Saint Helena Restaurant Tips by sarahandgareth

Tra Vigne: Full Italian meals in an interesting setting

Tra Vigne is a real experience restaurant, one of the top names in the entire valley, and a reservation is a very good idea (we were very lucky to walk in when they had just had a cancellation!).

The dining room is a large open area with high ceilings (we wondered if it had been designed as a restaurant: the full-length windows made us think of an old railway station) and there's plenty of opportunity for people-watching. This is often where people treat themselves on a visit to the Napa Valley, and the wine list allows you plenty of room for indulgence: they have a top-notch array of local winemakers' products.

The service was fantastic: although we were probably spending a little less than other customers, we were made to feel exceptionally welcome by our waiter, who treated us as though we were the equals of the free-spending regulars at the table next to us.

Favorite Dish: We started out with an order of fritti - deep-fried vegetables and rock cod - perfectly-sized for two, and followed up with agnolotti and a risotto, both of them fabulously fresh and with delicious accompaniments.

We were unable to resist the desserts - a chocolate delight and a crisp cherry tart, both well worth the extra padding!

Address: 1050 Charter Oak Ave.

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: (707) 963-4444

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 5

Theme: Italian

Website: http://www.travignerestaurant.com

Market: An American Restaurant

Market is a fairly new restaurant with many personnel who've graduated from Gary Danko's, one of San Francisco's best-known eateries. Danko's is French-influenced, but Market, as it's sub-title An American Restaurant implies, looks closer to home. The dishes, however, are quite what you might expect: the traditional dishes are given a contemporary spin, and the ingredients are of the highest quality.

They have a very attractive dining area, with brick walls, and a gorgeous bar, over a century old. It's becoming a very popular spot with locals and visitors alike: they've just started to take reservations, where before you could walk in and be virtually guaranteed a table. As you might expect, they have an excellent, and good value, wine list.

Favorite Dish: We loved the soups and pasta dishes. The chilled early girl tomato soup, topped with a few drops of basil oil, and a white corn soup with chives, both started things off very well.

We followed up with two excellent pasta dishes - one an old familiar, macaroni and cheese, but a 'very adult' version of the dish, with tangy cheese that really spices things up. The other dish, pasta bows with a collection of fresh cherry tomatoes, corn and peas, was equally delicious. We had more than enough to take away a little with us for a wonderful lunch the next day: their takeout boxes are about as elegant as these things get!

Address: 1347 Main Street

Comparison: about average

Directions: Right in the center of downtown St Helena.

Phone: 707-963-3799

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 5

Theme: American

Website: http://www.marketsthelena.com

Taylor's Refresher: Old-Style Burger Joint

This place has been around since 1949, slinging burger and fries, and serving up shakes. It's still standing, like a relic from the American Graffiti days, and there's always a queue outside (indeed, they serve to all kinds: Robert Redford and Lyle Lovett have been known to get in line).

The staff are all friendly, and the ingredients extremely fresh: these days, they serve up some more contemporary fare, too, like burritos and tuna burgers.

Favorite Dish: Our favourite thing wasn't a dish, but the chocolate malts, the best we've ever had!

Address: 933 Main St

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: At the southern end of the main downtown strip.

Phone: (707) 963-3486

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Diner