Uptown's Sonoma restaurant closes

Sonoma, among the city's first restaurants to succeed with upscale, contemporary food and which ran for 18 years in four locations, closed last weekend. Owner Pierre Bader says he is planning a new place.

Bader, who said he's not ready to divulge details, did note that the new place would be in the corner spot, next to his Aria, at Founders Hall, uptown on Tryon Street. He described it as "comfortable," and expects to open in December, or January 2012 at the latest. Aria also has a new chef in charge: Frank Altomare (spelling is CORRECTED), who was "the backbone," has taken over from chef Bill Schutz, who is no longer with the restaurant group (which also runs Press and Frankies 710 Trattoria.

Sonoma had an extraordinary run of chefs that have gone on to success, both in Charlotte and elsewhere, including Gene Briggs, Tim Groody, Philip Hewitt, Blake Hartwick, Christopher Zion and Shayne Lewis.