Find Napa Valley’s Best Mexican Food at the Retro Lane 33 Cafe | Eater SF

"Tucked inside a nondescript beige bowling alley sandwiched between Honda and Nissan about a half-mile south of downtown Napa, Lane 33 Cafe—subtly marked by faded red lettering and another sign reading “classic diner food”—surprised me as arguably the best Mexican food in wine country. The bowling alley has occupied that spot since 1947, and chef-owner Alex Soto reopened the cafe as a taqueria in March 2020 after earlier ventures (Calaveras at the Napa Premium Outlets and the Pico taco truck); Soto, who calls himself “a dinosaur” on social media, weathered pandemic shutdowns and reinvented the interior with a revived 1950s diner vibe—checkered floors, a single bar with stools, a jukebox, bright mint-green paint and vintage cartoon posters—while keeping some traditional diner staples for long-time bowling regulars. The menu is split between diner fare (salads, pizzas, burgers and sandwiches, including a bacon-wrapped hot dog) and a taqueria side (tacos, tortas, quesadillas, burritos, flautas and specials like huevos rancheros, made-to-order chicharrones and pozole); Soto makes tortillas and most items from scratch and enlisted Mercedes Stahlberger for original pastries such as Fruity Pebbles tres leches, Mexican hot chocolate cake, and salted chocolate pretzel cookies. The tacos showcase creative combinations—the calabacitas vegetarian taco (yellow squash, zucchini, poblano, corn, onion, sour cream, corn emulsion, cotija and micro cilantro), fish tacos with chipotle aioli, serrano-avocado aioli and tomatillo crudo, al pastor topped with red pickled onions and pickled pineapple, and a much-loved crispy potato taco with fried mashed potato, tomatillo sauce, cabbage, aioli, cotija and queso fundido—priced affordably at $3–$4 for locals and bowlers, and the spot has even become a favorite among Napa chefs. Hours: 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat; 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Sun; 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Wed." - Eater