I’ve given this a lot of thought, but I feel it’s important to provide feedback on what could have been a much more enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, the service felt amateur and unpolished, which was surprising for a Michelin-rated restaurant. While I understand and appreciate the laid-back California vibe, this came across more like a poorly trained chain restaurant, with what seemed to be a high staff turnover and students working on their breaks.
The food, however, was the biggest letdown. While I enjoyed the beets and rigatoni, the overcooked Brussels sprouts and lackluster wagyu beef fell far short of expectations. Even the famed sourdough bread was underwhelming.
In hindsight, I wish I had opted for a pizza and a single glass of wine—I imagine that would have been more satisfying. Instead, I spent $500 on an experience that, unfortunately, stands out for all the wrong reasons.
Adam Thompson
Excellent. Whether in the main building, on the more casual patio, or in the more secluded dining room, you can't go wrong! A phenomenal, unique wine list to pair with the positively limited and flawlessly executed menu. The SRFarms wagyu Denver-cut steak was riveting!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sourdough Bread, American Wagyu
Cheryl Fong
Unforgettable dinning experience from start to finish.
We were delighted by a mixture of wild mushroom on our pizza that included lobster mushrooms and maitake. I was taken by the surprise the intense umami after sampling these for the first time. Each bite craved a second.
Our pasta had a dollop of light cream above a savory and hearty tahini sauce. Middle eastern spices invited warmth. The composition of flavors felt like a symphony in my mouth.
Our server was friendly and attentive, suggested we have their house made maple bourbon ice-cream. It was the perfect decision to conclude our dining experience.
We left with the biggest smiles, and talked about dinning again on our walk back to the hotel. Best of all, we didn't break the bank.
Fresh delicious food served with skill and passion at reasonable prices. Glen Ellen Star has earned a place in my heart. ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pizzas, Vanilla Maple Bourbon Affogato
Richard Phillips
Their Wednesday night Neighbor Night offers unique (that night only) off menu culinary experiences with free corkage. This evenings smoke sturgeon salad and cocoa pasta with kurobuta pork was exceptional and it perfectly matched to our Saint-Emillion red wine. The service is exceptional and you feel like family. Definitely worth the trip if you are local on Wednesday nights.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Erin Leventhal
The service was quick, the food was phenomenal and there was a lovely selection of wines to choose from! We were celebrating our honeymoon and the server brought champagne to the table before we even ordered. How thoughtful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pizzas, Sweet Salami and Tomato Pizza
Valerie Favrebonvin
While the cuisine at Glenn Ellen Star was undeniably exceptional, I was disappointed and found unacceptable the restaurant's practice of asking guests to vacate their table prematurely to accommodate subsequent diners. While I understand the practice oftable turnover, this approach seemed to contradict the refined culinary experience that the restaurant strives to provide. The guests should be able to enjoy fully savor their dining experience without feeling rushed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Diomar Jesús Pérez Piña
The truth is, very good food, it's a shame that they ripped us off by charging us an excessively high bill, including things we hadn't ordered and charging additional service, taking advantage of the fact that we had 2 extra wines. You should be careful if you visit this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Jonathan Farrell
Very upscale casual. Service is excellent! Presentation and atmosphere/ambiance stylish and a bit rustic-chic. Next time I want to order the pizza.
Parking: Limited parking!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bread Service
Dave Keen
Topping off our day in Sonoma was an exceptional dinner at Glen Ellen Star. Between the friendliness of the hostess, server & other patrons, the relaxing ambiance and the spectacular food, it was the perfect evening for our last night in Sonoma. At the suggestion of the hostess and our server, we had the brussels sprouts, sourdough bread, hot honey basil pizza and the wagyu zabuton. After one bite of the steak, my wife's face lit up and she said it was the best tasting steak she’s ever had! The server said he hears that frequently and I’m not surprised. Being from Seattle, Glen Ellen Star will definitely be added to our annual dining list.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts, Sourdough Bread, American Wagyu, Pizzas
Brandy Amarillas
Such a beautiful dinner. Thanks for fitting us in last minute!
The Gazpacho is a must have dish - everything else-from the bread to the wagyu steak dish was very good but not representative of a Michelin rating. The service was prompt, but perfunctory and not very friendly. We had high hopes and left a bit disappointed. Certainly, the food showcased great, fresh, and local California produce that was delicious - more of that and friendlier service would have made this dining experience an exemplary one.
Parking: Limited number of spots in a tiny lot!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Wood Roasted Vegetables, Gazpacho, American Wagyu
Joey Chang
Amazing food. Really really fresh local ingredients. Worth it. Plate lickin’ good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: White Sauce Pizza w Sausage & Fennel, Pizzas, Vanilla Maple Bourbon Affogato
JP L
The service and atmosphere really saved this place's rating for me. I had the pizza and corn to start and my partner had their pasta. Pasta and corn was incredible but the pizza was mediocre. Cute little place for a dinner but the seating can get cramped due to how busy and quaint the place is.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Martin John
Amazing food and impeccable service but why oh why the short pours on wine? Don’t be stingy !
I’ve given this a lot of thought, but I feel it’s important to provide feedback on what could have been a much more enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, the service felt amateur and unpolished, which was surprising for a Michelin-rated restaurant. While I understand and appreciate the laid-back California vibe, this came across more like a poorly trained chain restaurant, with what seemed to be a high staff turnover and students working on their breaks. The food, however, was the biggest letdown. While I enjoyed the beets and rigatoni, the overcooked Brussels sprouts and lackluster wagyu beef fell far short of expectations. Even the famed sourdough bread was underwhelming. In hindsight, I wish I had opted for a pizza and a single glass of wine—I imagine that would have been more satisfying. Instead, I spent $500 on an experience that, unfortunately, stands out for all the wrong reasons.
Excellent. Whether in the main building, on the more casual patio, or in the more secluded dining room, you can't go wrong! A phenomenal, unique wine list to pair with the positively limited and flawlessly executed menu. The SRFarms wagyu Denver-cut steak was riveting!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sourdough Bread, American Wagyu
Unforgettable dinning experience from start to finish.
We were delighted by a mixture of wild mushroom on our pizza that included lobster mushrooms and maitake. I was taken by the surprise the intense umami after sampling these for the first time. Each bite craved a second.
Our pasta had a dollop of light cream above a savory and hearty tahini sauce. Middle eastern spices invited warmth. The composition of flavors felt like a symphony in my mouth.
Our server was friendly and attentive, suggested we have their house made maple bourbon ice-cream. It was the perfect decision to conclude our dining experience.
We left with the biggest smiles, and talked about dinning again on our walk back to the hotel. Best of all, we didn't break the bank.
Fresh delicious food served with skill and passion at reasonable prices. Glen Ellen Star has earned a place in my heart. ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pizzas, Vanilla Maple Bourbon Affogato
Their Wednesday night Neighbor Night offers unique (that night only) off menu culinary experiences with free corkage. This evenings smoke sturgeon salad and cocoa pasta with kurobuta pork was exceptional and it perfectly matched to our Saint-Emillion red wine. The service is exceptional and you feel like family. Definitely worth the trip if you are local on Wednesday nights.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The service was quick, the food was phenomenal and there was a lovely selection of wines to choose from! We were celebrating our honeymoon and the server brought champagne to the table before we even ordered. How thoughtful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pizzas, Sweet Salami and Tomato Pizza
While the cuisine at Glenn Ellen Star was undeniably exceptional, I was disappointed and found unacceptable the restaurant's practice of asking guests to vacate their table prematurely to accommodate subsequent diners. While I understand the practice oftable turnover, this approach seemed to contradict the refined culinary experience that the restaurant strives to provide. The guests should be able to enjoy fully savor their dining experience without feeling rushed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
The truth is, very good food, it's a shame that they ripped us off by charging us an excessively high bill, including things we hadn't ordered and charging additional service, taking advantage of the fact that we had 2 extra wines. You should be careful if you visit this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Very upscale casual. Service is excellent! Presentation and atmosphere/ambiance stylish and a bit rustic-chic. Next time I want to order the pizza.
Parking: Limited parking!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bread Service
Topping off our day in Sonoma was an exceptional dinner at Glen Ellen Star. Between the friendliness of the hostess, server & other patrons, the relaxing ambiance and the spectacular food, it was the perfect evening for our last night in Sonoma. At the suggestion of the hostess and our server, we had the brussels sprouts, sourdough bread, hot honey basil pizza and the wagyu zabuton. After one bite of the steak, my wife's face lit up and she said it was the best tasting steak she’s ever had! The server said he hears that frequently and I’m not surprised. Being from Seattle, Glen Ellen Star will definitely be added to our annual dining list.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts, Sourdough Bread, American Wagyu, Pizzas
Such a beautiful dinner. Thanks for fitting us in last minute!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
8/30/24 - very good service and brick chicken .
The Gazpacho is a must have dish - everything else-from the bread to the wagyu steak dish was very good but not representative of a Michelin rating. The service was prompt, but perfunctory and not very friendly. We had high hopes and left a bit disappointed. Certainly, the food showcased great, fresh, and local California produce that was delicious - more of that and friendlier service would have made this dining experience an exemplary one.
Parking: Limited number of spots in a tiny lot!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Wood Roasted Vegetables, Gazpacho, American Wagyu
Amazing food. Really really fresh local ingredients. Worth it. Plate lickin’ good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: White Sauce Pizza w Sausage & Fennel, Pizzas, Vanilla Maple Bourbon Affogato
The service and atmosphere really saved this place's rating for me. I had the pizza and corn to start and my partner had their pasta. Pasta and corn was incredible but the pizza was mediocre. Cute little place for a dinner but the seating can get cramped due to how busy and quaint the place is.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Amazing food and impeccable service but why oh why the short pours on wine? Don’t be stingy !
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
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