Saint Helena restaurants of Martini House caliber are not known for value, which makes their “family meals” very special.  “Family meals” are what are normally referred to in the hospitality trade as staff meals prepared for staff before formal service begins.  And if you read the Bon Appetit aricle “First Seating” in the October 2008 issue, or have worked in a fine dining establishment, you have an idea of how good the food can be! 
For those looking for a casual early dinner that is a step-up from the usual cafe, Martini House offers family …

Confit of beets on house-made goat’s milk yogurt with watercress and fennel

One expects a formal dining room for a Michelin star restaurant, but at the Solage Calistoga, the decor and mood reflects the soothing and casual atmosphere of  the spa resort.  The restaurant is designed with a sensitivity to Calistoga environs with barn architecture, but with modern, loft-like open space, soaring ceilings and extensive windows that fill the room with light and unite the inside with the serene view outdoors.  And while the restaurant is clearly casual, the quality of products and …

Chef Ken Frank’s three-course, French regional dinners for $29 per person at Bank Café and Bar is austerity chic at its best. Bank Café is the casual but hip restaurant adjacent to Chef Frank’s Michelin star restaurant La Toque in the Westin Verasa in Downtown Napa. The setting at Bank Café is modern but relaxing, perfect for intimate dining.
The concept for the themed, prix fixe dinners began earlier this year and has been refined to the current dinner series which features a different French regional cuisine every week. This week, …