Sonoma Bistro Bar and Grill — Restaurant in Nutley

Okay, I’m going to chime into some of the noise here. I’ve eaten at this place three times. I’ve yet to have a negative experience with the food, it’s why I didn’t hesitate to comeback when my co worker and I decided to go for dinner here after our shift (we’re both waiters). Similar to some other reviews on here, I also had the experience of an added gratuity to my check. Without notice, and without any expectation that that would be the case and for the life of me I couldn’t find anything notifying that would be the case on their menu OR their website. We were two people. Two. Our bill was barely over $150. And not only that, the gratuity added was 25%. Not 20%, as mentioned by other reviews. Both times I’ve eaten here, brunch once with a friend and another time alone for dinner, I’ve never had the gratuity added. But you want to know what’s funny ? I’ve always tipped 25% or more easily each and EVERY time. Is there something I’m missing here ? Because while I don’t expect nor intend to be remembered for that, I do expect to be notified if that situation in the bill is going to change. I’m not going to lie, I feel some type of way about it. Not because it was done, but because it’s inconsistent. If there’s some kind of written notice that I missed, I’m open to accepting my ignorance of that. If there’s not - then I highly encourage management to address it as it was bit upsetting for me even as a tipped employee in this industry. I’ll definitely be back, and I recommend this place highly otherwise, I just want to understand why this happened. On another note, the food was INCREDIBLE. The salmon was seared perfectly. Everything was well seasoned, beautifully presented, whoever the people putting that food together know what they’re doing and deserve all the praise in the world for it. That being said, yeah, go for it. But check your bill before you pay out. For what it’s worth to the owner, your staff is very kind, it’s why I left extra cash on top of what somebody presumed I...

When you can smell the corn tortilla before biting it, you know its good! My order of Los Pinches Tacos with steak came with three yellow corn tortilla tacos, avocado, freshly cut cilantro, onions, and the perfect amount of cut up steak that did not disappoint.

Before my tacos, my husband ordered a Burreta Brushetta as an appetizer serving size enough for two. The arugula was fresh, the tomatoes, peppers and onions still tasted hot off the grill with prosciutto, fresh mozzarella drizzled with balsamic vinagrete and olive oil. We brought it down with their still water Aguapana that was refreshing served with lemon.

My husband had a Grilled Chicken Sandwich with pesto sauce, grilled peppers and onions with pepper jack cheese and lettuce. As he bit into his sandwich I could hear the crunchy outside bun but the tenderness of the chicken and all the ingredients made his sandwich look succulent even for the most difficult food critics. This sandwich comes with bacon, he ordered his with no bacon and it didn't disappoint!

I would definitely return and try their enchiladas chilaquiles which will be next for me!

The waiter was attentive and courteous with my husband who is a hard critic for service, cleanliness and quality of food.

Their decorations and style was a reflection of the Day of the Dead decorated with a black background with mosaic colors of roses, marigolds, their awning letters gave a similarity to the lighted candles you would normally see. For those that love taking pictures they had an awning angel wings ready for photo booth as you wait close to the entrance. Great place to be around Halloween or just to watch a game with all their television screens in just about every corner had a game on.

There's street parking on the side of the building, speak to the workers to make sure its available for patrons. There's street side parking as well. It was not crowded for a...

Sonoma is a new bar and grill with fantastic food and service. I've been here once so far, and I can't wait to go back! I opted for the braised short rib (pictured), which was the best iteration of its kind I've had in the area. My wife selected the skirt steak, which was perfectly cooked throughout and came with some especially well prepared, if simple, sides. Seasoning was light but flavorful, and the taste of the meat in each dish was clearly trusted to be the star based on quality of preparation. The tenderness of my short rib was such that it could easily be eaten with a single utensil. As an uncivilized glutton who couldn't help himself after the first bite, I ended up haphazardly assaulting the dish with two forks in my haste to devour every last bit.

Service at Sonoma was extremely friendly, and multiple staff members came to check in with our table throughout the meal. Our server recommended bottled water to accompany our meal, a potential upcharge that I wasn't initially keen on, but he went on to explain that the construction taking place down the street left the tap water inconsistent in taste and quality. I appreciated the honesty and we took the advice.

Price-wise, Sonoma has a lot of options. If you stick to appetizers and nurse a drink while watching the game on their big screens, you could probably spend $15-20. If you are intending to have a meal, expect to spend $15-25 per person on light fare or $25-35 on more hearty dishes. No one in my party ordered a lighter dish, so I cannot speak to any differences that might accompany the cost differential.

Parking is convenient with free lots both behind the building and behind the adjacent buildings in a large lot around the block. There is some street parking right outside as well, if that's your thing.

Overall, I was thrilled with Sonoma and will definitely...