Overall, not great. We did have high expectations, based on a previous visit, well, ok, in the late 1990's. This time, however, the service was not as gracious and professional as we'd expected. After I ordered the bottle of wine, the server had my husband taste it, rather than me - was this lack of knowledge or lack of attention ----?-----perhaps the server was busy, but he seemed distracted and inattentive, as if we were imposing on him. The food did not impress. Overall, it was just rather bland. The steak was not cooked to my husband's specifications, and the sea bass entrée was just blah...the whole plate was beige, uninteresting in appearance and flavor. Same for the salad and dessert. The amuse-bouche did not even amuse my bouche. The bussers are a bit hovering and overenthusiastic - kept removing items we were still trying to consume - So the location is lovely, but the odd service and lack of flavor were just sad. read more

Nice happy hour. Lovely patios for drinks and aps-- a patio for dinner too. Both are covered and the dinner patio has heaters if needed. Beautiful views and friendly staff. Great food. I love this place. The menu changes often. Always interesting, read more

SUMMARY: Only worth it for the setting. If you want palate pleasing, beautiful, exciting food, go to Auberge, even Petite Syrah. If you're looking for an charming, upscale, wine country setting with decent food, you'll be happy. FOOD: We all had to visit the salt and pepper : / The (entrees) were overpriced for what was essentially standard steakhouse food but the appetizers were very nice - calamari nicely/uniquely flavored with a unique thai basil sauce, ahi/pear salad was a bit imbalanced/fishy but not bad. The rib eye and New York Steak were ordered med. rare. Both were very bland/disappointing, I couldn't even finish mine, and neither did the other steak eater. I will say they were not skimpy portions. My side dish was better than the actual meal. The others had ahi and duck. They seemed happy but NOT very impressed, and they should be for the price ( they are not picky eaters!) Chocolate cake was moist and had fresh, creme brulee was a pleaser. WINE: Very imited wine list by the glass (only 1 per varietal), but had a nice selection of half bottles which is uncommon. SERVICE: Sever was pleasant. Made up for the lackluster food. Attentive bussers. AMBIANCE: Beautiful views on vineyard and distant hills. Very nice Wine Country architecture (vines, arches - heavily Italian influenced) but a bit touristy and in genuine/unoriginal. Patio is a great spot with nice views for warmer weather, but the main dining room is very beautiful and classy with arches, high ceilings, fireplace and vineyard views as well. BOTTOM LINE? Lovely setting, good service, ok food. Bland, lackluster entrees. The $40 entree should be the star, not the $10 dessert. read more

My friend and I hit up John Ash for Thanksgiving dinner. It came highly-recommended and for $56/person, the menu looked great. Sadly, the good news stops there. We were seated fairly quickly, ordered a bottle of wine, and our menu choices. Our wine came quickly, as did our appetizers. I had the crispy pork belly and thought it was delicious - it was a small portion, but that's what an appetizer should be. After our appetizers were cleared - we waited OVER AN HOUR for our main dish. No one came to say anything. My friend complained to the hostess which then prompted our waiter to say our meals were "coming right out" and our bottle of wine was on the house. Twenty minutes later, our meals arrived. My friend's turkey was cold, and my steak - which I requested to be medium rare - was bloody. We both ate though, afraid for how long a replacement mean would take. We did let our waiter know though. After dinner, which was a tad bit faster, our waiter dropped the check on our table and said we could take care of it when we were ready. Imagine our shock when we opened the bill to find a zero balance. We were stunned because neither he nor the hostess/manager said anything to us - no "sorry for your trouble" or anything. So while it was nice of them to comp our meal, and apology would have been nice. I would have come back again had their customer service been better - all restaurants have off nights, but their lack of service was atrocious. read more

Having just moved to the north bay, my lovely lady and I were looking for some oysters and John Ash popped up on Foursquare. We arrived at the beautiful Vintners inn, and quickly realized that we were woefully underdressed for such a place. "Not to worry," chimed the hostess, "you both look great. Please come this way." With a smile on her face and an iPad in her hand, we were seated near the garden of this beautiful establishment. Really though, iPad menus! That's pretty awesome. Our waiter promptly gave us a rundown of the specials and got us some delightful cocktails to start out meal. After paging through the enticing menu, we decided not to order entrees and instead make it an appetizer kind of night. We nursed our drinks throughout a beautiful meal. The heirloom tomato salad was bright and sweet, with a little bit of balsamic glaze to bring out the flavor of the fresh fruits. The fried calamari was crisp on the outside and the meat ever so sweet and succulent. Oysters were what we originally came for and the offerings from Hog Island never disappoint; Sweet and meaty, they sing to your taste buds of the briny waters of Tomales Bay. The Ahi Tuna tartare was sweet and fresh, some of the best I've ever had in fact. Some of the house ice creams finished off the meal, and we were very satisfied. The whole meal was a pleasant and romantic experience from start to finish, despite us being underdressed. They brought the dishes out from light to heavy in flavor, but even after we finished, we still felt as if the meal never really overpowered us with salt or sauces as we find all too common in today's dining landscape. If you're looking for a promising meal to impress a first date or an intimate dinner with your one and only, this would be the place. read more

Haven't been in so long! We went for happy hour prior to a show and Luther Burbank. Great service, small plates were delicious, beautiful setting. I would recommend checking out the happy hour if you want a lite dinner and a few cocktails. read more

Mixed drink Sangria was bad. Temperature control in restaurant poor. We had Lamb shank and pork cheeks, With a beet salad and crab fritters.. All the food was tasteless and bland, except the beet salad. This meal was way too expensive for blah food! read more

John Ash & Co is one of the most over-rated restaurants I've been too. The food is not all that delicious and expensive. The wine country offers much better food at the same price as John Ash. The only thing I would say that is nice about this restaurant is the atmosphere. It has huge dining areas and the seating outside is really beautiful. Other than that, i'd definitely go some where else. read more

So let's say I wanted to love this place. It was highly recommended but I was letdown. Don't get me wrong, the place is romantic and has classic flare to high end dining. We got there at 6pm and didn't get out bill til 9pm. A 3-hour dining experience was a little excessive but we had our plates sitting there for a while between courses until the waiter came around. We all did the pre-fixe service and presentation was great, food had simplicity but I felt like everything I ate was over salted, from the carrot soup, to the fish entree I had. We brought our own wine from Alpha Omega that our friend graciously bought for dinner and that was a great compliment to the meal. What was sweet is they did bring a complimentary dessert for the birthday celebration dinner we were celebrating. The waiter didn't say anything more than a handful of words during the service which sometimes is nice but we had no idea when next course would come out or if we wanted to expedite the speed of the dinner. The company, the sunset and the experience was there but I wish the dining experience and the food gave me more "Wow!", than "oh." read more

I stayed at the Vinter's Inn with my husband, best friend, and my best friend's whole family for her 30th birthday extravaganza last year. Needless to say, after multiple days of wine tasting and being out all day, we ended up eating at John Ashe & Co. three times. It's just that good. The ambience is relaxed and inviting. Lots of dark wood and Sonoma Valley charm. The wine list is excellent (obviously) and my best friend's father always selects the most delicious bottles of cab. Opus One seemed to be the theme of that particular trip, and I thoroughly enjoyed every single sip. Between the various times we ate here, I ordered the baby lettuces with goat cheese salad, the roasted organic beets, the filet with smoked goat cheddar twice baked potatoes, the short ribs with yam puree, and the scallops & prawns. The filet was perfectly cooked and the twice baked potato was out of this world. The short ribs literally melted in my mouth, and the yam puree was the perfect complement. I really have nothing negative to say about any of these experiences. It was so lovely to enjoy local produce and meats, and experience all that the Sonoma Valley has to offer. The twinkly lights at night are so beautiful, and I would eat here and stay at the Vintner's Inn again and again. read more

Now i might've had such a top notch experience 'cuz i was rollin' with John Ash regulars, but i've gotta be honest: I was pretty damn happy with my meal and John Ash's top notch service. I highly recommend the Hog Island Oysters served with Pomegranate Granite, Pumpkin Ravioli, Ahi Tuna Ceviche and their Cheesecake w/ Strawberries. I normally veer away from cheesecake in general just 'cuz they tend to be overly rich, but John Ash's was just to my liking- a bit fluffy & light, while still maintaining some good weight & presence that paired well with the fresh strawberries. For my next visit, I'll be sure to try a selection from their steaks & chops options, which seem to be the bigger highlight there. The only reason why I deducted 1 star is due to their unnatural setting. They're right off the 101 and across the street from a bunch of power lines. Though the restaurant's view of an enclosed grape vine block is absolute perfection for a wine-lovers' eyes, it feels a bit eerie to be in awe of something that's totally out of its natural element. All in all, I loved John Ash! The dinner was exquisite and the restaurant's interior was warm & inviting. This is the perfect place for all you winos out there that are looking for a nice view, classy setting, and a delicious meal. read more

Went to John Ash & Co for dinner on Saturday. Hostess was very friendly. Asked if we wanted to sit in the enclosed patio or indoors. We chose inside & she sat us at a very lovely table next to the window overlooking the gardens. Very beautiful space. Low lighting. Nice glow. Waiter was efficient enough. Made some suggestions. Tried to oversell on the wine, which we rejected. When asked, he did not seem to know who John Ash is - Whew! Fortunately, that was the only flaw in the evening. My husband ordered the baby lettuces to start, & the ribeye for dinner. Both were excellent. The ribeye was done to perfection, medium-rare. I had the beet salad which came with burrata; followed by the lamb shank. The lamb was so tender it came right off the bone. To end the meal, we shared the peach/blackberry crumble. The restaurant is a very special place. The meal we had was fabulous. Overall, the evening was very romantic & relaxing. We will definitely go back; most likely for lunch to sit outdoors & take in the scenery. read more

We ate in "The Lounge" at John Ash on a Monday night. We were extremely disappointed with both the service AND the food. Service- they were busy, yes. But Service was shabby and inattentive. Servers would walk by and not even make eye contact, let alone ask how the meal was or if we needed anything. Food- bland and boring. Caesar salad dressing had no flavor and had a very think texture. Crispy ravioli were deep fried bread based. Burgers were burned and in a soggy bun, served with fries that were at most two inches long (we got the bottom of the bag, I guess). The only decent dish was the duck spring rolls. Sad to say it but we will not be returning. read more

Came here this past weekend as we stayed at the hotel and it was apart of our getaway package. We loved everything, service was top notch and the price wasn't bad at all. It was our anniversary and they gave us a free dessert with a candle on top. We had the Chile relleno ( spicy heaven on a plate). It is a filling appetizer but seasoned well. The oysters, lamb shank, ceviche, and shrimp and scallops. All delish. You won't be sorry! read more

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I totally agree with Tara H. below. This place is such a disappointment. I work in Sonoma County and have business dinners and lunches here all the time (when I'm not picking!). The food is bland and poor quality at prices that are twice what they should be for the quality of the ingredients and preparation. The crowd is always very touristy and it can be loud with groups. I agree this is a really nice view to sit outside and have a glass of wine at dusk and the wine steward and staff are always very welcoming and knowledgeable. What a shame they have to serve such disappointing food! read more

Drive into the entrance of John Ash and you know you are in a ritzy resort. Except that the parking lots are in front of everything giving the place the feel of an immense strip mall. It's at the back that you can sit and see the beautiful fields. Enter the restaurant and everything is upscale. Is the theme Mexican? Moorish? Spanish? I decided on up-dated Holiday Inn. It has a corporate feel. The food can be very, very good. Or just good. Whichever, it will be expensive, especially if you are pushed into a main course special. They don't spare when it comes to the tab at John Ash. I started with a very tasty, nicely spiced tomato soup that came with creme fraiche that added a lovely accent to the soup. The purple basil that topped the soup was pretty but added nothing. An affectation. It's easy to make a great fig salad when you have plump, sweet figs, great cheese, and perfect greens. John Ash has all of these things so this salad was remarkable. A special of veal scallopini was particularly special for its price. The waiter who recommended it might have warned me. The not too ample serving of veal was very good, the risotto that came with the veal was perfect, and the carrots were pretty. The sauce that should have brought the plate together was timid and bland. Otherwise good but costly food. read more

first time eating here and my wife and I are waiting for another reason to go back. Food was great, server was awesome and cool. if there is one thing i would suggest is go there late to eat (around 8-830p)...it is so so peaceful, the 5-7p crowd goes down and ypu feel like you have the overall plave to yourself/ yourselves. NOW next to chk out is their Happy Hr. Im a pro at rating HH read more

The service at John Ash (Vintners Inn) was really slow and the food was really expensive with small portions. I cannot recommend this place with so many other quality options within easy driving distance. read more

I had a really lovely lunch at John Ash the other day. The restaurant is really beautiful, with all these different rooms. We were in a bit of a hurry, so we let our server know and he did a great job in getting us fast service. I had the burger with a portabella mushroom and goat cheese topping. It was awesome and came with amazing Yukon gold potato fries. Very tasty!! B-friend had the carnitas quesadilla and it had so much flavor, however it was a bit expensive. I would love to come back here for brunch, as I think the place was super cute and we did have great service! There were a lot of interesting things on the menu that I would love to try. read more

A beautiful fall evening, ask to be seated in the outdoor atrium facing the vineyard as we did. Gas heaters will keep you toasty and the glass folding windows will block any breeze after the sun goes down. Wine list - extensive as you would expect - '05 Alexander Valley Cab Ferrari-Carano was A+ at $56. I get annoyed when a restaurant 'runs out' of two items on their regular menu early in the evening ... poor control or management in the back room?? I had the NY steak with pappardella noodle and mushrooms. Steak prepared medium was a little dry for my liking and the noodles, while cooked perfectly on the doneness meter, was a little bland for me. I didn't hear any of my 4 dinner mates rave about their sturgeon or filet. Portions were fine and presentable, just not wow, knock your socks off great...very safe. The setting and view of the vineyard saved rating from slipping anymore. On the way out, the bar seemed cozy on a winter night. read more

John Ash consistently puts out great food in a beautiful setting although you can expect to pay $$$$ for it.

I can't believe that I have been coming here a couple times a month and haven't posted a review. I love coming for their happy hour. They have plenty of parking, great deals and there is always room at the bar for you. The fish taco's are my favorite and I have them every time I go. I have to say that I haven't had a full dinner there but with all the appetisers I fill up. The bartender there that is my favorite is Travis. He works on Monday's when I go in. He knows my husband and I by name and always makes an effort to greet us and know personal things about us that we have shared with him in the past. I love that kind of service. read more

John Ash - It's almost time to go.... Don't make me! - American Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

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I'm torn on this review... On the one hand, John Ash is a really nice place with friendly, attentive servers and a great view of the open courtyard and grapevines.... Some of the food is REALLY good, such as the charcuterie plate with locally sourced meats (unbelievably good!!), and the heirloom tomato salad. And yet, on the other hand, our entrees were a huge let-down. The scallops and pork-belly seemed to be better off on their own, not together. The red sauce just didn't work... The scallops were underseasoned, the pork belly overcooked... This dish should have blown me away, but, no... The shrimp pasta tasted alot like what you can get at Macaroni Grill (or similar), but here's the problem... Neither dish was worth the high price John Ash charges. We'll likely return someday, but will probably stick to the charcuterie plate! read more

Did not like anything we ordered. The food was too oily and really low quality. They even manage to ruin a simple broccoli. It was 50 degrees outside and they got us a table in that was almost outside and we freeze all evening. For the money they charge, I was expecting way better in every sense. I would never ever recommend this restaurant. read more

So so good! I had the kurobota pork cheeks with polenta, and everything we had from the appetizer, charcuterie plate, to dessert was phenomenal! The service was great, and we sat out on the patio with the sun going down over the vineyards--so lovely! Also been there before for happy hours, and it was very crowded, so keep that in mind. read more

The ambiance was lovely. The dining room was positioned in front of the vineyards making it very romantic. Our food was brought out promptly. The plating was perfect. Four stars due to lack of flavor in main dishes, needed more seasoning. read more

John Ash - American Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

What a wonderful way to spend my husbands birthday celebration! The vineyards, food, wine & service were excellent! read more

The perfect get-away place for that special, romantic dinner: peaceful gardens; inspiring panoramas; excellent food; impeccable service. Worth the drive (with all the hassles!) from San Francisco. We will be back. read more

John Ash - A complimentary birthday treat - American Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

I was looking for a nice restaurant to have dinner in the n. Santa Rosa area and found John Ash & Co. Though I was eating alone, I didn't mind at all; the ambience was warm and inviting. The menu was rather small, though nearly everything looked very appetizing. I started with a Caesar salad, done the way I really like. Whole, tender leaves of romaine lettuce, with shaved parmesan and a nice Caesar dressing (I asked that the sourdough croutons be left off). Yum! Though I was thinking about several main course dishes, I had to order the black cod, because it's not that easy to find on a menu, or even at a seafood store, and the way it was described sounded so good. It was !!! It was fresh and PERFECTLY cooked, served over creamy polenta with mussels, some chopped chorizo and leeks. It was unique and unbelievably delectable! I savored every bite. I didn't choose a dessert, but had the chef prepare a plate of fresh fruits, which was just right. Nor did I have wine and was the ONLY person in the restaurant that wasn't drinking any; I couldn't have it, otherwise I certainly would have. After all, it was wine country and the inn the restaurant is at is Vintner's Inn, surrounded by gardens and vineyards. Not having wine was the only bummer of the dining experience. The service was excellent. Can't wait to go back some day, and definitely look forward to having wine with dinner. read more

This restaurant was just awesome. We started out with half a dozen Hog Island Sweet Water Oysters which were all incredible...fresh, tasty, yum! That was followed up with the "Bacon and Eggs" appetizer, which is a delicious pork belly topped with a quail egg...talk about scrumptious...perhaps the highlight of the meal. For the entrees, we had the Moroccan Style Braised Sonoma Lamb Shank and the Creekstone New York Strip Pave. The lamb shank was so soft i was surprised they could even keep it on the bone. The spicing was a perfect blend of middle eastern flavors...probably one of the best lamb dishes i have had. The New York Strip was a new york strip steak cooked perfectly AND a deliciously braised "kal-bi" style rib served with an incredible crispy, sticky rice cake. For dessert, we had the cheesecake and the mixed fruit crisp. We were stuffed, but the mixed fruit crisp was a perfect ending to a stunning dinner. The only thing we didn't really experience with the meal was the wine--we ordered pre-meal drinks that were so stiff that it took the entire meal to finish them! Thank goodess we were all of a 3 minute walk back to the room, because with the incredible food, the food coma wasn't far behind! Happy Eating! read more

I had a party of 8 for dinner. Special occasion, my son graduated from Sonoma State. We arrived 2 hours early for our dinner but found the lounge very nice and relaxing. With 8 people, drinks and snacks tipped the wallet to the tune of $288.00. Don't go in there thinking you are going to get a $4.00 drink. I'll have to say the service, drinks and snacks were excellent. It seemed as if 2 hours went by quickly with all of us visiting (family) and not feeling rushed at all. The staff was very attentive, but not always in your face. Again, excellent. We were seated at a great table near the large glass windows nearest the vinyard. It was beautiful. The waitress was excellent, but I forgot her name. We had a mixture of foods, including duck, lamb, scallops, steak and the halibut. All were excellent as were the wines we selected to have with dinner. This tipped my wallet $620.00 after tip. It was a special occasion and I wasn't worried about the cost.. Yes, $900.00 for dinner and drinks can be expensive, but thats why I go to work in the morning. Alll I can say that we had a great meal, a great time, and overall an excellent experience for our first time there. If you haven't tried this place, it might be time to do so. Don't let my bill scare you, as we did have 8 people and I wanted them all to have the best..... and they did. read more

I expected more than we got from John Ash, as locals have called it a wine country "destination" restaurant for some time. Took my sister yesterday, for her birthday. Service was quite friendly but very uneven; it took ages to get our drinks. And I noticed we were served more slowly than other diners (people who arrived later got their entrees first), but since we did aim for a relaxing lunch, this was not a problem. One cocktail with a bug in the glass was hastily replaced fully and comped. The oysters and their sauces were wonderful. The calamari, my catfish, greens with bacon, and polenta cakes were all over-salted, and the thicker middle part of the fish was still raw. Mom and Sis really enjoyed their corn chowder and crab sliders. read more

Worth going just for the blue cheese olive martini!!Happy hour is always delicious, but often hard to get a table. Their food is unique and thoughtfully prepared. The scallops are a favorite of mine along with the fillet mignon. Their creme brûlée is the best I've ever had and the service is usually top notch. Parking is easy and the pricing is reasonable for how fresh and high quality the food is and the upscale atmosphere. I won't give 5 stars because the service and food can be hit or miss and there's a young hostess there who's been beyond rude a couple times. We have come to John Ash about 11 times in the last year for dinner or happy hour and been very satisfied most of the time. Don't recommend going on Mondays, that seems to be their "off night." read more

Hubby and I went to the "Front Room" Bar and Lounge yesterday early evening for appetizers and wine. We were not disappointed! Started with Moscow Mules (yum!) while we perused the wine list. Loved that their wine list is featured on an iPad - had a lot of info re: each wine so it made me much more confident making a bottle selection. Our server was attentive and pleasant and the atmosphere on the enclosed patio was fantastic! We ordered oysters and the 6-cheese plate. The cheeses were well-paired with various jams/figs/etc and the oysters tasted great. I normally prefer mignonette with my oysters, but I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy the cocktail sauce they came with. All in all a great experience - looking forward to going back!! read more

DO NOT COME TO THIS RESTAURANT... My group has been staying at Vintners Inn for over seven years now and this is the first time we have been absolutely appalled. The service at this place was horrible. A group of 4 of us walked in around 6pm and asked for a table. The host said that the wait would be at least one hour. We so decided to find a place at the bar and we did within 5 minutes. Once we all sat down we asked for more menus but our server told us that we could only have one menu. We asked if they had a certain type of beer and our server said, "funny joke..." and nothing else. We talked to the manager afterwards and he did not address the issue or seem to care at all. We did not end up eating or drinking at this restaurant and we will not be coming back. read more

Delicious food, sophisticated wine list and attentive service in a lovely dining setting! We thoroughly enjoyed a relaxed and romantic dinner in this restaurant associated with the Vintner Inn in Santa Rosa. I enjoyed a fresh and nicely dressed Caesar salad and trenne pasta with tiger prawns and capers. Fantastic! Glen loved the mildly spiced red curry lamb shank with rice and vegetables. Perfect! The ambiance is fairly quiet, refined and relaxing. This restaurant is a must check-out. read more

Very disappointed in the customer service. Have now talked to three people who can't help me, including the manager Janine, who promised she'd call me right back and didn't. I ordered two gift cards for Christmas gifts and was assured they would be sent to me Tuesday the 5th. Tomorrow is the 15th, my credit card was charged on thr 3rd, I have not received them and apparently nobody has the ability to locate my order. Very unfortunate that not even the manager cared enough to call me back as she said she would. I am very busy, I don't have time to keep calling. At this point, I just want my money back and to send our parents to an establishment that cares. read more

We started at the bar and enjoyed some cocktails. Always love cocktails that include sparkling wine! We waited for our table on a Wednesday night, which was nice to see a place so busy. As a local I forgot they have complimentary bites at the bar for happy hour on Wednesdays. We were sat on the patio right in front of the vineyards. It was a gorgeous view and felt like we had the entire restaurant to ourselves. There was also beautiful gardens along the windows where they get some of their vegetables and herbs. Our sever was friendly and accommodating. We started with ahi tuna tartare that was more than generous proportion and tasted delicious. My husband got the lamb and I got the scallops and pork belly. We both enjoyed our meals. The best part was dessert. We got a dessert wine flight that complimented our dessert. It was truly a wonderful dining experience. read more

I have been here twice, both times to drink and nosh at the bar. Great cocktails and nice food selection -- the warm rosemary nuts are a standout. Yum. Definitely a destination when I'm in Santa Rosa. read more

I haven't been here for years and decided to bring my family for lunch. I was pretty disappointed in the food as well as the service at this restaurant. The hostess was a little rude and didn't check us in to our reservation. The waitress accidentally split my mom's sparkling water, which was okay, and then there was no goat cheese in our salad (it was later brought to us with the entrees). The food was pretty good. We liked the SWEET WATER OYSTERS with different sauces, the CHICKEN BAHN MI, and the FRESH VEGETABLE FETTUCCINE. Some dishes could have been better but was too salty for us. For instance, the sauce in the Fried Catfish was a little salty as well as the Crab Cakes. Also, it seemed as if there were sprinkled sea salt on the butter served with the bread and I ended up getting very salty bite of bread. Overall, I wanted to try their dinner but after this lunch experience I probably won't. I could get better food and service for the price. read more