax and enjoy. read more

OSO Sonoma - Burrata special of the night - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

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Excellent small plates, lovely atmosphere, excellent service. Try the sangria...it's wonderful!

We popped in for a Saturday lunch between wine tastings. I enjoyed the shrimp tacos and for an appetizer we shared a toast with mushrooms and brie. The food was absolutely amazing and the service was even better. We can't wait to come back. read more

Oso was delicious! Service was good. The pasta was amazing. Loved the little outdoor area. I would definitely come back if I come to Sonoma again! Highly recommend. My friends had oysters and the Bavette steak, also delicious read more

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We had a great experience here with my family (including my 1yo son). We can for a late lunch on a Sunday and were easily sat. Our server was super nice and patient, and they were very accommodating in bringing a high chair and making sure our son was comfortable. We got the Dungeness crab topped deviled eggs, green beans, shrimp and grits, bread for the table and my husband got the burger. All the food was delicious! I so appreciated that that server was very accommodating to my MIL's dietary restrictions, and was so thoughtful in putting the hot topping of the green beans on the side without us evening having to ask because he correctly assumed we'd be sharing with my son! All in all a great experience and I'm sure we'll be back when we come through Sonoma in the future. read more

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We've eaten at Oso quite a few times now, and continue to go back. The service is always great and the food is excellent. We are often in Sonoma in the early afternoon , and when we are, we go to Oso for their happy hour. Great street tacos, deviled eggs, and Oysters on the happy hour menu. We also have tried many dinner menu items. The Steamed Pei Mussels are particularly delicious with a twist using thai chili and tamari-coconunt-lime in the broth. Friendly staff, great service, and very quick order-to-table. Highly recommended when you are in Sonoma. read more

My favorite place to eat, I drive 1 1/2 to get to oso and I always leave satisfied. The cold brew martinis are next level and my favorite is getting the green goodness and dipping my hummus vessel in the dressing. read more

OSO Sonoma - Ordered the cheeseburger and it was outstanding. Decided to get some dessert and ordered the Roasted Apple Chef Dave never disappoints. - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

Came here for the second time Friday and loved it as much as the first time The best thing we had was a tie between the baked oysters which are always delicious, as well as the steak- specifically the chimichurri was AMAZING and the steak was cooked perfectly. The drinks are always good, and the waiter we had was extremely friendly and attentive. I can't wait to come back! I love oso because it's an intimate, classy feel but it's also very laid back and casual. read more

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My husband and I were looking for sushi but we ended up here instead and ended up with a seafood theme. We ordered deviled eggs and ceviche to start and both were to die for. The deviled eggs had some curry and crab and threw us both for a loop, in a good way. If you like your deviled eggs the conventional way, then skip this dish. The Ceviche de Aguachile verde was refreshing, especially with the white fish, mango, red onion, avocado and citrus juice. The weather was hot that Sunday so the food works especially with a nice cocktail, like the negroni and sazerac. We decided to try a few more items and got the shrimp and cheesy grits and savored each bite. My husband wanted more than I was willing to part with so I had to fight him on it. I can't remember what my husband had because I was too busy protecting my food from him, but whatever it was he ate it all. All in all, this place is great, sitting out back is breezy and has a nice ambiance to it. Staff is overall busy but do their best to check in, refills, napkins etc. Our waitress gave us great recommendations. read more

Came here for dinner with my family one night while we were visiting Sonoma. Definitely a great spot for dinner! We made a reservation ahead of time and they were able to seat us all as soon as we got there. It was really nice outside, and they have a cute little patio, but we opted to eat inside just because it gets colder at night. They do have some space heaters outdoors, but there weren't any tables available near those. No biggy! The decor in here is interesting... to say the least haha. Very sensual! But I do love the ambiance in here. Very rustic. And the service was excellent. Our server did a fantastic job! Always felt like we got checked in on, too, which was great. The menu isn't too extensive, which I truly appreciated. Sometimes when there are too many options, I get super overwhelmed ahha. I ordered the Sonoma Dreamer, which was with gin, grapefruit and lemon. It was definitely sour, but I loved it! A really good cocktail. To eat, we had to get the deviled eggs, since when I looked this spot up on Yelp, everyone says how good they are. Thank goodness I listened to my fellow Yelpers. They were right! Those deviled eggs were definitely the highlight. I could have eaten like ten more of them. For dinner, I ordered the salmon which came with couscous. It was super delicious! I wish it had a little more couscous, but the salmon was cooked perfectly. Definitely a delicious dish. I would come back here again. Not my fave restaurant we went to that weekend, but it was still pretty tasty and the service was great. read more

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Oso Sonoma never disappoints! What can I say? The ambience is amazing--charming, cozy, and perfect whether you're out for a romantic evening or a relaxed dinner with friends. The food is consistently excellent, full of rich flavor and creativity that truly highlights California cuisine at its finest. From the appetizers to the desserts, everything is thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented. The service matches the quality of the food--attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely warm. You can tell the staff takes pride in what they do, and it elevates the whole experience. Great wine selection, locally inspired ingredients, and a menu that always offers something special. This place is the total package--five stars across the board. A must-visit in Sonoma! read more

Interesting restaurant and good food. The parking is spread out with street parking out front and parking nearby. The seating is somewhat limited but they can rearrange for larger parties. The food was cooked exactly as ordered and was very flavorful. It was a good experience and is must retry location. read more

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The service was excellent, but the food was fairly standard. One thing we did notice, however, was how loud it was inside--it's definitely not a quiet place. read more

Great spot! Steven took care of us and did a great job. We had the deviled eggs which were amazing. Salmon was delicious too. But the star was a vodka sauce pasta!!! The sauce was so good we paid to take some home!! You could dip and old shoe in that sauce and would eat the whole thing !! Highly recommend!! read more

This was my third time at Oso Sonoma and it just keeps getting better. The food has been amazing every single time -- fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The staff is always friendly and very accommodating, which makes the experience even more enjoyable. One of my favorite parts is the back patio. It's dog-friendly (huge bonus for me!) and has such a great atmosphere with greenery and pretty lights -- perfect for a relaxed meal or drinks with friends. Oso Sonoma is definitely one of my go-to spots in town. Highly recommend! read more

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The food was amazing ! The broccolini appetizer with shrimp had what I would call an award winning sauce . The Server Steven was great took the time to ask us our names, checked on us to make sure all was good read more

Everything about OSO is delightful! The Servers are stand alone high quality, cordial and professional. They always want to ensure your experience at their restaurant is handled smoothly and efficiently. The owner and Chef, plus prep cooks stand out with Michelin Star equivalent cuisine. Certain dishes seem amazing and better every time I visit. It's a personal touch that's can't be beat. Best service in Sonoma! read more

OSO Sonoma - Seasonal Tomato, Burrata with pesto, and crunchy flecks of homemade crostini. - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

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Never disappoints. Tasty, innovative, full bar and doesn't break the bank! Right on the square, no reservations needed. This is a great find! read more

Food is absolutely delicious! From start to finish. Our waiter was also incredible, sweet, welcoming and accomodating. We brought our lil one and he offered a hot cup of water to warm up our formula a parents delight thank you for everything! read more

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OSO Sonoma is a wonderful spot! They are known for their tapas, which is always fun. While their menu isn't extensive there is something for everyone.  During my visit, I ordered: - Ceviche, which came with fresh fish, tomato, avocado, red onion, green olives and cilantro. This was so fresh, and the flavors were perfect!  - Caesar salad. One of the best I've had in a long time!  - Burrata with bread, peach and prosciutto. This was so delicious!  They also have a raw bar. They have a large bar located in the middle of the restaurant. The restaurant has plenty of indoor seating and a quaint patio. I'd recommend making a reservation on a Friday or Saturday night as this place can get busy! The atmosphere is very relaxing and casual.  They also have happy hour on Wednesdays through Fridays from 4-5:30 p.m. with small plates and drinks.  The menu rotates on a regular basis, and I can't wait to come try more soon! read more

Yummy food great service in the heart of Sonoma to be best as described as American Tapas. Beautiful patio seating for the summer days when it's not too warm downtown. BB read more

The appetizer is wonderful tasty! Server Steve is very helpful and friendly. We would love to come back soon! read more

OSO Sonoma - This dish is incredibly good! We would love to come back to try more other dishes. - New American Near Me - Sonoma, California

Came here for lunch on a Friday. We sat at a table right by the window, which was perfect for people watching people walking around the Sonoma square. Service was quick, friendly, and easy going We shared six small plates for three people. We shared the patatas bravas, green goddess salad, mushroom toast, roasted broccolini, hummus plate, and deviled eggs. Everything was great. The green goddess salad was especially good; heavily dressed but I like that. The gummy was great with good flavor. The mushroom toast was good but a little salty. We were able to take some home with us read more

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A fine performance. The back space was a bit rough but I appreciated that they had a back deck. It was intimate so there was some guest interaction. Inside was quite dark. Not sure I'll go again. Food was fine but not mind blowing. The eggplant was quite undercooked so I appreciated that they took it off the tab. I think we liked one of the dishes. read more

My friend and I tried out Oso on a weekend trip to Sonoma. We shared the deviled eggs I expected to taste the yellow curry more than I did. A little disappointing. I had the coconut, tamari and lime mussels which were plentiful and flavorful. My friend had the Caesar salad not so great. Far too heavy with dressing and spoiled the salad. I had the Calamansi drop cocktail it was small and I couldn't really pick up on the various other ingredients other than the calamansi. Food aside we found the attitude of our waiter to be offputting. He didn't really seem interested when he showed us to our table. No welcome, no pleasantries. Perhaps the worst moment came when he dropped our bill off at the table. He didn't ask us if we wanted any more drinks or if we would like to see the dessert menu. We really left feeling this place lacked in customer service. Would not go back here. read more

Other than the devil eggs, the food here was mid. It may look good in pictures but it was nothing spectacular unfortunately. Do not order the muscles they were very sandy. The shrimp tacos & mushroom toast were good but we wanted 50-minutes to get our food. After a long day of drinking wine, the hunger was hurting. read more

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[Update 12 August 2024] The server mentioned in this review reached out to sincerely offer amends for the sub-par service. Compliments to this professional waitperson for making the effort to follow-up. Changing from 3-stars to 4-stars because of this outreach. ---------------------------------------------------- Good food; lousy service. It is with great regret that I post a three-star review for a formerly five-star establishment. The food at Oso is still a standout; the service, however, falls flat. Built on a base of tender, crispy little gem lettuces, the Caesar salad ($15) was mounded with shaved Parmesan and accompanied by crunchy house-made croutons: a great way to begin a meal. Paired with a spicy kimchi, the always delicious Korean-style pork ribs ($23) were fall-off-the-bone tender and delicious -- a dish that makes you want to lick your fingers to remove all the sweet, sticky barbecue sauce. A brilliant red-orange, the Moroccan salmon ($34) exploded with flavor from an array of spices -- a definite winner. The service, however, was not a winner. Rather than placing a cocktail on the table, the harried server simply shoved the tray in front of a diner, indicating that the drink should be retrieved by the patron. Acting as if he had other, more important places to be, the server tossed dishes on the table in a rush, rather than delicately delivering them. Never checking on the satisfaction of the diners during the meal, the only time the waiter was in evidence was when it was time to present the check. Oso is a restaurant that delivers excellent food from an incredibly tiny prep and cooking space. If only the service were on par with the fare. read more