NAPA Kitchen + Bar Westerville — Restaurant in Westerville

3.5 stars from me here. Place seemed nice, menu certainly says “this place is great”. The salad was good, the fondu app was great, but then our meals came, and not sure if it was just because we came at 8:30 (their only available reservation) or what, but I ordered the smoked chicken tortellini and added a chicken breast for $4. I got half a chicken breast that was extremely over cooked and was more like grilled chicken jerky, but pasta was great. Felt like maybe they cook a bunch of the grilled chicken ahead of time and then reheat and serve when ordered, and I got the very last of what had been available all day. My wife ordered the steak and fries and it was most definitely not worth $38, more like a $22 steak at best, was ordered medium, and I’m not sure if the steak was just a very poor cut/source, but man was it tough to eat. Very dry and had to use the knife to cut it into thin slices just to get it down, Ithink quality starts with buying good meat. This was not. Was supposed to get garlic Parmesan fries with it and seemed to us just a little salt and pepper were thrown on top. I didn’t see or taste any garlic or parm. The veggies it was served with were swimming in oil and didn’t have much flavor. Oh and they wanted $8 for a draft beer….yikes. Had higher hopes as the menu looks delicious, but you are only as strong as your weakest link, and that seems to be their line cooks. Service was okay, our waiter did take a long time to come and get our order from us(we were hungry and I’m not trying to spend 2 hours here) and I finally had to yell to him as he buzzed past that we would like to order our food because he just kept going and doing other things. Short staffed? Or just the waiter not great? Not sure there. Likely the last time we would dine here. Just an overpriced Olive Garden with...

The Wine Bistro is not one of my favorites in Westerville, but it is a nice place to go to mix things up a bit. The reason it is not my favorite place is (writing these here because my reasons might be plusses for you): Serves mostly heavy food. I like to be able to eat a lighter fare, and especially like to watch how much fat I intake and keep it on the lower aide--this is hard to do at The Wine Bistro because the character of their food is heavy, comfort style food (in my opinion). They do have some salads but I don't always just want to have to pick from the salad menu. The interior decor and mood is dark and warm. While I like a warm feeling, the darkness is not my favorite for summer especially. I think of this restaurant as being a good place to go in wintertime, where the lowlight is overcompensated with the cozy feeling. They do have outdoor seating you can use in warm weather and that's where we sit when we go. However, the outdoor seating overlooks a parking lot. That's not the most exciting or relaxing feeling but they do a good job of creating a nice outdoor area with what they have.

Those are my main two reasons for it not being on my main "to-go" list in Westerville. However, here are some things that are great about the place: The service: I have always been pleased with the great service here. The people are very friendly, prompt and courteous. Quality of food: while the heavy style food is not my first pick, I do have to say it's quite delicious and they have a nice variety. So when I decide to have a cheat meal, I feel good about coming here.

Overall, it's a nice place to go and I return here every few months or so. I would...

For a unique and memorable dining experience, look no further than Napa Kitchen in Westerville, just outside Columbus, Ohio. I had the pleasure of attending their monthly food and wine tasting event, featuring a delightful "5-course tasting and celebration of Portuguese wines."

From the warm welcome, elegant ambiance, to the expertly guided courses paired with Portuguese wines, the evening was truly unforgettable. Highlights included a delicate summer salad with honey-glazed peaches and toasted pistachios paired perfectly with Quinta da Mariposa white wine. Or, the Quinta de Lemos Dona Santana was the perfect complement with the melt in your mouth braised short ribs in a red wine reduction.

However, the star of the evening, however, was the wine selection, including the special release 2015 Sidonio de Sousa Vinho d’ Autor. Add to this, each dish, expertly crafted by the chef, enhanced the flavors of every pour.

If you're in Columbus, Ohio, be sure to check out Napa Kitchen's upcoming events or just for a good meal and great wines; you won't be disappointed! 🍇🍴🌹

VERY SPECIAL THANKS: I am grateful to General Manager Teresa Decker for taking pity on me as a party of one and for her last-minute invitation to attend this tasting. I also extend my appreciation to the exceptional Executive Chef Mya Gonsalves, who took on the challenge of curating the evening's tasting, expertly pairing the wines and creating...