We visited this lovely restaurant/hotel for dinner on a cold Sunday night in November. They have a lot of weddings, as it had a large hall with bright lights and folding chairs/tables. Not inviting so we sat at a high boy in the darkened bar, which was much nicer. I'm sure it's beautiful to sit on the balcony in the summer on warm nights. We chatted with the German owner who was doubling as a bartender, who was very nice. We loved the German influences in the bar, as we had just been to Oktoberfest in Munich. The owner's daughter Sarah runs the kitchen. My husband had a pork tenderloin schnitzel "Vienna style" ($20) and I had a jaegerschnizel with mushroom gravy ($20) and both were excellent. We split the potato pancakes (two with sour cream and apple sauce, $12) which were served crispy but tasty. They had a nice German beer and wine list. We finished with a delicious apple strudel to complete a lovely meal. I recommend this restaurant for tasty dinners in a unique venue. read more

Highland Dell - Apple strudel - Hotels Near Me - Monte Rio, California

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We very much enjoyed our stay at the Highland Dell Lodge along the Russian river. It was just before the season starts, and we were the only one in the building, kinda nice to have it all to ourselves! The staff was very friendly and helpful and while we knew there would be a breakfast, we had no idea it would be so extensive and wonderful. Beautifully positioned along the Russian river with views of the beach and the bridge this place harkens back to the hay day years of the Russian River and a whole history worth examining. I will look forward to staying here again in the future! read more

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Stayed here for New Year's Eve weekend. A sweet Bavarian get away spot. Our room was small but clean and adequate for the two-night stay. It's an older building on the river so it's not high luxury or filled with modern convenience (like an elevator). But we loved the chalet feel, the big fire in the lobby fireplace, the decor. The newer addition houses the restaurant and bar which are very spacious. Continental breakfast was included and a good start to the day. It's quiet, warm, clean and affordably priced. Very much like little hotels we've been to in Europe. Recommend for a short trip, and suggest getting a room with a view of the river if available. read more

We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Sarah's Kitchen last night. The couple who run the inn and restaurant are from Lübeck, Germany, and the food was authentic and delicious! We had the goulash, jägerschnitzel, spaetzle, and strudel, along with some dark beer. Sit on the patio for a lovely view of the Russian River. Highly recommend if you are looking for a good German meal! read more

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I was surprised to find a German restaurant in a small town on the Russian River. We dined here on a Friday evening in April. They have outdoor dining. We sat inside because the evening was too cool. The indoor area is very spacious and there is a lot of room between tables. Yay! We ordered the Jaeger Schnitzel and the Bratwurst as entrees. For sides, we ordered the red cabbage and potato pancakes. The sides are served "family style". In this case it means that the red cabbage was enough for at least 3 people. The potato pancakes was enough for two people (2 pancakes). All of the food was better than I was expecting. My dining partner is from Germany and she really enjoyed her entire dining experience. There is a nice sized bar in a space next to the dining room. The servers are friendly. The food is hot and prices are reasonable. I will be back. I'd like to sit outside on the deck next time on a warm summer evening. read more

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Very kind and welcoming staff. The place is clean and welcoming. I would easily stay there again.

Very comfortable space, calm and relaxing. The food was excellent, very well-executed, and the folks working were kind and accommodating, especially of our 2.5 year old. A real gem in Monte Rio. read more

Stumbled onto this German food gem on a stormy Friday night. What a treat! The restaurant is on the ground floor of a small lodge, overlooking the Russian river. There's a mid-size cozyish bar area and then a big room that serves as both the restaurant and the Lodge's event space (for weddings, etc.). It's a cavernous room with vaulted ceilings, which gives it somewhat of a summer camp cafeteria feeling, but lends itself perfectly to a german food vibe, and it's appointed well with a mix of fourtops and long tables, and warm lighting. We were inside because of the storm, but they have a great deck overlooking the river, perfect setting for warm evenings. Service was great. We were immediately greeted and seated. They were a little bit heavy handed on the upsells, but our server was charming and fun. Service was attentive without being overbearing and food delivery was well timed. They have a very limited wine list (surprising for wine country) and feel they could pay more attention to improving that. But corkage was only $20 (thank you!), so would recommend you bring your own bottle. Food was impeccable. Everything we had - salad, sauerkraut, potato pancakes (a must!), jagerschnitzel, vienna schnitzel, bratwurst, and apfel strudel - was lick-the-plate-clean delicious. Schnitzels were the perfect balance of crunchy on the outside, moist and tender on the inside. Served with sides of capers, lemon and anchovy. So flavorful! Brats were super moist. Apfel strudel was flaky, tender, and served with a very generous side of whipped cream. This level of food for the price point is surprisingly rare for this part of Sonoma. Would definitely recommend making the trip to Monte Rio to check it out. read more

Highland Dell - Hotels Near Me - Monte Rio, California

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Very nice. A secluded spot. Beautiful environment. The breakfast was great. They need some heat in the building, it was cold without any obvious heat source. If they had a roaring fire in the dining room it would have been perfect. The room doesn't have heat so bring some warm PJs. It's right in the river Eat before you come. Dinner is expensive and everything is sold separately. $20 for a chicken breast without any sides. That was disappointing. The favor was ok. Maybe a dinner roll and some potatoes or veggies. Come early because they ran out of food. We would have ordered more but they had none. read more

Mostof the food was enjoyable, like the schnitzel, but the potato pancakes were burnt and completely tasteless. I ordered a glass of wine, and when it arrived, it was completely flat and not even chilled. I politely mentioned it to the waiter, who simply responded, "Oh, you don't like it? OK, no problem." I then ordered a lemon drop martini, which was completely lacking in alcohol. At the end of the night, when we received the bill, the glass of wine was still on it. I pointed it out, assuming it had been removed since I had sent it back, but the waiter replied, "Well, you ordered it, so why should we take it off?" At any other restaurant, they would have acknowledged the issue, taken the wine back, and apologized. But instead, we were met with dismissiveness and poor service. I chose not to argue and paid the bill in full, but the waiter's attitude alone ensures I won't be returning. read more

A hidden gem is a cliche used a lot for restaurants but Highland Dell is truly that, a hidden gem. Located in the village of Monte Rio with nice views of the Russian River. Highland Dell serves delicious German inspired food, everything homemade from scratch, who knew? Our second time here, had a 6:30 reservation. They have both a spacious indoor space and also a large deck that is relaxing and has great views. Started with the potato pancakes, fried to a golden brown and tasty. We are suckers for good potato pancakes and these are excellent. We both ordered the Jaegerschnitzel, lightly breaded and pan fried pork cutlet with a creamy mushroom sauce. Delicious entree and a large portion. We also ordered the German style red cabbage with apples, excellent with the entree. We were full but decided to split an apple strudel with whipped cream which was the perfect ending to the dinner. Highland Dell restaurant is part of the Highland Dell Lodge a small homey hotel on the Russian River. Service here is the best, like eating in your favorite relatives home. Don't expect fancy surrounding, Highland Dell is the perfect laid back restaurant. The food here is not only delicious but also reasonable. They serve wine, beer and cocktail, corkage, if you go that route (we did) is a reasonable $20.00. Enjoy! read more

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This was a beautiful spot right on the river we enjoyed our stay very much The rooms are immaculate and beds are cozy and very comfy! Owners are wonderful and very welcoming ! We will be back ! Thank you ! read more

This place is really good. The view of the river is awesome! The service was great - Cornelius was a rock star! Good authentic German food. For starters we had potato pancakes and the Spoetzl. We had the Bratwurst, Hungarian Goulash for our main course - both really good. For the finally - Apple Strudel. All very good dishes (I did pick up the JagerSchnitzel and brought it home before and it was probably the best dish). Pro tip - Tuesday nights they have specials. It get crowded so be sure to make reservations. We definitely will be making this place a regular stop. read more

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Wonderful hotel. Beautiful location on the Russian river. Would love to go back . Service was great and very comfortable.

This place is in a beautiful setting and the owners run it in a very European style. The breakfasts include these croissants that are the best I've had outside of Europe. They are so warm and flaky, with a crunchy outside and so much butter that the bottoms are caramelized with it. Seriously, I may come back again just for those croissants! The River Rooms consist of two rooms, and to accommodate more guests they've furnished both rooms with queen sized beds, complete with European style duvets covers. I love when duvets have separate covers like they have, that are laundered each time. There is also a nice balcony overlooking the river in these rooms. I had the best time just walking through the redwood forests throughout the neighborhood. It was just gorgeous and brought back childhood memories of this place. If you are golfers, do not miss the Northwoods 9 hole just a few minutes away. Seriously, it's the most beautiful public course I've ever played because it's in the middle of giant redwoods. We rented clubs there, and they include a few balls and we had a blast. Again, I want to come back again just to replay that course. read more

Highland Dell - Rick teeing off at Northwoods. - Hotels Near Me - Monte Rio, California

I had dinner last night at this Russian River institution with two people who were blown away that they had never been there before. I found it shocking and upsetting because it's such a delicious place and all of our small businesses on the Russian River need local (and visitor) support. Especially during the off-season. Tuesday night is locals night where locals can get a hearty portion of a delicious German meal along with a starter maybe be a soup or salad and last night was a split pea soup that was delicious. And you get a dessert. The blueberry cobbler was outstanding. My friend who had never been there before gobbled hers up in minutes and thankfully my other friend, and I got our own portion along with the apple strudel, which is always on the menu. We started off with one of the most yummy Caesar salads I've had in a long time. Their sides and most everything is family style there, so hearty portions that are great to share. I had the jaeger schnitzel (per usual) and we also got the red cabbage and kale & brussel sprouts side dishes, and two orders of potato pancakes with applesauce and sour cream. They have the perfect selection of German beers and an impressive wine selection, of course supporting our local vineyards. The place is run by the family and if you're lucky you get to pet their two sweet sweet dogs. I'm glad I was able to bring two locals to this institution and know that they're gonna be back frequently. read more

I've lived in the area for almost three years now and only recently found out about the Highland Dell from a neighbor. The location is really rustic, and the place is beautiful. I've never stayed the night so I don't know what the lodging is like, but I do know that the food is delicious. On Tuesdays, there is a locals special, chef's choice three course meal for about $20 per person after tax. The first time Boyfriend and I went was the week of St. Patrick's Day. They served split pea soup, corned beef and cabbage, and I don't remember what the dessert was because I gobbled it up so fast. The second time we went, they served a blue cheese salad, pork schnitzel, and an apple crisp dessert. Every time we've gone, we've been very impressed by the meal and the servers. We will definitely keep coming back on Tuesday nights. We have yet to try anything on the regular menu. read more

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What a gem! Already looking forward to returning. Reservation made online and the couple times I called with a question the phone was answered by a friendly woman. Large parking lot right outside the hotel, check in was easy. Rather than having a dingy "dated" look that some hotels have, Highland has a vintage old world charm to it. I was pleasantly surprised by how bright and beautiful our room was! Hardwood floors, bright clean walls and crisp white bedding on the queen bed. The shower was bright and clean as well, with decent water pressure! We had a balcony overlooking the river to enjoy coffee and a book. Theres a large smart TV you can log into your Hulu, HBO, etc on. My only two wishes would be a mini fridge and a sheer curtain layer for light and privacy (they have blackout curtains great for sleeping in), but these aren't important enough to ding any stars. We dined with them and oh my goodness the service, food, and ambiance were great. We sat on the deck but the dining hall is stunning with its sky high ceiling and beautiful wood beam design. Partner got the Jaegerspaetzle and I got the Goulash beef stew, both were divine. They also have a full bar. What made the dinner extra special was our warm friendly server Jo. What a sweetheart! She was genuinely touched by our anniversary and she shared local recommendations. She checked on us often to make sure we were happy and didn't need anything. Thank you Jo! They have a breakfast buffet that was honestly the best I've ever had for a complimentary breakfast. Great coffee, toasts, bagels, croissants, fruit, yogurt, meat and cheese cuts (apparently very European), hardboiled eggs cooked to perfection. This runs 8am to 10am. Lastly, there are great spots within short walking/driving distance. We walked ~5 mins down to the river where families and ducks played. We visited Armstrong Redwood Forest which was absolutely beautiful. Find the redwood theater for a quiet place to sit and read. We had lunch and window shopped in Guernville and dinner at the Boho Manor which is a 2 min walk from the hotel. Excellent all around, will be returning! read more

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Had a lovely meal here, food was simple but tasty. The dining room was really beautiful, but we chose to sit outside with a beautiful view of the river! Service was fast and friendly, would definitely come back for the strudel (with amazing homemade whipped cream)! read more

Oh, Highland Dell...you've completely stolen my heart. The hospitality of this hotel is impeccable. Everyone is just so friendly and open-hearted. It's like stepping foot into your own home and seeing family members everywhere. My boyfriend and I came here this past weekend for a little getaway from the bustle of the Bay Area and to celebrate our first valentine together and it was a-ma-zing. The slower pace of life and the sweet nature of the locals really pulled us in. We woke up every morning at 7 am to fresh air and beautiful nature surrounding us. The river is literally right at your doorstep and it was stunning. The rooms are small, but immaculate. The sheets were clean and the pillows fluffy. Even the bed was perfect. The shower always had hot water and the pressure was just right. The sink is located outside in the room versus in the bathroom which other guests seem to not care for but I found so convenient and kind of cute. The breakfast offered daily was delicious and if they were out of anything, more would be whipped up at the first sound of request. This place is really an absolute dream. We enjoyed every moment of our stay and truly cannot wait to come back. The only issue we ran into was that the walls really ARE paper thin. You most definitely can hear conversations in the rooms next to you as well as conversation out in the hallway. We ended up getting used to this and it didn't end up being too much of an issue anymore. Thank you, Highland Dell! You were magnificent! read more

Highland Dell - View of the hotel from the bridge. Simply breathtaking. - Hotels Near Me - Monte Rio, California

No German wines or Riesling. Manager passed onto us that German wines are too sweet. Zigeuner schnitzel had a brown sauce with just two peppers. Highlight was carrot ginger soup. read more

Such a disappointment. We were looking forward to an authentic German meal. There are no German wines on the wine list, and the Ziguener schnitzel that my husband ordered was actually just a schnitzel with two slices of red pepper and onions in a brown gravy. The manager pointedly ignored us during the evening when we specifically asked if we could speak to her about the wine list. This restaurant is out of the way, and we hoped for a special experience as we have found authentic German food hard to find. The patio was pleasant, and we were grateful that we could take our dog. The carrot-Ginger soup was very good, but the rest of the meal was mediocre and the obvious dismissal by the manager was pretty insulting. We would not recommend this place, nor will we be going back. read more

This place is awesome! Brought the dog, ate out on the patio, had a fantastic time. Service was on point and our server was totally on top of it. Wonderful atmosphere. Had the jagerschnitzel and the spatzle and both were stellar and hit the spot. Food was comforting and perfect for the misty evening. read more

Highland Dell - jagerschnitzel - Hotels Near Me - Monte Rio, California

The highlight of our weekend returning to our childhood roots was staying at the Highland Dell Lodge. Having the pleasure of spending a couple great evenings with Ingrid and Cornelius, who served us up the most fabulous batch of pink grapefruit Martinis , created by none other than Ingrid Which we now call the Pink Ingrid!!!!! The best drink in Monte Rio PS .. food was fabulous and rooms were sweet. We will certainly will be returning The French sisters!! read more

Highland Dell - Bar - Hotels Near Me - Monte Rio, California

Stayed here for a night on Valentine's Day. It was super cute and cozy and the front desk lady was so nice - she upgraded our room for free because we were put in the handicap room. We had dinner here too and it was actually pretty good and reasonably priced. I thought the beds were comfy too, and the rooms were nice and rustic. All of the bad reviews are just snobs - it's supposed to be cute and rustic not a luxury hotel! I would definitely stay here again read more

July 24-27, 2023 This is a hidden gem! Ingrid and Herb are the perfect hosts! We had the perfect room with a view of the Russian river and the Monte Rio beach. The German food that is served is the best German food (we ate here more than once!) ever! We had the most delightful stay and I cannot say enough good things! We will definitely stay here again!! Thank you Ingrid and Herb for your warm and genuine way of making us feel like family. Close to Guerneville (rented a Kayak) and other attractions such as the beaches on the coast and the Armstrong Redwood State Park. Delightful!! Pam and Glen read more

Amazing German-American fusion lodge. Classic old-style lodge, lovely ambiance, Superb German cuisine, quite and peaceful. read more

Highland Dell - Dining Hall - Hotels Near Me - Monte Rio, California

This was a surprising find in the Guernville area where we stayed on our wine tasting weekend. We love German food and never expected such authentic German cuisine here. Apparently the chef is from Germany. I ordered the schnitzel and husband the jaegerschnitzel. The schnitzel was delicious and there were 3 pieces. The jaegerschnitzel gravy was out of this world! I kept dipping my schnitzel in his gravy. I probably could have drank this gravy as it was that delicious. For dessert we had the apple strudel and cream. So yummy. Haven't been this happy with a meal in a while. To top it off we had excellent service and the dining room is lovely. BBB read more

Don't believe the 4.5 stars. We would give it a 1 star, solely for the location. We reserved a room for Friday and Saturday night, July 19-21. We were treated so poorly in every interaction we left Saturday evening. The rooms are tiny and the walls are so thin you can hear everything. The bathroom sink is in the bedroom. We went wine tasting in Healdsburg Saturday and bought our own bottle of champagne. When we asked the owner of the hotel for an ice bucket and two champagne glasses, and offered to pay her a corkage fee, she said NO! I thought she was kidding as I've never run into this before. It was a hard NO! This is the first review I've ever written and was motivated by the extraordinary sour attitude of the owners. read more

The owners are very kind and warm. The food is delicious and authentic. They have a relaxed and peaceful environment with great service.

This is our second visit to the Highland Dell and it was as wonderful as the first. Colleen, Sam and Shelley treated us like we were family. If you are coming up here be sure to be here when the Restaurant is open. The food is to die for. Sam took great care in making us an old fashion. Colleen was a super waitress at dinner and Shelley gave us warm delicious croissants for breakfast. We have visited this area probably 10 times and didn't find this place until last year. Rooms are cozy but you have what you need. We will return. read more

My husband and I went on a short road trip so I booked us a stay here and I have nothing bad to say about our stay. The room was very nice, clean, the staff were all so nice and helpful but there are 2 ladies that stood out and showed us the so much kindness and hospitality, great conversations and so helpful whit suggestions on local things to see and do, even made sure we had enough ice for our cooler. I didn't get their last names but thank you so much Ingrid and Shelly, now to talk about the food and again not one complaint. It was delicious German food which I have never eaten before this was the first time. Oh did I mention this cute lodge is right on the Russian River. We will be going back there I'm sure many more times in the future. Thanks again for an awesome stay. read more

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Wonderful cottage style inn. Restaurant features German cuisine in a family atmosphere. The inn keepers are warm and friendly, the staff is attentive to making your stay comfortable. 5 Plus Stars! read more

This is a must stop for us. We love the food, the location and ambience. I am German and the food it top notch. It's hard for me to find good quality German food back in the bay but this place is perfection. Don't skip the dessert either-save room or make room. read more

Great authentic German food at reasonable prices. The service is great. The restaurant itself is reminiscent of a church banquet hall, but the view is awesome. Our family loves eating at this place. We've tried most of their dishes and every one of them is amazing. read more

Terrific German Fare. Everything was amazing and our server was very personable and attentive. I had the Jaegerschnitzel and it was perfectly breaded and fried and very tender with a rich brown creamy mushroom sauce that I loved. We had a party of 10 and they sat us without any issue in their large hall and all our food and drinks came out without much of a wait. Outside seating on the patio looked really cool overlooking the river. Would definitely go back again. read more

We'd been here about 10 years back and it wasn't a tasty experience, but it's within walking distance of our place so we decided to give another try. Businesses that are reopening need our support and we love the fun of eating out again! We were delighted that the food was so great this time. We sat on the deck -a lot a direct sunlight, bring a hat or sun glasses- and had a beautiful view of the river. The menu is small, but authentic German food is the highlight of the Highland Dell. We ordered Brats, pasta, schnitzel, and chicken. All very tasty. Wait staff was very friendly! Joking around with my three kids. They have beer on tap. We'd like it so much, we got a schnitzel to go! The mushroom sauce is really good! Reminds me of schnitzel that I ate in Germany! We'll be back. Happy to see Monte Rio opening up again-safely. read more

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As a child vacationing in Monte Rio every summer, we'd swim and canoe all day while looking up at the Highland Dell. It still stands there after decades and decades, and devastating floods. Now that I'm an adult, I've chosen to dine there twice, and this past weekend, finally stayed the night. For starters, the restaurant, with their German menu and amazing service is what initially brought us back up from the Bay Area last weekend. The food is what I can only assume is perfectly authentic German cuisine. It's beyond delicious! And the woman, Ingrid, who serves it makes the whole experience memorable! But this time we stayed the night and I don't know where I've been staying prior to this. The accommodations are fantastic! The views are stunning from every room (one this Monte Rio isn't is ugly). You find yourself humming songs from The Sound of Music as you ascend the stairs. The gentleman, Herb, at the reservation desk was so kind and personal, you just feel welcomed. TV, cell reception, comfortable bed with crisp bedding... all working for someone who just wants to relax. They warned us that it takes awhile for the hot water to kick in. That was helpful. Once it kicks in, it runs like a champ. We only stayed one night, and were sad about that. We'll be back a lot. I want to take everyone I know to their restaurant to sit on the gorgeous deck looking at the always lovely Russian River. Oh, and the breakfast in the morning, such a treat! I can't say enough about this place. They work so hard to make you feel welcome. I can't wait to experience the Dell, Ingrid and Herb again. Soon! Truly a gem. read more

Had a great time exploring the Cali Coast using Highland Dell as our base, and it was a wise choice. The fog was super thick last week, only burned off for a couple hours one day, but who cares, we were able to work on our moody fog photography, lol. I mention this because it was such a pleasure to get respite at the end of each day with a drink on our balcony overlooking the river . . . with no fog!! This place is in a great location only 9 miles inland, overlooking the Russian River, with wineries nearby. However, we did have to walk a whole 2 minutes to the fully stocked market, yikes;) Breakfast was hard boiled eggs, warm croissants, juice, coffee, & a nice variety of wrapped yummies. They serve dinner Friday - Tuesday (delish large portions) & there's a full bar. Shelly, the female version of a one-man-band, was awesome! She checked us in, served drinks, changed light bulbs, set up & served breakfast, checked us out, & if I am not mistaken cleaned the rooms. Not sure how she was also always in the lobby to greet us & ask if we needed anything when we came & went. Could she be a triplet? In truth, it's a cozy place, & we stayed Mon-Fri, so not fully booked. That said, she is a terrific asset for this place. On to what you are all reading for, the room was super clean. I used alcohol wipes when we arrived, and not even a hint of dust showed up, even from the balcony chairs. 'In these times (gosh, dislike that phrase)', upon arrival there were extra towels & toiletries already in room, so no one has to come in unless you want them to. Clever, safe for you & safe for them. Only downside (which really isn't) the sink is in the room like many historical lodges. Just mentioned it so you bring an eye mask if one of you is a late sleeper. The lighting is bright, which is another entry on the plus side for me. I also have invested in a single serve coffee pot (since a lot of places no longer have those in rooms, & brought an ice chest (no frig). Wow, long review just to say book this place you won't be sorry. read more

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We stayed at the hotel and decided to eat there too. We were surprised by the amazing taste, the way it was beautifully served and the generous portions. Wonderful In person experience. We sat outside on the porch just before sunset and it was peacefully and beautiful. read more

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