Napa Travel: Casual Dining
Comfy cafés, casual eats and road food
Posted: June 29, 2004
It's hard to get a bad meal in Napa -- whether you're indulging in truffles, lingering over foie gras or simply hankering for a burger or craving pizza. If you need a place to regroup or recharge, consider Taylor's Refresher, Buster's Barbecue or Pizzeria Tra Vigne. For gourmet picnic provisions, hit Dean & Deluca, Sunshine Foods, Oakville Grocery or Palisades Market. If you want to hang out with the locals, head over to Gordon's Café, where every customer is greeted with a "What'll you have, love?"
Buster's Barbecue
1207 Foothill Blvd., Calistoga
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Telephone (707) 942-5605
Open Sunday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The mouthwatering aromas will lead you to Buster's. Disguised as a shack off the side of the road, this is a serious shrine to juicy and perfectly smoked meats. Buster himself will prepare your tri-tip, ribs or chicken, and you can join other patrons at picnic tables where paper towels are the linen of choice. Two warnings: Buster's only accepts cash or check, and the hot sauce is fiery.
Dean & Deluca
607 S. St. Helena Highway, St. Helena
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Telephone (707) 967-9980
Web site www.deandeluca.com
OpenEspresso bar, Monday to Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to
7 p.m.; store, daily, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Dean & Deluca is a temple for epicureans, with a vast collection of California wine, cookware and high-end condiments and spices. There are some prepared foods in back, and you can't beat their selection for the ultimate picnic. Consider imported delicacies such as serrano ham or bresaola, local cheeses, blue cheese-stuffed olives, fresh bread and truffled pâtés. The fresh pastries and espresso drinks are excellent.
Gordon's Café and Wine Bar
6770 Washington St., Yountville
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Telephone (707) 944-8246
Open Daily, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (kitchen closes at 3 p.m.)
This cozy spot, with wooden furniture and freshly cut flowers everywhere, is a great place to soak up the local color and start the day. Lunch and brunch menus include tangerine mimosas, salmon-rock shrimp cakes with Meyer lemon aioli, organic salads, scrambled eggs with seasonal vegetables, and fresh-baked scones, muffins and croissants.
Oakville Grocery
7856 St. Helena Highway, Oakville
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Telephone (707) 944-8802
Web site www.oakvillegrocery.com
Open Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It's always crowded at the Oakville Grocery, so try to avoid it at lunchtime, when the aisles are the most jammed. Mustards, olive oils and condiments are on display (and often available for sampling), and there's an impressive collection of wine in the back. The deli counter offers ideal picnic food -- crab cakes, pecan-crusted chicken, various salads, cheeses and olives galore, and a large selection of sandwiches. The cookies and pastries are terrific. If there's room, grab a spot on one of the benches out front and watch Napa Valley go by.
Palisades Market & Delicatessen
1506 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga
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Telephone (707) 942-9549
Open Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday to Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This market charms with its wood floors, friendly staff, and tables stacked with kitchenware and gourmet goods. But the real attraction is the large assortment of tempting foods, including burritos, wraps, salmon cakes, salads, delicious hot and cold sandwiches and their own Palisades Ding Dongs -- chocolate ganache-covered sandwiches of chocolate cake filled with cream. There are picnic tables out back, and you can pick up a "picnic pack" of disposable plates, napkins and utensils all ready to go.
Pizzeria Tra Vigne
1016 Main St., St. Helena
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Telephone (707) 967-9999
Open Daily, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
If pizza is what you're craving, look for the big red tomato by the entrance of Pizzeria Tra Vigne in downtown St. Helena. Thin, crunchy, wood fired-oven crusts, quality toppings and tasty combinations make the pizzas first-rate. Pastas and salads and a good selection of beer and wine round out the menu. Leather booths inside and patio seating outside add a touch of style to this otherwise casual joint.
Sunshine Foods
1115 Main St., St. Helena
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Telephone (707) 963-7070
Open Daily, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
You'll wish you had this kind of sunshine in your own neighborhood. This specialty market features a dazzling selection of cheeses and an amazing assortment of seafood, marinated meats and produce. It's a delight to browse the countless gourmet products on the shelves. Prepared foods such as soups, sushi, roasted and fried chicken and even cheeseburgers made to order make this another great option for picnic provisions.
Taylor's Refresher
933 Main St., St. Helena
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Telephone (707) 963-3486
Web site www.taylorsrefresher.com (coming soon)
Open Daily, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (winter); 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (summer)
Popular with the locals, Taylor's looks like a '50s diner but is actually a roadside stand in downtown St. Helena where you order from a window, sit at a picnic table and wait to hear your name on the loudspeaker. The fare is standard American, with some surprises -- juicy burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches, as well as tasty fish tacos, ahi burgers, beer-battered onion rings and the most amazing milk shakes. There is also a small selection of beer and wine.
