Napa Dining
Your guide can personally recommend many of these restaurants because she has eaten there and in many cases, they're places she goes back to again and again. Others have been recommended by tour guides or food and wine industry insiders she trusts and a few are here simply because they've always got a parking lot full of cars, a sure sign of a restaurant's appeal.
Calistoga: Bosko's Ristorante
Bosko's is a friendly, family-oriented restaurant specializing in fresh made pasta complemented by local ingredients.
Bosko's is a friendly, family-oriented restaurant specializing in fresh made pasta complemented by local ingredients.
Calistoga: Brannan's Grill
Brannan's has been a Calistoga standard since 1998. Located in downtown Calistoga, it's a comfortable, warm place for a quiet lunch or dinner.
Brannan's has been a Calistoga standard since 1998. Located in downtown Calistoga, it's a comfortable, warm place for a quiet lunch or dinner.
Carneros: Boon Fly Cafe
A cozy, fun cafe that's so good I happily ate there for every meal during my last two-day stay at the Carneros Inn.
A cozy, fun cafe that's so good I happily ate there for every meal during my last two-day stay at the Carneros Inn.
Napa: Bistro Don Giovanni
One of the valley's best Italian restaurants
One of the valley's best Italian restaurants
Napa: Celadon
Seasonally influenced menu features flavors from the Mediterranean, Asia, and the Americas.
Seasonally influenced menu features flavors from the Mediterranean, Asia, and the Americas.
Rutherford: Auberge du Soleil
Wine country-themed menu. A pick of Pierce Carson, food critic for Inside Napa Valley.
Wine country-themed menu. A pick of Pierce Carson, food critic for Inside Napa Valley.
Rutherford: Rutherford Grill
One of the collection of Houston's Restaurants. Upscale American fare. A pick of Pierce Carson, food critic for Inside Napa Valley.
One of the collection of Houston's Restaurants. Upscale American fare. A pick of Pierce Carson, food critic for Inside Napa Valley.
St. Helena: Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen
Owned by Cindy Pawlcyn, a James Beard award-winning cookbook author and the creative force behind Mustard's Grill and other Napa favorites, this charming little spot is hidden off St. Helena's main street, but well worth a visit.
Owned by Cindy Pawlcyn, a James Beard award-winning cookbook author and the creative force behind Mustard's Grill and other Napa favorites, this charming little spot is hidden off St. Helena's main street, but well worth a visit.
St. Helena: Taylor's Refresher
At this mid-20th Century hamburger stand with 21st Century style, wines by the glass outnumber burger selections. You can also can order a real vanilla Coke, a cinnamon caramel milkshake or one of almost a dozen specialty beers to go with your hamburger, chicken burger, ahi tuna burger or fish tacos.
At this mid-20th Century hamburger stand with 21st Century style, wines by the glass outnumber burger selections. You can also can order a real vanilla Coke, a cinnamon caramel milkshake or one of almost a dozen specialty beers to go with your hamburger, chicken burger, ahi tuna burger or fish tacos.
St. Helena: The Restaurant and The Grill at Meadowood
The Restaurant and the more casual Grill serve excellent food with refined service. For a splurge that's worth its price, try the seven-course chef's dinner at The Restaurant.
The Restaurant and the more casual Grill serve excellent food with refined service. For a splurge that's worth its price, try the seven-course chef's dinner at The Restaurant.
St. Helena: Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant
Located at the Culinary Institute of America, this beautifully-designed restaurant offers the finest food and wine.
Located at the Culinary Institute of America, this beautifully-designed restaurant offers the finest food and wine.
Yountville: Bistro Jeanty
A bistro in the French tradition. San Francisco Chronicle top 100.
A bistro in the French tradition. San Francisco Chronicle top 100.
Yountville: Bouchon
French-style cuisine from the chef of the French Laundry
French-style cuisine from the chef of the French Laundry
Yountville: Brix
Their speciality is fusion cuisine a mix of oriental flavors and traditional French cuisine. Praised by all the best gourmet magazines. Gourmet Magazine reader's survey top 10.
Their speciality is fusion cuisine a mix of oriental flavors and traditional French cuisine. Praised by all the best gourmet magazines. Gourmet Magazine reader's survey top 10.
Yountville: Mustard's Grill
Wood-burning grill, innovative cuisine. Very popular and hard to get into.
Wood-burning grill, innovative cuisine. Very popular and hard to get into.
Yountville: The French Laundry
Contemporary American with French influences. Highly rated, very expensive. San Francisco Chronicle top 100. Gourmet Magazine reader's survey top 10.
Contemporary American with French influences. Highly rated, very expensive. San Francisco Chronicle top 100. Gourmet Magazine reader's survey top 10.