The Napa Valley Bistro Is “Delightful”

For dinner on my first night in Napa, good friends Brian and Lori Nuss, Didier Loustau and Susan Quinn took me to dinner at the newly opened Napa Valley Bistro located in downtown Napa just east of Main Street at 975 Clinton Street.

The Napa Valley Bistro was opened in May of this year by two local chefs: Bernardo Ayala (former executive chef at Silverado Brewing Company and Sous-chef of Napa Valley Grill) and Ernesto Martinez, chef and owner of Market in St. Helena. Together, they bring over 25 years of experience to the new restaurant. Jennifer Baum is at the helm as general manager.

Pork Chops at the Napa Valley Bistro

The Huevos Rancheros at the Napa Valley Bistro

The menu at the Napa Valley Bistro reflects the two owner/chefs’ vision of classic American and modern comfort food. It offers such home-style main dishes as barbecued ribs, steaks and chops, fish and chips, burgers and a classic macaroni and cheese.

After my day-long trip to Napa, I enjoyed the bistro burger topped with bleu cheese and apple wood smoked bacon with lettuce and tomato. It was served with a side of French fries. It was just what I needed after a 5-hour long airline flight.

The wine of the evening was Brian’s 2010 Vinoce Mount Veeder blended Cabernet Franc from the Bistro’s Wine List, a bottle of AJ Pearce Cabernet Sauvignon.

Overall the dinner was very enjoyable. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The food is good and the atmosphere was delightful.

The wine list is compact but adequate. The small “wine by the glass” program offers 12 wines, while the overall wine list includes 44 Napa Valley selections. So when you are in Napa, be sure to try the Napa Valley Bistro for lunch or dinner. Have you been to the Napa Valley Bistro? What did you enjoy there?

Cheers.