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I've always thought "So here's the skinny" was such a weird phrase. I guess it just sounds better than "So here's the chubby." Though I think this restaurant is the exception to that rule. I would seriously be chubby if I lived closer to this little gem. Their food is amazing...if you gave me a couple hours I would easily pack down everything on that menu....including their martini's (obviously).
From the moment you take your first enchanting step in to this establishment you're quickly overcome with excitment and joy. This is such a cozy, inviting and romantic atmosphere and is great for family get-togethers, girls night out, or a romantic date (just not the first date...that'd be kinda weird). There are serveral smaller sized rooms with 4-5 tables w/ white table clothes that all surround a wood burning fire place.
The outside is perfect for any night since it's fully covered with a removable tarp and there's heat lamps next to every table. I was really taken with this place. The service was right on too. Man I love that...how often do you go to a restaurant and walk away saying...."that food was amazing, oh and wasn't the service just exceptional??!! And what a cute little place too....let's come back again next week!"
Their martini selection is impressive to say the least and take it from me....just close your eyes and point to something on the menu and just order it! You can't go wrong...they're all deliscious!
This particular occasion was special...it was my Grandma's 83rd Birthday (who by the way still acts and looks like she's 55!). Grandma's not a huge eater so she convinced me to split the main meal with her. I figured I could fill up on their deliscious mini scones and focaccia bread they bring out beforehand. It was a toss up between the roasted duck w/ stuff foie gras or the special of the day - Swordfish with coconut steamed rice and fresh vegetables. We chose the later of the two and couldn't have been happier with that decision. I'm pretty sure I muttered "mmmnnnmmmnnn" after each bite.
I absolutely love how charming and unique this place is. WIN!!
This is a review for the restaurant and Inn.
Glen Ellen Inn is the perfect romantic getaway if you live in the bay area. You'll drive through beautiful vineyards to get here and can easily go wine tasting in this area. It's also a short drive from SF.
The Glen Ellen Inn is a restaurant with about 6 rooms in the rear area. Behind the rooms is a small creek that looks like it might actually have water after the winter rains. I was immediately impressed by the simple but exquisite exterior featuring a small fountain, plenty of awnings and benches.
Once you walk into the room, you feel like you've entered a french country cottage with modern amenities. Beautiful interior, tasteful sheets, a four-poster bed along with a new indoor jacuzzi, flat screen tv and gas fireplace. They shower is also a 2 person steamer! Sitting on the cafe-size dining table was a welcome basket full of fruits and brownies. Nice!!
We had dinner at the restaurant. They had an excellent choice of food on the menu and an exhaustive list of martini's on the back. The owners were very, very friendly. If I were to just rate the restaurant, I'd give it 4 stars. It was good but not particularly notable.
It was super convenient to be able to walk through the back and easily into their rooms. The only red flag would be that I saw a few ants in the room. No huge trails but it made me wonder if there was a potential ant problem.
Random find that turned out to be a great find! Our plan was to have brunch at The Fig Cafe but the place was closed when we arrived...what great restaurant isn't open for business for weekend brunch?! So instead of getting back in our car and driving else where we decided to give the place next door a try...Glen Ellen Inn.
They sat us outside on the cute little patio and started us off with some wonderful home made mini scones...they were so good we asked for seconds and then even thirds!
Appetizers - Garlic Fries and the Dungeoness Crab Potsticker. I know fries are fries but I must say the fries here were fried to the perfect crispiness and not over loaded with garlic but just enough for a great taste. The crab potsticker was one giant potsticker...almost like a crab cake but without all the breadcrumbs and just all purely all crab. Yum!
Entrees - Salmon over home made linguine and the Kobe Burger w/brie. Large portion of salmon and the home made linguine was outstanding. Kobe burger was a bit overcooked as we asked for medium rare but still managed to be super juicy.
Overall, great price for great food! Will definitely be back to try out the dinner menu. Oh one other thing...do not order the mimosas as it was the only horrible thing we experienced here...
A friend and I had drinks and a light meal here last Sunday. I was pretty disappointed after being referred from the Beltane Ranch host, and reading some positive reviews.
The good news first . . . my drink was tasty, well made, and generously sized. Moving on to the French onion soup . . . it tasted Ok for a few bites, but quickly became heavy and gloppy . . . the broth was overly thickened and as things cooled it became difficult to eat without getting cheese everywhere. Just too heavy of a hand with the ingredients. We also had the ginger tempura calamari and the baked oysters. My calamari was so-so. Heavy breading and kind of greasy. I noted that my friend didn't finish the last oyster . . . We were uninspired to go any further on the menu. The room we were seated in was very drafty and I was cold - I kept my leather jacket on all through dinner. In a warmer room with better food, our waiter might have seemed more charming . . .
I would say - beware and maybe try the place next door (Fig Cafe). Don't let them seat you in the fireplace room unless there's a fire. I would return to Glen Ellen Inn for a drink before dinner elsewhere.
Glen Ellen Inn really is as good as it gets! I've eaten here many times over the years and it has NEVER disappointed. The food, the service, the atmosphere are always top notch. If you want to eat fantastic food and feel like family, go here. I've been here with just one other person and taken a group of 30, every time it wows every guest. This is a must not miss if you are visiting wine country or worth the drive from Santa Rosa or Sonoma.
If you are lucky enough to be there when figs are in season, the figs in a blanket are excellent. Also, the famous Glen Ellen Inn Sunday is famous for a reason!
The outdoor patio is a wonderful place to spend a warm summer evening and the inside is just as fabulous on a cold rainy winter night.
Whatever the occasion, the perfection minded owners Chris and Karen will make sure you have a lovely meal.
Ok, went here again on Sept. 19th for dinner and learned my favorite servers name is Sandra! She's awesome but then again so is everyone there. It's always welcoming and feels like home when I'm there.
Glen Ellen Inn Is one of my favorite restaurants. I live about 10 minutes away and am lucky enough… Read more »
As we all know, I am an attention whore of the highest calibur. Like: I will take a bitch down for getting in the way of me and the spotlight. That is why I love Glen Ellen Inn's restaurant and bar. Marek the server will spoil you rotten with compliments, right in front of the man in your life. He will fawn all over you, regale you with tales of his wife and his native Poland and all kinds of things that sound sexy when spoken in an eastern european accent. He will steal your heart. Even if it may just be for a bigger tip :)
The wine selection is concise and excellent- go with the Robert Noyes. It will tantalize your tastebuds and is as smooth as Marek himself. The snacks we had (fondue and oysters) were delicious and I wish we'd had more. The menu featured a wealth of options from fish to fowl and I would have loved to try the Mahi Mahi if I hadn't been in my stubborn diet mode.
The interior is low-lit and romantic while remaining cozy and homey at the same time. You can tell the locals from the out-of-towners since we're the ones in all black and they're the ones in jeans. A definite must in Glen Ellen.
I didn't try the martinis but they do have all sorts on the menu, just like oysters. Baked, they're served with a lemon dill cream sauce. Raw, they'll come with horseradish and marinated onions and a chipotle sauce, all of which work really well with raw oysters. Though the half dozen raw oysters is billed as a sampler, there's no indication as to the type or brand or origin of each oyster (Kumamoto or Kusshi or whatever.) These are more or less anonymous oysters.
The wines available by the glass are not numerous but are well chosen. If you're buying a bottle you'll have an overwhelming array of options.
Marek is a character but is a competent bartender and waiter nonetheless. He'll flirt with your woman but be such a gentleman about it that you won't mind too much. You'll probably still tip him pretty well.
Still the place to go in Sonoma wine country for a great, great meal. Love the atmosphere. Very romantic. Nice and cozy in an old home, and in summer can sit outside on the patio area which is lit up nicely with sparkling lights in the trees and vines.
Food is outstanding in every way. Salads are some of the best in all of the Bay Area. I have had the fish selections, rack of lamb, and the pork tenderloin and all were cooked to perfection.
One of the best and highly recommended!
http://www.glenellenin.../
A Bay Area treasure of great dining. My wife and I have eaten there now…
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this is my Dear Mother's favorite restaurant.
Allow me to encapsulate for you the reasons why.
Ambiance. It's all here. Fireplace. Enclosed porch. Warm colors, warm reception. Twinkling lights. Lavish interior.
Staff. You feel as though you are in their home. Not their customer. Knowledgable and full of personality, they will take care of you. Attentive and observant. All that you look for in the Aide to your dining experience. Realistically, the waitstaff can make or break your opinion of a place, no doubt.
Food. How was this not the first item on my list? I needed to gear up to make my statement. Inventive, flavorful and sumptuous. The drink list that borders on whimsical.
That's the short of it.
The long of it - for my oldest sister's birthday, my gift was to take her here. We celebrated with a mini martini, the ginsing apricot. Pretty, topped with a rose petal and pommegranite seeds. A tasty treat.
Housemade foccacia and dill scones with butter are a treat for every table - that doesn't last long.
Main Course: Chicken Chipotle Salad with avocado, mojo croutons, black beans and fried tortilla strips. Artichoke & Cheese Ravioli. Both were works of art and tasted as good as they looked.
Dessert: the sampler platter. Consisting of warm chocolate pecan bread pudding, slice into it and the chocolate bubbles out. Decadent. Coconut crusted ice cream. Rich and delicious. And iced Pumpkin souffle, in a chocolate cage with crunchy, crumbly butterscotch bits strewn about. Dollops of whip cream and streamers of caramel sauce finish off the plate. And because our fabulous waiter heard that it was my sister's birthday, a white chocolate plauqe that stated Happy Birthday! for her to top it all off.
I cannot say enough great things about this place. It's perfect for that special occasion or treat that we all need sometimes.
The Inn is an easy 4 stars...one of the places we recommended to friends and family visiting that do not mind being towards the north end of the valley. Charming grounds for sure.
However, we've had extremes at the restaurant. Dinner is ideal on the cold nights when you want something gut-coating. The menu as a whole seems to be more French country-ish. Lunch and brunch are always a lot of fun. Let everyone try completely different things and share. The food is heavy regardless of how light it sounds!
Now if taking in price of the food when there are many famous restaurants just in the same corridor? Minus a star..
I really, REALLY (super really?) wanted to like this place and with every disappointment I just told myself "wait, wait, to make up your mind until the end". And in the end the awfulness of this place was overwhelming.
Glen Ellen is an amazing little town always full of great people and amazing weather. The food is spectacular, and why wouldn't it be with all the wineries and sunshine? But, the Glenn Ellen Oyster Grill and Martini Bar still somehow manages to fail.
First the good:
- great filet mignon, can't complain, it was well cooked (not over or under done), and juicy
-nice crab wonton, interesting sauce, warm, yummy
-great, extensive and local wine list
Now the bad:
-The oysters are absolutely disgusting. It was shameful to put out a slimy, fishy smelling thing to your customers. I was weary about ordering fresh shellfish at a place so far away from the ocean, but *it was in their name* so I gambled and lost badly.
-Their martinis (another part of the restaurant name) taste like cough syrup. They all went well beyond sweet and/or salty. Lemonade and syrups substituted fresh juices.
-The scallops in the dish I ordered were raw. Not underdone, just plain raw and cold.
-This is the first restaurant were I noticed my cutlery. Three-pronged forks that shovel the food around the plate , half of which never reached my mouth because it would just fall through the wide prongs. I have never noticed my fork before, ever.
-The service was cold and indifferent.
Please do not go here, maybe this place was good at some point, but not recently. Go to a burger place or maybe The Fig Cafe next door, really any place else will do.
My fiance and I had dinner here after getting engaged, so maybe I was looking at things through rose-colored glasses at that point, but the atmosphere was just what we were looking for: casual, with outdoor seating, with none of that Napa Valley-esque nose in the air vibe. I had some tasty halibut, the fiance had some beef, and we had some great wine and apps. We had an awesome table on the outdoor patio, which overlooked a garden full of plants, flowers and a small-ish waterfall. Wonderful way to celebrate our engagement!
I've eaten at the Glen Ellen Inn restaurant twice in the past year. Not recently.
Here's my thumbnail assessment:
* This is the nicest looking dining room in Glen Ellen. Has the finest decor and appointments. It's fancy looking. I'm comfortable in the main dining room during winter months when I dress more formally. In summer when I'm wearing a Hawaiian shirt & denim jeans, I feel under dressed here. The ambience does not encourage casual dress nor demeanor. I feel like I need to behave nicely when I'm here.
* The menu is loaded with fancy items. They are all overpriced. Dinner for 2 people who order 3 courses & 2 glasses of wine will spend at least $200.
* My meals here have been good, not great. I read all the previous YELP reviews before writing this summary. Looks like the Glen Ellen Inn has some quality control issues. Real hit & miss food prep. Sounds like there's a talented chef and another not so talented one. I HATE crap shoot inconsistent quality in a $200 level restaurant.
* The restaurant caters to wine tourists with big wallets. People who spend $400 per night for a bed & breakfast room. Working class locals do not eat at the Glen Ellen Inn. Locals eat at the Fig Cafe, Bluegrass, Yeti Nepal, The Glen Ellen Market picnic tables, Olive & Vine.
OK.... I am conflicted. If I was just rating the inn on the rooms alone, I would give it 4 stars. Granted, the place looks like it was decorated with knick-knacks from Ross or Marshalls, and the breakfast basket was slightly better than vending machine quality. Nonetheless, the room was comfy, the tub KICKED ASS, it had a great big bed and bathroom, it is private, and its a great bargain compared to what's around.
Now, the restaurant. Mediocre USA. Perhaps if you are traveling from Nebraska for your first taste of California cuisine, or you often eat at Denny's, Chili's, or Olive Garden, then you might find the food creative and well done. However, I picked this place from many for my fiance's birthday, and I was super disappointed. Now I am not a huge snob, but whether its a BBQ sandwich in the hood or pork loin at Boulevard, I expect the food to be good.
Pros: My fois gras stuffed duck was actually pretty decent
Cons: Brie fondue was not melted enough and still had the rind on it! The decorating and lighting is outdated, overdone, and mismatched. Biggest disappointment was the chocolate therapy dessert. Tasted and felt like chocolate glue inside a stale premade crust.
Perhaps it was an off night, but if you really love and know food, don't bother.
A friend of ours recommended this place and I have to pass the recommendation along to everyone else!
There is inside and outside seating. The outside seating in front of the restaurant is very casual with the usual car noise from the street. However, if you go towards the back, there are tables in the back balcony, which is more secluded and intimate. And even a few steps down, there are tables in the grassy area and next to the fountain which is even more romantic and intimate. If you have a dog, you are welcome to sit in this part of the restaurant and if the owner happens to be around, he will stop by to say hello with his own dog. Just be aware that the temperature in Glen Ellen drops drastically after sundown, so if you plan on sitting outside, bring a light jacket or sweater as heaters are not provided. We opted to sit inside.
As the restaurant is well known for their Martinis, we decided to start with a couple of them... and you won't be disappointed. We brought our own wine (a Bachuss, which is worth over $100) and the corkage fee was $17.00. Our server was very professional and friendly. However, my only pet-peeve is the sometimes feeling of being rushed by the staff. If we ordered martinis, let us enjoy those before ordering or even opening the wine bottle for us... except to let it breathe... but he did get the message that we did not want to be rushed and left us alone.
The decor was very tasteful, with nice seating arrangement but could see a little trouble if the restaurant is full as tables are close and in that case, I would prefer to be outside. But as we were the only patrons inside, we had the whole place to ourselves which made it very relaxing. The bathrooms were nicely decorated; with an antique style to it and very clean.
We started with the romaine salad. It was very tasteful. The blue cheese was very fresh as well. Then for the main course, we had the "Fire Grilled Mahi Mahi" with banana polenta and tropical fruit salsa; the "Bacon-wrapped Pork Tenderloin" with honey dijon mustard sauce and the "Roasted Rack of Lamb" in huckleberry sauce and cous-cous. Every single dish was just superb! My banana polenta was just worth the entire meal. The pork tenderloin was very tasty, specially with the bacon. The rack of lamb the same... everything was cooked to perfection!
As for dessert, this is the nice part... I ordered the creme brulee infused with orange and cognac. My friend ordered the warm pecan spice bread pudding. The third party was not going to order anything but was going to share from us. The server did bring him a small portion of a very tasty chocolate ice cram so he won't have to "dig" into our desserts. A very nice touch! The creme brulee was very tasty as well as the bread pudding; however, the pudding was cold but that did not take from the flavor and the chocolate ice cream was great!
The Final Verdict:
Restaurant Ambiance/Decor: 5.0 out of 5.0
Staff Service/friendliness: 5.0 out of 5.0
Seating Arrangement/Layout: 4.5 out of 5.0
Seating Comfort: 4.5 out of 5.0
Food Quality/Flavor: 5.0 out of 5.0
Wine/Alcohol Selection: 5.0 out of 5.0
Price Value: 4.5 out of 5.0
Bathrooms Cleanliness: 5.0 out of 5.0
Final Score: 38.5 out of 40 (96 out of 100% or A+ grade)
Final Comment: The quality and flavor of the food is worth the price. The service is fantastic but ensure you pace the service and don't let other do it for you. In fact, here is my secret I do share with people (my parents taught me this!): order the appetizer and do not order a main course. Keep the menu with you. Enjoy your appetizer and then, once you have finished it and you are ready, then make an order for the main course. It is the best way to enjoy your meal.
The Mrs. and I, on the recommendation of other yelpers, came to the Glen Ellen Inn for cocktails and dinner as part of a weekend getaway in Sonoma.
Props to a place with a 30 page wine menu for putting a sheet of 50 vodka drinks in front of the wine. This in the heart of wine country. We tried a couple of different ones while sitting at the bar (seats about 5 people) before sitting down for dinner.
While this place has lots of oysters on the menu, we steered clear, and ordered some wasabi calamari which was both generous and really tasty. The couple next to us, who had finished their dinner, bickered about how they should have ordered the calamari as they were experiencing a dreaded case of food envy.
We shared a delicious and refreshing salad, and were both very happy with our dinner orders. I had a rich and creamy pasta dish with shrimp, beef tenderloin tips, and shitake mushrooms. It was tasty, but not for someone looking for a light meal. She had pork tenderloin and was a happy camper.
The decor is funky. The Mrs. said that one of the yelp reviews described it as decorated by your rich Aunt who went a little nuts at Pier 1. The mood music was also a bit off, creating a surreal setting. But, damn, the food was really great and we both left happy.
After a full day of wine tasting our party of 4 arrived at the restaurant 30 minutes earlier than our reservation time. We sat out on the sun deck with a great view of Glen Ellen but blocked from the wind. The atmosphere was nice and quaint with very courteous and attentive wait staff.
Table bread in the form of warm, fresh and tasty scones. Our table had 3 baskets of bread and I was even thinking of getting another basket just to take home.
Salad: Grilled Romaine Salad, with rustic Caesar dressing, Parmesan cheese and pine nuts. Everybody in our party had this salad. The romaine lettuce leaves were slightly grilled giving the salad a unique and exquisite taste.
First Course: Ginger Tempura Calamari with grilled pineapple salsa, lemon aioli. This was the best mixture of flavors to compliment fried calamari that I have ever had.
Dinner: Fresh Pasta, Filet Mignon Tips, Shrimp & Shitakes, parmesan-garlic sauce. The sauce was buttery with a lemon base. The steak was cooked medium well and the prawns were very juicy and succulent. The overall flavor of the dish was similar to a beef stroganoff of a higher quality.
Dessert: Frozen Chocolate Souffle with Warm Chocolate Hazelnut Sauce
creamy, smooth, hot and cold- better than therapy! Definitely a good dessert for chocolate lovers, but not quite a soufflé since it was mostly chocolate ice cream.
My girlfriend and I ate here a few nights ago. We were just looking for someplace nice to eat and a quick Yelp search pointed us towards Glen Ellen Inn.
We ordered a half dozen oysters on the half shell and the baked oysters to start. Both were very tasty although the raw oysters had a little grit in them. I just cowboyed up and crunched down like a man.
I had the salmon special and my girlfriend had the seared duck. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the accompanied sauce was tasty. Her duck was freakin out of this world good and I kind of wish I ordered it myself. But I'm not complaining about the salmon at all.
We both had a glass of wine because duh, we're in Sonoma County.
We both split the bread pudding and it was not the best BP we've ever had, but not the worst either. Come for the entrees, not the desserts, or at least not the bread pudding.
Their bartender seemed pretty capable. I ordered an espresso martini to cap it off and it was very well made. Not too many places can make a great espresso martini and I'm happy to say this place is one of them. Its also a martini bar after all.
The total with 18% tip came to $133. I forgot the best part, our server, Marek, was *awesome*. This place probably would have come out with 3 stars if it not for his genuine hospitality and attentive service.
5 stars for having a nice staff, being cozy and giving our table a couple of comped menu items to try.
The decor really needs an update - it's not awful; just very 1991.
The food was ok, but the menu is a bit disjointed; half Italian-inspired, half Asain-inspired. I had the grilled romaine salad, which would have been good but was severely overdressed and over-topped. I also had the pumpkin ravioli - it was WAY too sweet and REALLY over-topped with walnuts and cream (this dish would have worked better as a brunch item; perfect for someone who can't decide between french toast and something savory). Apparently, the fish dishes (which other people in my party ordered) were more successful, and the "Sonoma salad" looked quite tasty.
The desserts were good - the "Glen Ellen Sundae" was absolutely fantastic. I would go back just for the sundae.
They also have an excellent wine selection.
I just spent a romantic pre-valentine's weekend at the Glen Ellen Inn. We spent the day wine tasting in the Sonoma area and then stayed and ate at the Inn. The cottages are really reasonable and feature jacuzzi tubs, 4 poster beds, fireplaces and steam showers. During the offseason (Nov.-Feb.) the rooms are $150 on the weekends. It is in a great location for wine tasting.
The food at the Inn is fantastic. The presentation is beautiful and the dishes are inventive and flavorful.
We originally had reservations at The General's Daughter in Sonoma, but after a little too much wine tasting during the day (I'm quite the lightweight) we asked our hostess at the Beltane Ranch of an alternative close by. She suggested the Glen Ellen Inn and I was delighted that we were able to make a reservation for 2 at the last minute on a Saturday evening.
I immediately liked the cozy atmosphere when we entered the restaurant and had a feeling we were in for a treat...& i sure was right. Although the oysters we started the meal off with were so-so (small and nothing special) the crab pot sticker and the mahi mahi that followed them were incredible. I would definitely recommend the crab pot sticker to anyone dining at the Glen Ellen Inn- incredible! And of course I can't forget to mention that they had a pretty impressive wine list like most restaurants in wine country. This meal was the perfect ending to an incredible & relaxing day in Sonoma County.
We wanted to get away for the short weekend and this was close to the city but far enough to feel like we're in the country. And i specifically found this place because my bf is a big fan of taking jacuzzi baths and this place has a jacuzzi in every room!!! Huge deal and it was great on the price too. I almost don't want to tell everyone about this cool place because i don't want it to get all booked up when i want to reserve a room for us in the future.
Okay so each room is very country style, with a queen size bed, we had our jacuzzi right next to our bed and it was great. The first thing we did was take a bath when we checked in. Then we took showers and they didn't advertise this too much, but their showers are steamed!!! Its a double persons shower with seats in them. it steams up and instantly you're taking a shower in a steam room! We were definitely pleasantly surprised. Every room also has a fireplace and i didn't feel how romantic our cottage was until nightfall and the lights were all off and the fire was going in front of our bed and we were watching "the notebook". I was in love with my bf for the first time all over again.
But a few things they can improve on are: the jacuzzi switch seems to be broken because once we turned it on, it wouldn't turn off. We just let it go until god knows how long, it finally turned off by itself. But that was a total waste of energy. Secondly, they didn't have a DVD player. and i knew this because it wasn't listed as one of their features, so we brought our own from home along with our own DVD. So considering how cheap DVD players are nowadays... i don't think its too much to ask for when you pay so much for a room! Then lastly, their TV is soooooo small. I think its like 17" or something like that. and it is fixture in the top adjacent corner from the bed so it was hard to see all that was going on in the movie. I guess if you're really here for a getaway... with no interruptions from TV or city life or news.... you don't really need a TV. But we really wanted to watch "the notebook" to make our romantic weekend even more romantic.
But just to make sure you don't get a bad impression of this place, it really is a good deal for what you pay and all the amenities that come with each room! We didn't want to leave. I wish we could have afforded more than just one night.. but getaways in Sonoma county just isn't cheap and for what we got... I'm happy for that at Glen Ellen Inn.
We would do this again and would recommend to other couples for a getaway "but not too far" destination!
Winter weekend stays are $159/night plus tax.
Excellent place for a romantic dinner, even a small group. Their Martini selection is great and creative.
When we went, they were not as busy in the evening, may be cold weather and rain. But the atmosphere was great, the appetizers were of right size and very well prepared. Even the bread basket had a good selection.
The Grilled New York Steak with Brie Garlic frites, red bell pepper Cabernet Sauce and the Risotto with Grilled Sausage & Sweet Onions, tomato, roast bell pepper were fabulous. I recommend Glen Ellen Sundae a must have dessert.
The place relaxes you, we had a great time, the food, dessert and ambiance worked very well together. I would highly recommend it.
So after an early afternoon of wine tasting, my friends and I were starving and most places were closed by 2:45 for serving lunch.
This place was precious with an awesome shaded front patio which wrapped around the side of the restaurant with a pretty view of a wooded area. The patio had fans and was really quiet which was nice.
The food was really good here, interesting sandwiches which came with either a soup or salad for $10-$12. I got the pulled pork and gazpacho, the pork was SOOO good. My brother got the oyster po' boy sandwich which he finished so I'm sure it was tasty. My friends also got the pulled pork, shrimp salad and and papaya chicken salad.
I didn't taste anyone else's but their plates were clean and the portions were huge, so I feel safe assuming everything was delicious.
This place is great if you are looking for a quiet, inexpensive place for lunch while wine tasting,
This is one of the few places in Glen Ellen that doesn't close between lunch and dinner, and as such was our default choice for a late lunch (3pm) wedged in between wine tasting.
I'm pretty sure that most people have an eccentric aunt who, due to the lack of children, has a lot of disposable income to spend on interior decorating from Pier One--pinkish walls, cute but uncomfortable dining room chairs, votive candle holders that look like little lampshades, really thin wrought iron stuff and those weird Kim Anderson posters: pictures of babies that are black and white, except for the flowers that they hold, which were colored by hand.
With all the *ahem* attention the eccentric aunt pays to the decor, it would not be surprising if the food were not very good. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. The fried oyster po'boy was worse than the worst one I had in New Orleans (oysters, though tasty were a little smushed and not piping hot, and the roll, though also tasty, was the wrong type) ; that said, I still have never found a fried oyster that I do not like.
A friend had an artichoke/mozzarella melt on foccacia, oddly garnished with two strands of spaghetti, fried until brown and stuck into the openfaced sandwich like antennae. By the way, spaghetti cooked that way is inedible.
An underdressed but fresh tasting green salad accompanies sandwiches.
The saving grace of this establishment (and bumps it from 2 to 3 stars) is the fact that the prices are lower than expected. If $9.50 for a sandwich and salad seems reasonable, San Francisco prices must have gotten to my head.
Wow - this was a disappointment. We rented one of their cottages behind the restaurant to stay a couple of days, but honestly would have been just as satisfied at Motel 6 - we chose and paid for this place because they advertise an in-room spa, jacuzzi tub, etc... Well none of that worked - the spa controls weren't even actually connected! Anyhow, on to the restaurant.
The salad and appetizer we had were really quite good. Original and creative, they were well presented and well prepared. The waiter was very nice (even if he was only pretending to be French) and didn't bat an eye or charge us for splitting our salad. Our main courses were ... different. The fillet mignon was good, but not excellent - which it should be for their prices! I ordered pot-au-feu, which may have been a mistake since I have perhaps high expectations for that dish (my great aunt made it) but I have never seen it on a menu in this country, so I gave it a shot. Wow - it wasn't just not great, or not good, it was actually bad. The vegetables were still crisp (which is good in some food, but not in a stew that's supposed to cook for several days) and the "lamb" tasted distinctly like horse. Ok, just like mutton. It was tough, stringy, and had an overpowering flavor that is distinctive of older animals. When the owner was informed that I wasn't satisfied, she apparently had sudden and urgent business elsewhere, because I didn't see her the rest of the night. Disgraceful.
The Martini Bar was worth going there for just by itself, and next time we're in Glen Ellen we'll be stopping by there for drinks before dinner. Martinis and the excellent appetizer are the reasons this place gets even two stars, but I may try it a second time and re-form my opinion.
tried this place based on many good reviews and because of the ability of the restaurant to take us in on short notice on a Saturday night.
The service, while friendly, was surprisingly slow given how quiet the restaurant was (5pm on a Saturday). When my first glass of wine tasted like it had gone over, the staff was quick to replace it, which was much appreciated, and garned an extra star.
However, the food was marginal. The "seared" duck was actually breaded and fried, which made it a greasy mess. Duck is fatty enough without pan frying and the breading made it taste like chicken. The sticky rice was right in consistency, but flavorless. The port cherries were good and an excellent compliment, the greens were fresh and were dressed well. Portions were a little small for the price, but at least it wasn't highway robbery.
The oyster appetizer was not fresh, leading us both to wonder if the tummy ache we had on the ride home was the precursor to food poisoning (thank heavens it wasn't).
Overall, while the people were nice, we wouldn't go back. Wolf House is right around the corner and much better, in my opinion.
This place gets 5 stars for putting up with 10 girls who at 8PM, had been wine tasting since 11:30AM that day. And five stars for the food, which was super duper! I enjoyed raw oysters and a tender steak. The ambiance is quaint and country-like and our service was exceptional. Overall, a fabulous experience!
Warm, inviting ambience. Had lunch on a fall day with the fire roaring on the enclosed patio. Lamb burger on brioche bun with a cup of velvety acorn squash soup, and my friend had a chicken mango salad. The bread basket included a dill scone and a foccacio-type bread. Dessert were the complimentary chocolate chip cookies. We didn't get martinis, but they had a long list of them..in case you ever tire of wine in the wine country!
OMG the food here is soo fab! I just love their sunroom with the fireplace since its so warm and cozy in there to sit. Their bread is really tasty! Decor is country look but nice overall. The presentation of food is gorgeous! Menu is a ton of comfort food! If you love dessert you must have their Glen Ellen Sundae is so GOOD!!!
This is definitly one of my most favorite's the food is awesome. The martini list goes on and on as well as the wine list. The calamari with papaya has to be one of the most flavorful calamari dishes I have ever come by. My other favorite is the lamb burger! Food always seems to be conisistent. The decor is very romantic.....I would have rated 5 stars but I think they need to change the menu every now and then!
We took our daughter to the Oyster Grill for lunch before we went wine tasting. What a nice place to sit and eat a well prepared meal. I made reservations on-line for 11:30. We walked in, they knew who we were, seated us and turned on the little electric fireplace on the enclosed patio. It was our daughter's birthday, so we were opening presents etc. No one rushed us.
I had the Fried Oyster Po' Boy sandwich and soup (Acorn Squash). My husband had one of the specials, a crab-cake sandwich and salad. Our daughter had the Romaine, Bay Shrimp and Avocado salad. All of our dishes were very good. They were beautifully presented. We had a bottle of Benziger pinot noir to go with our meal. (Benziger is located very close to the Glen Ellen Inn.)
Of course, we ordered desserts! My husband and I shared the brownie creation, topped with a meringue and chili chocolate ice cream (oooooooohhhhhhh soooooooooo good). Daughter had the goat cheese infused cheesecake with berry coulis. The waiter picked up on the fact that it was her birthday so they added a candle and a white chocolate disk with "happy birthday" written in dark chocolate on it. Very nice touch.
After two hours of eating and drinking we finally pulled ourselves away. We will definitely re-visit!
This was a fine place to eat. I had a really nice salad and an interesting, but incredibly rich creamy pasta dish. My wife was less happy with her choice.
The martini's were fun.
This was not, however, a meal that I will remember for long. It's pretty standard stuff.
This restaurant is unbelievably charming - it feels "country". The food says "comfort" - but with a California twist on ingredients (fresh, local etc.). The bread basket has a great focaccia.
Glen Ellen, CA
Category: Restaurants
Glen Ellen, CA
Category: Brasseries
Glen Ellen, CA
Category: Restaurants
Glen Ellen, CA
Category: Bakeries
Glen Ellen, CA
Category: American (Traditional)
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