The restaurant feels like it is made to look sophisticated, but it's a thin veneer. It's but a few steps from chintzy. The first course we got was a lobster bisque with a lobster claw and vanilla oil. It was really more like very salty, coagulated baby food with FAR too much salt. And vanilla, for future reference, does not work well with seafood. It was a salty as canned soup and had bits of claw in it. Our meat was overcooked. Bummer. When we were ordering, out waitress essentially said to hurry up. It was odd. For nearly $200 a meal should be nearly perfect. Ours was merely adequate. When a modest restaurant pleases, we cheer. When a pretentious and expensive restaurant fails, we must jeer. Sorry. BTW: The "Golden Girls" set comment below is hilarious! read more

Visited the other night with a party of six, so had a chance to sample across the menu. Food was well prepared, but flavor was somewhat dull. Reading other reviews, perhaps it was an off night. Service was fair, and painfully slow at times. They have a very limited craft beer selection. Way behind the times on this. read more

Yes yes yes for all around must go to crave the food and my top pick for a nice night out w hubby family and friends. Live acoustic guitar on wkends, the food.... Well just yummmmmmmy, staff is so friendly and knowledgable of what the food is and great w wine recommendations! A must try over and over again if you have not! read more

This place never disappoints. I have been a big fan for many years and each time experience something amazing. This time is was an incredible Burrata salad and the Korean short ribs. I almost never order red meat, but did so since a friend told me these were incredible. I was not disappointed. This ranked as one of my top 10 favorite meals. The dessert was an apple tart type thing with ice cream. So good. Always great service. The place is not cheap, so expect that. Not sure I agree on the category of a French Restaurant? Regardless, this is a place for an amazing dining experience. read more

First, I ordered a Greater Good Pulp beer. Awesome. Until the bug showed up as I neared the bottom. The menus was less than great. The fries were tasteless. The burger was cooked well but it too wasn't all that flavorful. The last straw was we tried to use our Sonoma gift card and were refused. Apparently when the hotel bought out the former owner they figured they didn't have to honor the outstanding balances on cards. We waited for the manager for some time and finally decided it was time to go. If you have a gift card forget going. If you want a warm atmosphere I'd suggest many other Worcester spots. read more

Exemplary dinner experience, from the amuse bouche to the dessert. David was a class act with real expertise in wines. Everything from our fresh flatbread appetizer to the melt in your mouth Korean short rib and the puff pasty dessert, it was a delicious and wonderful dining experience. read more

My husband and I have lived in the area for several years and heard a lot of wonderful things about Sonoma. We finally dined here for the first time last night. We came with another couple to celebrate my birthday. We were not disappointed. The four of us ordered on a variety of dishes - Togarashi tuna, a Caesar salad and a Cobb salad to start. (The tuna was the star.)A steak special, short ribs and duck as entrees. All of our choices were fantastic, and sides almost outshined the main courses. Three bottles of wine, a crime brûlée, a bread pudding and 2 chocolate mousses later, we were stuffed and in bliss. The service was flawless, the presentation was beautiful. Great place for a special occasion of any kind. read more

I just had the worst experience at this restaurant. I asked for a gin and tonic, a club soda was delivered. The waitress came back after a lengthy wait, with another drink and took the first drink back with no explanation. I tried the second drink, which had melted ice and a golden color and didn't taste like a G&T. I asked what kind of gin the bartender used thinking maybe it was just something I wasn't used to. She told me they didn't have a bartender and her manager had made it so she took it away to check. I ordered tomato and burrata and a clam chowder, my brother ordered chicken piccata. After another lengthy wait the piccata was delivered and the tomato and burrata. No clam chowder and no G&T. I asked for the chowder and told her to forget the drink. Another wait and the chowder was delivered without a spoon. After asking 2 more times over more than 10 minutes for a spoon one was brought. The piccata was good and the chowder was tasty but cool after all the wait. The burrata was not what I was used to, it had a firm center, not like any I had had before.A second waiter went by and asked how everything was. I told him I was disappointed by the poor service at such high end prices ( I would have been disappointed at diner prices). He said he was sorry, that the bar was closed, that the waitress should not have offered a mixed drink, and would tell the manager. After we finished eating we waited over 25 minutes and only got the bill because I walked through the restaurant and tracked down our waitress. When she brought the bill the waitress cheerfully told she me hadn't charged for the drinks I never got. I guess maybe she meant my brothers club soda was on the house. We never saw or heard from the manager. What a disappointment! I'm staying at The Beechwood, and there are lots and lots of good, reasonably priced restaurants in the area but I though it would be fun to stay and try the hotel restaurant. Maybe just a bad night with unexperienced help. read more

Great experience with my fiance. Server was nice and polite. They brought out a little spinach pie for each of us on the house. Bread, oil and olive spread was fantastic. Steak I had was perfect, tastey and tender. I would recommend your next date night be at Sonoma read more

Not the same as Princeton.. very disappointing. Save your money and time. Check exceeded $600 for a party of 5. The food quality, preparation and quantity all poor (and I'm being kind). We will not return... ever. I gave them a 1 star because it was the lowest rating avaliable. I feel like we were all ripped off. There are so many other options in the area, wished we selected differently. read more

For 20 years the Sonoma in Princeton was our favorite restaurant for several special occasions each year. This week was our anniversary and our first visit to their new location. We had heard mixed comments, but we went because we always did. It was a disaster! We were totally disappointed. After declining the first table right at the entrance we were given a very nice table in the restaurant. But the table setting we'd awful, nothing classy like it used to be. The server, actually she was also in Princeton, was friendly. We ordered the onion soup, which was then brought and had spilled all over the saucer, the server wiped his thumbs on his pants. But the main course was the worst, my wife had ordered her favourite duck which turned out to be soggy an looked unappetizing. Nothing like presentation from the past, she didn't finish half. My southern style swordfish was dry and tasteless. My wife's plate was served across the table and my comment too the waiter "lucky you have long arms" was thought to be funny. We skipped dessert after that. The bill was high, which in the past we never did mind, but this time we did. It was our anniversary dinner, a day after Valentine's, and we were totally disappointed. Sonoma has become an overpriced hotel restaurant, but I have been at better ones. read more

My wife and I made the drive up to Princeton Mass based on seeing reviews is Sonoma on Phantom Gourmet. It was great! The service was excellent and our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable. The decor is nice and subdued and the soft music was great for conversation. Of course the best part was the food which was all outstanding. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Wow! Tried out Sonoma for our anniversary dinner. This is the best restaurant experience we have had in a long time. They brought warm rolls to start with garlic and two kinds of olives in olive oil. We shared a fig and fennel salad to open the meal, then had two specials: Ahi tuna fresh from Hawaii and an updated Delmonico steak with brie cheese. Each came with 5 sides: rice pilaf, zucchini, whipped potatoes, whole roasted carrot and spaghetti squash. Sounds like a lot, but the sides were small and made for a nice combination of flavors. The tuna and steak were generous portions, we couldn't finish it all. Topped it all off with a couple of really good desserts. Service was excellent: friendly, attentive and professional - didn't call us "guys" once! read more

Great place, have been going here for years. Excited to hear they are moving closer to us down in the Worcester area soon... I hope they bring the guitar player with them as he is always great for the atmosphere. read more

I was very disappointed the meal could have been better. The Caesar salad was great along with the wine selection. The service and the ambiance was awesome. However the main course and the desert could have been much better. Based on the waiters recommendation we had the Seafood Stir fry. The sea food was dry, not fresh and chewy. Not acceptable at all. Dessert was a crème brulee also disappointing. Based on the cost and the lack of quality I cannot recommend this place. I will not go back read more

Visited Sonoma in Worcester for lunch with family members. We tried the lobster salad roll for $22. The sandwich was terrible, the lobster meat was shredded to the consistency of tunafish, actually it tasted like tunafish. The actual roll appeared to have been frozen and then thawed. All three of the sandwiches had a piece of shriveled mushy claw meat lying on the top of the sandwich. The lobster roll was inedible. We did speak to the waitress and the manager who were happy to get us something else. We tried the Margherita flatbread which was tasteless. The service was ok, but the food was awful. read more

This is our favorite big night out spot, but we actually had the best experience on a random night when there was a ridiculous wait at the two family restaurants nearby. The food is always incredible, and the service impeccable. We have splurged on more expensive spots in MetroWest and Boston, but always regret not having gone to Sonoma again. Each time we've gone the menu has been inventive and varied. We LOVE the amuse-bouche always presented at the beginning of the meal (one exception...new years eve's presentation was an equally appreciated pomegranate liqueur to sample). The breads with the accompanying tapanades and roasted garlic exceed that of Sel de la Terre, Natick's, and are complimentary with your meal. The Caesar salad is by far the best we have ever had, and we have tried this salad everywhere we've traveled. The main courses are as exceptional as everything else. Everything we've had has been perfect. If you feel like treating yourself, and want city quality and experience at Worcester prices, this is a wonderful example of the better aspects of living in this part of the state. read more

The ambiance, service, and the background music are great. They had a good wine and beer list. The food was just OK for he price. We split a salad that was flavorful and fresh. My wife had the vegetable torta and I had the Korean short ribs. The food was fairly pedestrian and not what you would expect where entrees are $30+ a plate. I expected the short ribs to melt in my mouth, but they were chewy. I have had better at half the price. The desert cart came around and were enticed into trying the peanut butter cheese cake. The texture was weird and the flavor was just OK. Not a great finish... Overall Sonoma has some good attributes, but it is very expensive for what you get (we were with a party of 5 and my wife and I dropped $180) and does not it deliver a top notch, memorable experience. read more

Nice place, but wasn't convinced. Had the Asian Stir Fry; rubbery, over cooked lobster, sauce was uninspiring and over salted. My fault to order something exotic in a country bistro. Should have ordered something seasonal and orthodox, and locally sourced. I will give Sonoma another try next time. Great dinner ambiance, classical guitar player (a music professor at a nearby college) played my request for 'Granada' by Albeniz. Bartender was attentive and friendly. They do have Spencer Abbey Pale Ale which is made up the road by Trappist monks. Outstanding pale ale. read more

My boyfriend wanted to take me somewhere special last night and I choose Sonoma. We made reservations because it gets a little busy on friday nights. We are a both in our early 20's and are big into food and wine. We got the goat cheese app which was excellent. The wine list is great and we choose a bottle of Riesling. Everything came out right on time, we did not feel rushed at all. I ordered the salmon and it was cooked to perfection. The sides it was served with were great and they give you a little of everything, my favortie was the risotto. My boyfriend ordered the lamb, an unusual choice for him, and he loved it. They had a guitarist playing nice soft music that really set the mood. The service was exceptional! Being a server myself I couldnt have asked for a nicer, more attentive server. We were too full for dessert but they all looked delish! Yes its pricey but for the quality of food and service its worthe every penny. For an app, two entrees, and two bottles of wine it was about 120.00 without tip. Sonoma you are really a treat and we will be back as soon as possible. read more

I was expecting 5 stars, to match what I knew would be an expensive dinner. Everything about the dinner though was just OK. Nothing was bad, or even less than OK, but nothing really stood out. At $400 for a a party of 4, I would have expected something much better. Everyone ordered a special for the night. The food was cooked well, and served promptly, but nothing was memorable. Sonoma's food is very conservative. For better food (at a better price) there are more options within a 30 minute drive. read more

First of all I loved the food here. Our server was very good. But I know this is not the restaurants fault but we asked for a quiet romantic table. We had that for about 15 minutes until the they seated the most obnoxious inconsiderate people I have ever seen behind us.One man insisted on putting his jacket on a chair at a table next to him thereby preventing anyone else from sitting there and taking money out of the server's pocket. . During the meal his wife loudly discussed how she saved money and how she loved to flounce her hair. Then her husband loudly declared I wonder what the poor people are eating tonight? Which then led them to discuss how they are part of the 1%! They clearly were NOt! I had to vent since the restaurant is wonderful! People like this should stick to Appleby's! read more

AAA+ Our waiter David was very knowledgeable. Like all resturants every item is dependant on past experiences. I like my poke traditional like you find on the islands so I would not recommend thst item. The duck under glass gets an A+. The seafood pastery was also A+. Ceasar salad B. Carpaccio was AA+. read more

We went to Sonoma for my friend's birthday, and we had an exceptional dinner there. I had the duck entree, and it was scrumptious and prepared perfectly. The mashed sweet potatoes that accompanied the duck was the most amazing side dish I have ever had. The entire dinner was exquisite. We all loved our dinners, and did I mention dessert yet? It was amazing. The perfect ending to the perfect meal. The service was impeccable as well. Our waitress was wonderful and attentive. The dining room and bar area is beautiful and has a very nice atmosphere. We loved the stained glass ceiling dome in the middle of the restaurant. If you're looking for amazing food, great service, a wonderful wine list, and wonderful atmosphere, Sonoma is it. Sonoma is hands down the best restaurant in Worcester and my new favorite place! We can't wait to go back and try all the other delicious entrees. read more

I had always heard of this place when it was in Princeton and never had a chance to go until it moved to Worcester. For a Friday night it seemed like there were a lot of empty tables but that was in no way a reflection on the quality of the food - it was fantastic. We started with the Meze plate and seared tuna both of which were excellent. I then had the bone-in veal chop while my wife had the steak au poivre which were both delicious. Dessert was a gingerbread cheesecake and cappuccino. The gingerbread in the cheesecake was subtle enough without being overpowering which was a concern in ordering but it was perfect. I'm not sure if the night we came was a one off situation with the empty tables and all but there is no reason for it. The food is far too good to not be packed all the time. Will definitely return again and again. read more

Management is completely unreasonable. They would not accommodate a completely reasonable request.

I recently attended a wine dinner at Sonoma and the entire experience was top notch. Each course was innovative and true 'foodie' experience. The food was truly amazing, the wine selection perfectly matched, and the atmosphere welcoming. I would not hesitate to return, and will absolutely recommend this restaurant. read more

Loved Sonoma is Princeton, hated it in Worcester. Décor is blah and food is blah. I ordered pork loin with crab and what I received was a dry, tough piece of meat with some shredded white things on top that I assume was supposed to be the crab (couldn't tell by the taste) but looked like shredded coconut. The other 3 people in our party were also not impressed. The steak ordered rare came well and at that point, everyone is already eating so it did not get sent back. Will not return, ever. PS, it was Christmas, how about some lights or at least a poinsettia, very blah. read more

"You tell them that I cut into this filet and it is cooked to perfection and you will take it off the bill but I will not bless them with another". This is how my wife and I envision the scenario in the kitchen played out between the egocentric chef/owner and the hard working server we had at Sonoma. Let me start from the beginning. My wife and I went out for an evening alone after a house full of family for the holiday. The night started out great with a pleasant bartender who wound up being our waitress. The food was great from the ahi tuna appetizer to the salads and the tapenade that was a pleasant surprise. However, the main course came and my wife's filet was definitely cooked more than medium. Our experience thus far was great but I could see when she cut into it that she wasn't pleased. I saw that the filet looked dry and said we need to send it back. My wife said that she didn't want to because by the time she got it back my meal would be cold. I said not to worry about me and get the steak cooked properly. When we told the waitress she agreed that the steak was over cooked. Well 15 minutes went by and we still didn't have another steak. When we asked the waitress where it was she apologized and said she would check. The other owner who is the Chet's wife came over to apologize but what she said next was astonishing. Rather than say I am so sorry about the steak she said "they cut into the steak and it looked fine but we will take it off the bill ". We didn't give a crap about the $30 but my wife wanted a meal. Then we began to realize that there was no other steak coming and the a$&hole chef refused to cook another. My wife and I have both worked in restaurants and have both experienced these egotistical chefs that hide behind their swinging door while wielding a knife at the hard working server that has to be the bearer of this kitchen god's news. So the clincher to the evening was when I looked on open table and saw that they had cancelled our reservation so we couldn't comment on our experience. I called and spoke with the owner and amazingly it was changed in my account. The bottom line is we are a couple of empty nesters that eat out several nights a week and thought we found a regular spot that was close to home. Instead we will never step foot in there again and we will continue to tell our story. It's amazing how many people we run into while we are out and discuss other restaurants. read more

Recently dined there where we sat at the bar and got excellent service. We split an excellent Caesar and the "cigar" [sandwich] app which was very good. The onion soup I had was excellent but I prefer more cheese on it. Only complaint was the rude and excessively noisey group dining nearby. I feel that it is the duty to a bartender or manager to ask these disrespectfull people to quiet down. That didn't happen. read more

I had a really bad experience with a date I was on at this restaurant and the staff could not have been any nicer. My waiter, Andrew, was amazing and made me feel so much better. The drinks were excellent and so was my chicken dish. The outdoor seating is really nice and there was a guitar player playing pretty acoustic songs. Thank you very much to management and Andrew for making my night a bit better despite the circumstances! read more

I dined at Sonoma for my 4th and final time. The 1st experience, about 3 years ago, was nice, but it's been gradually downhill since then. The restaurant is tired. It's in a miniature strip mall. The wallpaper is peeling off all around the room where the wall meets the ceiling. And the ceiling ... a high end restaurant should not have a drop ceiling. They try to make it classier by painting it black and keeping the lights down low, but it is what it is. The women's bathroom had random hooks on the walls with nothing hanging from them and the paint was dinged up and poorly done. They kept the temperature of the dining room so cold that several people had their jackets and / or scarves on. On a positive note, the live music in the background is a nice touch. We were a group of 4 and spent about $100 per person. In central Massachusetts that price tag should get you an absolutely amazing meal. Our food was far from that. As other reviewers have mentioned, they give you five random scoops of side dishes - the same for every meal. Rack of lamb? You get mashed potatoes, spaghetti squash, green beans, carrots, and quinoa. Fish? You get mashed potatoes, spaghetti squash, green beans, carrots, and quinoa. Steak? You get the idea. I've never seen a nice restaurant not bother with pairing sides and mains. So strange. And the mashed potatoes were like glue, the green beans flavorless, and the list goes on. My husband had the osso bucco for $40 and was incredibly disappointed. It was nowhere near as tender and fall-off-the-bone as it should have been. My lamb for $45 was good but nothing earth shattering. We tried to find a bright spot by ordering dessert. Again, disappointing. I'm almost certain the chocolate sauce on the profiteroles was from a Hershey's jar. Oh, and I can't forget about the amuse. Pomsecco. Yep, a miniature glass of watered down prosecco with a splash of pomegranate juice. Yikes. Unfortunately to top it off the service was slow and uninspired. Again, for this price tag they should have a truly over-the-top professional waitstaff. We waited for a very long time even to hear the specials, we poured our own wine from the bottle, they brought Sprite instead of Club Soda ... again, the list goes on. We don't have many choices in central Massachusetts for high end restaurants, and I'm taking this one off the already very short list. read more

We were concerned the move from Princeton would change the atmosphere, well it did; to an even greater experience. The food is prepared to perfection, the presentation was delightful and the wait staff are wonderful especially Marry Ann. Thank you for hosting our small company Christmas party, all had a wonderful experience. read more

We were disappointed with the new Sonoma. We have been Sonoma fans for many years in Princeton. Here the service was just adequate. The appetizer was bland. We were not offered bread and there was no complimentary appetizer. The entree was better, but not amazing. It's not a place to go to celebrate a special event. read more

The best I've been to in a very long time. It was my husband's birthday and he has been wanting to go to Sonoma for a very long time. It was everything and more than we expected. Our server, Debbie, was excellent and very attentive. The food was outstanding. I did not walk away with that uncomfortable FULL feeling, I was pleasantly satisfied. I would definately go back there in a heartbeat. Loved it!!!! read more

We have been looking for a fine dining experience outside Boston for a while. Found this one on the internet. Though the location in the small strip mall is detering, the ambience within is a whole different world. There was a guitarist playing classical, sophisticated decor, and waitstaff was polite and observant. Most importantly they made the extra effort to meet our expectations. I would definitely recommend. read more

I waited to write a review about Sonoma because my first two experiences here were so good that it deserved a "5" and I wanted to make sure I was right. Here it is, this restaurant is better than anything you will find in Massachusetts. It rivals Pisces in Chatham for food creativity, it is far better than any place in Central Mass period. I have eaten beef, fish and vegetarian entrees at Sonoma and I have not had a bad morsel of food here. Every course has been outstanding. It is pricey so if you're looking for three pounds of pasta for $7.99 stay at the Olive Garden....but if you want a creative menu with an emphasis on local ingredients and the freshest food try it. Unlike many hih end restaurants, the serving sizes are large enough to share, each entree is served with an assortment of five or six tasting sides...a small portion of risotto, or spinach or whatever the Chef has to offer. This place is a real gem and you need to try it, soon. read more

Sonoma is a great place for many reasons. First off, it's in the country and how often do you find a gourmet place to go out in the countryside that you actually want to go to over and over again? It's in a small strip mall almost missable but the sign is pretty big out front so don't worry that you'll fly by it. The outside is deceiving of what you'll find inside. It's small but cozy inside and more importantly, comfortable. No hoity toityness to it. Secondly, the food is true gourmet. My partner always gets the lamb chops. She hardly ever gets lamb chops anywhere else because she says they just won't commpare to Sonoma's so why bother. They are spot on everytime we eat there. I however like a variety and have many dishes here and have not been disappointed with any. This time, we tried the ostrich appetizer. It was medium rare on crostini with goat cheese and was magnificent. If you're looking for a nice place to celebrate or just want to be in a comforting country place with excellent food where you can relax, breath and have some top notch food, give Sonoma a try. You won't be disappointed. read more

Great service! Never certain what to expect when restaurants are in a "strip mall" type locale, but this place is a little slice of heaven. I told my hubby, after an amazing birthday dinner, that I felt I had a food buzz. We're not drinkers, but I literally felt high after this meal. Fantastic!! And they are happy to accommodate special requests/dietary needs. How lucky are we to live in a small, out of the way town, with such high quality food and service?!?! I would HIGHLY recommend this spot! read more

Returned to Sonoma for New Year's Eve dinner again and it was great! Two of us had the lamb chops - excellent! - and the third person in our party ahd the prime rib - very tasty as well. Service was super and desserts were super as well. read more