Downtown Sonora might be getting a fresh spot to grab a bite. Local restaurateur Samir Fadel is in the early stages of planning a new concept called Divine Bistro for a Mono Way address recently vacated by a long-running Italian restaurant, though he says the details are still very much in flux.
According to What Now Sacramento, Fadel has applied for a beer and wine license at 736 Mono Way and has floated Divine Bistro as a working name. “I do not even know what the menu is going to be yet,” Fadel told the outlet, adding that he expects to have a clearer vision in about a month. The license application is currently the strongest public indication that the project is moving toward reality.
Owner's local footprint
Fadel already has a presence in the area with Divine Market in Soulsbyville and Columbia Market & Deli in nearby Columbia, where shoppers can pick up groceries along with made-to-order sandwiches, pizzas and other comfort food staples. Those existing businesses have helped raise his profile locally and offer at least a rough idea of what a Divine-branded bistro could feel like, according to MyMotherLode.
Space and history
The storefront at 736 Mono Way was long home to Pinocchio's, a well-known local Italian spot. The restaurant now lists a new address at 14619 Mono Way on its website, a move that opened up the downtown location earlier this year and gave Fadel a potentially turnkey space to remodel, per Pinocchio's.
What’s next
If permits and renovation plans go through, nearby residents and passersby can expect to see construction activity at the former Pinocchio's site in the coming weeks and months. We will update this article as new filings emerge or firmer plans for Divine Bistro are announced.
