This relaxed, cozy eatery is popular with local vintners and a great recommendation for excellent food. No wonder, as its owners are Giovanni and Donna Scala who also own Scala's Bistro in San Francisco. The wood and tile dining area, adorned with lots of fresh flowers and pottery, features a huge fireplace and glassed-in kitchen. Outside, a sprawling patio overlooks adjacent vineyards. The traditional Italian cuisine is impeccably prepared. Recommended dishes include the Trenne Pasta with Lamb, Artichokes, Olives, Roasted Tomatoes and Ricotta Salata. The wine list features local and Italian vintages and the service is first-rate.
This popular gem opened in 1996. Its celebrated owner and chef, Greg Cole, a graduate of New York's Culinary Institute of America, also has extensive training in wine-making. Chic yet unpretentious, the cozy interior contains brick walls, huge arched windows, high ceilings and colorful paintings. On a sunny day, join locals and tourists at one of the outdoor tables fronting Napa Creek. Lunch includes delectable dishes like the Grilled Tombo Tuna Salad with Macadamia Nuts and the notable Oyster Po' Boy. Specialty dinner items include the Jerked Pork Chop with Black Beans and the daily fish special. The restaurant also offers an extensive wine list.
Located in the heart of downtown Napa, this quaint stucco restaurant serves authentic Mexican fare. The ample dining area is comfortable but a little dark. The amiable waitstaff keeps the chips coming even when the restaurant is crowded. The shaded patio, with its marble-topped tables and lawn-style chairs, is wonderful for people-watching. The menu features gargantuan burritos, a variety of enchiladas, and several combination plates as well as a decent selection of carnitas and seafood. You will find a full bar with great margaritas and a nice selection of beers.
Foodies from all over the world flock to this romantic jewel in the Napa Valley, considered to be one of the most outstanding restaurants in the world. The exquisite American-French food defies description or convention. Chef Thomas Keller takes care to use as much produce from the restaurant's private garden as possible, as well as making sure no ingredient is repeated anywhere on the nine-course daily tasting menus. The French Laundry's extraordinary food is exceeded only by its excellent service. Patrons are always impressed by the knowledge of the head Sommelier and enjoy the tasteful recommendations. A table at the French Laundry is a heavily coveted prize, so make sure to reserve far in advance.
Locals and tourists alike flock to Brix Restaurant to watch the chef concoct his excellent dishes. With a panoramic view of the Napa hillside and a decor of warm Impressionist tones, the award-winning Brix Restaurant makes for an elegant night out. Featuring classic Californian delicacies with a twist of French-influence, the food severed here is always a delight to the palate. You can order a five-course tasting dinner that comes Japanese-style in a bento box. The on-site wine store offers an extensive and eclectic variety, running the gamut in price.
An historic stone building houses this classic American steak restaurant that has received rave reviews from publications such as the San Francisco Chronicle and the Examiner. The chef at Cole's Chop House has worked and cooked with famous chefs all across the country and his entrees include a 21-Day Chicago Dry-Aged New York Strip Steak and New Zealand Lamb Chops. Throw in some excellent sides and a variety of custom martinis and you have a great steak dinner. For drama, try the flaming Bananas Foster for dessert. The wine list features mostly Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons, Zinfandels and Merlots. The service is dynamite and the place caters to locals and tourists.
The dining room is done up in a color that is like nothing so much as the most delicate tomato cream sauce. An apt choice for a restaurant that turns out a superior one over its al dente pasta, but there are other delights, too. Fresh seafood is prepared well here, whether grilled with lemon and rosemary or bathed in a rich sauce and stuffed into temptingly plump ravioli. For fresh air without UV rays, there is patio seating under umbrellas and quick, personable service indoors and out. The wine list is good with excellent California selections. Opens from Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30AM.
At the sleek-looking Ad Hoc, chef Thomas Keller takes the average American meal and turns it up a notch. Although the decor may be sparse, with plain white walls and chrome tables, the food is anything but. For starters, ease into the Haricots Verts and Garden Fig Salad, and then move your way up to the Bacalao & Chick Pea Soup. Finish off the night with a heavenly Chocolate Bread Pudding topped with whipped caramel cream. Though pricey, the meals leave you wishing you could eat Keller-style every day.
Buddha Thai Bistro is an authentic Asian restaurant located in the city of Vacaville. The restaurant offers deliciously colorful dishes which are sure to transport you to the streets of Thailand. The massaman curry, pad thai noodles and sticky rice with mango are classic favorites served at the restaurant. The use of fresh local produce in addition to exclusively sourced spices help recreate the flavors and aromas unique to Thai cuisine.
Foodies from all over the world flock to this romantic jewel in the Napa Valley, considered to be one of the most outstanding restaurants in the world. The exquisite American-French food defies description or convention. Chef Thomas Keller takes care to use as much produce from the restaurant's private garden as possible, as well as making sure no ingredient is repeated anywhere on the nine-course daily tasting menus. The French Laundry's extraordinary food is exceeded only by its excellent service. Patrons are always impressed by the knowledge of the head Sommelier and enjoy the tasteful recommendations. A table at the French Laundry is a heavily coveted prize, so make sure to reserve far in advance.