JesseME

Mmmmmmmmmmmm! What a cozy little place to have a stupendous meal in. I was recommended to this place by my roommate, a Saucier at St. Helena’s “The Martini House” a couple weeks ago when my family came down to see me for “Labor Day” weekened. It is adorable! Plus it’s cuisine is simple, fresh, and full of rich flavor. If you ever stop in St. Helena for lunch, definitely take the time to stop on by.

Oh yeah! Love this place. It’s got class, a very interesting theme, and the freshest, organic ingredients in all their cuisine. I was invited to eat here a couple of weeks ago and Man! What a treat it was. Owned by the world renound chef Thomas Kellar, this restaurant features a 5 course menu every night. No more fidgeting over what you want to order, Thomas Kellar has already done that for ya! His meals are served family style with the utmost best table service imaginable. Definetly a fine treat if you haven’t eaten at many fine dining restarurants. $45 is the charge every night per person, no matter what day it is.Simply good I tell ya. “Ad Hoc: a temporary relief from hunger”

If ya want the best burger ya ever had, then Taylor’s Refresher is the place! It may look like your average fast food stand driving past it on Main street. But once you see the business men waiting in line and the limosines and sport cars parked out front, you know that somethin’ else is up. This burger joint add a little taste of fine dining to their menu. Not only do they have 8, juicy, mouth watering burgers, they have fresh seafood items, Hot sandwiches, soup and salad, and a great wine and beer list. Just to give ya a little imaginary taste, I’ll read off to ya one of their all natural, California beef burgers:

“Texas Burger”- Topped off with jack cheese, fresh guacamole, salsa, mayo, & pickled jalapenos on a toasted golden egg bun.

Mmmm….it doesn’t get any better than that! If there’s anything to whine about this place, it would be it’s wallet factor. It’s a bit pricy for a burger joint, especially when you have to order your fries and drink seperatly from the burger. I’ve only eatin’ here once, but let me assure you, I’m definitely comin’ back for more!

If you want a take a step back in time, then I recommend going to Saint Helena’s “Cook”. Located on Main Street, This Lunch and Dinner Restaurant will set you up with good food and plenty of drink. It reminded me of a 1940’s Jazz bar. The place is usually hustlin’ and bustin’ all day long. It’s loud and faced paced environment really contributes towards it’s bar like theme. Sitting at the Granite counter, you can view the Chef’s scramblin’ around a small, open kitchen, while the waitresses are runnin’ about tending to their customers. I’ll have to admit, I was a bit confused by the decore of the place. A luminated Ram’s Head in the Wall, Cyndrical Lamp lights, what’s “Cook” trying to express here? But once the crowds started to leave, I really started seeing the magic of the place come alive. It’s really the town’s hangout spot. I was chattin’ with one of the locals for nearly a half an hour after eating my Assorted cheese plate. I would highly recommend coming here almost towards closing time. Their Menu was pretty basic, which is understandable for their small, tight kitchen. Every dish consisted of three ingredients. Simple, but good food. I had their Special for the night, and I was quite satisfied with what I recieved. Prices were a little on high side for my taste, but other than that, I believe that “Cook” is here to stay in Saint Helena.

Lookin’ for a casual place to get your cup of coffee at 6 in the morning. Look no further. The Model Bakery in Saint Helena will accompany you to a good morning with the fresh smell of brewed coffee and lots of fresh, golden pastry’s and breads, made fresh every day! That’s right! They make their own Muffins, Danishes, Crousants, English Muffins, Bear Claws, Fritters, Cinnamon Rolls, YOU SIMPLY NAME IT! It’s all there lookin’ right at ya in their display counter. The prices aren’t too bad either, making this place even good for a Monday morning. It’s small, cozy and rustic 50’s Country charm will simply delight you for the day. If your good friends with the employee’s, you just might be treated to a FREE BITE! I was given a Carrot Cake Muffin with roasted Coconut flakes on top. Mmmmmm! They also have a small Deli and Daily Specials too. (I ordered the Breakfast Sandwich Special and was quite satisfied).

Arriba! If you love reasonably priced, quick mexican food, this is the place for you! The walls and tables are painted with images of Mexico. Classic!

Stayin’ in Saint Helena? Then here’s your breakfast house. Awarded with the “Best Breakfast Restaurant in Napa Valley” in 2003, this is the place to get some good grub in the morning. Prices may seem a little high if your not used to the Saint Helena life, but it’s breakfast and this is the only place to get it!

Wow! This is probably the best looking Market I’ve been to. It’s BEAUTIFUL inside, especially at night. I simply love it! I almost didn’t feel worthy going inside. I sheepishly asked if I needed a reservation just to eat there. But their hospitality is wonderful. They brought me right in and let me sit where ever I wanted, even though I was alone. The lighting is perfect and the views of the stonewalls and the mirrored bar would “Oooo” anyone. The menu was on a classic clipboard, kinda like one which you would keep your shopping list on. It’s cool. Prices seemed a bit on the high side, but I can reasonalbly see why. IT’S GOOD STUFF! They have a fresh seafood bar, a 4 course dinner every night, and great Main dishes. If your lookin’ for a place to take your lovely on a date, this is the place. When you leave this place at night, you can see the restaurant name shadowed on the cement right outside. “SWEET!” was my impression of it. I would definitely like to go again.

Alright, if you lookin’ for a decent, cheap place to have breakfast, then the Eel River Cafe is just for you! This cozy, corner cafe has been making homemade biscuits and gravy since the 1920’s! It’s been owned by my family for two years now and is still going strong. I would really appreciate if you all took the time to stop on by for a cup of coffee and let me know what you think of the Eel River Cafe. We’re always striving for the best!