Dining in Napa Valley
 

Our first time dining in Napa. Any especially yummy restaurant suggestions? Cost doesn't matter, but value does.

Hello jalexp3, here is a list of over 40 restaurants that the SF Chronical food section lists. You can click on each restaurant to get an idea as to what appeals to you. Have a wonderful time in beautiful Napa Valley!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/listin...=21&Go.y=9

Our favorites are - Bistro Don Giovanni, Bouchon, Tra Vigne, Mustards Grill. Also the Napa Valley Wine Train is fun for first time visitors.
Bon Appetit!

French Laundry, if you can get in, although yummy as a word does not come to mind when I think of that restaurant.

There is a real finesse to get into the French Laundry and for us it was lunch and we used opentable.com and they have a 30 day to the day that you have to make a reservation..we booked right at midnight and got in..they only allow 2 reservations through open table.. it was very good and expensive and glad we did it but I look forward to going to Bouchon and Tra Vigne next time..

If cost doesn't matter, French Laundry.

Redd in Yountville was our favorite.

I think Mustards is a must in Napa. I especially like it for lunch before an afternoon of tasting great wine.

Auberge du Soleil has an amazing restaurant with some of the best views in Napa. If you can't get in - or just want to see the view without a full meal - go to the bar and have a drink. Same views, but less time and money. Oh, the bar also has some good food too.

For an incredible experience, contact Max Duley, executive chef at Peju winery. He can arrange a private dinner or advise you os special food/wine pairings. Amazing food!

Recommended restaurants: Auberge, Redd, Zare, Wappo Bistro, Bistro Don Giovanni, Press, Bayleaf, Cole's Chophouse, Angele, Pearl, Bistro Jeanty, Gordon's, Celadon, Kelly's No Bad Days Cafe.

Thanks all. Great leads. I'm getting hungry already.

A few post-Napa impressions:
The view at Auberge was great. Enjoyed a nice glass of wine in the late afternoon. However, the view from the Sterling vinyard, near Calistoga was better. The gondola takes you up for the tour and tasting. The view from the terrace is beautiful.
After reviewing several menus we opted for Mustard's Grill. Excellent meal. I recommend the Mongolian porkchop (their specialy, they claim > 1 million sold).
Rutherford Grill is a great value. It's owned by the same owner of Houston's.
For those who like to walk (to make room for the great meals, of course), I found a great walking path with the best view in Napa. Take Trower (at Marie Callendar's corner on Rt. 29) to the west end. There's a parking lot across from the church. Lots of dog owners walk there. Go to the top of the hill for great walking paths and a spectacular view! Sunrise/sunset are the best.
Finally, thanks to all who were kind enough to share their advice.

Glad you enjoyed your time in Napa Valley, jalexp3. We spent two days there a few days ago and enjoyed meals at Cindy's, Redd (amazing) Ad Hoc and Cyrus in Healdsburg. :)
***kim*** ((f))

Thank you Kim. We had our dinner narrowed down to Redd and Mustard's. Both places and menu's looked great. Frankly, we decided on Mustard's because we couldn't get in to Redd until 9. We'll try it next time.
Ad Hoc looked interesting, but I think they only serve one set meal per day. Is that correct? I only saw a chicken entre so we passed.

Yes, the only have one menu per day. It is a 4 course meal including a cheese course and dessert. ***kim*** ((f))

=D&gt; &gt;:D&lt; &quot;<i>Hoooraaay for ***kim***</i>
You finally had your &quot;<i>soon</i>&quot; meal at Cindy's!!!!
4 meals in two days? You must do all of your traveling up to Ore and over to the Calif Coast on your Del Sol to stay so svelte. ;)

We just ate at Redd yesterday on our way back from SF and it met the hype.
But as for &quot;Bang for your buck&quot;??? :-?

The scallop appie was very good.
Ditto my &quot;pumpkin&quot; ravs and Mrs Kal's Chinese Chicken salad. =P~
Love to go back for dinner, tho.

On such a beautiful day in The Valley, we had a hard time NOT going to our Yountville fave, Hurley's, for a lunch on the patio. Also a good pick.

We will be dining at Ad Hoc....<i>soon</i>. ;)

We had lunch at Julia's Table at Copia. We sat at the chef's tasting table so were able to watch the chefs as they cooked. It was a four course lunch with wine pairing.

Of all of the nice places we dines this was our best meal - food was unbelievable. We learned of new wines that ended up being the best we'd tasted and the experience was great too.

I booked it through their website which hooks into opentable.

A warning about REDD: Great food, very modern decor, but all is completely eclipsed by an incredibly robotic and disdainful service staff, especially the sommelier who actually sneered at us as he poured our wine. REDD staff: If you don't like people, get out of the hospitality business.

Kal, LOL...

WP17, don't you just hate that??? I had that experience not too long ago and felt the same way-what makes a person go into that business if they hate people?

:-O What did I do now??

Our service was excellent but it was a lunch and not dinner.

The staff was &quot;professional cordial&quot; until we engaged them in conversation other than the menu, bread, etc.

As for a sommelier &quot;sneering&quot;, you sure it just wasn't a bad bottle of wine and &quot;bitter vino face&quot;? :))

You didn't bring in a bottle of cheap, complimentary wine and asked them to open it for free? :-&quot;

OMG, Kal, that reminds me of TA forums where a person is always posting about freebies they get from hotels and restaurants..I have heard elsewhere that the restaurant owners keep lists of customers that they try to avoid, like always being booked when they call, etc lol.
I should remember to try this , I have a birthday coming up, I must remember to tell the restaurant..