Bear — Restaurant in Napa

We visited Bear for lunch on a weekday. I have to say that this is my best lunch ever, and my husband felt the same as me.

Firstly, we were impressed by the thoughtfully arranged details of everything: from the entrance point to the restroom; from the dining hall to the kitchen; every single spot is thoughtfully attended with details.

Secondly, we were impressed by the well-balanced, innovative, and unique tastes.

It's well-balanced: All of the ingredients are sophisticated and well-balanced: no one ingredient is too strong, but I still can taste who is leading the show. Every single bite feels like enjoying an opera.

It's innovative: There are many ingredients selected and arranged here beyond norms. Buffalo dish: several white creamy beef tendon sheets “stood” behind the fresh red Buffalo meat; several drops of yellow egg yolk on top of the meat with finely chopped green onions. It's a beautiful picture, an innovative solution to offer Buffalo meat. I felt It was an opera on chewing: the crunchiness from the tendon sheets; the tenderness from the meat, then ending with the creaminess from the egg yolk. I didn't forget the green onions: they danced around to lead the show!

It's natural: The greens were from their garden, and the taste of the vegetables reflected the natural flavor. The kale, Chad, and baby carrots showed us what Napa could offer. Not only wine but veggies.

It's clean: The dining hall is very clean and neat. We wanted to visit the kitchen. The Sous-Chef, I think her name is Gia, guided us on a full tour of the Backhouse. The kitchen is big, well organized, well staffed, well equipped, and supper clean. Spotless.

It's creative: I found a recipe-sharing board hanging on the entry of the kitchen. Gia said they would share, test, and record new recipes frequently. This was impressive: the creation was not from one chef but the whole team was sharing, and learning, testing.

Some details we appreciated:

The three friendly young men by the entrance: their cowboy boots and hats blend in with the surroundings so well. We felt we drove into a ranch, out the city’s noise.

The napkin on the table was a piece of natural fabric, with the Stanly Ranch logo. Simple, elegant, well blended in.

The pure white kitchen towel in Gia’s pockets. When she showed us the kitchen and storage area, I noticed the kitchen towels in her back pockets. This detail showed her attained attitude.

Refill water and change plates were right on.

The most important is that the employees here are happy, which is why we are very happy.

We highly recommend Bear...

Having frequented numerous esteemed restaurants in Napa, including the renowned French Laundry, I must admit that Bear has earned its place as my absolute favorite in the valley. From the moment we stepped through the door, the warmth of the service enveloped us, setting the stage for an unforgettable culinary journey.

What truly sets Bear apart is its commitment to simplicity, freshness, and quality ingredients, all expertly woven together with intriguing flavor profiles that elevate each dish to new heights of culinary excellence. The concept of "progressive" American cuisine truly shines through, capturing the essence of California's culinary spirit while infusing it with the innovative flair of the talented chefs behind the scenes.

So enamored were we with Bear that we made the unprecedented decision to cancel reservations at two other establishments in favor of returning to indulge in its offerings three times during our stay. Each visit proved to be a revelation, with every bite a testament to the chefs' skill and dedication to their craft.

In sum, I cannot praise Bear enough. From the impeccable service to the inspired culinary creations, every aspect of our dining experience exceeded expectations. I wholeheartedly recommend Bear to anyone seeking an unparalleled gastronomic adventure in Napa Valley.

Thank you for creating such a remarkable establishment. I eagerly anticipate my next visit and the opportunity to savor the delights of...

The food is great; no one could ever question that with a straight face. The problem is the service, which should honestly embarrass the entire managerial staff.

For context: The group of 5 of us went to the newly opened A16 in downtown Napa just the night before. The best dining experience I've had in Napa, hands down. Was the food as good as here? Although the dishes are on two different culinary wavelengths, I would argue no. Why would I go back to A16 and hope to never hear of anyone even mention Bear again? The service was night and day.

Let's begin with a PSA: If your wait staff is standing by tables, lying in wait to scavenge unfinished/to-be-finished plates on the tables, then you have a poor service model. We were at A16 for over four hours, and I wasn't asked ONE TIME if I was finished with my plate. I couldn't even finish my appetizer at Bear before some annoying pissant was hovering over my shoulder with his hand on my plate.

There is absolutely no relaxing aspect of eating here. There is no concept of enjoying a meal over conversation. Eating here is a business transaction; ordering here is a business transaction. If you want to break up with someone, bring them here because dumping them will be less uncomfortable than being waited on.

"Would you like to order something else?" For Christ's sake, can I finish the three shared dishes that are making there way around the table at the moment?

If this is "fine American dining", I'll...