Once in a while (too seldom alas) I walk out of a restaurant feeling contented. And contrarily to what you might think, I like feeling contented.
For me to feel satisfied, the food has to be decent, the prices reasonable and the service attentive.
And that’s what happened yesterday when I took the missus to the Glen Ellen Inn, in Sonoma county.
It is about a 45 minutes ride from my place of residence, but I think that this eatery is worth the trip.
Don’t settle for a place, only because it is conveniently close. A decent eating-place is worth the trouble of driving for close to an hour.
The Glenn Ellen Inn is nestled in a green enclosure overlooking a small waterfall, and when you dine on the patio as we did, it is a feast for the eyes and the ears.
We showed up without a reservation and were greeted and seated without any ceremony.
The busboy and the waiter were diligent and in matter of minutes we were settled on the patio.
Bread and water showed up on the table immediately and were replenished as needed.
After a few minutes of reflection, Tamara and I placed our orders.
Tamara opted for the Artichoke & Gorgonzola Ravioli and I picked the Petit Filet Mignon & Prawns.
According to Tamara the ravioli were tasty and my Filet Mignon was tender and cooked to perfection. So were the grilled Tiger prawns.
My only quibble is that meat and prawns were drowning in a heavy brown sauce. Sauces ought to be light and discreet. They should never overwhelm a dish.
But overall, this is my only criticism.
Tamara indulged in a glass of Sauvignon Blanc reasonably priced at $7.95 and I had a cup of coffee.
As I said before, service was consistently attentive without being intrusive.
Tamara ended up with a Chocolate Mousse (that I also sampled) and it was light, smooth and tasty.
Overall cost: around $70.00 (tip included).
If you want a decent meal, reasonably priced and with good service to boot, proceed without hesitation to the Sonoma Glen Ellen Inn.
Alain