Terra Restaurant, Napa Review

We wanted to like this place, because we are locals and we enjoyed the previous restaurant that occupied this building (Tra Vigne -- and we still frequently do Tra Vigne pizzeria), but we have stopped in a couple of times, and were never enticed to actually stay:

1) Pretty expensive -- even by Napa Valley standards. For the same price or a little bit LESS, you can get an amazing lunch from the Michelin-starred SolBar at Solage resort about 10 minutes north in Calistoga area

2) We decided to peruse the bar/cocktail options, but the bar area was a pretty sterile atmosphere, and the cocktails they had on the menu were not very unique or inspired... we decided we will just stick to Goose & Gander (if you want the best cocktails in town, head to Goose & Gander's downstairs bar!)

3) We came in hungry on a Sunday at around noon, looking for a nice lunch. Well, we were out of luck, because apparently they don't do lunch on weekends -- only brunch! Normally, this wouldn't be a problem -- we often love brunch, because they tend to have many savory lunch items in addition to a selection of breakfast items

But that is not the case here. "Brunch" basically means "all day breakfast", because that's practically all they had on the menu... things like omelettes, biscuits, waffles, etc... but marked up to exorbitant prices (about $20 for an egg platter is just too expensive) We scanned the menu, looking for ANYTHING that could be a nice, hearty, savory and protein-filled lunch choice... We were able to find basically ONE item that fell into this category, and it was (drumroll, please)... a hamburger. (For, of course, about $20)

Nah. No thanks. If we wanted a hamburger, we would have gone to Gott's (Taylor's Refresher) right across the street -- they make excellent hamburgers, and they are half that price. (So we just walked out, and haven't been back since.)

[EDIT: I just looked up their brunch menu, and it now seems to have a lot more hot lunch items than it did when we went in October. In October, the choices for savory meat dishes were: cold smoked fish, or a cheeseburger. They still have a pretty shabby selection, though... only 12 total choices, a few of which are low-protein vegetarian options... and all of them are exorbitantly priced. An apple pancake with brown sugar should not cost $18. Or soft scrambled egg with avocado for $20? That's ridiculous.]

The dinner menus also seem to have that same expensive-yet-nothing-special assortment of dishes, so as we see it, there's literally nothing to entice us to come here. The cocktail list = meh. The brunch = poor selection and too expensive. And the dinner menu = overpriced and nothing special that would require you to choose here over any of the other fine restaurants in town.

Absolutely one of my favorites! Food is always on point. Great spot for table or even just seats at the bar. They also started a happy hour!

Food was very mediocre. Very small selection of entrees and they don t even come with sides so it was just a piece of meat on a plate. Short ribs were mostly fat and you have to pay for bread to start. You could find better

After having a lovely day everywhere else, this place was a bad idea to end our day.

Fantastic food and service, wonderful space. Definitely on the list of places to visit again.

Amazing as always. The best food and adult beverages, the best service. I appreciate that they add a 20% 'service fee' for a tip even if I do add a bit more. Gorgeous place too!

Have always loved the romantic atmosphere in the backyard of this restaurant. We were a bit nervous seeing that the former Tra Vigne had been replaced. However, the food was really wonderful. Amazing ingredients and lovely sauces.

Best restaurant experience in the St. Helena area by far. From the creative cocktails to the thoughtful sides, this is the most satisfying luxury dining destination in St. Helena. The steak is wonderful and the monthly visiting wing specials are fun. But the vegetable side dishes that change seasonally are not to be missed: order the broccoli salad, the fingerling potatoes with honey, seaweed and brown butter. Crave-worthy seasonal favorites include the pickled and smoked purple okra and the Lima beans in a chili sauce.

Only came by to purchase a gift card for some friends just got of from work so not fancy looking and it was obvious I wants very welcome here almost didt get talked to and when I ask for gift card young lady ask me.to wait and took almost 15 minutes to come back... I though they did t want my money made me worried my Friends d wouldn't get the best service here so I did t eve. Get to try their food yet and I'm already feeling like no thanks I hope it was just bad day for the girl I. The front or maybe I was more stinky than I thought

Just wow. The wood fire makes the meat sing. Somehow the humble raw veggies come out tasting extraordinary. Best of the west.

We are from NYC and found The Charter Oak on an Eater top restaurants list. This place is lights out. It is SO.GOOD. The food is delicious, the service is excellent. The building and grounds are gorgeous yet unpretentious. Go. Twice.

Beautiful venue, wonderful staff and delicious food.

Always amazing. The food is fresh and delicious, the ambiance is amazing, and the staff is fantastic. Get the sparkling water.

This is a restaurant that believes what they are doing is far more important than how they treat customers. Since the food is good it s a huge shame - and an opportunity if anyone in charge reads this review.

We had brunch today and the sauces were amazing - we asked for a piece of bread and were told oh it s baking and only is for dinner . Meanwhile there were 7 bread related dishes on brunch menu. We asked 4 more times through the meal and always got the same response. A customer centric restaurant would have said we don t have our signature hot bread, but happy to give you the toast or whatever. It made us feel uncared for and immaterial.

We wondered if we were over reacting, but all was confirmed when we stood in the tiny vestibule where both the manager and the host were standing talking and in the course of a few minutes neither said good bye to us.

These seem like such minor things, but truthfully we felt completely unimportant to the larger mission of the restaurant. A feeling that will keep us from going back.

The location is beautiful and the drinks are great. The food is fine, but not some place I d visit again. Too many options in Napa to make this a destination.

Total joke of pretentious wine geek wannabes. Think downtown LA, places like this don't belong in St Helena. I'll never go back.

This restaurant is VERY seasonal. Spring/summer when there is lots of fresh produce in season is probably best. We ate here in late July and again at the end of September and the experiences couldn t have been more different. In July we did the tasting menu and loved almost everything that we had (the picture on this review is from July). It was a lot of food for 2 people - I think this place is best for 3-4 people to share dishes family-style - but we loved the flavors of all the fresh fruits & vegetables. The raw veggies & dip was the highlight and it was something we would never have ordered ourselves if we had ordered a-la-carte. The grilled avocado was a bit bland and underwhelming though. Overall I would say that the starters and side dishes are much better than any of the entrees. The second time we went in Sept, many of the dishes we loved were gone from the menu and when we ordered the raw veggies & dip there were half the variety of veggies as we got in July. The steak was completely charred and overcooked and we had to send it back. The food and experience the second time was nowhere near as good as the first time. I would still go back but would try to make sure to go during the right season.

Wow! Everything is A+++ here! Glad we stopped by for brunch. Amazing knowledgeable staff and all the dishes flavors are uniquely special. Must get the cucumber salad and the burger (house made ketchup). We will definitely come back for more.

I've had the pleasure of eating here many times and even attended a fabulous wedding here. I got to explore the entire property and tried just about everything on the menu.

The chefs and cooks are fantastic and the quality and the flavor of the food served here is unsurpassed!!

Service is kind, welcoming and attentive. My go-to when I am in town!!

You would think you cant do much to a hamburger to make it wesome....but they have....not too much fluff....great taste....very cool restraunt....will be back!

What to say, the setting is perfect and fun, the staff was like being surrounded by family, and the food was pure decadence. We cannot wait to return!

Excellently prepared food. My only complaint is the water loses its chill since there is no ice. The fish was beautifully cooked as we're all the veggies.

We arrived at the restaurant a few minutes early. So we ordered a couple of drinks at the bar. The bartender (mixologist) took our cocktail to the next level. Great spot for causal dining in St Helena. Delicious farm to table cuisine. The service was on point. Our server was very knowledgeable about every dish. The dishes are served family style and prepared exquisitely within a warm, comfortable atmosphere. Wood burning barbecue makes each dish even more amazing. We had the vegetables from their farm.
Fantastic, historical space. They have a small drawer on each side of the table where they keep your flatware, cool idea.

The cheesehamburger! The least expensive entree, but not to be overlooked. Absolutely fantastic

Amazing food. Great experience. Small menu but very filling. Wonderful cocktails and a very nice wine list. Very laid back atmosphere. Would come back and recommend this to anyone. Tyler was our server and was wonderful.

Love, love, wonderful fun dishes service excellent!

Jeremy and the team hosted a truly unforgettable evening for our last night in Napa. Modern, considered cuisine paired with a world class cocktail and wine list. Don t skip dessert, whatever you do.

The food and drinks were pretty good. The service was pretty slow but friendly and the prices were a bit high but probably typical for napa. Loved the silverware drawer for each guest at our table.

Get the burger if you like burgers. Especially if you like shake shack.

Food was absolutely excellent! The service was courteous, friendly and professional. Ambience is fantastic. Just love this place! Every course was super and delicious, and each course was better than expected. Oh.. and no corkage fee - so bring your bottle of wine from your earlier Napa Valley tasting event!

Amazing food, great portions. Homey yet upscale atmosphere. Very innovative. Great service!

Awesome place for comfort food. Relaxed atmosphere and.great food. Nice place to just get a drink.

Charter Oak is almost perfect. You must try it if not just for the experience. Knowledgeable and nice wait staff. The oysters and charcuterie of veggies picked from the restaurant's garden we're incredible. Our salad was a bib lettuce with dried albacore tuna. Perfectly salty. The main dishes we ordered were ham, a ribeye, beef ribs, and a trout dish. We had heard about the ribs but were not impressed. Desserts were extremely creative and my friend who can't have wheat products had plenty of options. Oh, and the cocktails were great. Very creative. I will surely return when I visit Napa.

Great atmosphere, with friendly service. Bring a local bottle of wine, grab a seat at the bar, and order everything!

The seasonal farm to table style like their simple fresh veggies are awesome, and anything hearth cooked like their aged ribeye and black cod!
Or just a quick burger and fries are also excellent choices here.

My favorite time of year to visit is winter, to eat and sip while watching the open hearth fire crackle.

Wow. House made butter and cheeses, and an amazing format to display the underlying ingredients. Also, the tables with the silverware trays are super fun!

We did the chefs special. There was so much food and it was all so delicious and worth it. The service was awesome. Thank you . Would definitely return.

Food was excellent but definitely over priced. I would go here again only for very special occasions

Great food, atmosphere, wine and staff.
We loved the Experience. Gina and Rick

Truly inventive and delicious food and superb drinks. Authentic service. Shame about the room, the old Tra Vigne decor has been simplified down to the point that it s barren as opposed to elegant. Having said that, the food is so good that I m still giving it five stars.

Architecturally beautiful with a uniquely wonderful Napa menu and a super-knowledgeable staff. If you want a great, casual experience with a group of any size, I highly recommend.

Also, the sign in the stairway is worth sharing.

Great atmosphere with a open area dinning that includes exceptional bar service. Diverse but simple menu. Tough choices with one of my best rib eye or over the top cheese burger. Easy to beat the system just do the unbelievable Happy hour.

I am glad this place is 2,500 miles away. I would spend my entire paycheck here.

Interior design and fitout of this restaurant is awesome. Great food and wine and the service from the bar and table waiters excellent. Menu is really interesting. Had a hiccup with booking (in the hotel's name) so make sure your own name is recorded on the booking. Absolutely worth a visit.

Michelin star quality food with casual set up. Clean, original and diverse flavor.

First time coming here and I love it. Very friendly and patient staff. Food is AMAZING

Dinner and drinks were outstanding, service was casual, impeccable and helpful. The food was exceptional and the drinks were an extension of the culinary experience. Only place to go out late for a great drink in St Helena.

Great service.
Dog friendly. Good menu
Cabbage dish is AWESOME

Verging on a five. Excellent food, service, drinks. Great knowledge by the service staff. Fresh, local, interesting choices, but a few more choices on the menu, please. Well definitely go again, suspect I'll update to full five stars based on an excellent experience.

Sadly this place was nothing special. The kimichi bowl of rice for $15 was bland and nothing special ( I guess this is St. Helena?) This was ordered to go with the short ribs which were okay . The chicken was a bit greasy and as someone who usually takes home leftovers, I left them there. Even our hosts who recommended it were not impressed at all and apologized for bringing us here. I suggest finding another restaurant worth the $300 dinner..:

So good food, good service all people are really nice I love it

The food is outstanding! I have been there three times. The service is great. I recommend Charter Oak to all my friends.

Good food drinks and costumer service bring your fat wallet

We had a recommendation to get the cheeseburger there and they were right. Very good. One of us had the grilled chicken sandwich and it was good, but not nearly as good as the cheeseburger. They cook over charcoals and it's interesting to watch. We enjoyed the lunch.

The ribeye was amazing, as was our service. The atmosphere was cozy, and Josh and our server, Daniel, made sure we were never without what we needed. The pickle platter, which was a special, not on the menu, was also incredible. We will be back! Sorry for the poor quality ribeye photo, I was excited. Other dishes are the lime beans, tostones, brussel sprouts, and chicken with drippings.

I would have given this restaurant five stars except for the caveat following my remarks. I had the cheeseburger at the bar. My server was shaved bald with a neatly trimmed beard. I sat at the bar with three other people at the opposite end. It was at least five minutes before he, one of four men behind the bar, noticed me. I ordered the cheeseburger. He did not ask if I wanted a beverage ... I would have ordered a glass of wine ... but I didn't. Five or so minutes later, I asked a different server for a glass of water. The Cheeseburger after about ten minutes and it was excellent! Instead of a big slab of meat on a big bun, it had two small burger disks stacked on a small bun ... making the whole affair. My waiter never attended me again. I had asked an Asian fellow for the glass of water, and he returned to refill it three times. I was relaxed, feeling good, not even put out by my original server. Then, when ready, I put my hat on an a different server brought me my check. He was kind enough to inform me that my 'gratuity' had already been calculated and added in. Wait! What? Gratuity is a choice. A tip is a choice. It is not mandatory (except in most restaurants with a party of six or more, which tends to be cheap-tipping). But a party of one. Frankly, except for the Asian fellow, who may have been the head server, the service was atrocious. The tip was calculated for me at 20%. I had planned on, and usually give, 20%. But I will NEVER return because of that included gratuity. That's just plain wrong. It may even be illegal since it's not a part of the price and is understood to be voluntary. My $16 dollar cheeseburger plus my four glass of free water came ton $19.20. In other words, I was actually CHARGED $19.20 for a $16.00 burger. $19.20 plus tax. Nossir. Good as that burger was, I'm not going back there.

Bring Tra Vigne back! We were not aware the new Charter Oak Restaurant was yet open and have been waiting patiently for six months. Finally it opened a few months ago. Our group dropped in for dessert. What a disappointment! Truly awful metal chairs that leave your bottom corrugated. Guaranteed to encourage a short stay. The desserts selection was extremely limited. Raspberries. (none on the cart) Ice cream (half-melted) and cookies that appeared to be bound together with fishline. Really underwhelming. And this is a Michelin chef? He obviously doesnt have a pastry chef. Too bad. The night before we visited Sams Social Club in Calistoga. Wonderful desserts. On top of this, they automatically add 20% to your bill, whether the service is great or not. Very New York style. Won't be back.

Great spot for causal dining in St Helena. Delicious farm to table cuisine. The dishes are served family style and prepared exquisitely within a warm, comfortable atmosphere . We had the vegetables from their farm, the brined chicken and fresh tomatoes. Every dish was amazing!

Perfect, loved everything about the experience... update 3 months after the first post... the food and service are incredible... I eat here as often as possible

You HAVE to get their burgers here! Staff was super friendly & accommodating. Our group loved our time here & we would definitely return for a visit. This is the perfect spot to stop at after a day of wine tasting & touring!

Didn t know raw vegetables basket can offer so many pleasant surprises as the taste is so crisp and distinct. They have a way with fire, after the meal I felt like I have smoked a nice cigar. Different from all the smoky or food with fire I have tried before. The steak was def the best I had in these recent years.

Exceptional. Beautiful building and setting for dinner. Service was excellent and food was delicious. We shared small bread, crispy brussels, broccolinis salad, and grilled rockfish.

Best place I ate in the world in 2019. Meadowood quality without the Meadowood pomp and circumstance. Their bread and butter alone is worth a visit. Veggies with soy dip are amazing. Best hanger steak I ve ever had, full stop. Beautiful salads. Physical environment is beautiful and spacious. Love the open kitchen. Can t go wrong here.

The restaurant is set in a gorgeous building. The dining room is vast and has an appealing decor; there is also an outdoor seating area. The menu offers a variety of small plates as well as some larger dishes. My favorite dish was the beef rib grilled over Cabernet barrels. The ingredients were consistently of very high quality. Some of the dishes might benefit from more attention - for example, the "cauliflower treated like a piece of meat" dish had some good ideas but felt under seasoned. On the whole though, things worked out very well. The wine list has a truly vast choice of Napa wines, even in Napa. Dessert is selected from a cart that gets wheeled around, and the choices were actually very nice. Friendly and helpful service.

Love the simplicity and execution of the new Chris Kostow restaurant. Keep

Great place to have a meal. Special recommend the short ribs and chicken!!

Amazing atmosphere, really fun open seating/high ceiling and decor, and the food is absolutely incredible. A must-do when you re up in wine country!

Farm to table temple from the people at The Restaurant at Meadowood. Knowledgeable servers. Simple but good wine list, amazing dishes and a family style setting. A Destination in St. Helena!

Food was to die for, perfectly prepared and paired with fresh herbs and spices. The fire roasted avocado was amazing, the duck served worth see potatoes resting on sour cream was so good, had to make my own sweet potatoes 2 days later.

Great food and terrible customer service! Not worth the money they charge. There were six of us and they almost ruined the entire experience. Just one of at least 5 examples: a beer was served to a lady in a can without offering a glass! How safe is it to drink from a can in the middle of covid-19 pandemic?? When I asked to bring a glass, I was treated like I'm asking too much. Another guest who ordered a beer received it in a can without a glass again!! The manager said: "This is the way we serve here" Very unprofessional and appalling!! No wonder the service is so bad with this kind of management...I don't even want to mention the other things, which went wrong. Just wanted to save other customers from ruining their experience in the future..

The food was OK, but other area restaurants have radically better food in the same price range.

Chicken and beef dishes were unexpectedly and unpleasantly fatty.

Cocktails were all of the pretentious herbal sort that I've never been able to actually enjoy.

A mediocre dinner for 3 for $400? I'll pass next time.

Chef Kostow, your food at the Meadowood Restaurant is amazing. Charter Oak needs a bit more of that flair, that layering of flavors.

Great experience with exceptional food and wines. Really great building and exterior with ample parking.