Sonata Cafe Bar & Art

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  I went here for the first time last night and it was nothing like I expected.  I was expecting more comfy chairs and coffee shop than the restaurant/bar that I found.  We went on a Saturday with no reservations but because we got there at 6:30 we were still able to get a seat at the bar.  So I guess my advice would be to make a reservation.  
  
  I ordered a coffee (even though I didn't feel like I was in a coffee shop) and it seemed like they really just brought me a giant cup of espresso.  It threw me off because it had foam on it.  I don't really know what I drank but it still tasted good and I drank it all.  
  
  We ordered the pappardelle al fungui (pasta with mushrooms) and dedo de pollo (chicken stuffed with goat cheese and then wrapped in bacon).  Both of us very much liked our food.  The pasta easily could have been a dish on its own (if you weren't starving).  I only ate about half of it.
  
  While sitting at the bar I did notice a lot of fun drinks being made and it seems like it would be a fun place to come grab cocktails some time.  I'll have to remember this place when I'm looking for a place to go with some of my North side friends.

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  Posted on 01.20.13 Emel S.

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  Went there on a Friday night , they had live music, a great atmosphere, everything seem good until we ordered ,and got BLOWN AWAY with the food ! They don't have a huge menu, but there's so many different flavors in every plate,  not at all the typical kind of  food you find around here ,they have amazing art, and a really nice hostess , even though we didn't have a reservation she told us she'll get us a  table upstairs..( the main dining area) , and she sat us on a table by the window with a nice view of Main street. Extensive  cocktail and wine menu, definitely coming back!

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  Posted on 12.02.12 Lauren S.

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  Delicious food, lovely atmosphere, fine service. The servings are extremely small, even for a tapas bar though.

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  Posted on 09.03.12 Crystal K.

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  Great location for watching people in Carmel's Art & Design District as you dine, so patio seats are popular.  Downstairs, you find a comfy, brunch-y atmosphere, complete with dessert case at register.  Haven't tried the coffee bar or lunch menu yet - European offerings.  
  Upstairs, you find an elegant full-serve bar and white tableclothed tables for 2 or 4.  Appreciated the art - this place has style.
  Enjoyed the variety of tapas on the menu.  Good portions, too. The Dedo de Pollo (bacon-wrapped chicken stuffed with goat cheese) is superb.  It's so good we stopped in on a Sunday (when they don't serve dinner menu, just brunch) hoping to meet a craving specifically for their bacon-y, cheesy goodness.
  Large selection of artisanal bread tapas.  Loved the Mediterranean flavors of the Picasso with olive tapenade, prosciutto & manchego cheese.
  Great flavors on the cocktail menu, though all drinks seem to run a little more expensive (i.e. $1 more per beer) than other local venues.  Sparkling Bellini's a real peach.  
  Looking forward to bringing friends so we can share/taste more items.  Heard great things about the bread pudding - it's a secret family recipe.

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  Posted on 05.09.12 Nina J.

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  Had a great lunch and coffee. A different spot for Carmel.

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  Posted on 03.22.12 M S.

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  Intimate setting, excellent variety of tapas, varied selection of wines.   Bartenders are incredibly friendly. We ordered 3 small plates. 2 of them were phenomenal, and the other was very good. A dessert of hot brownie with vanilla gelato finished off a 5 star evening. We will definitely be back.

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  Posted on 03.14.12 Shane L.

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  Enjoyed our visit. Food was very good. The menu was kind of brief so hoping they change it occasionally.  Atmosphere was relaxed and casual. Upstairs bar is small but well stocked. Wine list is not great but covers all of the popular flavors. Service was just slightly over attentive but very respectful. Room was full.

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  Posted on 12.09.11 Bill E.

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  My friends and I went here for lunch and were not impressed at all.  The place was dirty.  There was a muffin in the case that had mold on it.  There was food all over the floors.  Our sandwiches came out with fuzz all over them.  I also had something floating in my drink. Yuck!

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  Posted on 11.16.11 Julie B.

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  This is exactly the kind of place I'm hoping Carmel, and the Arts District will have more of - intimate, non-chain, offering something other than the usual burger or steakhouse run-of-the-mill places.
  We got to the restaurant at 10PM after a play at the Tarkington, and the woman who greeted us was very accommodating. The kitchen already closed, but they made a few of the tapas for us, and they were excellent. The bar tender was friendly, but not overly so, and he wasn't trying to nudge us out even though it was clearly closing time.
  There's room for improvement for the sangria, but we will definitely be back to try other items on the food menu - and hopefully the churros.

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  Posted on 11.13.11 Zs B.

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  The proprietress greeted us and was very warm and interested in providing a good dining experience.  There was a brief wine tasting, that added a nice touch.  We had a reservation, which other diners did not - yet we were placed at the least desirable table in the upper area, when better tables were available.  The service was good, but the tapas menu and preparation was only ok.  Nothing special - nothing to draw us back again.  The glass art was unusual and interesting, but the paintings looked like those created at the Wine and Canvas where people go to paint by instruction.

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  Posted on 11.01.11 Sharon W.

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  I can't speak to the tapas/small plates, my spouse & I dropped in to enjoy an after dinner coffee and dessert. The restaurant is very nicely decorated with an incredible art glass piece as the focal point of the restaurant. The owner also owns an art gallery and she has numerous paintings displayed on the walls. We sat upstairs in the room that contained the bar; at about 9:30 there were perhaps 3 occupied tables. We enjoyed a rum cake with pistachio ice cream that was absolutely delicious. We also had Nutella Macchato coffees that were great. The coffee was only $2.50 and the dessert was $6 which we found very reasonable. The only minor issue was that the waiter seemed a bit inexperienced. He was pleasant and he apologized for being slow to take our orders. When we asked him to describe one of the coffee drinks, he told us that he wasn't exactly sure how it was made but had a pretty good guess... It didn't take away from the overall experience but it could have been better.

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  Posted on 10.29.11 J. W.

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