Napa Valley Recommendations

Someone wrote:
: I'll be in the Napa area in August and am looking for suggestions for good, : moderately priced restaurants.   ANy thoughts on Mustard's?  I've heard that : name come up quite a bit.

The one Napa Valley restaurant that I have tried in the last year was Terra in St. Helena.  It was exceptionally good, but I don't know if I would call it moderate- appetizers were 5 to 12 $ and entrees were mostly in the teens. We brought our own wine so I can't report on prices but the selection is huge.  I haven't tried Mustard's, but it still has a good reputation.  If you want to eat an inexpensive lunch, stop in at Guido's olive oil factory in St. Helena and buy salami and cheese and then go to the bakery right on the main drag downtown for bread.

Good eats- D.M.

> I'll be in the Napa area in August and am looking for suggestions for good,
> moderately priced restaurants.   ANy thoughts on Mustard's?  I've heard that
> name come up quite a bit.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Maura

Having just returned from Napa, I can tell you that Mustard's is still hot 'n happening -- the food is excellent, particularly an appetizer of a pasillo pepper stuffed with a kind of succotash topped with salsa.  The wine list is really extensive, but pretty expensive considering the fact that so many of its offerings basically come from across the street.

Another big restaurant is Tra Vigne, owned as it happens by the people who have Mustard's, but very different.  People always suggest eating outside in order to feel like you're in Tuscany, but the dining room is so spectacular, you can't go wrong inside either.  Again, the food is great, especially the grilled rabbit (as opposed to Mustard's lackluster "fwied wabbit").

Both of these places will run you $50/person easy -- and a lot more if you really indulge in the wine.  But that's wine country -- don't go there if you're looking for a bargain.

Incidentally, there's a great B&B in Yountville, called The Webber Place, just around the corner from the French Laundry, another dining heavyweight, a beautiful, luxurious restaurant with elaborate food and high prices.  Anyway, The Webber Place is decorated in the American folklorist style, a lot of which was created by its folksy artist owner, Diane Bartholomew.  The house has a pleasantly ramshackle look, but is in fact extremely well-maintained with supremely comfortable beds.  By Napa standards, the cost isn't very high either -- $99 on weekend, $79 on weekdays for a room with a shared bath (the best of which is the corner "Sun Room"; but even the most expensive room is only $129, I think. Breakfasts are excellent.