Dead Letter is OPEN!

Jul 25
2 min read

Pop the champagne bottles! - Dead Letter is finally open and resides on the opposite corner from the girl & the fig in Sonoma.

INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW!

Why did we call this restaurant Dead Letter?

From 1896 to 1910, the building served as one of Sonoma’s early post offices. A place of exchange—messages sent, received, and sometimes lost. Over time, many have passed through these walls, each leaving something behind. We step into that history with intention. You will notice that we have sprinkled post office lore throughout space in a fun way.

What style of food are you serving?

“A Wine Country restaurant featuring cooking over a binchotan charcoal grill, seasonal ingredients, and dishes designed for sharing.” I have been calling it “FLAVOR WITH FIRE”. The menu is separated into different categories; Snacks and Spreads, Raw, From the Sea, From the Land and for Two or More. We want to encourage grazing, sharing with an informal delivery.

So far, the SHRIMP TOAST (chili mayo, sweet soy, sesame) seems to be the unofficial favorite and I see it at almost every table.

Do you have a full bar?

Yes! A highly creative list of cocktails that also nod to the post office with names like; “Lost Dispatch”, “Return to Sender” “Love Letter” and more. The highly curated international wine list was created to complement the bold flavors of the menu.

Jeremy Zimmerman, the head chef at Dead Letter in Sonoma, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)

When are you open? For now, our hours are Wednesday - Sunday, closed on Monday and Tuesday. We open at 5pm and the kitchen is open until 9 and 9:30 on Friday and Saturday.

Eventually we will open earlier for cocktails and nibbles as well as lunch service somewhere down the road.

Are you taking reservations? Yes! On our website that is a link to where you can book a table.

What is the early verdict from our guests?

“Outstanding on all fronts!“

“What a great addition to the Sonoma Square food scene!“

“Great reinvention of the space, more modern yet still cozy.”

“Great customer service and fantastic ambiance.”

“Really interesting menu executed beautifully!”

What does the press have to say?

Dead Letter has been gratefully shared by the Press Democrat, SF Chronicle, Sonoma Sun, Sonoma Index Tribune, 100 COLLECTORS and more.

“Gentle whiffs of charcoal smoke drift through the dark gray and burgundy dining rooms from the kitchen’s three-level Spanish grill. It is the fiery heart of the operation, where cooks move pork steaks, trout fillets and sweet corn from one level to another like mail sorters, adjusting the heat and char by feel.” – Heather Irwin, Press Democrat

“Every dish has exciting combinations of spices, herbs, and basic ingredients with influences from various countries.” - Kathleen Hill, Sonoma Sun

“Toulze described Dead Letter's food as "undefined California cuisine," which he said allows chef Jeremy Zimmerman, who leads all three restaurants, to "have a lot of flexibility." “Dead Letter, which seats 65, looks moody, elegant and nothing like a post office.” - Jess Lander, SF Chronicle