We went to this place on the recommendation of a family member and it did not disappoint. They have a pretty extensive food and beverage menu, with offerings to suit just about anyone's tastes. We ordered a variety of cocktails and they were all great. We ordered the brussels sprouts as our starter and they were to DIE for--so delicious. I got the kale caesar salad with chicken as my entree and it was fresh, tasty and the perfect size. Service was fast and friendly. read more

Sonny's Tavern - Coffee Talk Cocktail (basically an espresso martini) - Bars Near Me - Dover, New Hampshire

Such a great neighborhood spot to grab a drink and meet up with friends. They seem to do a team style service so everyone helps out and drinks/food get delivered quickly. I love the rotating deviled eggs. read more

This place is consistently solid. Fantastic (among the best!) cocktails, interesting and done well food, happy hour menu, excellent service especially if you sit at the bar. Our favorites are the savory cocktails, brussels sprouts, burgers and truffle fries. read more

This place is great! It is very small when you walk in but there is a good amount of seating with the bar and tables. The service is always great and the staff is so nice. The food is very amazing! I always order the truffalo burger and it is so good every time! I would recommend this place to a friend! read more

Sonny's Tavern - Christmas time picture - Bars Near Me - Dover, New Hampshire

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I WILL NEVER EAT THERE AGAIN. After a lovely, but fairly new waitress took our order, we waited patiently while enjoying a glass of wine and appetizer. It was after that that we received our dinner order and it was not what I ordered. I put it aside and waited to flag our waitress when a young man, server, kitchen worker came and asked about our dinner. I told him it was not what I ordered. It was steak and I had ordered salmon medium rare with risotto. He apologized for the mistake and advised that I should keep the dinner and take it home to my dog as I do not eat meat. He assured me that it was his mistake and that I would not be charged. I thanked him very much. He then returned with my salmon. I offered him the steak and he advised me to take it with me. The waitress appeared and checked the order and assured us that the order was not her error. She assured me that it was a kitchen error. After eating what I could, I requested a box for my left orders. I placed the leftovers from both dinners inside the box and awaited the check. When it arrived I noted there were 2 Salmon and risotto dinners, No steak. I asked for my waitress and she was not available. A Staff member came to the table and I explained that the error was still on my bill. She said because they did not remove the steak, (their mistake) from the table that I was responsible for payment. I explained what the staff had told me and she called me a liar. I asked to speak to the manager and she stated she was the manager. I completed my charge slip excluding their error and signed the check. Upon departure, I checked my credit card acct and both dinners had been charged. read more

One of our favorite spots in Dover-- we always have an amazing meal, the best cocktails in town and great service. Our faves are the chicken fingers, Mac n' cheese and brussel sprouts. read more

I used to come here in college when it was a bar. The interior didn't seem much different! Wasn't sure what to expect but the reviews were good so we thought we'd try it out. Surprisingly good food! And nicely presented. Service was ok, beers were refilled but not my soda. Everything we had was good. The fried goat cheese, hot honey chicken, pimento steak and cheese were all yummy. Fries were addicting. It was a bit hard to hear in there with the acoustics. read more

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We waited over an hour for our food, we had 3 babies and my pregnant wife. People came sat down drank ate then left, while we waited for our food. We asked an hour in and the kitchen hadn't even started on our food. As you can imagine this was horrible. I told the manager this was the shittiest experience Ive ever had with a restaurant, mind you the server didn't check on us once if you can believe it. The manager was offended I used the word shitty, asked us to leave as soon as she put our food on the table, and told me to pay. This was the biggest failure Ive ever witnessed in a restaurant. The server then apologized before us leaving, but the manager was an absolute disaster. We were patient, we didn't overreact. This was a true nightmare. read more

We were visiting family in the area and they had reservations for us here. It's a an pretty neat old school bar with a focus on great cocktails and some unique food. They have created a unique range of dishes that have a nod to southern favorites. The drinks were great and had some unique flavors. We started with the deviled egg special of the day (Buffalo blue cheese) and some pork cracklings. The deviled eggs had a nice flavor with just enough spice. The cracklins were crispy but the seasoning wasn't as strong as expected. Each of us tried different meals ranging from burgers to brisket and pork and grits. The burger was quite tasty and flavorful. The creamy grits and porywas nice with spicy collard greens. They were not spicy and could have had a bit mor blanching time. The pork was very flavorful and super tender. The brisket was a bit dry but the cornbread was great. It almost tasted like there was a touch of orange flavoring as well as nice sweetness that was caramelized on the griddle to give it a crispy exterior. This place has character and a very unique menu. It's really close to 4 stars. The food items are good, but could be great. The staff is friendly and attentive. We enjoyed it and we probably visit again. read more

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Good ambiance and drinks but the prices are ridiculous for what you get. The Caesar salad with chicken is some obnoxious price (can't remember at the moment) and it barely comes with any lettuce. I mean really, they skimp so hard on the kale but charge an absurd price. I get the economy sucks and prices everywhere are increasing but this place isn't nice enough to charge what they do. read more

The food and service here is always amazing. Only 4 stars because the "truffalo" that I've known and loved for years only tasted like Buffalo. Was still a good sandwich, but I don't go there for a Buffalo sandwich. Also, it seems like their Darryl strawberry (not pictured) is more pineapple-ey than ever, vs strawberry. Hoping for more truff in my buff the next visit. read more

Sonny's Tavern - "Truffalo" chicken sandwich, modern love cocktail - Bars Near Me - Dover, New Hampshire

Sonny's Tavern is a must try. I will literally dream about The Brussel Sprouts with hot honey. I will definitely return when I'm in the area. read more

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Expertly crafted cocktails Best service in town Amazing food: highly recommend Mac n' cheese and Truff chx read more

We love Sonny's tavern. The service is always fantastic. It's a small place but doesn't feel over crowded. Their cocktails are sooo good. I recommend the drink The Passenger. Taste like a dessert. They have the best Brussels sprouts. We have never had anything there that we dislike read more

Sonny's Tavern - Bars Near Me - Dover, New Hampshire

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The food here is fantastic! The drinks are killer! The service is excellent! The Po' Boy is something else! read more

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Food is amazing. Service is on the slower side but everyone is super friendly. Highly recommend.

Good food, service, and ambiance. I haven't been here in a long time but I really liked their live music, food, and interesting + delish cocktails I remember the time I was there with my friend and they were playing the old Addams Family (1964 TV series) on silent above the bar. Cool + artsy place. I always had a good time read more

Unique cocktail menu that is very delicious. Rustic feel inside, food was okay! Definitely a great date night spot!

Brunch - horrible. "We don't have decaf", "sure, I'll bring you a pitcher of water. In 15 minutes.". "no, we don't have wheat toast, just white." Sorry you and your friend have to wait for your food till long after the others were served. Like dry English muffin with no butter? ok, we have it. Oh, we add 3.5% kitchen service charge to your bill. But, we'll tell you about that when we bring the bill to you. Never again. Fagheddaboutit. read more

I stopped in Sonny's to grab drinks with an old friend. The food was great, and the servers were very attentive. We probably stayed a lot longer than we should have, but they didn't seem to mind. The restaurant is very comfortable, and the variety and creativity in the food and drinks does not go unnoticed. Sonny's offered an industry night discount which made the meal very affordable. I would strongly recommend visiting, they won't disappoint! read more

Totally enjoyed the vibe of this place. They know how to make a great cocktail, with a little showmanship - always fun! Food was excellent, good choices- apps and main dishes. Will go back again! read more

I cannot say enough about the drinks - selection, quality, unique options, just delicious. Unfortunately the food was not good. I tried multiple things, including my husband's and kids choices and they were all equally bad. Would come back for a drink for sure! read more

The best meal I've had in Dover, so far. I had the BBQ Brisket, on a whim, and didn't really know what to expect. It was like classic southern BBQ, with the sides, but re-imagined and re-invigorated with a modern, stylish, super-foodie touch. Every part of it was delicious, with so much attention to detail. I tried to find a picture of this dish online, but none are posted. Does BBQ look pretty? Not usually. It was almost like a BBQ "bento box," with how cute and perfect each part of it was. Or like if a very refined and cultured alien race served us their version of BBQ. read more

Celebrated my birthday there which was very nice. Shrimp and grits was perfect. Cucumber special drink was refreshing. Another day I went there and the drink I ordered wasnt good at all, asked the waitress to add some juice or something bc it was too strong and couldnt drink that. Im a regular costumer there and had recommended this place to all my friends multiple times. What they did was just added syrup, (I asked for a juice) so the drink still very strong and of course I didnt drink and left the drink on the table. The most appropriate thing to do was just to replace the drink and that wasnt offered at all. So... didn't like this experience. read more

Amazing food! Staff is amazing . My go to place to eat when I visit downtown dover .Pulled Pork Sandwich. Steak Frites

Our favorite spot in Dover! Food and cocktails are always great and the service matches. We love sitting at the bar with Mikey!

It's possible, they would've got a better rating than a one star, but because the service and the waitress we had was so rude that we chose to get up and leave after our food was given to us she placed the food down in front of us, and I had a question about my English muffin being grilled more and gave the plate back for that to be done at which point she took, and then started clearing tables beside us, and gave no silverware to the other three people at the table when she brought my dinner back to me she literally tossed it onto the table and walked away and which point I told my party to put the things together we were leaving then it became a fiasco about paying for the one alcohol drink that we had in our party. I refuse to pay for food when it comes to a server like this. Sonny's Tavern in Dover is definitely a place that I will never go to again To conclude the server we had was the whole problem, and she found it extremely funny, which really just took the cake with me read more

Good food, service can be hit or miss, ambiance is nice... recommend for a group of friends

Food was horrible!!! Driest chicken I have ever had. An amateur cooking brisket for their first time could have done better than this brisket they sell. The Mac and cheese would have been better if....... Well let's say Kraft Mac and cheese that's been over cooked and left out for a day would be better! And lastly their atrocious hand cut fries that look like they were made in used diesel oil because they were so burnt brown. So to sum it up I will not be coming here again, because if I want bad food I'll have my kids make it. read more

Sonny's use to be my favorite little hole in the wall. I think the food has gotten better but the prices are very high. what I love most is that You can always count on a great mocktail selection with the best ingredients! cheers! read more

This was my second time eating at Sonny's; could be my last. Last time we went with another couple, later in the evening and on a weekend. This time, middle of the week, plenty of open tables, and on the early side. The server seemed not-the-best, but nice enough. When our drinks had sat empty for a while and we still had not ordered, the evening started to feel off; no reason we should have been left waiting so long. We did order, and got another round, so things were rolling along until the salmon arrived looking like a briquette. It says 'five spice' on the menu, when asked the server said something about it being blackened. What?!? The menu is being improved? As you would guess, it tasted awful, and we asked for it to be remade. Many apologies were given. The fish finally came out as everything else was finished. A bit or two in and it was quickly discovered that the bulk of the salmon was raw. Date night was ruined, but at least my wife got her side for free, right? And, apparently the manager was there and never came over to say anything, and somebody had to approve backing that meal off the check. It is too bad, too. My last experience was just fine. read more

I've been for brunch 3 or 4 times in the last month or two and had very good experiences every time. Today I walked out. We sat at the bar and it was obviously very busy. It took about 15 minutes to place our drink order, but we understood considering how hard the bartender was working. After another 20 minutes the bartender asked if we wanted more drinks. We asked if we could put in a food order and you would have thought we asked for the world. The bartender was so rude, told us we were being impatient because she was clearly busy making drinks. We were taken aback and asked if we should order from someone else (I don't know, maybe she just does drinks?) She doubled down and called us impatient a second time and made it very clear that we were an imposition. I don't think it was unreasonable to ask to order food at 1130 on a Sunday, after waiting 35 minutes? We walked out and went to one of the many other places in Dover. I've had issues here before because I feel this place is pretentious. I've given it many tries because the food and drinks are always good, but this was the last straw. My advice: don't waste your time here. Sometimes they're good. Other times they make it clear you are a bother. Go to literally any other place in Dover for a much better, and more reliable experience. read more

When I walked in, I asked if there was room to sit at the bar (it was just me and I hate tying up tables for one person). The host said he guessed he could fit me in at the bar (which really meant he would place a chair next to the water container with a puddle of water on the bar without any offer to even wipe it up). The bartender, as well as two servers, looked directly at me several times, but made no move to even say I'll be right with you. I understand being busy and short handed, but it takes two seconds to acknowledge that someone is there. I have no idea how the food and drinks are. After 15 minutes of being ignored, I left. read more

By far my favorite restaurant in Dover. I'm hoping that more places like this will pop up around the city. They have a very large selection of craft cocktails with great flavor and presentation. The food is packed with a southern flare of flavor. The fish and chips are massive. The truffalo sauce for the chicken tenders is incredible. read more

Great drinks. Maybe the best bar in Dover. Reviews need to be at least 85 characters.

We came here with friends for Sunday brunch. It was good even though there were a couple of mistakes with our order. Two of us had the pork belly Benedict which was supposed to come with champagne hollandaise but came with truffle hollandaise, also I was supposed to get hash browns but came with home fries, which they did bring an order of hash-browns. The poached eggs were not runny, which I do prefer runny, but was still good. They weren't completely hard. The Bloody Mary was also good. The California Benedict and the French toast were also delicious. I would come back and I want to try the pork belly breakfast sandwich PB&J, also would like to come back for dinner. Our server Anna D was also very friendly and attentive. read more

Sonny's Tavern - French toast - Bars Near Me - Dover, New Hampshire

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Absolutely the best Mac n cheese around so so so yummy!!! And the fries were delicious! Also that secret sauce on the burgers!

Best Fish & Chips I've had since my last trip to the UK !!! Fish was delicate and fresh, chips perfectly done, and good slaw as well. What was outstanding, was the light, crispy, and delicious batter on the fish. Absolutely perfect! read more

Small portions, especially my drink which was one giant ice cube with drink only half way up the side of the glass. The waitress's response was " That's how we make them. " The portions of food were very small. We left hungry. That may be my fault because we said hold the fries. Other wait people have always suggested vegetables or salad. Not at Sonny's. Our wait person said " You want steak in a plate ?" I asked for a side of vegetables. Collards are about the last vegetable I would want. Other restaurants do not question Keto or low carb patrons, and know how to suggest substitutes for fries. Listening to Bob Dylan didn't help. It was not a good experience but the real problem was it felt like they just didn't care what we thought or how our experience was. The last time my husband and I had a night out was a really long time ago. Very disappointing. read more

Sonny's Tavern - The drink arrived like this. Probably 2 ounces. Never seen this anywhere else. - Bars Near Me - Dover, New Hampshire

Do yourself a favor and next time you're in Dover, stop by Sonny's. Great local beer and amazing food. I ordered the dry aged pork with truffle risotto and braised greens. The pork was so juicy and flavorful and the grits were AMAZING. I haven't had pork prepared this well in a long time. I wish I ordered a whole damn plate of the grits to have some to take home. The greens were cooked well and a god mix of tangy and spice. No reservations needed, but it's nice to be able to seat yourself. read more