Yountville: Ad Hoc
Thomas Keller's "temporary" restaurant is now a permanent fixture, and that's a good thing. Ad Hoc raises family-style dining to a new level: no tater tots here, but four-course prix fixe meals that feature superbly done comfort foods. Don't miss the artisanal-cheese third course.
American
Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
$$$$
6476 Washington St., Yountville, CA707/944-2487
Stephen Barber’s’cue—brisket, ribs, pulled-pork sandwiches—is exemplary, as are the sides of mac ’n’ cheese, cornbread and collard greens. Less traditional are some of the condiments (like serrano chile-spiced vinegar) and the wide-ranging wine list. You gotta try the Memphis-style pulled-pork sandwich, accompanied by, oh, a Frog’s Leap Zin. And even though it’s not strictly BBQ, the fried chicken is terrific, particularly splashed with the aforementioned serrano vinegar.
American
Open daily
$$
3900 Bel Aire Plaza, Napa, CA; 707/224-6600
Yountville: Bistro Jeanty
Bistro perfection, jolly, Gallic, charming. We defy you to have a bad time here. Don't miss the coq au vin and crème de tomate en croûte.
French
Open daily
$$$
6510 Washington St., Yountville, CA707/944-0103
Yountville: Bouchon
Lyon comes to Napa Valley, with "bouchon" connoting a style of bistro specific to the French city and the menu crowded with classic bistro fare. Great fun, especially late at night at the zinc bar. Don't miss the boudin noir.
French
Open daily
$$$$
6534 Washington St., Yountville, CA707/944-8037
Healdsburg: Bovolo
Excellent pizza and salads, amid the gourmet food and wine stalls.
Italian
Open daily
$$
106 Matheson St., Healdsburg, CA707/431-2962
Napa: Carpe Diem Wine Bar Ambitious of menu and warm of welcome, this cheery spot has a smartly edited list of wines from Napa, Sonoma, and beyond.
Wine bar / American
Closed Sundays and Mondays
1001 Second St.Napa, CA; 707/224-0800 An open, exposed-brick bistro emphasizing organic foods. It’s all delish, but for a taste of the area, we especially love the simple romaine salad with chopped egg and buttermilk–blue cheese dressing—all local, of course.
Open daily
$$
42 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, CA707/778-9900
Sonoma: El Dorado Kitchen The lively bar is a great place to meet for a drink; the long table near the open kitchen is good for groups. Both the executive and pastry chefs emerged from the French Laundry, but their skill with ingredients says Sonoma, not Napa.
American / French
$$$
405 First St. W., Sonoma, CA707/996-3030
Yountville: The French Laundry
A rambling, chocolate brown home that did indeed house a laundry in a past life. Now the elegant yet unfussy setting pairs superbly with the food showcased in Thomas Keller's nine-course tasting menu. Don't miss the signature dish of oysters and pearls (sabayon of pearl tapioca with Beau Soleil oysters and white sturgeon caviar).
French / American
Open daily
$250
6640 Washington St., Yountville, CA707/944-2380
Sonoma: Harvest Moon Cafe Sweet little stucco-walled dining room right on the square, with patio seating behind. Two Chez Panisse alums get back to basics in a short, fresh Mediterranean menu. Remind yourself how good perfectly cooked beans can be, especially topped with stellar homemade pork sausage.
Closed Tuesdays
$$$
487 First St. W., Sonoma, CA707/933-8160
Napa: Napa Valley Wine Train This is as much a three-hour rolling culinary adventure as a train trip. Eat in a beautifully restored Pullman dining lounge; ride past wineries and vineyards that roll to the edge of forested mountains. Enjoy a meal, or relax in the wine-tasting car and sample any of 40 local vintages. The customized kitchen car has observation windows so you can watch chefs while they work. Highlights: Gourmet fare such as roasted Angus tenderloin or spinach salad with candied walnuts, smoked goat cheese, and honey-cider vinaigrette. Options: Murder mysteries; moonlight runs; early lunches; Sunday dinner-and-concert series; family fun nights.
American
$$$$
800/427-4124
The popular urban-cowboy pub sticks (wisely) to comfort food, but its ingredients come with a pedigree. Find a spot in the open-air courtyard for enhanced American classics such as a hefty burger, made with meat from Five Dot Ranch and accompanied by housemade pickles and fries doused in toppings like truffle parmesan or sea salt and black pepper.
American
Open daily
$$
1401 First St., Napa, CA707/258-1516
Napa: Oxbow Public Market Oxbow is such a foodie paradise, you almost expect harps to play and angels to flutter as you enter the building. More than 25 local purveyors of all things organic, artisanal, and delicious have gathered in a 40,000-square-foot cathedral of sustainable yumminess. Need to pick up organic, handcrafted charcuterie? Look no further. In the mood for a piping-hot Venezuelan arepa? It’s here. Seasonal produce? Local wine? Freshly baked bread? Check, check, and check. Some of our favorites are Graham’s Take-Away ($; wraps and upscale deli salads) and the talk of the valley, C Casa taqueria ($; Mexican), which is taking the taco to new heights. If you can have only one, make it the spiced lamb with goat cheese, micro greens, and mint. Ca’ Momi Enoteca ($$; pizzas, Italian pastries, and wines both local and Italian) is also delicious.
Various
Open daily
$-$$
610 and 644
First St., Napa, CA707/226-6529
Yountville: Redd
Sleek, midcentury modern--The Incredibles' Edna Mode would dine here. As for Richard Reddington's food, it walks a high-wire of adventure and ambition, and succeeds brilliantly. Don't miss the glazed pork belly. Seriously.
American
Open daily
$$$$
6480 Washington St., Yountville, CA707/944-2222
Sebastopol: Restaurant Eloise The buzz surrounding Restaurant Eloise has reached a fever pitch. Fans make the pilgrimage from the Bay Area and beyond for beauties like egg-yolk ravioli with peas, black truffle, and local butter. After peach ice cream with almond madeleines, step into the gardens, where produce for the kitchen is grown.
American / French
Open daily
$$$
2295 Gravenstein Hwy. S.State 116, Sebastopol, CA; 707/823-6300.
Sebastopol: Screamin’ Mimi’s Local institution Screamin’ Mimi’s serves seriously good, all-natural ice cream that’s priced by weight—62 cents per ounce—so mix and match as you like.
Dessert
Open daily
$
6902 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol, CA707/823-5902
Sonoma Coast: Seaweed Café Slow food meets west Sonoma terroir at this cheerful restaurant, where you’ll find both fish and seaweed on the menu.
American
Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays
$$$
1580 Eastshore Rd., Bodega Bay, CA707/875-2700
Sushi bar at the back of a Japanese-serene slip of a space. Yummy nigiri-sushi, including uni (sea urchin) from Fort Bragg, and maki-sushi rolls named for nearby wine regions, like the Howell Mountain—tuna, tempura shrimp, avocado, and cucumber. Also try the wok-tossed curried mussels and local-veggie tempura.
Japanese
Closed Sundays
$$
522 Broadway, Sonoma, CA; 707/933-9331
Calistoga: Solbar
For a fantastic open-air lunch, soak in the sun on the patio, set between the pool and bocce-ball courts at the Solage Calistoga resort. The menu features seasonal cooking using local ingredients.
American
Open daily
$$
755 Silverado Trail, Calistoga, CA; 707/226-0850
Sonoma Coast: Sonoma Coast Fish Bank and Picnic Valley Ford’s historic Dairyman’s Bank now doles out crayfish and corn instead of cash. Stop by the Sonoma Coast Fish Bank and Picnic for a basket of barbecued oysters and lemonade served in jars.
Seafood
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
$
14435 Hwy. 1, Valley Ford, CA; 707/876-3474
