319692 Tue Aug 22 06:08:21 -0700 2006 5 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 1824310 Had someone from a client in the North Bay move on to a new position at a company in Santa Rosa, so I of course had to go visit my brand new client for lunch. After some checking on the board here as well as with the client, we decided to check out John Ash at the Vintner's Inn in Santa Rosa. I met my clients there, and we were seated out on the patio bordering the vineyard that's part of the inn. Gorgeous day and a gorgeous facility. I was only hoping that the food would be half as good as the weather and surroundings. We started off with a couple of orders of calamari, which were neither stellar nor horrendous. Body pieces and tentacles were dusted in a hearty cornmeal batter, and were reasonably tender. Should suit anyone who likes fried calamari, but I'm sure there are better starters than this. I chose the salmon PLT as my entree, and was I glad I did! The PLT stood for pancetta, lettuce & tomato on a toothsome ciabatta, with the addition of a filet of salmon to the sandwich. I love tomatoes, but I'm not a connoisseur to the level where I could ID what tomatoes were used. Suffice to say they had the look and taste of miniature heirlooms, with a deep blood red color to the flesh. I'd asked for the salmon to be cooked closer to sashimi than done, and it was prepared exactly how I'd requested. Anyone who likes bacon would have been in heaven with the pancetta. Accompanying this awesome samich was a decent Caesar salad. The rest of the group also had fish (an ono special and a grilled trout), and everyone pronounced their entrees very good to excellent. Service was fine, neither overbearing nor non-existent. If you're looking for a nice place to enjoy al fresco dining in Santa Rosa, John Ash is a solid choice. Tue Aug 22 06:08:21 -0700 2006 11011 Eugene Park 1 1824329 Glad that worked out for you. I haven't been there since Ferrari-Carano bought it, and had heard it's in a revival. Tue Aug 22 06:29:24 -0700 2006 1824310 10039 Melanie Wong 1 2169164 We had dinner in the Frontroom last night --the less formal part of the dining area and is part of the bar. You can order from the bar menu or the full dinner menu. I was drinking blood orange cosmopolitans and the others were drinking wine. We had french fries at the bar while waiting for one of our party. They were good --crispy/crusty outside and tender inside. Flavored with spices and garlic -the $6 portion was big enough for three people. I had the pork carnitas quesadilla ok but not great. The others were much happier -pears in zin salad and the lamb sandwich and the tuna tower (raw ahi with avacado salad) and pizza margharita -thin crust and tasty sauce. The wine list was a big hit. They had a number of half bottles and the wine drinkers had half bottles of Merry Edwards -Sauvignon Blanc and a Raffinelli zin and were delighted. My dining companions like the trend to more half bottles being available. Tue Jan 09 16:01:35 -0800 2007 1824310 22318 ellenm 1 3475279 I ate there in December '07 for a holiday work party and was very disappointed. The menu looked great in theory, but used sub-par ingredients and was executed poorly. The only appetizer I tried was a deep-fried wonton wrapper filled with cheese. Greasy and not very flavorfull. The best part of the meal was a pumpkin soup. It was nicely spiced, creamy but not too heavy, and had pepitas sprinkled on top. Following was a salad with blue cheese and wine-poached pears. The pears were not ripe and I did not finish them. Next was a seared tuna entree. Tuna was way overcooked and tough. Others at the table agreed. It was served with a very boring rice pilaf and a shredded cabbage salad. Garnished with flavorless microgreens. Dessert was tasty: a dense chocolate cake, warm and still molten in the middle, served with a mint sauce. I like my chocolate more bitter, but it was a nice texture. They also served a nice port with dessert, but I don't remember what it was. Perhaps the quality is better if you go in for regular dinner service, but for a catered affair they did not impress. Sun Mar 09 12:08:28 -0700 2008 1824310 173246 transplant 2 3475537 very overpriced stay away Sun Mar 09 13:50:13 -0700 2008 3475279 171960 monta8 1 3476379 link Sun Mar 09 19:23:14 -0700 2008 1824310 10264 rworange