There’s a rare jewel nestled within the quiet bluff town of Capistrano Beach. Until now, it’s been a local’s best-kept secret. Gourmands and wine lovers, locals and visitors, feast your senses, and your palates while dining in the tastefully decorated and casually sophisticated new eatery in town. Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar offers the subtle elegance and flavor of fine wine country cuisine, leaving a taste for more.

A deliciously well-rounded menu makes it a challenge to settle on an entrée, and the soups and salads are as creative as they are tasty. Specializing in seafood, the roasted sea bass has already become a local favorite and the house-made lobster ravioli appetizer is an indescribable delicacy. Filet with bordelaise, herb-roasted chicken, and Sonoma duck in pinot noir sauce are just a sampling of the fare for those who prefer meat and poultry, and then of course there’s the wine. The wine bar boasts an extensive and diverse menu, with select wines by the glass and a vintage to please either the budding or the expert connoisseur.

Some restaurants skimp when it comes to the bread, writing it off as fool’s gold or an appetite squelcher. Sonoma’s fresh rolls rival a baker’s best, with a crunchy crust and perfect consistency that only enhance an already flawless culinary experience. It takes guts to serve irresistible bread and the confidence that it will serve only as a compliment to the rest of a superb meal. The service is impeccable and gracious. All in all, at Sonoma, amiable ambiance and taste treats abound.

Helmed by proprietor Raymond Hamedany, Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar is a gastronomic gem and a product of the heart. Hamedany has owned eight different restaurants, seven of those in Boston, and is a 30 year veteran of the business. Culinary school and graduate degrees in business and economics further substantiate his credibility and commitment to excellence and style.

As for the grapes, Hamedany is an avid wine collector and offers 200 different vintages mostly from California, and more specifically, Sonoma County. For those who don’t know, Sonoma Wine Country is the “New Napa”, with all the distinction and less commotion. These qualities are embraced and personified at Sonoma Restaurant. Wines by the glass are reasonably priced, ranging from $6.50 to $11.00, and there are many from which to choose.

Fine dining with a relaxed atmosphere is a rare blend and appeals to the coastal lifestyle. With a gracious, skilled host, impeccably fashioned menu and ambiance, and a sophisticated wine bar, Sonoma Restaurant is a gem of a find. There’s no substitute for the actual wine country experience, but dining at Sonoma is a feast for the senses and a slice of the authentic at home.

Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar is located at 376-378 Camino Estrella and can be contacted at 949-248-4925.