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Napa Restaurants
Paul Franson
[being updated -- work in progress]
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Alexis Baking Company (ABC) 1515 Third St., 258.1827 Annalien Vietnamese Restaurant
Asia Cafe 825 Main St., 224.0840 BarbersQ Bistro Don Giovanni Donna and Giovanni Scala’s bustling Bistro Don Giovanni lies on highway 29 at the north edge of Napa, but even people up valley have always claimed it as one of their own. Crowds fight for its excellent country Italian and French specialties prepared on the wood-burning oven and mesquite grill, making the porch ideal for dining at prime times. Excellent wine list and full bar offering trendy favorites. Lunch and dinner daily. 4110 St. Helena Highway, 224.3300 Bleaux Magnolia
Buckhorn Grill Steak and sandwich house. 1201 Napa Town Center Celadon China Light Restaurant 1012 First St., 226.2809 Cole's Chop House Napa’s simmering lust for giant steaks and other classic American meals has been satisfied. Greg Cole, owner of the popular new American eatery Celadon, opened his Cole’s Chop House just across Napa Creek on Main Street in downtown Napa. Located in a hundred-year-old renovated stone building, the gorgeous new restaurant features distinct dining environments: the great old bar, where patrons also sip classic martinis and Cosmopolitans, the main floor with immense ceilings and a comfortable mezzanine. And when the weather is right — as it usually is in Napa — you can enjoy the outside patio. Inside, it can be noisy. The food is straight out of a traditional Chicago steak house, and that’s where the meat originates. The salads include the classic Caesar — complete with whole anchovies fillets (though they can leave ‘em off). The specialties are steaks, naturally, but chops, fish, chicken and even a short stack of Portobellos also tempt diners. A ribeye provided me two take-home lunches, but I think even a high-school football player would be filled by the huge porterhouse. It’s basically the same as the famous Florentine steak served in Italy. The portions are mostly all immense, and in fact, the classic side dishes are served for two family style. Many people eat a whole baked potato, but I assume they’re not planning to eat much else soon. The sides include creamed spinach, wonderful fried onion rings, and seasonable specialties such as asparagus. The calorific desserts make no attempt at political correctness, but will tempt anyone who has appetite left. The wine list includes many big Napa Valley Cabernets, including some difficult to find. Prices for the wine and food are fair, but not cheap, as appropriate for the quality and quantity provided. The restaurant is already packed at key times, but unlike its sister Celadon does accept reservations. Dinner only. 1122 Main St. 224-6328.
Cuvée Don Perico Restaurant 1025 First St., 252.4707 Downtown Joe's Restaurant A popular local hangout on the river featuring a microbrewery and basic restaurant. Jumps on Friday and Saturday night. Best beer: The hoppy Thistel Brown Ale. 902 Main St., 258.2337
Foothill Grille Considered one of Napa's best by many, a favorite of wine makers. It's set in a modest shopping center, and in all honestly, looks less than promising. Great food, however. You can't get to it directly from highway 29, so use your map. It's on the west side of town south off First Street. 2766 Old Sonoma Rd., 252.6178 Fujiya Restaurant An excellent Japanese restaurant, the equal of any in the City. Many innovative combinations for sushi, but the basics are fresh and perfectly made. A cool and not particularly friendly atmosphere, but great food. Expensive, like most good Japanese restaurants. Sit at the sushi bar if that's what you're having to enjoy the show. It's in the middle of the Napa Outlet Stores, but it was actually there first. 921 Factory Stores Drive, 257.0639 Gillwoods 1320 First St., 253.0409 Guadalajara Restaurant 1520 Silverado Trail, 253.1840 Harvest Cafe (Marriott Hotel) 3425 Solano Ave., 253.7433 Jonesy's Famous Steak House Napa County Airport, 255.2003 Joy Luck House 1144 Jordan Lane, 224.8788 Kelley's No Bad Days Café 976 Pearl St., 226.5642 Lobster Shack Mandarin Chinese Restaurant 1675 Trancas St., 224.8507 Mini Garden Chinese Restaurant , 255.8888 Napa Valley Wine Train Surprisingly, a superb restaurant with the most interesting views in the Valley. The food is mostly new American cuisine, but heavy on meats to satisfy the range of customers. There's a choice of either a gourmet meal or a super-gourmet menu, or a deli if you just want a sandwich or salad. Great Napa Valley wines, mostly at reasonable prices. There's a tasting bar that offers four tastes for $5, a rare bargain. Expensive but a special treat. 1275 McKinstry St., 253.2111
Nation's Giant Hamburgers 1441 Third St., 252.8500 n.v. 1106 First Street,253-9375. Old Adobe Bar & Grille 376 Soscol Ave., 255.4310, Olive Tree Inn 221 Silverado Trail, 252.7660 Panda Garden 2940 Jefferson St., 226.8881, Pasta Prego Better than average pasta house. 3206 Jefferson St., 224.9011 Pearl It is one, as in oysters, though it's also located on Pearl St. downtown a block from First. City-style industrial decor with innovative but not ridiculous food well prepared and moderate in price. Like Celadon, Pearl would seem at home south of market in San Francisco. Bright, with innovative food, Pearl specializes in seafood including oysters, though the name also refers to its location. Very friendly atmosphere; they act like they're happy you came in to eat. Highly recommended. Owners Nicki and Pete Zeller were downtown pioneers a little too early with their previous Brown Street Restaurant, but now locals hope the intimate Pearl avoids discovery. Lunch and dinner Tue. thru Sat. 1339 Pearl St,. 224.9161 Peking Palace 1001 Second St., 257.7197 Piccolino's Red Hen Cantina Red Rock Cafe 1010 Lincoln Ave., 226.2633 Rings (at Embassy Suites) 1075 California Boulevard, 226.1990 Rio Poco 807 Main St., 253.8203 River City 505 Lincoln Ave., 253.1111 Silverado Resort Royal Oak Restaurant 1600 Atlas Peak Rd., 257.0200
Silverado Grill 1600 Atlas Peak Rd., 257.0200 Fillipi's Restaurant 645 First St., 255.4455 Small World Restaurant 928 Coombs St., 224.7743, Sushi Mambo Great and relatively moderate sushi in a very friendly atmosphere. The sushi chefs are from Mexico but trained in Japan. They always seem to offer a little extra or two. Right downtown half a block from the hideous clock tower, but easy parking in structures a block away. 1015 Coombs, 257.6604 Taqueria Rosita 214 Main St., 253.9208 Thai Kitchen Restaurant Highly recommended Thai restaurant. 1222 Trancas St., 254.9271 Tuscany Lively Tuscany also occupies a huge open room, but here the emphasis
is on authentic Italian cooking. One side of the long space is occupied
by a food bar where you can watch the open kitchen, and the other by a
buzzing bar. Huge windows open to the outside. Chef Aram Chakerian fixes
traditional items from the grill, rotisserie or wood-fired oven just like
you’d find in Siena, though many are lightened for American tastes. Extensive
wine list including Italian favorites as well as Napan. Full bar.
Ubuntu Uva Trattoria
Villa Corona A cult favorite, serving excellent and authentic Mexican food. Huge portions. 3614 Bel Aire Plaza, 257.8685 Villa Romano 1011 Soscol Ferry Rd., 252.4533 Wah Sing Chinese Restaurant River Park Shopping Center, 252.0511 Zinsvalley Popular local hangout. Chef/owner Greg Johnson serves regional American (i.e., Wine Country) cuisine, many ideal matches for Zinfandel. Lunch Wed - Fri, dinner except Sunday. No corkage charge. 3253 Browns Valley Rd., 224-0695 Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford Restaurants Return to main restaurant review page.
August 2007
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