Restaurants we love
Critically Acclaimed Wine Country Eateries
updated March, 2008
Ad Hoc, Yountville -- Thomas Keller's diner features whatever inspires the chef that day
Bistro don Giovanni, Napa -- Wine country Italian
Bistro Jeanty, Yountville -- French bistro cuisine
Bouchon, Yountville -- French bistro in old Wells Fargo stagecoach stop
Bounty Hunter, Napa -- Wine bar and casual American cuisine
Cafe La Haye, Sonoma -- California cuisineCyrus, Healdsburg -- French/California cuisine with emphasis on wine pairings
Dry Creek Kitchen, Healdsburg -- Celebrity Chef Charlie Palmer's California outpost for American cuisine
Domaine Chandon, Yountville -- fine dining/champagne tasting room
French Laundry, Yountville -- Magical haute French cuisine by Star chef Thomas Keller
Julia's Kitchen, at COPIA, Napa
La Toque, Rutherford -- Fine French dining. Will move to Westin Verasa, Napa, mid-year.
Market, St. Helena -- Refined comfort food
Martini House, St. Helena -- California cuisine
Redd, Yountville -- California with emphasis on wine pairings
Terra, St. Helena -- California cuisine with Japanese undercurrents
Ubuntu, Napa -- Inspired vegetarian cuisine that's garnered local and national raves
TERI’S PERSONAL FAVORITE WINE COUNTRY RESTAURANTS
(IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE ONES LISTED ABOVE)
There are many other wonderful restaurants in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. These are just my personal favorites. Here are the ones I (or breakfast-loving neighbors) especially like – all in Napa unless noted. If you have a hunch about a restaurant that's not listed here, be adventuresome! It's hard to actually get bad food in Napa or Sonoma.
Breakfast & lunch:
Coffee only: Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Co., 948 Main
ABC (Alexis Baking Company) 1517 Third St., Napa. Also serves lunch.
Buttercream Bakery, 2297 Jefferson. Throwback diner, a longtime favorite of locals.
Gillwood's Bakery – 1320 Napa Town Center and 1313 Main Street, St. Helena
Model Bakery, 1357 Main St. St Helena and Oxbow Market, 1st at McKistry, Napa. Also serves lunch.
Sweetie Pie's, in the Hatt Market, Main at 4th Street. Killer brownies, great pastries, lunch dishes.
Casual lunch/dinner but definitely a step up from fast food spots
BarBersQ, 3900 Bel Aire Plaza. Great barbeque and other Southern treats.
Buckhorn Grill,1201 Napa Town Center. Like the café of a traditional steak house.
Café Cicero, 1245 First St. Nice sandwiches, salads, etc.
Genova Deli, 1550 Trancas. Great sandwiches, take out deli, market.
Mary's Pizza Shack, 3085 Jefferson, Napa. Great pizza; Italian dinners.
Napa General Store, Hatt Market, 5th & Main, Napa.
Pacific Blues Café, 6525 Washington St. at Vintage 1870, Yountville
Gordon's Cafe & Wine Bar, 6770 Washington St., Yountville
Taylor's Refresher, St. Helena Hwy (south of town on the west side of Hwy 29) and at the Oxbow Market at 1st & McKistry, Napa. Elevated diner menu.
Ethnic eateries
Chinese:
Peking Palace, 1001 2nd St., good traditional Chinese food.
Italian:
Allegria, 1026 1st St., Napa. Good quick lunch spot or more leisurely dining day into evening.
Bistro Don Giovanni, 4100 St. Helena Hwy. 224-3300. Perennial critical and diners' favorite.
Piccolino's Italian Café,1385 Napa Town Center. Handy for shoppers as well as visitors.
Tuscany,1005 1st – Good with nice atmosphere.
Uva Trattoria Italiana,1040 Clinton St. Good. A local hangout.
Mexican
Taqueria Rosita,1214 Main, Napa.
“White table cloth” Napa lunch and/or dinner houses
Angele – Hatt Market, Foot of Main at 4th St. 252-8115. Wonderful country French with dining patio overlooking the river. Great for lunch or dinner.
Bistro Don Giovanni, 4110 St. Helena Hwy. 224-3300. Very good contemporary Italian. Deck overlooks vineyard. Bleaux Magnolia, 1408 Clay St. Contemporary interpretations of New Orleans cuisine.
Celadon, Hatt Market, Foot of Main at 4th St. 254-9690. California cuisine with Asian flair. Great patio dining.
Cole's Chop House, 1122 Main St. 224-6328–Wonderful fish & steak house.
Cuvee, 710 Randean Way. 224-6328– Great ambiance and excellent "new American" menu. Lunch M-F and dinner nightly.
Julia’s Kitchen, 500 1st St (at COPIA). 265-5700. Well executed California/French menu. Dining room overlooks COPIA's magnificent demonstration garden.
Kelley's No Bad Days Café, 976 Pearl. Creative Wine Country cuisine served in an inventive atmosphere.
Napa Valley Wine Train,1275 McKinstry St. 800.427.4124 / 253.2111. Restored vintage rail cars; very good food and wine list.
Pasto Prego, 3206 Jefferson. 224-9011– Italian trattoria tucked into a shopping center; a favorite of locals. Lunch and dinner.
Pearl, 1339 Pearl St. #104.224-9161. Good California cuisine. Lunch/dinner.
Zins Valley Restaurant, 3253 Browns Valley Road. 224-0695. Comfortable, good food. Lunch/dinner. Nice patio.
Zuzu, 829 Main; 224-8555. This is fantastic. Mostly small plates – Spanish.
North of Napa: (the French Laundry is in a class by itself and doesn't need my endorsement!)
Bistro Jeanty, 6510 Washington Street, Yountville; 944.8037. Yum.
Bouchon, 6534 Washington St. Yountville; 944.8037. Another yum.
Go Fish, 641 Main St. St. Helnea 963.0700. Critics applaud the sushi bar (I'm not a sushi eater) and restaurant. We love the fish restaurant and especially the crispy onion rings. Former COPIA star chef Victor Scargle heads the kitchen.
Hurleys, 6518 Washington St. Yountville; 944.1500 Fun spot, good food.
Martini House, 1245 Spring St. St. Helena; 963-2233. Food/ambiance A+
Mustards Grill, 7399 St. Helena Hwy., just North of Yountville; 944.2424. Perennial fave.Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen, 1327 Railroad Avenue, St. Helena, CA 94574 (707 )963-1200, is another of Cindy Pawlcyn's well regarded eateries, as is the new Go Fish in St. Helena.
Redd 6480 Washington St. Yountville, 944.2222. Very chic atmosphere, superb food.
Rutherford Grill,1180 Rutherford Rd. (at Hwy 29). Clubby, fun, good food.
Terra, 1345 Railroad Ave., St. Helena. 963-8931. Really wonderful.
Tra Vigne Restaurant,1050 Charter Oak Ave. (at Hwy 29), St. Helena. Longtime favorite; lovely patio.
Sonoma:
Della Santina, 133 East Napa St. -- Yummy traditional Italian at lunch and dinner.
General's Daughter, 400 West Spain St. -- Southern-inspired California cuisine in lovely homelike setting west of the Square.
Ledson Hotel, 480 First Street East -- Beautiful room (few tables outside) and nice menu make this a welcome addition to the Square for lunch and dinner.
Maya on the Square, 101 E. Napa St. -- Latin-inspired eatery right on the central Plaza.
Saddles Steak House at MacArthur Place, 29 E. MacArthur -- Very good, upscale steak house.
El Dorado Hotel Restaurant, First at West Spain on the Square -- Very good, inventive menu. Lunch & dinner.
The Girl and the Fig, 110 West Spain Street (lunch, dinner, bar food) -- Taste/trend-setter in historic surroundings. A perfect combo.
