MICHELIN Guide’s Point Of View

Courtesy of The Restaurant at Meadowood's team, this approachable retreat is already highly regarded and rightly applauded as a Napa mainstay. It presents a rustic method to dining that centers on hearth-roasted food, and the beautifully restored room’s design and large tables seem to promote sharing platters of roasted beef ribs or broccolini. Their garden's bounty is on full display in a simple, but beautiful bowl of just-plucked veggies, bettered with a swipe of the savory fermented soy dip. The hearth is indeed the heart of this kitchen, and everything from mains to sides bears traces of the flames. Smashed then grilled into little coins, the potato tostones have a terrific char and smoky flavor-enhanced by the caramel quality of brown butter.