78050 Wed Feb 01 15:24:37 -0800 2006 9 2 Los Angeles Area 0 430709 Thinking of going but after reading a lukewarm review in the Times today I'm having second thoughts. Anyone been recently and has had a better time than IRV who is usually dead on in her evals.? Wed Feb 01 15:24:37 -0800 2006 0 StanS 1 430723 SONA is a 9 on the food scale. Go there. Get the six-course tasting (plus CHEESE). You will enjoy it. Obviously, it's going to be better if the name-brand chef is there than if he's not (ask when you reserve). The service IS a bit over-serious and fussy, and I was stunned to learn that wine storage there is actually a block away (or maybe more, I couldn't really ascertain), so if you order a nice bottle of wine as I did, more likely than not, someone is going to have to run two blocks round-trip to get it for you - this can take quite a while, in my experience. All this aside, if you think SIV gets it right more often than not, then I'd like to start subscribing to the version of the LAT you read. I've found them to be on the mark mostly when SIV is on vacation and Leslie Brenner (the food ed, I think) takes over the reviewing reigns. Wed Feb 01 16:58:39 -0800 2006 430709 0 Ummmmm.... 1 430732 Ignore this morning's review. Go and order the six course tasting menu along with the wine pairing. Worth every penny. Wed Feb 01 17:56:13 -0800 2006 430709 0 DAC 1 430733 Seems on the mark to me. For a place that small, the chef needs to be there. FWIW, I was recently at Providence, and the Chef MC was there and very much involved. I would recommend Providence over Sona. Wed Feb 01 17:57:18 -0800 2006 430709 0 Adsvino 2 430759 I have to vehemently disagree with you here -- a recent (mid last year) meal at Sona was far and away better and more memorable than a late December meal at Providence. We had six course meal with paired wines at Sona. Had five course meal, also with paired wines, at Prov. I believe the prices were comparable, despite the extra course at Sona. At Sona -- Service was exceptional. Food was sublime. Wines were sensational. I tried to track down a bottle of one of them the next day (a delicate German reisling, I think) -- nowhere to be found. At Prov -- Sevice was fine. Food was disappointing -- first course was wonderful, the rest downhill. Monkfish liver pate was very fishy... Grouper wasn't worthwhile. Cheese plate was unremarkable. Paired wines were *very* disappointing. So, on this slender basis alone, I would emphatically recommend Sona over Prov. Then again, I have no idea if MC was in attendance on the Sunday eve we dined there... Wed Feb 01 19:50:57 -0800 2006 430733 0 Max Million 1 430787 Went there a few weeks ago. We had the six course tasting menu. Really enjoyed it, (some things better than others.) Wine pairings were terrific, as was the extra cheese course. Cindy wrote a great description. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/77247#425649 Wed Feb 01 21:15:43 -0800 2006 430709 0 Sandra W. 1 430867 Go! I took my SO there for his birthday in October and it was a fabulous, food-intense experience. David was there, and though I knew no one at Sona, came out to talk to us (I was thrilled to meet him). We did the 9-course tasting with one regular wine pairing and one premium wine pairing. I love that each person gets a different dish for each course--I have never experienced that before and it really added to our experience. Yes, it was the most expensive meal of our lives (even more so than Hiramatsu in Paris) but it is one we will not soon forget. I thought the servers who delivered the food sometimes did not explain as well what we were having as they could have, but other than that, service was enthusiastic and very engaging (and catered to our every need, though we rarely had to ask for anything--they anticipated). The place had an energy that I found infectious. I plan to go back and eat at the bar, which was full when we were there. Then it need not be reserved for special occasions. I will say though that my friends dined at Sona (total coincidence-they were visiting from NYC and chose the same place as we did) the same evening as we did, and ordered off of the regular menu. They too raved about it. To respond to another post, we did the Providence 6-course tasting menu with wine pairings for my b-day a few wks ago. Half the price (due in large part to our choices) but still fabulous. A very different environment - I found it much more sedate, and that extended to the service (which I found impeccable, btw, incl. the sommelier's wine pairing choices). We remarked that we loved both experiences, but felt they were very different -- which is what is so great. I can't remark on the presence of the chef b/c Michael was at Providence when we ate there (he also came out to talk to us - I'm a chef-groupie and I think the servers can tell :) and as I said, David at Sona. Thu Feb 02 13:12:56 -0800 2006 430709 0 Megan 1 431022 Irene really need to hang up her fork and they need to get a young, fresh reviewer in at the newspaper - Do not listen to her - Sona is amazing and David Myers is a top LA talent! Go and Eat well! Thu Feb 02 20:25:12 -0800 2006 430709 0 garnish girl 2 431039 Amen Thu Feb 02 21:03:28 -0800 2006 431022 0 DAC 2 431041 Amen Thu Feb 02 21:04:54 -0800 2006 431022 0 DAC