Bear at Stanly Ranch

We celebrated our anniversary in Napa last year and I absolutely enjoyed walking the grounds, meeting the farmer and watching him bring over fresh produce from the Garden to the restaurant. Bear's kitchen is open and looks like a tv culinary kitchen; so much All-clad!The ambiance is note-worthy, feels like an epic treat; the high ceilings, impeccable decor, lighting and service. The food and drinks are impressive thoughtful masterpieces. Very informative presentations of the dishes that are so intentionally parted. Can't wait to go back.

I want to start out with a great review for the food. Of all the times I've been there the food has never disappointed.On my last visit the service was not up to par. We brought two bottles of wine, one white and one red. It was suggested that the white should be chilled a bit and the red decanted. After a short while white wine glasses were brought to the table and the wine was poured. As the first of our appetizers arrived we were wondering what happened to our wine. No one came around to refill our glasses so I walked over to get our bottle of white and the carafe of red and went back to finish our appetizers. In the midst of eating our appetizers, a server came over to remove our plates and utensils, while it was still in our hands, saying he has to prep the table because our food was on the way. We thought this was very strange to have our plates removed when we were still eating, but we continued eating our appetizers, now with dinner plates and utensils. Before we could completely finish our appetizers our sides and entrees were brought to our table. By this time we were ready for red wine but we didn't have red wine glasses, so we used the white wine glasses. That was when someone came by with red wine glasses. That was the only two time when someone came by to pour wine.We felt very neglected and came to a conclusion that they were trying to turn table very quickly. Two other tables near our tables were turned over and seated within 5 minutes of the last patrons leaving.Ambience gets a low score as well. There are acoustic tiles on the ceiling but not only do they look bad, they do a bad job. The noise level is so bad our wait staff claim they couldn't hear us.Even if the food was excellent, it will be a while before I return.

4 stars for the food and 2 stars for the service, so here we are with a 3 star review.We visited the Bear while on our weekend getaway to celebrate our wedding anniversary and we were super excited because of all of the great reviews and the menu looked fantastic! 2.5 hours for lunch for two people was just excessively long. It took 20 minutes alone to be greeted by our server and another 15 minutes for him to take our order. Ambience was beautiful. It was such a nice day and the outdoor space was lovely! As for the food--The bison tartare was the star of the show and my Cobb salad was very filling and delicious. My husband got the burger and enjoyed it. I don't know if they were just having an off day or were understaffed (we came on a weekday), but I'd be willing to give it another shot.

Should have at least two Michelin stars. Food, presentation, ambiance, service, wine list all outstanding. Better than Quince, State Bird, Lazy Bear, etc.

My boyfriend was able to secure reservations for Bear for dinner on a Friday. Neither of us had been so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The staff was incredibly nice and attentive. My water glass never went empty. Sarah was very helpful and gave great suggestions on the menu. She even brought us some of her favorite hot sauce.We started with the bison tartare which was very tasty. I wish they gave us just a little bit more rice cracker. The little gem salad wasn't over dressed. The potatoes weren't my favorite but were very tender. The whole trout was good but it would've used a little bit more flavor. The brocollini was good and not overcooked. I really loved the scallops as the were sweet and done just perfectly. The champagne sorbet was pretty good, I just wished there were more not sorbet options for dessert.Overall I would highly recommend this restaurant, the ambiance is beautiful. I had a great time with my boyfriend and look forward to future visits.

As we drove up Stanly Way towards Bear, I saw a sign: "Private Residences starting at $3.6 Million."Damn, ok....this is RICH RICH territory. Like 1% "OF" RICH RICH monies. J/k!But, wealth is quiet and Stanly Ranch exudes understated luxury, not show-ey with bling bling so we didn't feel too out of place...bling-less. I was staying in Sonoma and had rezzies for a French bistro until Brandon W. messaged me, highly recommending Bear at Stanley Ranch (thank you!). I reviewed Bear's most recent menu which was more my jam and was able to secure same day rezzies on Resy. It was the right move because Bear ended up being one of my top three meals in wine country I've had to date. Opening in 2022, Bear is located inside Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection. Open all day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Indoor and outdoor seating. Dog-friendly. M E N UCalifornia Cuisine with an Asian bent, farm-to-table using hyper-seasonal ingredients from their on-site garden and other local farmers and purveyors. Full Bar. HH Special: Monday - Friday, 3 PM - 6 PM - 20% off the bar menu (only available at the bar). They also have several other specials/deals noted on their website. Considering this is a $$$$ resort, the prices are pretty reasonable and if I didn't have alkie, it would have been $100 pp before tip which is typical of a nice sit-down restaurant these days. No surcharges, service fees, and/or resort fees. D R I N K S* Barhill Honey Vodka, shaken w/ lemon twist ($20 + $5 up charge): https://tinyurl.com/498esr3x- Upcharge = extra 1/2 ounce of boozeF O O D* Kanpachi, marinated raw w/ macadamia milk, serrano, finger lime ($24) // 5 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/4kexjsumArtful presentation with a perfect mix of creamy-savory-citrusy-spicy flavors and contrasting soft and crunchy textures while showcasing the fresh kanpachi (amberjack). * Ahi Tuna Tartare w/ Asian pear, avocado, nori ($22) // 5 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/4myyreshIMO, tuna tartare is played out because it's on so many menus but Bear adds a twist with the addition of Asian pear reminiscent to yukhoe (Korean tartare) and thiccc nori chips as a vessel. * Bison Tartare w/ fermented chili, puffed rice, sesame ($24) // 4 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/mukakcvjGreat rich, meaty texture against the crunchy rice crackers. But, a little too heavy handed with the fermented chili sauce overpowering the bison. * Crispy Rice w/ thai chili, nước chấm, shiitake pickles, coconut ($22) // 3 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/4f2syxsrOne of the most raved about dish and supposedly one of Bear's signature apps, this was underwhelming. While the exterior had a nice crunch and the nước chấm (fish sauce) had legit punchy funk, the interior of the rice cakes was of mushy overcooked rice. * Maitake w/ charred eggplant, sumac, black garlic ($20) // 4.5 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/42vsxwueGreat fry on it, the maitake mushrooms were crunchy (not oily or greasy) with a robust dip that reminded me of a babaganoush with pungent tamarind flavor from the black garlic. * Lamb Ribs w/ concord grape, thyme vinegar, charred scallion relish ($36) // 5 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/m7wf6ha2The lamb ribs were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The trio of accompaniments created the most delicious medley of sweet, tangy, peppery, herbaceous flavors to complement the meaty, slightly gamey flavor. How do they come up with these flavor combos? They hit!* Sourdough Ice Cream w/ bread ice cream, yeast caramel, powdered starter ($15) // 5 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/2fb2mm7hThis legit tasted like sourdough bread in ice cream form. Super creamy, silky texture with complex tang and caramelly-yeasty-earthy notes, and crumbles for texture. Not too sweet, almost verging on savory. Perfect ending to our meal. S E R V I C ERefined yet down-to-earth service from Kendall (our server), Luis (busboy), and Becky (food runner). Prompt, well-coursed meal so our table wasn't cluttered, nor did we have to wait long for the next course. They were on top of whisking finished away plates and providing fresh plates + utensils. And, my water glass never went empty (complimentary sparkling water).A MB I A N C ECasual sophistication with warm earth tones, draping plants, open kitchen with live fire cooking and glass-adorned bar. The expansive, open-air outdoor patio (covered) has sweeping views of the picturesque grounds. On the night we visited, there was a Crazy Rich Asian wedding going on and at sunset, there was a lion dance. P A R K I N GComplimentary valet parking with valets in rancher fits. Overall, I really enjoyed our meal at Bear and thought it was a standout in wine country's culinary scene for its creative and unique farm-to-table dishes. Make sure to take a stroll after your meal and bask in that rich rich air!

Stanly Ranch is an incredible multi-purpose venue, with a restaurant, bar, coffee shop, and big space for event rental. It is a secluded well-manicured property, perfect for photo backdrop. There was an outdoor wedding and an indoor space for reception.Bear is a fine dining restaurant on the property. It has a nice ambiance. We chose to dine outside under one of the two pergolas which overlooked the property. Very pretty view.We came for the brunch. We ordered the biscuit (with jam and butter), miyagi oysters, short rib chilaquiles, grain bowl, and rabbit hole (orange, carrot, ginger, turmeric non-alcoholic drink). Everything was really top notch in flavor, presentation, and quality. We also had great service. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and already planning to return in the spring.

You know places where you pay for the experience OR you pay for the food? Bear at Stanly Ranch was one of the rare occasions we're both happened! We came to celebrate a friend's birthday (and definitely recommend any special occasion done here), and I have never been or heard of Bear.The menu was a 2 person sharing, so I shared with my boyfriend, and I can confidently say these flavors I have not tasted on chicken nor have I tasted in the sweet potato that I ordered...all in the best way possible! I was excited to eat the next item. Although the portions are on the smaller side, all is expected in this type of environment. As soon as you walk in, the restaurant has the highest ceilings I've ever seen and the decor was modern. The one thing I cannot get over is how great all the servers were: water cups always filled never empty, bread crumbs cleaned if seen, and all plates removed immediately after we were done with the course and moving to the next item.If I can recommend one thing: APPLE PIE ICE CREAM DESSERT! I dream about this and crave it every day after I left.

Bear is pure magic. From the moment we parked, I knew Bear was going to be special. There are such lovely manicured grounds on the way to the restaurant. Then you enter. Luscious woods are everywhere and the most beautiful fall flower arrangements abound. The lighting is warm and wonderful.We started off with some lovely cocktails. They were gorgeous as well as delicious. We had the Maitake mushrooms, Crispy Rice and most gorgeous vegatable board for starters, then moved on to pasta and short ribs. Of course we had to get the sourdough bread.Everything was delicious and on point. It's hard these days to have a perfect meal in such a perfect environment. They delivered on both.On the way out, the valet guys invited us to warm up with them by the outdoor fireplace. And valet was complimentary. What more can you ask for?!

We had wanted to dine here as we had heard it was part of the Auberge resorts. The grounds are very pretty and use a lot of stone for a woodsy feel. Upon entering the restaurant it is spacious and bright with lots of glass and natural light. Felt very chic, modern and upscale. We were here for a Sunday brunch and to dine with a dear friend. My wife went with the egg white omelet while I chose the breakfast sandwich. The service was a bit slow but the food was flavorful and satisfying. Presentation was simple but nice. The next time we visit, we will try the dinner menu. A good experience.