worth it? La Toque in Napa
Apr 24th, 2013, 01:05 PM
#3
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HappyT - nothing personal, but usually tripadvisor is totally worthless on restaurants.
Zagat has La Toque's food rating of 27 on a scale to 30.
At the same food level of 27 are the following:
Bistro Jeanty - Yountville
Terra - St. Helena
Auberge du Soleil
Meadowood
Cole's Chop House - Napa
Of this lot, my favorites are Bistro Jeanty and Terra. Bistro Jeanty will be much less expensive, and much more casual.
Redd, in Yountville has a score of 28.
I'm not talking about the French Laundry, as I consider this restaurant the most self pretentious restaurant in the world, and vastly overrated.
Zagat has La Toque's food rating of 27 on a scale to 30.
At the same food level of 27 are the following:
Bistro Jeanty - Yountville
Terra - St. Helena
Auberge du Soleil
Meadowood
Cole's Chop House - Napa
Of this lot, my favorites are Bistro Jeanty and Terra. Bistro Jeanty will be much less expensive, and much more casual.
Redd, in Yountville has a score of 28.
I'm not talking about the French Laundry, as I consider this restaurant the most self pretentious restaurant in the world, and vastly overrated.
Apr 24th, 2013, 03:33 PM
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HappyT - nothing personal, but usually tripadvisor is totally worthless on restaurants.
You're right. TripAdvisor is not very useful for finding the best restaurants in large cities, but it has helped me in smaller towns.
I was responding to "Thought?", and my thought was that I'm not likely to spend $300-$400 on dinner and that, if I were, it would be elsewhere.
I like the food and ambience of Tra Vinge, and I don't spend hundreds of dollars to eat there.
Fifteen or twenty years ago we went out of our way to have lunch at the place everybody "must" eat in the Napa Valley at the time. Our meal was o.k., but not out of this world. An elegant lady, dining alone at the table next to us, had to return her fish because it had not thawed completely.
As a waiter at Union Square Cafe once whispered to me, "It's just a meal."
HTTY
You're right. TripAdvisor is not very useful for finding the best restaurants in large cities, but it has helped me in smaller towns.
I was responding to "Thought?", and my thought was that I'm not likely to spend $300-$400 on dinner and that, if I were, it would be elsewhere.
I like the food and ambience of Tra Vinge, and I don't spend hundreds of dollars to eat there.
Fifteen or twenty years ago we went out of our way to have lunch at the place everybody "must" eat in the Napa Valley at the time. Our meal was o.k., but not out of this world. An elegant lady, dining alone at the table next to us, had to return her fish because it had not thawed completely.
As a waiter at Union Square Cafe once whispered to me, "It's just a meal."
HTTY
Apr 24th, 2013, 09:55 PM
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HT - agree with you on TA. I've traveled a lot on business, and TA would have Applebee's as one of the top restaurants.
Cindy Pawlcyn, as you know, started Mustards. She was also part of the group that founded Tra Vigne. Remember those "we don't take American Express" ads? I believe that was part of her Real Restaurant Group.
If you want B.S. and pretentious food, go to La Toque.
Sit at Bistro Jeanty's communal table for a very good meal at a fraction of the price.
My favorite absurd momemt was when my wife ordered a beet salad as one of the courses at the French Laundry. The server introduced it as "Thomas' interpretation of...." which was done for every course.
It consisted of a small cup with a bit of lettuce, and a beet slice on top. Not just any beet slice, but one that had been carved such that it was the same thickness and size of a quarter. Interpretation my arse.
Cindy Pawlcyn, as you know, started Mustards. She was also part of the group that founded Tra Vigne. Remember those "we don't take American Express" ads? I believe that was part of her Real Restaurant Group.
If you want B.S. and pretentious food, go to La Toque.
Sit at Bistro Jeanty's communal table for a very good meal at a fraction of the price.
My favorite absurd momemt was when my wife ordered a beet salad as one of the courses at the French Laundry. The server introduced it as "Thomas' interpretation of...." which was done for every course.
It consisted of a small cup with a bit of lettuce, and a beet slice on top. Not just any beet slice, but one that had been carved such that it was the same thickness and size of a quarter. Interpretation my arse.
Apr 25th, 2013, 09:17 PM
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Thanks everyone!
I think I will spend my dinner money elsewhere. Good points.
I do have a reservation at Mustards.
Rastaguytoday, I will check out your suggestions.
Everyone has been helpful
I think I will spend my dinner money elsewhere. Good points.
I do have a reservation at Mustards.
Rastaguytoday, I will check out your suggestions.
Everyone has been helpful
Apr 25th, 2013, 11:03 PM
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I have eaten at La Toque but it was about two years ago. Thought that it was excellent and one of the best meals I have had in Napa. Have eaten at Mustards at least twenty times over the years and I have always had a good meal there but its not at the same level as La Toque. Have eaten at Bistro Jeanty about five times and while it is good it is not La Toque there have been postings over the last year or so that it has come down in quality. Last ate there about two years ago. I do think Redd, Terra and Auberge and Meadowood are all excellent.
May 2nd, 2013, 04:30 PM
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I've been here four years and it's one place I have not been, but I'd opt for Oenotri, Morimoto's, Coles and Mustard's any day. Goose and Gander in St. Helena is also a great new spot.
Oh, and Fagiani's in downtown Napa. Also terrific. Lots of options around here, but my go-to locals joins is the Kitchen Door in Oxbow Market. Good vibe, casual, pretty cheap and nice wide range of styles of food. I think it's the former chef from the Martini House (prior to when it was Goose and Gander)..
Oh, and Fagiani's in downtown Napa. Also terrific. Lots of options around here, but my go-to locals joins is the Kitchen Door in Oxbow Market. Good vibe, casual, pretty cheap and nice wide range of styles of food. I think it's the former chef from the Martini House (prior to when it was Goose and Gander)..
May 3rd, 2013, 10:14 AM
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Sorry, but hundreds of dollars for a vegetarian meal?
That much I could eat vegetarian at home for months!
Or why not throw in a few hundred dollars more and go to India, vegetarian heaven? Good vegetarian is in the spices.
BTW, we've got lots of great Indian restaurants around here too!
That much I could eat vegetarian at home for months!
Or why not throw in a few hundred dollars more and go to India, vegetarian heaven? Good vegetarian is in the spices.
BTW, we've got lots of great Indian restaurants around here too!
