8 Must Taste Glen Ellen Restaurants

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From Italy to France, and from to India to California, the restaurants of Glen Ellen are inspired by cuisines from all across the globe. Even as they look abroad for flavors, these eateries gather ingredients from local farms. Dress codes might be casual, but the meals served at the following restaurants showcase Glen Ellen’s commitment to memorable dining experiences.

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Restaurants / Glen Ellen

Glen Ellen Inn Oyster Grill & Martini Bar

There’s a French aura permeating the menu and dining room of The Glen Ellen Inn, but don’t let that dissuade you from ordering the delicious gourmet burger. If you want to unleash your inner Rat Pack, The Glen Ellen Inn is famous for its oyster grill and martini bar, with martini options ranging from classic gin and vermouth blends to sweeter, fruit juice-inflected cocktails and pop culture call-outs—the Serenity Now!, named after a Seinfeld episode, utilizes a cucumber-infused vodka.

Insider Tip

The Glen Ellen Inn’s take on ciopinno, the famous San Francisco seafood soup, is noteworthy, and it includes sausage and chicken.

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3

Restaurants / Glen Ellen

Glen Ellen Star

Glen Ellen Star isn’t fussy about its décor, but that’s because the owners put much of their effort into serving fantastic wood-fired pizzas. The white pizza topped with figs is highly recommended, but pizzas aren’t the only dishes cooked in the wood oven; Brussel sprouts with brown sugar bacon marmalade, charred shashito peppers, and sunchokes will turn the head of even the most dedicated meat-lover. The dress code is casual and many dishes come served in an iron skillet, but Glen Ellen Star is undeniably fine dining.

Insider Tip

With flavors like malted milk chocolate, salted peanut butter, and vanilla maple bourbon, the ice cream made on-site is decidedly crafted for adult palettes. Save room.

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4

Restaurants / Glen Ellen

Fig Cafe & Winebar

The Fig Café and Winebar infuses a French sensibility to quaint Glen Ellen, satisfying locals and tourists with dishes like crab croquettes and upside-down persimmon cake. The restaurant also serves up gourmet takes on comfort food, including pizza topped with duck as well as pot roast and a smoked cheddar macaroni and cheese. If you’re searching for some classic steak frites, this is your spot in Sonoma County. The dining room is cozy and casual, but the chefs are very serious about what’s coming out of the kitchen.

Insider Tip

The Fig Café and Winebar doesn’t charge a corkage fee, so bring in your own wine for a true France-meets-California supper.

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5

Restaurants / Glen Ellen

Aventine Glen Ellen

The restauranteurs behind Aventine Glen Ellen own two other outposts in Hollywood and San Francisco. Upon entering, you might wonder why they chose little Glen Ellen to be the third location, but when you see the lovely location overlooking Sonoma Creek and the extensive wine list, you’ll get an idea as to why. The dining room is sumptuous for the eyes, and the gourmet menu meticulously recreates the mood of a traditional Italian osteria. Aventine Glen Ellen specializes in upscale pizzas, pastas, salads, and steaks. Located in a renovated 150-year-old grist mill, the décor is rich and romantic.

Insider Tip

Order the black truffle popcorn with caution—it’s so delicious, it might ruin all future tubs of the movie theatre variety.

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6

Restaurants / Glen Ellen

Yeti Restaurant

Yeti Restaurant brings some South Asian flavor to the region. The kitchen serves a fusion of Indian and Nepalese cuisine, but with a focus on Northern California’s bountiful produce, meat, and seafood. The tastes of Yeti Restaurant’s chicken tikka masala, coriander naan, and prawn and basil curry are as big as its namesake. The small dining room fills up fast, but guests without reservations can sit outside on the patio or order takeout and eat at the bar.

Insider Tip

Pairing wine with the bold spices of India can be difficult, but the servers at Yeti Restaurant are very knowledgeable and can recommend the best local wines to match your meal.

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8

Restaurants / Glen Ellen

Garden Court Cafe & Bakery

Unlike many of the farm-to-table options in Glen Ellen, Garden Court Café carries zero pretension. A cozy country eatery open only for breakfast and brunch, the restaurant serves up classics like eggs benedict and breakfast burritos. If your tasting experience extended late into the evening, this is the place to re-energize before another day of winery tours. The waits can be long, especially on weekends, but those hungry hordes queue up each Saturday and Sunday for a reason.

Insider Tip

One reason why this spot gets crowded is because the sausages, jams, and breads are all house made. Try the berry jelly.

Details

9

Restaurants / Glen Ellen

Wolf House Restaurant

Located inside the rustic Jack London Lodge surrounding the Valley of the Moon, the Wolf House Restaurant offers a glimpse of life from the turn of the 20th Century. The exterior looks like something out of a 1930s Western and the dining room is filled with richly-colored furniture and lots of natural light. The menu is very modern, though, and features thoughtful takes on classics like chicken pot pies and molasses-cured pork chops with brandied apples. Expect to dine alongside plenty of locals, drinking Sonoma County beers and wines—there is even an old jukebox.

Insider Tip

The kitchen is only open until 8 p.m., but the adjoining saloon is open until 2 a.m.

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