I was wandering around the town square in Sonona, craving a good sandwich, and I remembered many…read moreyears ago there was a really good deli nearby. Couldn't find it anymore...seems like there's been a lot of business turnover in that area - I'm sure at least in part due to high rent...but happened to see "Sandwiches" on the awning in front of Sonoma Cheese Factory. Didn't look it up, took a chance and went for it. From the moment you enter, such friendly folks greet you and point you to the menu and where to go when you're ready to order. So much to choose from, but I went the easy route and ordered the "Smoked Turkey". Expected a basic turkey sandwich with the usual trimmings, and wow did it ever exceed those expectations. The sliced turkey was melt-in-your mouth moist, tender, and delicious. The tomatoes, the greens, the mild spread added at just the right amount to make the flavors pop. Then with the bread - the way it was lightly grilled to make the cheese melt perfectly...made it warm with a slight crunch on the outside, through the melty cheese to the cooler turkey, tomatoes and other trimmings on the inside. Honestly, one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. It filled me up perfectly but I didn't want it to be done. Sat there thinking of my favorite uncle growing up in Texas, who, when he ate something really good, would say "well my belly's full but my taster is still hungry". :) It was that good. And again, the sandwich, accompanied by the awesome/friendly service, made the whole experience so good. Will make it a regular stop in my future trips to Sonoma. I'm a sucker for good BBQ and according to a neighboring business owner, you can't go wrong with the brisket sandwich. Yum.

It's been so long ago and far away in my memory from the first time that I visited history downtown…read moreSonoma and encountered the Cheese Factory. I'm so glad that they survived the Pandemic and are thriving in the middle of the 2020's. My lifelong love of cheese is legendary in my own mind. It's been a struggle to get used to having to leave cow's milk dairy cheese out of my diet. While I have been sampling and finding some plant-based cheeses to love these last few years, I'm also grateful that I can tolerate and enjoy goat and sheep milk's cheeses. Despite some reviews for the Cheese Factory indicating that they would have plant-based / vegan cheeses (at least a few), that wasn't the case the day we recently visited. Dear Hubby and I were able to amass a small collection of goat and sheep cheeses, plus a few other accoutrements to go toward a charcuterie board. Mind you, these specialty cheeses do not come cheap! Many are priced at between $35 and $45/pound. They tend to be rich and full-bodied, so a smallish amount is satisfying, especially when complimented by crackers, cured meats, and fruits. Our niece made an amazing charcuterie board assortment for those of us who have to avoid standard dairy cheeses, and it was beautiful, delicious, and very satisfying. Back to the experience at the Factory. This is most certainly a historic building, and very long-standing business. It's also very popular. It's a little rough around the edges as far as cleanliness. The front sitting area, in particular, looks like it could use either a re-do, or a serious cleaning. Sometimes "rustic" works, and sometimes it can use a bit of freshening. We got good service, and helpful advice when it was time to pick cheese. The check stand area for paying for our cheese, crackers, and salami, plus ordering gelato and coffee drinks, was on the chaotic side. A lot of patrons were milling around to be called for their orders and the flow didn't work very well. I appreciated Dear Hubby dealing with that part while I saved us a spot in the seating area nearby and nursed my aching back. Not feeling great physically may have colored some of my appreciation of the "rustic charm" factor. We later moved to the long counter area by the front window, sitting and people watching folks passing by on the plaza. There's a lot to experience when visiting Sonoma Cheese Factory.

Salumeria Ovello has become one of those places I look forward to having all week long. The smell…read moreof fresh warm focaccia coming out of the oven, simple ingredients that actually taste fresh, and sandwiches that somehow feel both light and deeply satisfying at the same time. Simple ingredients done really well; fresh meats, crisp vegetables, soft bread straight from the oven. It's the kind of lunch that reminds you how good simple food can be when the ingredients are quality. The owner and staff always seem genuinely happy to be there, and it gives the whole place such a warm and welcoming feeling. They also have little Italian drinks, snacks, and specialty goodies that make it fun to grab something extra alongside your lunch. It's a smaller little shop, so I recommend taking your sandwich to go and eating over at the Sonoma Plaza. Such a special little spot in Sonoma.

I was doing a day of exploration in Sonoma --- mainly the missions --- and arrived somewhere…read morein-and-around Vallejo House. As I was heading back to the square (where there is an abundance of restaurants), I didn't want the busyness of the scene; thankfully, I got on Instagram, typed "good eats in Sonoma", and BAM! Salumeria Ovello popped up on my feed, and thank goodness it did! An easy 4-minute walk from Vallejo House, Salumeria Ovello is owned by Andrea, who is a Michelin-star chef from the area of Piedmont, Italy. Having been to Italy twice this past year alone, I remember quite well the quality and taste of the classed Italian Sandwiches. The worker who served at the counter was very helpful, and within the restaurant --- there are just a few seats. I'd say, 3 tables with two seats at each table. For my food, I decided to order the Massimo --- which is on "sliced Focaccia, and has sun dried tomatoes, stracciatella di burrata, prosciutto cotto, basil pesto and crumbled taralli (crackers)". Each sandwich is made fresh-to-order, and you can taste the quality. Each ingredient worked together in harmony, and to satisfy the americani in me, I definitely enjoyed the taralli in the sandwich --- reminded me of putting chips in my sandwiches in school. While I waited, Andrea also brought out some slices of salami for me to try --- free of charge, which was very kind of him to do. All in all, if you want to get away from the busyness of the Mission Square, take a 4-minute walk to Salumeria Ovello, and you'll find a little piece of Italy in Sonoma! Ciao tutti!

To get your farmers market level of local products any day of the week, go to Sonoma Market. This…read moreis where you find everything you need for the perfect picnic or dinner featuring hyper-local everything! Don't feel like packing a picnic or prepping or cooking? Good thing Sonoma Market is known for their sandwiches and deli and fresh prepared meals. You'll find a really fun selection of local cheeses, condiments, produce, and baked goods that bigger grocery stores don't carry. You'll spend a little more, but the shopping experience is more curated and atmospheric, and the products speak for themselves. I stopped in recently while on a short trip to Sonoma, specifically for salsa, some kind of dip or spread for crackers, and a cheese or two. I spent awhile browsing because that's the best part, and left with exactly what I needed (proud and amazed I stuck to my budget haha). I bought a fantastic bleu cheese, brie, a cantina style salsa, and this whipped, layered, tomato-basil dip made of ground almonds, avocado, sour cream, tomatoes, and herbs. Kind of a lot going on, but it was so good. It's always fun to see what you'll find here. Like a locally made gluten free apple pie, the perfect bouquet of flowers, or a freshly baked loaf of sourdough.

The management response is tone deaf to the facts laid out in my reviews. It's not a one time…read moresituation, it's serial failure that needs a review of your process. A commitment to better food. The store could sell so much more food than it does, they have no idea. But people want quality food at the hot bar not what they have there now. Overall, the store is pretty good but they're hot food display is an absolute embarrassment for the store. It's always old picked over food or just empty. If you come in here at five 5 o'clock or after, it's always a disgusting display. Very sad to see.

"Sausage Society- Taste of Sonoma" is an e-commerce biz. I know the name is a mouthful. But those…read moresausages are soo delicious! They sell gourmet handcrafted: sausages, cured meats, charcuterie, mustards, and cheeses; and local wine and beers all online. All of it is made and sourced locally. Also the pricing is not fru fru over the top. For instance, 5 pack of sausages (1.5 lbs) is $17.95. 3 oz mustards in signature tins $4. They also sell membership, with starting price at $49, to receive a curated food kit. They are able to deliver most items throughout California. Free delivery in Sonoma. Currently, there are no out of state deliveries. Now let me tell you about my food kit I bought. I ordered the Oktoberfest kit. It was on sale for $17.99. Great price for five German bratwursts (1.5 lbs), 3 oz mustard, and two 16 oz cans of Sonoma Springs Brewing Company beer. Yes! The brats are organic and made of pork, spices, and fresh garlic. I could smell the spices and garlic as I pulled the brats out of the bag. That's the smell of fresh homemade goodness. I grilled a couple in a skillet. They were delicious. The flavors were spot on! Fabulous! The mustard came in a shallow tin with a twist off lid. It was tasty as well. But be careful when twisting the tin open, the mustard kinda ran away and spilled out from me when I took off the lid. The kit was delivered with blue ice that kept everything cool. Plus the owner operates a brick n mortar restaurant called Sausage Emporium on the Sonoma Plaza. societysonoma.com @societysonoma @sausageemporium

I was unable to attend the virtual event part of this yelp event, however I was able to purchase…read morethe Oktoberfest kit from Sausage Society. The package was sent safely packaged to our home in a cooler type box, keeping the sausage, mustards, and beer cold. We cooked our sausage on a pan on our stovetop. We put them inside some toasted buns with ketchup, the mustard provided, relish, and sautéed onions. The whole dish came together beautifully and deliciously. The sausages were clearly amazing quality and paired so well with the beer and mustard provided.

Figone's is a wine country legacy that provides the highest quality police oil, soaps and so much…read moremore in the old world style and tradition of making fresh local olive oil. The infused and naturally flavored olive oils are the best and I am constantly running out of them! They make unique gifts and love their plates and table cloths with lemons painted on them, very Italian. The taste servers are wonderful people and they make the tasting fun and informative! The suprise was the balsamic vinegar, was some of the best I've ever tasted! The shop is full of unique gifts, flavors and the decor is old world with a calm ambiance, right off the Sonoma city square! Treat yourself to the best!

They have a full variety of Olive Oils flavors to suite every palette. You can sample the various…read moreflavors or custom blends of flavor. The representatives were very helpful and knowledgeable. The store is very clean and the displays pleasurable. The oils are a bit pricy but the end results of flavor are pleasing.

My favorite in Napa County. Locally owned mother daughter duo. Kelley family…read more Small production. It is focused on dark chocolate in its recipes. I regularly order from here. Truffles are their specialty and shows. Always fresh nothing old or stale. (and i have a very sensitive olfactory and tasting palette both wine and chocolates) Favorites? 1. Raspberry 2. Zinfandel 3. cabernet sauvignon 4. salted caramel 5. Apricot 6. Port Love love love love

As a chocolate fiend - was strolling around the main square in Sonoma and stumbled upon this shop -…read moredecided a few chocolates would make the perfect desert after lunch! Had a lovely conversation with the women that worked here and settled upon a sleeve of chocolates! Loved the fact that they incorporated wine flavors too and slowly enjoyed my selections on my journey home

Quality strawberries, So Very Sweet! Wonderful Friendly…read moreFamily owned Business! The only place to by Strawberries!

Fabulous strawberries, fresh, fresh right from the fields.. Great people family owned for a…read moredecade... other fruits and vegetables also...Only place to buy Strawberries... I agree!

Homegrown bagels really do follow through with their name. You can tell by the taste that the…read morequality is different than other bagel shops. From an ex-employee, all smears are made in the back and veggies are sourced from farms or local markets. Another way they stand out from other bagel shops is that they offer mini bagels when you can't eat a whole one or are craving two different flavor combinations. My favorite combinations are a breakfast bagel (ham) with herb smear or lox smear with sprouts and avo. Oh and their coffee hits the spot, must get. However, they do get busy but are really considerate of the time and crank them out fast. Get there early cause they do sell out.

I love their lox special with all the fixings with lox cream cheese on a toasted salt bagel!read more