Napa Valley Restaurants
 

Hi all,

I usually post on the Europe Board, but today I need some US help.

I will be taking my D&SIL out to dinner at the end of a day of winery visits.

We have selected these three:
Bistro Jeanty, Bouchon, Pinot.

Comments and suggestions or recommendations other than these would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Have not been to those. Martini House is excellent.

Thanks, Yale

Hey Ira,
As you sometimes suggest, if you do a search, you will get a lot of comments on many Napa Valley restaurants. Bistro Jeanty and Bouchon are a couple of my favorites. Bistro Jeanty is very informal but great food. Try the tomato soup cooked in pastry. Bouchon is a little more formal. I love their food, but they have the tables so close together its kind of noisy. Another favorite that is close by is Domaine Chandon. Its a bit more formal and quite nice for a special occasion. I have not heard of Pinot, so I can't comment on it. As suggested by the previous poster, Martini House is quite good. There are so many great restaurants in the Napa Valley, I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself.

Hello ira!
It appears you are seeking French-style
cuisine?
Hmmm...we live nearby and are often faced with your dilemma with guests who have heard about them all,but we only have one meal to share.So....

Jeanty,IMHO is best for a hearty lunch
or late lunch. It is the most casual of the 3, a country bistro and the menu the same. Very good and comfortable.

Bouchon and, I think you mean Pinot Blanc, in St. Helena are more dinner
to me. Bouchon is a lovely brasserie, beautiful zinc bar and hand painted floors,elegant "feels like Paris" touches in the design. Yes it does get noisy on weekend dinners.
Thomas Keller is behind this place,
so that contributes to it's "feel".

Pinot Blanc is another good choice.
It is "intimate", not so noisy, I would say more casual elegant in it's decor
A nice Provencal country inn is what I think of.

I have heard from friends that Domaine Chandon is quite good, as well.

Now, just to make it really difficult,
take a look at Terra in St. Helena
terrarestaurant.com

Have fun deciding!!
R5

We were in Pere Jeanty, P.Jeanty's other Yountville reastaunt last month for cocktails and the food looked gorgeous and smelled terrifc.

It got some mixed reviews when it first opened but it sure looked like good stuff to us.

Got dinner ressies at Martini House for our 25th anniv this Sat. It's been our "Anniv Restaurant" since it opened 3 yrs ago.

Hurley's in Y'ville has always gave us a good meal with great service.

Had munchies at the old Napa Valley Grille also last month and very good.

Don't forget about the new Y'ville restaurant where we'll be having the GTG this Friday, The Wine Garden.
We ate there last month. "Small plates" with 2 oz glasses of wine for each plate. Good stuff.

Once again....I am soooo jealous that I can't go to that GTG!

Anyway, Bouchon is a lovely restaurant but it is a little packed like sardines. We were packed up against 2 other tables when I went last month!

I also really liked the Martini House as other posters have mentioned.

My sister can't stop raving about Domaine Chandon, too! She went there for lunch, though.

Aloohaaa...
My beautiful friend from the islands is correct about Bouchon's...I felt like Gulliver in Lilliput when we ate there!

My shoulders were wider than the table!

But, it's still one of the best oyster bars not located on a body of water!
((Y))

Ah yes, the oysters!!
I think we may do Bouchon for late lunch
Saturday after the GTG. Anyone want to join us?
R5

R5,
I didn't know you were coming apart? :O)

We'll talk....

Haven't found a definitive review of French Laundry...anyone?

Hi Ira~You've been great help on the European board. Hopefully, I can help you out here. Both Bouchon and Bistro Jeanty are two of my favorite places in the Napa Valley to eat. Both are in Yountville. Bouchon really has the feel of a good Paris Bistro with a shellfish bar.I'd personally recommend the salmon rillettes which are absolutely delicious. It's a relatively small place but a good one.


I just ate at Bistro Jeanty last week. It was a Friday evening although early and the place was packed. We sat at a very small four person table. I agree about the comfort factor. I'd suggest you ask for a round table if possible which might give the four of you a bit more room. The daube was as good as the one at La Fourchette in Avignon. There are many specials which seem more french country than Parisian: Lots of rabbit, duck, coq au vin, a great contender for a true lyon salad(poached egg, lardoons, and frisee)

The wine list is rather extensive.

I ate at Pinot two chefs ago. It wouldn't be my first pick of places in the valley to eat. You might also check out Terra in St. Helena. This is a nice location, the chef and hostess once cooked together at Spago in Tokyo I think. You can get some interesting
dishes here like salmon grilled atop a bed of red lentils with thai curry sauce, very good oxtail stew, halibut etc. The wine list is good as well.I'd recommend the dining room to the right as you enter the front door. I find it a bit warmer in its feel.

Thank you all for your helpful reviews.

It looks like lunch at Jeanty, dinner at Pinot blanc and Terra and Martini House for our next visit.

Ira,

Glad to see you're coming to the Napa Valley. With so many great restaurants to choose from, you needn't limit yourself to just a couple of choices. Here are a few that we would recommend broken down by city.

In Napa itself is Julia's Kitchen, located at Copia. Very good food.

In Yountville:

Domaine Chandon - our personal favorite in the Napa Valley
Bistro Jeanty - casual country french, as described by other posters
Bouchon - great food but crowded
French Laundry - more than dining, an experience, but expensive and very difficult to get reservations.

In St. Helena:
Martini House - another personal favorite.
Tra Vigne - very good food
Terra - also great food
Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen - very popular
Greystone - also popular, but not one of our favorites.

Rutherford:

La Toque - another personal favorite
Auberge du Soleil - apparently popular, but we're not wild about the restaurant - its been inconsistent for us, but what a great place to stop and have a glass of wine and enjoy the view.

Sonoma:

Cafe La Haye - small place, but very interesting dishes
The Girl and the Fig - very popular
Meritage - also very good
La Poste - also very good

Good luck and enjoy your trip

Ira,
Forgot to add that we weren't that impressed with Pinot Blanc.

Can offer a big thumbs up for both Bistro Jeanty and Terra. (Sorry, ira, no experience with Pinot.)

R5, I thought we were having dinner at 4:30 Friday?

Not Me has given you an excellent list. Will you be going to Calistoga? Add the Wappo Bar & Bistro to your list. Very good. www.wappobar.com

My favorites are: Bistro Jeanty, Terra, Auberge, Tra Vigne, girl & the fig, Cafe La Haye and we also enjoyed a nice breakfast at Sante at the Sonoma Mission Inn.

Domaine Chandon is beautiful, we enjoyed our lunch out on the patio. Have a great trip! ***kim***

Thanks all for your suggestions.

We went to Pinot Blanc. I'll post a trip report when I get home.

Hi notme,

If you "weren't that impressed with Pinot Blanc" your other recommendations must be very good. :)

I'm saving them for future visits.