Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4809
 | | 04/03/2004 9:14 PM |
| MM,
I was at Terra on Thursday night. They have a new menu which is simply fantastic! It is now hands down the best cooking in St Helena.
On the other hand, it isvery expensive. Of course, we had 3 bottles for 4 people, but even with more sensible amounts, it is likely to be around $150/couple.
At the moment, we're missing the semi-fancy, $100/couple place.
Martini House is doing pretty well, although we really like the informality of their downstairs bar room.
Less fancy, Market and Cindy's always do good food.
Tra Vigne and Pinot Blanc are not in a good spot right now. Too inconsistent.
Several new places in Napa are getting good reviews. | | | |
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GATC
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2420
| | 04/08/2004 1:58 AM |
| | $150/couple is reasonable for that caliber food. That's 1/3rd or less of a typical meal at TFL with sensible amount of wine. | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4809
| | 04/08/2004 6:48 AM |
| Quote:
sensible amount of wine.
Hmmm - I've dined with GATC, this would be a large number... | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15708
| | 04/08/2004 3:35 PM |
| You can say that agian | | | |
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Trab
Grape Destemmer
Posts:57
| | 04/08/2004 4:09 PM |
| Another vote for Terra. Not cheap, but the meal I had there was quite fine. If you like chocolate, the "Fire & Ice" dessert is quite good.
We also ate at Trattoria Uva in Napa. Cheaper, with a less-distinguished wine list, but the food was tasty. They offer simpler fare that what you would find at a place in Terra's range, but what they make is good. More for a simple night out versus a special occasion. | | | |
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Tom
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2384
| | 04/08/2004 8:22 PM |
| Any votes for the C.I.A.?
We are looking for a nice place for crazy folks. We went there a few years back, didn't get thrown out, so this may be our choice.
Anyone been lately? | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Truck Driver
Posts:30
| | 04/08/2004 8:30 PM |
| | I'll second Bressler and Trab with another vote for Terra. Was there at the end of January w/ Mrs. Dog, and friends from Denver and NYC. All of us epicures to a varying degree. Everybody walked away smiling and satiated. Truly a magnificent meal worth every penny. IIRC approx $140ish per couple including gratuity. They will knock off one corkage fee for every bottle you order from the list. | | | |
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mountainman
Mammoth Mountain
Wine Bottler
Posts:3113
| | 04/08/2004 9:20 PM |
| | I got reservations for Terra on April 28. It's a MM birthday dinner and if any of you are in shouting distance of Terra and care to join, I will try to expand reservation. Presently have 4 of us. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts:1273
| | 04/15/2004 7:29 PM |
| Quote:
Martini House is doing pretty well, although we really like the informality of their downstairs bar room.
Glad I checked here before I posted... I was going to ask what everyone thought of Martini House and Zinsvalley? | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4809
| | 04/15/2004 7:55 PM |
| The nice thing about Martini House downstairs is that you can order from either the fancy upstairs menu or the more informal bar area menu (great burger!). The not so nice thing is no reservations downstairs.
Tonight we will try the new italian place in Napa, Posticino, where cafe Lucy used to be. | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4809
| | 04/16/2004 5:10 AM |
| | Posticino in Napa. A delightful Italian trattoria. The inside is pretty small - like 40 seats, but they have a an equal amount of outdoor seating (unfortunately not usable tonight). Everything we had was good. Their menu is availableonline. We had Calamari, Sweetbreads, Sea Bass and Veal Piccata. All good - and there are lots more things that we would like to try. Add to that bottled water and coffee and it was still under $80 before tip for 2. In the valley, that is a good deal. | | | |
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GATC
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2420
| | 04/16/2004 9:06 PM |
| | Thanks Bob, good info. Nice selection although I didn't see the sweatbreads on the latest online menu. | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4809
| | 04/16/2004 9:22 PM |
| | The sweetbreads were that night's special. Very nicely done. There is also a line in there somewhere with someting like "we can do many classic dishes that are not on the menu, just ask" | | | |
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Randy Wigginton
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5427
| | 04/18/2004 3:27 AM |
| Dinner at Don Giovanni last night. This probably isn't news to those of you in the know... but this place is not very good. Maybe it was in the past, but certainly not now.
The tables are packed super-close, it is noisy as can be, the service is unattentive, and the food is good, but uninspiring. I've never had dinner here previously, so I was looking forward to it. What a disappointment. It is unlikely that I will dine there again.
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15708
| | 04/18/2004 6:20 AM |
| | Randy, I pretty much agree. Lot's of people love it though. It is pretty loose and the drinks are nice heavy pours. It's a pretty good place for a relatively low-cost group party. A very casual neat atmosphere. Nice statuary. I love the metal skeleton man out front guzzeling down a bottle of wine. | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4809
| | 04/21/2004 4:00 PM |
| MAJOR NEWS!!!!
Vincent Nattress, former owner and chef at Roux Restaurant in St. Helena is going to Meadowood to take over both restaurants. This is great news. In addition to being able to enjoy Vincent's world class cooking again, Meadowood does not charge corkage to members. Can we say offline? (No comments about hot tubs, please) | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts:8568
| | 04/21/2004 4:02 PM |
| | That is spectacular news! I have been hoping for quite some time that Meadowood would get a decent chef. | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4809
| | 04/21/2004 4:06 PM |
| | I believe that they are planning to remodel the upstairs (fancy) dining room. At that point St Helena will have two superb restaurants again (along with Terra, of course) | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts:8568
| | 04/21/2004 4:09 PM |
| | St. Helena needs another great restaurant. It is really great news. With the improved economics of Meadowood versus Roux, Nattress' cuisine should be even better. | | | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12003
| | 04/21/2004 4:54 PM |
| This is the hotel/golf course/tennis/spa, etc... place on the West side of 29 near St Helena, correct? Will the restaurant be open to the public, I assume? I HOPE! | |
Joe
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Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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