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Annalien Restaurant - CLOSED
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
We are a family restaurant with authentic old world Italian Style dishes, generous portions, affordable prices, & a classic grotto feel. We've been… read more »
30 reviews for Annalien Restaurant
Review Highlights
"...entree that really rocked was the sea bass in banana leaf."
(in 3 reviews)
"...do have to specifically note that everything was very fresh."
(in 4 reviews)
"Anna greeted us and thanked us for visiting."
(in 7 reviews)
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30 reviews in English
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Review from Julie A.
Napa, CA
11/25/2010
My daughter took me out to lunch for my birthday yesterday and we wanted to go somewhere neither of us had been before. I had heard some good things about Annalien's, so I suggested it and it turned out to be a good choice. The atmosphere was very nice, our waiter was quite helpful and attentive and the food was yummy. We had never had Vietnamese food before so were a little intimidated by the menu at first. We ended up ordering off the appetizer menu and got 2 fresh rolls, one salmon and one pork, potstickers (the star of the meal), crispy spring rolls, the garlic noodles (SO good) and we each ordered a bowl of soup. And, oh my goodness, the Vietnamese coffee was DYNAMITE!
We got a nice sampling of offerings, although we weren't able to eat it all! Give it a try...you won't be disappointed! -
Review from Cinnamon F.
Napa, CA
9/26/2009
Four reasons to go here:
- Good date lighting
- Good wine and beer selection
- Good papaya salad
- Good green beans
Plus, a gracious hostess/owner who values her customers - she'll refill a water glass, bus a table, and most importantly, express her sincerest gratitude for you dining there -
Review from Laila P.
1/4/2010
I have never had such a delicious bowl of noodles in my life! The sauce, the prawns, the veggies, the noodles. Everything was amazing. Had the Spanish Quarter Albarino-Chardonnay upon recommendation of our lovely young waitress and it complimented the food perfectly! We started with the wonton soup which was very flavorful. The noodle bowl itself could probably definitely be shared by two people but I ate the whole thing. And my girlfriend and I also had the peanut butter bomba for dessert. Can't wait to go back here with Boyfriend and previously mentioned girlfriend and her boyfriend for a date this week. Yum!
This place is pricey and it's small and the owner lady is kinda kooky (but I thought in a good way).Listed in: Wine Country & Bay Area…
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Review from Michele K.
Oakland, CA
3/2/2009
"Asian cuisine is not easy to come by in Napa...so I was very happy to see that Napa embracing other cultural cuisines besides Californian and Italian!...
Annalien is a very cute contemporary Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Napa. It is more of a locals spot then a touristy place. The spring rolls were amazing and I loved my Chicken Pho... (all white meat) very important to me w/ pho, =) and my papaya salad was delicious.
Annalien also has a nice wine list full of excellent whites to wash down the spice!
The prices are affordable and the service was great...I will be back!...And the owner is a firecracker...so much fun!" -
Review from Iris X.
San Francisco, CA
9/6/2010
We didn't know which restaurant to go to and I wanted to try Ubuntu next door. But my dad would not have a meal without meat, so we decided to give this restaurant a try. The atmosphere is great and I absolutely loved the wine that we order (pinot noir). It was the best wine I've ever tasted! We ordered the papaya salad, shrimp kebab and the rack of lamb. The papaya salad was pretty good, but the kebab was a little bit overly sauced. The first few bites of the lamb was good, but it got too salty near the end. I couldn't even use the lavender sea salt b/c the lamb was already salty enough as the way it was...
The owner looked nice. But i felt left out b/c she was only chatting with the people she seemed to be familiar with. She never came to our table to ask if everything was going okay. The waitress was nice though.
I don't think I would go back again to this place next time I'm in Napa. Should have gone to Ubuntu instead. -
Review from Steve F.
Napa, CA
6/14/2008
We've been to better Vietnamese restaurants, and yes, the die-hard Asian cuisine types will balk at Annalien, but given the slim pickings in Napa for any type of ethnic food, Annalien is still a pretty welcome restaurant for the locals. It's really more of a 3.5 star restaurant for us.
The best dish for me there overall is the sea bass wrapped in a banana leaf. It's a touch on the greasy side; I'm not sure how much of that is due to the fat of the sea bass or the preparation of the rice noodles inside, but whatever, it's great. Moist, really fragrant, piping hot, flavorful.
During the fall or winter, we lean more towards the pho. The broth is fairly flavorful, not too greasy, and clean overall. Could be more robust. Moon crepes weren't as solid as we would've liked. Some of the beef or pork only dishes were flavorful, but they struggled to meet up with the pricing.
The owner can be...ah...enthusiastic about greeting her patrons. But sometimes you can see a bit of a cliquishness in who gets showered with attention.
If you're coming up from a place with a lot ethnic food (eg, Oakland), then Annalien is going to seem watered down and expensive. But this is Napa. If you're in the area and you're looking for a rest from the grills, Californian Italian/French, Napa Valley cuisine themes that saturate the area, Annalien is a nice change of pace. -
Review from Ding dong D.
Fairfield, CA
11/22/2007
Food: overrated Vietnamese food. You can find better for half the price just by driving to some strip mall
Service: sloooooooow. The waiters would rather set up tables rather than scan the room to see if customers needed anything, like water or the bill. The owner was more preoccupied in groping (yes, I said GROPING) customers than in overseeing the service.
I'm not planning to go back again -
Review from Pooja B.
San Dimas, CA
11/27/2010
I came here with my mom for dinner on our Napa adventure. All I know is how hard is it to make chicken curry? That is what I ordered I know going to a Vietnamese place you should get the pho but I was like let me try something else. I was not a fan at all. The Shiraz I got was tasty. My mom ordered the garlic dumplings and she loved it. I should have gotten the beef steak. I think I was just disappointed because the reservation I had made at another restaurant got canceled. The atmosphere is nice and there is a cool look to the place but it is also small and the people are packed in like sardines. Luckily we got the table in the back so it was nicer. Overall I wasn't impressed next time I will get the pho.
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Review from Veda F.
Fairfax, CA
4/24/2008
The setting is casual elegant, relaxing and comfortable. The food is well prepared and delicious. The service was slow on the night we ate however the owner made us feel welcome and comfortable while we waited. The appetizer selection is vaste and you can't go wrong. The portions are a bit smaller but well worth it. I would recommend this restaurant for those that don't want the regular Italian or beef faire.
What a wonderful restaurant for Napa. There is nothing like it in this area. For years, I drove out of the area for this quality and style of food. The location is convenient although, parking can be a challenge. I would try the parking structure a block west if no parking is apparent. -
Review from Claudia B.
San Francisco, CA
6/4/2010
In the heart of downtown napa. This restaurant has great menu. Try the chicken dumpling soup. It's warn and delicious with a hint of ginger.
You will not be dissapointed -
Review from Powell Y.
Costa Mesa, CA
5/10/2007
Originally posted on http://winodepot.com
***
Date: October 16, 2005
Location: 1142 Main Street, Napa
Corkage: haven't taken a bottle in here yet
Cost: $180(including tax & tip) for party of three
Phone: 707.224.8319
Fill in your blank, I am always wary about any restaurant advertised as contemporary (Asian) cuisine. I very rarely ever walk into one of these restaurants, as for the most part, it's Americanized and at a higher price tag.
Surprisingly, I've now been to Annalien three times, or maybe four in the last month, which is fairly new opened in July.
If you are looking for authentic Vietnamese Pho, you are not going to find it here. If you are looking to get away with $10 or less as with most hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese restaurants, don't look here either.
What you will find however is a nice Asian restaurant located in Downtown Napa, a nice change of pace from everything else in the Valley. While not 100% authentic, decidedly so based on the type of clientele the restaurant is setup to attract, all the dishes on the menu retains it's original root with a touch of American to please all the palate that would walk in their door.
Not exactly small plates, but more on the petite side, all dishes are wonderful. The three times I've visited, we probably went through 15 different items, with the help of ttepper and/or DJ Hombre.
A nice restaurant with a very relaxed atmosphere, definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in Napa for a few days and would like a change of pace from the norm. Be sure to stop by and say hello to Anna (owner) and May (manager). -
Review from Matt V.
San Francisco, CA
1/31/2008
AnnaLien (the owner) is a NUT! I love her!
Food was great...very tastey and fresh.
Portions were rather small, but then again...I'm comparing this to restaurants in Little Saigon (SF).
AnnaLien really made our visit there special and fun. Thank you! -
Review from Johnny L.
Los Angeles, CA
5/21/2008
Couldn't find a better way to end my trip to Napa by dining at Annalien. Despite coming off a wining and dining euphoria, this little restaurant did not disappoint.
The service was great; the entire staff was attentive and exceedingly friendly, be it our waitress, or simply staff passing by with smiles and thank you's.
The food was delicious. For starters, we had a very light green papaya salad, the ha long bread, and spring rolls. The entree that really rocked was the sea bass in banana leaf. I thought the portions were generous. I can't recall the last time having spring rolls in any Vietnamese restaurant being so large. The But I digress, I didn't go for the portions. The food was simply clean, flavorful, and fulfilling.
We did have the chance to meet the owner/chef. Anna greeted us and thanked us for visiting. I appreicate her taking the initiative to talk to us, being a host, and making us feel genuinely welcomed. The entire restaurant, from the food to the people was congruent in this manner and I would recommend it to anybody looking for an enjoyable dining experience. -
Review from Dana R.
Bainbridge Island, WA
12/19/2010
This is a 3.5 star review -- had the service been remotely better, I would have given 4 stars because the food was exceedingly fresh and tasty.
Service was fine at the start but fell off horribly -- we were the only ones there at about noon. We started with champagne, potstickers and shrimp and pork spring rolls (more about the food below). When it came time for our second course we wanted more champagne -- 15 minutes later our server was still nowhere to be seen so I went and asked him about our champagne, he said he would bring it right over; well, he got it out of the chiller and left it sitting on the bar counter for another 5 minutes while he attended other tables. We are now done eating so I went to tell him to forget the champagne ... he blithely looks at me and says "okay" and turns around. I was so appauled by his flippant manner that I suggested perhaps an apology for the lackluster service would make a customer feel a little better about the experience -- he looked at me and said "sorry, I'm busy" this time in annoyed and flippant tone. I just smiled and walked back to table, but when the owner came out to talk to customers I took her aside and relayed the entire exchange with the young male server (and at the same time told her much we thoroughly enjoyed the food) -- she apologized and made appropriate amends with us. I realize that he was somewhat in the weeds as the restaurant had may be 5 or 6 other tables by the time our entree was to be served (a good server would be able to handle all of those tables by the way) and appreciate having to wait a bit, but his attitude of the server was wholly unprofessional and offensive ... had he sincerely said something like "I'm sorry, we're understaffed (which they were) and I'm doing the best I can" that would have the been the end of it in my book. The owner needs to train him to be remotely gracious when under stress.
Okay, the food: Outstanding. Thankfully, not your strip mall Vietnamese (it's much less greasy, much fresher and much more vibrant in flavor). The potstickers (chicken dumplings) had a lovely dry, crisp texture on the outside and ground chicken inside and was served on a bed of cabbage and greens and a divine creamy, tangy, sweet white "house sauce" (reminds me a bit of the type of sauce on Honey Walnut Prawn you'll find in a Chinese restaurant (usually reduced condensed milk, mayonnaise, honey, lemon juice and/or vinegar). I added some chili paste and Sriracha to cut the richness of the house sauce.
Spring rolls were great -- I liked the pork (marinated) over the shrimp; they had a bit more flavor. Shrimp rolls are served with a flavorful peanut sauce and pork rolls with a chili-fish sauce.
We shared Spicy Lemongrass Chicken, Asian Green Beans and Fresh Egg Garlic Noodle. The chicken and the egg garlic noodle were simply outstanding ... both were perfectly cooked and seasoned and full (but not too full) of flavor. The green beans were perfectly cooked but could have used a bit more seasoning or flavor (they were fine once you added soy sauce and/or chili paste or sriracha).
Very pleasant atmosphere. Aside from the rude server, we enjoyed our meal very much and most certainly will return. -
Review from Chris H.
Napa, CA
11/11/2010
I had no real introduction into Vietnamese food prior to coming here for the first time but I was definitely not disappointed. In addition to the veggies skewers, the chicken dishes are the stars here. Don't pass up on the Vietnamese coffee either - a real experience! The place is small but it never feels crowded or stuffy even when fully booked. The proprietor of the restaurant is incredibly friendly, sometimes a little too friendly and can verge on off-putting. She means well and just wants her patrons to enjoy themselves. Definitely give it a try!
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Review from tom o.
Sunnyvale, CA
6/29/2010
I had a hankering for Asian food, and let's just say that downtown Napa does not have a lot of such spots. I spotted Annalien while walking with my one-year old, and decided to take a chance. Glad I did. The waitress was very attentive, the fact that I had a giant stroller did not phase the staff whatsoever, and the food was really good. I had the chicken dumpling soup and jasmine ice-tea. Definitely fresh--the dumplings appear to be hand made--and surprisingly tasty. I would definitely recommend (and they seem to have a pretty decent wine list).
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Review from Jessica O.
San Ramon, CA
7/18/2009
Had lunch here Friday afternoon with my son, sister, niece, mom and aunt. Apparently my aunt is a regular here and was warmly greeted by Anna when we walked in. It was pretty dead so we were seated right away. The place is nice, not your typical Vietnamese joint. And let me tell ya, the prices reflect that as well! Holy cow! $110 for 6, no alcoholic beverages, and we're talking lunch here people, not dinner. Let me wrap this up.... order the pot stickers, bomb! Chicken curry, delish! My son and I shared beef and chicken pho, also awesome! The food was VERY fresh. Our waiter was a cute young guy, soft spoken, VERY attentive, but not overbearing. GIVE THAT KID A RAISE!!!
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Review from C. L. B.
Saint Helena, CA
12/16/2008
Based on a combination of factors, this is the best you can do for your money in Napa Valley. No it is not a restaurnat in Vietnam - have you ever really looked at the Napa demographic? It is a fun place to eat good food. It is supposed to be a serious restaurant, but then here comes Anna. She is crazy! I love her. Sometimes you don't know what she is saying, sometimes you are not in the mood, and sometimes it is actually normal in there. But outside of those oddities you will have had a good dining experience. And you will get in the mood, and you won't care what she is saying anyway. IBesides, if you can't stand the heat, take your food back to your room. But then you will miss all of the good music. This place has more pesonality than all the other valley restaurants combined. If you can do your Laundry at Pancha's, then you will be just fine.
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Review from Kara A.
San Francisco, CA
11/27/2007
This place has been open for two years and it was a total experience dining there. Not for the service, which was good (nothing extraordinarily remarkable, but the staff was very friendly, highly competant, and timely), nor for the food (which was very fresh and absolutely delicious - the spring rolls w/ peanut sauce were fabulous as was my chicken curry), but for the owner. She's an extremely feisty woman from Vietnam, who gave us four 2 oz. tastes of wine on the house. By the time she brought over samples of Flowers, we were customers for life. Beware, this woman swears like a sailor, so if you're uptight or pretentious, stay away!
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Review from Al W.
Oakland, CA
9/8/2010
Seriously disappointed. The atmosphere was nice, the wine ok, and that's about it. The food was lackluster and oversalted. I expected much much much more out of a napa rest...and to think the sign says michellin recommended (having a hard time believing it).
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Review from Rona m.
Sonoma, CA
6/24/2009
Great food, a little expensive and you may get groped by the tiny female owner. Anna is very gregarious and if you know her well, she is touchy feely. Oh well, the potstickers rock, beef salad is amazing, shaken beef so good.
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Review from Marina N.
3/17/2008
I loved the iced Chrysanthemum tea and the sauce for the potstickers. The lamb with lime and lavendar salt was delicious. Not a big fan of the sauce on the eggplant appetizer. (I really like the way that most Vietnamese places do the eggplant but this one had a strange taste.) Very friendly owner comes around and talks to all the tables. I do have to specifically note that everything was very fresh.
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Review from John V.
Tiburon, CA
8/15/2010
Wow - we lucked upon a seriously good meal here yesterday.
We were interested in a meal next door at ubuntu - but there was really nothing there in vegetarian options for my 6yo daughter. Also, it was nearly 5 and ubuntu didn't open until 5:30PM
We like Vietnamese food as there are usually options for my wife who is gluten-free. So, based on menu choices alone we choose Annalien. SO glad we did.
Wild Salmon Fresh Rolls - sensational!
Veggie (fried) Spring Rolls - very good (and we have eaten many others over the years due to rice paper instead of wheat wrapper more common at Chinese restaurants)
Wild Salmon with Glass Noodles - terrific...and a heap of food, as well
Baby Bok Choy - good...bok choy is a little too crunchy for me and needs to be sauteed longer to break down hard walls. Elegantly served here, tho.
String Beans - sensational, again - very fresh tasting with a perfect snap to them and a very taste soft sauce on top
Brown Rice - the type of red rice often served at Thai restaurants - quite good
The curry sauce is sensational and the peanut sauce was at least as good as most we've had. Two different hot sources were offered, as well.
We also went thru two bottles of Panna (still) water (a fave of ours) which were sensibly priced at $4 a bottle. We were WAY to stuffed to consider dessert.
We live in So. Marin, home of the Marin markup for most food and other essentials, so we were very pleased to find the bill at ~$60.
The service was very attentive (water glassed filled, plates and utensils removed, etc), if just slightly unpolished. However, there was great effort and that counts for plenty.
This was one of the more wonderful eating experiences of the past few months for us and should be visiting in the area again would not hesitate to return.
Yes, Anna (the owner) visited our table. She seemed pleasant so I cannot vouch for the antics as described by a few others below. After she made her rounds, she plunked herself down in the back and doodled around on her Netbook. -
Review from n a.
Pleasanton, CA
5/19/2010
Our favorite Napa restaurant and we try to visit once every 1-2 months.
o Fabulous service. Anna, the owner, is fabulous and mkaes you fel at home. Her staff is experienced, professional and very attentive.
o Flavorful and "fresh/healthy/non-greasy" foods - our favorites are the sea bass, the pork rolls, the soups, and i fogeot the veggie side dishes.
o Great and changing wine and beer list - Anna knows her stuff and brings in very interesting choices and at a fair price.
One of our favorites and we have tried a lot of restaurants and keep coming back. -
Review from Elly G.
Walnut Creek, CA
4/23/2009
The food is below average. The dish we ordered was not even cooked right. The owner was not helpful enough when we had problems with our orders. What a disappointment. I would not recommend this place.
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Review from Alex K.
Napa, CA
5/15/2009
The most flavorful asian food in Napa by far. All the traditional dishes are well executed. Try the Pho (great broth) or spicy beef salad which have excellent flavor. Ingredients always fresh and staff is friendly.
NB: The place is a bit on the pricey side but it is Napa. -
Review from Val V.
Santa Clara, CA
2/9/2009
This place was highly recommended at one of the local wineries. While the potstickers were great, everything else was below average. I had the shaken beef which had good flavor, but I felt like I was chewing on shoe leather. 2 of my friends ordered the lamb chops medium rare. They came out well done so they sent them back and the second time they also came back well done....they were really inedible.
I would go for the potstickers, but that's about it. -
Review from Shari P.
Yountville, CA
6/12/2008
I was not impressed. I had high hopes because of all the raves I heard from my friends. The meat was dry and the flavors were not that robust. I guess I was expecting greatness like 3 Seasons. I was disappointed and wouldn't go back.
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Review from meg p.
Napa, CA
8/20/2009
Very nice staff, but an overall disappointing experience. There were 3 of us at dinner, we each ordered a different appetizer and entree so that we could try a little bit of everything. Sadly, everything was bland and boring...and not to mention far to expensive.
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Review from Dyl D.
Napa, CA
1/22/2010
If you are expecting a typical pho place, do not come here. Instead, enjoy the nice atmosphere, friendly waiting staff and otherwise very nice and fresh vietnamese dishes. The fresh rolls were great, the papaya salad and stir fried plates excellent. I'll be back to try some of the other concoctions on the menu. I ordered beef Pho and it wasn't something I would order again. Enough of that though, go to this restaurant because most of the dishes are great!
