Meadowood Napa Valley — Restaurant in St. Helena

6/27/13

LUXURIOUS LUNCH DESTINATION

As our large charter bus pulled up the drive toward Meadowood, we looked out the window at a roadside covered with shady trees and lush greenery. The landscape had drastically changed since the winery we'd stopped at earlier. This felt like a mountainy-forest retreat - it very much reminded me of driving to summer camp many years ago. Pools came in and out of view with beautiful green lawns between them. The bus parked and our special event was a short walk away to an area set up next to the croquet lawn and above the golf course. The view surrounding us was magnificent and the large Meadowood building stood grandly in the background.

Tables were beautifully set, each seating eight (or nine?) with silverware ready for several courses. We probably had a hundred people in our group. The temperature reached 92 degrees on this particular afternoon, so there was a scramble for seating under umbrellas, which were at most of the tables, covering only a couple seats at each. Uh oh. I pulled out my spf 110 and protected my face, and then put some spf 4 on my arms. I love the sun. However, several others in our group looked ready to wither within moments. Not to worry: the staff carried huge, heavy umbrellas from a great distance away, and set them up slowly all around us, creating a great, umbrella covering above almost everyone. Honestly, the silverware was initially too hot to even touch. They worked hard and fast; this probably should have been thought of before our arrival, but they definitely corrected the error and it didn't take very long. We were even provided individual sun parasols to hold during the time it took them to bring the bigger umbrellas.

We started with warm bread and olive oil. Our wine glasses were filled and water glasses were never below half full. The first dish brought out was a beet and green salad. Candied pistachios in place of croutons for some crunchy bites. Very good. Would have liked to see more beets. Baby beets were used, the size of large cherry tomatoes. I don't think people realized those were the beets until they took a bite. Next came lobster bites with caviar on top and potato chips (sounds odd, right?) Dots of creme fraiche were on the plate for dipping. Unbelievably good. I again wished there were more than four bites! Hard to believe this was my second favorite, but nothing beat the lamb we received next. Cooked perfectly. Seasoned perfectly. Pretty sure it was American lamb; and it was outstanding. A german chocolate crusted dessert finished our meal in the sweetest way. I casually ran my fingers across the plate to get every last bite. Yeah, I'm that girl.

So aside from the food, what really stood out was the service. Bread was replenished on bread plates without having to ask for more. Wine flowed through the entire meal. And I never once was without water. I usually am that thirsty person at the table that feels bad for pestering servers for more water throughout my meals, but the staff here was totally on top of it. Also, everyone at the table was served at once. Very classy.

The entire afternoon oozed a glorious feeling of luxury. Professional staff-persons. Beautiful setting....

A Five-Star Anniversary at Meadowood Napa Valley

My husband and I are no strangers to luxury resorts—especially those with exceptional spas and fine dining—but our recent stay at Meadowood Napa Valley for our five-year anniversary truly exceeded every expectation.

To celebrate our "wood" anniversary (yes, that's apparently the five-year theme—well played, hunny!), he surprised me with a weekend getaway to Meadowood, and from the moment we arrived, it was clear we were in for something special. A warm and professional bellman greeted us, walked us to the front desk, and then personally drove us to our room after check-in. When we opened the door, we were welcomed with a bottle of champagne and a stunning room that took our breath away—gorgeous interiors, a luxurious bath and shower, a private deck, and serene views that immediately put us into relaxation mode.

After settling in, we made our way to the pool, where the service continued to impress. A team member escorted us to a perfectly placed seating area, laid out our towels, and checked in regularly to make sure we had everything we needed. Every drink and snack request was met with care and attention. It felt like the kind of thoughtful hospitality you only find at truly top-tier resorts.

That evening, we dined at Forum, the on-property restaurant with three Michelin stars—and for good reason. While the service was solid, the food was absolutely outstanding. My husband had the scallop risotto, which was perfectly cooked and beautifully balanced, and I had the New York strip with bordelaise sauce. Let me just say: it was the best New York strip I’ve ever had—rich, flavorful, and expertly prepared.

As if that wasn’t enough, I happened to mention a late-night craving for milk and cookies—and to my delight, they were delivered to our room complimentary, just because it was our anniversary. That small gesture spoke volumes about Meadowood’s thoughtful, guest-first approach.

The next morning was our much-anticipated spa day, and as self-proclaimed spa junkies who have experienced several resort spas across Napa, we both agree: the Meadowood Spa is the most beautiful and esthetically pleasing spa we’ve ever visited. The male/female facilities were lovely, but the true highlight was our 90-minute couples massage with Daniel and his colleague (whose name I, unfortunately, didn’t catch)—both of whom were exceptionally skilled. It was easily one of the best massages we’ve had in years.

We ended our spa experience in the Tree House, and if you're visiting, this is a must. The room is serene, gorgeously designed, and the perfect place to wind down after a treatment.

Meadowood made our anniversary unforgettable. Every detail, from the champagne welcome to the incredible spa experience, was executed with elegance, warmth, and care. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply in need of rejuvenation, we cannot recommend Meadowood Napa Valley enough. It’s truly a gem—and we already can’t...

So my children recently bought me a long weekend at Meadowood. It was very excited. The property looks beautiful online and it is beautiful when you get there. It is very organically integrated into the local landscape. This does also mean you are not very close to Yountville, etc. if you want to spend a day walking around shopping, etc. you’ll need to plan for that. However, one thing that the website didn’t make clear is that if you have ANY sort of issues with mobility. it’s LIKELY going to be problematic to get to your room; we had to navigate about 30 stairs after a steep incline from the parking pad. Going down was a little tricky, but having to navigate back up felt heart attack inducing. The service was exceptional. Everyone was friendly and accommodating They’re always willing to give you a ride from your room to the hotel restaurant or Spa however, you do have to climb all those stairs, etc. to get to it. The concierge, Cassandra was absolutely amazing at obtaining reservations and working with me to coordinate our weekend. Turn down service, room amenities all delightful and on point. Spa services were pleasant, if perhaps a little overpriced. Food at the forum was mediocre at best.. The best food we had was during the reception with the passed hors d’oeuvres. The halibut ceviche was perfection in a single bite. and the saffron and lemon cocktail was very tasty. Our meals though absolutely screamed for at least salt and pepper. For dinner, the “pork chop”, was three hunks of meat cut from a pork roast, very fatty and served with a chalky bitter sauce, and some unseasoned shredded Swiss chard, and oddly no starch. For lunch, the Meadowood burger ate like a chunk of unseasoned meatloaf on sweet brioche and the fries were undercooked and again, unsalted. We actually had to ask to have the salt shaker refilled because every salt shaker around us was empty. (Assuming that they are keeping things very bland for an older demographic), but of the entire weekend in Napa the two meals we ate at Meadowood were the most disappointing. Another thing to keep in mind, if you are not very tall, the tree top bath experience, as well as the soaker tubs within the rooms may be problematic. My daughter had to sit in the Tree top bath sideways because there was nothing to anchor her feet on, and she kept slipping under the water. Same with our In room soaker tub. For reference, we are 5’2/5’3. Some sort of bolster or adjustable bar in the tub(s), especially the tree top bath would have been appreciated for a $300 bath experience. Overall, it was a very pleasant weekend, but the distance from Napa and the mediocre food just sort of brought it down from the fun girls getaway that we had imagined that it would be; however, for a romantic weekend with a partner where you really don’t need to go downtown and you’re not picky about food and not concerned about an $1100+ a night price it would...