We had heard that Birchfield Manor was an excellent place to stay and dine, and we'd also heard that the Yakima Valley didn't have many restaurants worthy of opening some good wine, so the choice was simple. There were two seatings and we chose the later time for dinner. We arrived a little early and were shown to our table by Steve, an extremely nice and capable young man, our waiter, who really loves his work and brandishes his sense of humor as well as his corkscrew.

The Manor is owned by Wil Masset, and his son, Brad, is the very accomplished chef. During dinner, we offered tastes of the wines we brought to Steve and Brad. Steve then brought out a bottle of wine for us to try.

The dining room is beautifully appointed and the tables well-spaced. Riedels were provided for the wines.

The appetizer was Herbed Chicken Ravioli with Sauce Milanese. It was fragrant with sage and the sauce was wonderfully rich. Not only was the dish excellently prepared, but it paired perfectly with our first wine, a 2001 Marquis Philips Shiraz. Along with this course were served rosemary scones, redolent of the herb and perfectly flaky.

After the appetizer, we were offered and accepted a tour of the wine cellar. I'd guess the temperature was about 70 degrees, but most of the wines were young and probably were not kept around for long.

Next came a Salad of Mixed Baby Greens with Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette, Pignoli, and Crostini with Maytag Bleu Cheese. It was certainly nice, but unless there's foie gras in a salad, to me it's just a salad.

Before the main course was served, Brad brought out a bottle of wine for us. It was a 2000 Canon del Sol Syrah. These are some very hospitable people, rightly proud of what they've accomplished.

For the main course, my wife selected the Lobster Ravioli, served with a Vegetable Sautee and Tomatoes Provencal. I had the Steak Diane with the same accompaniments and Dauphinoise Potatoes. Everything was wonderful. Neither of us could find fault with anything, be it the food, ambience, decor, or service. We were happy with the wine we brought for this course, a 1997 Cooper Garrod Georges Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

While we were having our entrees, someone at a nearby table broke a Riedel. Steve chimed right in, "Would you like me to pour the Hyatt now? I'll bring you a plastic glass if you're worried."

Our desserts also did not disappoint. On the contrary, they were as wonderful as the rest of the meal. My wife ordered a Fresh Berry Lemon Crepe, and I had the Belgian Chocolate Brandied Mousse Torte.

The evening at Birchfield Manor was one of the dining highlights of our 17 day trip. I urge any of you who may visit the area to save one night for this special place.