Napa Area Restaurants: Reviews & Recommendations

[Aurora]

I won't be in Napa Valley for about a year. If I can get there sooner, I will send up a signal. Thanks for those driving tips because I am planning to rent a car.

I have added all the winery suggestions to my notes.

Good luck on the apprentice position. I know you will be great.

I'm back to the food festival tomorrow. Best of the Fest is announced on Friday. I know we're in there.

[southern girl]

Aurora,

I just returned from Napa...before I get into the dining experiences...as for Mondavi...I have never done their tour, just gone to the concerts in the vineyards....This was the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (outstanding as usual). The best thing about this event is you can bring your own wine (you do not have to drink Mondavi unless you want to). I was with vintner friends and we had many wonderful wines...no Mondavi.

As for food...

Martini House: Incredible. This was my first visit and definitely will not be the last. I was dining solo and the hostess made a point of saying we will give you the best table in the house...and followed through. I was seated in the upstairs dining room with full view of the room and kitchen. Everyone was intent that I would enjoy myself...and they thoroughly accomplished their mission.

Here is the menu:

Soup au pistou, summer vegetables and chicken boullion

Baby Roasted Beet Salad Mache and beet vinaigrette

White Crane Farms Summer Field Green Salad Fines Herbes Vinaigrette

Local King Salmon Carpaccio Marinated Watermelon, Avocado Puree and

Lemon Vinaigrette

Tempura Fried soft Shell Crab Sorrell Puree, Frisee and sweet cherry tomato

Salad

Lobster bisque Toasted Croutons, Chervil and Tarragon

***Poached Maine Lobster Roasted Asparagus and Brown Butter

Hollandaise....thinly sliced rounds of asparagus tossed in the

Hollandaise with roasted asparagus spears laid over and lightly

drizzled with more hollandaise...topped with a perfectly poached

1/2 lobster tail and 1 claw...excellent.

***Pan Roasted Veal Sweatbreads Summer truffle and leek vinagrette

Sauteed thinly sliced leeks tossed in the truffle vinaigrette with large

sweetbreads roasted ina veal jus...succulent and tender.

Sauteed Foie Gras Fried Green Tomatoes, Green Tomato CHutney and

Mizuna Salad

Entrees

***Sauteed Squab Breast and leg confit Sweet Corn Ravioli, Tiny Corn and

Truffle Sauce....Possibly the best (and plumpest squab I have ever had)

A perfect medium rare and the truffle sauce was filled with bits of

summer truffle. The rest of the dish was a bit odd...the raviolis were

fried and bathed in what I can best describe as the white vegetable

sauce from a chicken pot pie...wya to heavy and white for my tastes.

And the baby corn (CHinese type) were an odd addition.

Naturally raised Grillrd DOuble Cut Pork Chop Braised Garlic Sauce,

Braised Porcinin Mushrooms and Polenta Cake

California White Bass Braised cucmbers, sea beans, oyster mushrooms

and lemon beurre blanc

Seared Local King Salmon Haricot Vert Salad, Curry Veloute and Butter

Poached Yellow Finn Potatoes

Pan Roasted Alaskan Halibut Sauteed Swiss Chard, Spring Onions and

Sherry Vinaigrette

Grilled Prime Beef Tenderloin Roasted Artichokes, Glazed New Carrots

Sauce Brodelaise and Creamed Spinach

Sauteed Mahi Mahi Almond Caper Crust and Ragout of Morels and Sweet

Peas

Dessert

***Almond Apricot Tart Buttermilk Panna Cotta and White Peach Sorbet

I was not impressed by this one. The Panna Cotta was very nice

But the white peach sorbet had an odd underlying note and the

pastry creme on which the roasted apricots were placed was gooey

and lumpy

Cherry Clafouti Rainer and Bing Cherry Compote Teroldego Ice Cream

Lime Parfait Tropical Salad and Mango Coulis

Chocolate Napoleon Hazelnut Joconde, Caramel Mousse and Chocolate

wafer

Passion Fruit Brulee Pineapple confit and coconut tapioca

Summer Berry Fricassee Creme Fraiche Ice Cream

And the house sent over what they call "Trip to the Moon"

1 oz. pours of Chateau D'Yquem 1988; Von Buhl Trockenbeerenauslese

1998 and Royal Tokaji 'St. Tamas' 1993.

I also went to Bistro Jeanty for a late lunch. The menu was the same as the one already posted. I enjoyed the Fried Smelt Special...real smelts lightly fried tossed with parsely and salt. Followed by Croutons be Foie Blond...Duck Foie Gras Pate with port poached pears...light and airy mousse pate on the croutons placed over half a poached pear.

And then steak tartare with Pommes Fritte. Best Pomme Frite around and excellent, tender tartare.

Unless you plan on dining on the bar menu during the off hours at Martini House...make a reservation. Jeanty serves the same menu all day and they serve at the 6 seat bar and a community table. Same scenario...make a reservation!

In San Francisco a friend and I dined at Boulevard. My favorite in the Bay area. Menu follows:

***Crispy Maryland Soft Shell Crab Green Tomato, Cucumber and Jalapeno

Confiture, Fire Roasted Green Tomato Aioli...We shared this while we

perused the menu. Perfectly fried crab...still juicy and the aioli gave a

nice smoky tomato flavor

***Maine Lobster & Lobster Claw Ravioli Fresh Morels, English Peas &

Lobster Butter Sauce....Soft lobster stuffed pasta pillows with tossed in

a mildly flavored butter sauce with touches of lobster roe, plump morels

peas and (another) perfectly cooked lobster claw.

***Rabbit Loin with Proscuitto & Rack of Rabbit Lucedio Carnaroli Risotto

with Wild Mushroom Jus, Shaved summer truffle...This dish was a bit on

the salty side from the jus and the proscuitto, but, still perfectly

meat and covered in sliced truffle oil

Soup of the day

Caviar Servie (1 oz) Potato Pancakes, Toast Point, Creme Fraiche California

Sterling Osetra

Spicy AHi Hand Roll & Char-Rare Ahi Tuna with Chili Crust Enoki Mushroom

and Daikon Radish Salad, Wasabi Tobiko Sauce

Sauteed Fresh hudson Valley Foie Gras Dark red plum Toast, Mariposa

Plums & Pluots, Lemon Verbena, Opal Basil

Chile Glazed Fried Fresh Calamari Vietnamese Salad of Green Papaya,

Grapefruit, Radicchio Fragrant herb, Toasted Shallots, Peanuts and

Garlic

Roasted Fresh Porcini Mushrooms Fresh Sweet White Corn Crema, Roasted

Dark Porcini and Chicken Jus

Jumbo Sea of Cortez Scallop Lobster and Porcini Mushroom "Bolognese"

with Potato Gnocchi

Salads

***Bruleed Goat Cheese & Fig Marmalade Black Mission Figs, Arugula,

Walnut Crouton Fraise Du Bois, Port Vinaigrette...Copious amount of

arugula tossed with a mild port vinaigrette placed over the walnut

crouton. A medium sized wedge of aged goat cheese sliced horizontally

and stuffed with fig marmalade and then bruleed....mmmmm good...also

3 large halved fresh figs

***Heirloom Tomatoes with Frsh Mozzarella Basil, Garlic, Arbequina Extra

Virgin Olive Oil... simple, fresh and lots of wonderful tomatoes (almost

as good as jersey tomatoes).

Parmesan Squash Blossom Fritter Stuffed with Ricottta & Herbs Summer

Truffle & Arugual Salad, Truffle Vinaigrette

Butter Lettuce Salad with Fresh Hearts of Palm Shallot Champagne

Vinaigrette with Tarragon

Hearts of Romaine & Little Gem Lettuce Roquefort Cheese, Spicy Pecans

Croutons Buttermilk Blue Cheese Dressing

Assorted baby Beets, Roasted Rhubarb & Oranges Mixed Organic

Lettuces, Shaved Artisinal Pecorino Cheese

Mains

***Sherry Glazed Veal Loin & Sweetbread Summer Truffle Relish with Fava

Beans, Parmesan and baby Zucchini, Gratinee of Yukon GOld Potato and

Mushroom Jus. This was the best veal dish I have had in ages. The

heady odor of truffle oil napped in the mushroom jus and the perfectly

cooked veal loin and sweetbread. Many fresh favas...outstanding...the

Gratinee was a bit disappointed as it was strangely sweet.

***Wood Oven Roasted Rack of Lamd Fondant Butterball Potatoes with

morel mushrooms & Fresh English Peas Natural Lamb Jus & Mint

Vinaigrette...3 Large med. rare chops...unbelievably tender...very simple

and thoroughly enjoyable...especially since they were very generous

with the morels!

Pan Roasted Alaskan Halibut Tabbouleh Salad with Faro, Heirloom

Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Parsley Fresh vine ripened tomato vinaigrette

Provencal Black Olive Oil Chilled Shrimp Salad with Watercress

California White Sea Bass with Crabcake Crust Sauteed Savoy Spinach,

Lemon Beurre Blanc, Tomato Caper Relish

Grilled WIld King Salmon Sweet white corn & Spring Vegetables, Corn

Nage, Asparagus & PEa Tendril Salad

Chateaubriand for 2 Centercut Filet with Carmelized Onions & Beef Jus

A Bundle of Jumbo Asparagus with BEarnaise Suace Pommes Frites

Wood Oven Roasted Creekstone Farms Angus NY Strip Fingerling

Potatoes Roasted with Herbs & Garlic Cloves in their Jackets Various

GArden Beans with Golden Chanterelle Mushrooms Beef infused

Mushrooms

Wood Oven Roasted Organic CHicken Boneless & Stuffed with Artichokes

Hearts & Porcini Mushrooms Crushed Yukno Gold Potatoes with

Arugula, Roquefort cheese & Roasted Walnuts Frsh Porcini Mushroom

Natural Jus.

As for dessert we wimped out and had a trio of fresh sorbets...peach, rapsberry and coconut....

Wonderful meals and atmospheres...I'm hungry now...gotta head for the kitchen. hope these help. It looks like I will be going back in August so I'll give you another update then

[Aurora]

Southern Girl - thank you. That was incredible! I am glad that you had such a wonderful time and that you could share such an intricate report. I think you and Lizziee should get together and write a book of essays and observations about your dining. If it as detailed and reads as well as your posts, I think your efforts would culminate into a fantastic read that will be helpful and enjoyable to many people.

Two college friends, who live in San Francisco, will join me intermittently. On a few days, they will both be with me. On other days, I will be alone, so I especially enjoyed that part of your post. I will also try to hook up with other eGullet members for different things on the various days.

Thank you for the tip about not needing to drink Mondavi while at Mondavi. I will get some just the same, but I will have other choices in my basket.

My notebook is getting very fat. I'm looking forward to your next post.

[Brad S]

Southern girl.

What a great review.

One of the dishes I prepard with Todd was a shaved asparagus sald with a lemon vinaigrette,fried capers and his brown butter hollandaise.

It was excellent

[luchshel]

I would recommend that you pay a visit to the Silver Oak winery. Nothing special but spectacular Cab is available there if it is your thing. I can't find it out here in New England but every time I am in SF I try to track a bottle down.

[Aurora]

Luchshel - thank you for the suggestion.

Would you please share what is it about the cab that stands out for you? Better yet, what is it about the other wines that keeps you from recommending them as highly? I'm curious.

I will look up Silver Oak in my book.

[hollywood]

Silver Oak is one of the better known (deservedly so) high end California cabernets along with Opus One, Stag's Leap, etc. I'm no expert but I have noted a consistency in the Silver Oak I've tasted--from bottle to bottle and year to year. Some might find this boring. I like it.

[Brad S]

Silver oak is a very consistent well produced wine.

Their Alexandra valley bottling in my favorite, Napa and Bonny's vineyard are also good.

Also the Alexandra Valley Cab is estate bottled %100.

It's hard to find out here in New England, but it's possible. Unfortunatly it's a highly allocated wine and is also snatched up by restaurants.

[Aurora]

I will see if I have any luck in finding it here in Chicago. I have a few excellent sources.

[rslux]

Another Napa winery to add to your list is the Robery Sinskey vineyard. Excellent pinots, not too expensive.

[nightscotsman]

Maison recommended the Shramsburg Winery tour and I have to second that. Reservations are required and they charge a small fee, but it's really worth it. You get to taste several wonderful champagnes, the tour is very informative and the setting is beautiful.

[Aurora]

rsux, nightscotsman - Thanks. Shramsburg will probably be perfect for the section of the trip when my mother will be with me. By the end of my time there, I think I may be permanently drunk.

[mixmaster b]

Aurora-

You already have many wonderful recommendations, but I would suggest adding Hess to your list. The wine is ok--the Hess Collection wines are their best best--but the winery itself is really a treat. They have a great collection of contemporary art in a museum/gallery-like setting. I also enjoyed the slide presentation they give showing the seasons in the vineyard. This winery might not be right for those looking for a grass-roots, super-authentic experience, but I loved it. And I think you might enjoy it, as their approach to marketing (focusing on art; presenting a very polished experience) is a bit different.

I am hoping to be in Napa in December, but my trip is dependent on getting a reseration at The French Laundry, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. I am thinking of staying at Hotel Healdsburg--it is new and looks nice and modern. Does anyone know about it?

Best of luck in your planning, Aurora!

[ngatti]

i ahd quite a nice time at Frog's Leap and Chimney Rock.

Nick

[Aurora]

Thanks Mixmaster and ngatti!

As my travel plans have evolved, a major change has occurred, which is quite positive. My original plan to spend two to three weeks is still on, but some work-related things have krept up as well. This means that I will be visiting multiple times over the next year. The positive part is that I usually have the ability to incorporate a weekend into such trips, and that means more opportunities to add 2-3 visits to places during those times.

The suggestions are great, so please keep them coming. I am open to it all.

What has been really wonderful about the response to this thread is the amount of wine information that has been offered. My wine knowledge is terribly lacking. One of the reasons for that is the fact that I am a lightweight, and there isn't much that I can do to combat it--no method has the ability to raise my tolerance. Two glasses of anything is about my limit. I can go from being fine to stinking drunk in just a few sips, and it happens instantly with no warning. That can be stretched to three glasses with food, but that is pushing it. My mental association with alcohol has been one of extreme caution, and that has served as the foundation for a somewhat lackluster approach to learning anything about wine until recently.

I have come to realize that low tolerance doesn't stop me from enjoying and learning as much as I can. There's a reason for the buckets at tastings (even that leaves me lightheaded on occasion). It does make my wine knowledge slow-going. It also makes developing a palate nearly impossible because part of having a well-developed palate involves having a library of tastes, textures and subtleties stored in the meomry. On the bright side, it makes dining a little less expensive. One bottle of wine (shared) or two well-matched wines by the glass, and I am set.

So thanks everyone. When I titled this thread "Napa Valley Novice," I meant that on several levels.

Does anyone know of knowledgeable wine folks, who, like myself, have next to no tolerance for alcohol? I can't imagine I'm the only person on the planet with an interest in wine even though I can't really drink it with great relish.

[malarkey]

more recommendations Aurora ;-)

Prager Port Works, behind Sutter Home. Small winery specializing in ports & dessert wines. They have an orange muscat right now that is really kickass! Very nice people. Also recommend Regusci, one of the "ghost" wineries, for a historically interesting stop. Its one of the only pre-prohibition wineries still standing. Was deserted for years, now renovated. Cool old stone building, they make a very nice merlot.

[carpet bagger]

Please help with advise of Bed and Breakfast( Romantic) for this Thursday through Sunday. Also advise on how to get reservations at the hottest restaurants lunch and dinner again this weekend. For two people driving up from L.A. Please help fast! Also winery visits special difficult great wines. Sorry for the short notice. This for my friends celebrating their anniversary 11. :

[Beachfan]

I just use Open Table (www.opentable.com). No advantage other than convenience.

[Explorer]

I hear La Tocque is pretty good now if you can't get into French Laundry.

For hotels, Auberge du Soleil or Meadowood if you can get in.

I don't recommend Harvest Inn; we stayed there and it's pretty cold.

[Ron Johnson]

Sonoma: Stay at Dry Creek Inn but eat at Applewood Inn.

[melkor]

I hear La Tocque is pretty good now if you can't get into French Laundry.

I'll second that recommendation. We were last at La Toque in early February they were serving a 5 course black truffle menu with wine pairings for $125 ($48 additional for the wine) their normal menu is 5 courses as well and $92 ($48 additional for wine pairings). I had the truffle menu, ms melkor had the regular menu. Both were quite excellent, the wine pairings were also very well done.

Black Truffle and Wild Mushroom Soup as an amuse.

Served with glasses of Roederer Estate sparkling wine.

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(me) Lily's Trailhouse Chicken Eggs with Fresh Black Truffle

2000 El Molino Chardonnay

(ms) Truffled Leek and Potato Soup

1999 Chateau La Tour Leognan

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(me) Truffled Salmon with Leek Fondue and Fernand Point's Truffle Sauce

2000 Meursalt Vincent Girardin

(ms) Black Bass with Sake Ginger Sauce and Shitake Mushrooms

2001 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc

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(me) Truffled Breast of Squab with Artichoke Heart, Porcini Gnocchis and Port

1997 Talley Pinot Noir

(ms) Wild Scottish Hare on Creamy Polenta with Huckleberry Sauce

2000 Siduri Pinot Noir

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(me) "Blanquette de Veau" with Fresh Black Truffle

2000 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon

(ms) Niman Ranch Rib Roast Served Rare with Twice Fried Potatoes and Cabernet Foie Gras Sauce

1999 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon

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(me) Truffled Creme Brulee

(ms) Meyer Lemon and Marscapone Cream Napolean

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It would be silly to compare the food at La Toque to the French Laundry, but La Toque has a more comfortable atmosphere and they offer a very well done wine pairing. Some other places worth going to while your here:

Lunches:

Cafe Lucy, in the city of Napa, the perfect way to hide from the tourists – good food, good wine, quiet off the beaten path (not very romantic)

Bistro Don Giovanni, on highway 29 north of town – I have almost all my business meetings there, great food, nice people, great views, and my favorite sit-down lunch in the valley.

Tailors Refresher in St Helena – The best wine list ever seen at a roadside burger stand, amazing garlic fries, burgers, and fish tacos. Most of the hospitality staff at the wineries have lunch there.

The Cantinetta Wine Bar, at Tra Vigne in St Helena – Outdoor seating, great sandwiches and panini, a huge list of wines by the glass.

If you are over in Sonoma, the girl and the fig just off the square is great as well

For Dinner:

Tra Vigne has amazing short ribs served with polenta, its one of my favorite winter meals.

La Toque (as described above)

French Laundry (Needs no introduction)

ZuZu in Napa is a nice little wine bar and tapas restaurant, the food as well as the wine list are very good, but they don’t accept reservations.

Bistro Jeanty in Yountville, great food, great wine, the ‘tomato soup en croute’ is incredible.

Gordon’s Café and Wine Bar, also in Yountville – they are a deli during the week and serve a great prix fixe menu on Friday nights. It’s a fun way to spend a Friday night, they do a very good job with their one night a week restaurant.

Terra in St Helena, if neither La Toque or the French Laundry existed, Terra would be my favorite restaurant in the valley.

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That was a whole lot more than I had planned to write

[Explorer]

Yes, I had forgotten about Terra; we really liked it as well. I recall there was some Asian fusion in it but very tastefully done.

We found Tra Vigne a bit too casual; too reminescent of any downtown trendy place.

We also liked Pinot Blanc very much; they grow their own organics behind the restaurant I think; I would say it's an underrated place generally.

[lizziee]

carpet bagger,

Two places to try in Yountville would be Vintage Inn and Yountville Inn, although I have not stayed at either, they appear to be what you are looking for.

I would check out posts in California that mention Napa and/or wine country for suggestions re restaurants and wineries.

From a recent visit in January, we were particularly impressed with Auberge du Soleil. They have a new chef, Richard Reddington who is finally producing food which equals the ambiance.

Of course, The French Laundry is a must and with the economy the way it is, I would definitely check on cancellations.

Other favorites are Bistro Jeanty - a classic French bistro with good food, service and wine list and Martini House - incredible decor, solid cuisine and another good wine list.

Unfortunately, we were unimpressed with Terra.

[hollywood]

Check out Petit Logis Inn. You can walk to Bistro Jeanty from there. www.petitlogis.com/index.html

[KatieLoeb]

Carpet Bagger:

I had an absolutely lovely stay at the Ink House (Ink House B & B) in March of 2000. Very centrally located in St. Helena, and the owners are about as helpful as you could hope for. A lovely parlor in which to sip port and sherry (provided) as well as a "Happy Hour" in the afternoon with hors d'oevres. The rooms are decorated in lovely antiques and every room has a private bath. Really a lovely place and truly what staying in a B & B is about - it's like being an honored guest in someone's home. The breakfasts are plentiful and truly delicious and their recipes are well catalogued on the computer if you want them. Really nice people.

I'll also chime in with a recommendation for Terra. Absoultely fabulous restaurant with great service and an interesting wine list. I also enjoyed hitting the Oakville Grocery store and stocking up on picnic supplies to munch on while visiting the various wineries. Bring a blanket, a corkscrew and stemware (plastic if necessary) to keep in the trunk of your vehicle and you'll be good to go at a moment's notice. Also, drive up Silverado Trail rather than Rt. 29 and you'll find lots of smaller and more interesting wineries (Robert Sinskey, Arroyo, Goosecross Cellars, S. Anderson) rather than the "refineries-not-wineries" like Sutter Home and Mondavi that are on the main road. Chateau Montelena at the northern end of the Valley near Calistoga has beautiful Japanese gardens and a nice tasting room as well.

Merryvale hosts a very interesting wine class and tour that teaches you about the basic elements of tasting wine. A sunrise hot air baloon ride over the Valley is a fantastic way to start your day, and quite romantic to boot!

Have a blast and report back when you're done!