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Napa dining recs?
in Travel
We are heading to Napa Valley soon, and looking for some yummy places to eat. We are staying in Calistoga, but will have a car so we don't mind driving a bit. Any types of food really, mostly for lunches and dinners. I expect most places there to be on the pricier side, which is fine; but I do think French Laundry prices will be passed on, lol! Also, if you have any recs for places in San Fran, we'll be there for a few days as well! 
Re: Napa dining recs?
Ad Hoc is in Yountville and is delicious. It's a Thomas Keller restaurant with much lower prices than French Laundry. I definitely recommend it for a dinner.
There are so many food places both in Napa and in San Francisco (and many more if you extend out to the East Bay in Oakland/Berkeley) it's hard to narrow down recommendations to just a few. Is there anything in particular you're interested in?
Honestly, French Laundry is worth every penny but it's so difficult to get reservations to that if you aren't sold on $1,500 for a meal for two, it makes no sense to even try and get reservations (I loved it and plan to go back at least once a year while living in SF - tied with Guy Savoy for the best meal of my life).
Thomas Keller owns and operates Ad Hoc and Bouchon in Yountville, about one mile from TFL. Both are very good; if you're going in the next few months Ad Hoc might still be closed due to a fire. Bottega in Yountville is also delicious.
In SF you could try Gary Danko for fancy (about $350 for 2, 5 course menu option with wind and tip); reservations can be made 3 months to the day there and I think the reservation line opens at 10 am pst. Other good places (most require reservations at least a few weeks in advance to a few months in advance):
-flour and water
-frances
-bobo's (steakhouse)
-a16 (Italian)
-delfina (Italian)
-baker and banker
-slanted door
-the house
The above are generally $20-$35 a head for entrees; that's standard for any good restaurant in SF. Other more casual places that are good include:
-tartine bakery (breakfast)
-Papalote (get their salsa)
-gott's roadside (burgers)
-ferry terminal farmer's market (Saturday only)
-limon on Valencia (Peruvian)
-contigo in noe valley (tapas)
Hope that helps. Feel free to pm me for more suggestions based on where you are staying or what type of food you like / budget you have.
I would add Mustard's Grill to the list. It's great food at a more moderate price point, and it's right on Hwy 29 near Yountville.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.
Mark Twain
My Travel Blog
One of my favorite lunches was at Oxbow Market - particularly Hog Island Oyster in downtown Napa. I also loved Market in St. Helena which is much closer to where you will be staying.
For a fancy meal that isn't quite French Laundry prices, we absolutely loved La Toque in Napa. One of the best meals of our lives.
I like Hurley's in Yountville. Haven't been to Don Giovani's in Napa in a long time, but they use to be good. The CIA is in St. Helena.
Auberge du Soleil has a Bistro and Bar which is a LOT more reasonable than their main dining. Gorgeous view of the valley and good food.
Hurley's is awesome! It's my all time favorite Napa Valley restaurant. (I haven't been to French Laundry, but not sure I could enjoy spending that much on a meal, so take my opinion for what it's worth.)
And I know it gets good reviews here, but I had one of the worst vacation meals I've ever had at Bottega. From the flies everywhere to food so salty I couldn't really taste anything else & really horrible service (just fyi).
Oh, and Bouchon Bakery for breakfast (coffee & pastry) is the perfect way to start the day imo.
For lunch in Yountville, we really liked Lucy, at Bardessono (super cool fairly new green/LEED certified hotel in Yountville that is way out of our lodging budget).