One of the delights of travel that I have missed is not having to scrounge around for something to eat three times a day. It may be expensive to eat out, but wow, it is really nice not to worry about cooking for a few days! And on our recent trip to Calistoga, we were able to enjoy some great food in Napa. It was one of the best parts of the trip, to be honest.
I’ll take you through where we ate in the event that you are planning a getaway to Calistoga and Napa at large (which I highly recommend that you do!)
Station and Model Bakery
Our first stop as we rolled into Wine Country was a stop at Station in St. Helena. What a great way to kickoff three days of great food in Napa! We usually stop at Gott’s Refresher (more about that later in the trip), so it was nice to check out someplace new. Station is actually a real gas station, but the emphasis is on the food. We opted for items on the lunch menu but there were some delicious looking breakfast options as well.
Station, 1153 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574
We were just down the street from Model Bakery. And since this family can never pass up a good bakery, we made a quick stop for a baguette and a few other treats. And yes, one of them was an english muffin made famous by Oprah. Delicious!
Model Bakery, 1357 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574
Evangeline
On Sunday night, we headed into Calistoga from Solage to Evangeline, which describes itself as a “French bistro with a creole soul.” We ordered strategically- we have a history of over-ordering, particularly when we are (almost) hangry! We split shrimp cocktail, salmon, and roast chicken- all were terrific. And the outdoor patio was so pleasant on the warm Spring night.
Evangeline, 1226 Washington Street, Calistoga, CA 94515
Calistoga Roastery
Dear Husband got me up early for a hike each morning (more to come on that!) And there’s no way I’m hiking for 2 hours without a coffee! So we made a quick stop at the Calistoga Roastery for a latte and scone (which Cheddar and I split on the hike.) They prefer cash- so be prepared for a 3.99% surcharge if you use a credit card.
Calistoga Roastery, 1426 Lincoln Ave, Calistoga, CA 94515
Poolside at Solage
One of the joys (for me) of vacation is eating lunch at the pool or beach. It feels very indulgent- a signal to my brain that we are indeed on vacation! So I wasn’t going to pass that up at Solage. We had two lunches by the pool (fish tacos both times for me.) And although it was expensive (fish tacos were $22- plus all the taxes, fees, etc.), it was delicious. Not something I do very often!
Solage Resort & Spa, 755 Silverado Trail N, Calistoga, CA 94515
Sam’s Social Club
Located quite near Solage is Sam’s Social Club. It’s a nice property, and it has the advantage of being very well-suited to outdoor dining. There’s a big patio with heat lamps, a fire pit, and great lighting. And it was quite bustling for a Monday night. Clearly a lot of people enjoying Spring Break with some great food in Napa.
The food was great. The roasted cauliflower soup and cheeseboard were real highlights. But I did detect a bit of disappointment from the waiter when he realized that we were splitting some entrees and not ordering alcohol= not a large tab. At least he turned the table pretty quickly- we were in and out in about 50 minutes.
Sam’s Social Club, 1712 Lincoln Ave, Calistoga, CA 94515
Farmstead Cafe
After Tuesday’s particularly grueling hike, we were famished. A scone wasn’t going to cut it! So we stumbled upon the Farmstead Cafe at Long Meadow Ranch. A couple of granolas, one fantastic egg and cheese sandwich and a big green tea hit the spot (for the three of us- not just me!)
Farmstead, 738 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574
Buster’s BBQ
For our last night in Calistoga, we couldn’t miss a family favorite- Buster’s BBQ. I’m a vegetarian, so I made do with chili beans, macaroni salad and some cole slaw. But the word from Dear Husband and Sophie was that the main attraction- meat!- was as good as ever.
Buster’s BBQ, 1207 Foothill Blvd, Calistoga, CA 94515
Gott’s Refresher and Oxbow Public Market
What better way to wrap up three days of great food in Napa than a stop at Gott’s Refresher. It’s a classic, and even a pandemic isn’t going to slow down the crowds.
And I was glad to see that the Oxbow Public Market is still bustling. Most of the vendors were open and doing some good business on a random Wednesday afternoon. I do wonder who is buying groceries at markets like this (isn’t there a Safeway nearby?) but I guess in a pinch, it’s a convenient place to pick up lettuce and pasta.
Gott’s Refresher, 644 First St., Napa, CA 94559
Oxbow Public Market, 610 1st St, Napa, CA 94559
All in all, a fantastic tour of great food in Napa!
