Suggestion for 1 day in SF and 2 days in Wine Country

[hctupper]

Hi my name is Henrique and I'm from Brazil. I have some questions and I'd like to ask some help of SF and Napa's specialists and locals (or not).

Firstly, I arrive at noon on february 16th in SF (I have before visted SF) and I intend to go to Sausalito, Belvedere and Tiburon.

1) Any good restaurant that worth the trip with a breathtaking view?

I read in other thread about Poggio, Le Garge Bistro and about The Fish. But I didn't find anything about Tiburon or Belvedere's restaurants... Less about wich one is the best place to eat while you contemplate whole SF.

After that I have a dilema: either I go straight to wine country or I hang around in San Fran up to the evening...

2) Is it dangerous to drive up to wine country from SF? Are the roads dangerous during the night?

Well I don't know anything about Napa Valley. And I intend to stay 3 nights in Yountville.

3) Wich restaurants are unmissable? and what about the tours (wine tours as well), wich tours are recomended?

Please give some clues.

Thanks all chow members,

Chow.

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Poggio
777 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965

[bbulkow]

hi hctupper, greetings!

Yountville - Very good reviews recently for Morimoto's place and meadowood, and the french laundry is unmissable.

The roads are not dangerous. A couple have some narrow bits that require attentive driving, but nothing anyone would even mention as dangerous.

None of the places in Tiburon along the water are chow-worthy. I believe Guymas has declined (I was a fan in the early 90's, haven't been back in forever) but they have a great view.

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Morimoto
610 Main Street, Napa, CA

[hctupper]

Thank you bbulkow. Within 5 days I arrive in San Fran and depart to yountville. I'm very excited to arrive.

[MSK]

Also, your choices in Sausalito are worthy. There are fun stops in Tiburon for drinks and apps. but the restaurants you mention in Sausalito beat them all.

The Farley Bar (bar food) and Murray Circle (very fine dining) at Cavallo Point are worth a stop if only for the view/atmopshere. Food is excellent albeit very pricey. Sushi Ran is world class unique Japanese and there a few new comers due to open in Sausalito to keep your eye out for.

Belvedere is strictly residential and you will not find restaurants or even businesses there.

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Sushi Ran
107 Caledonia St., Sausalito, CA 94965

Murray Circle
601 Murray Circle, Sausalito, CA 94965

Cavallo Point
601 Murray Circle, Sausalito, CA

[hctupper]

Thank you MSK.

I have heard about one special restaurant in wine coutry: Auberge du Soleil. And wich wineries is a must-do in Napa Valley?

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Soleil Restaurant
625 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94301

[selectiveomnivore]

1) Fish is a fun place, decent food, better than average beers, and a laid back atmosphere on the water and not far from a walk around the quaint area of Sausalito.

2) The roads up from SF into wine country are not dangerous. There's no criminal worries or severe physical troubles to deal with.

3) What counts as unmissable in SF, Sonoma, or Napa depends on what you are looking for. Fine dining? Casual? Innovative? Local? Unique? -- Ubuntu in Napa used to be top notch and very unique, but not sure since Jeremy Fox left last year. I'm sure somewhere on the boards this has been hashed out.

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Ubuntu Restaurant & Yoga Studio
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA 94558

[hctupper]

Hi Selective,

let me ask one more thing: what about the Spinnaker restaurant? It is more formal than The Fish, isn't it?

Thank by Ubuntu suggestion.

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Ubuntu Restaurant & Yoga Studio
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA 94558

[Tripeler]

Generally, the take on this board concerning the post-Fox-departure at Ubuntu has been positive concerning the quality of the food.

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Ubuntu Restaurant & Yoga Studio
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA 94558

[MSK]

I went to Ubuntu, for what is probably the last time, 2 weeks ago. I was sorely disappointed compared to my extremely positive visits when the Foxes were there. I reviewed it here:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/717799

I came back to find many opinions similar to mine on these boards. The place was also only 1/2 full on a Fri. night at 7:30.

Sorry to now say that there are too many outstanding options in the area to spend the little time you have here. It should no longer be consider it a Napa-must do.

So many good choices in Yountville that you could very well eat there t and just walk back to your hotel every nigh. Nice feature in the wine country.

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Ubuntu Restaurant & Yoga Studio
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA 94558

[steve h.]

Three days isn't much time. Maybe find a place in San Francisco that appeals to you and explore the city. Hit your places in Sausalito and Tiburon via ferry for a fun day trip. I like Angel Island a lot. It's all good.
I have no problems driving the mountains at night but that's only because I've done it many times. The problem isn't you, rather it's the scrub on the other side of the road who doesn't know how to drive.
Lots of scrubs out there.