13670 Arnold Dr, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
(707) 996-6409
Parking: street parking
http://www.glenelleninn.com/
Last Visited: November 23, 2003
Food: 2 to 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
Glen Ellen Inn – even the name incites a feeling of warmth. The cinnamon and other earth tones of the walls are also inviting. When you walk into the building, you see the bar and tables, and there was a very strong scent of vinegar coming from the kitchen the day that I visited.
The interesting thing about this place is the toilet paper stand in the bathroom. Rather than a holder on the wall, there’s a shiny stand holding a single roll of toilet paper. The restroom also had five chairs just sitting there. Maybe the bathroom makes for an ideal storage spot, but I couldn’t help but feel like the room was waiting for an audience.
One of the best things about the Glen Ellen Inn was the beginning of the meal and the end. Upon our arrival, we received hot savory scones. It seems to be rarer and rarer that hot bread is served, and on this cold day, it was very inviting. At the end of our meal, we were given warm spice cookies. It’s these little touches that make this place special.
Okay, onto the meal itself. All sandwiches are served with choice of soup, salad, or potatoes.
- Artichoke and Sonoma Jack Sourdough Melt – Served with red bell peppers and mushrooms. I’m not sure where the sourdough was, but the sandwich was a melt. It was served on the same homemade rosemary bread that the other sandwiches were served on, so I was a little disappointed having prepared myself for some good sourdough. The sandwich is flavorful, but not the best it could be. $9.95
- Pulled Kahlua Pork Sandwich – Served with caramelized onions and red bell pepper aioli. The pulled pork was very tender and accompanied with a nice dressing. There is a lot of succulent meat in the sandwich, and it is also served on homemade rosemary bread. Since the bread is very homestyle, it tended to break apart fairly easily although it was sliced very thick. The bread itself had a crumbly texture that just didn’t seem to fit the sandwich appropriately. I think I would have liked the pulled pork on a roll instead. $10.95
- Lobster Bisque – The soup was a brilliant orange/coral color that matched the décor and served in a big bowl. A light green oil is lightly drizzled on top of the soup. Once upon a time, I had some lovely lobster bisque on a cruise ship, and it was really good, with small chunks of lobster in the soup. This didn’t quite compare. There weren’t any lobster chunks in this soup. The taste of wine or sherry was very strong – too strong. It overpowered the soup to the point that I couldn’t taste the lobster flavor anymore. Portions vary – some people at our table got a large helping. Mine was noticeably smaller. I wasn’t particularly pleased with this bisque. Maybe I should have gotten potatoes instead.
We sat on the covered patio which is heated during winter. The chairs were not the most comfortable, but as long as you don’t shift your weight much, you’re fine. The table has tea light candleholders that have these metal leaves wrapped around the glass. The service was attentive. I liked the water glasses – they use the thin kind. The meal was not the best I’ve had, nor the worst.
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