Wine Tasting Room and Bistro In the Works for King Street

A new restaurant with a California vibe is in the works for a prominent location on King Street, according to a business plan approved this week by the Alexandria Planning Commission. Here are some of the plans for the proposed restaurant, from the documents filed with the City:

The restaurant, Sonoma Cellar, will be located at 207 King St., and will feature mainly California wines with an emphasis on those from the Sonoma region, as well as some Virginia wines. The bistro and tasting room will also offer gift items from the Sonoma area, such as packaged cheese, chocolates, wine glasses and jewelry.

The breads and desserts for the bistro will come from Bread and Water Company, located on Belleview Boulevard. Chef Bernard Henry will be in charge of the menu.

The restaurant would feature 100 seats (74 indoors and 26 outdoors) serving Sonoma County-inspired bistro fare and wine tastings within a 2,772 square foot space. The menu would offer appetizers, cheese and charcuterie boards, soup, salad, sandwiches and entrees.

Wine tasting and dining would take place on the first and second floors with the wine tasting room on the first floor and the second floor serving as the main dining area. The wine tasting room will feature a custom-built 20-foot long polished wood wine-tasting bar.

Additionally, the applicant would renovate the rear yard patio and repair the fence as well as create one parking space for a catering van. The restaurant owners plan to occasionally offer live acoustic guitar music.

The building currently houses Occasionally Cake and before that was home to the Winterthur Museum Shop.

PHOTO: Image of 207 King St. is from Google