El Dorado Kitchen (4.44)

http://eldoradosonoma.com/el_dorado_kitchen.html

Open: 11:30am - 2:30pm for lunch, 5:30-9:00 for dinner

Reservation required? No, but recommended. Click below to reserve a table:

Menu: http://eldoradosonoma.com/pdf/EDK_DinnerMenu.pdf

Last barlinwine.com visit: 2011

Directions:

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The Meal:

Encompassing the back of the chic El Dorado Hotel on the historic Sonoma Square, El Dorado Kitchen is a fun spot for great wine country cuisine in an urban style setting. Their main dining room has a great large table for groups and they also offer a beautiful poolside courtyard for outdoor dining under fig trees. The open spacing and low lighting in the restaurant allow for an intimate dining experience in any location.

El Dorado Kitchen has mastered the typical wine country cuisine featuring local produce and ingredients. The last time we dined we went with a group and shared a bunch of appetizers and entrees. For starters, we loved the braised pork belly with watermelon and jalepeno viniagrette and kanpachi crudo with citrus, watermelon relish, jalapeno and herbs. Entree highlights included the skate wing with sunchoke puree, brussel sprouts, bacon lardons and sherry jus and the wild mushroom risotto with black truffle, marscapone, sweet corn and spinach. All of these were delicious and made for a great meal.

However, what sets El Dorado Kitchen apart for me was my run-in with a seasonal special: Sweet Corn Agnolotti that I ate 4 years ago. I still crave it! I recall fresh corn, a soft cheese such as marscapone and a delicious home made pasta. The details are a bit fuzzy but the taste was amazing. At that same meal Greg had a Braised Short Rib with Truffle Fries that he still raves about. You had to stop us from licking our plates that evening. Our second visit wasn't quite as magical in my mind but the food was all very good. We were staying at the hotel during our last visit so the $15 corkage fee was waived. Dinner for 5 of us ran around $50 a person, not including tip. I recall our waiter being a bit annoying, but he was helpful with recommending dishes on the menu. Greg doesn't remember anything annoying about the waiter and thought the second trip was as excellent as the first!



El Dorado Kitchen also runs a little cafe for those looking for a more laid back option. Their chalkboard menu features coffee, pastries, oatmeal and the like for breakfast and then lunch and dinner entrees later in the day. It's a really cute spot for a cute bite.

Recommended food:Sweet Corn Agnolotti!!! From the everyday menu, the Wild Mushroom Risotto and the Pork Duo are both excellent.

Ratings (out of 5):

FOOD	4.75	SERVICE	4.25
ATMOSPHERE	4.50	VALUE	4.25
OVERALL		4.44

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Rosso (4.38)

http://www.rossopizzeria.com/

Open: 11:30am - 10:00pm, 7 days a week

Reservation required? No

Menu: http://www.rossopizzeria.com/rosso_menu.pdf

Last barlinwine.com visit: 2012 (April 15, 2012 Itinerary)

Directions:

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The Meal:

If you are looking for a break from heavy wine country cuisine and want something more low key, you must try Rosso. I take that back....if you are in Santa Rosa, or anywhere in wine country, you MUST try Rosso! Tucked away in a rather tacky appearing strip mall (Creekside Center if you're familiar with the area), this place is a find. We were introduced to Rosso by my brother about four years ago and have made it a mandatory stop every time we visit Sonoma. Don't try to go on the 4th of July though....we had planned on lunch there that day and they were closed. Aside from holidays, they're open 7 days a week. Needless to say, missing Rosso almost ruined the trip for me.

Rosso's philosophy is "Passionate about Food, Wine and Soccer." They serve a menu of various Italian dishes, the highlight of which are their wood-fired Neopolitan style pizzas. We normally order a piadine, a pizza crust topped with a fresh salad with local ingredients (we like the caprese - patch tomatoes, homemade mozzarella, basil pesto, arugula as big as my hand, and balsamic vinaigrette), along with a wood fired pizza. Rosso also makes its own burrata, offers great cheese and meat boards, and features seasonal specials such as braised beef short ribs or polenta. Their food menu is complemented by a nice list of wines with a large selection by the glass from here, there (Italy) and everywhere.

The atmosphere is very laid back with Italian posters covering the walls and Italian soccer on the television. These people are super crazy about their soccer. On our first visit we were eating during the NBA playoffs and asked if they might switch one of the televisions to the basketball game. What?! Were we crazy?! This is a soccer place. They were airing what was likely a taped version of some minor Italian league game (as it was the middle of the night in Europe) and there was no way that was going to change. Outside of that the service has always been great. Rosso is very busy at night and doesn't take reservations so we normally go for lunch, but it is a great spot for lunch or dinner. Prices are reasonable: pizzas in the $13-$17 range and piadine and appetizers $9 to $15.

Recommended food:The pizzas are great, but definitely try a piadine. Also, if they happen to have burrata on special, don't miss it.

Ratings (out of 5):

FOOD	5.00	SERVICE	4.00
ATMOSPHERE	4.00	VALUE	4.50
OVERALL		4.38

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Taylor's Refresher (4.38)

http://gotts.com/

Open: 10:30am - 10:00pm (til 9pm in the winter)

Reservation required? No

Last barlinwine.com visit: 2012 (April 18, 2012 Itinerary)

Directions:

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The Meal:

Taylor's Refresher, a fixture along Highway 29 in St. Helena since 1949 is a roadside burger stop that is a MUST for lunch in Napa. They have in the last few years been purchased and have changed their name to Gott's but Greg and I continue to call the place Taylor's and will continue to do so. The Taylor's on 29 is an old drive-in and the parking lot still has 50s style overhanging awnings. You order at a window and pick up your food when your name is called. They have recently expanded the all outdoor seating area and there are plenty of counters and picnic tables in sunny and shady spots.

My dreamy Ahi Tuna Burger

Taylor's is known for it's burgers which are amazing. We love the burger with blue cheese; the sharp Point Reyes blue cheese is nicely balanced by the melt-in-your-mouth burger. There are multiple fries options including sweet potato fries and garlic fries. The milkshakes are thick and delicious and come in a variety of flavors including espresso bean and mint chip. There is something for everyone on this roadside menu including hot dogs, salads, fish facos and a nice beer and wine list. However, the reason I insist on stopping every trip to wine country and will continue to do so is the Ahi Tuna Burger. This fantastic creation includes a large seared raw tuna steak served on a egg roll with asian coleslaw and ginger wasabi mayo. I still have dreams about it!


The burgers are reasonably priced at $7-11; the seafood options are a bit pricier at $10-15. By the time you finish ordering drinks and sides, suddenly you'll find yourself shelling out somewhere in the neighborhood of $20/person for a burger lunch. I think it is worth every penny. There are other Gott's in the Ferry Building in San Francisco and in downtown Napa for those so inclined. Expect to stand in line for a solid 15-20 minutes if you come during the lunch hour (and longer on weekends), but the staff is courteous once you reach the counter and your food will be ready typically within 10 minutes of placing your order. We still prefer the original and will be sure to be back on our next trip. Until then, I will dream of my friend, the ATB.

I'm in heaven!  Yum!

Recommended food:The Ahi Tuna Burger! I am salivating just thinking about it!

Ratings (out of 5):

FOOD	5.00	SERVICE	4.00
ATMOSPHERE	4.25	VALUE	4.25
OVERALL		4.38

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Redd (4.75)

http://www.reddnapavalley.com/

Open:
Lunch 11:30am to 2:30pm Monday to Saturday
Dinner 5:30pm to 9:30pm Nightly
Brunch 11am to 2:30pm Sundays

Reservation required? No, but recommended. Click below to reserve a table:

Last barlinwine.com visit: 2011

Directions:

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The Meal:

Yum! While we certainly haven’t visited every wine country restaurant, Redd is probably in the lead as our consensus favorite. Located in downtown Yountville amidst a few other notables, Redd stands out for their California cuisine tasting menu with Asian, Mexican and European influences. The chef, Richard Reddington, is formerly of Masa and Jardiniere in San Francisco, and Auberge du Soleil in Napa Valley and he describes this restaurant as "the type of restaurant I like to spend time at."

They offer a la carte options or a "chef's choice" five course tasting for $80. We have done the tasting menu on our two visits and have not been disappointed. The tasting consists of one raw fish, one cooked fish, one poultry/fowl/game, one red meat course and one dessert. For each course they have two different surprise offerings, so for a table of two there are 10 individual courses which are both large enough and great for sharing. The last time there were three of us so we had fun deciding whether we had received two of our favorite dish for that course or not (though in many cases it was even hard to determine which of the two was best).

Each course seems better than the last. Favorites on our last visit include a tuna tartare, halibut with clam and chorizo, and a prime rib/short rib combo that melted in your mouth. The portions are very sizable for a tasting menu and the a la carte options are downright large. Having tried numerous tasting menus, I think this is one of the most accessible tasting menus I've had - there's nothing too out there for the casual diner and still plenty to excite the foodies that flock to the valley. There is, of course, a great California wine list with plenty of great wines by the glass (we have had both Larkmead Cabernet and Vineyard 29 by the glass) and they also offer a wine pairing with the tasting menu.

The atmosphere is very minimalist and clean indoors and there is a chic patio outside under the shade of olive trees. The service each time we've been there has been great. The staff is very attentive to details without being too in your face. The last time we were there the waiter came over to tell me how much he loved my necklace so of course I thought he was great.

There are so many restaurants in Napa that we always try to visit new ones but I think that Redd will continue to be an every trip stop for the foreseeable future.

Recommended food: The chef's tasting menu is a great way to try a lot of different dishes, especially if you have an even number of people.

Ratings (out of 5):

FOOD	5.00	SERVICE	4.75
ATMOSPHERE	4.75	VALUE	4.50
OVERALL		4.75

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