Sorella Caffe
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
34 reviews
San Rafael, CA
"Excellent pizza! I really like the way they load the toppings on. Service was super attentive too. The veg toppings (I got a vegetarian…" read more »
48 Reviews for Sorella Caffe
Anyplace that will encourage my love of cheese, is an A++ in my book! I have never had a bad meal here and I love that it is family owned and operated. Friday nights they have an accordion player Friday nights to add some flavor!
To start, they bring you fresh Parmasean (the real stuff), an olive medley, and delicious sourdough. This to me is a fine way to start a meal. Order some house wine and you'll get a rooster pitcher. Just want a glass? Request a goblet- it's so much more fun!
The food is consistent. I love the eggplant parmesean and the tortelini maria. I can't say I've had anything that sent me over the moon, but so delicious. I do wish they would vary their specials up a little or just add them to the menue and stop calling them specials. Regardless, you really can't go wrong. Bring a group and they'll take care of you. Try going for date night and expect a quiet night? You'll be disappointed. Just looking for a quality meal? Enjoy!
You know when a place is beyond good when it is packed to the gills on a Sunday night. Some friends of ours took my husband and I here for dinner a few weeks ago and I was very impressed.
My husband and I shared the Insalata Caprese. The ingredients were obviously fresh.... which we should have just stuck with. I thought the husband was sharing my entree with me but he ordered the Sunday dinner special (cioppino) and my jaw hit the floor. I wasn't that hungry and thought that it was all about me and my steak. But apparently it wasn't. I usually order a steak.... eat half and bring the rest home to my dog. Yes, I said 'my dog'. Look..... if you had my dog, you'd do the same thing... look at him: http://static.px.yelp....
He's the cutest fucking thing ever. EVER.
I was full during the Caprese.... the half loaf of bread and the 2 glasses of iced tea. Approaching explosion, I couldn't stop eating.... the food is that good. My husband's cioppino was quite good.
Why only 3 stars? I felt like we were being rushed to hurry up and wait, order and rush eating our meals. While I was still playing with my food, we were asked about dessert and coffee. And after reading the other reviews, we were not offered the Parmesan and olive medley. I thought that every table was ordering it. Apparently it's delicious according others.
I wouldn't know.
FUCKERS.
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pizza here is best one in Fairfax. Their toppings are very very fresh
and the people are very nice and welcoming.
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I love Sorella's. It's my favorite italian restaurant in marin. The olives, bread, and cheese they bring you in the beginning are a great way to stave off the hunger while you oggle the other diner's meals. I've had almost every pasta dish on the menu and reccomend the butternut squash raviolli and pasta puttanesca. During the summer they have sangria by the goblet or caraffe. It's delicious. When you've finally finished what you can of your huge plate of food and are waiting for them to box it, they bring you complimentary gummie bears and animal crackers which fills that sweet-tooth craving without pushing you over the edge of full.
i have only eaten at this place once, but for that was enough. Not only were prices very high, but my meal was drenched in oil and the acoustics in the building were deafening with the full house. If i'm in the mood for a nicer italian dinner while in fairfax, I'll be sure to go to fradelizios or to deer park villa.
Maybe I am missing something, but I think this place is over-rated. I ate there about 4 months ago, and was underwhelmed. When I went back to give it another try a couple of Saturdays ago, I again had an unsatisfying dining experience. Service was SO SLOW, I almost walked out. The food was okay- that's why I gave it 2 stars. The food wasn't heavy, but I wished it had some more flavor. My pasta dish was bland with a fairly watery sauce, and my friend's chicken parmesan tasted pre-fabricated. At the end, I was waiting for a nice, fulfilling dessert. But instead, the waiter brought out gummybears. GUMMYBEARS! I thought this was an ITALIAN restaurant! If I wanted gummybears, I would have gone down the street and gotten some at the theatre (and I would have probably seen a great movie and I wouldn't have wasted my time trying out this restaurant again.)
I love this place, the atmosphere, the service and good basic Italian eats. This is always a fun place to bring people and though it can be loud it's more like being at a boisterous party.
Sorella is a special,cozy place to eat.
Food is ALWAYS consistantly good(how do they do it?!)
Love the family vibe and service.
Good,fresh and worth your dollar.
Thank you for this little gem in Fairfax!
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This place is great-- loads of character!
Our table top was decoupaged with magazine cut outs of various plates of food, there's a little wood stove in one part of the dining area, strings of white lights, leafy plants, etc. The whole place is just charming and laid back.
We got there at 8:30 on a weeknight, so granted we may have missed the family-time mayhem that some reviewers talk about...
Our waiter was easy-going and friendly. The hostess (who I understand is one of the owners...) was really cool and friendly.
In fact all of the staff seemed very down to earth and cool-- I liked that they weren't into the butt-kissing type of customer service, more of a general, "we're all cool here" vibe... Towards the end of the night, a few of the wait staff could be seen enjoying a pasta dish and a beer while chatting.
The food's yummy. Really solid Italian comfort food.
Olives and a wedge of fresh Parmesan-- delicious. Good bread, although it would have been nice if the butter hadn't been freezing and rock solid.
Totally cute, and a definite keeper. I'll be back.
Great Italian cuisine. Good variety to the menu and solid quality food and portions. The fresh carved Parmesan and marinated olive appetizer are a lovely accompaniment to their reasonably priced wines.
Can't say enough good things about Sorella. I go there at least a couple times a month, and it is fantastic every single time. Food is delicious, service is excellent, and the charm can't be beat. It's a popular restaurant (deservedly so), but Soyara (one of the owners) will bring you a glass of wine while you're waiting, which is always a nice touch.
Once you're seated, you'll be welcomed with fresh bread, a bowl of olives, and a slice of "The Big Cheese", a giant wheel of parmesan of which they carve off a small piece for each diner. I've had a number of dishes there, and everything is fantastic. As a vegequarian, I haven't had their meat dishes, though my dining companions who are meat eaters have always raved. My personal favorites are the Eggplant Parmesan and Pasta Primavera with Salmon. And their specials (which I also orderly frequently) are delicious.
Regardless of what you order, you can't go wrong at Sorella.
This place is so cute and the food is damn good... The butternut squash and gnocchi were delish!
Before I came here for dinner, I was reading the Yelp reviews and noticed the mention of the sneering bald waiter... of course when I arrive to Sorella and my server arrives... it's the bald waiter (unless there's more than one bald waiter)! I definitely trust my fellow Yelpers so I was a bit worried about the service at that point but he ended up being quite pleasant and very attentive... maybe he was having an off day??
Anyway, great food and service, this will definitely be a regular spot for me whenever I find myself in Fairfax.
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Great warm little spot in Fairfax to grab some Italian food. One a cold winter night there isn't much better than having a good meal next to a warm fire, and if you come to Sorella's you're in luck.
You'll want to get there early if it is on the weekend since the place gets packed and you'll have a decent wait on your hands.
As far as the food goes my personal favorite dish is the butternut squash ravioli, really doesn't get much better.
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My family of four (including a 6 & 5 year old) just had dinner for the umpteenth time here so I must yelp about how fabulous it always is for us.
This is a GREAT place for well-behaved children. The cheese and olives that come out immediately are a huge hit with my kids, (same for the gummy bears and cookies after dinner).
The food is consistently delicious, the service is personal and efficient, and the prices are great.
Support your local small businesses! Discover and support Sorella's!
xoxo
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this is the cutest restaurant i have we have been to in a long time. the food was excellent and the service was great. they really have great tomato sauce and my chicken parm was perfect. not dry! the perfect date restaurant, so cute! not pretentious. they are like michaelangelos in sf with a little cup of gummy bears for dessert and some animal crackers.
One time I went to this place with my parents and my husband. There was a bit of a wait and the server brought out some wine for people to have. She poured my mom a glass, then my father, me and the entire group of people next to us. She even brought out a beer for one guy.
She totally skipped over my husband.
They have good food but they only get three stars because they didn't give him wine or beer and since this happened two years ago and I still have to hear about it from him...they loose a star.
HOLY CANNOLI! My husband just walked in while I was writing this..You know what he said?
Husband: "Who are you reviewing?"
Me: "Sorella Cafe"
Husband: "You meant he place that didn't give me a beer OR wine?"
Me: "Yeah I was actually writing about that"
Husband: " You gave them three stars?!?! I am totally going to write my own review of that place"
So I guess you can look forward to his review..unless you have already read it and in that case I hope you enjoyed his review. And mine.
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Have eaten here many times. Service can be off at times and as others have stated it can get busy. The food however is good to very good with only the rare disappointing dish. Prices are very reasonable. Parking lot is small but street parking is almost always available. Would recommend and will return (kind of a regular place for me). If your not from the area Fairfax is a little off the beaten trail, it is a bit of a drive from the 101.
Delicious food, and a fantastic ambiance.
It's really the best place to eat in the area, from the lighting to the noise level to the close-quarters, this is a really comfortable restaurant.
Their food is really spot on, but this is an example of good restauranteering, where any bump in the meal is smoothed over or goes unnoticed because all the other elements that go together to make a good meal are in place and in full effect.
This is my favorite place to eat, I dont go nearly enough but its alway in my heart.
the staff is amazing the food is delish! Very cozy and casual. I wish they were opened for lunch
Wonderful local haunt with consistently good fresh food. The menu doesn't change much from day to day, week to week, but every time I've been there (and it's going on 20+ times now) I've had a good solid meal with friendly timely service. They even make a modified dish for me without any raised eyebrows! Fish and meat dishes are excellent, as are the pasta dishes. The desserts are just OK, but that's not why we go.
Probably the best Italian in the area, Sorella is a good choice for anyone who appreciates fresh seasonal ingredients paired with great wine and is willing to pay the price for them.
The food is always great. You start off with fresh chunks of Parmesiano and bread with olives and olive oil. They usually have some great specials. I particularly like their Butternut Squash Ravioli (common dish, but done really well here) and their special seafood pastas.
The location is pretty out of the way for anyone but central marinites, but it's beautifully set next to Fairfax Park, and is a good stop after a day out in West Marin or up on Mount Tamalpias. The atmosphere inside can only be described as "cozy" with lots of redwood - much more Fairfax than Italy, but that only makes it more comfortable and inviting.
Service is generally pretty good, only complaint is sometimes it takes a while to grab someone, particularly when things get busy. They always recommend decent wines, and the house selection is usually fine.
Tip: skip desert. You get cookies and gummy bears with your check, and there's an awesome ice cream place (Scoop) not more than 3 blocks away, and probably two or three coffee shops on your way there.
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This place is awesome!! A friend and I stumbled upon this place when we had a change of plans because our movie was sold out in another town nearby. We decided to go to Fairfax's movie theater and while walking we found this place--and I'm so glad we did! First off, as soon as we walked in, the hostess (or owner?) offered us a complimentary glass of wine while we waited for a table! Free wine? Always a plus! The wait wasn't that long though and after getting to our table, I ordered the wild salmon--it was perfection! So tasty! I highly recommend if it is still on the menu. Oh, and the atmosphere and decor is absolutely adorable! Beautiful lighting and and charming little house. I hope to go back soon!
Screw this place, I'd rather eat at Olive Garden. Ok, well, if I could get a doggy bag here first. Yes, their food is good, but the overall dining experience has been terrible 3 out of 3 times for me.
On two occasions they had to comp us some food because of incredible wait times, on weeknights. Actually, one time they just lost our order or something and we had to wait forever. Did I mention the place is usually at a deafening roar? It's freaking loud.
Maybe I just need to go more with the Fairfax weirdflow... nah, I'd rather eat some place that isn't loud as hell and brings the food out in less than an hour. Yeah, they give out free wine while people wait, free gummi bears and cookies, but maybe if they didn't suck they wouldn't have to give out so much crap.
My family and I have known co-owners and sisters, Soy and Sonia, since they both worked at Michelangelo's in North Beach. We were so happy for them when they opened Sorella -- we try to drive up from the city and see them and have a meal at least a few times per year. Soy and Sonia are always, always, gracious, friendly and sweet. Obviously we love the service, but the food is also fantastic. As an Italian-American with 4 grandparents off the boat from Italy, I feel that I know a bit about Italian food and Sorella's is top-notch. I love the olives and cheese that appear as soon as we sit down. I love the various pasta dishes (always perfectly al dente and steaming hot) I love the chicken and seafood dishes as well. As for the gummy bears, this is a carry over from Michelangelo's and we were delighted to see that they continued this tradition. We have two daughters who would rather go to Sorella than just about anywhere else. We've introduced many friends to this wonderful restaurant and they all have raved about it.
Continued good success to Soy and Sonia and their warm and friendly and wonderful restaurant!
we went here while housesitting in Bolinas. It was fantasmic. The comp cheese and olives plus after dinner goodies just topped it off. Great salad, pasta was perfect, and scoops is right around the corner... soy strawberry.... droooool.
Luuuuuuuuvvvvvvvvve Sorella! Top 10 reasons why:
10. Nice, nice, nice people (staff AND owners)
9. Round fireplacey-thing in the middle
8. Heart-stopper steak with garlic and blue cheese
7. The BIG CHEESE! (Giant parmesan round the wait staff hacks off massive hunks and thuds 'em on your plate to gnaw on before dinner). I know, everyone mentions it, but still! Giant! Cheese!
6. Gummi bears and cookies after...bowls of them.
5. Dang decent wine selection
4. Mombo ginormous portions
3. Great desserts
2. Nice, welcoming local atmosphere
1.Wendy Fitz playing piano on Saturday nights (hint: go for a later dinner and get a table in the back and be prepared to hang out. You never know which other Fairfax muscians might show up to sing with her)
We initially tried to go here on a Saturday night for dinner - not a good idea. This place does not take reservations for parties less than 6 people and there's no real waiting area. However, the place has undeniable charm with its twinkle lights and wrap around bank of windows, so we tried again on Tuesday night for my birthday and had a GREAT time!
We should have expected great things from this place when we sat down though. The first thing that came to us at the table was not your standard ho-hum olive oil, grated parmesan and bread. Instead, the waiter came over with a half round of cheese fully 2-feet wide (which I initially mistook for a bowl but it was in fact the cheese rind itself) and dug out fresh chunks of parmesano-reggiano for our plates. We also received a small bowl of deliciously seasoned olives and a hearty chunk of good bread. With the bottle of wine we ordered, that could have passed for a great meal by itself and those were just the freebies.
I ordered the fish special - salmon in white wine sauce - which unfortunately tasted quite fishy. I wasn't going to mention anything but my husband insisted since it was my birthday and our waiter did not even hesitate to take it away even as I apologized for being the "When Harry Met Sally" customer. His reply - "we're here for you." I didn't want to chance a remake of the fish and ordered the butternut squash ravioli. Why I didn't order that to begin with I have no idea because it was TO DIE FOR!!! I will be returning to Sorella Cafe just to have that dish again. My husband ordered the lasagna which was also delicious, and it was a large enough portion that we took half home for a great lunch today.
The best thing about the whole evening though was the service. Our waiter was helpful and timely and when he found out it was my birthday, he brought a coconut topped flan with a single candle and rallied the entire restaurant in a chorus of Happy Birthday. It wasn't one of those chain restaurant type things where the staff gets together to sing a rehearsed variation of the song while marching around you - it was a spontaneous, unrehearsed gesture totally in keeping with the genuine charm of the place. He even brought over a corked jug of the port specially made for Sorella Cafe and set it on our table with two dessert shot glasses. We could have drunk the whole jug (though we didn't) and needless to say, it and the flan were on the house.
While a lot of my good feelings are probably due to the fact that it was my birthday, we got a lot of free stuff and I was treated like family, the entire wonderful experience at this place made a lasting impression on me, and I can't wait to go back again and bring my friends and family.
---I just read one of the other reviews that mentioned the bald waiter - he was our waiter and was fantastic!!!
Delicious wine. Delicious parmesian. Delicious olives. Delicious pasta. Delicious meatballs. Beautiful, relaxing atmosphere. Excellent service. Two Brazilian sisters who really know Italian cuisine.
My mouth is watering just writing this review.
Cute place. Delicious Italian seafood. Children Everywhere.
But seriously, they bring you giant chunks of parmagian cheese with your bread. how can you resist?
the whole town is seriously cute
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Wow~ we stumbled upon this place this weekend and had an amazing experience all around! From the outside, the place looked inviting and warm, all of which was confirmed when we walked inside.
We were greeted by a friendly woman who quickly seated us. The room was full of couples, families and friends and there was a very nice man playing live accordion music (it was wonderful!). We were greeted with a loaf of bread, cold butter, and a bowl of olives. To top it off, the waiver brought a wheel of fresh Parmesan and cut off two large chunks to add to our plates.
The service was excellent. The waiter knew all the specials by heart and told us which were his faves. And the food... delicious! We had the calamari fritti and two pasta dishes. During the meal, the accordion player sang happy birthday to a blushing 8 year old, while another little boy danced the "chicken dance" for the birthday girl (after learning that dance from the accordion player). It was all very sweet and the whole restaurant sang along.
I wish we saved room for dessert, but will have to try again next time. At the end of the meal, they brought a dish of cookies and gummy bears (nice touch, very cute!). Although our tab was only $40 dollars, we left feeling like royalty. That is why we are already planning our next visit!
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This is my favorite restaurant in Marin. Every dish I've had has been excellent. Be sure to get the crab cakes with mango salsa.... really really yummy. The first time i went here was to get take out and they took about 45 minutes to get our food ready, but it was a mistake by the girl in the front, and she made up for it with free deserts for all of us. Every other time the service has been great. This restaurant has it all... excellent food, great atmosphere, and great service.
i've got to throw thumbs up for sorella. this place is a staple of mine. i come once a month, it's in the hood, and i love the very friendly / family vibe. and the food is great. i'm from boston, where REAL italians eat real italian food, not 'italian-inspired california bullshit cuisine'. sorella kills it. the food is reasonably priced, and very very good. i haven't had a bad meal there yet.
yes, it's loud [uhm, it's a busy restaurant, if you want quiet go to a fucking library] and there can be a long wait [uhm, what, are you going to fault them for being popular? go to a shithole where you won't have to wait!] but it's a solid meal all the way around.
and who else gives out free wine when there's a line? that's just cool.
Been here several times and tried different meals each time. The food is incredible, my sister swears by their linguine with pesto. She can't even order it elsewhere because it never stacks up in comparison. They bring the yummiest cheese to start your meal and the ambiance is super fun and cozy. The service has always been prompt and friendly and they bring you cookies and gummi bears for dessert! You can never go wrong here!
If you are dining in Fairfax it should be at Sorella Cafe!
We had a fantastic dinner this evening with excellent service!
The Giant round of Parmigiana -Reggiano along with marinated olives and a generous loaf of bread couldn't have started our dinner off better.
After reading previous reviews we decided to arrive early, I think we were the 2nd table. We were greeted warmly and without a wait were quickly seated.
I ordered the Gnocchi in a tomato cream and boyfriend had the Chicken Parmesan with fresh veggies (he had a choice of pasta or veg). We both enjoyed the generous pour of the house Chianti at $6 a pop.
Our favorite was the Chicken, the Gnocchi was good but I felt it could have had a little more pizazz. We took Tiramisu to go (a giant serving for $7) and it is delish!!!
They end the meal with gummy bears and animal crackers (personally I was looking forward to these homemade cookies the previous reviews mentioned, but that was not the case.)
As we were leaving the place was packed! I recommend going early if you want a 'quiet' dinner, but this place is so much fun who cares!
update: went again tonight for our second visit. still 5 stars, possibly 4 since service was a tad slow, no still 5. We both ordered the chicken parm, which was silly since we should have shared. We took home full order that we enjoyed today for lunch, which surprisingly reheated very well. We will go back again as this seems to be my new, close to home, good for a small impatient child, favorite italian dinner spot.
We went around 7 ish this time and were seated right away, there were only a few open tables left.
Happy Dining!
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Awesome Italian in Fairfax! Nice for a romantic evening with a loved one in front of one the fireplaces(but good for families too-there's always kids there!)...love the cheese service and olives to start. I must like the gnochi cause I've ordered it 3 times, but everything they make is tasty. PLUS! where else do they give every table gummi bears at the end of the meal?!? Highly recommended.
I think I've eaten here about 50 times. All other restaurants at this location have failed miserably, but the two sisters (Sorella is Italian for 'sisters') have the formula. This place is always hopping. Soyara is the restaurant manager who greets you, her sister is the head chef. They go out of their way to get to know you and treat you like family.
Yes, it can be noisy but that's part of the charm. They have an accordion player with a sense of humor on Friday nights ('Tequila!' singalongs), piano usually on Saturdays.
Complimentary olives, bread, parmesan from The Big Cheese wheel, and almond cookies and gummy bears after your meal. The cuisine could be described as Neo-Italian, perhaps. Not old-school with red-and-white checkboard tablecloths and Chianti (that restaurant is two blocks away on the corner). My favorite menu items are the Butternut Squash Ravioli in browned butter and sage sauce, the Spaghetti with Meatballs, Eggplant Parmigiana and the Lasagna Bolognesa. I hear the salmon dishes are awesome, too.
Two gas-fired fireplace pits add warmth in the winter..
Greg is the best waiter ever!
Very highly recommended!
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The sisters are wonderful, the wait persons are wonderful (especially Rueben, but all of them are really friendly), and that big Parmigiana-Reggiano wheel is so much fun. I even like the gummy bears for dessert! Big warning: if you need a quiet meal, arrive very early or very late as this place rocks!
The food is decent and the service is mostly friendly (beware the bald waiter who practically sneers at you if you ask him for anything). I love the warm family environment and the indoor fireplace.
The problem I have with this place is the prices. Went with a friend and we split a salad, pasta and appetizer resulting in a bill for $50. To be fair, the portions are very generous, but I'd rather pay less to eat less.....Feeding Americans super sized portions is just not doing us any favors.
I hate to patronize chain restaurants, but honestly, the food isn't that much better than Pasta Pomodoro, which you can do at half the price.
However, given the poor quality of cuisine in Fairfax, Sorella's is in the upper echelons of dining experiences.
Just ate there last night.
Everyones food in our group of 10 was great.
Service was excellent. This place was everything everyone raved about.
Friendly people.
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