We had an amazing dinner at St. Orres. The filet mignon was cooked to perfection. The flan with black trumpet mushroom sauce was incredible. Service was impeccable. What a wonderful experience. Highly recommend!!! read more

We ate here on Thanksgiving. It was an absolutely wonderful meal! The restaurant, the food, the drinks, the staff.... I couldn't have asked for anything better! Rob, the bartender, was so friendly! He really made our evening seem special. We had cocktails, stilton in phyllo dough, crab cakes, lamb shank, beef, pecan pie, and cheesecake. The Stilton appetizer was the absolute star of the show in my book! It was SO delicious. Everything was cooked to perfection and not overly seasoned. It was a pretty expensive evening, but worth it! read more

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Recently stayed at St. Orres and couldn't have been happier with the experience. The architecture was stunning and my cabin was certainly designed with the customer in mind. My room included an outside deck looking directly into a wall of California redwoods and was so quiet and peaceful. The restaurant was stunning. The food was delicious and presented as a work of art. Breakfast was delivered to each cabin and it was delicious too. I can't say enough good things about this inn. The customer service was beyond reproach. I would most definitely stay there again. read more

Ste. Orres Restaurant and Inn. I would give the restaurant a 5 star rating - the food was excellent, the service was fine. The Inn I would give 0 (zero) stars First there is not daily service - no one to clean the toilet (We asked about it and they said they have not had daily service since covid - covid ended over 2 years ago!) No one to clean the coffee pot or cups No one to wipe down the table or clean the floors The paint is old and the metal is rusting, the front door looks like it was varnished last decade. The shower has mold. The wood deck is old and twisting, someone unsure on their feet will likely trip. I enjoy "rustic" but this one is getting pretty long of tooth. All in all we are not coming back. read more

This place is priced like it thinks it's some great Michelin star restaurant in Napa or something, but the food is totally mediocre. The menu is designed to *sound* sophisticated, but the ingredients are cheap (farmed salmon. really?) and the preparation is decidedly careless (soggy, bland roast potatoes). Its decor is interesting, but that only goes so far. The service was terrible: we had to keep asking for thing after thing to get a meal given to us, and the waitress took our menus away without even checking whether we had ordered yet with the other server (we had not). It's basically a classy version of a tourist trap: appealing to people who are impressed by what it appears to be, but who don't know better. At half the price, I would have been fine with it, but $$$ should mean something. They couldn't seat us until 7:30 (so we all arrived really hungry), and then the place is half empty when we get there. Only reason this place survives is a) it's attached to a hotel and b) there just aren't a lot of good restaurants in the area. I must assume all the positive reviews on this site are friends and family. Avoid. read more

St Orres - Hotels Near Me - Gualala, California

A different menu, I had boar and venison. Nice basil martini. Funky building with beautiful light. Our service was excellent, friendly and helpful with the menu. A very good experience. read more

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Went here with friends from The Sea Ranch to try their more casual bar menu. We came to get their burger and that's what we did. Three burgers with fries, a round of cocktails (they make a basil martini that was nice actually if you can get beyond the fluorescent green color it produces) and a pair of deserts. The burger was fine and for $25 ($3 extra for white cheddar cheese, bacon or avocado) including fries or a salad pretty much what you'd expect for the area price wise. It was good. The cocktail was decent too and the deserts just okay. We had some ginger cake that was way too dry IMHO and the scoop of ice cream is a tulip shaped cookie was better. In general an interesting looking place that we've heard mixed things about for the main dining room fare but for a burger in the bar area a decent option vs the lodge etc. Personally I think the Sea Ranch Lodge is currently doing a better job with their menu and newish chef in the kitchen... I held off on pictures this visit.... Close yer eyes and imagine. read more

This is an expensive restaurant, but we expected excellent food. It started out with arriving at 6:00 for a reservation and being left in the entry for seven or eight minutes before anyone came to see us or even say anything to us. We were given a choice of tables, which was nice, and then ordered an eggplant terrine with salad as a starter to share and then two entrées. The starter was excellent and we enjoyed it very much. The house made bread that we ordered to go along with it was warm but way too soft and had no crustiness to it, which is essential for a good bread. The entrées were a salmon dish and a lobster and prawn dish, both of them served with different vegetables and over mashed potatoes. Everything was very tasty except we both felt that the mashed potatoes were so salty they were actually inedible! We told the server who I think was one of the owners, and she barely said anything and certainly didn't offer anything, even though it was clear that neither one of us ate any of the mashed potatoes. I'm sorry to say that the response was worse than the potatoes! Well, most of the food was very good in the presentation was lovely, I don't think we'll be going back there except possibly just to eat something from the bar menu. No drinks - only water and the bill was over $175. read more

Just had the most incredible meal at this fabulous restaurant. The best clam chowder I've ever had, the duck confit was off the charts. Great wine list. Fabulous dessert, huckleberry bread pudding. Rosemary the owner was lovely woman and so accommodating. Fabulous decor, incredibly Russian/Euro inspired. I just can't say enough about this restaurant. Highly recommend read more

Just...bad $60 entrees that are low on protein (3 scallops!) and high on filler (a soggy baked potato!). Stacked, no less, as tower! Shameful. read more

My spouse and I had popped into the Saint Orres dining room a year ago and had a wonderful late-night snack with dessert and cocktails. We thought the grounds and cottages were so unique and made a note to visit again in the near future. Fast forward to last week and we spent Thursday-Saturday in the Sorrell Glenn cottage. Everything was fine with the room, with a couple minor notes: - I had to defrost the mini-fridge, as it had rendered itself completely frozen and useless. Clearly it had been running at the coldest setting, empty, for quite some time. Easily resolved but noted. - As others have reported: seriously hard bed. - Wouldn't recommend this cottage in the peak summer. It has two skylights that are positioned directly over the bed. We visited in May and didn't find this problematic in the morning, but later on in the day it gets toasty. But the cottage is quaint, and the location is beautiful. My spouse and I grabbed our cameras and caught pictures of deer, quail, and other wildlife roaming through the property. The free breakfast is a real gem, however. You literally hear something drop at your doorstep and someone shouting, "GOOD MORNING!" around 8:30AM and a giant wooden box containing breakfast appears. And it's pretty good! It seems to vary from day to day, but is mostly comprised of quiche, fruit, sometimes cereal, fresh OJ, Milk. The best seat on the property is the double-seated bench on the spa deck that looks out straight in the ocean. Unfortunately, the "spa" isn't really functioning. There's technically a hot tub available and the sauna is broken. As for dinner, that turned out to be a mixed event. The service here entirely depends on how busy they are. Limited staff for sure. We were there on a Thursday just after a large dinner party arrived and it grinded service to a halt. The two waiters (you guys are great btw) had to run the entire restaurant and one of those waiters also was the bartender. 35 minutes to get your order taken, 15 minutes for drinks to arrive, and food arrives another 15 minutes after that. This is when I noticed locals coming into the entryway, peering around, looking at each other and shaking their heads and walking out. They already knew Saint Orres was too busy for them that day. And it's a shame. The food is good, though a bit high priced at $60/entree. Cocktails are good, desserts are very good as well. But the experience is definitely tarnished with excessively long wait times and it seems that this is a known problem. All in all, I still wouldn't turn down the idea of stopping by Saint Orres for dinner sometime in the future. Though, I'm unsure about booking a stay there again. There are neighboring hotels and b&bs that offer unique stays in the area. And I'm sure one of them has a more comfortable bed. read more

It was amazing . The lodging was awesome. The restaurant was magnificent. Rosemary is incredible. Owner, waiter, incredible communicator. This is a lifetime experience. Please try it ! read more

Excellent service; make reservations. You have to try the basil and lime Hendrix martini; nice wine list. Excellent off the menu appetizers and loved the filet mignon with potatoes. Nice ambience for a date! read more

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We booked out several cottages and cabins for our guests during our wedding weekend on Sept. 28th so this review is for the hotel and their service. Customer Service (2/5 stars): Working with Rosemary (owner) was a bit of a struggle. I booked a total of 14 spaces: 5 cottages (Black Chanterelle, Osprey Cove, Blue Iris, Pine Haven, Sequoia), 3 cabins (Guest House, Fern Canyon, Wake Robin) and 6 Side hotel rooms. We booked these back in March 2024 and asked for a group rate from Rosemary. She responded saying that she didn't have to give us a discount because she would be sold out the weekend we would be there and it didn't matter to her whether it was us or someone else. I thought this was quite rude but since we didn't have another option, we stayed at Saint Orres anyways. I also noticed some significant turnover in the main office throughout the year and therefore it made some communication get lost. I had to call multiple times to confirm that we had these spaces booked and that they were not given away to other guests. This added stress as I was also planning a wedding! I ended up getting charged twice on my credit card but after a quick phone call, that was refunded and fixed. Customer service is lacking. I don't think that the price of what we got is worth it. St. Orres is an expensive hotel (they even raised their prices in the middle of this year, after we booked it with their lower prices), and I don't think their spaces deserve the high price. FYI, the cabins (not cottages) are SMALL, just barely big enough to turn around in. Black Chanterelle Cottage (4/5 stars): I stayed at in the Black Chanterelle cottage and used it as my bridal suite. It had the space to host my bridesmaids when getting ready which as definitely a bonus and was in a beautiful secluded part of their property. The building is gorgeous and the surrounding redwoods are to die for. I felt less stress in this magical space on the day of my wedding. The bath is incredible and my new husband and I definitely used it on our wedding night. The sauna was a nice bonus! - The breakfast was light and lovely, delivered directly to my door each morning. I enjoyed the savory and sweet quiche options as well as the fresh fruit and muesli granola. - The shower needs to be redone as the shower pressure is sharp and stinging, they just need to replace the shower head. - The bed and pillows were uncomfortable and need to be replaced. A king-sized bed would fit better in this space (especially for the price). - St. Orres claims to have wifi in this cottage but it doesn't work most of the time. Also, no cellular service (Verizon). Thankfully, I didn't need it. - Black Chanterelle cottage is $400 a night but it's worth maybe $250 just due to its outdated and "funky" nature. Overall: 3-stars St. Orres is an eclectic and unique space to stay in Gualala. The architecture and property are beautiful but there are some things that could be improved in order to make this space truly shine and be worth the price they are advertising. read more

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We love going to St Orres, the basil martinis are amazing! Rosemary is always so welcoming and inviting. All of the food we have tried has been phenomenal read more

Outstanding restaurant with truly inventive dishes and wonderful libations. Great food served on a coastal elegant style, yet casual attire is good enough. Excellent service and terrific hostess. Loved the lobster and the oso bucco. Blackberry and blueberry margaritas were the bomb...cheers! read more

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I wish I could give separate stars for dining and for ambience. The dining was pretty good. I ordered the lobster and jumbo prawns which was yummy, my partner ordered the venison with a delicious huckleberry sauce, but our friend ordered the duck that was chewy and disappointing. It was also supposed to come with latkes but came with mashed potatoes instead. Really the most disappointing part was the service. The waitress did not know anything on the menu. She didn't know about the latkes or the wine, and when we pointed out the missing latkes, they gave us mushy veggies and a boiled potato. For such an expensive fine dining menu, you'd think the service would be better. Also the St. Orres bread appetizer wasn't worth the $5. The Chocolate Decadence dessert was worth the $12. The best part of the whole experience is the environment. It's a beautiful location, and the dining room is stunning. We couldn't stop gaping at the beautiful plants and the sunshine filtering in the stained glass windows. Just come for appetizers and drinks and don't touch the entrees. read more

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We went for Valentine's dinner. Seating was on time, and the bread was amazing. It unfortunately went downhill from there. We ordered the lobster and coconut prawn dishes. The prawns were over-cooked and were not as hot as they should have been. We were never asked how the food was or if we wanted/needed more water, even though my husband and I were both out of water. Basically, she (perhaps the owner) put the plates down as if they were works of art, and we didn't hear from anyone after that. We even had to flag a waiter down to request our bill. At this point, we were not considering the dessert menu:( I admire a nice presentation as much as the next foodie, but when the taste doesn't match the "look", that's no bueno! We won't be back. read more

I will start with - thankfully the waitress gave us a free desert and did not charge us for the awful mussels. The mussels were grainy, tasted like old seafood and made me sick to my stomach. Everyone at the table tried it and couldn't swallow, had to spit it out. The outside was very unique and made you feel excited, however the food was terrible and would never recommend to anyone, not even my worst enemy. This place needs a major facelift on the inside along with a new chef and staff. For the prices they are charging, I am flabbergasted that the place is still running. Never having been to sea ranch, we all felt very questionable after the terrible dinner we experienced. read more

St Orres - Hotels Near Me - Gualala, California

Come for the dessert and night cap! Made an impromptu dinner date and rolled into St. Orres at 5pm on a Thursday evening. We had noticed the unique architecture from the road, and had been wanting to visit for some time now. How would I describe the bar and restaurant? Upscale dining meets funky-coastal-cultural ambience. We were greeted and seated by Rosemary- co-owner and expert bartender. We grabbed a table in the bar (aka. a cozy solarium with wall to wall glass windows) and ordered a glass of wine and steamed mussels to start. I loved the Hook & Ladder Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley, and would honestly make a repeat visit just to continue sampling their wine selection! For the main, we shared a burger (medium rare) with cheddar and fries, and their coconut prawns. Three items off the Seaside Bar menu were more than enough for 2 hungry patrons. We were content with the meal (and quite satiated) when the waiter suggested their favorite dessert - the huckleberry bread pudding with housemate ice cream. Now that, we would find room to try! Dessert was my favorite part. I would 100% return for that Huckleberry bread pudding and another glass of the Hook & Ladder Bordeaux! Go wander around beautiful St. Orres, take photos, chat with Rosemary and enjoy some huckleberry bread pudding. read more

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This review is for the restaurant (we haven't stayed, though we've heard from many that it's a treat). This is an architectural gem just north of the village of Gualala - blink and you'll miss it. It's like walking into one of the best-kept secrets on the Mendonoma Coast! All of the food and beverages are top-notch, quality, delicious, well-curated, and beautifully presented. So much heart goes into making everything a surprise and delight (like... heart-shaped crab cakes!). The team is in constant motion taking care of guests and seems like family (and it turns out that many of them are related). It's a small team -- and sometimes that means you need to adjust your expectations to be on "coast time." And I can't think of a better place to just take a breath and chill. Rosemary, the proprietor, is a real gem. We're lucky to have this magical place in our backyard. read more

This is a hidden gem for a nice weekend getaway to disconnect and relax. The cabins are spread out in the area which is nice as you are not close to the other visitors. It provides a perfect balance of privacy, being in the woods but also not too remote. I stayed at the Wake robin cabin which is a short walking distance from the reception and hotel. The cabin had a good amount of space for 2 people. I loved the sitting area in the balcony as well as the window bench by the kitchen/dining area. It gets really dark and quiet at night which was kinda nice but something to aware of if darkness creeps you out. They do provide flashlights in the cabin which was nice and convenient. Wifi was pretty good, I was able to stream video on Prime. Cellphone reception was not bad either. Breakfast gets delivered around 8.30ish in a nice little basket and is quite a spread. It's a combination of seasonal fruits, granola, orange juice, banana/pumkin bread and a quiche. Food was a bit on the sweeter end for me. I also ordered margarita from the restaurant once and they let me bring it to my room. There's also a spa close to my cabin but I didn't get a chance to try it out. This place about a mile away from Anchor Bay and Gualala city, which means plenty of restaurant options within a short distance. Beach access is close by as well. Overall, loved the experience and it's pet friendly. Staff followed distancing and other safety measures. Will definitely come back here. read more

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Review is for the restaurant. First time visiting Sea Ranch and had dinner reservations at the main dining area. Very interesting architecture and the inside was also beautiful. We got oysters and stilton cheese fruit and walnut platter to share for the table. The warm blue cheese and apples went very well together. Venison was highly recommended and was indeed delicious with the Huckleberry sauce. For dessert got the ginger cake and huckleberry bread pudding, both are to die for. Definitely highly recommended to dine at the restaurant when in the area. Thank you team for a great dinner service! read more

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Good cocktails and warm service. The abalone starter was literally epic. One of the most delicious dishes I have ever eaten in my life. Venison main was a huge portion and came with a lovely rich huckleberry or blueberry sauce. Cute place focused on local and seasonal ingredients. The grounds are lovely. I was there at night so didn't get to fully experience the outdoors. It's a good spot for either a fancy expensive full meal or a very enjoyable drink and share plates. They do have a bar/lounge menu as well but I didn't try that, probably will next time read more

Magical, secluded beauty. We stayed in the rose cottage which was so cute, comfy, and the view--spectacular! The basil martini was so good, and the dinner and dessert were solid. They drop off a nice light breakfast for you in the morning which is a nice treat to be able to eat in your Jammies with a serene view. read more

This review is for the bar/restaurant. It's dog friendly. The drinks are on point. Try the monkey 47 gin martini. Foodwise, get the venison. Beautiful presentation... it looks as good as it tastes. Dinner for 4, with a couple rounds of drinks and one appetizer: $500. read more

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Restaurant is one of my favorites in the whole state of California. I have tried a different meal every visit. I love the menu choices. I always have a wild choice. Boar, fresh fish, lamb, vegetarian, pasta, delicious dessert that never disappoints. I look forward to every chance I get to return for a special unforgettable dinner, with fresh flowers on the table and candlelight. The service is top-notch. I definitely recommend it to everyone. They are my favorite! read more

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St.Orres will be a place you return to again and again. Care is taken from the moment you walk in, until the last bite of dessert. Blackberry mojitos and perfectly cooked steak fries (crispy on the outside, creamy in the middle, if you know you know), homemade lasagna, clam chowder, venison, salmon, huckleberry bread pudding... you get the picture. Make reservations, eat early, have a cocktail, it will not disappoint. read more

Great place, great people, great food!! Highly recommend the basil martini. Can't wait to go back.

*Review at from March 6th 2020. Parsnip root warm soup= 5 star! Boar taco=4.5. Unique interior but beautiful Dinner was their steak for both of us =3.5 as it was not prime nor aged and a regular sirloin. I expected a prime filet for the locale. Otherwise the service was excellent and everything else was top notch. Highly recommend & grateful our cottage owner recommend for our anniversary. read more

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I'm happy to say this place is wonderful. Perfect weekend relaxing, private, quiet & absolutely cozy! I stayed here with my friends and a dog at Johnson House two months ago. The house was clean, two comfortable bedrooms, a nice living room, a large hot tub outside (at the deck) and a kitchen area that worked with a microwave, coffee maker and a small refrigerator. In the morning, the breakfast is delivered right to our room. It was great. We would definitely come back agan. read more

St Orres - Johnson House - Hotels Near Me - Gualala, California

Prior to pandemic we used to frequent this charming hotel for celebrations like NYE or anniversaries. While the cabins are not "pristine", each one comes with its own unique personality and surprises. The interiors are quaint and modest. Apart from the main hotel, you have so much privacy and never have to deal with other hotel guests on premise! My husband and I would always wake up feeling incredibly rested, after a wonderfully quiet and chill night. I appreciate that there are no distractions like TV or WiFi, and phone reception in the general area (not just St. Orres) is spotty. I also have enjoyed their hand-delivered breakfast in the morning - a nice personal touch, though from my recollection they cycle through 2 breakfast menus so if your stay goes beyond 2 days it can get repetitive. We have also dined at the main restaurant. It's a mixed bag in my opinion. The service while friendly can be incredibly slow. Unfortunately it is one of the few "fine" dining options in Gualala without having to drive into the next town, so they sometimes do get quite slammed but do not have the staff support. I think the staff there really tries hard to make dining an enjoyable experience, and the chef team does try to make each dish presentable. I think the chef is also a mushroom forager, so one way or another various species of mushroom will find their way to the dishes even if unlisted - but don't worry they are delicious. I always get their garlic flan. However I don't believe their steak is anything to brag about. With that said, I think this is a wonderful hotel to unwind and unplug. I would not stay past 2 days, since the breakfast options are limited. I also recommend that you bring your Instant Pot, in case you are not interested in dining in the main hotel. read more

Had a great stay - what a magical place! The staff are warm and welcoming... The cottages have the right amount of privacy and simplicity.... Bring a good group or plenty if wine/beer and plan to just chill amongst nature and the sea. Rosemary and the restaurant team did a fantastic job!! read more

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This review is so long overdue. I stayed at St. Orres last year for a long weekend and it as a complete lifesaver. I work a very stressful job that requires a lot of hours, and every since 2020 we have had increasing needs to provide coverage between positions due to people being our sick regularly. It got to the point where I was so burnt out last year I needed to go somewhere I knew no one could get in touch with me. Luckily, my cell doesn't get service in Gualala, so we made a reservation at St. Orres. Getting out to Gualala is a monumental pain that is absolutely worth it in every regard because St. Orres is a perfect retreat. We went for hikes in the area and could walk miles without seeing anyone. We strolled around Sea Ranch and had an entire beach cove to ourselves. St. Orres is also just a gorgeous property with amazing amenities. You can't beat having a giant jacuzzi on your deck to soak in every night with a bottle of wine while you listen to the ocean out in the distance. The cabin also had the most comfortable bed I've ever slept on. St. Orres Staff---If you read this review please tell me what mattress y'all use in your rooms because I need to buy it for my home. We really enjoyed having breakfast brought to the room, and eating out on the deck while taking in the views. We also had a meal at the St. Orres restaurant and really enjoyed ourselves. The food was fantastic and so was the wine. We loved our waitress. She was super sweet and we chatted extensively about all of the work she put in tending to the plants that line the dining room area eaves. They have some thriving Monstera that made me super jealous. Basically, I've been dreaming about going back ever since I got home. I'm really hoping to find time to visit again soon. read more

Saint Orres is a unique dining experience that if you're in the Mendocino area is a must try. The buildings have Russian influence in their design which offers interesting architecture. We made a reservation for dinner, which I'd recommend since the restaurant is fairly small. We were seated right next to a beautiful stained glass window. Our service was pleasant and attentive throughout the meal. For the dinner menu it's $50 which includes soup, salad, and an entree. During our visit they had a parsnip soup and pear gazpacho. The pear gazpacho was deliciously creamy and the raspberry design on it added a wonderful element to the dish. The blueberry salad was light and refreshing. For my entree I had the filet of beef. All of the entree portions were quite large and plated beautifully. My filet was cooked perfectly and had a great flavor. read more

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Always a great place to take special guests. Food presentation is unbelievable and just as delicious as it looks. Only complaint is they only take reservations within a 2 hour window 3 days a week. Major inconvenience. But that is the only complaint. read more

Just love everything about this place. I would recommend to others.The cabins are rustics. The food is delicious. The staff are very friendly and professional. read more

We stayed here and dined here over the July 4th weekend, 2024. Everything was great. Our little rustic cabin was comfort and joy. Dining was superb in every way. This place is a bit quirky in some ways but still stands out as a great place. Have done this trip many, many times since 1984. Its a very laid back experience reminiscent of a past era...thank God! read more

Quirky, interesting, eclectic, and very strange is the only way to describe St. Orres. You have to see it to believe it. And that's not bad at all. Located on a wooded section of Highway 1 just north of Gualala it is isolated yet charming in that it resembles a Russian style retreat out of Dr. Zhivago. The type of place you'd run to in times of a revolution. Actually beautifully done wooden details with onion domes and weathered siding it is architecturally quite well done. There are a collection of buildings and the main restaurant/bar is the star. Once you notice the domes coming up the highway it will catch anyone's attention. After reading the reviews we decided to skip dinner and just have an hors d'oeuvre and a drink at the bar. It was fairly packed at just after 6 when they open with both locals and tourists. The space is quite cozy and rustic, and even the cobwebs and bit of wear at the edges adds some country charm. I had a basil martini, very much basil flavored but also refreshing and we ordered one each of the tacos, boar, rabbit and salmon. All were excellent and filling. The absolute hit, however, was the square loaf of warm basil bread they bring to the table. It is wrapped in a white napkin and SO GOOD!!! With so many reviewers complaining about the lack of staff and wait times that was not our experience at all. Service was friendly, fun, upbeat, attentive and quite on top of it. My martini ran a little behind in arrival, but so what. Staff was plentiful and gets an A+ All in all a fun expereience. I'd go back for dinner. read more

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This a review of the restaurant. Two of us went to dinner and we both had the crushed berry cocktail (mine was a mocktail). and they were exquisite. Then we had the phenomenal mushroom ravioli with four types of mushrooms and an incredibly delicious sauce. By far the best ravioli I've ever had. The phyllo dough Stilton triangles were excellent and the decor was antique and fascinating. I can wait to come back! read more