Scala Osteria & Bar

[4.5 / 5.0] A classic of Downtown Napa Valley, serving a variety of food. I always adored their pizza, with fluffy and chewy dough, along with classic and unique set of toppings. In addition, their Milanese was also amazing. One thing was that the portion sizes were a bit small (particularly the Milanese), but other than that, quite a nice restaurant for sure. Probably would return.

Went with coworkers to celebrate a business milestone, and we ordered a variety of dishes to try. The pork chop and calamari were my personal favorites, but the Italian in our group gave high praise to their pasta—which says a lot if you know Italians! The cocktails were fantastic too. It's no surprise this is a downtown Napa hotspot. Definitely make reservations for dinner because they’re always booked!

Great meal I had in Napa! The lamb was excellent and the fish of the day was great! I had a yummy oyster too. Thanks for the great dishes and cooking, the restaurant is also lovely. You do need a reservation they are quite busy but worth it. They also gave us a free postcard that we can send out as pictured below. ☺️☺️☺️ Talani was a very nice and attentive waiter and helped us choose dishes suitable for our allergies. He was so nice.

My girlfriend, niece and I (all self-professed foodies) just visited Napa and found Scala on Main Street, to be the best place we dined (and we had great food all week) The upscale Italian is not to be missed if you are visiting. Make a reservation early as this lovely location fills up fast. Each item we ate was absolutely delicious and prepared beautifully. If it's a beautiful evening, try and eat outside, it's so fun to people watch and chat with other diners. I cannot give enough stars to this amazing restaurant. Everything felt "made with love" I hope my travels take me back one day.

Scala is the best Italian restaurant in Napa that we’ve been to. The pastas are delicious and light. We got the pesto pasta and winter salad and they were both from fresh ingredients. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to have a nice dinner in town. We also got the tiramisu which wasn’t very close to the Italian version, I recommend to make it less sweet and hard (need to be softer). The service was good and they came and check on us multiple times.

Scala was amazing! Our host thoughtfully explained the difference between West and East Coast oysters, and I’ve decided East Coast is my favorite. My fish was incredible, though they couldn’t accommodate my request to sub vegetables for carbs (a girl loves her carbs). However, the spinach was a nice touch. Of course, I saved room for dessert—it was the perfect ending to a great meal. The atmosphere was lively, maybe a bit loud, but overall, I highly recommend it!

Spent my 36th birthday here for dinner, drinks, and desserts. Had a reservation for 2 at 8:30pm on a Friday. It was pretty busy, but we were sat immediately. Had an intimate table in the loft overlooking the restaurant. Ordered oysters on the half shell and calamari for appetizers and got a couple cocktails. Our drinks were extremely good and had fresh ingredients. Both appetizers were spectacular, especially the calamari. Ordered the Lemon Butter Ravioli and Fettuccine Con Aragosta to share. I can’t say enough about the flavors of these dishes. Got the raspberry sorbet for dessert and it was on par with desserts at other places. All in, it was a wonderful dining experience and my wife and I will definitely be back.

Wow! Love this place! Food, ambience, and service were spectacular! Had reservations for a table and ended up at the bar and James and Elvis were a hoot! We had the: Cesar, pork milanese, mandilli al vero pasta Genovese (silk handkerchief pasta) with world famous pesto and lasagna. Everything was fantastic. It all sounds “heavy” compared to what I usually order, but it was all light and fabulous. So tasty! I have photos but forgot to take pics before we dove in! Oopsie! Highly recommend!

I have heard so much hype about Scala and we made reservations to go here on a Thursday night. We got to the restaurant, in a great location in downtown Napa, and it was packed! Cute decor, super friendly staff and delicious food. I have celiac and the gluten free pomodoro was delicious! I also have the special salad (with pistachios, grapefruit, tangerine and arugula in a vinaigrette and it was very refreshing! My husband had the pizza frittata and it was like a calzone. He loved it and the people next to us asked us what it was and ordered it too. We both said we would come back here again in a heartbeat. Highly recommend even if you are celiac. They had allergens (GF/DF) listed ion the menu.

Took my Wife here for our 25th Anniversary Dinner. We were both very pleased. The interior layout and decor are very welcoming. The staff was tremendous as well. Dinner...Fabulous! Started with the Calamari. No exaggeration. This was the best we both have ever had. It will probably spoil every calamari for me moving forward. It was that good. Dinner was incredible as well. Wife had the Seafood Spaghetti and I had the Fire Roasted Sea Bass. For a side we got the Brussel Sprouts. Everything was wonderfully prepared and presented. Food was exquisite. Absolutely delicious! Had some wine with dinner and finished with some coffee. The whole experience was wonderful and a fitting way to celebrate 25 years.

Great evening with friends for a celebration. We got a nice round table as you wank in to the right. Nice open spot. Great service from the staff and out waitress was amazing (Katelin?). The calamari was tender and little batter. Some terrific Aioli with it. Two sets of fried items were ordered. I tried the risotto and it was nicely filled and accompanied by a sauce. Delicious. Breads were also ordered and they wet the right accompaniment... The seafood pasta was my choice (clams, shrimp etc) in a light wine sauce and an add on of marinara. Pasta cooked perfectly. Plumb shrimp and nice sauce. The lasagna was also commented on as being amazing. Nice layers and fillings. Panacota was the only item for dessert and it was delicious. I recommend this place!

Scala is a must-visit in downtown Napa! The service was exceptional from start to finish, attentive and welcoming. We highly recommend making a reservation, as this place is worth planning ahead for. We didn't have a reservation and had to sit at the bar but it was still a great spot! The food was incredible! The spicy oven-roasted chicken was massive and absolutely to die for, while the lasagna, layered with bolognese and creamy béchamel sauce, was bursting with flavor. Both dishes were perfectly portioned for sharing, making it easy to try a bit of everything. The server surprised us with a thoughtful anniversary dessert--a refreshing lemon sherbet that was the perfect ending to an amazing meal.I highly recommend visiting Scala!

Beautiful atmosphere and great staff! Fantastic drink menu too! Had the calamari to start, delicious! I had the pork chop for my main course and it was fantastic. My favorite thing I ordered was actually the tiramisu for dessert! Literally the best I ever had! Book ahead of time as reservations fill up quick!

We enjoyed a lovely birthday dinner here! I made a dinner reservation just to be safe and we were promptly seated when we arrived. On our way in, I noticed there was some outdoor seating with heat lamps nearby which would be lovely had it not been the middle of winter. To our surprise, we were seated upstairs. As we walked through the main dining area, it was definitely filling up with the dinner crowd so the ambiance was lively but pleasant. From beginning to end, service was great and everything we would expect from a nice restaurant - friendly, prompt, attentive, patient, and helpful. All the dishes we tried were delicious. We started with some calamari, which was not too breaded, and their winter salad, which was perfectly refreshing. The lasagna and lobster fettuccine were great. And the desserts were a perfect icing on top. They gave us a complimentary birthday gelato and we also tried the tiramisu. Needless to say, we were stuffed and definitely had to do a post-dinner stroll afterwards. Definitely recommend this spot if you're looking for some good Italian eats in downtown Napa!

Delicious Italian meal. We enjoyed a late lunch today, so didn't have to wait for a table for 5. The host was very welcoming and we were soon greeted by our server, Debora. Food was great. We ordered the calamari, bread and oysters to share. The calamari was very tender and the breading was nice and crispy. The oysters were super fresh! The kiddos split a bolognese spaghetti and I got the spaghetti gamberi & vongole. My husband got the special pasta which had braised pork and a tomato sauce. Portions were great and filling. Super cute interior. Would be fun for a date night--- but was also great to come with the family!

It has been a while since we have had authentic italian food. This place was so far beyond our expectations and the service is what really made the experience! Johnny was our server and he made excellent recommendations and went above and beyond to ensure we were having a good time. We ordered the pork chop milanese and lasagna. Easily the best lasagna I have ever had. My husband, who lived in Milan, said the pork chop was the best he has ever had - so delicious! We also had the burrata appetizer and polenta side. Everything was prepared well. The atmosphere is fun and the decor is lovely as well. We will definitely come back! Thank you for such a great time!

This place was recommended by our server at Louis M Martini and our personal driver! We were so excited they had reservations, you definitely need them. We are celebrating two friends birthdays and I indicated that on the reservation and I appreciate so much that they have them each a scoop of gelato! I enjoyed the pork Milanese which definitely seemed to be their most popular item. The pasta special, wasn't amazing, it was puréed broccoli and definitely for a unique palette. I would recommend trying it in the area, the service was great but make sure to get a reservation this place was super busy!

Wonderful ambiance, very classy and fitting for Downtown Napa! The servers were all very polite and friendly and even wrote a birthday card for our friend. I absolutely loved the food. The flavors are top notch and the texture of the pesto pasta was so original and refreshing. Definitely recommend coming here for special celebrations!

Date of Visit: 11/17/2024 After wine tasting at Joseph Phelps Vineyards, we visited the Scala Osteria & Bar at the heart of Napa City for dinner. Scala is on my list for a while but the restaurant was packed and need to wait for seats if no reservation. We made a dinner reservation at 5:15pm the day before, which was the last 2 slots of the night. Scala Osteria & Bar was opened by the owner of Bistro Don Giovanni, Giovanni Scala and his wife Minta Scala, also with some other co-owners. The decoration vibe is Southern Italy, with white brick wall and lightings, as well as a cartoon map. The open bar and kitchen with a huge pizza grille was very eye-catching. Wonderland $16 I ordered the cocktail to pair with dishes. This Wonderland cocktail with holiday vibe is made with spiced Rum, spiced pear liqueur, orange juice, and pomegranate. With a spiced cinnamon sugar rim. 2017 Scala Osteria Pinot Noir, Stanly Ranch, Napa Valley $18 Husband got the Pinot Noir from Stanly Ranch with the restaurant name, Scala Osteria. This is a mid-bodied wine with notes of berry, which paired well with seafood and spaghetti. Spaghetti con gamberi & congole $36 For the main course, husband got the spagetti with clams, shrimp, toasted garlic, chili, and white wine. Hint of spiciness in the bowl with many fresh seafood was mouth-watering. Wood fire roasted whole fish $49 I got the whole fish that was grilled with wood fire. The fish of the day was Petrale Sole. The whole fish still has head and skin on with olives, rosemary, and cherries on the side. The server removed the fish bones and the head tableside, and left the head for you upon request. Roasted Cauliflower, romanesco, & heirloom carrots $9 We also got the roasted cauliflower as the side to go with the main courses. Tiramisu $15 For dessert, we got the tiramisu, which is one of my favorite desserts. This tiramisu tasted very great, the texture and the sweetness of the Crème anglaise and shaved chocolate, as well as the cocoa powder was amazing. Tiramisu Martini $18 We also got the tiramisu martini to pair with dessert. This one was made with dark rum, crème de cacao, espresso, and topped with whipped marscarpone, creme, and amaretto, with a piece of lady finger and cocoa powder on the rim of the glass.

I have been meaning to try this place for a while but always end up at their sister restaurant, Bistro Don Giovanni. Finally got the chance to book a reservation but could only get a later one at 9:30 pm which gave me a subtle hint that this place must be worth the wait. After killing our day waiting for this reservation with activities and drinks, we walked from our hotel to Scala and were seated promptly in the middle of the restaurant where we were seated between the bar and the booth sections. As soon as we sat, we were instantly asked if we wanted water which we appreciated the sentiment and the speed at which this was offered. Our waitress (I unfortunately forgot her name) was incredible and friendly from the moment she came to check on our drink orders to when she dropped the check. She answered our questions about the menu and gave us recommendations that we ended up going with. We ended up starting off with the octopus salad. It was great with the garnishes that came with it but texture-wise, it probably wasn't the best as my boyfriend described one of the pieces he had as slimy and fishy. For entrees, we ordered the Veal Scala-ppini and the Pork Chop Milanese. We were blown away by how inspired, fresh, and delicious the mains were. I salivate looking at my photos for the veal because it was truly incredible in depth, balance and flavor. For the sides, we were recommended the tubetti cacio pepe and the polenta. As plain as the sides looked, they boasted great quality and flavor that paired well with our mains. Although we had a late dinner reservation, it ultimately was worth it in the end. If you're in the area, this definitely is a spot to go to if you're unwilling to head to Bistro Don Giovanni's. I'm eagerly awaiting the next time I get to come to Napa and dine here

Love this place! Great food, great service, great everything!! Thank you Scala for always making it a great experience!

Came in for dinner on Valentine's Day around 10pm and were seated right away, at a super cute table upstairs. I'm sure it would be helpful to make a reservation especially if you're going earlier. The vibe in this restaurant is modern but cozy still. Service was excellent. Ordered the mezcal drink to start, it had so many fun things in it I don't often get in a mezcal drink, I loved it!! Went with in of the salads on special to start, it was a fruity salad and so delicious. And then we were so happy with all our entrees, I really loved my date's lobster beet pasta, which was also a special. And my halibut was cooked perfectly. And then we also got the Ravioli with half al limone and half pesto, as we were told it's their specialty and I'm so happy we added that on it was so tasty. We had a really hard time deciding what we liked best, everything was so yummy.

Fancy I'll say, but food lacked nothing but great, and I wish the portions were better.

Came for solo lunch when I was in the area! The space is so upscale and cute. I was seated at a table in the middle. I went with some oysters to start and a seafood pasta for my main. The oysters were large and fresh, but they were just okay compared to some of the other ones I've had. The pasta though was amazing! It came with generous chunks of squid and it didnt have that fishy taste to it. The sauce was delicious and the pasta cooked perfectly

Scala is amazing!! Their food is always delicious, and their service is always superb. A great place for a first date, or the 100th date! One of my friends recommended adding blue cheese olives to the martini and that was delicious. Not pictured is the rustic bread that comes with warm anchovy butter.

Another beautiful soul to celebrate! If you're in Napa make sure you stop over to Scala Osteria. Italian cuisine and fabulous service. Atmosphere had Naples/Amafi coast. What did we order? Greek Salad Speciality pizza (not on the menu) Silky pesto pasta-so thin and light Branzino Panna cotta Tiramisu All were soo soo demure lol I'm willing to come back

I was not impressed with food! I could make better it myself with Costco ingredients! You heard it right! I'd suggest to explore more places around. Interior is clearly very nice and eye pleasing, ambiance is moderately loud but you can hear a person across clearly. Service is fast and prompt. Unfortunately, the food is not what I have expected. We had steak and fries. Fries is overly dry, I'd say somewhere from Safeway cheapest frozen goods section on a bottom for 3.99$. Steak was just ok, probably Costco sourced. I also had their pesto and it's not even close to the best. My bet is that it's house made but it lacks a bit of salt. Mousse was not good at all! For that price, you can make a lasagna size baking bowl and enjoy for whole week with family. Skip it and safe your hard earned money for better options.

Scala is an excellent dining spot in Napa. Beautiful decor, friendly staff and excellent drinks and dishes. We came on wed early evening. The restaurant was already busy and we were seated promptly. We had calamari, special pasta and pizza and I also tried their limoncello drink. Everything was on point and delicious. We are thinking to come back on the weekend before we leave Napa. It was sooo good!

This restaurant is located in downtown Napa Valley. Please do call to make a reservation. We were seated in a nice table by the window. The shrimp and clam pasta was our favorite dish! Three of us from our party of 8 ordered this, and we were all super happy with it. The pasta was cooked perfectly! I didn't mean to eat the entire plate but I sure did because it was that good! The interior is modern and beautiful. Service was mostly good. There was a bit of a delay in my coffee delivery and there was one server who was a bit clueless, but all the other servers including our main waitress, Z was attentive and professional. The Italian donuts tasted liked beignets. I highly recommend them. They were doughy and satisfying. I also highly recommend the mango sorbet. The sorbet was refreshing. We were there to celebrate a birthday. The restaurant prepared a nice signed card for the birthday boy, and provided complimentary ice cream with a candle and a shortbread cookie. We had a great time and would totally recommend this restaurant!

Service was attentive and friendly, without being over the top. They were able to squeeze us in on a Saturday with no reservations. The food was excellent, and the fact that this place stands out among so many other good places in Napa, really needs something.. Food was excellent, and tasted fresh and delicious. It's expensive, but everywhere in Napa is expensice. And, it was worth it. Can't wait to go back.

Excellent service and food here. Came on a weeknight with a reservation. Sat indoors and although tables were close to others, service was great. They did forget the appetizer (carpaccio) but brought it out without charge to my surprise. 1. Carpaccio - Fresh tasting and big dish. Delicious 2. Pizza - Good size and not too soggy. Good tasting sauce and mozarella 3. White fish - Also delicious with the oil and olive taste. Clean and highly recommended 4. Tiramisu - Good but not the best I've had; hard to reach that point though. Overall, an excellent night with good food and quick correction to the service mistake to my surprise. Highly recommended.

Scala Osteria in Napa Valley is an excellent dining destination for delicious Italian culinary. We enjoyed their: Lasagna that was superb. It was classically layered with delicious bolognese sauce. The Fettuccine con Aragosta made with their house made fettuccine, chunks of fresh lobster and drenched in a creamy lobster-infused sauce that was delicious! The ambiance is welcoming and the service is top tier! They even celebrated my special day with desert and a signed birthday card from the staff. For anyone visiting Napa Valley, Scala Osteria is a must-visit for a truly memorable Italian dining experience.

Best pasta dish we've had in a very long time! Ravioli in a lemon cream sauce...amazing. Sat at the pizza bar and watched them make our pizza which was delicious!

We were really happy to try this place, and it did not disappoint. Honestly: they had us at fried olives. For that reason alone we wanted to give it a shot, and they really were little salty fried bits of goodness. The wood fired clams (aka vongole) were also really good, as was the ravioli. The dessert cannoli were maybe a little pricey, and the crème brûlée martini doesn't entirely taste like crème brûlée (although I have to admit its foamy sweetness was different and kind of good). Anyway: definitely worth the visit.

Wow- so happy we went to Scala's! The fried olives were so unique and fun definitely something out of the box to try. We had the clams as an appetizer and really loved dipping the crusty bread into the sauce. The pasta was great but the star of the show was the Pork Chop Milanese!!! So thin, crispy and full of flavor- it's a must. Topped it off with the zeppolis. Such a lovely and lively atmosphere that brought me right back to the amalfi coast!

Amazing experience all around and would highly recommend and can't wait to return one day. Visited for lunch on our day trip to Napa from the South Bay before heading to a wine tasting for my MIL's birthday. Service was thoughtful, detailed, and attentive. It's the small things like a birthday card on the table, changing out plates and forks between every course, and coming back from the restroom to a folded napkin that makes all the difference and makes Scala's service standout. Every item we ordered was delicious. We started with the cacio w pepe, brussels, and chopped salad. We then had the pesto pasta, halibut, lasagna, and lobster fettuccine. Lots of GF options! The strawberry gelato at the end was the cherry on top to a great dining experience. Major props to Scala and can't wait to be back!

Scala is in the heart of downtown Napa, and it can get quite busy depending on the day & time. It's a very classy restaurant that looks small from the front but is actually quite spacious. The food is delicious and fresh, you can't make a wrong choice.

Dropped in for a simple dinner of meatballs and petrale sole. The four meatballs were on a bed of polenta. Thought this was a nice touch. The fish was as expected. Simple in nature. Nothing fancy. Accompanied with spinach. The spinach I thought was a deep here in color and was delicious. Service was alright although our server must of been new to the profession. He kept using the same phrases to all the guests. When using the same Italian to wish the patrons a happy meal experience it just doesn't seem genuine. I'm sure he meant well though. Dinner was held upstairs. Nice and quiet. Was not hot nor uncomfortable up there. Sometimes the temperature can be a bit hotter above.

I was finally able to try out Scala Osteria. Scala Osteria is the sister restaurant to Napa's Bistro Don Giovanni and offers its guests with flavors from Napoli. Here, the philosophy is simple: combine this traditional simplicity with more refined touches. Unlike other restaurants in Napa, Scala is open until 11:00pm. Have a late date? Grab your dessert here if you missed dinner here. I brought my parents here and they seemed to really enjoy everything. We had ordered oysters, pizza, their cheese and charcuterie plate and their special of the night, lamb. My parents and I have AMAZING things to say about the lamb because it was so tender and literally came off the bone. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. We also ordered the bruschetta and olives. The customer service is top notch and the team is so friendly. Additionally, there is limited outdoor patio seating as well so you can enjoy all Napa Valley has to offer. The Southern Italian coastal cuisine with other Mediterranean and Californian influences combined with the wines of Napa, you won't get enough. I would definitely come back just because of the service alone. Cannot wait to enjoy some late night summer treats from here.

The food here is absolutely delicious! · "Hands down, some of the best food I've had in Napa! I love me some Italian food. Do yourself a favor and visit this lovely restaurant in Napa. This cozy restaurant located in downtown Napa. They made a great impressions! Hospitable hosts, delicious dishes. Bolognese was ok.

The food here is decadent. We ordered the ciabattina, shrimp & clam spaghetti and pizza fritta. All were amazing. Nice atmosphere. Servers were attentive. Highly recommend.

I liked it a lot. Nice atmosphere. Food very good. Spaghetti with Shrimp and Clams very good and fresh cut pasta with pesto terrific.

Fantastic Italian cuisine in downtown Napa. The upstairs dining room is intimate and lovely, with a calmer atmosphere than the larger main dining downstairs. The margherita pizza is delicious (and makes a wonderful appetizer), the NY steak is juicy and tender, and the mandilli pasta with pesto is a revelation. Paired with impeccable service, Scala is the perfect setting for a special night in Napa.

Cute place right in downtown Napa. Everything was delicious except for the tuna carpaccio. The meat fall apart too easily. We usually get salmon or hamachi carpaccio but wanted to try tuna. The server was really nice and attentive. It was our 20 yrs anniversary and it was so sweet they gave a little dessert. I would go back and try other dishes next time in Napa.

Prior to seeing a show at The Blue Note we had a reservation at Scala Osteria. We have enjoyed Bistro Don Giovanni in the past, Scala Osteria is their sister restaurant. Arrived to our 6:00 pm reservation and were promptly seated upstairs. We preferred this instead of the loud and bustling downstairs. We both started with a glass of the crisp Falanghina while looking over the large menu. DW decided on the Lasagna, layered with Bolognese and Bechamel sauces. Excellent, if one could ever say that lasagna was "light", this was it! I decided on the Pork Chop Milanese, with a lemon, caper butter sauce. Another delicious entree. We shared a side of Broccoli Rabe with chili flakes. Finished with very good Tiramisu, nice end to the dinner. Service was friendly and helpful, water glasses refilled promptly. The town of Napa has plenty of good restaurants to choose from. Scala Osteria is an excellent choice.

I visited Scala Osteria on Monday, 4/1/24, around 9:30 PM for dinner. Upon arrival, I was welcomed by the hostess Chyan. Her friendly and bright spirit brought a wonderful start to my dining experience. I decided to order the Caffe Scala, 3 Sweet Petite Oysters, 3 Pickering Oysters, and the Cioppino. Everything was impeccably delicious. I loved the fresh, high-quality of the oysters. What I also enjoyed was the flavor profile and abundance of seafood in the Cioppino dish. Pairing the food with the Caffe Scala beverage complemented it well. My server for the night was Ernie. He was kind, pleasant and attentive. Additionally, Mario was on top of clearing my plates from the table. He was also attentive and friendly. The inside of the restaurant was beyond gorgeous. The overall ambiance was one of my highlights. Overall, Scala Osteria offers phenomenal dishes and amazing hospitality from staff members. I want to extend a huge thanks to Chyan, Ernie, and Mario for making my experience unforgettable. Whenever I am in the Napa area, I will return here.

The service is quite bad. I was told there's seat to get a seat at bar table so I walked in on my own and found a seat very close to the restroom and bot sure if that is a seat I can sit in so I asked a waitress she told me I can't sit there it has to be the bar in the middle and I couldn't find any seat and I returned ti front desk and I was taken by front desk lady to the same spot lol And no waitress appeared after reading menu 6 times and I have to stop someone to order a drink And there's no tool to crack the crab together with crab cioppino until half an hour later and someone (seems like different from the average waiters) noticed that and brought me the tool and hand towel lol Overall the food is ok but service is really lacking

This was my second time going to Scala Osteria, and it did not disappoint! The braised short ribs are the best I've ever had! I paired that with the Hess Allomi wine, which was a perfect companion for this dish! The cioppino had a fantastic sauce that wasn't two tomato forward. This with a side of french fries and the shrimp cocktail as starters made this meal fantastic! Great service, lovely ambience - I will definitely be back!!!

When we come to Napa, we love to explore restaurants, and we've found great restaurants through Yelp or Google. This time, we had a solid recommendation from my BIL who knows good eats. He had been here recently and raved about it. So we came here on a Sunday night in Oct 2023. We sat out front, the tables are fenced off front l the sidewalk. The weather was perfect for alfresco dining. We started with the ciabatta with the butter anchovy dipping sauce. I don't think this is on the menu, but highly recommend! My picture doesn't do it justice but it's excellent and one order is perfect for 2 people. The bread is warm and toasty, perfect for dipping into the buttery sauce! Both of our entrées came out at the same time, along with a broccoli rabe. My spaghetti with shrimp and clams was great! Only regret is that I wish the spaghetti was made in house, it tasted like dried pasta. I'd still order this entree again. It was really good with a good ratio of clams and shrimp to pasta. My husband didn't like his veal scallopini. He ate it because he was hungry but he didn't love it and said he with not order it again. I thought the rabe was too bitter. We brought the leftovers home so I can cook it up in an egg scramble. All in all, good meals. We'd love to come back!

I was very much looking forward to visiting Scala Osteria for a few months after booking a weekend jaunt to Napa. Having heard the connection with another favorite, Don G's, was all I needed to know. Unfortunately, this review doesn't have quite the same accolades. Scala Osteria is located in the heart, in my opinion, of downtown Napa. There are great shops and seemingly great restaurants around every corner. A spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner, whatever the occasion. It is very nicely designed and decorated with a great vibe. All of the staff were pretty friendly and accommodating as well. Service was good and we had a good chance to review the menu offerings once we ordered some adult beverages. One thing that you may notice is the wine selections. It took me a bit by surprise as it was not quite as broad as some other restaurants. That said, a libation was preferred. Having received a recommendation about the pork chop milanese I quickly ordered this with a small plate of oysters. My guest ordered a Caesar Salad and the Branzino which was recommended by someone we knew. I was able to sample the salad which was served with a generous portion. I found it to be excessively over dressed and my guest was unable to finish it for that reason. For my serving of oysters I chose two types: East and West Coast. One set was distinctively larger, but I did not recall which. They arrived on a bed of ice with a wedge of lemon and a ramekin of red wine vinegar with shallots. I am not one to focus on price, but they were a bit short on flavor and size. Moreover, they were not served with the normal accoutrements such as hot sauce, horse radish, or even cocktail sauce. In all honesty, it might have made a marked difference in how they tasted. For the entree, my selection was the Milanese. It was a very healthy serving topped with a butter caper sauce. it tasted fine, but was not something that was prepared with noticeable seasoning. It was somewhat disappointing given the strong suggestion provided by our server. My guest, who is very fond of Branzino, had a similar experience in that the entree was very short on flavor, a crispness of skin, and the sauce which didn't seem to be complimentary. After long anticipation and some of the reviews that I read, my experience was a slight let down. The rich flavors of the other Italian restaurant just North was not an appropriate gauge for Scala as its reference is from another part of Italy which is more focused on coastal cuisine. You should know that the restaurant was pretty full with patrons seemingly enjoying every aspect of what Scala offers. My experience was much different and it broke my heart to share my experience. I was hoping for more.

I always end up here to celebrate my birthday. The locals love Scala because they have mastered the basics of Italian food in their dishes but there is something about each dish that is not your grandmas cooking. They do elevated basics in their dishes. I think people often expect something over the top when they go to Napa restaurants because there is so much competition, but what keeps the locals coming back is their elevated basics. In the reservation I made a note that we were celebrating my birthday and when we arrived at the restaurant they left a card on the table with my name on it for my birthday that was thoughtfully written out. This place also has the vibes that are moody and classic. People feel comfortable coming in casual clothes and some dress up but both are welcome. We all come together for good food. The lemon ravoli is a cult classic here. When anyone thinks of Scala or Don Giovanni's we all know and love the lemon ravioli first and foremost. I made a reservation for a Monday night and we were seated at a table. I noticed any walk ins that night were seated at the bar and pizza oven bar top. The oysters are fresh and delicious and come with a special vinegar sauce that add just enough flavor but doesn't take away from the oyster itself. I always order the Olive Fritte because the olives are served hot and they are delicious, I could eat 5 plates of them. I felt basic ordering the lasagna but it was calling to me and it did not disappoint! The layers were perfect and not too much, but I ate the whole dish and feel like they did their lasagna well. For drinks, I couldn't decide between a wine or a cocktail. My waitress recommended to start with a cocktail and that they could do a half pour or wine if I wanted to move onto that. I was impressed that I had the option to have both and wine at a half pour! For dessert, we ordered the tiramisu and it was the perfect ending that was sweet but not too sweet. Whenever I meet someone that hasn't been to Scala, I have a new excuse to come back!

After a full day of wine tasting, we returned to our hotel, and the valet host recommended Scala Osteria. It was just a quick two-block walk, and we were surprised to see how busy it was, even early in the evening. The ambiance was lovely, and the crowd added to the great vibe. The wait was about 10-15 minutes, but the host offered us seats at the bar with no wait, so we took it. The bartender was fantastic, providing excellent service despite being busy. My husband ordered the lasagna, and I had the seafood spaghetti. While mine was delicious, it was a little too spicy for my liking since I'm very sensitive to spice. They kindly accommodated me, removing the chili sauce, and my fresh new plate arrived quickly. My taste buds were thrilled! Even though we didn't have a microwave back at our hotel, we took our leftovers to go and nibbled on them the rest of the night--they were too good to leave behind! Highly recommend checking this place out. We'll definitely be back!

We loved this place! We went in without a reservation so got sat at the bar. There are two bars and we were at the one that overlooks the kitchen. We were seated directly in front of the wood fire oven and got to watch the pizza artist at work. Truly, you can't convince us it wasn't the best seat in the house. Branzino - had a good crusting on the outside and was flavorful Mushroom pizza - I altered it, ordered without the sausage or kale and added basil. It was bland but I think that's because I took off the sausage and the recipe probably relies on the sausage for flavor. But lemme tell you: I drizzled the sauce served with the Branzino over the top and it was DELICIOUS like that. Side dishes - they were fine, nothing special Hot drinks - also good Tiramisu - you get a huge slice. It comes with a vanilla bean sauce drizzled on the plate and some chocolate pieces stuck in the top. Whew - that vanilla bean set it off for me! We would come here again AND want to sit at the bar again.

The amount of food we ordered is ridiculous! We could not stop ordering the food was amazing! The mussels were insane. The servers were amazing and they even wrote my husband a card for his birthday! We really enjoyed our time here and I want to come back!

A Napa wine tasting visit is incomplete without a great dinner to close out the day, preferably with a wine purchased from the day's tasting. Just about every person we asked for a recommendation steered us to Scala. We've dined here in the past but couldn't quite recall whether it was great, so we gave it a second try. Got seated at the bar in front of the open kitchen where large windows showcased the busy staff putting together dinner service. The anchovy butter with bread was GREAT, as was the Caesar salad. Sadly, the averagely plated penne fell very flat and lacked salt/flavor in both the pasta and the sauce. So disappointed, given how Scala was so widely hyped. Maybe it was an off night, but we definitely had to door dash afterward. Hit or miss at this place.

An incredible outing! First of all, for how busy they were the service was so fast and quick. We were immediately greeted by our waiter right as we sat down. The bar was busy, so our drinks too a little while, but it was well worth it. Everything is super high quality. It was very nice also that they offer half sizes for the dishes too (at least for some like the penne and Caesar salad). The tre scalini pizza was well balanced and I did not feel overly full. On top of that, it wasn't greasy or cardboard-y. It was made with fresh ingredients and in house in their pizza oven! 10/10 experience at Scala!

In my search of a new spot to review, I happened upon Scala Osteria which is owned/operated by same owners of Bistro Don Giovanni (one my go to places). Say no more, we were down! Upon arrival I found the front to be inviting. The blue awnings and cafe tables were great choices. The place doesn't look to big from the front, but the cafe is deep. It has plenty of seats for parties of 2 or 4. Like the frontage, the interior was very bright and cheerful. The vibe was lively and everyone seemed to having a good time. The drink side menu had a good selection of mouthwatering drinks. I sampled the Hemingway and the Cello. The Hemingway is on the sour side so just be mindful what you order with it. I really liked the Cello Martini. It had nice balance of sweet and sour. As for the food, I found the dishes to be very good. Here were my faves: Warm Octopus Salad: Plenty of octopus and olives to go around on this one. If you love olives (like me) this one is a nice choice. The potatoes added nice balance to the olives as well. Pork Chop: This was an interesting one for sure. I've had similar dishes but not with the butter and caper sauce. Interesting take because I associate butter and caper with fish preparations. I liked it, especially with the lemon squeezed on top. Spheghetti with Clams and Shrimp: I have to say I think pasta is really where both restaurants really shine. I've had several of their pasta dishes and they are always good. This one is par for the course as well. Overall I like this place a lot because of the atmosphere and good food. . It's super casual and I can see this place getting busy when the warm season really gets going. We will definitely be back.