Martini House
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
78 Reviews for Martini House
One of Martini House's Favorite Reviews
This is a very cozy place that makes you feel at home. Service is impeccable and the food was delicious. We tried a mushroom tasting menu with wine pairing and some other dishes. All of it was wonderful but the King trumpet Mushroom Carpaccio paired with L'Uvaggio di Giacomo Vermentino, Lodi, California, 2006 was to kill for. Another dish not to be missed is Delta Asparagus and Rustic Arugula Salad with ham and ricotta. It is amazing!!
Two words: Wagyu Burger.
Go here, order it, be happy. All 3 guys in our group ordered it off the bar menu after we completed some barrel tasting and proclaimed it to be the best burger they have ever had. I was somewhat doubtful until I tried JP's and ohmygod...orgasm in my mouth, so good! My gnocchi was tasty, but honestly couldn't hold a candle to the burger.
The Martini House is adorable, seems like a little bit of Carmel in Saint Helena, sitting right off the main drag with a gorgeous patio area to soak up the CA sun. It was a great place to kick off our trip to the area and definitely let us know that this would be an expensive trip at that!
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What a real gem in the heart of wine country. Design is unique, outside seating is pretty and comfortable.
Food was outstanding! I had the scallops which melted in my mouth.
Wine list is over the top, server made 2 great recommendations.
Server was perfect, helpful but not bothersome. love that.
Clients we were entertaining loved it too, which is the best.
Didnt have time for dessert, but will be back to try something!!!!
I like Martini House in a $154.28 kind of way. I can't say I particularly dig it in a $225.49 kind of way. Which is what I paid.
It's not that I had a bad time. I enjoyed Martini House. I really did. I know my date did. She got the $225.49 experience. But that's because her wallet got the $0 experience. My wallet, not so much.
I suppose I need to just resign myself to the fact that Napa prices = SF prices, even though Napa food doesn't always measure up. But I reserve the right to bitch about it.
Nearly everything about the Martini House is above average. The chef gave us a lovely little amuse bouche. The beef carpaccio with truffle aioli was excellent. Service was prompt, attentive and friendly. Atmosphere is charming and elegant. The Pomtini was very tasty (my date is a martini girl, and we were at the Martini House after all, so we opted for cocktails instead of wine).
The wine list is extensive and extends a welcoming hand to all corners of the world. I like that it devoted a page exclusively to women winemakers, some of whom are personal favorites, like Karen Culler, Merry Edwards and Heidi Barrett. Good stuff.
The roasted duck breast with smoked bacon and polenta cake was rich and delicious...but not $37 rich and delicious. The seared sea scallops with sweet pea risotto and roasted artichokes was...well, it was $36. Which is about all I can remember about it. That's probably not such a good thing.
The mojito (our waiter's recommendation) was amateurish. The dessert cheese course allows you to pick three cheeses from their selection. We went with a Spanish manchego; the Oregonzola from, well, Oregon; and the lionza from Modesto. Each seemed a little dried out and simply uninspiring.
Overall, Martini House is pleasant, but for me, not worth the price.
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Last year we feasted on the wild mushroom soup and other delectables in the dining room. This past weekend we dove into the cellar for the crab spring rolls and the kobe burger, and finished with a french press pot of Illy. One day we hope to spring for the mushroom sampling menu, which is a pure delight, if only to be read. The whole menu, including the wine and drinks, deserve close attention like a portal into a secret world. The staff does everything that they can to please, and nothing to displease. The decor is warm and engaging.
The Martini House is at the top of my list.
This place offered contemporary American food. The restaurant was very elegant and the service was excellent. We've tried a lot of the dishes on the menu and thought they were all pretty good. Beware...this place was not cheap!
I only give 4 star because the desserts are the way TOO SWEET!! I can't even eat it. However,
The Foods over all are good but little be too oily.
Service--5 stars!! Great service~no doubt !! friendly and politely. Professional knowledge about wines and food!
Great, but not incredible.
We went with a group of 6 on Friday evening and were happy with the choice. The waiter was a bit over the top making it seem that we were so lucky to be in this restaurant and how great the food was.
The mushroom soup was pretty good, the waiter said that that it was the best on earth, but it wasnt. I had the scallops, which were some of the best that I have had. The halibut was also very good. Others at our table had the squab, which was described as a pigeon by the busboy who over heard us talking.
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Pretty, inviting restaurant with warm staff. Food is cooked in very clean open kitchen by chef. Excellent and professional service. Menu is creative if not well-rounded. Wish there was more of the pasta persuasion available.
Be prepared to spend a lot of dough in this Italian.
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As you enter this restaurant, I could tell this was a Pat Kuleto designed restaurant. It has lodge-like feel to it. The decor matches well with the cuisine served here. We were seated next to a fireplace. We had a table, which we sat on a single long bench, facing another couple across the way. Kind of uncomfortable looking up and another party while I took a bite of one of my courses.
Since this was our first time visit, we ordered the tasting menu. Everything was well prepared. The tasting menu consisted of Lobster, steamed tai snapper, beef tenderloin, finishing off with a coffee panacotta with butterscotch sauce.
We enjoyed dining here, and will probably visit again.
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Very nice place. It really is a great span between Napa Valley casual and NorCal chique. The food is impressive, but personally, some of the sauces were a bit too overstated. The mushroom soup was an A+, and the squab was very good aside from the aforementioned sauce. Very good though.
Desserts are impressive. Wine list is top notch. Service is impeccible. A go-to for sure.
Tempted to go even 4.5 on this one... and I will. Been there once before and it was ok, but I wasn't wowed. This past time I had a much different and very memorable experience. Top notch wine, service, and food.
Highlights:
- Ambiance: rustic, nice wood cabin feel to it with soft lighting. Also have an outdoor patio that looked like a peaceful yet festive glowing haven. Last time we were seated by the fireplace which was quite romantic.
- Service: attentive+friendly+professional+knowledgeable = delightful.
- Mushroom soup: sleeper winner of the night. Light and frothy with a bit of cream and bunches of croutons. Not sure why I was drawn to order it, as I didn't know the reputation for being so fantastic nor do I adore mushrooms, but in this case the M in mushrooms=magic. Supposedly people travel to experience this soup and some have had a bowl and requested another round cause they couldn't resist it. Must have some secret happy addictive ingredient in it. After dinner I called my dad to inform him of the existence of this phenomenal soup, as he's the mushroom soup lover in the fam.
- Carpaccio: the hub loved it and deemed it the best ever. Delicate slices of raw beef with an added fun crunch of potatoes. He only ordered it cause it was a beef appetizer, but in the end probably could have eaten a few plates of it. He is a meat and potatoes guy, so even though it was fancified it worked for the southern hub.
- Glass of wine: since we had varying dishes (mine being seafood and the hub's being a meat), I requested a suggestion for a wine by the glass. Bottle lists usually provide better choices, but I was jumping out of my seat excited once I tasted what the waiter brought me. I'm newer to reds, but I've been drinking chardonnay for years--oh gosh 10 if I really try and calculate it--so I have a clear understanding of what I like and don't like in this varietal. The chardonnay I had is my new favorite by a mile! Big, buttery, oaky, complex layers of flavors. Melanson Stone's Throw. I had the waiter write it down for me and guess they are investors in the restaurant as well.
- Scallops: biggest ones I've ever seen, seared perfectly, paired with a rich pea risotto cooked through like I like it.
- Steak and eggs: egg filled ravioli as the egg. Points for being fun.
- Warm Chocolate Fondant: oozing warm comforting pot of chocolate. If I go dessert, this is the direction that I go in. :-)
- Cute bar hidden downstairs: didn't get to try but liked the setup.
Lowlights (my flip side to highlights):
- Not cheap: but most Napa restaurants aren't ;-)
After this last time, it has turned into a place I'll highly recommend for my friends visiting the area and look forward to going back to. Next time I'm going for the tasting menu with wine pairings.
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Went to the cellar this weekend. The service was wonderful, and all of the food was terrific. The outdoor dining space was a standout, especially at night.
We went there to get the burger, which is only available in the cellar (all of the regular menu, plus a special bar menu). Everything else was very good. I was charmed that the owner is a mushroom obsessive, hence the mushroom tasting menu. Didn't get it, but I appreciate the effort, especially since the Michelin people will only sneer at such things.
The tapioca pudding was tremendous - definitely worthwhile.
Since Martini House is a Kuletto restaurant, no expense was spared in creation and decor. Downstairs is my favorite place to go, its warm and has the feeling like a lodge. The bar is always bustling with local wine business people and locals who continue to flock to the restaurant in its fifth year in business. The food is always good and the wine list is well designed
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KOBE BEEF BURGER! OMG...juicy, succulent, tender, amazingly mouth watering. We brought 2 bottles of caymus special select 1990 & 91 to enjoy with them...to die for. Another notables : Mushroom soup...soooo mushroomy, earthy goodness and the perfect amount of cream. The veal sweetbreads with butternut squash also amazing, perfectly crunchy outside and tender inside. I am still dreaming of the burger...i would drive up to napa just to have it. No wonder I joined yelp's the biggest loser...
This place is hoity-toity BIG TIME! If you're intent on dinner here, make sure you've saved up to cover the bill. Hubby and I left the kids with my parents and had a rare date night here. The cocktails were good. The food pretty decent. I recommend the Butternut Squash ravioli. The place is famous for its mushrooms, which are divine. But, I give the Martini House demerits for having such a snotty staff. We get it, you're a high brow establishment --- stop looking down your nose at us!
Try 'em out anyway:
http://www.martinihous...
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This restaurant, the waiters and other staff ruined what was supposed to be a joyful and fun event (my son's wedding rehearsal dinner). I found it to be very over priced with an unwarranted high opinion of themselves. I know five star restaurants and they are NOT one of them! The waiters were rude and slow and extremely arrogant... as were the bread deliverers, the wine folks... etc. All arrogant and slow slow slow. It took us two hours of extremely hungry waiting to be served our meals!
Since we were a party of ten, the gratuity (18%) was including in the bill, but we would have left virtually nothing if it hadn't been!
Ruining our happy day is inexcusable!
Oh, the food? Well, it seemed fresh... and that is all I can say for it except it is way way overpriced! Oh, and they act like bread is made of gold and were so stingy as to not give my husband extra when he requested it!
The money would not have been a problem and the waiter could have made a nice tip if they'd only made it pleasant and tried to accomodate a couple of folks in our party who wanted something not on the menu but obviously easy to make. (like a decent salad ... or chicken breast).
I do NOT recommend this place. I've no idea how it has gotten four stars. It's bad. The staff is rude and they (including the chef) thinks way too highly of themselves. (Oh..and the next night I ate at Auberge du Soliel and everything about the experience was spectacular, including the sweet, helpful accomodating staff!!)
So, save your money and go to someplace where they appreciate you being there!
Excellent service. We felt very well taken care of. There were some hiccups, but it is all how the server handles it whether a guest feels neglected or not. Our party of 9 had a good variety of food.
The chef has very good skills and understands more than just the fundamentals. Where I think it was lacking is in the execution, the cooks don't quite have the skill to replicate what the chef teaches. For instance, the scallops with risotto was an excellent idea and tasted good, but not excellent. The scallops were seasoned and seared perfectly, but the risotto that accompanied it was a little flat. It could have used a little more acid and maybe a little more pepper. Also, the peas were not very sweet. It is pea season now and I would think that the peas would be sweet, but they were not. Tasted like just regular peas from the grocery store.
The beef shoulder was pretty good as well, but it could use a little umph.
But I have to say, I started out the the halibut and this was excellent. Lot of things going on, but perfectly balanced. Sauce was perfect with a little accents from the lemon zest. Very moist and flavorful.
Very Expensive......we got the preset mushroom menu with wine pairing....just enought food for two and delicious wine but god it was pricey for what it was.
the Martini House is gorgeous inside and everything was perfect from the service to where we were sitting.
Great place to go for a very special occasion:)
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We all had high hopes for a great meal at Martini's House for the pre-wedding dinner. Our party of 10 arrived happy and excited. The place looked nice and classy but unfortunately, that is where any sense quality ended.
Apparently that old saying that looks are deceiving is true. This place is one of the worst I've ever been in, and I've been in eating establishments all over the United States, Europe and Asia.
The service was outrageously slow and uncaring, the food was average or below, serving portions were small and unsatisfying, leaving you wanting to stop and pick up a Mc Donald's after dinner, the attitude of arrogance in the place was palpable, it became obvious that as we were not "regulars" (it was our first - and only - visit there), we were ignored and dismissed in subtle and not so subtle ways.
Suffice to say that eventually even the most patient and forgiving ones in our party began to wonder what the hell was going on that they couldn't find a way to give us any service or even a believable reason why our food never arrived.
Our pre-wedding party ended up with a tab closer to $1,000 than I care to think, and bitter feelings from everyone in our party. Everyone resolved to spread the word to everyone they knew to avoid this place at all costs!
Our experience was terrible - no, that word is not strong enough as we had such high hopes for a great time - it was an unmitigated disaster and left all of us with a very bad feeling in our mouths and our minds.
As this venue is the only one available to me to vent my frustration, I am writing to warn others not to expect much from this restaurant. Perhaps then, you won't be as disappointed as we were.
D. Jacobs
My husband and couple friends and I went here one Saturday afternoon for lunch. Let me start off by saying that we were at a winery BBQ w/tons of appertizers and wine~ we literally stuffed ourselves before going to Martini House. I made a reservation - and although none of us were really hungry - we didn't want o cancel b/c they have a cancellation fee! So -- we went --- and BOY am I glad we did! My hubby and I ended up sharing the Cream of Mushroom Soup w/Toasted Croutons and Chives and the Grilled Snake River Kobe Beef Burger Prepared Medium Gruyre Cheese, Wine Stewed Onions and Onion Rings. The soup was delicious! and what can I say about the burger ---! It ain't like the ones at Mickey D's! The meat just literally melts in your mouth!! We actually asked for the "sauce" on the side -- and didn't even use it -- the burger- -- the meat didn't need any other flavoring but the MEAT itself! You def. have to try it!! You KNOW it's a good meal if the person eating wasn't even hungry! Will def. go back!!!
before I forget about this place, i should review. went here for dinner. ambiance is nice and accommodates large parties. the service was great, friendly and helpful. i like the cute drink cards.
food: it was good overall but i cannot say anything really stood out. if you love mushrooms, this is a great place. if not, you can still request any dish without mushrooms. my risotto was ok. it was a little dry for my taste - not enough cheese? the souffle cake was really good but i'm a sucker for desserts.
i think i would just need to try this place again.
Yes, this place is a little over price, but I like the homie atmosphere. Probably because of the plants they have around the restaurant.
* Cream of Mushroom Soup - Toasted Croutons and Chives: You can skip this. Nothing special
* Mushroom Tasting: 8 dishes. kind of expensive for mushroom, but if you really really like mushroom, then you should try.
* Seared Nantucket Bay Scallops: Very small but good
If I have a chance to go back, I will try the Chef's Tasting.
Special for its mushrooms!
This place is known for their mushroom dishes and you can see the mushroom theme in most of their dishes. Napa Valley has the best restaurants I have ever dined at and Martini House might just qualify for the list. My polenta was pretty greasy but the mushroom soup was delicious and so was the truffle sample appetizer. The lemon crepe was a bit strange so we weren't able to finish it. (Didn't taste like how it sounded)
Our waiter was a bit weird, and before I forget - Don't confuse this place with the neon-signed faux Martini-House restaurant on the main street. That one looks pretty shady. The setup at the real Martini-House is much better!
What is the best way to end a full day of wine tasting? A great martini! or two :-)
We had so much fun here ... the drinks, the food, the other customers ... it was a great way to end the full day of birthday celebrations.
We were spontaneous so we ended up finding a table outside under a heat lamp. There was another group there who were surprising a friend they had not seen for 35 years. We took some photos for them and it was just a fun place.
When we got too cold, we moved to a warmer area and no one said a word. The martinis were fantastic and we enjoyed the kobe burgers and crab spring rools. They also made a special birthday desert for my friend and we all left very happy and full.
Do you REALLY like mushrooms? Then this is THE place for you. We had an entire five course meal of mushrooms of various types.
Money was too tight for a return to Auberge du Soleil, so we decided to check this place out for a Very Special Occasion.
Note-this is a pet peeve and not really part of the review:
When I get dressed up to dine, I like when other people do the same. When I'm sitting in my suit complete with belt and shoes, I don't like to be surrounded by guys in sports jerseys and shorts. If I'm a fine dining snob, so be it. It's not like I get dressed up every day.
Anyhow, the bar, located below the dining room, is very cute and cozy, not unlike a lodge in snowy Vermont. Nice selection of house specialties and wine.
The meal upstairs was specially prepared for us since we called in advance. Some of the items were amazing, some were "too mushroomy." If we got up there more than a few times a year, we would have made a note of what we liked and refined our eating experience.
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I was up in Sonoma for a friend's wedding and decided to make a long weekend out of it.
After reading fellow Yelpers' review for this place, I decided to make a reservation for Sunday night to check it out.
The restaurant is right off of the main street in St. Helena and has a cute patio / outdoor dining area. Instead, we opted to eat inside right next to the fireplace. We were seated right away and were greeted immediately by a friendly waiter.
It was interesting to sit down and see all the chefs in the kitchen. You can hear all the conversations. It was amazing that they didn't really seem to get in each other's way.
I ordered the cream of mushroom soup as a starter, and the seared Maine sea scallops for entree. My friend ordered the chicory salad and Alaskan halibut for entree. Before our selections appeared, we were treated to a *delicious* mushroom puff pastry thingy (it was so good that I lost my short term memory for the name). It pretty much set the tone for the rest of the meal.
My cream of mushroom soup was absolutely out of this world. Hands down, the best I've ever had. My friend concurred. It came with some croutons and generous portions of thinly sliced mushrooms. OMG - it was so good I almost licked the bowl. The chicory salad came with local goat cheese (which I didn't try but my friend swore it was most delicious) and sliced apples; the dressing was light and tasty.
My seared scallops were presented with simmering butter bubbles with what looked like whole grain mushroom corn risotto. They were cooked to perfection. *YUMMY*. The risotto too. OMG. My friend's Alaskan halibut was equally yummy, grilled perfectly.
We were extremely pleased with our choices and agreed that it was one of the best tasting meals we've had.
The choices for dessert weren't that impressive which was a good thing. Frankly, there wasn't any more room.
The service was prompt and friendly. 5 stars.
The food was out of this world. 6 stars.
The ambiance was interesting. Nothing out of the ordinary but charming. 4 stars.
All together 5 stars. The only improvement I would suggest would be the dessert menu. Then again, maybe they should keep it to save me from becoming a lard a**.
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i LOVE this place.
I grew up in this teeny town so I have watched this site evolve over 25 (or so) years into the institution it is today. Well done!
I love LOVE love going downstairs to the bar for bellinis and mushroom bruschetta. mmmm....
Sitting outside is a no brainer in the summer; they have a beautiful garden and fountain. Their wine program is awesome; headed by my buddy Rob Renteria. He's a wealth of information and recommendation.
Downstairs, try to snag a seat near the fireplace or at the bar with Patrick. You can't go wrong...
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The first rainy fall day found my friends and I searching for a warm, cozy spot to curl up with some hot food and cocktails. No other venue offers an richer atmosphere than the downstairs bar at Martini House. Even the outdoor dining area appeared warm and welcoming, with enclosed sides and ample heaters.
While nearly everything on offer here is somewhat overpriced, in my opinion, it's not completely out of line with other top-notch restaurants in the valley and the food is uniformly excellent.
We started with the crab spring rolls and the beef carpaccio. The beef carpaccio was excellent! Sliced thin, thin, thin, with various herbs, some garlic and some truffles(?) I believe. The spring rolls were also quite good, particularly with the lemony ginger sauce that helped lift the flavor out of the fried-food doldrums.
Next came the mushroom soup which was unquestionably the best I've ever had. SO flavorful, so decadent, so awesome to dip the freshly baked sourdough rolls in. I sucked it down like a naughty 2nd grader and didn't even bother to sip from the side of my spoon!
I finished off my meal with Kobe beef burger w/ onion rings. Not bad, but certainly not the crown jewel here, and, at $17 is no real bargain. The burger was perfectly grilled and served with some special sauce, cheese, but no fresh toppings to lighten the flavors a bit. It was RICH to say the least and the onion rings did nothing for it. I was dying for a pickle or tomato or something just to take the edge off. Instead, I gulped my wine and took half the burger and most of the onion rings home to enjoy for lunch.
Any astute foodie, I'm sure, would chastise me for going for the burger after all the rest, but after $12 cocktails, $15/glass wine, $11/bowl of soup, and $16 carpaccio, I was ready for the relative bargain of a $17 burger!
That said, all restaurants have their Achilles heel. I would LOVE to be able to hang out in that wonderful bar & eat awesome food all winter long, but unfortunately, price IS an object and I can't afford to make this my local Cheers. But if Kuleto would be kind enough to open a down-market version, I'm SO in!
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If you are a vegetarian, this ain't the place for you. I have had awesome cocktails and dessert here though (my most recent dessert was the Earl Gray pot de creme with caramel sauce). The salads I've tried (the wild mushroom on radicchio and the more pedestrian greens with pomegranate seeds, goat cheese, this or that, blah blah blah) were pretty good, but their dressings are way too balsamic-reductioney sweet. Expensive, tiny, and beautiful portions.
Martini House is a quintessential Napa experience for a special occasion. We let the Chef take over the evening with 4 courses of decadence with wine pairings for all. From start to finish the food was picture perfect and world-class. The atmosphere here is excellent and the outdoor garden is not to be missed. We dressed to the nines so to speak for this one.
Okay, I will be the lone guy that keeps it real. Let me first say that if you are coming from an area short on GREAT food, Amarillo TX say, then this place will be a treat, as long as you don't mind parting with lots of Benjamin's.
But coming from the Bay Area, I found the restaurant's food good, but skimpy and pricey. A mention of this to the waiter and manager prompted a roll of the eyes and turn of the back. "Next!" They call the couple from Amarillo.
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Update 1/2/08
I've had a chance to hang out in the basement bar a couple of times now, although not yet on a rainy day. I do think this is a good place for after dinner drinks or a late dinner at the bar in St. Helena. Especially if you're with friends/a date and you want to be able to chat. The Martini House bar is a mellow bar for grown ups. No loud music to shout over. Expect Napa Valley prices. Cocktails are about $12 each.
One note -- I'm not a big martini drinker...but previously I had tried a pomegranate martini here that was to die for. The second time...while ok, it didn't seem to be quite the fresh fruit yumminess it was before.
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The restaurant is a great special occasion (or when you just want to treat yourself) dining spot. I've eaten here several times, dinner and lunch. Every meal has been great. They usually bring some sort of gratis starter. One time it was shot glasses of the most amazing cauliflower soup. I'm telling you...I don't even care for cauliflower and this stuff was mmm...mmmm. My friend felt the same way. Seriously memorable soup.
The wine list is extensive. I love the ambiance of the outdoor patio. Plus it's casual St. Helena...not some stiff place you have to dress up. The basement bar is the place I want to spend the next cold, rainy evening.
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What a phenomenal culinary experience!
Every dish worked in perfect harmony. The forni brown greens salad with goat cheese and figs was sublime, and the beef carpaccio was wonderfully delicate and full of flavor. We ordered the following main courses: 1) the pan roasted halibut; 2) sauteed lamb tenderloin; and 3) the roasted liberty duck. Each dish was unique and perfectly cooked. With regard to the lamb, I can longer cook lamb tenderloin at home because after my experience at the Martini House, there is really no point. It was so delicious and masterfully prepared that it would be ludicrous to eat lamb anywhere other than this restaurant. The duck was also wonderful. The skin was crispy and the duck was cooked a perfect medium rare. As for the halibut, the best I have ever had in a restaurant.
My experience at the Martini House was so wonderful that I am willing to compare it to Chez Panisse. In fact, I believe it exceeds Chez Panisse. I have had the Liberty Duck at Chez Panisse, and I can honestly say that it is inferior to that of the Martini House. In any event, the Martini House is a great restaurant. The only negative is that it is located in Wine County and not in SF.
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Pay no attention to the one-star and two-star reviews for Martini House.
The restaurant is gorgeous, the bar downstairs is exquisite. The menu (complete with information about their mushroom obsession) and prices are all available online, so you know what you're getting into when you go here.
The staff have always been charming and helpful -- both upstairs and down. Regarding accusations of rudeness and arrogance from other reviewers, I call shenanigans.
Once upon a time, two years ago, I had celery soup there. I wish they'd bring it back.
Zagat rated this 26. Definitely lives up to the reputation. I love this place. Looks almost exactly like the restaurant in Ratatouille - lots of candle light, bronze cookware. They have a semi open kitchen design - so you can see the Chef de Cuisine tell people what to do - "2 squabs med rare, 1 scallop..."
Execellent service, everything comes out promptly. Warm crusty french bread (always a good sign). Delicious mushroom soup (very creamy), very interesting esgargot (with some asian flavors). I ordered the duck for my main course - it was the best roasted duck I've had in a long time. Crispy, flavorful, lots of chanterelles and sweet potatoes.
Desserts were weak. They are "assembly desserts" - meaning everything was premade and just assembled upon ordering which makes them cold and not particularly eye opening.
Very expensive.
Not worth the $.
Cocktail was good. Food was nothing special. Waiter was great.
The mushroom soup was fantastic.
The other diners looked bored as well.
Skip it.
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I had the most amazing lunch here. The drinks were interesting, thoughtful and delicious and the food was fantastic. I can't wait to go back. We sat outside under the shade of a beautiful tree. One of my favorite lunches of all time!
If you love mushrooms this is the restaurant for you. Great mushroom tasting menu.
Very accommodating if you just want one dish off there tasting menu.
Went on our honeymoon and they sat us on the balcony, very romantic. Food was excellent as well as the service.
I would definitely go back.
Thank you fellow Yelpers!!! After reading the reviews, I had to have the mushroom soup and the kobe beef burger. The soup was like heaven. It was especially great on what was a cloudy/overcast day. The burger was huge, a little bit on the greasy side, but they provided heated finger towels for us. Oh, and to finish it off, we had the coconut tapioca pudding with beignets. Yummy!!! Yeah, that was a bit of a heavy lunch for me. I had food coma almost all afternoon long. As our waiter said... Cheers!
