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    Glen Ellen Star

    4.2 (904 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 9:30 PM

    Order Glen Ellen Star Takeout or Delivery

    Glen Ellen Star Photos

    Business Info

    GLEN ELLEN STAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Glen Ellen Star

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    Reviews With Photos

    House-Made Creste de Gallo Pasta
    Pam C.

    I hate to give a lackluster review after one visit but after my husband woke up with cramping and stomach issues, I feel I must. We did enjoy a few things: the ambiance is tender and romantic, our service was good and the savory galette was delicious. I do not recommend the pasta. It was thick and the sauce was meh. Husband's bay scallops were swimming in avocado goop. Prices are high. Wine prices are high. This is a no for me.

    Larion L.

    Great food! But honestly the service was absolutely fabulous! Francis was so attentive and helpful! The place inside is pretty small and the music is too loud.

    Alan C.

    Dinner out on a Wednesday night with friends. Locals dinner with a generously comped corkage fee - we brought a few bottles of Pinot which were vastly different from one another but each quite solid in their own way. The winner of the evening was the 2021 Domaine de la Côte 'Memorious' Pinot Noir. The Neighbors Night special at Glen Ellen Star, in Glen Ellen, CA this night was a first course of wood fired rock shrimp, stone ground grits, puffed sorghum & chive oil complimented with a second course of deliciously wood roasted duck leg, creamed kale and glazed baby carrots, fig leaf glaze. The freshly baked and crusty Sourdough Focaccia with roman spice, house cultured honey butter, and castelines noir d'olive was delicious and we closed with the wood fired Sticky Toffee Cake, with Pecan almond nougat, caramel sauce and a side of vanilla maple bourbon ice cream. Hard to go wrong with that combo TBH. Pass the Pinot dammit. This place is on regular rotation now. Great service, great meal and warm setting on a Wednesday night in our little slice of heaven.

    Wagyu zabuton
    Rachael L.

    Since we tried their sister restaurant, Stella, last night we had to try Glen Ellen too! And it definitely did not disappoint. All around fantastic meal! We had the brussel sprouts, wagyu zabuton and the hot salami pizza. The brussel sprouts were cooked to perfection and the sauce was so delicious. The wagyu zabuton truly melted in your mouth! Wow! The pizza was so fresh and all the flavors were a great combo. We loved everything! Service was wonderful. Everyone was so warm and friendly. Ambiance was nice - small, quiet and intimate.

    Steak
    Sung Hee P.

    We had a good family dinner here as our last dinner in Sonoma. It has been on our list to try for a while, so when we got a 7:45 pm reservation we jumped at the chance. They did not have a child menu, but our two kiddos loved the custom cheese pizza with red sauce. As adult starters, we had cauliflower and the late winter greens salad. My preference for salad dressing is more of a vinigarette rather than goat cheese, so I did not enjoy the salad as much. But cauliflower was interesting. I ordered the benzino, and my husband did the steak as our entrees. Not sure if it was the anticipation, but for me, the palate experience was okay. But fancy selection of wines. Ambiance was Sonoma dressy ;)

    Steak entree, two friends ordered it, it was deliciously melty in your mouth (they shared!)
    Melissa K.

    Third time here, another delicious meal and another exceptional experience... Glen Ellen is the only spot I consistently come to each time visiting the Napa Valley area, and I'm always happy I came back! Pros- food is prepared perfectly. Amazing flavors and textures that are a party in your mouth! Service and recommendations are always on point. Usually come here with my son (Glen Ellen is his favorite Napa Valley spot!) this time I came with girlfriends and they all said they'd want to come back! One plans to bring her husband... Cons- parking can be hard, so plan accordingly!

    Wagyu
    Fefe A.

    Food was amazing here !!! I will definitely be coming back here. Everything we ordered was cooked perfectly. We ordered the Bronzino fish in the Wagyu. We have the house made sourdough focaccia and the broccoli. We also ordered the cake for dessert. One of the reasons I gave this place a five star is because the service was excellent. Overall, the place is not super fancy. It's more casual nice which makes it extremely enjoyable.

    Watermelon tajin sorbet
    Annie L.

    Glen Ellen star shares the same farm as their sister restaurant, Stella. A more elevated dining experience in terms of decor, food and price point. If you're looking for something fancier, come here. If you want more casual, go to Stella. Our favorite of the night was the sweet potato soup. The Brussels sprouts with bacon was too oily for my liking. My shrimp lumache didn't quite hit my taste buds. My hubby enjoyed his brick chicken. Our server was wonderful, this could be a good choice for dinner.

    Magda L.

    We had a lovely dinner at Glen Ellen Star! Everything we ordered was delicious. The cauliflower with brown butter-tahini, peppadew peppers, and toasted almonds was outstanding, and both the pork belly and sausage pie were rich, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The restaurant itself is warm, charming, and bustling, full but not overly loud, with a cozy, atmosphere. Our server was very friendly, though since we were tucked away in a corner, we were occasionally a bit forgotten. Still, she made up for it with such a sweet gestures. she packed a little ice cream to go, which was such a thoughtful touch. Overall, recommend for anyone visiting Napa and looking for a beautiful spot with amazing food and a relaxed vibe.

    Housemade Sedani Rigati w/ heirloom tomato "sugo", wild mushrooms, romano bean chow chow, burrata ($36)
    Cherylynn N.

    First time visiting Glen Ellen and I was not prepared, even having trained on steep hills and Lombard street in the city. GPS sent us through Trinity/Dry Creek Roads from Yountville where we were staying...30+ minutes of continuous narrow, winding roads with nowhere to pull over to get your sh*t together. We're risking it all for this meal because one wrong turn, down the hill we go, and we'll be the mountain kitties' next meal. J/k! But in all seriousness, if you're coming from Napa/Yountville/St. Helena, avoid Trinity/Dry Creek Roads. Opening in 2012 from a TFL alum, Glen Ellen Star is the darling of this tiny town in Sonoma. They've been awarded Michelin Bib Gourmand (not to be confused with Michelin star) every year since their opening and the chef-owner is a 2025 James Beard Semi-Finalist for Best Chef in CA. They have a new sister resto, Stella (Kenwood) that opened in March 2025 serving Italian cuisine. Glen Ellen Star seemed so promising unfortunately, it seems we caught them on an off day but more on that latter. Rezzies are a must on the weekends. Note that there are various seating options on Resy. Dog-friendly in the front patio and "back alley". M E N U California cuisine with an emphasis on wood-fired cooking and seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Beer and wine only. No cocktails. 3% non-cash fee. F O O D * Tomato Cream Pie w/ white sauce, red sauce, mozzarella, aleppo pepper ($30): https://tinyurl.com/fk56haub BEST dish of the night and a local fav for good reason, the wood fire pie had a good chewy exterior sourdough crust with poofy charred blisters and a subtle tang. Rich creamy tomato sauce that lowkey reminds me of vodka sauce. * Special of the Night: Clam Bake w/ clams, mussels, shrimp, sausage, cajun broth ($38): https://tinyurl.com/mwsa7d5u I only tasted the shrimp that was overcooked and the broth absent of said spices. Served with grilled bread. * Housemade Sedani Rigati w/ heirloom tomato "sugo", wild mushrooms, romano bean chow chow, burrata ($36): https://tinyurl.com/mc35rk5k You can never go wrong with rich, creamy burrata but TBH, this felt like something you can easily throw together at home in 12-15 minutes. I appreciate simplicity and trying to showcase top-notch ingredients but this vegetarian dish was bland and far too basic for the steep price. * 20 oz Double Cut Iberico Pork Chop w/ macadamia nut romesco, blistered jimmy nardello peppers & cherry pepper salsa ($68): https://tinyurl.com/3m462st5 - Requested medium rare-medium We enjoyed gnawing off the charred, fatty bits from the bone but the pork chop itself was underseasoned and dry (well done). I was surprised that the [raw] macadamia nuts weren't toasted for the romesco, which needed salt and pepper to enhance the flavor of the tomatoes. S E R V I C E Friendly and refined service from our server, Jason. A M B I A N C E Cozy cottage with open kitchen and chef's counter. Pleasant front patio seating over turf with fence for privacy. The "covered alley" we were seated in seemed like a side extension to the cottage. Def recommend the front patio instead. P A R K I N G Their private lot only holds about five cars. There's additional parking across the street. Overall, given the rave reviews, accolades, and the owner's pedigree, I found the food underwhelming. With the very limited resto options in Glen Ellen, I get why they're so popular tho. If you're staying in Sonoma, Glen Ellen Star is def worth a try since everyone has different palates.

    Salma F.

    Outstanding Resturant in Glen Ellen, exceptional service. Loved the unit dishes and truly enjoyed a special birthday dinner here, the pasta is so delicious. Highly recommend.

    Focaccia with honey butter and olive oil, and Carrots with Labneh and pistachios
    Ariana I.

    There's a reason this place is famous. Went here to celebrate my best friend's bday and Glen Ellen Star is a quintessential Sonoma county experience. Amazing food, extensive wine list. And yes, definitely get the pizza. The desserts were also amazing. Can't beat house made ice cream. Made an affogato with their vanilla maple bourbon. Drool! The staff are lovely and the place itself is small and cozy. Beware parking. It is street parking only and can be tricky since it's such a small town.

    Bread exceptional fresh and hot out of the oven
    Lisa H.

    Service started out slow - and then was great. The place is SUPER BUSY / we have wanted to try it out for a while as we live in Napa and everyone talks about this place. I compare it to Mustards in Napa - very popular - good service and food is dependable. It is very busy and loud / this is not fine dining. Think elegant comfort food. We had many shared dishes they were all very good. The best was the bread.

    Celeriac Bisque

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    Love the ambiance and the taste and texture of the food. The owners were very amiable and my family enjoyed the experience.

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    Page 2 of 23

    Glen Ellen Star Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Glen Ellen Star

    Do they have a cocktail menu with spirits?

    Glen Ellen Star offers beer, wine, and non alcoholic beverages only.

    Is it easy to order gluten free, and are the Chef's ok with modifications? Thank you!

    A lot of items on the menu are gluten free naturally. However, the restaurant does not offer gluten free pasta or pizza.

    When do reservations open up and what is the best way to secure a reservation?

    Reservations open 20 days in advance. https://resy.com/cities/npa/glen-ellen-star

    For the neighborhood night, can you get a vegan option or can you only have what is listed for that night?

    Our entire menu is available on Neighborhood Night (with vegan options). However substitutions to the pre-fixe special menu that evening are not allowed.

    Is the wood fired cauliflower vegan? I notice something about bacon in the ingredients.

    Yes. The bacon you are referring to is on our Brussels sprouts. However that can also be omitted.

    Are there any vegan options?

    Yes. We can do vegan pizzas, wood roasted vegetables, and a vegan pasta.

    Are there any gluten-free options?

    Yes! Most of the menu is gluten free without any modifications. We unfortunately do not have gluten free pizza dough or pasta.

    Is there anything special about Chef's Counter?

    The Chef’s counter allows for the same full regular menu , however it’s more of a “dinner and a show” as you get to watch the four chefs prepare the dishes for the entire restaurant. These seats typically fill up first as they are the most popular.

    Will the restaurant be open Christmas Day 2019?

    We will be closed on Christmas Day.

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    Buck’s Place

    Buck’s Place

    4.5
    (65 reviews)
    4.9 mi

    Came here for dinner with a group of friends so I had the chance to try a few menu items…read more We started with drinks and a friend recommended the pina colada. It was very refreshing and well balanced. We got the mozzarella sticks and the bread with ricotta whip. Unfortunately they ran out of their focaccia bread, so they gave us a sesame bread, which was alright. The mozzarella sticks were very good with a great crisp, and I liked the cheese they used. We got 3 pizzas to share, a pepperoni, arrabiatta, and the potato pie. The potato pie was my favorite. It had blue and golden potatoes and the onion and bacon rounded out the flavor well. The pepperoni was solid and the arrabiatta was the groups overall favorite. We asked for a ranch for each person, not realizing they came in larger portions in bowls, so we were very happy as a ranch loving table, but something to keep in mind. One ranch portion can definitely be shared between two people. An overall nice spot to come for a casual dinner with friends and/or family.

    We actually were trying to hit up another pizza joint nearby but it ended up being closed, which…read morewas a blessing in disguise because Buck's Place is a diamond in the rough! Small parking lot available around back! Large outdoor patio, separate bar area, and expansive dining room provide you with many an option for small to large groups! The interior has local hangout/dive bar written all over it, but in a casual, welcoming vibe. We had bar service since the dining room wasn't open quite yet when we arrived! The bartender was confident, efficient, and welcoming, even with a large crowd of people! The food far exceeded our expectations! The mozzarella sticks are truly a STAR...perfectly crunchy with a tender, "ideal for the cheese pull" center! We had the Vodka Sauce pizza, which was truly delicious...taking the normal red sauce pizza up a notch with the twist! You cannot skip the side of ranch...which rivals even the best Midwest recipe I could remember! If you want solid pizza and bar food after a long day of exploring the nearby vineyards, Buck's Place is where it's at!

    Photos
    Buck’s Place
    Buck’s Place
    Buck’s Place

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    Golden Bear Station

    Golden Bear Station

    4.4
    (123 reviews)
    4.5 mi

    Went last night with friends for a birthday ....that Bib Salad was PERFECTION, and I drank the…read moredressing with the serving spoon once everyone had their share. So fortunate it was the first night the salad returned to their spring menu. I might give my right arm for that dressing recipe ;-) The Korean rice cake/bolognese was very good, toothy satisfying chewiness to the rice "coins"- Really, we devoured everything, the "fish and chips" mixed fish tar -tar, if you will, with tortilla chips, miso Ora Salmon, pork chop, the insane mushroom starter with sweet onion frothiness. Also, the interior is really beautiful and super intimate. Can't wait to return when I next visit Sonoma friends.

    I was a huge fan of Animo, so I was expecting big things from Golden Bear Station. The food and…read moreservice was amazing. We were greeted warmly and show to our table promptly. The food style says Italian but it's really Italian Korean fusion. If you want an adventure in flavor and something unexpected GBS is a must My favorites were the short ribs, mushrooms and the pasta, but they have so many excellent choices. This is definitely a place I'd come back to try the whole menu. Too bad it's so far. The restaurant has a warm fireplace beautiful open kitchen. The seats are comfy and things are well spaced. Just a more fitting venue than Animo. If your are up for some inventive Italian with Korean mix this is your place.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Pasta
    Pasta
    Very delicious line up of dessert wines and digestivo

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    Very delicious line up of dessert wines and digestivo
    La Cucina - VJB Cellars

    La Cucina - VJB Cellars

    4.3
    (23 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    Wow! Just went & got take out pizza there. WOW! Wood fired. Literally the best pizza ever. Our…read moreorder was taken by a real Italian grandma that I would love to adopt. Also Italian grandma is from Italy! Has an accent! I was in heaven! Her recipes are in the books in the deli too. Looked like Italian grandpa was doing a lot of cooking too, bringing out food into the deli case. Really made me miss my own grandparents (I'm not Italian, I'm Jewish but you know there's a lot of similarities!). We ordered Margharita pizza to go, it was fantastic. It's wood fired. Their hours are from 10-4. You can walk through to the deli to order to go. The tables, which are on the piazza are another matter. They're great, completely in shade but I do recommend you get a reservation for them. The crust on the pizza was SUPERB!!!! The pizza was superb!!! WILL GO THERE AGAIN! Preferably soon!

    Beautiful tasting room with a restaurant space, a deli and a gorgeous courtyard to sit outside. All…read moreof the staff were extremely friendly. We stopped here to eat on our way out of Sonoma. I liked the various spaces in this place. It's a tasting room, that makes pizza. It's also a cute market with an amazing selection of local cheeses, the prefect crackers, and bougie snacks to create your own picnic experience while wine tasting. Lots of gourmet finds to bring home too. Think all things that pair nicely with wine including some awesome cheese boards. We ordered a sandwich, calamari, and a pizza. The arugula pesto on the sammy was very tasty, and the pizza was decent - to be fair we had just eaten at a really amazing pizza place the night before so hard not to compare. My BF ordered a glass of Barbera and loved it. I enjoyed a small batch ginger ale to help recover from sipping too much wine the day prior.

    Photos
    La Cucina - VJB Cellars
    Caesar salad
    Caesar salad
    La Cucina - VJB Cellars

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    Glen Ellen Star - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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