Charlie's Napa Valley

A group of us were in town for my friends 40th Birthday and we came here for a delightful dinner! The atmosphere is super cute. The restaurant is a family-run, community-focused, neighborhood restaurant in an old cottage offering casual New American. There’s a cute little garden at the entrance with a fireplace. There’s decor is very crate and barrel/california chic. The food was phenomenal….the chicken, OUT OF THIS WORLD…the parker house rolls with the bacon fat, the fried green tomatoes and the carrots were all PHENOMENAL! The Tomahawk was a little undercooked unfortunately. Service was impeccable. From the moment we got there till Ben said farewell, everything was on point. Our table wasn’t ready when we arrived and they knew we were there for a birthday, so they gave us a welcome glass of champagne while we waited for our table. From then on Ben looked after us, he was super nice, attentive and knew the menu very well. Next time I’m in Napa, I’ll be back.

Really enjoyed coming here for lunch. Would definitely come back for dinner or the late night menu. As a group we ordered the French dip, crab roll, chopped salad with steak and chicken sandwich. The French dip was far one of the tastiest items. The crab roll was delicious too but so small when doing the lunch special. Chicken sandwich was good and not spicy. Salads were good too. Cocktails were made nicely and hit the spot. Restaurant is nice and bright airy even, but tables are awfully close to others.

Spectacular. Had been here as “Cindy’s” and Elliott Bell has created a memorable meal. We had delish beef kielbasa in pretzel bun and an incredible crispy fried chicken w Asian overtones and the meal of a lifetime, Knight Valley pastrami seasoned wagyu brisket which I will talk about until I can return. The chef came out and spoke with us and our server Ben was personable and knowledgable about wines as he studies in the “som” world. A classic Napa experience not to miss.

We were excited when dining in at Charlie, mostly because the owner was the Executive Sous Chef from French Laundry. However, the foods and services were disappointing. First of all, the oysters were expensive given their size. Some of them were in the size of a muzzle. However, this was not the part where we were most disappointed about. For the main dishes, everything was very salty. Among the three dishes, the beer chicken was the saltiest. Too salty that even we ordered half portion of it, we could barely eat a quarter of it. As for the halibut, it was overcooked. The presentation of it was also not appealing. Among all the food that we ate, the fried chicken was seasoned with the right amount, and the batter was crisp and thin. That was the only dish that we really enjoyed. Apart from the food, the service was not up to standard. The host and the other servers who bring food to us were kind. However, the server who is responsible for our table is rude to us from the beginning. It did not feel welcoming to us.

This place was recommended by many of the workers we met throughout Napa valley. They said this restaurant is trying to go for a Michelin star. The decor inside is lovely and welcoming. Service was very professional. The food was good, but the best dish was actually the off menu special of the day - the tuna crudo. Overall I would recommend this place if you like smaller dishes, and more shareable food.

Wildly exceptional experience. From the outstanding communication even before the meal, to the accommodation of a last minute schedule change -the service alone would convince me to return. For context, I arrived early for my reservation and was given two glasses of bubbly for my inconvenience of having to wait! I didn't ask, and I was just early, but they immediately made the tone very positive and friendly. The age of the servers stands out to me -they're all quite young, but they all delivered exceptional service commiserate a seasoned pro. The food was interesting, tasty, and fun, as was the drink. The price seems too low for the area, the ambiance, the service, and food quality!! Just incredibly well done.

Lovely time. Came for Cindy’s Campfire Pie, ended up loving everything. The tomahawk was a tad pricey, $175 without substantial included sides (albeit for 2-3 people, so not astronomical). That said, it’s a tomahawk and it was well executed and delicious. Dungeness Crab Mafaldine was to die for, especially if you like a caper sauce. Salad was crisp and delicious with beautiful, bright herb garnishes. Cab Franc by the glass was fantastic. For St. Helena, reasonable prices for a great meal. Some reviews have mentioned the volume—it was indeed a smidge too loud, even for me, but to me that’s a matter of atmospheric preference and not design quality. Will definitely be back soon to try more of the seafood!

Charlie's Restaurant is an absolute treasure tucked away in the heart of Napa Valley. It's a loving tribute to Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen, offering a nostalgic journey through its culinary delights. The oysters are a must-try, especially when paired with their exquisite house-made strawberry Mignonette, a delightful twist on a traditional favorite. Let’s not forget get about the French Dip, it's sheer perfection, tender beef nestled in a perfect roll, dripping with flavor. What truly sets Charlie's apart is their dedication to inclusivity, with a full-page NA menu in the wine list that caters to non-drinkers like myself. In a region known for its wine, this gesture is monumental and greatly appreciated. With its charming ambiance, delectable cuisine, and thoughtful touches like the NA menu and the wallpaper from Cindy’s, Charlie's Restaurant is a shining star in the Napa Valley dining scene. I’ll be back soon for dinner.

Charlie's Napa is a MUST HIT while in the area! We were in Napa for a wine tasting day trip, and were blown away by Charlie's. The staff know their recommendations well - the fried chicken is a must, but our top meal was the crudo appetizer and ravioli entree. Outside is in high demand, but don't sleep on the bright, airy, open interior. We will be back!

This is a great place to get lunch in Napa. I'd describe it as modern, clean, delicious, easy, and fun. I've been here a few times, and I will say that I'd rather come here for lunch than dinner. The lunch menu is just more interesting to me. This past time, I got the CA Grains that comes with spring vegetables and smoked pepper chimichurri. You can add on your protein, in which I added on the Mt. Lassen Trout. The trout was so silky and delicious. It was cooked to perfection, and I liked how it was cooked in a way where you could taste how the fish itself just shined. The grains were decent, which were a white rice and quinoa combined, with dressing. I felt the rice was just overdressed - would have preferred to have dressing on the side, and I dress myself. It was still decent though, and the veggies were great quality (mix between radish, green beans, and asparagus). My husband got the Fried Chicken sandwich, which was great too. It didn't come with any sides though, so we ordered french fries to share. Loved the french fries as well!! For dessert, we got the campfire, which was a sophisticated take on Smores (slice of pie of chocolate ganache, graham cracker crust, and torched marshmallow topping). So good - just a great combo, super smooth texture, and hit all the right flavor and texture profiles of sweet, deep, crunchy, smooth. Lovely. Food came out quickly. Setting is modern and fresh. Would highly recommend for lunch!

Delicious food and great service. If you ever get the chance to, definitely seat at the patio. It's spacious, quiet and you get to enjoy the nice view of the fig tree, and all the food going in and out the wood fire oven. Single layer lasagna was amazing! Basically the two best part of the lasagna. Their pasta dough was delicious and had a great al dente bite to it. Fried chicken with their house pickles and hot sauce was incredible! Whole grilled fish was delicious but slightly on the saltier side. Can't wait to come back here again!

Inside is very modern and clean. The bbq oysters were my fave dish. It was definitely kind of pricy for all the food we got but the flavor was there. Service was also great and staff was friendly.

3.5 STARS Bougie Fried Chicken Last year, when I first heard about fried chicken and caviar, I thought it was the most ridic, pretentious thing. Hmmm, what's next? Free-range water topped with unicorn milk foam, caviar, and 24k gold flakes? Can't knock it until you've tried it tho and when I did, I didn't care for it. BUT, Charlie's Fried Chicken with georgia's ranch and regiis ova caviar dip....BOMB! SO bomb, we ordered more to go. Opening in late 2023, Charlie's is from a TFL alum and has been named a destination resto in Napa Valley. Open for takeout, indoor dining, and dog-friendly outdoor dining. Rezzies are a must. We visited on a Thursday evening and it was poppin'. M E N U Globally inspired, New American Cuisine. Seasonal menu. HH Specials: Thursday - Monday, 3 pm - 5 pm (bar only). Fried chicken listed on the HH menu but is not discounted. Full bar. 4% wellness charge added to all bills. D R I N K S * Double Hendrick's Club Soda ($40): https://tinyurl.com/yc626c9y Crazy mark-up. Partly my fault for not asking for the price but I didn't think a double would cost more than the entire 750 ml bottle. F O O D * Tomales Bay Oysters w/ charred pineapple and padron pepper mignonette (1/2 dozen - $22) Fresh, properly shucked oysters but I thought the mignonette could be punchier. * Pacific Kanpachi Crudo w/ st. helena citrus, brokaw avocado ($22): https://tinyurl.com/3u8nt993 More poke style than crudo, the kanpachi was dry and flavorless. Seems like citrus was forgotten? * Charcoal Grilled Watsonville Artichoke w/ charred lemon aioli ($19): https://tinyurl.com/mwpn5skz Absent of any smoky flavor, the artichoke barely had any char and there wasn't enough lemon aioli for dipping. * Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad w/ aged white balsamic vinegar, toasted breadcrumbs, hobbs bacon ($17): https://tinyurl.com/3z9vk8av Boring and very plain, needed more acid and texture (e.g. nuts). * Charlie's Fried Chicken w/ housemade pickles, our hot sauce (3 pc - $25): https://tinyurl.com/545v9wuz - Requested dark meat only - Add extra piece ($8 each) - Add georgia's ranch, regiis ova caviar ($15) As a TFL alum that also fried chicken at Ad Hoc, Charlie's fried chicken is a must order! Brined, dipped in buttermilk, drenched in flour, and fried twice like Korean style fried chicken, the fried chicken was shatteringly crunchy, juicy, and seasoned to the bone. Not overly salty. Paired with their caviar studded creamy ranch sauce and mildly spicy aji dulce pepper hot sauce, it was a flavor bomb. S E R V I C E While everyone was polite and our server, Chloe was great, she was spread far too thin covering both inside and outdoor tables. Not her fault but we barely saw her. Drink/food service was slow but they were busy. When I flagged someone down for the bill, they asked if they can just "take my card and run it ". I politely told them that I wanted to see the itemized bill first. There ended up being was a $10 overcharge for the crudo that had to be corrected. A M B I A N C E Charming converted historic building near the Napa Wine Train tracks, the modern indoor dining area had a large bar with tightly packed tables around it. Walking to/from the restroom, I noticed it was deafening and would be hard to hold a convo. We sat outside in the quaint patio but our table was right next to the woodfire oven that was blowing hot air into us in 85 degree weather. P A R K I N G Easy street parking. Overall, LOVED Charlie's fried chicken with the ranch + caviar dipping sauce but sadly, the other dishes we tried were underwhelming. If in the area again, I would stick with an order of fried chicken for takeout. Ok, ok...two orders. =P

Charlie's has been on my radar for the last 6 months. I've read and heard so much about this place as a local favorite amongst food industry folks in Napa. Elliot Bell, owner,chef, was the Exe Sous Chef at the French Laundry, so I couldn't wait to sample the goods. I was totally blown away. Charlie's is in the old Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen, but it was totally transformed. The decor is warm, inviting but elegant in execution. Clean and classy, but very comfortable. The servers were on the young side but well trained. They were attentive and moved with efficiency. I can tell the front of the house was managed well. As much as I was impressed by the overall ambiance and service, the food was even more impressive: -Hawaiian bread was totally worth the carb calories. The salted butter enhanced the subtle soft sweetness of the roll. -My dish was the Waygu Steak Frites. The steak was seasoned nicely with the Cowboy Butter and the fries were crispy. Very good! -I had a bite of the Chicken Sando and that was probably my favorite bite. The mayo/aioli was just addicting. Definitely getting the fried chicken next time. -If you get the trout, the perfect bite is trout/avocado dressing/radish...boom. Avocado dressing really makes that one go. -S'mores pie was delish. The marshmallow dollops were stick sweet and the chocolate filling was dense and decadent. The wine list was a great mix of local and international options. I was impressed by the glass choices. Really great options that I felt covered a variety of palates. I had the Decathalon and that was a great local choice. Lastly the not cocktails were a lot of fun. For example, we tried the Milk and Beans. Definitely looked like a cocktail but tasted like a coffee drink. Just a fun and tasty concoction. Overall, Charlie's is a comfortable, classy and fun place to have a meal. They have great options for all kinds of group sizes, and kids are def welcome. The menu is approachable but the dishes are executed with refinement. I wish Charlie's were a wee bit closer as I don't veneture that far down valley. But I guess I now have my excuse come that way more often.

Great lunch, egg salad and fries, perfect, fried chicken sandwich-excellent, I recommend dining at the bar.

Charlie's Napa Valley hits so many different notes. I feel like when we come to town we are always looking for a perfect place to grab a handful of dishes that we can make into a meal, without committing to a full sit down dining experience. Somewhere with a friendly bar, good service and beautifully plated food that delivers. Charlie's is that place. From their fried chicken with hot sauce to oven baked flatbread with early girl tomato sauce and garlic oil, everything we had was delicious. Cocktails were excellent, we had a poblano margarita and their one NA cocktail with egg white and pineapple juice. The small shareable plates that went by to other tables, from the crispy artichoke, the shaved Brussels spouts salad with breadcrumbs and Hobbs bacon, and the thick spinach bucatini, all are now on our list for a return visit. Great spot!

Charlie's has been on my must-visit list for a while, and we finally got the chance to stop by during their happy hour (bar only) -- and it was perfect. We weren't super hungry but definitely wanted to check the place out. Well... we ended up licking the plates clean. We tried the fried chicken (a must!) with their signature ranch, the caviar with crema and potatoes, and a margarita -- every single thing was fantastic. Honestly, for not being that hungry, we devoured every bite like it was our last meal. Our bartender (wish I remembered his name!) was amazing -- we were there on Saturday, April 19 during happy hour, and he was super friendly, knowledgeable, and even offered great local recommendations. The interior is beautiful -- open, airy, and super welcoming. I loved the open kitchen concept where you can see the chefs in action. There's also a cute patio out front by the wood fire oven, which adds to the cozy yet stylish vibe. One thing that stood out: they have a late-night happy hour, which is such a great option in Napa! Can't wait to come back and explore the full dinner menu -- this spot is definitely a new favorite!

A fancy American restaurant with a great vibe! Located near the main street but tucked away in a quiet corner, it really has a nice ambiance to it. The food was great but the portion sizes a tad bit on the small size. We got the wagyu steak which was cooked beautifully and very tender. However, it really was a tiny piece. We also got a lunch set that was half soup and half chicken sandwich. Both were really delicious! The trout was also very tender, but the seasoning felt a tad heavy for me, as I found the dishes tending to the more salty side. The oysters were very unique, as the BBQ ones we got had heated shells and so the oysters felt both raw and cooked at the same time. The sauce covered up the ocean-y taste of oysters and complemented well with the flavours though! Overall it was a great experience! Just not a lot of food for the price

Loved it here! I was in town for the week and it reminded me how much I enjoy St. Helena especially for the dining and culinary scene. I'd heard a lot of great buzz about this spot and decided to swing by for the happy hour special. I had a couple of martinis (both fantastic), the croquettes (so good), and some fresh oysters. Everything was on point. The atmosphere is lively and welcoming with couples, date nights, and groups of friends hanging out. I'm definitely coming back for dinner soon to try more of the menu. Highly recommend. Thank you!

We came here on Saturday night for dinner after having it recommended by every single person that we met while in Napa. The restaurant itself is super cute with a wood burning fireplace outside, but as others have noted in reviews, the tables are packed in quite close together. We were seated at 7:30 and our waitress handed us menus and water but then did not come back to take our drink order until literally 20 minutes later. By that point I was pretty grouchy but it was also too late to pivot and go somewhere else. For dinner we shared the brussel sprout salad and the kanpachi crudo. For my main I had the two layer lasagna, my husband got the 3pc fried chicken and we split the snap peas. The brussel sprout salad and the lasagna were both delicious. The citrus in the kanpachi was quite bitter which we didn't enjoy, the snap peas were incredibly oily and my husband was disappointed that the only dark meat in his order was a drumstick. I imagine you could request all dark meat when placing the order if you wanted (I would have been delighted by all white meat). After dinner our waitress asked if we were interest in seeing the dessert menu to which we replied yes. She did not bring it to us for another 10 minutes. I know that it was a busy Saturday night but the service was sloooooow and the food was hit or miss. If we lived in the area I would give it another shot based on the sheer number of enthusiastic recommendations we got but if I were in town on vacation and could only try 4-6 restaurants I wouldn't roll the dice.

If I could give an extra star I would. Their Happy Hour menu is on another level. Their offerings are elevated and well executed. We ordered the fried chicken with house made hot sauce and the potato skins served with caramelized onion dip & caviar. The spicy margarita was delicious- you could tell it was made with fresh ingredients. It's one of those food experiences that you keep thinking about. Definitely have to go back to try some of their other items on the menu. Service was friendly and the space was nicely decorated and welcoming.

What a special restaurant this is! I met a friend here who raved about it and I was so impressed with the venue, service, food and experience. The prices were reasonable and I look forward to visiting again!

How have I never been here before? Charlie's is such a fun date night spot. There were several dining areas. There's a courtyard with outdoor seating and a roaring fire, there's the main room and bar area, which was very crowded and lively, and finally, there's the back room, which is a little quieter. We got a table in the back, which was nice and allowed for easier conversing. It's not all about ambiance. The food is also incredible. We shared an order of Hawaiian rolls, which were soft, buttery and indulgent. My husband got the three-piece fried chicken, which was very crispy and not overly breaded. Very good. I ordered the bucatini with burrata, tomatoes and hot honey. It was sooooo delicious. Creamy, fresh and a nice balanced flavor. 10/10. We'll be back.

Heard great things about Charlie's and was really excited to try it out and it did not disappoint! Really enjoyed their starter salad, the prawn cocktail was not amazing however but really enjoyed their bucatini. Also really enjoyed the fluffy Hawaiian roll and the corn side!! The fried chicken was chefs kiss and the steak was good but a bit on the fattier side to our liking. We also got some cocktails and a bottle of wine and overall had a great time though it was definitely on the pricier side.

Okay hands down the best restaurant in town! I said it! Every single time we've been, delicious food, staff is so friendly and the service is always amazing! The oysters are a must, both raw and baked BBQ! Also please order the Hawaiian rolls!! FYI they often switch up a couple things in the menu

After a day of wine tasting, we were craving some fried chicken and heard so much about Charlie's. We stopped in for happy hour, and got some oysters, shrimp cocktail, fried chicken of course, and some prosciutto. All the dishes were pretty fairly priced and tasty! I loved the hot sauce that came with the chicken, although it wasn't spicy enough for my boyfriend. We were served at the bar, but our bartender/waitress was so sweet and friendly. Would def recommend!

This converted 1890's home gives a wonderful ambiance to a meal. Although the menu is somewhat limited, their selection of offerings was simple, yet appealing and flavorful. The bbq oysters were definitely the star of the show. Perfect place for an intimate meal, although the tables are spaced relatively close together. The only downside to our experience was that the table next to ours offered a boisterous group of three middle aged men whom seemed to be stuck in their frat days of yore... that part was not welcomed.

Their Chuck's French dip is the best sandwich I've ever had. My wife got the Dungeness crab roll and she really liked it. We also got oysters to start and they were some of the best we've ever had, the charred pineapple and padron pepper mignonette was delicious. We'll have to come back to try the fried chicken.

A good dinner. But overall food didn't 100% wow us. Great service and ambiance tho! We didn't love all the food but we did LOVE: 1) The Hawaiian rolls + Regiis Ova caviar supplement (worth it) 2) peas and carrots (So much to it! Complex flavor!) Radiatore was fine but lackluster and kinda bland. We had to ask for salt and pepper. The fried chicken was fine. The house made hot sauce was good! Campfire pie was good! We celebrated a birthday and upon arrival we were greeted with complimentary champagne! Nice touch! Overall a great experience! Would come back!

I went to Charlie's to get fried chicken because my favorite ad hoc was closed for the season. I ordered the chicken to go and it came with three pretty big pieces. Although it was to go all the chicken was still very crispy. It was a little on the greasy side, but that's fine. It had some seasoning on it, which I was not sure what it taste like, but it was salty and nice. The chicken was very juicy. It came with some pickles on the side, which was nice. The hot sausage came with as well was nice and sweet and spicy. I would definitely buy a bottle next time to douse my chicken in. I would recommend a spot and would come back next time to try out other food and try out the restaurant.

Charlie's is the most creative menu and delicate preparation you will find in this city Awesome service as well

I made a reservation here on a Monday night to celebrate my birthday. We were greeted by the check in host and were immediately offered bubbly to get the party started by the host. Once we were seated, our server went over some great items on the menu and he knew them all so well, it made it hard to choose. I couldn't decide on a wine so I was offered the option to try the ones I was indecisive on, a white, a rose and a red. I decided on the FRANK FAMILY VINEYARDS cabernet blend, napa valley, ca 2021 and we all loved it so we got 3 glasses of it. We ordered the Hawaiian rolls and they were served hot and delicious! The butter was whipped to be light and airy and it melted right in. The FLATBREADS CHOICE was slow cooked early girl tomatoes, roasted garlic oil and it was also served hot with a delicious tomato dipping sauce. The SLOW COOKED MT LASSEN TROUT was cooked to perfection and came with a side salad that tasted fresh and complimentary to the fish. The CHARCOAL GRILLED DELTA ASPARAGUS was probably the most unexpectedly tasty dish of them all! It came with a mustard egg sauce that the asparagus was laying on that made it the perfect dipping sauce. The mustard was tangy and almost tasted like wasabi. I'm not a big wasabi person but it was pleasantly delightful and a nice twist on asparagus. The MALADINI PASTA had a lemon cream sauce and some salty crispy artichoke pieces on top. This one was light in taste. We couldn't finish out the night without dessert so we ordered the iconic CAMPFIRE PIE and they brought it out with a birthday candle on top. It was as good as it looks and a very unique dessert that I haven't seen on a menu in the Napa Valley before. We also got the COCONUT CARAMEL SUNDAE that had crispy carmelized peanuts in it and this ice cream went really well with the pie! Overall, we enjoyed our time at Charlie's! The ambiance feels like you're at a friends house having a nice meal. It was a great spot to celebrate my birthday with friends and we all loved our dishes! You will definitely want to bring friends when you come here so you can try it all!

First off, Rowan L has been our server every time we've been to Charlie's and she is fantastic. Knowledgeable, attentive without hovering and a great sense of humor. We've been three times in five months and this place is undefeated. Everything we've had on the dinner menu has been delicious. Fried chicken, steak, duck have all been great entrees. Squash rings, cauliflower salad and oysters all delicious. And the Hawaiian rolls are amazing. The hot sauce for the chicken is not spicy - it's more sweet and offsets the saltiness of the chicken. Definitely worth going to! We'll be back!

Great food, great service , and everyone you come in contact with is welcoming . Next time I will try the late night menu . Some of the best caviar too!

Staff was very nice. Espresso martini was hands down one of the best I have ever had (and I've had quite a few). Restaurant was quaint, new, and clean. You can tell the team takes pride in the restaurant and the management team has kept a tight ship. The pretzel wrapped kielbasa was delicious but portions are very small for the price. They take bar food favorites and elevate the dish to another level. Happy hour menu isn't necessarily happy hour, it's a limited menu prior to the kitchen opening. Pricing is the same as the normal menu. We only came for drinks and a quick bite and need to come in for dinner still. Update: came again for dinner on a Saturday night and sat at the bar. Ordered the gem salad, shrimp cocktail and fried chicken. Junior the bartender was very nice and attentive even though the rude pretentious person next to us was talking terrible to him. PSA: don't go out in public and slam your hand on the bar top yelling at the bartender asking why is your drink taking so long. Have some respect for people slinging quality drinks all night on a busy evening. Stay home and pour your own glass of wine. That being said, shrimp was smaller than expected, salad was good and fried chicken was delicious. It came with three pieces three pickles and hot sauce. The wing had pretty much no chicken all breading but the other two pieces compensated for it. I'd go back and order it again.

Dined here with my son for dinner on a Sunday evening before dropping him off at school in St. Helena. Had a wonderful experience from start to finish! The ambiance is so adorable and welcoming and the service from Christopher (and support staff) was impeccable. We started with the BBQ oysters and two bread selections - the Hawaiian rolls and squash flatbread. I'm a major oyster fan and this preparation did not disappoint - they were just lightly cooked in the shell with an unctuous sweet sauce - so creative and delicious! The flatbread was perfectly seasoned with an accompanying squash ricotta spread. It was light and perfect for sharing as were the Hawaiian rolls with house butter. Great start! For our entrees we shared the fried chicken and pretzel wrapped kielbasa. The chicken was perfectly cooked with the most wonderful crust. Highly recommended! The pretzel dog came with a house made mustard and sauerkraut. Really tasty. Total bill for three appetizers, two entrees, one cocktail and one glass of wine was $143 which frankly was an absolute steal for such great service and high quality food. We'll definitely be back!

Slow service. Boring food. Nice building, but really needs noise batting in the rafters in the bar area.

Stopped by happy hour and was very pleased with the food here. We were seated pretty quickly outside and it was a comfortable and relaxing vibe. Ordered the Tamales Bay Oysters, Regis Ova Caviar, and LA Quercia American Prosciutto and the food came out pretty quickly. The Oysters had a garden cucumber mignonette which was very refreshing. The caviar and potatoes skin was delicious, the flavors melted in your mouth. My favorite was the prosciutto as it paired well with the flatbread and peaches. It was very much so a summer snack and would recommend trying it out. Overall, really loved the place and the food, highly recommend on checking this location out.

Best lunch in wine country! Casual but upscale. Simple yet refined. French dip (5/5) - perfectly shaved beef with top grade horseradish. Perfect to get half size with gem salad Egg salad sandwich (4.5/5) - nicely crafted Bbq oysters (5/5) - very flavorful and elegantly presented Outdoor patio is nice. Few shaded spots for lunch but apparently shaded well for dinner

Lively, and delicious! We sat at the bar and enjoyed BBQ'd oysters, beer can chicken (really, really delish), halibut (so good), little gems (genius to put potato chips on a salad), and the roasted artichoke! Plus several cocktails. Space is bright and airy, may be too loud for some. Bar is where it's at. Service was excellent! See you next time, Charlie's!

4.50 STARS for Charlie's . Of course we came for the famous fried chicken and guess what? it not only rivals ad Hoc in Napa, but in my opinion, it's a clear winner especially with their house, made hot sauce! ( you can buy a bottle to take home btw) OK, let's get back to the beginning of this review. We arrived on a rainy afternoon and Charlie's lively open bar area is your first impression. It's cozy & inviting but the dining room towards the back is lovely and quieter. We started with two delicious craft cocktails. We had the poblano margarita and Winnie's punch. Both were absolutely perfectly balanced, creative and delicious. We decided to go for small plates so that we could share and taste through the menu. The crispy artichokes did not disappoint. However, the Wagyu tartare was not up to snuff in my opinion. This was followed by the fabulous little gem salad that I am still dreaming about... tender baby lettuce leaves are dressed in a green goddess type dressing with a ton of herbs and topped with crumbled salt and vinegar chips, it's so flavorful & crisp. Yum! For the mains, of course the above mentioned fried chicken and we got the six piece so we could take some home with that Sauce! I tried the special pasta of the day which was their lamb bucatini with spinach. It was heavy on the lamb and I guess that's a good thing but I didn't 100% love it. I wish I would've gone for their house special pasta the Malfadini instead. We also enjoyed a great craft beer & a glass of rose from their nice wine list. It was a delightful experience and next time I return I will definitely be sharing more and saving room for some of their great sounding desserts!

come here to feel like youre in a family home but better. Food was absolutely delicious and the service friendly and impeccable. We tried it all. Crispy artichokes, Caesar salad, snap peas, brioche bread with caviar and crème fraiche, halibut and bricked chicken, oh and French fries and fresh strawberries for dessert. Loved the New Found grenache blend with all of it! A don't miss friendly spot! Felt like locals!

My husband, my brother, my mom and I went to Charlie's on Mother's Day for lunch. We had a reservation, made well in advance. Right away, I was sort of surprised to be seated all the way in the way back of the restaurant, the last table, right next to the bathrooms, especially as the restaurant didn't seem to be particularly full at the time of day we were there (at around 1:15pm). That wasn't really a big deal, but we did notice it, and since it added to the overall experience, I'm mentioning it. We ordered 1 appetizer for the 4 of us to share, the kielbasa wrapped in pretzel, which was tasty, though extreeeemely salty. Then, since our server (who was very nice) made a point of telling us the sandwiches were huge and enough for two people to split, my mom and I each ordered their half-sandwich special (she the egg salad, me the "French Dip"). My brother ordered the steak frites, my husband the grain bowl. The egg salad and the grain bowl were ok tasting, not wonderful, but not bad. My 81 year old mother who does not have an enormous appetite was surprised, though, that we'd been advised not to order a full sandwich unless we were "VERY hungry" because her rectangular sliver of sandwich was pretty dinky (it was about an inch wide and 3.5 inches long). More like a tea-sandwich. It came with fries, as did my sandwich, and they were not very good. They tasted like the beer-battered type of fries you find in any number of basic, not great pub-style places. In my opinion, not worth eating. My brother's steak was even smaller than my mom's sandwich sliver. It was positively diminutive, and way overcooked (he ordered medium-rare, this was grey-through). I tasted it, and to me it tasted like it had been cooked the day before and re-heated for him on Sunday. Not tender. Also, not good. Now to my "french dip" sandwich. The bread was falling apart soggy (literally falling to pieces in my hand). It had been drenched with SO MUCH jus. The remainder of the jus, in a little ramekin on the side, was all cloudy and kind of creamy looking, not translucent like it is anytime I've ever had it or seen it at other establishments. The meat was extremely thin deli cold-cut style meat, which tasted mealy and unpleasant. I found it inedible so I left it aside. My brother had some of it and said he couldn't believe by how bad it was. I don't know if this was just an off day for this restaurant, or if it's always like this, we haven't been before, and unfortunately, will not be going back. It was just really disappointing to spend $235 for lunch at a place with many good reviews, especially after reading on their website about the owner/chef's esteemed tenure at the French Laundry and beyond. It was almost shocking. I give two stars in my review because the service was good and every employee we interacted with was really nice and genuinely friendly, and the location is great, and the look of the restaurant is so nice, clean and comfortable. We're a lucky family, and we've had the good fortune to eat and experience many of the excellent restaurants the Bay Area and surrounding areas have to offer. We know good food when we have it, and unfortunately, this was not it. As I say, this really did surprise us about Charlie's, and it did kind of put a damper on our day, but we spent the afternoon walking around and shopping and stopped at a fantastic strawberry stand on the way home, so we turned the day around.

The concept is adorable. It's aspiring and possibly fine dining. Allegedly French laundry cooking staff work here. The professionalism is a five star. I absolutely loved the napkin and the bathroom. Also appreciate the fire pit where some of the dishes are prepared. The oysters were phenomenal. The fried chicken which I heard was a star of the menu was not $25 worthy. (3 pieces) The outdoor seating was cute, but cramped. The indoor looks beautiful, but the sound acoustics are horrible so do not go there if you want to have an intimate conversation, or relax. I would give this place a five star if the prices were about 20% lower, the health fee was not automatically attached to the bill, and you could sit comfortably.

We were able to stop by twice on our visit to Napa. First time had an rsvp and sat at the table. Second time we stopped in with a large group and sat at the bar. Both times service and food was amazing. Really great experience, servers remembered us which adds a nice touch to customer service. Fried chicken had a little bit too much breading for me but that's an easy fix, just peeled some off and it kept the chicken very moist.

Charlie's homey vibe is charming! We went opening weekend: sleek, upbeat and not formal. Service was amazing - few restaurant can mail it the opening week. Past Cindy's regulars will find the layout familiar. The unassuming entrance is still on Railroad Avenue, a backstreet parallel to Main Street and the Napa Wine Train's railroad tracks. A narrow garden pathway takes guests past a small courtyard, where drinks and casual bites will be served. The wrap around bar is very inviting - would love to come back for drinks and bites.

This place is awesome. Great selection of food and drinks. I had bbq oysters and fried chicken. The real kicker was I phoned in an order of fried chicken to go. I got stuck in traffic and was a half hour past my pickup time. They chose to fry a new batch of chicken for me so it would be perfect. Next level service! I'll be back!

Went there a couple of times. Once to check it out and grab a drink at the bar and once to have dinner. The bar area is busy but nice. Good selection of wines and reasonably priced. A little noisy,,, The dinner was a few days later. We were seated at a table behind the bar and it was noisy there also. We ordered some salads and something to share. Came quickly and was really nice. The flatbreads were baked in the pizza oven our side and the dipping sauces were good. A little different way to do flatbreads but nice. The fish was shared. It was well prepared till we saw the inside. It we undercooked and bleeding. We se t it back and when it arrives it was still bleeding. Not a good show... When I was walking out I mentioned it to one of the chefs and he acknowledged that it should have been done better. Well nice place but disappointing that the centrepiece was just not up to expectations. Will go back to give them another try.

We had lunch at Charlie's and really enjoyed it. Our bar man Josh took great care of us. The Artichoke appetizer was awesome. The chicken sandwich was really a treat. The tomato soup was a standout for layers of flavor. We will be back!

Very cute interior design! We sat in the same room as the bar; tables are close together and we had a wobbly table but once the food came out- it was no big deal! -abalone oyster is definitely a treat, share if you wish -gem salad- dressing was light but creamy, loved the touch of fennel -whole beer can chicken- star of the show! Extremely moist breast, savory sauce and brined just right. Plenty for two! -pasta was, okay. -Hawaiian rolls- dip that in the chicken sauce!! -for dessert we couldn't decide on either the sundae or campfire pie. We got both- take a bite of the ice cream with the pie and it's the perfect pair! Excellent service! Glad we stopped in!

Great food, great service. The trout was especially fantastic along with the fried chicken, steak, and mushrooms. The affogato was heavenly. What stood out was the service and care. The pickles were REALLY great and so I asked about them. The chef came out and explained how they made them. She shared the recipe (printed) and gave me a box to go. Thank you!

I feel bad giving a good review because I wanted to like the place and the staff genuinely seems like they're trying hard but it was just such a disappointing lunch. They are not making food up to par with the best of the area -- you're much better off at Farmstead, Charter Oak, etc. If you don't care too much for food quality and value ambiance and service this might be alright, otherwise you'll be sorely disappointed for lunch. The good - oysters were fresh - fries were tasty - ambiance was nice bright and airy The bad - added mignonette to the oysters directly instead of on the side (who does that?) - directly added sugar to the coffee instead of on the side (who does that?) - bread for sandwiches (both French dip and fried chicken) were way too thick and dry. We left a pile of bread to be taken away. - breading for fried chicken was very meh, nothing special - 1 fried chicken sandwich was burnt, one wasn't -- inconsistent - 1 set of fries burnt, one wasn't -- inconsistent - chopped salad overdressed and drowning in dressing - French dip was truly terrible. It felt like I ordered bread with a tiny bit of meat to flavor the bread. To add to all of this, they added a 4% surcharge for health benefits BEFORE TAX. Seriously, if you're going to do this, at least add it after tax. The service was very polite but it was shocking how many misses there were in a simple lunch for 4. We very much regret driving all the way to St Helena to have such an inconsistent subpar meal. I would've preferred a local sandwich shop in my neighborhood, or Charter Oak in the area.

It is great eating at the bar with a buddy. This place is fancy, so if you want to treat yourself, it is a good choice. It's nice, open, and clean feel and see and be seen attitude lets you know "you have arrived." I had a cute little salad, a crab sandwich, an espresso, and split a bottle of sparkling water for lunch. My half of the tab with tip was $70. If we had a glass of wine it would have been $90 pp. So bring your gold card and be in the mood to splurge.

Been twice, had their chicken which is so good but this time we tried dishes and they are also amazing. Everything we had was flavorful. Service was exceptional despite how busy they were. The risotto and roasted acorn were our favorite dishes. Tip: Bring your own wine or order their delicious cocktails. Their wine by the glass pours are a little stingy.

Cute restaurant in St. Helena. I was absolutely blown away by the food, my girlfriend and I went for Valentine's Day and we ordered several different dishes to share. Everything was incredible including the dessert.

Food was good, service was good -but the space was so loud I couldn't hear anything! People dine to be social, it's impossible to have a conversation here -this place completely misses the point and purpose of the dining experience. Also the tables are so tightly packed together it was impossible to get in and out without disrupting other guests -embarrassing and super uncomfortable. Will not return.

One of our favorite restaurants in all of Napa Valley. Consistently amazing food and service. Cozy seating and a great bar. Don't miss out on the cold seafood platter!