Napa Restaurant Review: "LA Times"
 

For those who are researching Napa visits, today's "LA Times" contains a rundown of Napa-area eateries, including contact info. Our food critic, S. Irene Virbila, is notoriously snarky and picky, but overall she speaks favorably of the culinary experience:

http://www.latimes.com/features/food...headlines-food

(NOTE: Registration may be required)

And here's her latest review of the French Laundry:

http://www.latimes.com/features/food...headlines-food

rjw,
DAMN! We were looking for a July
mini-vacation so I guess it's back down to Napa.

I wish they would leave a certain Yountville "Cafe and Wine Bar" out of it! It was a best kept secret

My thighs are burning and cramping just READING the words "Chiles-Pope Valley Road"! Not a place to be bike riding after a night on the town! ((D))((D))

Does the LA Times site set an all time record for pop up ads!?!?!

Thx for the site.
Kal

ps "Snarky"?

Glad to be helpful, Kal. And yes, the "Times" is going for that King of Pop-up Hell title-- ever since the Tribune Co. bought the paper, it's been one revenue grab after another....

Now I have a yen for some tapas...!

...and a Taylor's Refresher Ahi burger w/ ginger/wasabi mayo!

Of course, while staying in Yountville, Mrs Kal insists on me eating a few doz oysters at Bouchons. Think that means sumptin'? :">

thanks for the info! i'll be there this weekend in Napa.

OMG Kal, how could you post "and a Taylor's Refresher Ahi burger w/ ginger/wasabi mayo!" when I haven't had breakfast and lunch is still an hour away. One word "cruel!"

If I leave now I could be there for lunch!

rjw-lgb-ca:Thanks for the tip! Allright now everyone to my house and we'll zip over the hill to Taylors for lunch, of course I'll have a limo take us back!
(D) b-(
R5

I swear that is NOT the emoticon I selected!

It looks like an appropriate emoticon fos someone who is too full or who has hda too much wine! ;)

The recipe for the ahi sandwich is in the LA Times article and it weighs in at 710 calories and major fat & sodium. Hope that doesn't make me sound old! :(

An Ahi Burger sounds wonderful right about now...!

Kal, the word "snarky" refers to a grouchy, persnickety type of person-- especially vis-à-vis his or her written style. The word usually refers to someone's chosen writing style-- like someone who's hellbent on finding something wrong with something and letting you know how much it upset their delicate sensibilities....

Our Ms. Virbila can be like that. For a restaurant to get her highest rating, the chef has to culinarily walk on water. In her favor, her tastes are not bizarre or precious-- her four-star eateries are universally praised.

I noticed in her review of the French Laundry she did not describe her hassle at getting reservations nor does she ever mention that you must have them 2 months prior to your arrival. She mentions her numerous meals there in years past but leaves out this important aspect? Who wants to bet she calls as the food critic of LA times and totally bypasses the need for the reservation scramble. Then of course the chef and the wait staff know who she is. Did the other restaurants she reviewed have the same opportunity to impress her? HMMMMMM...

Although you may be right, I think Ms. Virbila is already a French Laundry fan, so they didn't have to impress her. In fact, given her track record, she probably was looking for ways in which they could disappoint her. I also think the reputation of the FL is such that they don't have to go out of their way for anyone.

It's not like the FL is unknown down here. Most of the readers of the "Times" know that this is a Destination Eatery that requires reservations well in advance. I would, in fact, assume that she had already planned a Napa trip (the "Times" has regular wine features, and I think recently reviewed a bunch of Napa wineries) and just called a coupla months ahead.

Now the other places.... Who knows? Aside from minor quibbles (hey Irene, rhubarb's a pain to cook, OK?!), she was pretty generous in her praise of Napa restaurants, wasn't she?

Well actually she was pretty hard on Maritini House don't you think?

Food critics here in N CA, about an hour away from Napa, mention the reservation requirements so I can't understand how she can ignore that aspect of dining at the FL regardless of whether "most" of the Times readers know about it or not. ;)

Good points, Suzie. But the Martini House was her one disappointment-- the rest of the establishments she mentioned got good write-ups. And as far as the omission of mentioning the challenge of getting a reservation at the French Laundry-- well, maybe since it wasn't a formal review, but a "revisit" to the place.... Or, as you suggested, she just called up and said, "I'm with the 'LA Times', I want a table, BOW BEFORE ME, PEASANT SCUM, Muh-WAA-HAA-HAAAAAAAA!!!"

rjw, If she is a "snarkaholic" I'm suprised she EVER has a good meal anywhere!

We've had 2 fine dinners at Martini House and the service was impeccable both times.
And if anyone doesn't think you'd have to pay big bucks for "gas" water, no matter how smiley the waiter, maybe you should take the napkin out of your collar and get back on the turnip truck?

YIKES! I went from being a large, smart aleck goof to a snark in one sentence flat!

As for the Ahi sammy, 36g CARBS and 47 Protein!?!?! NO KA OI, baby!

"Peasant scum"...funny!
King Kalorie Kal :@)

Kal-- You're not the only one surprised that she likes ANY restaurant. She's incredibly stingy with her stars. A seasoned "Times" reader knows that anything she rates 2.5 stars and above will be great.

Three stars: You're getting some tonight. It'll be good.

At 3.5 stars, your dinner companion will sign over valuable property with dessert.

At four stars, it's "Meg Ryan moaning in the deli in 'When Harry Met Sally'" time.

"I'll have what she's having."

ttt

Have to agree with Kal. Although I haven't been there in months, I've had a couple of great meals at Martini House. Did something change? I'd be interested if anyone else had a negative experience there recently. The rest of the reviews confirm what all of us regular Napa visitors already know, including the review of the French Laundry. Just thinking about all the wonderful restaurants there, makes me want to visit again real soon.

Topping for the Napa area researchers....