Glen Ellen Inn

My husband and I met another couple at the Glen Ellen Inn for dinner recently. The charm and coziness of the restaurant is wonderful. We had 8:15 reservations and decided to sit at the bar for a cocktail prior to eating. They have an extensive martini list, and frankly we needed a break from wine. The bartenders and servers were all friendly and accommodating.
When we finally decided to take a table and have dinner, my husband and I chose the cioppino and the lamb shank. Both were delicious and would definitely order again. My friend ordered the prawns with coconut rice, and she loved that as well. We all enjoyed the bread basket prior to dinner as well — herbed biscuits and foccacia bread served with real butter.
In addition to the delicious food, friendly servers and charming atmosphere, we found the pricing at Glen Ellen Inn to be more reasonable than other areas of Sonoma. Having come from out of town, we got the feeling that this was more of a «locals» restaurant and did not feel the need to gauge a visiting tourist.
All in all we had wonderful time and would return given the opportunity.

I loved our dinner experience here so much that I emailed the restaurant directly to tell them. Warm, inviting restaurant and bar. We ate at the bar. Friendly service. The beet salad was hands down the best I have ever had… the flavors worked. And the presentation was beautiful. The husband said his New York strip was exceptional with mushrooms and a red wine reduction. I love small places like this that focus on great food and service and offer a really nice, quaint environment. Very well done! Extensive and creative martini list. Prices are very reasonable given the quality of the food and relative to the othet restaurants nearby. Plus the atmosphere of this place was softer and quieter than the Glen Ellen Star and more interesting than the Café a few doors down.

Had dinner there tonight. It was wonderful! The Waite staff was very attentive. I had the cioppino which was perfectly delicious. The topper was the dessert, popcorn crème brule which was amazing… a work of art!

This place also rocks. We go here a few times a year as it can get slightly expensive… we love the bar and the Martini menu is fantastic! Definitely recommend.

Delicious kobe burger. Nice window seating. Great little spot in Glen Ellen. Awesome Martini list that the bar is known for.

Sit in the glass patio. Krystal is amazing! She is so sweet & awesome! My wife loves the Rockefeller Oysters. I love the chapino. We will be back every time we’re in Sonoma.

Four stars for both the cottage we stayed in and the food at the restaurant.
We were in Cottage #3, nicely secluded, kept very warm by a toasty fire. The steamer in the shower was a bit overwhelming for me, but the bf loved it. Jacuzzi hot tub was nice, but the jets were so loud! Not sure if that was disturbing to our neighbors. The only major negative for us was the bed. We didn’t get a restful night’s sleep during our two night stay. Very springy mattress that responded to every little movement. But otherwise, the comforts and amenities were nice. And they fresh baked scones were a very nice touch. Absolutely delicious too.
Which leads me to the restaurant. They started us off with bread and more scones. The scones served at the restaurant were even better than the ones in the room, and I don’t normally like scones. I believe the one they served us that night was some sort of honey apricot scone, but either way, we gobbled those up. We then started off with the Sonoma chopped salad, that had a great mix of grapes, apples, bleu cheese, cherries and a light vinaigrette. I tried the mussels with fries and boyfriend had the hangar steak. Both were extremely delicious, steak cooked to the right temperature, though oddly for me, both dishes had a strong pepper taste that I wasn’t a fan of. The other flavors were able to cover it up well enough for me to enjoy the food. We ended the night with the Glen Ellen Inn Sunday. A creamy yet light way to end the evening.

This place is amazing. Great service, great people, great food. The Kobe burger is my favorite, best burger I’ve ever had! Paired with garlic fries, it’s amazing. Definitely going there again!

One of my favorites ever! The atmosphere is great to start. You wouldn’t expect it from the outside but you walk in and transported to a fantastic restaurant and bar. If you want a martini this is the place to come! I personally love wine and their ample selection pleased me. Their food is excellent. I got a bree burger my first time and every bite was better than the last. I couldn’t imagine a better place tucked away in wine country. I love it! Any place where I can get a bacon bree burger and a nice glass of wine sign me up!

Very convenient spot to grab lunch in the middle of Sonoma Wine Country. Close to Arrowood Winery which is handy for me. Good wine selection by the bottle and of course, a lot of vodka/​drinks on the menu. Not as much wine available by the glass as I would expect. I had a Kobe burger which was super and I liked the garlic French fries. Indoor and outdoor seating. Service was not bad at all.

I will start off with saying that we LOVED our secret cottage! We stayed in room 6 and loved it! Super cute and romantic!
We were hoping for the same impression when it came to dinner. Not so much. The restaurant itself was lovely and I loved our table. Our server was very nice and fun. But our food really wasn’t all that special for the price. My husband had the prime rib and I had a seafood stew. The pumpkin crème brûlée was pretty good however, making a good end to the night.

Ugh, I don’t like these kind of updates!
Husband and I dined here for date night and the food was completely underwhelming this time around.
We ordered the:
–Calamari: Honestly looked like someone vomited on top of the squid. They diced up bell peppers and sprinkled it on top, and then the «mango salsa» was not really salsa at all, it was on the side of the plate, over grilled and dried up. Needless to say, we barely touched this one.
–Kobe Burger: Meh, had much better than this at places less upscale. The patty did not look fresh made, rather previously frozen. They charged extra for cheese, the fries were ok. It was about 75% bun which was overwhelming. Husband ate half of it.
–Cheese ravioli: So disappointing. The tomato vinaigrette was off, maybe because of the kalmata olives on top, but something was off. The worst part is that the raviolis were very undercooked and inedible. Plate was sent back.
–French kiss: Cocktails we ordered, pretty strong and good.
–Caramel coconut ice cream: They treated us to for the bad ravioli. Husband devoured it. I thought it was way too sweet.
They comped the drinks and ravioli but even with tip, the calamari and burger came to $ 50+. It definitely was not worth that.
I really hope they step up their menu, this is not what I would come to expect of them.
Servers were very kind and attentive. Only reason I gave 2 stars.

We walked in at 8pm, no reservations and landed the best table for 2 by the open bay window, food was great, but over the course of dinner I was worn out of the inattentive service by our waitress. I had to ask several times for water, more bread for my chioppino (you dip it, you know) and getting my second glass of wine was an effort, ruining a good food and ambiance.
I will go again, but avoid that server, the bus girl was far more competent, pleasant and attentive. Shame, everything else was good. And I am local.

I thought this place was good but nothing super outstanding. The martini list is quite impressive which is always a plus. I liked their covered patio it was kind of a mix of in-​door/​out-​door seating. I went with their version of a Bloody Mary in martini form and it was quite tasty, I would order it again. The corn soup they were showcasing was also good and served chilled. My friends ordered oysters on the half shell and there was one or two in there that looked pretty sketchy and probably should not have been sent out. I had the sirloin burger for my meal and it was okay, nothing spectacular or something I would order again.
Good option to grab a drink and maybe an app!

Great atmosphere, music, outdoor deck and friendly waitstaff.
This midday nosh experience was perfect.
Light food, great wine list and garden view table.
I will be back again and again :)

Great waitstaff every time. Was there last night and our waiter dropped a coin from his sales and I picked it up and handed it to him. How adorable is this??? He asked «heads or tails» and flipped it and gave me my win!
Good is delectable, albeit a little pricey. my friend ordered the ribs and the poor emaciated Bison that was apparently slaughtered for that meal seriously needed a another year of fattening. My seafood pasta was heavy on fleshy fish and light on shell/​scallops. Still, the flavor was a lovely blend of tomato and cream.
Their homemade bread and savory scones is a danger that you’ll fill up on if you don’t watch yourself!

Serene, charming, hidden little gem with phenomenal food! I would have never known about this spot had it not been for the Unilocal recommendations. Thank you!
Even on a flammin’ hot summer day, this place is a cool as a spring breeze. Upbeat jazzy lounge music playing in the background. A tranquil water fountain calming the mind down below. The outside patio area has an upper and lower level. On the lower is where you can sit amongst the flowers and water fountain with a sculpture reminiscent of Venus keeping you company.
The fish tacos are an explosion of flavor! Even the house-​made tortilla chips that were perfectly salted, had a nice crisp to them. Topped with a black bean salsa the tacos were refreshing and satisfying without being too heavy of a meal. My fiancé went with the burger. If you do order the Kobe beef burger you’ll have enough for two. The chef cooked it to perfection, again another scrumptious plate. The garlic friend are great, though I will pass on the accompanying sauce.
Though our server offered a dessert menu, we declined and asked for the bill. Obviously they wanted us to return, since he brought out their house-​made vanilla and coconut ice cream. How dare you tempt me with smooth, creamy, buttery ice cream on a hot summer day! Just for that, we will be back.

Glen Ellen Inn rates only «fine.» There is better in the Wine Country.
Arriving in «downtown» Glen Ellen, diners will find the Glen Ellen Inn tucked snugly near The Fig Café and some doctors’ offices. With many nooks and crannies, the labyrinthine dining area is quite confusing and not very well ventilated. A warning to gentlemen: be ready to doff your jackets and roll up your sleeves, lest you sweat to death in the oven-​like dining spaces.
The menu is straight-​forward and unimaginative. No innovations at Glen Ellen Inn: if your mom and dad didn’t order it, you won’t see it here. Glen Ellen Inn doesn’t make its money on culinary flights of fancy: this is solely a turn-​the-​tables-​with-​the-​standard-​fare establishment.
The half dozen oysters were of indeterminate variety. While not special, at least they were fresh. A Sonoma mixed green salad with balsamic vinaigrette was as boring as could be. «Sonoma Cioppino» was good, but could have used a little spice. Halibut in parchment was moist and tender, but nothing special.
Service was mediocre. A request for water went un-​answered; an ordered bottle of sparkling wine took an eternity to get to the table. The service wass consummate with the surroundings: average at best.
Considering the location in the middle of one of the premier wine regions in the world, the wine list was _​pathetic_​. With limited choices, it leaves even the savviest wine aficionado scratching his head to come up with a wine selection to match the food order.
With competition like The Fig Cafè and others, it’s a wonder Glen Ellen Inn is still in business.

This is my third time staying in the cottages here (bf and I came for our first, second, and now third anniversary) but first time trying the restaurant.
First, the cottages are awesome — my favorite thus far is #4. They are very cozy and low-​key with a hot tub in the room, and some have peaceful views of the surrounding creek.
I’m so glad we decided to treat ourselves and try the restaurant this time. The ambiance was beautiful, and the food was so great. We started with the garlic fries, which we were surprised at how much we got for the price, and they were heavenly; our entrees were equally as good. You can really tell that they use high quality, local ingredients. They have an extensive wine and martini list, but being craft beer drinkers and wanting to keep the tab down, we brought our own microbrews to enjoy in the room. The crème brûlée we split for dessert was mediocre, though we were surprised to find they added a free glen ellen inn sundae since it was our anniversary. To top it all off, the servers were really friendly and so on top of filling up our waters that it was impossible to even get half way through our glass.
I love this place and am certain I’ll be eating and staying here again some day.

Start with this great little town that is in the middle of everything it seems. Add a few wines tasting, a swim in a beautiful pool and you end up here.
This is a great place that is walkable from where we stayed which was such a plus in a little town like this. They have a nice bar area, quiet and yet small and cozy. The restaurant is quaint and peaceful and the patio is awesome. Now we made the mistake of staying in the bar, which really wasn’t a mistake it’s just the patio looks incredible. The bar area was great and the service was perfect. The bartender Raoul looked after us and his cocktail skills were fantastic, waiter skills were every bit as good and he was simply charming as can be.
The food was perfect! I had the wild boar which I thought twice about but was glad I got it. It tasted very braised rib like, not at all gamey and tender as can be. My GF had the filet with shrimp, always chooses the better option. The shrimp was very flavorful, cooked perfect but the real treat was the steak. It was done exactly as ordered and was one of the most tender steaks I have had in a very long time (yes, I was allowed to try some)! I would go back just for the steak, a cut of meat that is something to write home about (or write about on Unilocal). It melted in your mouth like butter if butter came from a cow, well you know what I mean.
This is the sort of town that seems to be filled with great little places to eat, you could stay for a week and try a different place every night if you wanted. I though would be very inclined to come back here many times. Maybe just for a great cocktail to finish the night and some fresh churned ice cream but would be hard pressed not to make it the dinner plan.
Oh yeah, try the Haut Chocolate martini and don’t sweat the bill when it comes, the place is surprisingly priced for the quality and the setting, such a find!
KT