Cuisine type: American diner
Atmosphere: family atmosphere, pub style decor
Meal: lunch
Overall score: 7.4
Nina
By the third day in Napa we were suffering from a mild case of wine fatigue. We had tasted so many different wines at so many different places, that all we wanted was to stick with one wine, in one bottle, and sit down and have a meal. Rutherford Grill was nearby and stood out with a particularly nice offer - no corkage fee if you brought in your Napa Valley wine of choice. Great, we had a bunch of them in our trunk, collected from the various wineries we had visited. We picked a Beringer reserve chardonnay and went in.
The restaurant looked like a polished, more homey version of a classic chain diner. Seating was either around the bar or on tall, heavily padded booth benches, and we picked the latter. It took a good 15-20 minutes for us to get someone’s attention to even get our glasses of water. Even though it was busy, it was not quite busy enough to justify this kind of delay - once we placed our entree order it wasn’t too bad, so that made up for the initial wait to some degree.
We shared a skillet cornbread for an appetizer, and I have to admit the initial impression was great. Even though it was a bit undercooked in the middle, the rest of the bread was crunchy on the edges, smooth and creamy on the inside, with some added texture from the corn kernels mixed throughout.
For my entree, I ordered a butternut and white cheddar enchilada with roasted squash and swiss chard. Reading off the ingredients, I was actually really excited, especially when I read that the garnish was a sunny side up fried egg. Too my great disappointment, the actual dish was nothing like I had pictured in my head. The actual enchilada was only a small part of the plate, and while the filling was probably butternut squash, I didn’t find any of the nutty warmth that I usually associate with it in a dish. I couldn’t really detect any white cheddar on or around the enchilada (there might have been some inside, but it was hard to tell), but it was covered in two different sauce that weren’t particularly flavorful and didn’t really go well together. It came with a side of vegetable rice (the vegetables definitely came from a mixed frozen bag) and strangest of all, this pickled vegetables and feta side that did not fit in with the rest of the dish and was too acidic for me to eat much of. Overall, I ate very little of my dish (but drank all of my wine to wash it down) and I was quite disappointed in the food I got. I don’t think I would come back to eat at this restaurant unless I want a cheaper meal than the fancier fare in Napa, and in that case I would go for a more obvious and safe choice such as a burger and fries.
The restaurant looked like a polished, more homey version of a classic chain diner. Seating was either around the bar or on tall, heavily padded booth benches, and we picked the latter. It took a good 15-20 minutes for us to get someone’s attention to even get our glasses of water. Even though it was busy, it was not quite busy enough to justify this kind of delay - once we placed our entree order it wasn’t too bad, so that made up for the initial wait to some degree.
We shared a skillet cornbread for an appetizer, and I have to admit the initial impression was great. Even though it was a bit undercooked in the middle, the rest of the bread was crunchy on the edges, smooth and creamy on the inside, with some added texture from the corn kernels mixed throughout.
For my entree, I ordered a butternut and white cheddar enchilada with roasted squash and swiss chard. Reading off the ingredients, I was actually really excited, especially when I read that the garnish was a sunny side up fried egg. Too my great disappointment, the actual dish was nothing like I had pictured in my head. The actual enchilada was only a small part of the plate, and while the filling was probably butternut squash, I didn’t find any of the nutty warmth that I usually associate with it in a dish. I couldn’t really detect any white cheddar on or around the enchilada (there might have been some inside, but it was hard to tell), but it was covered in two different sauce that weren’t particularly flavorful and didn’t really go well together. It came with a side of vegetable rice (the vegetables definitely came from a mixed frozen bag) and strangest of all, this pickled vegetables and feta side that did not fit in with the rest of the dish and was too acidic for me to eat much of. Overall, I ate very little of my dish (but drank all of my wine to wash it down) and I was quite disappointed in the food I got. I don’t think I would come back to eat at this restaurant unless I want a cheaper meal than the fancier fare in Napa, and in that case I would go for a more obvious and safe choice such as a burger and fries.
Food 5
Drinks 10 (no corkage fee)
Atmosphere 7
Service 7
Value 6
Drinks 10 (no corkage fee)
Atmosphere 7
Service 7
Value 6
Ben
A rustic feeling, bustling restaurant in the middle of wine country Napa valley. With no corkage fee, it is definitely an inviting stop in a day of visiting various vineyards. The prices are not too bad, with both of our dishes around $15, though their full entrees get up in the $30s. I had a burger with canadian bacon, hickory sauce, cheddar and onion, with a giant, creamy cornbread in skillet. The burger was tasty but not particularly memorable (maybe even a little dry), as was the cornbread (though it got extremely heavy after about ¼ of it). They do have an extensive list of entrees that looked quite appealing as well, accommodating a range of customers looking for just a burger or for any range of steaks / seafood. The service was all energetic and friendly, and definitely accommodating to the fact that almost everyone takes advantage of their offer of free corkage. The place is definitely extraordinarily popular, with a fun atmosphere, good location, and creative and extensive menu (and a wine menu to be proud of as well). While the food we had on the particular day wasn’t great, I can see the potential when cooked in a more inspired way... Also, as a side note, we had a kind of weird seating experience. We asked for a table, were given a waiting time and waited on seats right outside the door. We then saw another couple come in after us, share the one small stool inside while waiting, and then be escorted to seating by a sleepy-looking hostess... when we walked in she seated us without any comment.
Food 7
Drinks 10 (no corkage fee)
Atmosphere 9
Service 8
Value 8
Drinks 10 (no corkage fee)
Atmosphere 9
Service 8
Value 8
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