Lane 33 Cafe
Mexican restaurant · Napa ·
Authentic Mexican tacos, BBQ, burgers, and diner classics
Authentic Mexican tacos, BBQ, burgers, and diner classics
"I read that Lane 33, Napa Valley’s bowling-and-fried-potato-taco destination, closed on October 15 as chef Alex Soto departs and may look to open a new location down the line." - Paolo Bicchieri
"Housed inside a Napa bowling alley, Lane 33 Café was described as a well-regarded Mexican restaurant included in the June additions, though it closed in October." - Lauren Saria
"One of Napa’s favorite under-the-radar Mexican cafes, Lane 33—the cafe attached to the Napa Bowl—closed on October 15. It was known for ridiculously good tacos filled with al pastor pork and fried mashed potato, retro vibes, and a reputation as a Michelin Guide–touted torta dealer. Chef Alex Soto, who worked off and on at the Restaurant at Meadowood, said he was “just trying to survive” as the business faced reliance on a bank loan, declining sales, and expensive renovations; after the Napa Valley Fire Department found the range hood noncompliant, the building owners cut the gas to the kitchen and Soto was left without a place to prepare food. He hopes to reopen once finances are tighter, and for now is working a seasonal harvest job at Peju Winery through mid-November, leaving the possibility that those $3 and $4 tacos could return down the road." - Paolo Bicchieri
"In the category of bowling alley eats, mole and quesadillas aren't likely to spring to mind, but chef Alex Soto's skillful, flavor-packed Mexican cooking, served Wednesday-Sunday, will change your outlook." - The MICHELIN Guide
"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
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