DH and I are planning a trip to Napa for his 40th birthday. I want to take him out somewhere special to eat one night for dinner. We've been to the Culinary Institute and Bottega, so I would like to try somewhere new if possible. Any recommendations?
-
I've never been there and it's super expensive but The French Laundry is on my bucket list.
Celadon was really good and is more reasonably priced.
-
@lawbee11: haha I would love to do French Laundry and I love my husband very much, but I don't think I could stomach paying that much for one meal! Celadon looks interesting though - thanks!
-
Domain Chandon has a beautiful tasting room - grab a glass of champagne there before dinner. We liked Oentori, but wouldn't say it's fancy, but good food.
@lawbee11: The French Laundry is also on my bucket list - we better start saving now though!
-
The Girl and the Fig in Sonoma is delicious! We've been there multiple times it's so good. Usually for lunch, so maybe not the fanciest...We also went to Redd, if I remember correctly that was fancier and lovely...
Also you didn't ask about vineyards but Scribe and Bartholomew Park are my favorites and both very small and in gorgeous settings
-
@yoursilverlining: Domaine Chandon is amaaaaazing. My favorite of the wineries we visited. The sparkling red was so good.
-
The Restaurant at Meadowood is incredible.
-
@lawbee11: Domain Chandon had a pinot noir that I LOVED. We used to be able to special order it, but even our local liquor specialist who does the special orders can't find it anymore. Sad times.
Our friend designed the tasting room there, too. So we always "have" to go. Oh, how terrible!
-
@nana87: Love the Girl and the Fig! Not super fancy but sooooo good!
-
I've stayed in Yountville a couple of times a few years back... We had a really nice dinner at Bistro Jeanty - if you're into french cuisine.
Also really enjoyed Bottega - very cool atmosphere too!
-
We love going to Bouchon. Its not super fancy fine dining, but the food and service are always impeccable and it really does feel like I'm eating at a bustling bistro back in Paris. We ate at Bistro Jeanty when we couldn't snag a reservation at Bouchon and the food was excellent, but it was definitely quieter than Bouchon, if you're looking for a more romantic experience. If you want to do something different, I'd try omakase at Morimoto Napa.
And PLEASE get a strawberry custard danish at Model Bakery for me. UGHHHHH SO GOOD.
-
Thanks for all the recommendations! Lots to check out.
Side question - does anyone know how reliable/available uber service (or something equivalent) is there?
-
@bloved: I was there last October. We used Lyft and had no issues.
-
@bloved: Also check your hotel (unless you have a VRBO or something). Our hotel did shuttle service in Napa proper to lots of restaurants and picked you up when you called, but obviously that's not the case for something further out like Yountville.
-
@bloved: it may be further out than you're wanting but we loved farmstead at long meadow ranch. 5.5 years later and we still talk about that meal and their draft wine. http://www.longmeadowranch.com/?method=pages.showPage&PageID=F1F5CA15-086D-56E4-884D-920F294C6C82&originalMarketingURL=Farmstead/Restaurant
-
The French Laundry and Meadowood are definitely on my list of places to try at some point!
We really like Bouchon. Even if you don't eat there, you can pop in at an off time and sit in the bar and have some bread and olives or appetizers. Also check out their bakery next door -- yum!
We recently ate at Redd and really liked it. Other standards are Mustards, Brix, Farmstead, Ad Hoc (and Addendum has amazing fried chicken but is only open on the weekends; these are both owned by Thomas Keller who owns the French Laundry and Bouchon).
Model Bakery has *the* most amazing English muffins -- you can order ahead and take them home, they freeze really well.
Also, grab a casual lunch at Gott's -- excellent burgers.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite3
15 comments