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Brix
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
7377 Saint Helena HwyNapa, CA 94558
(707) 944-2749
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 9 pm
Sun 10 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
394 reviews for Brix
Review Highlights
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"it was a most breathtaking venue for a wine country wedding." In 22 reviews -
"Food was amazing especially the fried green beans appetizer." In 14 reviews -
"Now onto food: the seafood bar has the biggest shrimp..." In 7 reviews
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394 reviews in English
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Review from Jeff P.
Napa, CA
5/11/2012
4 1/2 rounded up to 5.
A friend and I decided late in the day to go for dinner and a prerequisite was outdoor seating. Large, spacious, welcoming and understated. The staff was attentive and accommodating.
The views from the patio as the sun sets cannot be beat. Just a spectacular setting. The food was top notch.
Definitely an underrated place in the Valley. -
Review from Cat C.
It pains me to write this, but seriously was I the only person not intoxicated while dining here during Sunday brunch? I'll stick with the positives first though, which include: the gorgeous patio and the great service.
The sourdough pancakes, the bacon, ceviche, and the fresh fruit salad were the only things that I thought were tasty. The duck confit hash croquettes and garlic tri-tip were alright, but I couldn't taste any garlic on the tri-tip and it looked kind of dry (though didn't taste dry). The meats from the charcuterie looked somewhat questionable, because I saw some edges of one of the meats look kind of grayish...definitely skipped that. There weren't many attractive choices for the salads, and for the wood oven portion of the buffet they only offered roasted potatoes, thin pizzas, and a veggie quiche. They had a small seafood bar which included: oysters, little neck clams, cocktail prawns and smoked salmon. I was excited about dessert, but it fell pretty flat too. The lemon mousse cake was probably the best dish besides the fruit salad. The cupcakes weren't bad either. However, we were so excited about the fresh (I waited til they put it out) cinnamon donut balls, yet they weren't hot and they didn't have any oomph. I also agree with some of the Yelps I've seen here too, there are some flies flying around some of the food!
I appreciate the fact that they do not make huge quantities of food to be sitting out underneath heating lamps, but the selection is very limited and the taste for much of the food isn't there especially for $38.50! If they are going to offer a small selection of items for the buffet they need to master them.Listed in: Wining & Dining & Then Some In…
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Review from Rachel G.
This is considered "Fine Dining" and everyone talks about this place, but in my opinion it's over rated & I would not call this fine dining or a food experience that I would consider memorable. The facility reminds me of a rustic wood cottage feeling. The seating are very close to each other. The plus side of this place is the outside. If the weather is nice, I would suggest you ask for outdoor seating. The view of their garden and the hills are beautiful. You can also walk around the gardens and view the different vegetables that they grow. We made a reservation here at 6:45 but they didn't seat us until 7 which I thought were irritating. Remember when I said the seats are close together well our neighbor was a body length away from us. Since this wasn't a romantic dinner we were like hey join us and we all partied together, but if you were taking a date here to get to know him/her, you would definitely be irritated by us. Yes you can hear the conversation right next to you and this place is very noisy.
As for the food we started with the duck consommé, you can definitely taste the flavor of the duck very strong, then an appetizer of smoked salmon crepes this was very tasty and uniquely made with several thin layers. Every time I go to a new restaurant I always ask what they recommend. We ordered what they recommended which was the Roasted Alaskan True Cod, Wood Grilled Pork Chops & the Beef Ribeye & a side order of Truffle Mac & Goat Cheese. I was so disappointed with the Cod; it was like eating fish that was marinated in olive oil, than cooked in olive oil and then drizzled with more olive oil. The plate was covered with oil and I was totally disgusted by it. When I bit into it I can feel my arteries clogging and thought why am I consuming this? I had them take back the Cod and ended up just eating the Mac & Cheese which was good and having a few bites of the Ribeye & Pork Chops (sharing is caring). The Ribeye was a little on the chewy side and the seasoning was nothing spectacular but the Pork chops where off the hook. Tender and juicy not dry at all. I always wondered why is it when you have no problem with your meal the managers don't come to you to ask you how everything is, but once you have a problem they all start flooding you every 10-15 minutes to ask you if you are ok. I was kind of bummed that they didn't offer me a free dessert. If you were wondering, no I did not order dessert here. Shocking right.
If you do decide to go here order the Pork Chops and Mac & Cheese. You will not regret it because it was good and there staff is really nice even before the incident with the Cod.Listed in: Enjoying Napa to the…
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Review from Rebekah T.
San Francisco, CA
In between our champagne tastings at Mumm and Domaine Chandon, we decided to grab a little something to eat and I picked Brix.
We came sometime between lunch and dinner, so they offered thier bar menu which is perfect for us. I like small plates to share and brix was nice enough to split the salad. So that's why the portions look smaller. We ordered:
*slow braised pork belly with roasted apple, warm lentils and vinaigrette: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
*braised octopus salad, citrus, arugula, white beans, piquillo peppers and smoked pimenton vinaigrette: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
To drink, I ordered this spicy tequilla cocktail that was really good. I'm not sure the name of it, but it was wonderful. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I love Brix, but love it even more now that I learned they have a Sunday brunch with oysters, seafood and cheese. Holy moly! I love oysters!Listed in: Wine Country, Ooooh, pork belly
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Review from Sabrina b.
Reno, NV
4/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
This truly is as good as it gets.
We dined here on a Sunday night. We had booked on Open Table and had no issue being seated. We opted to dine outside because it was a beautiful evening and the weather was gorgeous. We walked through the main dining area on our way out to the back patio / dining area. The aesthetic was nice and I wouldn't have minded dining inside.
We were chatted with immediately by our fab waitress. We ordered some wine (Frank family chardonnay) and perused the menu. I was torn between a few of the entrees and solicited advice from the waitress. She suggested I opt for the duck breast over baby root veggies. My wife opted for the short ribs with risotto and white asparagus. We ordered the Mac and cheese side to share. The entrees were fabulous. Cooked to melt in your mouth perfection. The Mac and Cheese was not to my liking. I don't know if it was the goat cheese in particular but it had a weird / tart aftertaste. I only tried one bite and that was enough for me.
The waitress was attentive but not overbearing. We opted for a Chocolate Duet and their Lemon Cheesecake for dessert. Both were fabulous. I had the cheesecake and loved that it was served with a huckleberry sauce and hazelnuts. I love hazelnuts and they really added a nice crunch to the cheesecake. The portion sizes were perfect. We left full but not bursting.
The view, the staff, the food... everything was perfect.
I will def. dine here again next time i'm in the area. -
Review from Sujan J.
San Francisco, CA
3/28/2012 8 photos
Came here on one raining Saturday evening at the end of an all day wine tasting trip.
Here's where I would give them 5 stars:
1) Atmosphere - it was very nice in there. Loved the fire place (even though we were far away from it and were freezing inside their private cellar dining room. Having our private room was nice except because they were storing all their wine, temperature could not be increased.
2) Service - it was top notch. I was having issues with my flash and he even helped out trouleshoot (he was into photography)
3) Food presentation - everything looked great on plate
Where I take away some stars is their actual food. While everything looked great, I felt that there was nothing spectacularly amazing about their food. I ordered the duck and it tasted okay (nothing amazing) and the portion was very small.
Beef short rib & risotto was pretty good but I felt like risotto could have had a little more flavour. Short rib was pretty salty so I guess they were trying to balance out the flavour of the two but I think it could have been done differently.
Cauliflower side dish was too creamy, again without much of a punch.
Ginger creme brulee was too gingery for most people in my group.
My bread & butter pudding I thought was okay but not amazing.
I maybe a little harsh here but if I went to an average $$ restaurant and got these foods, I would probably have thought it was pretty good. At a $$$ restaurant my expectation was set differently and I think food could have been better (don't get me wrong - food was not bad - it just wasn't amazing).
Their service, presentation etc - definitely 5 stars! -
Review from Kuishimbo F.
Sacramento, CA
4/1/2012
So... came here on Friday night to help close off the work week. My gal pal and I both had the St. Tropez cocktail which was very refreshing with campari and grapefruit and one of our favorite liqueurs the elderflower.
For starters, we tried the braised octopus salad and the mussels. Sad to say, we felt it really needed a bit more seasoning. They were both rather low on the salt. The octopus was diced into the salad with other beans and potatoes that the whole salad just had the same texture. I think adding a bit of a crunch and citrus would have been nice. For the mussels, it just needed more flavor and we were a tad disappointed since they were cooked perfectly, just needed more seasoning... you know, like when you want to sop up the juices at the bottom with your bread...
Dinner was better... I had the alaskan cod - very tasty with skin up. My friend had the flounder which was also lovely - sautéed with puree on bottom.
We shared the bread pudding which was yummy.
I think we'll be back to try the Sunday brunch bec/ of the variety of offerings - it was our initial instinct to do that first but we had a last minute idea to try dinner on Friday so... The ambiance was great though with a beautiful garden in the back. -
Review from Mona A.
Sacramento, CA
4/1/2012
This is my go-to place in the area when I'm taking visitors around, as it never disappoints. Food is consistent, service is great, and the view outside is beautiful.
I never have the same thing here as the menu changes by the seasons, etc, but with the exception of the FRIES! This is the only place I would actually order this fast food staple. They fry them in duck fat, seasoned very well, texture is perfect. My review cant possibly do these fries any justice, so just please give them a try. Simple goodness!!!
I've had many of their food, from soups to deserts, and I have yet to find an item I don't like. -
Review from Chrissy C.
San Ramon, CA
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
This review is for Brix Sunday Brunch. I've always wanted to come to Brix for brunch because I've heard so many great things about it. We made reservations for Brix on Opentable and we were seated right away. We had the option of sitting indoors or outside in the patio, but opted for the patio because it was a beautiful day outside.
I think the brunch is worth every dime. It includes coffee, tea, sparkling water, orange juice, whatever you want. Mimosas, bellinis, etc aren't part of the brunch price, but are only a nominal price if you are interested. I loaded up on the clams and oysters on my first trip to the brunch line. Then, I moved to the cheese and bread table.
I wasn't as excited about the hot foods. The tri-tip as mentioned by other reviewers wasn't that great. I thought that the corned beef croquette was creative, but some of the croquettes looked a little on the blackened side.
Save room for dessert. There is a selection of cookies and cupcakes. I had the cream puff, chocolate cupcake, red velvet cupcake, biscotti, and oatmeal raisin cookie. My only advice to the pastry chef is not to overcook the cupcakes. My red velvet was a little on the crispy side, and not in a good way.
Overall, the experience at Brix was excellent and I'll be bringing my family back for another visit. -
Review from Maya S.
4/11/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Brix puts together a very good brunch buffet. The wait staff is available throughout the restaurant making sure that brunch runs smoothly, and they all do it with very friendly attitudes.
I guess it pays to make reservations because we got seated right by the fireplace which was nice and toasty. When we ordered coffee, our waiter didn't fill our cups until we returned from the buffet line so that we would have hot cups o' joe to drink. I really appreciate detail like that. This attention to detail definitely extended into the food because the food looked and tasted delicious! There aren't tons of food put out for the buffet so once a dish runs out, the cooks are whipping up another batch and putting out fresh food. My favorites were the freshly shucked oysters with that apple mignonette, the sourdough pancakes, the brioche french toast, the quiche and the peanut butter cookies. They also served classic deviled eggs and crispy bacon which were tasty options. The only letdown with the food was the frittata with chorizo. The texture was almost eraser-like and I just couldn't eat it.
The finale of brunch took place in Brix's garden behind the restaurant. A walk around the garden definitely helped with all the food we ate, and we even got to take a look at the vineyard and the veggie garden.
Overall, the food is great but I think the brunch buffet is a bit on the pricey side. Just make sure you load up on the red meat, oysters, shrimp and clams! -
Review from Tiffany U.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
To kick off our mini Napa getaway/quarter of a century birthday celebration for Mr. Dubs, I decided to take him to Brix for their famed Sunday brunch. Upon pulling into the parking lot, I was disappointed to see that from the outside, Brix can easily pass for another Denny's or IHOP. I guess I was hoping for a fancy schmancy restaurant but I forgot that I was in Napa, where everything is very relaxed and classic looking. Once inside, I was impressed by how warm and comfortable the dining room made me feel. All the servers I had encountered were super friendly and welcoming.
Just to be clear, I've been to a fair share of buffets and since I'm Chinese, it is in my blood to try to stuff as much food in as possible even if it means I'll be sick of food for the next three days. Brix, however, is not one of those places that you want to stuff your face and be seen carrying 3-4 plates to the table at once. The selection at Brix is quite minimal-- there's a cheese/bread table, hot foods table, shell fish stop and then dessert. Almost everything I had was so delicious with a honorary mention to the following:
1. Garlic tri tip
2. Raw oysters (I had so many that the server mentioned I must really love raw oysters)
3. The cheese and the bread
4. Scrambled eggs w/ creme fraich
5 Walnut pancakes
Yum! On top of that, I had a delicious blood orange margarita to help wash all the food down. Everything I tried was fresh and of good quality. I definitely left satisfied and excited to come back for more! -
Review from Stefanie D.
Vallejo, CA
3/9/2012
I love eating dinner here once in a while. It's a pretty good restaurant. The staff's super friendly and the atmosphere is really laid back and comfortable.
We recently discovered that they offer a brunch buffet on Sundays, that included - brace yourselves - all you can eat oysters! They offer a lot of other really good food, but the oysters just about damn well sold me on it. We tried it out and I was in HEAVEN. Plates and plates of oysters! It was a dream com true! When we were done we took a small walk in the garden. Really nice. :)
Do not take someone who is not a big eater to this brunch though. At almost $40 bucks a person, you better be prepared to eat your weight in food so that money doesn't go to waste. -
Review from Diana D.
Newark, CA
3/11/2012
My experience at Brix was fantastic ! Besides being amazed by their garden (conveniently located right behind the restaurant), I was even more amazed by the quality of their food and service.
Our table started off with the fried tempura. Even though I never eat tempura, I decided to give them a shot because I was excited to know their vegetables were freshly plucked from their garden. The vegetables were a nice golden brown and tasted fresh, sweet and juicy! There were also accompanied with a delicious lemon-herb aioli.
I ordered the sautéed flounder and it's been the best fish dish I've ever had. The flounder beatifically sat on a bed of Yukon potato puree and were both bathed in a buttery lemon sauce. The flounder easily flaked and melted in my mouth.
Our table also ordered the filet mignon, garden pizza and the truffled mac and goat cheese timbale. The filet mignon was accompanied with a side of beet and horseradish puree- which I must say was really good. It was not your typical overwhelming horseradish, it complimented the streak very well. The pizza was nothing special.
For dessert, we ordered the bread pudding and the cheese cake. They were both delicious and decadent.
Their service was phenomenal. When we arrived we were kindly greeted and were welcomed to walk around the garden, while we waited for the kitchen to open. Our waiters were very attentive and never let our cups go empty.
I will definitely return! -
Review from Jeff F.
Pleasanton, CA
5/11/2012
Great food. Unbelievably inattentive service. Made us miss our private wine tour. Had to track them down to even pay.
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Review from Wai D.
Arcadia, CA
4/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
The beef filet, and 2006 wine is excellent. Never have a beef filet this good. The Chef did a good job.
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Review from Inga W.
2/22/2012
I wish I could say something great about this place but the food was just forgettable and nothing great. The atmosphere is nice, spacious, great view during the day along with outside seating.
We started with the tempura vegetables and oysters and then my husband had the scallops and I had the short ribs.
The tempura was OK, nothing great or creative, the oysters were nice.
The scallops were oily and the taste wasn't there, the sides also were a bit heavy and not complimenting anything, just not a great dish.
The short rib was nice, tender and the sides were nicely paired with it but again nothing special about it or any wow factor.
For a Napa Valley dinner we expected more, better dishes and creativity and better execution, especially for the price tag. -
Review from Resa N.
Bay Area
***Rating based on Sunday Brunch***
A few of us girls decided to do Sunday Brunch here today and it was absolutely
DEE-LISH!!! Others may think there's not much of a selection on your basic breakfast items but we came here specifically for the all-you-can-eat oysters and we're definitely not let down.
There's a side table of shucked oysters over ice with a selection of sauces. (Be sure to try the apple mignonette/vinaigrette sauce and horse radish). Absolutely amazing!! On the same table they have these HUGE TIGER PRAWNS, clams and smoke salmon.
On another side table, you have a selection of cheeses, breads/bagels, nuts and salamis.
Some of the main dishes include:
*Scrambled eggs w/ creme fraiche - NOT BAD
*Mini eggs benedict - GOOD. Eggs were poached perfectly and yolk was runny
*Sourdough Pancakes - EXCELLENT. One of my faves. Had a slight crisp texture and was sweet topped with some kind of nuts/crunch and powdered sugar
*Brioche French Toast - Good, however nothing spectacular.
*Duck Confit Hash - Not bad. Reminded me of a crab cake
*Garlic TRI-TIP w/ garlic au jus - Another FAVORITE. This was SO yummy and juicy and packed with A LOT of flavor.
*Ceviche - Another fave. Had 3rds of this served with chips. That good!
*Pene Pasta - OK. Nothing too special about this
Other items I didn't get the pleasure of trying; Salad, Potatoes, Pizza, Quiche, Sausage and Bacon. Desserts; Cookies, fruits, mini pies
$6 mimosas were good. Would've been better if they were bottomless.
What I really enjoyed about this place is the amount of food they put out at a time, which was minimal. That way the food keeps coming and taste fresh every time you go back for more.
The waiters were super attentive and checked on us more than frequently and cleared our dirty plates constantly. They even swapped silverware.
For the amount of oysters and shrimp we ate, we totally ate our $38 worth. Would I come back...? ....HELL YEAH!!! -
Review from Ken N.
San Jose, CA
2/23/2012 2 photos
An overall great dining experience to end our weekend Napa trip. It's a beautiful restaurant.
SERVICE:
- Wonderful. They called me the day of to verify my reservation. I came early and the table was already set. Our server was very courteous and prompt with all our orders and refills. We had the last reservation and never once felt rushed.
FOOD:
- Butter Lettuce Salad: My friend said this was very bland and not good. Asked for more dressing and that still didn't work.
- Beef Ribeye: Medium cooked perfectly. Bone marrow butter was tasty. Truffle mac and cheese was a bit strong on the truffle but still good.
- Sauteed Sonoma County Duck Breast: Cooked very well with nice skin texture; however, lacked a little bit of flavor. I would've liked it with some kind of sauce.
- Sauteed Flounder: Average. If you like buttery fish, this is for you. I prefer Sea Bass.
- Pistachio Financier: The BEST dessert that we had.
- Duo of Chocolate: Good if you like strong chocolate flavors.
- Warm Brioche Bread Pudding: Average. Too many flavors going on.
WINE:
- Esca Napa Valley Cab: One of the cheaper cabs on the menu. Good for the price.
Pricing? Good for Napa considering your wallet can get raped at many other places. A few of us had some cocktails as well. Bill was around $60/person including tip.
I'd come back. -
Review from Julia G.
San Francisco, CA
2/22/2012
This is a good restaurant with nice interior and tasty food.
My only negative is the slow service.... -
Review from Marlon T.
1/25/2012
I'm sorry Brix but the food was just horrific and this review is heavily skewed towards that.
My party and I ordered these items:
1) tempura fried vegetables, beans, zucchini, eggplant, lemon-fines herb aioli
Lots of people recommended this but I don't know why. The presentation looked interesting at first. I was hungry so I dug right in. However, after a few bites I started to taste hints of old oil. I continued to eat this the nasty batter just because I was hungry but I really was not enjoying it. The gross feeling of eating oily food lingered in my stomach for a while. I felt some steatorrhea coming. Maybe it was just that day, but DO NOT GET THIS DISH.
2) rustichella pasta bucatini, duck leg white bolognese, red onion, garlic breadcrumbs, pecorino
It tasted like regular ground beef and some boiled noodles from Safeway. Don't get this.
3) wood grilled lamb burger, french feta, pommes frites, smoked paprika aioli
The burger was alright. It looked very appetizing. However, it's nothing special.
The only thing I liked about this meal was the french fries that came with the burger.
Why? Because they tasted like their from McDonald's. My friend was looking for a Big Mac to go along with it. We were eating the fries like 4 at time. When you eat quality/gourmet fries, you don't eat 4 at a time.
Service was OK.
I'd give this place 1 star if it wasn't for the nice setting and garden.
No wonder why there's not that many reviews. -
Review from Kathryn M.
San Francisco, CA
4/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came here with a large group on a Saturday night. They sat us in their private wine cellar room which was awesome. The service was great and the food was decent, but nothing to write home about. I had their pizza of the day, which coming from SF and having been spoiled rotten with Delfina and Pizzetta211 was just okay. The crust didn't have the balance of slightly chewy, slightly crunchy that I've come to expect. The asparagus was good but a little oily, the cauliflower gratin was decent but a little flavorless. My favorite part of the meal was the bread pudding, which was good in a comforting home cooked sort of way, but not really something you'd expect from a fine dining restaurant.
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Review from Julie C.
San Francisco, CA
2/1/2012
A solid 4.5 stars.
We came here during the Napa Valley Restaurant Month. They were featuring a 3 course meal for $38 and I've always wanted to give this restaurant a try. We ended up adding wine pairing to our menu for $12 per person. Brix did not disappoint. Not only were the portions huge, but the food was amazing, simple, but executed extremely well.
1. anchovy wedge salad
2. braised pork shoulder
3. cheese plate (humboldt fog!) / chocolate creme brûlée
I don't usually think much of wedge salads, but the dressing was spot on. The pork was cooked to perfection and the meat was falling apart on the shoulder. It was perfectly seasoned and the portion was huge. I was so incredibly full, but we split the third course and ordered one cheese plate and one dessert. There were 2 types of cheeses paired with a nice sparkling wine and a port paired with the creme brûlée.
I would absolutely recommend this restaurant and I cannot wait to go back to try items off of their regular menu. -
Review from Amihan M.
Napa, CA
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really wanted to like this place. The grounds are beautiful, so I would say that if you're eating here, you should do it in the daytime.
Service was ok, and the food. Well, not even sure how to talk about the food. I guess it's cooked right, beautifully presented, just missing something. Character? Is that it? I was actually a little bored with the food. It's a bit upscale generic dining. They raved about the fried vegetable, but I've had better ones at other restaurants. There just wasn't magic in it for me. If you go to other restaurants in Napa, there's something that shows you their identity in their food. Sadly I just didn't find this at Brix.
I'll probably will still be back when my mom visits because she would love the view/grounds and they have a store for all her souvenirs. It sounds like their brunch maybe a better choice. -
Review from Jocelyn S.
Burbank, CA
3/20/2012
This review is for their Sunday Brunch.
If I could give this place 4.5 stars I would. I went here with my family, we were a party of 6 and had no problem getting a table at around 11:30 in the morning. We were given a quick tour of the buffet area and ordered our drinks. Apparently Mimosas, bloody mary's and a few other 'brunch' alcoholic beverages were 'half off'. It's too bad that they don't offer a bottomless mimosa special -- I would have paid extra for it. The lack of having bottomless mimosa's as an option is the reason why they get a minus .5 star from me.
What I really enjoyed about this place is the quality of food and service. We didn't have any service issues, all the servers and staff were attentive in responding to our needs. We were even asked a few times how we were enjoying our brunch. As for the food, for $40 the food was top notch. Actually I personally think it's quite a steal. Everything is cooked with the intention of serving it in smaller portions, basically the food that is cooked and served doesn't sit under the heat lamps all that long. They cook and serve based on the frequency that it's needed -- the only down side to that is having to hover around to see if the items that I liked were there or not. But all the food was freshly cooked and warm. It was also a pleasant surprise to see the chefs occasionally poke outside and cut fresh herbs from their herb garden.
The Eggs Benedict were good (though some were a hit and miss as not all of them were perfectly poached, but the hollandais sauce was delicious), the sourdough pancakes were delicious -- they really didn't need any additional dressings on top. The one item that I would probably would improve would be their quiche - I didn't find as much flavor in it as I would have liked. Their dessert bar while good I thought didn't stand as strong as the rest of their buffet -- I think their mini cupcakes were a little on the dry side though I think it's hard to achieve moist mini cupcakes. Actually I would prefer their 'sticky bun' to their desert bar. The seafood bar was good -- I appreciated that they had a server standing by the seafood bar shucking oysters, he was also very friendly and at least made me believe he was enjoying his job. The cocktail sauce, while a bit devious with it's pale pastel pink colour actually packed a really nice kick! They were also serving corned beef hash croquettes, though I was a bit bummed since I was looking forward to trying the duck confit hash croquettes.
The top items that I enjoyed were:
- roasted clams: they were served on a bed of salt and each little morsel was packed with delicious flavor.
- sticky buns: sinfully buttery, sweet and had a lovely browned crunchy bottom.
- fried brussels sprout: best thing ever.
For the price that you pay, and what you get for quality and food I think was worth the price as it was really good. We were there for probably 3 or 4 hours and never once did we feel pressured to leave. I look forward to visiting again for brunch the next time I'm there. -
Review from Emi G.
3/24/2012
Not sure when happy hour starts, but we arrived at 4pm, and it was 50% off drinks AND apps til 6pm on a Wednesday!! The portions were regular, with 1/2 prices, and beautiful outdoor views. Check out their herb and vege garden outside! Wine selection was great, and even the cocktails were tasty. Tempura fried vegetables were AWESOME (greenbeans, eggplant, zucchini), and flatbread pizza was pretty good too. Service was great, and I would love to get to come back again!
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Review from Rosie S.
Chicago, IL
1/25/2012
Yumminess...I started this review almost a year ago...I wish I would have had more saved than just "yumminess!"
I was in Napa on a wine tour and we stopped at this restaurant for lunch. We were promptly seated outside in the back with was breathtaking!! There were tons of flowers and a garden and a breathtaking view. The food was to die for (but I could have also had something to do with all the wine that was flowing!) I ordered the Wild Mushroom flatbread and it was delicious!!! And an amazing glass of white wine...but that is all my memory is giving me right now
Go and enjoy!!! -
Review from Daniella D.
Pleasanton, CA
2/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable
We went to Brix for lunch on a Friday, early in the day, to start off a Napa wine tasting day trip. The grounds are beautiful, and the view from the dining room is worth all the stars itself on a clear day.
Luckily, the food is good too! Everything was very fresh and very tasty. I had a burger (no shame) and the meat was quality and the fries were crisp and I had no qualms about eating the whole thing. Another ordered the lunch special, which came with a good merlot and salad and salmon, which was all in all a good deal and a lot of food. The chef was even willing to add meat to one of their salads to create an entree out of it, which we greatly appreciated!
The only reason I'm not going for five stars is that it did take a little longer than I would have liked for the meal to be served--we got there at 11:45, and left around 1:45, which was only concerning because we had plans for wine tasting. Otherwise, I have no issues enjoying a leisurely lunch, especially in a place as beautiful as Brix! We will definitely be back. -
Review from Tara C.
12/8/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Sigh. Maybe my expectations were to high.
Don't get me wrong, the setting is gorgeous, the gardens are beautiful and if you're with someone who likes to take pictures, leave yourself the time. The food is well prepared and beautifully presented.
The Eggs Benedict were perfectly poached and the hollandaise held up beautifully. Of course, who doesn't love a seafood station? Call me spoiled, call me gluttonous (I'd agree to both) but I would have expected more than shrimp and oyster with some lox on this famous seafood station that everyone raves about. I've been to comparably priced brunches with caviar and crab legs along with oysters and shrimp. Frankly, Lox are an expectation at a brunch. The salads were freshly prepared which I really appreciate - it grosses me out when everything at a brunch looks like it was made the night before.
So my unsatisfied expectations aren't really about the food.
Here's the rub. Firstly, we made our reservations through Open Table, so I know that within the reservation, I specifically mention that we are celebrating a 40th birthday. When they call me to confirm the reservation the day before I reconfirm that we are celebrating a birthday - the guy literally says "yah, OK." as if saying "What do you want me to do about it?" Its exactly the attitude you want when your about to drop over $150 on brunch.
When we get there, the restaurant is 1/2 empty. We're seated and our server makes it to our table to give us the low-down, no birthday acknowledgment. We order some Bellinis (Bloody Mary for me) and head out to walk the selections. We don't see our server for another 25 minutes. We're done with our drinks. We might have ordered another, but now we've moved on to wanting coffee. We flag him down and get our coffee. We flag down again for cream. It goes on like this. At the time of the check, they do bring some items from the brunch and a lit candle for birthday. It is the bare minimum, but at least its SOMETHING.
So if you go: be prepared for beautiful grounds, excellent food and mediocre service. -
Review from Mary D.
Silver Spring, MD
4/9/2012 Seated via OpenTable
My husband and I made a reservation here on a Friday night, when honestly, we weren't able to get into a lot of the other restaurants on our list.
We started with oysters on the half shell, which neither of us were crazy about. They were okay, but nothing special. Our main choices were better, my husband had the scallops, and myself the cod. Specifically, my cod was very flaky, and I really enjoyed it.
Overall, I would recommend Brix, and would probably returned. We were surprised that it wasn't more crowded. -
Review from Jay S.
San Francisco, CA
4/2/2012
driving along st. helena on a Sat nite around 6 pm in Jan and every restaurant along the way is packed with a 1 to 2 hr wait except for this one... is something wrong with this place... NO, pleasant surprise. Our host is a sweet guy who sat us right next to the fireplace... what a beautiful place... they make the best fries... be sure to order this no matter what else you order....the butter lettuce salad is a great start and the steak was perfect.... wood pizza oven great for sharing...
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Review from Susan D.
Napa, CA
4/7/2012
Happy Hour at the Bar for half price drinks and food from 4-6 is the place to be. Lucas the bartender is a good as it gets - fast, courteous and knowledgeable. Food is awesome and the drinks are spectacular.
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Review from Michelle R.
Oakland, CA
12/22/2011
First, the hostess and wait staff provided excellent and friendly service. The atmosphere had modern and rustic touches--very appealing, warm, elegant ambiance. The dining area is quite large, but was quiet at around 6 on Saturday, so excellent for a date.
As a vegetarian there are more limited options, but really plenty was appealing. The vegetables were fresh, rich in color, flavorful. Presentation was lovely.
Two of us split the kale side dish, beet salad, and entree of chickpea cakes.
The portions were standard for a more upscale restaurant--on the more petite side, which was completely fine and satisfying to me. -
Review from Tiffany L.
Berkeley, CA
12/26/2011
After much Yelping and research, I decided to take my boyfriend here for the big Napa dinner, and I have to thank my instincts because it was damn delicious. First off, you definitely get what you paid for. Secondly, you leave here incredibly full.
The service was great, very friendly and attentive. The restaurant itself is great. It is on St. Helena drive (so not in downtown Napa) but is on a beautiful piece of land. This place would be perfect in the summer for brunch when you can sit outside and enjoy the scenery.
Now for the food....we got the beef ribeye (it was the size of my face, perfectly seasoned and cooked) with truffled mac & goat cheese timbale (we couldn't stop eating this) and the prix fix, which included the prosciutto with an apple and duck confit sauce (YUMS), pan seared trout (good too but I wish the skin was crispy...was a bit oily) with mash potatoes (this was great), and molten lava cake (we were so full but we had to eat this).
If you don't want to spend a fortune (which many places in Napa will end up costing you your wallet), then come here. -
Review from Elaine P.
Concord, CA
4/1/2012
Our recent lunch at Brix rates more than four stars -- but not quite a five. We had been wine tasting so only wanted water -- both still and sparkling were offered. We were offered house-cured olives and bread while we were waiting for our entrees. The walnut bread could have been a meal in itself. I had to limit myself to one slice since DH and I were sharing a sandwich.
We both ordered the soup of the day which was Moroccan lamb and vegetable which sounded better than it was. Not bad, just not great. We shared a lamb burger -- flavorful, juicy, and filling. Our single burger was generously presented on two plates with a full order of the delicious pommes frites on both plates. The pommes frites were definitely a five-star dish. And the housemade pickles were so delicious. I never want to eat a commercially processed pickle again.
I really did not have room for dessert but could not resist the ginger-infused creme brulee with black pepper shortbread. The ginger added a lovely touch to the creme brulee. A very generous serving so am glad DH who had insisted he did not want dessert agreed to a taste -- or two of the creme brulee.
We dined here on a Monday afternoon well after the noon hour. Only a few other tables were occupied. Quiet and relaxing atmosphere with attentive, but not overly attentive service. We did not visit the gardens this time, but did take a quick peek in the gift shop. -
Review from Jenny V.
San Jose, CA
3/29/2012
Great food for a good price. The boar was YUMMY!
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Review from Cassie S.
Dallas, TX
1/14/2012
Bland food. Overpriced. Terrible ambience (everybody we encountered was snooty). and last but not least.. FOOD POISONING.
I would not recommend this place to my worst enemy. How is this place rated so high? -
Review from Abby D.
San Francisco, CA
11/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
AMAZING brunch buffet! A classy restaurant offering fresh, high quality ingredients.
I made reservations here for one of my good friend's birthdays. We arrived 15 minutes early and were seated within 2 minutes of checking in. The staff was friendly and greeted my friend "Happy Birthday" and even gave her a birthday card, which was a nice touch.
We were seated indoors; however, the outdoor patio looked to be a more scenic area because you're seated right in front of the vineyard and beautiful landscaping. Plus, you get all the fresh air. I would suggest to request a seat outside, weather permitting.
Now, onto the food...
The food was phenomenal. Platters were replenished quickly and the oysters (my favorite part!) were freshly shucked in front of you! Along with the oysters were jumbo shrimp, clams, and a variety of dipping sauces. There was also a cheese/ bread station with dried fruits to pair with, which complemented each other well. I also tried a variety of salads and hot food items-- I must say, I liked EVERYTHING I tried. The tri tip was cooked medium-rare, flavorful, and tender. Sourdough walnut pancakes with berry compote, vanilla cream, and maple syrup = HEAVEN. I went for seconds on that one! The desserts were cutely presented. The tiramisu was very "wet" and creamy; however, it was packed with classic tiramisu flavor and I could taste the rum! Yummy... Red velvet cupcake was moist, frosting was light and smooth.
Only gripe I have is there were FLIES swarming the cheese/ bread area. I had to pick food that was on the bottom, assuming it hadn't been touched by flies.
We also had mimosas which were "half-off" ($6 each), but the glass was only filled half way and we didn't have much to sip. I guess when they meant "half-off", they meant only half the glass was to be filled. Oh well, it was still yummy, and I got tingly!
Our server was amiable, very easy to talk to, and picked up our plates/ replaced utensils efficiently. He also gave the birthday girl a pumpkin tart (served from the buffet) with two ooey gooey cookies (also from the buffet) with a lit candle. Although these treats came from the buffet, it was still a nice gesture to top off the meal.
I would allot time for picture taking outside. The view is definitely breathtaking and makes for a beautiful backdrop. -
Review from Chris N.
Hanover, MD
3/15/2012
Braised pork belly... Melts
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Review from Callie e.
Petaluma, CA
11/1/2011
Fabulous.
With my mom visiting this past weekend, I felt pressure to book reservations at a place, that would hopefully, blow her away.
And, after dining Saturday night, I think I did just that.
As recommended, we ordered the tempura fried veggies to start - holy crap, these were SO good. Light, crispy and bursting with flavor in every bite. I swear, I could eat these everyday for the rest of my life.
For our entrees, Mom ordered the Rib Eye with truffled mac and (goat) cheese, while I opted for the Chickpea Cakes (veg option). Basically, the Chickpea cakes were right up there with the seared Polenta from Farmhouse back in KC - which means, I was in heaven. They were dense, texturally balanced and never once, made me wishing I had ordered a flesh-based entree. Really, sometimes the best dishes are the vegetarian ones... Mom's Rib Eye wasn't her favorite (she's a born and raise midwestern - which means, she's very hard to please when it comes to steak), but her truffled mac and cheese was out of this world! I do believe she said (and I quote) 'that's about the best stuff I've ever put in my mouth'. ha - She was right, when I'm sitting in the execution chair and they ask what I'd like for my last meal - I'm saying 'truffled mac and cheese from Brix!'. Heck yes.
We skipped dessert, as we were both beyond stuffed, but I can't wait to come back and try more from this heavenly menu. -
Review from Jenny L.
Sacramento, CA
11/16/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Normally i let my manners out the door and really get down when comes to buffet but i had hold myself back and eat like a socialite at this high class Sunday brunch/buffet.
Selections were limited but each selection seemed to be made with high quality ingredients and sharpened culinary skills. My favorites were the food at the seafood bar (I"m asian haha), butter letuce with pumpkin vinaigrette and their tiramisu. Well, actually I like everything on their menu.
