What does a satisfying dinner in a California wine country look like? A meal at Glen Ellen Star, which my wife Jun and I visited on the second evening of our Sonoma trip, would be fairly close to that representation. The restaurant, away from the more heralded towns like Healdsburg and Sebastopol in the Sonoma wine country region, has the kind of cozy cottage charm that makes you smile. It’s not the most upscale setting, but perfect for a low-key dinner where you don’t feel forced to order an expensive bottle of wine. More importantly, the food at Glen Ellen Star, leveraging the wood oven in the kitchen, was mostly delicious.

Jun and I were still somewhat recovering from the disastrous flight delay to the Bay Area, so we managed to order perhaps fewer dishes at Glen Ellen Star than we would’ve liked to get a full scan of the restaurant’s menu but I think we chose wisely considering the circumstances. The cauliflower was a very good appetizer with a surprisingly spicy kick from salsa amarillo, especially with Peruvian corn kernels sprinkled that added a nice crunchy texture. Our server highly recommended sourdough and it was indeed tasty when dipped on house cultured butter with Hawaiian black sea salt. Glen Ellen Star also has a handful of pizzas on the menu, and if you are in need of a pie, you could do well with a red sauce pie with salami and Calabrian chili honey; we didn’t end up finishing the pie that night and it was still delicious after we ate it in our hotel the next day. For a main dish, wood fired whole branzino was another pleasant gem; we’d had some fantastic branzino dishes before, but the use of Mexican mole sauce was quite ingenious.

Getting a reservation is not terribly difficult but the dining room was fully packed during our meal so I do suggest booking your spot in advance if possible. If you can, try to grab a seat at the counter in front of the kitchen with the wood oven where all the magic is happening. On Wednesdays, Glen Ellen Star has a so-called “Neighborhood Night” menu with a three-course tasting menu at an affordable price range. The restaurant, not surprisingly, has an expansive list of California wines, many from lesser-known producers (I was excited one of my favorite California boutique producers Ceritas on the list). The friendly and attentive service of the staff added to the country charm of our dining experience. If you are looking for a delicious and hearty meal in the Sonoma area without breaking the bank, Glen Ellen Star is a very solid option to consider.

Address: 13648 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, CA 95442

KenScale: 7.75/10 (Jun’s Score: 7.75/10)

Website: https://glenellenstar.com/

Reservation via Resy