25 Degrees Brix in Yountville

The old Brix Restaurant in Yountville was overhauled and recently reopened as 25° Brix. The restaurant characterizes itself as farm to table dining. I had a chance to dine there Friday night to see the new restaurant and concept.

When you enter the newly designed restaurnt, you immediately enter the bar area where you can sit down for drinks and some light food. The dining room is well appointed with lots of wood. It wasn't crowded when we ate and the noise level was low. There is also plenty of outdoor seating next to 25° Brix' garden.

I would describe the menu as California cuisine with French and Italian influences. All three of us enjoyed our appetizers of stuffed squashed blossoms, mussels, and grilled shrimp. Similarly our entrees of rack of lamb, mushroom risotto, and salad "Nicoise" were well prepared and quite tasty. As expected, the wine list focused on Napa Valley wines, but other regions were well represented. My only complaint is the lack of wines on the list priced at less than $70/bottle. I have no hesitations recommending 25° Brix, but it would not be my first choice for someone visiting the Valley for the first time.

25° Brix is open for dinner nightly and lunch on Monday - Friday. Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant is located at 7377 St. Helena Highway, just north of Yountville. Reservations can be made by calling (707) 944-2749. If you would like to take a private Napa tour that includes lunch at 25° Brix or one of the Valley's other great restaurants, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me clicking here.

Fine Dining at Mendocino's Cafe Beaujolais

Cafe Beaujolais has been serving visitors to Mendocino since 1969. After Margaret Fox purchased the restaurant in 1977, Cafe Beaujolais became nationally known for its outstanding breakfasts. In 1984, the restaurant began serving dinner. In 1990, the Beaujolais Brickery opened and diners could purchase wood-fired, brick-oven bread. Margaret Fox sold the restaurant in 2000 and the restaurant changed hands again in 2006.

Last year, I had a chance to buy some excellent breads from the Brickery but was not able to sample the new owners' dinners. In May, I finally had the chance to taste Executive Chef David LaMonica's French/California cuisine and can report that it was one of the best meals I've had along the Mendocino Coast. The filet mignon and sturgeon were both excellent. Service was attentive but informal, as one expects along the coast.

If you are planning a trip along the Mendocino coast, I definitely recommend dining at Cafe Beaujolais. It is open for lunch from Wednesday - Sunday and for dinner nightly. It stopped serving breakfasts many years ago, but you can purchase a cookbook with Margaret Fox's recipes. The restaurant is located at 961 Ukiah Street in the village of Mendocino. Advance reservations are recommended. If you would like to take a tour of the Anderson Valley and the Mendocino coast that includes dinner at Cafe Beaujolais, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Lunch in Boonville

Boonville is the largest town in Mendocino County's Anderson Valley. For many years there were not many good options for lunch. But this has changed with the Boonville General Store. Located in the center of Boonville, at 14077-A Hwy. 128, this eatery makes great sandwiches and salads mostly from organic ingredients. You can eat in the restaurant or at one of the picnic tables fronting the road. The Boonville General Store is also a great place to pick up food for a picnic at nearby Navarro Vineyards or Greenwood Ridge Vineyards. You can also taste wine before or after your lunch at Zina Hyde Cunningham Winery, whose tasting room is right next door to the General Store.

If you would like to take a private tour of the Anderson Valley that includes lunch at the Boonville General Store and tasting at the above mentioned wineries and others, please call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.