Will be in Napa for a conference at the end of September. Looking for recommendations for restaurants and wine tastings.
From town, head north into the “Napa Valley” area. I think there are a few wineries up there.
Nice.
O Boy Oberto!
I was looking for recommendations, but obviously you have none.
Lots of choices, but if you are looking for a high end, great food and wine and location experience, consider lunch on the deck at Auberge du Soleil. I had lunch there a week ago after not going there for a few years, and we both agreed it was awesome.
We also had a great meal at Tra Vigne. Years ago, this was the ticket to a great time, but to many of us, I think it had become tired feeling and just mundane in recent years. But the other night we split an order of the handmade mozzarella, then the home made pasta with rabbit ragu, and a somewhat unremarkable caesar to follow. One dessert. We brought in a 2007 Roagne Paje (Barbaresco), which they happily decanted and poured for us. Great service, lovely location out on the patio on a warm summer evening, and the check was very modest.
Jeff,
If you are in Napa proper:
Food:
Cole’s Chop House, reservations required, buy a bottle, they’ll wave corkage on a wine. No fu fu food here. Go hungry.
Ristorante Allegria, reservations recommended, bring your own wine. Norther Italian, stellar deserts too.
A Fish Story for seafood and Morimoto’s if you want to pay double for food, but still less than half of the “premier” restaurants in the valley
Botega, reservations required. Least expensive wine list and stellar food.
Cordeiro’s Bar & Grill, no web site yet and opening next week. I know the players. It should be a cut above.
Oxbow Market at 1st & McKinstry has an afternoon’s worth of attractions. Tasting rooms in and around the market, cheese factory, cup cake factory, Gott’s Roadside Grill, Fillippi’s Pizza.
Or if you’re bringing $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, there’s a list of the wineries you can make reservations at and restaurants you can try to get into.
And after lunch, go visit Merrill… if she’s not too busy farming…
I wish we had went to Bottega-- missed it… we hit Boucon ( Lunch ) and Tre Vigna ( Dinner )
Boucon was a bit tight atmosphere for me.
If you get up to Calistoga–have a cocktail @ Solage and grab a game of Bocce Ball
Terra in St. Helena
Get the kale chips to have with your cocktail. Then split the Lucky Pig for your meal.
Sounds good!! I loved Calistoga… we’ll jingle you the next time …
Cheers Doc
Do that - I look forward to it!
Long time, solid restaurant. The formal dining room is actually a bit of a bargain, and one of the few places in which you can actually converse with your dining companion.
A few years back, they, like many others, carved up more casual and less expensive space. That is not noisy at all, but the tables are very close and for us locals, not offering any privacy of conversation. The food is very good, but if I wanted to dine next to my nieghbors and colleagues, I would have invited them to dinner!
So many good spots.
I like Auberge as well.
Solage too.
Press. Bottega.
Even Hurley’s.
And don’t miss Pancha’s in Yountville.
Redd too.
bistro jeanty
Been to almost every place randy recommended (probably because he sent me there) and was never disappointed. I especially enjoyed the italian place. I never took my own wine and found the prices and selection reasonable for that level of restaurant. My only gripe with Coles is they fit you in like oxen, the tables down the side are so close you have to turn sideways to get in between the tables to the outside seat. I didnt enjoy that at all. Food was very good however and service was average or above.
Just got back, and will second these.
Bouchon has delicious food and they do a good job of convincing you of a posh French Bistro. Excellent service. Fun bakery next door, try the macaroons.
Coles was a surprise, very classic steak house and very good. Share one of the big steaks and get some sides. Beware, the sides are big. We didn’t get the hash browns, but they were a dome piled on a dinner plate and very popular. Plenty of room between tables, at least upstairs.
Loved Celadon, their sister restaurant and less expensive. Really excellent Asian style calamari, steak special with gnocchi was fabulous. This was the most gluten free friendly restaurant I’ve been to, they even offer their calamari with rice flour if you want it. $15 corkage, back room is tighter than front room. Ask for Julie, she’s lovely.
For a deal, you can’t beat the Kitchen Door in Oxbow Market. Really good local food. We went back twice for the unique shrimp pad thai and Tablas Creek Rose on tap.
Our best meal of the trip was in Healdsburg at Barn Diva, and we went to Scopa! Not in Napa though.