Farm, Bottega or Cyrus?

[missbuilding]

HI All--Will be in Napa 3 nights. Unfortunately French Laundry will be closed while we are in the area. That being said, I currently have reservations at Ad Hoc and Terra. We are torn between the following restaurants: Farm, Bottega or Cyrus. We were going to go to Cyrus, but we are staying in Yountville and the evening drive seems excessive. What do Bay Area hounds think?

[marcif]

While in Yountville, the key to fun is walking to restaurants. You're going to love Ad Hoc and may want to do it twice. I love Bouchon and always do it at least twice. You should definitely experience Cyrus, but only if you're staying in Healdsburg. By the way, for lunch you shouldn't miss sitting at the bar at Greystone in St. Helena; great fun to watch the chefs, and the food is delicious.

[wolfe]

Probably easier and shorter than San Francisco to either Manresa or The French Laundry

[Melanie Wong]

Actually, not easier, as the voyage from healdsburg to yountville requires scaling a mountain range on narrow, dark, winding roads. Allow about 1.5 hours for the 45 miles, more if you don't feel comfortable driving the posted speed limit. I'll say that I've often been stuck behind folks in rental cars who are scared out of their wits and creeping along at less than 25 miles per hour.

From SF to either of the restaurants you mention is mostly on hiway and takes less time. I can get to TFL. When I have dinner at TFL, I get a hotel room nearby rather than drive home to Alexander Valley (north of Healdsburg) from Yountville, which is the reverse of the route that the OP would need to take. And, unlike her, I know the road very well . . . that's why I won't do it at night after a big meal with a lot of wine.

[Ruth Lafler]

Well, you don't have to take that route -- it's longer by distance to go back down 101 and across on 12, but it's not much (if any) longer time-wise. Still, it would be better to make Cyrus the last (or first) night of the trip and stay the night there.

[Melanie Wong]

That route is 1.5 hours too. Most of Hwy 12 is two lanes and doesn't move that fast but easier to navigate. It's really sort of a shame to drive either route at night because they are so scenic. Three hours round-trip in the dark is not my idea of a good time.

[Claudette]

I agree w/ Melanie about that road, esp. at night - don't do it! I loved driving it in the daytime in my little sports car, but my passenger was green afterward. When you do Cyrus, do it right: with wine pairings and then spend the night somewhere closeby.

[Sadistick]

Which wine pairing did you select when you went? (not sure if the fine wine pairing is worth it...)

For our one night in the Napa area, I think given we are off to Cyrus that it best we stay in Healdsburg and drive to wineries from there - - Can anyong give me an idea of how long I should give the drive back from Healdsburg to San Fran Airport?

[Melanie Wong]

Google is your friend. Also 511.org.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=healdsb...