Sonoma Plaza is about to smell a lot more like griddled beef and fried chicken. Ari Weiswasser, the chef behind Glen Ellen Star and Stella, is rolling out a fast-casual smashburger and fried chicken concept called SMASH, set to take over the Taub Family Outpost building on the square, with an opening targeted for May.
According to Sonoma Magazine, the menu at SMASH will zero in on smashburgers and fried chicken sandwiches, backed up by fries, milkshakes, craft cocktails and "boozy shakes." The spot is expected to offer both dine-in and takeout, and the team is aiming to add al fresco seating on the plaza. The outlet also notes that Spencer Waite, who runs front-of-house operations with Weiswasser at Stella and Glen Ellen Star, is a business partner in the new venture.
The Taub Family Outpost building that SMASH will occupy is a restored 1910 Spanish Colonial bank at 497 First Street West, on the town square, according to the Sonoma Index-Tribune. The publication reports that the two-story space went through extensive restoration and seismic upgrades before reopening in 2020 as an all-day market and restaurant complex, complete with the Beacon cocktail bar upstairs.
Menu And Service
After years of cooking seasonal, ingredient-driven menus, we loved the idea of creating something more playful and casual, Weiswasser told Sonoma Magazine. The plan is to keep the menu tight and the service brisk, pairing diner-style favorites with craft cocktails and boozy milkshakes aimed squarely at the plaza crowd drifting past.
The Press Democrat has tracked Weiswasser’s path from French Laundry alum to owner of Glen Ellen Star and Stella, including his 2025 James Beard semifinalist recognition. The restaurant group’s Stella site lists Weiswasser as chef proprietor and confirms Waite as managing partner.
Why This Matters For The Plaza
The overhaul of the Taub Family Outpost highlighted just how much work older plaza buildings need to meet modern codes and hospitality demands, a challenge that played out during the restoration. As Forbes noted, the Outpost was conceived as a multi-use destination, and a counter service burger spot that can also supply the Beacon has the potential to pull in more daytime foot traffic and give the plaza another midday draw.
SMASH is scheduled to open in May, with the owners emphasizing a short, well-executed menu and quick table turns. This page will be updated as the team releases an official opening date and more details on the Sonoma location.
