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Lunch of the Month: Napa Valley Grille

Napa Valley Grille, located in Horton Plaza, is a prime location for a lunch getaway, whether it’s for a weekend shopping rest stop or a business lunch gathering.  Nestled away from the hustle and bustle of shoppers, the restaurant features a rustic Italian décor with plenty of room for a private event or corporate party. 

On my most recent visit to Napa Valle Grille, I observed that the weekday lunch hour was quiet enough for conversation, making this restaurant perfect for a business lunch meeting.  The lunch menu varies in price, with entrees ranging between $12.00 and $24.00.  Napa Valley Grille’s menu celebrates wine, and offers almost 30 different wines by the glass as well as an extensive list of bottles. 

Napa Valley Grille’s ever-changing seasonal menu features a variety of coastal Californian salads, sandwiches and entrees.  My dining partner and I were greeted upon arrival with warm focaccia bread, accompanied by an eggplant tapenade and chili, garlic and thyme olive oil.  For a starter, we chose the warm crusted brie appetizer, served with perfectly roasted, tender cloves of garlic, caramelized balsamic red onions and a pear and jalapeño jam.  I also sampled the delicious organic Chinook salmon entree, served with potato and celery root croquettes, sautéed spinach, asparagus, with a unique, slightly spicy red pepper cream sauce.  The menu also offers several soup, salad and half-sandwich combinations, like the St. Helen, which my dining partner chose - a one-half of the crab melt sandwich with a tender crab salad and melted pepper jack cheese on brioche, served with a tangy spring onion soup and a Caesar salad. 

Not to be missed is the extensive dessert menu.  My companion and I sampled the Laura Chenel Chevre cheesecake, an incredibly smooth and rich cheesecake made with goat cheese and topped with shaved white chocolate and zinfandel coulis.  The dessert menu also features a chocolate lava cake with vanilla gelato, a trio of blackberry, tangerine and cranberry sorbets, and various other temptations, all paired with a suggested dessert wine.  

Great service coupled with enticing presentation makes this a great restaurant for a casual or elegant lunch.  The restaurant offers a “flight night” every third Thursday from 5:30-8:00 p.m. on the patio, with wine tastings, appetizer specials, live music and raffle prizes.  Napa Valley Grille also offers a daily happy hour from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m., featuring wine and cocktail specials and a selection of small plates; as well as a monthly wine dinner, an intimate and elegant five course dinner by Executive Chef Michael Rubino with wine pairings from a featured winery. 

Visit www.napavalleygrille.com for a seasonal menus, upcoming events and more.