Violetto

Best Restaurants in Napa Valley | Eater SF

"As the name suggests, the latest addition to St. Helena’s dining scene is a blend of Italian and French inspirations, deliciously executed by the new executive chef Mark Shoemaker. There are two tasting menus here, with four- and eight-course options, and dishes like cauliflower picatta and smoked beets with cocoa crackers weaving in freshness and ease. It’s worth traveling for, even if you’re not staying at Alila, the resort that the restaurant is adjacent to." - Flora Tsapovsky

How to Taste Your Way Through the Napa Valley | Eater

"Alila Napa Valley — a resort with rooms that feel sunken into the neighboring Beringer vineyards — is home to Violetto, a new addition to St. Helena’s dining scene. The restaurant is located under the columns of the hotel’s main building, a Georgian-style farmhouse dating back to 1907, and a short walk from downtown St. Helena. Even if you’re not staying at the Alila, Violetto is an easy stop for breakfast or brunch, but their dinner menu is worth making a reservation for. They offer a four-course prix fixe menu ($105) or seven-course tasting menu ($145) with an optional wine pairing, serving comforting yet high-end dishes with local ingredients. Don’t miss the duck breast (from Liberty Farms in Santa Rosa) alongside poached salsify, cordyceps mushroom, sumac hazelnut, and duck bordelaise. And for dessert, make room for the cardamom cheesecake topped with local roasted apples." - Lee Musho

3-Day Napa Valley Weekend Getaway Itinerary - AFAR

"For dinner, take a seat on the spacious, peaceful patio at Acacia House and enjoy “Top Chef Masters” winner Chris Cosentino’s seasonally driven menu." - Kristin Braswell

"A Restaurant to Remember in St. Helena Celebrity chef Chris Cosentino made a name for himself in San Francisco cooking with various forms of offal, or organ meat. Acacia House, his latest creation, is the on-site restaurant at the ultra-luxurious (and boutique) Las Alcobas Napa Valley, in St. Helena, and here, he moves in a different direction. Sure, options often include sweetbreads or pâté, but most of the food focuses instead on local and sustainable produce—a new age spin on classic California cuisine. Menu items might include lamb tartare with green harissa, mint, and chickpea crackers, and Cornish game hen with roasted grapes, turnips, and pancetta. Drinks at the modest but classy bar are just as appealing; go ahead and try to have just one house margarita with salt foam (which is a recipe that hails from the Las Alcobas flagship property, in Mexico City). On warm nights, reserve a table on the covered porch."

"Chef Chris Cosentino has earned a reputation as one of the culinary world's top talents (he's held his own in the TV sphere as the winner of Top Chef Masters). At Acacia House, his penchant for classic American dishes is evident on the menu. For the vegetarians among us, the whole roasted eggplant is exceptional, finished with capers, pistachios, and blistered tomatoes. If you're looking for a heartier protein, go for the Striped Bass. And if you happen to find yourself tiring of wine, there's an inventive cocktail list from which to choose, which includes a traditional Mexico City margarita. "