Under-Study — Restaurant in St. Helena

Didn’t expect to love Under-Study as much as I did, but this is a top 3 breakfast spot for me. Order on the far left and then enjoy sitting on the patio. Great ambience, there’s an outdoor fireplace and modern lighting fixtures.

Probably the best bacon egg and cheese sandwich I’ve ever eaten. Husband had them substitute bacon for sausage and it was revolutionary. The pastry chefs here should be commended on their lamination, the croissant was glistening and had exquisite layers. Pepper aioli added a perfect layer of subtle heat.

Iced honeycomb latte was also not to be missed. Love the aesthetics and crunch of the candied topping.

Bacon trio was good, but wasn’t the highlight here. We also enjoyed the lobster French omelette, newly added Opera cake and two cookies. The subtle details (gold dusted coffee beans, candied figs, caramel drizzle) are what make these so memorable.

Highly recommend trying if you’re...

This is my new first stop when visiting Napa Valley. Chef Philip Tessier, of Michelin restaurant Press, brings not just another café to the Valley but a destination spot. Hard to say what my favorite item is, but the reinvented pain au chocolat with inverse puff pastry is a sure winner. Tessier's version of the Rueben sandwich, using puff pastry, is another. The lobster omelette is the best way to start the day. The wagyu tartare is out of this world! Everything is done to perfection with the same attention given to preparations at Press. And if you're a true croissant aficionado, but can't go to Paris, Under-Study is the...

Think of this place as a Michelin quality cafe/market: Coffee, bakery, butcher & wineshop. Food and pastries are made by the same cooks and pattisiers of the PRESS team. Food is served "tapas" style portions, pastries and breads are just a more elevated version of any other bakery in the area. The hidden gem is the butcher counter where you can find the same poultry/pork/beef/charcuterie they use at the PRESS restaurant but at a retail price. And the wine wall is a curated selection directly from the PRESS vault, the biggest wine collection in the area. Truly an amazing addition to the...