On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Loading...
Wow, what a find!
We stumbled upon this place tonight and we were delighted by the appetizers, pasta, and the desert was extraordinary. The prices were reasonable. A world class meal. This place would stand up next to the very best in SF or NYC easily.
And whoa, it has a 24 rating in Zagat and average $39.00 per meal!
Cook is a tiny little restaurant nestled in downtown Saint Helena, and its small entrance and unassuming nature make it easy to miss.Even looking for the restaurant on a recommendation, I had some trouble finding it. Boy am I glad we did.
If you come on a Friday or Saturday night you'll definitely want a reservation. Fortunately we came on the early end of dinner hour, and there were a couple of tables for two still available. Even though we were in the back by the kitchen it wasn't particularly loud at all. Our server was chatty, friendly, and attentive and helped me find a wine I would enjoy even after a day of wine tasting and not being sure I could stand the sight of even more wine. I had a vegetable soup and the specialty pasta and found both beyond delicious. For this tourist heavy and not-inexpensive area the prices are fair for the high quality of food.
The best thing about this restaurant is that it doesn't feel like a tourist trap like so many other things in this area. The decor is classy yet understated, and the place feels like it was designed for locals to kick back. Definitely refreshing after experiencing all the Napa Valley commercialism.
I actually would give Cook a solid 4 1/2 stars if I could. The 1/2 off is for the noise level and semi-cramped seating.
I had a lovely dinner with a friend who lives in St. Helena on Tuesday night. I was amused that we'd had a reservation because it was a Tuesday. In November. But turns out it was a great thing, because there was maybe one other open table in the place when we arrived.
The server was attentive without being pushy, and she was knowledgeable about the menu and the specials. It was no problem that we'd brought a bottle of my friend's wine and it was opened without some of the usual huffiness at BYO.
For apps, I got the soup of the day - a hearty and lovely minestrone that was warm and satisfying. My friend had the beets and local greens salad, also a standout.
Main dishes: friend had the short ribs with scallion mashed potatoes. The ribs were tender and flavorful. The potatoes were good, nothing to write home about, but tasty and comforting. I had the risotto of the day - a salty italian cheese that I forget the name of, persimmon, and the most divine piece of pork shoulder I have ever eaten, hands down. The edges were crispy and salty and nice, but the meat was fork-tender. It had been prepared really well - most of the interior fat had melted away and basted the meat instead of the big rims of fat pork shoulder can sometimes have.
Dessert was a simple, elegant panna cotta with berries for my friend - nice little yogurt-y tang to it. I had Karen's special dessert, which was a pear/apple crumble cake with vanilla gelato with a caramel drizzle. It was like taking a bite of fall.
The appetizers that went by us looked great and were generously portioned without being big-box restaurant huge...the bread and oil were fresh and high quality.
Overall, it was a truly nice dining experience. Clearly it was mostly locals, and it has an understated feel to it. It is tiny and comfortable and really a nice place for a superb meal. I'll definitely be going back next time I visit my friend!
This place is tiny, but a gem nonetheless! Reservations are highly recommended.
I've been here a couple of times, and each time the food was delicious. My second go, I had the risotto du jour, which was served with swordfish. The fish was juicy and tender and the risotto was made with crescenza cheese. The combination was perfect.
Although there aren't a lot of menu items on either the food or wine lists, there is something for everyone.
I'd definitely come back again!
LOVE Cook. The daily Risotto is always amazing, the place is small and you can tell its mostly locals that dine there. They have a nice wine selection and the food is ridiculously good.
This adorable restaurant has one of the best bolonese I have ever had and their eggplant Parmesan is incredible. The chef knows what he is doing.
There's a passion that some restaurants have. Where does it come from? The owner? Does it come from the chef and radiate onto the servers and the patrons, snowballing into a huge mass of culinary appreciation? Why do some places seem to lack that? Is it because the chef peers from the kitchen like a bird of prey at his customers? Is he insecure or does he see dollar signs as we walk through the door? Fortunately for us, Cook has a passion for its food and its preparation. And service to its customers is of high importance.
What keeps the waitress here after all this time? The tips perhaps. The locals tip hard and the tourists adore the small hallway of a restaurant. Cook's old timey feel and masterful cookery packs 'em in. It gets noisy, but not deafening. One feels comfortable guffawing about the one time a winemaker so and so passed out in the hot tub with a magnum of new release. I went to Cook's last Saturday with some reservations. What I mean is that I had, of course, reserved a table in advance.
I had a drink at the bar before sitting down. It was hard to leave that cheerful soda fountain setting for the table at first, but hunger called. Everything I had was divine. The rocket arugula salad, which, when this was Green Valley Cafe, was called The Rocket Salad, then changed to The Arugula Salad, now affectionately known as The Rocket Arugula Salad, burst with a perfect combination of zesty greens, subtly sweet pears, and a provocative vinaigrette. The calamari, as you've come to expect, was dressed in a sleek crunchy breaded shell and set to music in your mouth with a spicy creamy sauce. The swordfish was a perfectly grilled knockout that I had a difficult time sharing. The ambiance was set to a Saturday loud and we brought our own wine so we were fools on high. The table next to us, out-of-town winemakers on a getaway, were twice as loud as that. I had a great time.
Cook is by far one of my favorite restaurants, EVER. Doesn't hurt that it's down the street from me so I can walk there.
Went here most recently last Thursday night with the boyfriend and his parents. BF and I shared the beet salad, which is amazing as always. I splurged and had the Fettuccine Carbonara, which normally is Penne but I guess they changed it. I have had dreams about this Carbonara-it's that good.
They had the Brussels Sprouts side special, but we didn't order it (it's amazing!).
Overall, I love the atmosphere, it's small so be prepared. Make a reservation, but if you don't, eat at the bar. It's just as enjoyable!
The service is always great too!
I know the menu can be small, but it never disappoints!
I love, love, loved the food. Everything I tried (party of 7) was delicious-especially the pasta dishes. I had the delightful gnocchi with Gorgonzola cream sauce. I also tried a bite of the carbonara. It was amazingly fresh pasta. My brother got a monster cioppino with an entire dungeness crab in it. The dessert was ok, but not stellar. It's the only weak point in the food.
The decor is charming, but a tad cramped. It's a small space.
The only reason I gave Cook 4 stars instead of 5 was the service. We had a reservation, and yet, when we got to the restaurant, a party of 2 was seated at the only table available for a large group. I felt bad, but the restaurant staff actually had to ask the couple to move tables. I hope they got something comped. Then it took about 20 minutes to get ice water, and the excuse was that the glasses had just come out of the dishwasher and they wanted to let them cool. um, what?
Anyway, I'm sure they'll work out the kinks, and the food kicks total ass. I'd go again in a heartbeat, but maybe with a smaller party.
Loved the setting. It's not your super-fancy-wine-country restaurant, so you can save the little black dress. The service there is great. Everything we ordered tasted quite delish! The place isn't too big, so a reservation is a must.
I enjoyed Cook's fresh ingredients and our server was very personable. I had a corn and white bean soup with greens in a broth base that was tasty and the risotto as my entree.
On the night we were there, the "daily" risotto was a plain risotto covered with 3 large slices of ripe tomatoes (each a dif variety) and a big piece of halibut. All topped with pesto. Normally a plain risotto wouldn't be my favorite...but the flavors here all combined to make it work very well.
It's a tiny restaurant...so while you may be able to belly up to the bar for dinner, you are better off with reservations. Entrees and starters for two plus a $40 bottle of wine came to $100, which I thought was a good value for a nice dinner in Napa Valley. The decor had a bit of a "Pottery Barn" feel.
Was planning on going to Cook the night before but decided on Tra Vigne instead. So we had lunch here. Service was very friendly and prompt. We decided to go for the specials. Gabby had the Risotto with spinach and scallops and I had the penne with mushrooms and homemade sausage. Gabby was very happy with her Risotto, I'm not a huge fan of scallops so I won't rate my review on her dish. However my pasta was awesome. The flavors were out of this world! Portions were just the right size. We had just enough space to share the flourless chocolate cake with grey salt. Yer I know, salt on a chocolate cake! I was very cautious, but you know what, it worked well. You get the fabulous chocolate flavor then you hit a bit of salt, which granted was a little weird, but then it did something really nice with the chocolate flavor already there.
All in all an excellent place to eat. I get the impression this is more a locals place than a tourist trap. I'll definitely be returning, but once again I'm going to be torn between here and Tra Vigne. Maybe lunch again in Cook and Dinner in Tra Vigne.
Two words, people: gorganzola gnocchi.
It really doesn't get any better. They are soft little pillows that your tongue can just curl up in and relax. This speaks to the atmosphere of the restaurant as well. Its cozy, comfy and laid back while serving you top chef meals and a great wine selection. There is nothing pretentious here - just good food and a good vibe.
If you like all things delicious, then order the fresh made mozzarella, the risotto (which will typically change in style from week to week but is always a winner), and most definitely, the brussel sprouts.
Brussel sprouts - EW!, you say. I hear you. My inner six-year old balked at the idea of eating a brussel sprout as well. Yet served up hot and crispy with butter and parmesean, I now attempt to cook them at home myself (and I never come close to matching Cook, but I'm now a brussel addict!).
The locals know that this is the best kept secret in wine country. People like me travel miles and miles just to get in on it.
Walked in here after a morning of wine tasting for lunch. Boyfriend and I were seated at the bar right away. Staff is friendly but a bit rushed. I ordered one of the specials - paparadelle with rabbit. LOVED it. I thought it might be too heavy for lunch but it really wasn't... it was actually perfect because I need something substantial in my stomach to get ready for an afternoon of tasting. The fresh pasta was cooked perfectly, the rabbit was tender and juicy. My boyfriend ordered the burger and enjoyed it as well. The menu is very simple; my kind of place. This was one of my favorite meals of the weekend. I really like the atmosphere, too, and probably would eat at the bar again because it seems more fun than a little table. It's a small place but bright and sunny, clean, welcoming. Great place. I would come here all the time if I lived in the area.
Cook is an interesting place to dine in the valley. Unlike most restaurants that are better known, Cook is usually packed with locals instead of tourists. The downside is that the locals tend to have this self-righteous attitude towards anyone they don't recognize... even though my family owns a home in the area, if you aren't in "the club," you will get pushed around much more than at other restaurants. They act like Cook is their living room.
Besides the snobby St. Helena wine crowd, the food is great. They usually have the same hostess and either she is always stressed out or she can hang out with the snobby people... she is not very warm either. We always make a reservation, but God forbid if you don't. She is not accommodating.
Onto the food: the gnocchi really is as divine as people say and the food is all around good. I've had a few things at Cook that haven't really impressed me, but the pastas are usually wonderful and there is always something fantastic to eat there, you just have to hope that you've ordered it. Parts of the menu change often, so the search for good food at Cook never ends completely.
I took my friend to Cook one night w/ out reservations and sat at the bar. The bar has diner like stools and it is a casual and friendly environment at Cook.
The service was great , all the food came out in a timely manner. But is was just alright. I have been here before and thought that it was better. I shared some calamari with my friend and calamari is pretty safe. But I have had better , and same with the short ribs that I had for my entree. I love short ribs! It was good not great.
Other people swear by this place so I will be back.
Very disappointed by this new St. Helena restaurant. On the positive side, although small, the restaurant is chic and snazzy. It has a nice bar to sit at and watch the kitchen. The service was excellent. The menu sounded quite good, but disappointed. The "warm" bread was cold, even on the second try. The risotto of the day was mediocre. It was precooked risotto as the server explained to us; that way it can
be warmed and served quickly. Nothing in our meal was worth
returning for and even worse this is a pricey menu. Maybe they need
a new cook, or better yet, they should hire a chef and rename the restaurant CHEF.
I don't get it at all, is this the same restaurant that I ate at? Cook, in St. Helena? Almost all of the reviews here are four and five stars, unbelievable. We went here the other night for an overall bad experience. The decor is great, classy and not that cheesy "Napa" style that everywhere in the entire area has. My instincts told me I was in for mediocrity the second I looked at the completely boring menu and was served very unremarkable bread with silly vinegar and oil. The menu: boring, boring, boring (i.e. cesar salad, beet salad with blood oranges of course, gnocci with brown butter, steak, fish with fingerling potatoes, blah blah blah). Don't get me wrong, it's fine to serve classics, but this menu happened to take every overdone dish from every upscale Italian/CA cuisine restaurant in the Bay Area and combine them into one menu with nothing interesting to add. Except for the rabbit risotto which they were out of at 6pm.
There were two waitresses, one was very nice, one was overly casual yet completely frantic at the same time (fiddling with wine bottles as she incorrectly recited the specials to us, shouting "back it up" to people in the doorway). I actually saw the nice one throw someone's food out while they were in the bathroom.
Anyway, on to the food. Nothing that great...my ravioli seemed like the kind you buy frozen at Whole Foods, my husband can cook a steak way better than what we got here, the Cesar salad was chopped up in little pieces and drowned in dressing and Parmesan. The only good thing was the pasta, and I have had way better elsewhere (Olivetto, Farina Foccacia or Quince, hell, even Pizzaolo has better pasta)
A place where locals go to "lunch", Cook is one of the most consistently good and perennially popular restaurants in the upper Napa Valley.
Today I had a wonderful risotto with golden raisins, perfect scallops, and the most delicious shrimp I have ever had in my life. They tasted of tarragon and slightly of anise. Their portobella sandwich is also wonderful, with balsamic carmelized onions and a chevre spread. Even the bread they bring out is wonderful: hot from the oven, soft and fluffy.
Today's lunch was 5 stars, easy, but in the past I've had hits and misses, so I'm giving them a good solid 4 stars. Don't think twice about checking this place out.
What a happy accident to have stumbled upon this delightful restaurant in downtown St. Helena.
My dining companion and I were melting in the summer heat, and in need of relief, fast (fast like an hour ago). Luckily, we ended up right in front of Cook, a small restaurant on Main Street across from Wilkes Bashford.
I liked the place immediately. It had an old-world feel with the counter-top seating, big antiqued mirrors, and narrow space with 2 rooms. But the colors were very clean - black, white, and dark brown wood - making it feel modern at the same time.
We were greeted by the friendly staff, who seated us immediately, and hustled to get us water in the stifling heat. And our water glasses were never empty the entire night, even when the restaurant got busy. I'm fairly sure that I did not get heat stroke because of these kind folks.
The food was absolutely wonderful. We started with the antipasto platter, with 5 different types of cold cuts, from copa to sausage to mortadello to locally-made prosciutto, as well as 2 slices of pecorino cheese and a bowl of divine marinated olives. All of this was served on a wood slab, with sourdough bread.
As if that wasn't enough to start, we split the fresh mozzarella. OH GOD. It was delicious. And I have had a lot of great mozzarella in my life, mostly in New York/NJ. This was perfect - buttery chunks of cheese with the exact plumpness it should have (not too dense, not too airy), and an incredibly fresh flavor. The 3 pieces were surrounded by a red pepper puree, olive oil, and capers, which paired very well with the delicate flavor of the cheese.
For my dinner, I had the roast poussin. Also excellent. Simply and well-spiced, and tender and juicy. It was served on a bed of artichoke confit, which was perfect for a summer meal.
We had a well-priced, fruity Pinot Grigio from Wood or Work (I can't remember the exact name of the winery) - which was at the recommendation of our server and exactly what we were looking for.
There were a lot people there by the time we left, many of whom the staff greeted by name and who seemed to know each other as well. It was like Mayberry meets the Millennium, and I just loved it. Check it out if you are in St. Helena and don't want to go to the same old stand-bys. I look forward to returning to this lovely spot.
It is a tiny restaurant with modern-but-warm decor. The service was very attentive and friendly.
The seafood paella was delicious, and the saffron was there just right. I really liked my grilled halibut - very good ingredient without too much flavoring.
all of our starters and sides were spot on and delicious.
the mussels, beets, brussels sprouts were all the best i have had in a while. our entrees were good, but each had something just a bit off. my carbonara, for example, was just too creamy and not enough bacon-y.
still, a great spot and remarkably affordable for a post-wine tour napa dinner.
A must stop in the Napa Valley!! I highly recommend the eggplant parmesan, a must have on the menu! Jude you do a wonderful job!
I just noticed that the majority of my reviews are 4 stars or above. Not sure if this means that I don't have very discriminating taste or if I'm just one of those lucky people who happens to eat at all the fabulous places first time out. Whatever the reason, my review for cook is a five-star-er again.
Went here for an early dinner after a girl's spa day at White Sulphur Springs Inn & Spa. One of the ladies in my party was afraid our 5:30 reservation would feel like the "early-bird special" and that we'd be rubbing elbows with St. Helena's elder set (which we didn't, by the way).
cook was damn good. The clams and mussels in a spicy tomato broth were an amazing appetizer. My gnocchi in gorgonzola cream sauce was the BEST I've ever had - the pasta was the perfect texture and the sauce, while rich, was not overwhelming. The other four people in my party loved their meals as well.
Because we were in St. Helena to celebrate a birthday, we had to order dessert. We could barely stomach anything else, but forced ourselves to share a triple-berry pudding. Yum! As a special treat, our server brought out an order of panna cotta which was the crowning glory of the meal. Creamy and just sweet enough to feel decadent.
To sum up this long-winded Yelp!, cook is an intimate restaurant on St. Helena's main street. The interior is warm and cozy. The waitstaff we had were amazingly knowledgeable about the food and the wine, which were both excellent. I will definitely go back.
Of note, cook is one of the only upper-scale restaurants in the area that is also open for lunch, making it a great place to visit while on a wine-tasting excursion.
My husband and I had lunch here yesterday and, in a word, WOW! It is a tiny restaurant on Main St in St. Helena that you can easily miss if you're not looking for it. This is a hidden locals place where you can find the valley's chefs relaxing after a long day.
The cuisine is Northern Italian area inspired, with German/Swiss, French and Eastern European influences. All the pastas are house-made daily with options such as ravioli, gnocchi, and papardelle. The service was friendly and each dish fired at the right moment. We didn't feel rushed and had time to relax while enjoying our meal. I enjoyed the Front Row Napa Cab while my husband sighed with happiness over his double espresso.
Everything is fresh and seasonal, We started our meal with their organic greens with blood oranges and sliced almonds, tossed with a blood orange dressing and asparagus drizzled with rosemary oil, grilled and topped with grated Parmesan and coarse sea salt. The simple preparations show off the skill of the chef.
My husband had their cheeseburger and it was outstanding - in his words, "it tastes like fillet mignon". The frites were as good as Bouchon - and I'm Irish so I know potatoes, ;o) I had one of their specials, Roasted Pork, fingerling potatoes, broccoli rabe and shallots with papardelle and a veal-roasted garlic reduction. It was outstanding and one of the best meals I've ever had - better than most I've had in San Francisco and other "foodie" cities.
I highly recommend Cook and suggest you try it the next time you're in St. Helena.
Okay, great food, good ambiance BUT...
Let's just say that I scrimped and saved to give my boyfriend a really special day for his 40th birthday, which included a trip to the hot springs earlier, and all I wanted was to cap off the day with a beautiful dinner in a cozy and romantic restaurant. You only turn 40 once, I kept thinking to myself. So what a shame it was that we had one of the most nonplussed and pretty much glacier-like waitresses in history. Didn't catch her name but she was serving us on Tuesday Dec. 4th, she had a blonde ponytail.
Just to be fair, I have waited many a table myself and I know how hard and trying it can be. How demanding and whiny and high-maintenance people can be. I do not ever expect my server to do a song and dance for me. Nor do I want the waitstaff to kiss my derriere. I, however, cannot comprehend the slightly annoyed and displeased air of our server. Especially when we, both veterans of the service industry, were 100% pleasant and easy. And when my date went to the bathroom and I told our server that it was his birthday and that we would be ordering dessert, I was met with a tight smile and a put out attitude. Then, when she delivered the bday dessert, she all but tossed it onto the table and said "Happy birthday" in a muted and jaded tone.
I wasn't going to say anything to draw the birthday boy's attention to the service, because I really and truly did want this to be a special occasion in every sense, but he detected it and mentioned it himself. And has mentioned it three more times today (even if making a joke of it). And, for the record, this is honestly one of the most agreeable and loveable human beings you could ever hope to meet.
Soooo....while the food was excellent, the service tanked (hell, even the bartender, who brought us our check and seemed rushed and harried as he did it, due to the fact that he was extremely busy, exuded tons more warmth than our server). I was really disappointed that my special occasion wasn't as special as it could very easily have been. And I ultimately wouldn't recommend Cook to anyone whom I know because of this.
What a neat place!
We parked at the first opportunity, passed the mexican place, thinking "Burger, I need substance!" There were 5 of us nearing 2pm on Saturday, we hadn't had breakfast or lunch and we'd driven from the city to enjoy the gorgeous weather and admire the mustard in bloom and generally wander up and down Hwy 29. We immediately saw people eating burgers (napa style, fancy schmancy) in the windows at Cook and trooped right in, scoring seats at the counter.
The staff! We love the staff! We so bonded with them. They have great foodie backgrounds (well, who doesn't up here). But seriously, the guy giving me mustard is a sommelier, like world-class. Too bad I don't drink wine. We had burgers on ciabatta with a nice mix of cheeses (kind of gorgonzola-ish), heart s of romaine and mustard. Yum. Plus nummy french fries, McD style with herbs. Bring it on!
Even the iced tea was great, and I love putting sugar cubes in my iced tea. We talked, laughed, debated, my fellow travelers tasted local wine, I ate my burger, we didn't really want to leave.
I'd love to come back here for dinner, try the menu, and chat with the staff again. You guys made us feel so welcome, you rock!
Just want to note that although summary says "kid friendly," they don't actually have highchairs or booster seats so only kid friendly for kids old enough to sit in a chair or at counter. Bummed that we weren't able to actually eat here when we had the chance.
Went here for lunch again today and had a fabulous faggoletta pasta dish, done in a bolognese sauce that was not too acidy, not too heavy with a dollop of ricotta on top. It was excellent!!! Light, flavorful and thoroughly enjoyable!! This is a go to place when in St Helena!!!!!
This is my go to place in St Helena when my partner and I go to lunch for business discussions. I… Read more »
Hmmm...
this cute little place in "downtown" st helena serves one of my favorite styles of cuisine: true-to-the-core Italian food. Unfortunately, the execution is a little off. Their fresh pasta is great, but the sauces are often over cooked/ over seasoned. For an $18 pasta dish, that's a bit out of order.
Once again, an awesome night in Napa. I am not going to dog the Atlanta restaurants too much but they can not even compete with these places. This is a little restaurant that cooks amazing Italian food. The service is excellent and we had a hoot with our waitress. The corkage fees were extremely reasonable and we managed to give a little to our waitress who was happy to try the wine. It was too long ago to remember the entree but I do recall feeling like I had finally found the Italian food I was searching for...it took me back to my grammy! Oh yeah, I got the pasta carbonara which was amazing. I, of course, could eat my big toe with bacon and creme. I loved it.
Cook is fantastic. Every dish I've ever ordered here has been excellent. Period. It is clear that everything is carefully prepared and thoughtfully executed. Jude does a masterful job of making the restaurant hum with polite, knowledgable and courteous service, blended with tasty, delicious and enjoyable food. I can't wait to go back again, and again, and again, and again....And don't even get me started on the wine selections...why get in your car, drive from winery to winery and fight your way to get a tasting, when you can go to one place and have it all. Savory foods and impeccable wine selections. All I have to say is BRAVO!
"Fresh" and "perfectly cooked" describes everything I sampled on a recent visit for lunch with a friend. The bread was absolutely amazing - gorgeous crust and soft inside, served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I had the portobello sandwich - again, prepared with the freshest and finest of ingredients, yet not fussy. Simple and satisfying, in the manner of California cuisine. I loved it and would love to return.
Great joint in downtown St. Helena to grab lunch while in Napa. The BLT is incredible and they have a nice list of whites and reds to match your food. We also had the hamachi special and the beet salad, both of which were incredible.
Thursday night was my first time to Cook and I loved every bit of it! Everything from the appetizers to the dessert was scrumptious, and the staff were all so friendly and attentive. The pasta was divine and the portion size was not too overwhelming, but definitely enough! To end the evening we sampled a little bit of every dessert, and by far my favorite was the gellato. An odd mixture of balsamic vinegar and caramel, this gellato was AMAZING! I would definitely recommend Cook to anyone traveling in the wine country!
Today was the first time I visited "cook" - my friend E.A. who has a weekend house in the "up valley" (was told that is local lingo for the Rutherford-ish area) and I went together at E.A.'s suggestion. Scrumptious is right. I ordered the mussels ( and the mixed greens w/ blood orange salad. E.A. ordered the minestrone soup w/ pesto and the calamari. I had a glass of pinot noir and E.A. had a savignon blanc. We sat at the counter, the service was excellent, it was very comfortable surroundings and I will remember my lunch for a very long time. I will definitely go again!
cook has replaced market as my go-to comfort food lunch spot in st. helena. the interior is quaint and cozy and their food is very satisfying. lots of yummy, creamy pasta options.
seating is limited, but it seems like the bar is usually available.
Dinner was very good...we had the roasted pork and risotto special. The staff was very nice and warm bread was awesome. It was a really good meal, but nothing was really outstanding. This is not a meal that I am going to dream about, so sorry Cook...you lost a star.
Excellent food! Been here twice, had the special (risotto with bacon one time, and pappardalle in a red sauce) both times, and they were both heavenly. The appetizers are yummy--the fried calamari and the mussels/clams. Had dessert one of the times, and it was very good.
Fantastic meal! Hubby and I booked our reservations for 7:30 and were seated after about 10 minutes. They are a little place and would never hurry customers, so I think that's why we had to wait. While we waited we were given menus and we decided that we wanted to share the chicken tagliatelle and the short ribs. When we sat down, the waitress told us that there was one order of short ribs left and we asked her to save it for us, which she immediately did. We also asked her for a wine recommendation for our dinner, and she came back with a fantastic Pra Soave which was a perfect choice. The chicken tagliatelle was delicious, and we were sopping up the sauce with their yummy bread. The short ribs came out, and they didn't give us a steak knife so that we could split it to share. So I tried my butter knife and slid right through. Good sign! It was excellent and the whipped potatoes with scallions was also very tasty. We followed it up with their seasonal fruit dessert which was an apple cranberry crisp with vanilla gelato (yum!!) and blackberry sorbet, which was surprisingly filling.
All in all, a fantastic meal for a decent price. The atmosphere was warm and convivial, and it was evident from the server/customer interactions that there were a lot of locals there. You can definitely trust them to treat and feed you well.
Saint Helena, CA
Category: American (New)
St. Helena, CA
Category: Pizza
Saint Helena, CA
Category: American (Traditional)
St Helena, CA
Category: American (New)
Saint Helena, CA
Category: American (New)
Let's face it....for the first five years of our…
WHEN WINE TASTING ISN'T ENOUGH; IT'S TIME TO EAT…
Taking a weekend trip to the Napa Valley? You'll…
All they spots I need to live my life in this…
My favorite culinary discoveries of 2006. In…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Where do the locals like to dine? Here's a list…
