Group Restaurant Help

Seems we waited too long and we are now faced with no availability at any of our restaurants of choice for a group dinner. Can anyone think of restaurant suggestions for our group that in line with the following:

Party of 8

Dining between 7-8

Staying at Napa Valley Marriott

Friday night in September

Other restaurants we%26#39;ve tried (all booked)--Redd, Bistro Jeanty. We have dinners already planned at Ad Hoc and Brix

Can you all give me some suggestions that may fit our needs? I%26#39;m hoping to book by tomorrow.

Group Restaurant Help

Oh, one more I forgot to mention....Mustards is booked too. And we don%26#39;t want Bouchon because we have a Bouchon restaurant here in Vegas where we all live.

Group Restaurant Help

Why not keep it casual?

After a day of wine tasting, go to Taylor%26#39;s Refresher-- either up in St Helena, or the new location at the Oxbow Markets down in Napa.

Buy a bottle of wine w/your burger, sit outside, and just kick back! :)

-The Innkeepers

Napa Old World Inn

PS If you go late (after 7:30), be sure to bring jackets or wraps, as it cools off here in the evening.

We are actially going to lunch at Taylor%26#39;s Refresher the day before! Our decision was based on a recommendation you made on the board a while back, actually!

And this is a dinner/business meeting, which is why we wanted to try to find something a little on the nicer end.

By the way, thanks for all of your info on this board. I%26#39;ve learned so much from your posts and can%26#39;t wait for our upcoming Napa trip.

There is Cindy%26#39;s Backstreet Kitchen in St. Helena, if that%26#39;s too casual for you, try La Toque in Rutherford or Terra, right next door to Cindy%26#39;s in St. Helena. Good luck! :)

If it wasn%26#39;t absolutely necessary that you have a single table for all 8 you could split it up into ';4 and 4';. But since it%26#39;s business, probably not a possibility. Other suggestions: etoile at Domaine Chandon (Yountville) and one of the restaurants (Royal Oak Steakhouse or the Grill) at Silverado Resort (www.silveradoresort.com) off the Silverado Trail.

Vegasbaby,

How cool-- glad we were able to help you!

A thought: Zins Valley (on Browns Valley Rd, close to where you are staying):

http://www.zinsvalley.com/

Best to give them a call, as opentable won%26#39;t allow bookings of 8 people for most restaurants.

Warning: This place is for LOCALS-- we do send guests here, but often not. The food is fantastic (and designed to pair w/big red zins, hence the name). Chef/Owner was once the Sous Chef at Mustard%26#39;s Grille, so his pork chop and calamari bear a strong resemblance to Mustard%26#39;s (he also cooked at Auberge and Bistro Don Giovanni).

But it%26#39;s in a strip mall, shoe horned in between a beauty salon and a realty office. So not the most impressive of entrances. ;)

But the inside by the fireplace--or (our favorite)-- out back, under the trees, is wonderful. Again, not designed to be a ';tourist'; spot-- emphasis is more on food than atmosphere or impressing folks.

If it helps any, you can tell them you%26#39;re staying at the Marriot, but that the innkeepers at the Old World Inn recommended you to them. :)

Have a great time!

-The Innkeepers

Napa Old World Inn

Thanks to everyone! We had two nights to plan, so we chose Zin and Celadon. For the last night we have reservations for 4 at Redd, which I%26#39;m very excited about!

Oops, I hit post too early. Thank you all so, so much for your suggestions. I can%26#39;t wait to visit Napa!

Glad you got into REDD, their food is so good here! :)

A great place with plenty of tables for large groups (outside; a few inside too) that%26#39;s casual and even has vegetarian entrees is Pacific Blues in Yountville. They don%26#39;t (didn%26#39;t) charge a cork fee (maybe it was just that we were in the business? I forget - it has been over a year now since I%26#39;ve lived in Napa!) Enjoy!!