Food Stops

Napa Valley

As Weekend Wine Tasters we are generally not going to Napa for fine dining, although we are not opposed to it.  Generally we would rather buy an extra bottle of wine rather than spending much more than the cost of a standard Napa Valley Cabernet for dinner.  We have some of our favorite stops that we do on somewhat a regular basis.  These may not be on everyone’s list but you will find them on some.  These will certainly get you through the day.

Model Bakery- Napa

Since we live in the East Bay we can leave home around 8:15 in the morning and make this first stop and still be at a winery at 10:00am.  I grew up a (French) pastry person and still like a good old fashion kind of bakery.  Model Bakery in downtown Napa at the Oxbow is kind of a modern twist on the old fashion bakery and a great stop.  They have a wide and changing variety of pastries, breakfast sandwiches, cookies and breads.  They have big tables outside for sitting, some in the sun and some in the shade.  They have good coffee and fancier coffees can be found right next door at the main Oxbow building.  There is also a Model Bakery in St. Helena if you are up that far but the Napa store has much better seating.  There are also good bathrooms at Oxbow that are open at this time.  For another Napa alternative there is also The Butter Cream.  This is a bakery with a wide assortment, including donuts, but they also have a diner style restaurant where you can have a full breakfast or items from the bakery side.

 

Our first choice for lunch is Sunshine Foods in St. Helena.  This is a place that you buy items for picnicking at a winery.  They have a great assortment of cold and hot items.  We have been big fans of the Chinese Chicken salad but you can buy everything from sandwiches to sushi.  The cheese selection is really the tops in the valley.  They have burritos and a variety of other items that can be warmed in the microwave.  The store also has a great beer and wine selection as well as good produce.  They also have a pastry box.  This is an upscale market with lots more variety than Dan & Delucca and I am guessing much better prices.

Cheese at Sunshine

If you are not prepared for a picnic there is Gotts (the old Taylors). Gotts appears to be the typical roadside diner that has been around since the 50’s (and this one has been around a long time) but this one is special.  You can tell by the length of the line if you go prime time on a weekend.  Gotts has most of your typical diner items but the Blue Cheese burger we had there last time was really one of the best burgers I have ever had.  One of the things that sets Gotts apart is that they have a separate counter for beer and wine and a great selection of both.  Although they do have wine on tap, you can also find a $100 bottle of wine here also.  There is also a Gotts in downtown Napa (next to the Model Bakery) and one at the Ferry Building in San Francisco.

We really only have two regular end of the day stops.  One is back in Napa and one is way north in Calistoga.  Our Napa stop is Compadres Rio Grill.    Compadres is right on the Napa River just north of the downtown of Napa and a good stop on the way home to let traffic clear.  Compadres has one of the better outdoor decks that wraps around the place.  On one side you have a very nice view of the river that makes the Napa River look larger than it is.  The river view makes it look like you are not near the city at all with huge trees and lots of foliage.  On the other side are big couches and the outdoor bar area.  The food is good and the place is usually hopping.  On Sunday afternoons in the summer there is usually a band playing.  I don’t think we have ever sat inside here even on a cooler day.

Our other end of day stop is up in Calistoga and really a great place.  The Hydro Grill is actually open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and usually open late on weekends with entertainment.  The Hydro grill is in an old brick building on the main street in Calistoga.  Although the food is good, what makes the place is that is really has a good vibe.  Calistoga tends to get a broader mix of people and they all come here.  There is a good bar with all kinds of special drinks and a good beer selection.  I’m thinking we don’t really go here for wine.  We love the entertainment which is varied.  We have seen an Elvis impersonator here before and on a recent Sunday we saw an old time swing band.  We would have stayed longer but again, this is at the top of the valley and a little longer drive home to the East Bay.  This is an even better spot when you are staying the night in Calistoga.   

I’d like to give you a review of ‘Finer Dining’ in the Napa Valley but I think all of these places are fun and you generally won’t be disappointed.  But maybe we can do a reviews of Napa area Bars sometime soon.

Vitals-

Model Bakery- 641 1^st. Street, Napa, CA

The Butter Cream- 2297 Jefferson, Napa, CA

Sunshine Foods- 1115 Main Street, St. Helena, CA

Gotts (Taylors)- 933 Main Street, St. Helena, CA

Compadres Rio Grille- 505 Lincoln Avenue, Napa, CA

Hydro Grill- 1403 Lincoln Street, Calistoga, CA