Sonya's - Reviews

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! The prices are great for the area, and the drinks are superb. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Lucas, who is a down-to-earth guy. I highly recommend giving this place a visit!

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! The back room was spacious and beautiful, making it perfect for a party. The bartenders were incredibly personable and added to the overall positive atmosphere. The food, service, and atmosphere all received top marks.

My experience at this restaurant was mixed. I found the whiskey selection to be pretty good. However, I did not appreciate the bartender mansplaining bourbon to me. For clarity, bourbon only needs to be made in the US, not exclusively in Kentucky, to be considered bourbon. Cheers!

My experience at the restaurant was fantastic, largely thanks to the exceptional service from bartender Lauren. She is a delight and mixes the best margarita on the rocks I've ever had. The front patio is a dandy place to sit.

I almost don't want to leave a review because it's a hidden gem of a downtown bar. It's stellar. Straightforward service and a small but excellent food selection with something for everyone.

I had a great experience returning to this neighborhood landmark bar after many years. The crowd is still friendly, and the bartenders are nice. I enjoyed the good bar menu and cocktail list. The fantastic view is a major plus; I recommend getting a seat next to the window in the back of the bar on the sofas.

My experience at the restaurant was fantastic, largely due to the incredible bartender Nick. I highly recommend swinging by the BACK BAR when he's working to enjoy a nice libation. Thank me later! ☺️

I really wanted to enjoy my time at this bar, but unfortunately, my experience left me feeling judged and deeply uncomfortable. The bar was nearly empty when my friend and I arrived. I greeted the bartender politely and ordered a drink while we looked at the menu. We took a few moments to decide on food, during which the bartender seemed visibly impatient and hovered over us — despite the place being quiet with no other tables occupied. My friend and I were using sign language to communicate some of the time, and later sat outside in the beer garden. When our food was ready, the bartender didn’t bring it out — instead, he leaned out the window, and I was happy to come inside and grab it without issue. Later, I came back in to order a second drink. I politely asked for two shots of Bulleit whiskey, served in a glass with ice and two straws. The bartender initially began preparing it but suddenly changed his mind and refused to serve me, saying he thought I was on drugs. I was shocked. I remained calm and asked, “What makes you think that? ” He couldn’t provide any reason other than that we were standing outside while my friend juggled — which we had even been mindful about, taking turns staying in the beer garden so it wouldn't look like we were trying to leave without paying. My card was left at the bar the entire time. Even when he made this unfounded accusation, I stayed respectful and simply asked for clarification. Instead of answering, he made me even more uncomfortable by asking me where I lived — a question that felt intrusive and inappropriate. As someone who lives in the area and loves supporting local businesses, this was really disappointing. I don’t know what assumptions were made about us, but I can say with full honesty that I was polite, communicative, and respectful throughout the entire evening. I left feeling judged for being a little different — and that really ruined what should have been a relaxed night out. I hope the staff here reflect on how they engage with patrons who don't fit the mold. Treating people with dignity — especially when they’re being respectful — should be the bare minimum. One thing I noticed is that the owners only seem to respond publicly to positive reviews, while ignoring those that raise concerns. To me, that says a lot: they’re more focused on protecting their image than addressing valid feedback. Negative experiences aren’t just inconvenient — they’re opportunities for growth. Ignoring them only reinforces the feeling that respect and accountability aren’t priorities here. TL; DR: I was treated with suspicion and eventually denied service, not because of anything I did — but because I showed up confident, kind, neurodivergent, and unapologetically myself. Owners not big on accountability or growth.

The location of this bar is beautiful, but unfortunately, the service did not reflect that. My group, who are people of color, had an extremely disappointing experience primarily due to the bartender's unprofessional and rude behavior. Upon arrival, the bartender was on a smoke break and seemed irritated by our presence, rather than offering a greeting. We even offered to wait out of courtesy, but this kindness was met with a consistently bad attitude. The bartender was cold and dismissive when taking our initial drink order, showing no effort to be welcoming. Despite leaving a fair tip after the first round, when we ordered another drink, the bartender became noticeably irritated and insinuated we should have tipped more. We tipped a second time, yet the attitude worsened. When we finally addressed the hostility by saying, "Don't be rude next time, " the response was a sarcastic and immature, "You too. " This perfectly encapsulated their passive-aggressive, entitled, and unprofessional customer service approach. It's frustrating because we were patient, polite, and tipped twice, yet received poor treatment. No one wants to feel like a nuisance when spending money. Management should reconsider their staff representing the bar, as one person's attitude can ruin an otherwise good night. Staff members who treat customers this way should be addressed.

My experience was centered around the Alaska Trade Building, a beautiful historic building constructed in 1909 and recognized on the National Register of Historic Places since 1971. It's a must see, so I recommend you check it out!