Viola Pastry Boutique & Cafe

Viola’s is now called Emily’s Kitchen. The owner Emily Nagan is a fabulous baker, dessert specialist, cater, and just a great cook. My hat is off to you Emily. The Best of luck to you…

What is going on? We went yesterday to have lunch and found them closed. I would like to know why a wonderful café is closed. This seems to be happening quite a lot. Apparently there is a new café opening in their spot. Such disappointment. I am very selective about where I eat because we don’t eat out as often as most folks. I was all ready for something wonderful and BAM, gone. Needless to say anyone who had not eaten there are the real losers.

Closed. Out of business October 2014.

Voila’s ambiance is quite nice. They have a nice indoor and outdoor setting that is perfect during those slightly windy and sunny days. Although their ambiance is nice, their service – not so much. The waitress that was serving us was rude and did not answer our question. I had one simple question (regarding the chicken and waffle – whether it came with a salad or french fries) and she was making the whole situation confusing and was becoming hostile and impatient. Because she was acting so rude I decided to order a turkey burger – which was ok. Nothing special. All I remember was her standoff attitude and the pig-​tails she wore.
They had a variety of delicious looking desserts available, and I will definitely try one next time I decide to visit.

Love this divine spot. Amazing salads and entrees. The food served here is made from love and real food.
A nice quiet spot for a great meal.

I love this place. I’ve tried nearly everything on the menu and it is all fantastic. The pasta is freshly made and delicious. The chicken and waffles is always amazing. Chicken sandwich is a favorite. Braised short ribs… so good. Homemade fried pickles or the squash blossom appetizers are excellent. Don’t forget dessert, the chocolate caramel tart with sea salt… Yum.

This place has a lot going for it. Cute, charming, good location, dynamite pastries, fresh flowers and good food.
However, the price to quantity ration is a bit off. I understand that the chef here uses all organic and local stuff, but it’s reallllllly hard for me to enjoy some delicious savory bread pudding when I only get about 4 bites of it and pay 14 bucks for it. My friend got the chicken and waffles and again, they were delicious but one drum stick to go along with 4 waffle pieces was not enough. The quiche is also wonderful, but the side salad is kind of a bummer.
I really do like the food here, and I understand the vision, I just wish I didn’t leave hungry and wanting a few more bites,

I love the white tablecloths, real cloth napkins and the coffee and tea served in real china. My favorite meeting place with clients, new friends or family.

My wife suggested we try Viola as there was an jazz ensemble playing that evening. We were seated promptly. The menu struck me as incredibly limited and on the pricey side. The service was prompt and our water glasses were replenished with filtered water.
I explained to the waiter that I was on a paleo diet and did not want the carbs normally served with the fish entrée. I asked if the vegetable portion could simply be increased proportionately. He said they could remove an item but could not substitute anything. I explained I did not want a substitution, but merely a larger portion of vegetables (corn and squash). He offered to check in the kitchen, came back and said politely that it was not possible, «because we are a small restaurant.»
Having been all over the world and made similar requests in all kinds of eateries, I had never before been told flat out «no». His answer did not improve my digestion. I replied that I would keep their policy in mind in the future.
For the 5 oz of fish and 5 oz of corn and squash they charged $ 26. I admit it was adequately prepared if slightly on the oily side. My wife had fried chicken and waffle which she said was fine. I noticed the absence of vegetable, fruit or garnish on her plate. Our bill for two entrees and (filtered) tap water was $ 46. I wish we had gone to our favorite Thai restaurant instead. We will not go back.
If you do not mind an extremely limited menu, rigid service, and inflated prices, it’s not a bad place.

This is officially my new favorite restaurant in Sonoma County. Everything from scratch, prepared to perfection, ridiculously fresh, and simply the epitome of deliciousness! I’m going to tell every person I know to eat here.

Well done. First off, many diners and yet we we were sat right away. When I started this review, I bookmarked it five stars. There is a story to why it fell two pegs at the end of the review.
I have dined here three or four times. Every time prior to the last one, I have been in and out in a few minutes because of my schedule. I make a habit of explaining to the waiter when this is an issue, and in 99% of restaurants this means you have no service issues. Unless they’re unseasonably slammed or brand new getting their sea legs, in which it is my fault for risking quick service when it’s clearly not going to happen.
The waitress was prompt, seating me right away. She was courteous and before 1 minute had passed she was telling me the specials. I was deservedly impressed. When she came back with our waters, she was able to answer additional questions about the special, which I then ordered.
The menu at lunch is 7 – 8 sandwiches, soups and salads. Artisan quiches as well. One item I saw going out was the chicken fried waffle sandwich. It appeared clean and judging by the expression of the patrons was delicious. My wife has had it twice and she says that it has the perfect balance of salty and savory when the maple syrup also makes the bite.
The uncluttered menu contained a Veggie Burger, a Viola Burger, a pulled pork sandwich which all sounded delicious. In the past, I’ve had fish and chips and a charming asparagus sandwich which were both lovely. The café offers charming out door seating but don’t be mislead, there are also plenty of tables inside. This place is bigger than it appears.
There was one waitress for the whole restaurant and the owner both expedited food and table ran as back up for the hostess/​waitress. Rather than being slow or ineffective, I found it to be the perfect pace for a light lunch to meet a friend for a chat or read a nice book.
There are three chefs/​line-​cooks, and what appeared to me to be a dishwasher-​busser-​waiter as well. Again, service appeared very much in control and it was nice to see that the waitress literally just had to seat guests and take orders. With the abundance of cooking staff there really was no reason for orders to back up. I don’t remember any service issues in the past but as I stated I was in a hurry and expressed this, as everyone should always do.
My special sandwich came out. A generous side salad garnished the beef brisket special sandwich I’d been told about. Aioli and bar-​b-​que sauce were both part of the description. The bun was from Costeau in Healdsburg. Lovely. The sandwich was very delicious with the exception of one bite where there must have been too much bbq, and that was all I could taste. I detected what tasted to me like ketchup in the sauce overpowering the sauce. But the rest of the sandwich was well balanced and tasty. No need to deduct any stars. Not that I’m that petty, though I am picky.
Why the three stars? Plenty of parking, plenty of charming family photos on the walls. And a great server? What could I have to complain about? Only two things. One is minor and the other was so major that was the reason for the adjusted review.
Firstly, there’s a loud overpowering fan from the kitchen area that makes it hard to hear normal conversation.
The major thing happened quite by chance. I could have easily missed it and reviewed this place much higher. A middle aged woman, dressed very nicely, came in choking light coughs. She was in distress. She didn’t approach anyone but the owner, wasn’t bothering anyone, and from her eyes it was apparent she needed immediate help.
The poor woman somehow managed to gasp out a request for water to the owner. Who promptly folded her arms and said she didn’t have any. There was a fountain outside. The woman covering her mouth politely and discreetly mentioned, «I’m sorry, I swallowed something, can I please have some water.»
The owner looked at the woman blankly for a pregnant pause and awkwardly shoved a glass at the woman. I kid you not she then sighed and said to the woman, «Here you are. But for your information, in the future, there is a fountain outside for that.»
If I had not just finished my bite, I would have dropped my sandwich. I couldn’t believe it. Here we had a perfect experience, great ambiance, well staffed, but something fundamental as hospitality denied a woman in need.
I challenge you to be choking in the Grand Sonesta in New Orleans, the finest Exclusive Country Club in Connecticut, or even a McDonalds for pity’s sake and if you manage to squeak out a request for water, see if it’s turned down and they make you ask coughing for it again. This patron was unimpressed.

It’s a nice little restaurant. I’ve had lunch, brunch, breakfast, and dinner here and what they do is pretty consistent and the food quality is impressive.
The food is above average and the service is quick. The desserts look better than they taste but they are still pretty darn good. The menu can have some interesting dishes you don’t see very often, a great pleasure.
Also — the kitchen runs a pretty efficient operation so if it’s not on the menu it’s not available. Example: Want fruit on your waffle? Nope, maybe next week. Something other than cheese and onions in your omelette. Nope, it’s cheese and onion omelette day.

Viola’s is a fairly regular go-​to in our weekend brunch rotation. Nice outdoor patio dining (take a sweater because its on a shady side alley of Montgomery village and can be chilly). Favorites include the croque monsieur, croque madame, and the veggie hash and we tend to stick with those. Service is friendly and attentive. The desserts look amazing, although I’ve never broken down and ordered one. Just seems too much at a brunch. On the downside, The specials always seem to be the same specials so to me they should just be on the menu, portions tend to vary on the same dish from visit to visit, and they are not very flexible in the kitchen about doing any substitutions without some kind of extra charge. Refills on the coffee do not exist, you have to pay for a full coffee again.
Overall, we like the casual, weekend, European café vibe, and food,
and truly enjoy our usual staples there. Nice place to go for a little bit of Paris feel.
I recommend for a lovely fair weather weekend brunch spot.

I was shopping in my sweats with my sister because it was «one of those days» and we stopped into Viola’s to eat. Before we were seated, I wanted to use the restroom. The older lady that worked there loudly and rudely said «excuse me! where are you going?!». Did I really need to answer that question when I was walking towards the restroom? I did explain to her that I was a customer and needed to use the restroom.
After we were both seated, our service did not improve. The waiter was not friendly as well.
I have heen to this place «dressed up» with friends before and was not treated like this. I would never return to a place that treats customer by appearance!

Second time I tried this adorable Euro style café, love the outside seating! The fish & chips is worth every bit of fat, love it, I think they must fresh cut their fries, yummmm!
Only one little complaint, I was not done with my meal, but had finished my glass of wine, the server never bothered to ask if I cared for another. After I waited a bit I decided I wouldn’t bother, if that is a common experience for patrons they are losing
many extra dollars of revenue. Everything else is perfect, friendly and welcoming.

Spring is in the air; flowers are in full bloom and the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the crisp air. What else can I do but to follow the aroma? Besides it was lunchtime and I was done window shopping in the chic Montgomery Village. The aroma led me to VPBC, a casual, cozy café located in a little alleyway inside the Village with outdoor seating in a nice patio and indoor seating in the dining room. There is an elegant pastry display case to the left and the room has a full view of the open kitchen. Since it was a little breezy today, everyone opted to sit indoors and I grabbed the last table. I noticed the wall was adorned with old photos of the owner’s family and I can’t tell whether the background was of Santa Rosa or Europe! This was my second time here and I noticed both times that the crowd was mostly women, not that they bothered me!
I have not been eating healthy in awhile. Today was my chance. The soup of the day ($ 6.75) was made from a combo of spring veggies like carrots, potatoes and asparagus with no meat. The broth was light and had no cream or dairy and thickened slightly by the mashed potatoes. It came in a big bowl and you can make a whole meal out of this if you request for sourdough or focaccia. For my main, I picked the seasonal quiche for today ($ 10.50) with asparagus and jack cheese. The quiche was homemade and baked in the premises. In fact, all pastries were baked in-​house. The crust of the quiche was more crunchy than flaky and the asparagus, jack cheese, eggs and milk added to the rich custardy texture and flavor of the filling. It came with a side of mixed greens in a homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Sourness is one of the distinct flavors I love in any food and balsamic vinaigrette is my favorite salad dressing. The presentation of the quiche and salad however may require a little more work. Sadly, I was too stuffed to try dessert and I recommended to the manager that the café should consider selling soup by the cup instead of only by the bowl so I can have some room for dessert. I guessed that was not possible as this apparently presented a problem for the kitchen. Go figure…
On my previous visit, I was happy with the Rock Cod ($ 12.00) in their homemade beer batter with coleslaw and spicy aioli. It came with a homemade bun and a side of fries. The rock cod is a mild tasting white fish and the meat is flaky and moist. My personal preference was to have the fish lightly fried to a golden brown like Japanese tempura style instead of a darker brown color. The coleslaw did add some crunchiness and the aioli gave it a little heat and sweetness. I had no intention of finishing the fries but I did. As a result, I was not able to try their dessert again for a second time. To complete the lunch, I ordered a cup of French pressed coffee ($ 2.00). It was strong, aromatic and perked up my energy level for the rest of the day.
I had the same server twice and she was sweet and pleasant. The food were served on both days in a timely manner.
I read their Dinner Specials and they do a Mushroom and Red Wine Braised Short Rib and for the health conscious a grilled Halibut with salsa verde and spring veggies. I shall be back for dinner and I am sure the crowd and the ambiance will be quite different.

I can’t believe I have not reviewed this place yet! It is a solid Sonoma County brunch choice.
My favorite dish is their fried chicken and waffles. It served ready to rock with syrup and powdered sugar already dressed. The chicken is tender, juicy, yet crispy as heck! Perfection!
I just recently ordered their chilaquiles. OMG-​SOO good! The tortillas stayed crispy during my whole meal to the last bite. I know most of you won’t understand the severity of this next statement, but I FINISHED MY PLATE! Not a drop leftover. It was delicious.
Coffee is french pressed and delicious. I love this place!

The breakfast sandwich did not work for me. It has mayo on the egg sandwich, something I guess I didn’t expect nor do I like. It had my tummy churning all afternoon. :(
That said… wait staff was friendly, loved the location, had good lunch variety, prices higher but reasonable based on the quality and use of local ingredients. ($ 9 for breakfast sandwich with salad, $ 12 if you wanted fries on the side.) My friend had the fried chicken sandwich and it was VERY tasty. I’ll go back… and try something else.

Kudos Trung N. and whomever also mentioned Viola for having Chicken and waffles. I was thrilled to find a local place serving up this dish, even though it’s a much prettier version of the real thing. Santa Rosa is an often vacation destination for me, so instead of trekking it to Oakland for the usual, I have a local option. I like that Viola has many options. It’s an upscale looking pastry boutique and café as their name suggests, at the counter you can feast your eyes over delectable pastries and tarts or opt for a fresh cup of brew. The snag is the offer of very different lunch & dinner offerings which per other reviews sounds to be quite tasty.
Getting down to business. I like getting my hands dirty tearing meat from bone and slathering every bit of chicken and waffle in syrup. Though, Viola does it with grace and style. Look at it’s posh surroundings and understand why it’s a more civilized dish. LoL. The outside mall it’s located in tends to draw a more sophisticated or mature (shall I say) crowd and while seated in their garden area you can often see what I mean. Mature ladies donning four to six inch heels while shopping with a tiny pooch in tow; is not an everyday sight for this Midwestern boy.
About this dish: You get this perfectly crafted Belgian style waffle, lightly dusted with powdered sugar and crisp to it’s last bite. The kitchen tends to add a light amount of syrup to your waffle during prep. For more, just ask. (Note: For those sitting outside, Viola has plants and with the sweet smell of my additional syrup it called out to local bees. During my whole meal I battled with a persistent bee, in the end I decided to let him sit on my plate and watch me finish.) The waffle is joined with an ample amount of chicken breast which has been coated in a tasty but light batter and fried to perfection. With each cut of your fork and knife, you can draw out a decent amount of crisp for each bite. After my last bite I wanted more, so it’s just enough food. If you have a healthy appetite I’d suggest getting a small side or a scone. At $ 10 dollars it’s a great deal.
Per some of the other reviews which mention their eggs Benedict and tender fish sandwich, I would try to stop by again. Worth a bookmark.

Amazing food. During a local search for a great breakfast joint that served Chicken and Waffles. My results on Unilocal turned up this little beauty tucked away in a small outdoor shopping center. Mostly a pastry and coffee shop. they also serve the typical sandwiches and also breakfast!
Not as if it weren’t obvious enough, I went straight for the Chicken and Waffles. While waiting, I glanced over and looked at the rest of their menu and found myself a lovely cup of espresso which I ended up getting as well.
The chicken came out wonderful. Not the traditional fried chicken you’d get from the south, but a nice twist with a something more seasoned and spiced up that complemented the maple syrup and waffles they served really well.
Great service, great food. and great coffee!