Time To Go Out: Napa Valley Restaurant Week

Basalt Restaurant in NapaIf all of the rain has kept you at home, and your attitude has changed from “good, we need it” to “jeez, enough already,” then we’ve got a great motivator to get out exploring again: Napa Valley Restaurant Week. From January 22 to 29, over two dozen restaurants are offering multi-course prix-fixe menus for lunch (usually for just $20 per person) and dinner (typically $36 or $46 per person), so you can explore the latest culinary hot-spots or visit your old favorites yet again.  Whether you’re a first-time visitor, a Bay Area native, or a long-term Valley resident, this week-long promotion includes plenty of discounted temptations.

Caipirinha

Caipirinha

Have you been to Galpão Gaucho yet – the Brazilian steakhouse that moved into the old Marie Callender’s location on Trower Avenue?  This is a great week to check them out because they’re offering their “Full Experience Dinner,” an unlimited menu of a gourmet salad bar (with over 40 items) and 17 different cuts of meat (including beef, pork, chicken, lamb and fish) for just $46 (discounted from the usual $57.50 rate).  You might even want to use those savings to try out Brazil’s national cocktail, a Caipirinha (made with cachaça, sugar and lime).   

Dungeness Crab on PierDepending on where you go during Napa Valley Restaurant Week, your specially priced meal may include Foie Gras with Toast, Roast Fennel and Potato Soup, Sashimi, Cioppino, Bacon Pork Tenderloin, Braised Beef Short Ribs, Warm Pear Galette with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, or a Huckleberry and Blueberry Linzer Tart. Compadres Rio Grille is offering specials with Dungeness Crab dishes including Crab Bisque, Crab Louie, and/or Crab Enchiladas. You may even find that a glass of wine is included in your prix-fixe meal (Grille 29, Tarla Mediterranean Bar + Grill).

In addition to the lunch and dinner specials, consider swinging by Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch this week for breakfast where you can visit their Café (open at 7 am) for a Panini and Coffee Beverage for just $8. Keep reading and we’ll offer more details on the 2017 Napa Valley Restaurant Week below.

Napa Valley Restaurant Week 2017 – Lunch Specials

Looking for a lunch destination?   Here are some options for $20 during Napa Valley Restaurant Week:

Brannan’s Grill (1374 Lincoln Street, Calistoga, 707-942-2233) – The first course is your choice of Cobb Salad, Tri-Tip Sandwich, or their famous House Burger, and then dessert is Crème Brulee.

Ca’ Momi Osteria (1141 First Street, Napa, 707-224-6664) – Take your pick from their menu’s Calzoncino and Battilocchio listings (with combinations such as Prosciutto & Funghi, Porchetta & Cipolle, and Zucca & Mozzarella), add their Insalata Misticanza, and you can finish with Panna Cotta Al Caramello for desset. (FYI, Calzoncino and Battilocchio are baked or fried Calzones)

Compadres Rio Grille (505 Lincoln Avenue, Napa, 707-253-1111) – Start a crab-focused lunch with Dungeness Crab Bisque, and then your second course is your preference of Crab Louie or a Crab Enchilada Plate.

Lacinato Kale

Lacinato Kale

Farmstead (Long Meadow Ranch, 738 Main Street, St. Helena, 707-963-4555) – Your two-course meal can begin with your choice of Lacinato Kale Salad with Chile Pequin and Garlic & Lemon Dressing or the Soup of the Day.  Second course options include a 12-hour Pulled Pork Sandwich with Potato Salad or Potato Gnocchi with Mushrooms, Smoked Turnips and Swiss Chard.

Gather Café (Stewart Cellars, 6752 Washington Street, Yountville, 707-963-9160) – There are two 3-course meals to choose from here: the “Omnivore” meal with Roasted Baby Beets & Citrus with Goat Cheese, Parsnip Bisque with Fennel Pollen, and Orange Cream Custard with Cranberry & Pecan, or the “Carnivore” meal made up of Sourdough Toast with Butternut Squash & Bacon & Cheddar, Short Rib Stew, and a Dark Chocolate Mousse with Hazelnut Praline.

Cocktails at Goose & Gander

Cocktails at Goose & Gander

Goose & Gander (1245 Spring Street, St. Helena, 707-967-8779) – For $20, your 2-course lunch can start with either Mushroom Soup or a Baby Lettuce Salad, with a main course choice of the famous Goose & Gander Burger or a Specialty Sandwich.

Market Restaurant (1347 Main Street, St. Helena, 707-963-3799) – Revel in comfort food here when you start with the Soup of the Day, followed by Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy.

Other Napa Valley restaurants offering lunch specials for $20 include Auberge du Soleil (specials available January 23-27 only), Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen, Harvest Table, Lucy, Mustards GrillNapkins Bar + Grill and Velo Pizzeria.    

 

Napa Valley Restaurant Week 2017 – Dinner Specials

During the 2017 Napa Valley Restaurant Week these dinner specials are either $36 or $46 per person:

Lake County PearsBasalt (790 Main Street, Napa, 707-927-5625) – You can enjoy three courses for $36 starting with a choice of Roasted Baby Beets with Quinoa, Mandarins and a Goat Cheese Croquette or Crispy Duck Confit with Fuyu Persimmons, Pink Lady Apples and Chicories.  Next, select between Bacon Pork Tenderloin with Braised Savoy Cabbage or Petrale Sole with Rutabaga and Pickled Cranberries.  Then, savor a Warm Pear Galette and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for dessert.

Blue Note (Napa Valley Opera House, 1030 Main Street, Napa, 707-603-1258) – This intimate jazz club and restaurant offers plenty of options for their $46 dinner menu, staring with an “opening act” of either Roast Fennel and Potato Soup, Potato Fritters with Caramelized Onion Aioli, or Burrata Cheese and Caramelized Red Onion with Pepper Conserva.  The “main attraction” choices include Crispy Chicken and Sweet Potato, Braised Lamb Shank with Moroccan Spiced Lentils, or a Pork Belly Open-Faced Sandwich on Model Bakery Bread.  You can then finish your experience with either Apple Tart or Chocolate Mousse

Brannan’s Grill (1374 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga, 707-942-2233) – The $36 dinner here begins with a House Salad, finishes with Crème Brulee, and in between you have your choice of Roast Chicken, Cioppino or Smoked Short Rib.

Boon Fly Café (4048 Sonoma Highway, Napa, 707-299-4870) – This three-course dinner consists of a Country Line Chicories Salad with Candied Walnuts and Winter Citrus, Braised Beef Short Rib with Riso de Polenta and Winter Squash Chow Chow, and Sticky Toffee Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce and Bourbon Vanilla Ice Cream (for $36).

Ca’ Momi Osteria (1141 First Street, Napa, 707-224-6664) – For $36, you can choose any item from their selection of Primi courses (such as Spaghetti alla Carbonara, Taglliatelle con Funghi, or Bigoli all’anatra), a side from the Contorni menu, and then finish with Panna Cotta al Caramello for dessert.

Compadres Rio Grill

Compadres Rio Grill

Compadres Rio Grille (505 Lincoln Avenue, Napa, 707-253-1111) – a three-course meal here starts with Crab Bisque or a House Salad, and then your main course can be either an Avocado Relleno (with Crab or Portabello) or Chicken Enchiladas Suizas or a Crab Enchilada Plate. Wrapping up your $36 dinner experience will be House-baked Churros filled with Vanilla Custard and accented with a Cajeta Drizzle.

Eiko’s (1385 Napa Town Center, Napa, 707-501-4444) – Enjoy a Sushi Dinner for $36 per person, starting with either Miso Soup or a House Salad.  Then, your main course consists of 4 pieces of Sashimi, 4 pieces of Nigiri, a Ricky Ricardo Roll and a California Roll for your dining pleasure, followed by Mochi Ice Cream for Dessert.

Farmstead (Long Meadow Ranch, 738 Main Street, St. Helena, 707-963-4555) – The three-course dinner here (for $36) offers two choices per course:  Grass-Fed Beef Meatballs or Lacinato Kale Salad with Garlic and Lemon Dressing, “Brick Cooked” Chicken with Braised Greens and Rancho Gordo Beans or Arborio Rice with Mushrooms and Roasted Baby Carrots, and then Beignets with Bourbon Caramel Sauce or Scharffenberger Chocolate Cream Pie (with Whipped Cream).

Leg of LambGalpão Gaucho (1990 Trower Avenue, Napa, 707-255-5121) – Share the centuries-old tradition of grilling meats over an open fire with traditional Brazilian Cheese Bread and side dishes, a Gourmet Salad Bar with over 40 items to choose from, and a main course of unlimited cuts of 17 meats including beef, pork, lamb, chicken and fish for $46 per person.

Goose & Gander (1245 Spring Street, St. Helena, 707-967-8779) – Start a $46 Restaurant Week Dinner with either a Baby Lettuce Salad or the Martini House Mushroom Soup, and end your evening with a seasonal dessert.  For your main course, select between Mary’s Organic Chicken Breast, Passmore Ranch Sturgeon or Grilled New York Steak Frites.

The Grill at Silverado (Silverado Resort & Spa, 1600 Atlas Peak Road, Napa, 707-257-5400) – Looking out upon a beautiful golf course, start your $46 three course dinner with a Classic Wedge Salad with Smoked Bacon and Point Reyes Blue Cheese.  Your main course will be Chef Pablo’s “Pollo Loco” with a Half Chicken, Corn Grits, Cheese-Stuffed Anaheim Chili and Avocado Salsa.  A serving of Mud Pie with an Oreo Crust completes your meal.

Market Restaurant (1347 Main Street, St. Helena, 707-963-3799) – Enjoy a meal starting with a Dungeness Crab Cake, followed by a Pan-Sautéed Chicken Breast, and then finish your evening with some Butterscotch Pudding for $46 per person.

Siena Restaurant (Meritage Resort and Spa, 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa, 707-251-1950) – Three courses with plenty of options comprise a $36 dining experience in southern Napa.  Start with either Shaved Brussel Sprouts with an Orange Cider Dressing, Hudson Valley Foie Gras with Toast, or a Pumpkin Risotto with Sage Brown Butter and Toasted Pepitas.  Your main course could be Short Rib Tagliatelle, Garganelli with White Shrimp, Mount Lassen Trout, or Racer 5-Braised Short Rib.  Then, make your dessert selection from Tiramisu, Pumpkin Cheesecake, or a Huckleberry & Blueberry Linzer Tart.

Other restaurants in Napa Valley offering dinner specials for $36 include Bar Terra , Cindy’s Backstreet Café, Grille 29Harvest Table, Mustards Grill, Napkins Bar + Grill and Velo Pizzeria.  Locations with dinner specials for $46 include Brasswood Bar + Kitchen, Tarla Mediterranean Bar + Grill, TORC and Velo Pizzeria.

Napa Wine List AwardIf you’re interested in enjoying some wine with your meal, you’ll find several of the restaurants offering recommended wine pairings at an additional charge. However, if you’d rather select your own Napa Valley wine to go with your meal, you may want to refer to the Napa Valley Wine List Awards.   More than 85 restaurants in the Valley have received this designation, which requires their wine list to feature at least 50% or 50 selections of Napa Valley wine.

Restaurants participating in the 2017 Napa Valley Restaurant Week who have been recognized with a Napa Valley Wine List Award from the nonprofit trade association Napa Valley Vintners include Auberge du Soleil, Basalt, Boon Fly Café, Brannan’s Grill, Brasswood Bar + Kitchen, Ca’ Momi, Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen, Compadres Rio Grille, Eiko’s, Farmstead, Galpão Gaucho, Goose & Gander, The Grill at Silverado Resort, Harvest Table, Market Restaurant, Mustards Grill, Napkins Bar + Grill, Siena Restaurant, Tarla Mediterranean Bar + Grill, and TORC.

Chateau Montelena

Chateau Montelena

By the way, if you’re a Napa Valley resident and you’d like to add some wine tasting to your Restaurant Week outing, you should really explore the Napa Neighbor program where you can enjoy VIP treatment, product discounts, and discounted wine tastings just by showing the winery staff your driver’s license.  In fact, many wineries offer free tastings to locals including Bennett LaneCharles Krug, Chateau Montelena, Darioush, Etude, Markham, and Twomey.

With just a little planning and a phone call, here are some of the wineries offering complimentary wine tasting (with a prearranged appointment) as part of Napa Neighbor offerings:  Behrens Family Winery, Benessere, ChappelletPine Ridge, Robert Craig, Salvestrin, Sequoia Grove, and Varozza Vineyards.  To see all of the details of the Napa Neighbor program specials at each of the over 100 participating wineries, please go here.

Once again, the Napa Valley Restaurant Week is only here until January 29, so you should move quickly to make plans (and reservations).  To view the complete list of restaurants participating, see more details, and/or start making those reservations, please go here.

 

 


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