Glen Ellen Star in Glen Ellen

Chef Ari Weiswasser, who trained at The French Laundry, opened Glen Ellen Star in 2012 with his wife, Erinn Benziger-Weiswasser, who runs the wine program and dining room. It sits in a small cottage-style building on Arnold Drive in the village of Glen Ellen.

The kitchen revolves around a wood-burning oven. The Michelin Guide, which gives it a Bib Gourmand for good value, mentions charred vegetables, seasonal pizzas and pastas, whole roasted branzino, brick chicken and house-made ice creams, with produce from a nearby biodynamic farm.

Glen Ellen Star is an easy, relaxed dinner after a day in Sonoma Valley or on the Glen Ellen and Kenwood stretch of Highway 12. Book the full 20 days out for weekends; the room is small. Arnold Drive is narrow and dark at night, so let us handle the drive back to Sonoma or Napa.

Typical drive times to Glen Ellen Star (without traffic):

• From the Sonoma Plaza: about 17 minutes (8 miles)
• From downtown Santa Rosa: about 25 minutes (15 miles)
• From Sebastopol: about 34 minutes (23 miles)
• From Yountville: about 34 minutes (15 miles)
• From St. Helena: about 36 minutes (18 miles)

Your chauffeur drops you at the door, waits while you dine, and drives everyone home. Gratuity is always included in our prices. Call or text 833-915-2436, or reserve online.