🇺🇸 Napa Restaurant Guide 🍽️

Napa Valley – the Bay Area's backyard – is full of culinary gems! Here’s my roundup of spots across Napa, Yountville, and St. Helena. Next goal: conquer Calistoga and Healdsburg! 📍 RH Yountville The vibe is everything! 😍 Hard to book – snagged the 9 PM slot. Must-try: Caviar Lobster Roll – fresh lobster, buttery toast stole the show! 🦞 📍 Ad Hoc Thomas Keller’s influence is everywhere. Tried the famous buttermilk fried chicken – good, but not the best in Napa. The pork chop was more memorable! 🍗 📍 Bistro Jeanty Ex-Michelin star, super friendly staff. Everything was too salty 😅 – only worth it for the tomato puff pastry soup (perfect for wine hangovers). 📍 Torc Beautiful wine list (even Realm by the glass!). Short rib was fall-apart tender – chef trained at French Laundry! 🍷 📍 Bouchon Bakery Line at 7 AM – not worth it. Danish cream wasn’t that smooth, chocolate croissant lacked filling. Skip unless you’re desperate! 🥐 📍 The Model Bakery English muffins at Alila Hotel +$3 upgrade – soft and buttery! 🧈 Avoid the fruit plate (stale), and light the fireplace to scare off birds 🐦⬛. Locals recommended Wild Flour – try it! 📍 The Charter Oak Veggie platter dip was great (onion warning ⚠️). Chicken wings were a win! Steak tasted like Hunan chopped pepper beef 😂. 📍 Charlie’s BEST FRIED CHICKEN IN NAPA! 🏆 Crispy shell, juicy meat, perfect seasoning. Server made it off-menu for us – order 6 pieces, not 3! 📍 Farmstead American comfort food – pork chop and chicken were dry but well-seasoned. Napa’s food is salty, but tannic wines pair perfectly with fried chicken! Fun fact: The best meal I had was actually at a winery (see previous post). Next goals: French Laundry & Meadowood’s reopening! 🤞 #NapaEats #RestaurantGuide #FoodieReview #NapaValley #BayAreaFood #FriedChickenLover