One night in wine country - where would you eat?

[chefconti]

My wife and I will be in wine country next April for one night (maybe two). My question is, besides The French Laundry, where would you eat?

-----
The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599

[willyum]

Since you mention French Laundry I'm assuming you want a swish Fine Dining place.

If I were in Napa I'd return to Meadowood, where we had a great meal earlier this year (one night after another great meal at the French Laundry).

If I were in Sonoma I'd dine at Cyrus.

-----
The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599

[chefconti]

As much as I would love to go to those three restaurants, they are not in the budget.

[gougeres]

uhhh - how much do you have to spend?

[chefconti]

$200-250 for two people.

[CarrieWas218]

Within your budget:

JoLe
Bouchon
Brix
Grace's Table
Terra (tight - order light on the alcohol)

-----
JoLe
1457 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga, CA 94515

Brix
7377 St. Helena Highway, Napa, CA 94558

Bouchon
6534 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599

Grace's Table
1400 2nd St, Napa, CA 94559

[plaidbowtie]

I had the worst service of my entire life at Brix. It's the only time I've walked out of a restaurant.

-----
Brix
7377 St. Helena Highway, Napa, CA 94558

[mrsricho]

check out farmstead at longmeadow ranch, we went a couple weeks ago and absolutely loved it, and it's affordable for the area especially for the quality level.

[pauliface]

You'r in luck, then, as Meadowood would have been a big mistake, IMO.
As I've said before, based on my experience, 1 star at best.

[cortez]

Chef,

In Napa Valley within your price range, I'd go with:

Redd: on the patio if weather allows. More minimalist presentations than a Bistro Jeanty style
Solbar at Solage Hotel in Cailstoga: relaxed Michelin one star in beautiful agri chic space
Auberge du Soleil for late afternoon drinks only overlooking the valley

Have fun.

-----
Bistro Jeanty
6510 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599

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

[MRMoggie]

No one has mentioned La Toque in Napa. We've always had exceptional food and service. It would be at the upper end of your price range.

Owned by Chef Ken Frank, years ago the classic French bad boy in Los Angeles. Really good wine list and wine service by Scott.

-----
La Toque Restaurant
1314 McKinstry Street, Napa, CA 94559

[CarrieWas218]

I am so on the fence about La Toque; I have had two drop-dead, exceptional meals and I have had two perfectly horrible, send-back-to-the-kitchen inedible meals...

I'm not ready to spend that kind of money on the inconsistency of a crap shoot again.

-----
La Toque Restaurant
1314 McKinstry Street, Napa, CA 94559

[tom246]

My overall favorites for Napa and Sonoma after multiple considerations would be:
Napa County, Redd in Yountville
Sonoma County, Barndiva in Healdsburg

[Cialti]

I second both of these recommendations. We ate at Barndiva for brunch over Memorial Day weekend this year and it was outstanding. Redd is a regular favorite when we're in Napa for a weekend. Very reasonable price for the quality.

Cyrus is my favorite restaurant in California, over French Laundry, so it has my highest recommendation. :)

-----
Barndiva
231 Center St, Healdsburg, CA 95448

[Delucacheesemonger]

For some reviews on most of these places check http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/806780

[Robert Lauriston]

My favorite place in Sonoma Valley is Vineyards Inn, though if the French Laundry is your idea of fun, maybe not.

I find Napa Valley too touristy and Yountville intolerably so, but I'll put up with it for Bistro Jeanty, since I love classic old-school bistro dishes such as lamb's tongue, pig's foot, blood sausage, and veal kidneys and they do them very, very well.

-----
Bistro Jeanty
6510 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599

Vineyards Inn
8445 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, CA 95452

[CarrieWas218]

I live in Napa so these are my favorites - in order of preference:

JoLe (Calistoga)
Terra (St. Helena)
Meadowood (Rutherford)
Bouchon (Yountville)

-----
JoLe
1457 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga, CA 94515

Bouchon
6534 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599

[wolfe]

Where in wine country? A search of this board using the specific area might help. Examples Healdsburg, Russian River, Sonoma, Yountville, etc. Lots of excellent places and no need to drive far if some place is convenient to your lodging and winery choices.

[chefconti]

We haven't decided where to stay yet and are willing to drive anywhere within Napa or Sonoma Valley for a great dinner.

[Paul H]

The top three dining destinations in wine country are The French Laundry, The Restaurant at Meadowood, and Cyrus. Other places that receive good reports include Redd, Bouchon, The Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant, Terra, and Auberge du Soleil.

-----
The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599

Terra Restaurant
1345 Railroad Ave., St. Helena, CA 94574

Farmhouse Inn
7871 River Rd, Forestville, CA 95436

Cyrus Restaurant
29 North St, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Auberge Du Soleil
180 Rutherford Hill Rd., Rutherford, CA 94573

Redd
6480 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599

Bouchon
6534 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599

[SFDude]

Terra and the Farmhouse Inn are my favorites in the wine country (now that, sadly, the Martini House has closed).

-----
Farmhouse Inn
7871 River Rd, Forestville, CA 95436

[pairswellwithwine]

I was in wine country last April for one night and failed to achieve French Laundry reservations so we ended up going to Adhoc, Thomas Keller's casual family style restaurant, we loved it. He has a cookbook for this restaurant as well and we use it all the time.