18325 Mon Jan 14 11:02:40 -0800 2002 12 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 57449 Any suggestions for great eating at moderate prices (not pizza, hamburger places)in the Napa Valley, Mendocino, and Sonoma? We've only got a few days and love good food. Mon Jan 14 11:02:40 -0800 2002 0 Boyce Reid Sher 1 57454 The best place to eat lunch in downtown Napa (pricewise and in many other ways) is the tiny Cafe Lucy (707-255-0110, 1408 Clay Street). Open for lunch Mon-Sat, Dinner on Thur and Fri. I think everything is good but my favorites are the onion tart, the Italian turkey meatloaf sandwich, the calamari salad, the mussels. Link: http://www.curmudgeon.com Mon Jan 14 12:09:06 -0800 2002 57449 0 Curmudgeon 2 57487 Absolutely do not miss Cafe Lucy. Reservations would be a good idea. It is open for dinner on Thur. and Fri. only, but lunch Tue. through Sat. For more suggestions search this site. It would help if you are more specific about what you like, but you'll find lots of information that has been posted before. Many places can be fun and good but inconsistent. Mon Jan 14 15:47:18 -0800 2002 57454 0 Ann Leneave 2 57585 My favorite lunches in the Napa Valley have been at Cafe Lucy for the reasons I describe in the post linked below. My favorites include the provencal onion and stilton tart and roasted calamari salad too. We begged Lucy to put her chicken liver paté on the menu, and as of my lunch there before Christmas, it had appeared. This time with some wonderfully sweet and full flavored carmelized pears on top. Even the liverphobic in our group couldn't stop eating this. At a private party at the Cafe to celebrate the Winter Solstice, my favorite dish was an oyster gratin or maybe it is better described as a custard. Small, sweet and delicate oysters in a creamy egg flan. I hope this one is available by special request too. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/17045#49272 Tue Jan 15 04:21:59 -0800 2002 57454 0 Melanie Wong 3 57684 For a light lunch, Lucy's Caesar Salad with roasted calamari is superb. Just the right balance. Tue Jan 15 23:00:48 -0800 2002 57585 0 Jim H. 1 57469 Not exactly sure what you mean by "moderate," but, very good food that is not "expensive," though not "cheap," may be found at the Foothill Cafe on Old Sonoma Rd. in Napa and at Bistro Jeanty in Yountville. For even more moderate food, my son has been raving about the Highway 29 Cafe, which is pretty new and I've never been there and am not sure exactly where it is. Mon Jan 14 13:46:08 -0800 2002 57449 0 wayno 2 57479 Do not eat at Hwy 29 Cafe (just south of Napa) unless your goal is just to fill up. It's huge portions, but not as good as Denny's. Foothill Cafe on Old Sonoma Road is good--an ap & entree will be about $25 without dessert and wine. Bistro Jeanty will be closer to $30 to 35, and is wonderful, very good, but you do need a reservation. Link: http://www.curmudgeon.com Mon Jan 14 15:08:54 -0800 2002 57469 0 Curmudgeon 2 57526 I guess 'moderate' is too vague. This is the first time I've used the website. We love good food, but are not up to French Laundry prices. More like $50/person? Any suggestions for Mendocino? Mon Jan 14 20:12:54 -0800 2002 57469 0 Boyce Reid Sher 3 57535 Not your fault -- I don't think anyone would classify French Laundry as "moderate"; some people just don't always read as carefully as they could. Did you try going to the chowhound main page and doing a search for "Mendocino"? Mon Jan 14 20:36:08 -0800 2002 57526 0 Ruth Lafler 1 57471 Try Rob's Rib Shack on Arnold Drive in Sonoma. Mon Jan 14 13:55:28 -0800 2002 57449 0 DavidT 1 57504 The Wild Thyme Cafe in the city of Sonoma is quite reasonable & the food is excellent.(the service is not so great, so be warned, but it has been awhile since I was last there). Also Pack Jack barbeque on highway 116 south of Sebastopol in Sonoma County is very cheap & the food is wonderful down home bbq. I recommend the sweet bbq sauce on anything & their sweet potato pie is great when they have it(but they often run out, it's so popular). There are quite a few wonderful eateries here that would fit the bill so feel free to email me if you are interested in further information. Mon Jan 14 17:58:43 -0800 2002 57449 0 Augie Doggie 1 57604 The Bistro Jeanty suggestion is a good one for Yountville. For a side trip, you might get to the website for White Rock Vineyards and call em up to arrange a tour of their caves and a tasting. Their claret is pretty damn good. Chard's not bad either. Very small operation. Tue Jan 15 13:43:20 -0800 2002 57449 0 michael (mea culpa) 1 57700 Regarding Sonoma county: In Healdsburg, I think Zin and Ravenette/Ravenous would be in your price range. In Santa Rosa, look at Mixx, Syrah and Ristorante Capri all near Railroad Square. Finally a lot of good things have been said about Mariposa in Windsor but I haven't tried it. Wed Jan 16 12:02:50 -0800 2002 57449 0 Tom Hall