Shortlist: 8 Must-Try Yountville Restaurants That Locals Love!
|
Prefer listening over reading? We got you covered!
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
We love Yountville for a lot of reasons. It has exquisite wineries offering some of the country’s finest wines, art galleries displaying masterpieces, and of course, balloon rides to view the beautiful scenery in Yountville and the surrounding Napa Valley.
But just like many others, what we love about this town the most is the luxury dining experiences it offers!
Home to many Thomas Keller restaurants and other world-class eateries, Yountville is an epicenter of fine dining and gourmet food.
Since we know and love this quaint little town well, we’ve put together a list of what we believe are some of the best restaurants in Yountville. Experience the country’s best food in exquisite settings in this beautiful town with our top eight picks. Bon appetit!
Our Top Eight Picks For The Best Restaurants In Yountville For Food & Experiences!
1. Bistro Jeanty
Chef Philippe Jeanty dishes out home-style, authentic French eats in this charming bistro.
Located on Washington Street, Bistro Jeanty boasts Old World Flair with its quaint atmosphere, capturing the true essence of a French bistro. The interior has fun French art and elegant tables and chairs, along with a fireplace that’s lit during winters, while the outdoor patio has flower-lined windows and striped awnings – the perfect, intimate setting for a romantic date.
With a menu that hits all the corners of soulful French cuisine, the food here will make you feel like you’re dining right in the streets of Paris.
We think you should start with the Crême de Tomate en Croute, which is a deliciously rich and creamy tomato soup in a bowl covered with the flakiest puff pastry you’ll ever witness. But if you love seafood, we think that their Moules à la Normande which are mussels steamed in cider with crème fraiche and served with grilled bread will be right up your street!
For the main course, opt for the chef’s famous Coq Au Vin, which is chicken stewed in red wine along with mushrooms and apple smoked bacon. The dish is truly traditional and tastes fantastic – Bonjour indeed!
The wine list is vast and impressive too, but we highly recommend trying out the Espresso Martini – a dessert cocktail that tastes just as unique as it sounds!
Walk in any day from Thursday to Monday, between 11.30 am to 9 pm, but we suggest you reserve a table in advance as the place can get super busy. You’ll have a casual, fun, and moderately priced meal at one of the best restaurants in Yountville, with food that’s far more impressive than many of the higher priced eateries in the city!
Address: 6510 Washington St, Yountville
2. Ad Hoc
One of Thomas Keller’s Michelin star restaurants, Ad Hoc serves up homey, family-style cuisine that never fails to impress – and is affordable too.
The place is minimalist and modern, with a spacious dining room that has wood accents, bright lights, and simple decor. It’s the perfect place for lunch or dinner with your family after you’re done walking around this small yet charming town.
The atmosphere is lively and cheery, and there’s also a casual bar where you can wait with your drinks as the tables clear at this busy restaurant.
As for the menu, it changes daily and is a fixed four-course meal, so you only get to try whatever is set by the chef that day. You can look at the menu on their website that’s updated daily before you visit, but we bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised and satisfied with the food even if you don’t check what’s up for grabs beforehand.
For the appetizers, expect a fresh salad, such as a watermelon or melon salad, which is not overly dressed and tastes refreshing and appetizing. The main course often has elevated versions of cuts like ribeye or pork chops cooked to perfection, and at other times there’s stuff like pickled shrimps with roasted veggies. The third course tends to be a cheese course, served with nuts, fruit, and jam on the side – an experience worth seeking out!
Dessert always has something homey like banana bread or sundaes, but you should expect a fancy and elevated version of these sweet delights since it’s famous chef Thomas Keller we’re talking about here!
Open from Thursday to Monday, from 4.30 pm onwards, you can certainly walk into this place for a delicious meal, but we recommend reserving a table if you don’t want to wait long!
Oh and, you can also drop by on a Sunday for one of the city’s best brunch experiences offering a prix fixe meal.
Address: 6476 Washington St, Yountville
3. Mustards Grill
Mustards Grill is all about fresh, organic, locally-sourced ingredients, as owner/chef Cindy Pawclyn is strict about her localvore policy at this so-called ‘deluxe truckstop’.
Located on Helena Highway, just a couple of minutes’ drive outside Yountville, this place has two big gardens beside it, where there’s produce growing all around. And 20% of that is used for cooking in the restaurant, while the rest is carefully procured from selected farms nearby. So expect fresh, farm-to-table style meals here.
Why not walk in the gardens before or after your visit to this casual yet elegant restaurant, where the interior is airy and relaxing with big windows, minimal decor, and a rustic, wooden ceiling. There’s also outdoor seating under big red umbrellas surrounded by lush greenery, so it’s safe to say that this place offers some of the town’s best ambiance!
It’s the mouth-watering American fare, though, that has earned this place a Michelin star, with some unique and unusual items on offer.
Take for example their Mustard Marinated Rabbit (yep – you read that right!), which is one of the most flavor-packed dishes on the menu, served with garlic braised artichokes and lemon aioli. If you’re not really into the rabbit, go for their ever-popular Pork Chops that are glazed with house-made mustard and served on top of the best pickled red cabbage you will ever get your hands on!
The wine list here is seemingly endless too, but you can also get ales, ciders, and other refreshing drinks to accompany your meal.
Drop by any day from 11.30 am onwards, but since the place is always buzzing with locals and visitors, and queues go well outside the door, you might want to consider reserving a table.
Address: 7399 St Helena Hwy, Yountville
4. Bottega Napa Valley
If you’re looking for rustic Italian food, head towards Bottega – a posh, upscale place and certainly one of the best restaurants in Yountville, owned by celebrity chef Michael Chiarello.
Located at the famous V Marketplace on Washington Street (so perfect for a post-retail therapy pit stop), this place is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Napa Valley! It has multiple, spacious dining rooms, which have brick walls, glass chandeliers, leather seats, dim lights, and pretty flowers on every table.
The outdoor seating area is shaded, roomy, but also very aesthetic, with beautiful tables and chairs. There’s even a real fireplace, both inside and outside, which is lit up on cold days, making the ambiance even more romantic.
As for the food, it’s not just delicious but plated in the most chef-y, classy way possible. The rustic and authentic dishes here are elevated to their best version with innovative twists on them, so expect a roller coaster ride for your taste buds.
We recommend the Costolette di Manzo, which is melt-in-the-mouth braised short ribs in a dark, tangy-sweet espresso sauce over polenta – a downright delicious dish with bold flavors and unlike anything you’ll ever have! Other notable items include the calamari – a delicious plate of crispy rice crusted Monterey Squid – and the Raviolo, which is made from potato pasta and filled with egg yolk, ricotta, and Swiss chard in a truffled brown butter and sage sauce.
Their wine list is also pretty extensive with affordable options, including many beers and ciders.
Drop by any day from 11 am onwards from Friday to Sunday, 4 pm onwards on Mondays, and 12 pm onwards from Tuesday to Thursday. And just like any restaurant in Napa Valley, consider making a reservation to avoid long waits!
Address: V Marketplace, 6525 Washington Street, Yountville
5. Bouchon Bistro
While Yountville has no shortage of French restaurants, Bouchon is worth visiting as it’s Thomas Keller’s take on a classic French bistro.
Even though it’s located on the main strip, this place is as charming as any quaint little bistro in the streets of Paris. Just from the outside, you’ll fall in love with the polished redwood, cute awnings, and a patio with quaint tables and chairs enclosed by vibrant bushes. The interior is elegant as well and has a pleasant, cheery, and welcoming vibe to it, with comfortable red sofas and chairs and simple decor.
Once you’re done taking in the views, turn towards the exciting menu, which may seem limited at first, but has something available for everyone. Our favorite is the Poulet Rôti Chasseur – tuck into the moist and tender chicken that’s crispy from the outside and served with button mushrooms, crushed tomatoes, potatoes, and bacon lardons. Simply Magnifique!
If you want something a little more hearty, look no further than Chef Keller’s special Steak Bouchon, which is a ribeye steak topped with Béarnaise sauce and served with a generous portion of delicious french fries.
Oh and don’t forget to get their ever-popular oysters and Moscow Moules from behind the swanky zinc bar – it’ll be worth the splurge!
A meal here will make you understand why Bouchon got its Michelin star, so drop by any day from 11 am onwards (10 am for weekend brunches!), and don’t forget to try some French baked goods from the historical Bouchon Bakery next door.
Address: 6534 Washington St, Yountville
6. Brix
Modern chic and lush gardens meet at this Wine Country favorite. Located on Helena Highway, Brix doesn’t just serve delicious Californian fare but also has breathtaking views of the vineyards in Napa Valley.
Sitting on the spacious outdoor patio, you’ll have a view of their gorgeous orchards and vegetable gardens with the rolling hills and vineyards as the backdrop. Once you step inside, though, you’ll find yourself in a completely different ambiance. The gray and white-themed minimalist interior is super modern, with chic chairs and polished wood tables, glass chandeliers, carpeted floors, and a fancy little bar.
The menus are different for lunch and dinner, but they’re both equally tempting. In particular Brix is popular for their wood-grilled steaks, so definitely try the Wood-Grilled Steak Frites for lunch. This hanger steak melts in the mouth and comes with caramelized onions, mushrooms, truffle aioli, and fries on the side.
For dinner, try the ever-popular Sea Scallops that are cooked to perfection and served with a potato puree, veggies, black truffle vinaigrette, and hazelnuts – a combination that works wonders on the taste buds. Sundays are prime rib nights here, and the locals rave about this delicious fall-off-the-bone dish that keeps the crowd coming back for more!
This picturesque location is perfect for a Sunday brunch, while dinners are often accompanied by soulful live music. So it’s safe to say that no matter which meal you choose Brix for, you’re going to thank yourself for dropping by what is easily one of the best restaurants in Yountville.
They’re closed on Tuesdays but open to dish out delicious eats from 11.30 am onwards for the rest of the week.
Address: 7377 St Helena Hwy, Yountville
7. RH Yountville Restaurant
While the food at RH is divine, the interior design here deserves 5 stars on its own, as you’ll have a hard time taking your eyes off the gorgeous decor.
This quintessential Napa restaurant is the perfect spot for a romantic date, as elaborate glass chandeliers hang everywhere among large olive trees – both inside and outside on the patio. The art and design inside their spacious dining rooms are a sight to see, and there are gorgeous fireplaces that keep the place warm and cozy on cold days. While it may be very modern and upscale, the ambiance here is relaxing and soothing, especially near the indoor fountains.
Admittedly, the menu is pretty limited, but the stuff they do have is spectacularly presented and impeccably finished. For starters, we recommend opting for their arugula salad which has sweet grapes, sunflower seeds, a citrus vinaigrette, and parmesan shavings on top. All the options for the main courses are enticing, so you’ll be hard-pressed not to order more than one dish! Our favorite is the broiled salmon that’s always fresh and melts in the mouth, and glazed with a delicious honey, brown butter, and lemon sauce.
On weekends, RH serves a mouth-watering brunch from 10 am onwards, with refreshing bellinis and mimosas that are worth the splurge.
Open 7 days a week from 11.30 am onwards on weekdays, this place is easily one of the best restaurants in Yountville and is a must-visit!
Address: 6725 Washington St, Yountville
8. The French Laundry
Okay, this one may not be for everybody, but The French Laundry is that one bucket-list restaurant everyone wishes to dine at.
It’s nearly impossible to get reservations here, as spots open two months in advance and seats get sold out within seconds. But if you do manage to book a seat, consider yourself lucky, as this place is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially since dinner for two can cost up to $1000 and higher!
Located on Washington Street, this upscale place is built on a quaint two-story stone cottage with an iconic blue door for entrance. Inside, there’s dim lighting, napkins folded in a fancy manner, fine china, and elegant decor. Wrapping around the kitchen are windows where you can watch the master chefs wave in and out of view, preparing dishes with painstaking precision. You can also opt to dine at their charming courtyard outdoors that’s surrounded by beautiful gardens and greenery.
It’s the exquisite, inventive dishes, though, that earned this Thomas Keller restaurant its three Michelin stars. The pre-fixed menu changes every day and spans over nine whole courses with bite-sized portions. You can choose from the Chef’s Tasting menu or the Vegetarian menu, both of which offer a surreal, fine dining experience.
While you can never know what the menu will offer on the day you visit, there are certainly some regular dishes you can expect during the 3-hour-long service. The salmon tartare with red onion creme fraiche is a common appetizer, which is a tiny cone made out of crispy salmon and filled with red onion cream Рa complex dish with rich flavors that looks deceptively simple! Other items that are often served are goug̬res Рa savory, cheese-filled pastry Рand nature-fed, tender veal served with borscht sauce Рa mouthful you will certainly remember for a lifetime.
Serving dinner from 4 to 8 pm, the French Laundry is one of the best restaurants in the world – and is an experience worth saving up for. Oh and, don’t forget to have a stroll in their gorgeous garden adjacent to the building when you get there!
Address: 6640 Washington St, Yountville
The Best Restaurants In Yountville: Final Thoughts
This town has dozens of fine dining places that are luxurious and often have outrageous price tags on their menu.
Bur our carefully curated list of the best restaurants in Yountville will be worth the splurge, as they all have impeccable service, ambiance, and heavenly food!
