The Napa Valley dining scene focuses on freshness. "Farm to table" here means great local wines paired with locally grown ingredients, particularly lots of flavorful herbs. It's common to find Napa Valley olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the table instead of butter for your bread. You may find a second menu, offering food and wine pairings, or for that matter a menu of wine flights (samples of, say, pinot noir, made by several area wineries for you to compare). Add world-class chefs -- both the famous and the soon-to-be famous -- for dining that's bound to be memorable.
There's good reason New York's Culinary Institute of America (CIA) opened a chef school here, including a restaurant that is open to the public. You'll need reservations for the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant at the CIA, at restaurants located within wineries and at any place owned by a well-known chef. Prices range from moderate to super expensive.
Allegria Address: 1026 1st Street Cuisine: Italian Word of Mouth: "Allegria is an Italian restaurant but it has some non-traditional Italian dishes. In other words, odds are you will find something you like. My wife loved the soups and I loved my entree, mahi-mahi. Mind you I am from Miami and quite used to good seafood. This dish was one of the best I have had." -- Cantjr5
Celadon Address: 500 Main Street Cuisine: American Word of Mouth: "We had 4 small plates in the courtyard on a warm, balmy evening. Celadon, a former warehouse, has indoor seating as well, but the courtyard is where most diners choose to eat. Our favorites were the pan roasted mussels with applewood smoked bacon, tomatoes and white wine. They were from PEI and were very large and favorful." -- CaptainCosmos
Genova Delicatessen and Ravioli Factory Address: 1550 Trancas Street Cuisine: Delicatessen, Italian Word of Mouth: "Wow, sandwich! Hubby and I stopped here in the middle of our self-guided wine tour for a little fuel. We decided to share a sandwich since we had early dinner reservations. Ordered Specialty Sandwich #9, with prosciutto, salami, provolone, marinated mushrooms and roasted bell pepper on a ciabatta roll. Absolutely to die for, and quite a large sandwich! Hubby called it the best Italian sandwich he ever had. A deal at $7.75." -- T&DSquared
Ubuntu Address: 1140 Main Street Cuisine: Vegetarian Word of Mouth: "I highly recommend a dish with a kind of flatbread, shaved truflled Pecorina, with a little bit of arugula; the carrot pasta is totally unique and beautifully presented, as is the Sunchoke soup. Really, everything was just outstanding ... as my husband said, 'I could become a vegetarian if I could eat like this every day!'"-- SydneyB
Zuzu Address: 829 Main Street Cuisine: Portuguese, Spanish, Tapas Word of Mouth: "OMG the place is great!!!! I'm a tapas freak and this place definitely does not disappoint. You'll find your favorite tapas sometimes with subtle variations on the original to incorporate a superb local ingredient. In addition to the tapas you know and love, you will have an opportunity to taste some of the chef's own creations. If you are a meat eater, do try both the lamb chops and the Niman Ranch flatiron steak. The quinoa coated pork was also superb." -- katiecakes
The Farm at Carneros Inn Address: 4048 Sonoma Highway Cuisine: American Word of Mouth: "I ate at FARM based on recommendations of others, and it was not disappointing. The place aims to source mostly locally-grown or locally-produced ingredients, so in that sense it provides for a Napa-style Californian menu. I had a delicious lamb tenderloin and with a beet salad appetizer, and my wife had probably the best pork chop the both of us had ever tasted (and we are admitted foodies)." -- P-Train
Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant Address: 2555 Main Street Cuisine: American Word of Mouth: "The restaurant is housed in the former Christian Bros. winery and monastery and the main dining room is very large and expansive, with stone walls. The kitchen is open air and wines are attractively displayed. The appetizer and entree selections are creative and some of us had rock cod with shrimp and mussels and Cornish game hen. Salads and desserts were creative also. Prices are on the high side though not excessive." -- Equity
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The Napa Valley dining scene focuses on freshness. "Farm to table" here means great local wines paired with locally grown ingredients, particularly lots of flavorful herbs. It's common to find Napa Valley olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the table instead of butter for your bread. You may find a second menu, offering food and wine pairings, or for that matter a menu of wine flights (samples of, say, pinot noir, made by several area wineries for you to compare). Add world-class chefs -- both the famous and the soon-to-be famous -- for dining that's bound to be memorable.
