Martini House

Great place for a romantic dinner. Our waiter was very attentive and had great knowledge about the wine collection. Food was fantastic: delicous duck and amazing steak! Wine pairing was awesome! Would defintely go back for more! Pros: Fantastic food and wine more

Had dinner at Martini House for the first time and throughly enjoyed it!!!! We had a party of three and started with drinks in the bar. The bartenders were really friendly and a pleasure to talk with, not to mention the great drinks they made!!!! Went upstairs for dinner and had an incredible time. The hostess was friendly and the somm. was extremely helpful picking wines to accompany our dinner. My two companions had the tasting menu while I chose to dine ala carte. I love the fact that you dont HAVE to have everyone at the table do the tasting menu and if you would like you can order any of the tasting menu items, ala carte. Food was incredible and the service was not rushed but in fact a perfect pace. Would highly recommend Martini House to anyone visiting the valley!!!!!! Pros: bartenders and drinks, service, food more

We planned our company's annual luncheon at Martini House and made reservations over a month in advance. Upon our arrival, on Dec 15th, we discovered that we had been seated OUTSIDE! Imagine the surprise. We were surrounded by emtpy metal tables, with no chairs, a giant heater blasting hot air onto the head of the table, and a lovely view of not only the entire heating system, but also a construction crew taking measurements right next to me, and then proceeding to have a meeting in the courtyard about 10 feet from our table. What lovely ambiance. The reason we chose Martini House was for the experience and ambiance one gets when INSIDE the restaurant. Our table seemed thrown together, and even though I confirmed the number in our party 36 hours in advance, the table was set for three too many - and the extra place settings were never removed from the table. It's really a shame, because the food was wonderful. Clearly these folks need to rethink accepting parties in the winter months. The final straw was when management apologized for putting us outside, offered a round of drinks to us while they tried to work something out, and then charged us anyway. Even when we pointed this out, the floor staff's only reply was, "" Yeah, we should have comped that."" Ugh! Everyone in the party had been to the restaurant before, and the experience was so under par for our expectations, I fear they have lost all of us as future customers. Pros: Food is great Cons: Can't handle larger parties more

I have had lunch at Martini House twice while visiting wine country. Both lunches were excellent. The atmosphere is pleasant and the seating is comfortable. The halibut entree was both healthy and delicious. We had an early lunch at 11:30 AM on our most recent visit, and enjoyed some french press coffee and fresh squeezed juice before ordering food and wine. The service was good on both visits. The only drawback is the price. Lunch entress were in the high 20s. The $15 glass of Schramsberg Mirabelle was delicious, but I could have bought an entire bottle of it at the winery for just $5 more. It may be the high prices that have made other reviewers here leave unsatisfied. Still, the quality is high and the restaurant is an esquisite large property, so I can understand the mark-up. I would happily return again, hopefully for dinner. Pros: food, atmosphere Cons: expensive more

I recently tried Martini House for the first time and was appalled by the horrendous service and overpriced food. I was seated on the inner corner of the stairwell where during the course of the meal, several waiters bumped into me and my chair. My server recommended the duck to my date who could not eat it as it was extremely sweet. I tried it too, and it honestly tasted like a pancake with syrup. I don't like to make a fuss, but I expect any half decent waiter to show a little intuition when they see their guests clearly not enjoying their food. She did not care at all that my date had not touched her food, she was too busy with the group of four behind us who looked like they would tip more, and had it cleared away and brought us desert menusRidiculous!!! Pros: Atmoshphere Cons: Service, Food, Price more

Eight of us recently had dinner at Martini House-it was magical. We sat outside and had a fabulous meal. If you are looking for a quintessential Napa experience, this is it. Our only complaint was that we asked the sommelier to pick out two moderately priced wines-a pinot and a chardonnay. She began by picking a $75 chardonnay. Everyone in the group are experienced wine tasters but felt that $75 was not moderate for a bottle of chardonnay-it would have been an appropriate suggestion if it were only two of us there for a very special occasion but not for such a large group. Once we shot down her suggestion, the sommelier deserted us leaving us to our own devices. Our recommendation if you do not want to spend an arm and a leg on wine is to bring a nice bottle of wine and pay the $20 corkage fee. Pros: food, ambience Cons: sommelier's attitude more

Martini House has a great combination of food, service and ambience. They have the best cream of mushroom soup and sonoma duck breast that melts in your mouth and for dessert I recommend the warm rum tapioca. The portions are pretty big so you can savor the flavor and be satisfied. The romantic ambience and the friendly and attentive staff makes this restaurant a destination in itself when going to the Napa Valley. Pros: Food, Service, Good Parking more

Great food, great service, fun atmosphere! Great wine selection. The cauliflower mushroom appetizer was great. Duck was wonderful. I recommend this as one of the best. more

Had to wait 15 minutes for a table even though had reservations. Don't bother with their specialty drinks and just stick to wine. While my Ahi Tuna was very plain and rather blah, my husband's duck was excellent. Just have to know what to order. more

aybe we weren't playing by the rules as diners at Martini House. After a full day touring wineries, our wed hit our limit for alcohol and excess calories. So, we committed what appears to be a cardinal sin: we didn't order wine or dessert. Our waiter was not amused. After the sixth time he bumped my wifes chair, we knew there was a problem. Yes, I know this is hard to believe, but there really was no other explanation his actions. Fuming, my wife left her seat after finishing her meal--then I dealt with trying to get the check from the waiter. That task took 15 minutes. How was the food? Quite good, really, but not stellar. The atmosphere? ""Upscale rustic"" best describes it. The wine list IS extensive. Dozens of wines in the $50+ category, many much more expensive, and even a short list of $25 bottles. Pros: food Cons: , cost more

I've been to Martini House twice, and both times have been phenomenal. The staff, from the hosts to the bartenders to the wait staff, are knowledgable, helpful, and very friendly. The food is simply incredible -- on my last visit I had the most amazing peanut butter cookies (of all things) I've ever tasted. The outdoor seating area is perfect for a summertime dinner. I could rave on and on about this place...it's become one of my all-time favorite restaurants. Pros: the food!, the service!, the ambiance! more

We had a wonderful time here during our Napa Valley vacation. We hit a number of top-rated places, and this spot was among the best. Food was awesome and the setting was nice, though not perfect. My Sonoma Duck Breast was to die for and both the soup and salad where excellent. I can understand those who complained about the downstairs, it is not the place to eat. Definitely try to be upstairs, it was lovely. Our service was excellent...our waiter was attentive, helpful, and cheerful and the sommelier offered wine help soon after we sat down. The prices were not outrageous and are to be expected for this level of cuisine in Napa. Pros: Food more

We requested a seat by the fire for our anniversary. I had at least four interactions with the people there and they said they would do their best. I understand a request is just that a request. When we arrived for a 7:30 reservation both tables were seated and did not empty until 9:00pm. Had the hostess or management made an effort to seat those tables early it may not have been an issue. Moreover when we walked in there were other tables for two available. The rest of the dining experience was O.K. I was just disappointed that a request for a special occasion was given so little attention. Pros: Ambiance, Food, Wine List Cons: Apathetic Hostess, Service more

We went to the Martini House for lunch on a trip to Napa. This restaurant is off the main street in St. Helena. We had the best meal we have had in a long time. If we lived near by wed probably go once a week. The service was amazing the place is charming. On our way out we walked downstairs through the bar. It seemed like a really cool place to hang out for a drink at night. If we were there longer then one night we would of come back. I would highly recommend this restaurant!! more

First of all, we dined downstairs. So were not sure if we would have gotten a different experience upstairs in the main dining room. One word...SERVICE, beyond slow, unattentive and unpersonable. And there was a somewhat strong chemical based odor that interfered with our wine enjoyment. The food was good, we all had a variety of items from the menu. Prepared well, but not exciting. Would most likely not go back, mostly due to service. Pros: simple cuisine Cons: service more

A group of us had dinner here on a Mon night to celebrate a birthday. Hostess was not friendly, server was unaccomadating, food was mediocre and seating was uncomfortable.Cream of mushroom soup was the only thing that made dinner worthwhile. more

We live in the valley and this is our favorite restaurant. The food is inventive and everchanging. Great winelist! more

Two of us had lunch on a Sunday, a little late, and it was not crowded. The food was very nice, though not stellar. One desert, a lime parfait that came with the very reasonable fixed price lunch, was delicious, creative, and more than a little twisted (I mean, avocadoes?). The facilities are fabulous, surprisingly understated given Pat Kuleto, the designer. The lilly pond with two inquisitive koi was a nice touch. As others have commented the pre-meal champagne push is more than a little tacky. Overall the wine list is huge and reasonably priced, so offering expensive champagne like that is a turn-off. The bar downstairs is a classic -- and be sure to view the mural in the bar's men's room. Trust me. Pros: decor, creative menu, outdoor seating Cons: a little pricey more

The atmosphere was pleasant. Outdoor seating, cozy downstairs. If you weren't seated near the open kitchen conversation was possible. If you do get seated near the open kitchen be prepared to be distracted. Nice wine list - but pricey for the area. Very limited menu which was very heavy on the seafood. There was only one beef entree on the menu. The portions are VERY small in comparison to what you pay. It's worth a one-time visit but I won't go back. There are plenty of other places to go in the area that are a much better value. Pros: nice atmosphere, attentive staff Cons: limited menu, seafood heavy, small portions! more

A pretty little lodge/food temple that makes those nippy Napa Valley nights go down easier. Downstairs feels like a really upscale yet old-world tavern, and service is super-friendly despite the 'hot' label and pressed-in crowds that often makes a staff a touch surly. My favorite strategy is to sample as many little dishes as you can--the appetizers just seem more intriguing and are super-flavorful. Their outside areas are also beautiful--can't wait to see it in better weather! Pros: attractive, great cuisine, celeb chef Cons: 'hot', crowded more