The Restaurant at Meadowood

Absolutely one of my favorite dining experiences on our trip. You must make reservations and you must dress well. We saw a guy and his date get stopped at the door because he was wearing shorts and running shoes. But what made the whole situation amazing was the restaurant staff some how got the guy some pants to wear. That just the level of customer service you can expect. We had the fire side snacks and arrived early so they let us sit out in the deck to enjoy the sunset and a cocktail. The fire side snacks were amazing. They were servrd in 6 cources I believe.

Christopher Kostow is a creative genius backed by a seasoned kitchen staff. We were amazed with this rare discovery during our first visit in Feb. 2014, but the real proof of the pudding was in the second encounter. We were not disappointed this year (Apr. 2015) and actually felt the overall experience was better than last year. The unassuming Chef Kostow graced us with his presence at our table and invited us to his kitchen. He is very innovative and each tasting course was a visual and sensory surprise. Freshness was the order of the evening. Service was outstanding and friendly (thank you Olin and dining room staff). We have frequented several Michelin one, two and three star restaurants in France and discovered Meadowood to be on a par if not superior in its own right.

One of the best fine dining experiences in the Bay area. Kitchen seats will get you insights on how the restaurant operates and the way your plates are prepared and curated. Spots are extremely limited (4 per night) especially for the weekends. Advance reservation beyond a month is necessary.

For us the food is so important and here it was beyond our expectations! Loved the Wagu beef, Marys chicken and forbidden rice! The breakfast choices were incredible as well! My favorite is the eggs Benedict...Can't wait to return.

Was here for a friend's wedding and given that it's one of two Michelin star restaurants in the bay area, expectations were high... and met. Food was excellent, service was what you'd expect and the location makes it unique (although the heat that day was blistering). Highly recommended.

Oh my word! My sweetheart got us a reservation at the Chef's Table in the Kitchen, and were we ever treated to every conceivable delight the restaurant has to offer!? I'm really sorry I can't tell you much, as things were very rapid-fire as staff brought one thing and then another, and we were treated to bits of delightfulness that were "extra" of what went out to the tables in the dining room. This place is worthy of the most special occasion, and I was extremely fortunate that my significant other wanted to share an evening with me, and The Restaurant at Meadowood. Just look at these photos and try not to find your mouth watering!

Wholeheartedly deserves all three of its Michelin stars. Unlike other restaurants of this caliber that I have visited the restaurant at Meadowood focuses on presenting ingredients in their whole and nearly complete form. The creativity and effort that goes into each dish is stunning. Service operated like a highly coordinated and well-oiled machine. The parking can be a bit difficult if there is another event like a wedding taking place at the same time. Plus tax and tip a bit over $700 makes this a place that I will only visit once every decade or so but I'm glad that I came.

We had dinner inside the kitchen and got to see the disciplined team work and skilled chefs working side-by-side. The best part was perhaps actually engaging with the waiters and cooks as they were all stellar people with interesting backgrounds. We had fun conversations alongside excellent food. The atmosphere of having dinner inside the kitchen is special and I've only done this at Alexander Steakhouse before in the past when they were still doing it. Head and sous are also very involved with their craft, was totally involved the whole time with perfecting each dish... Would definitely recommend due to fine dining and service.

I've been to the Meadowood twice and it continues to be a Yountville favorite. The restaurant focus on quality over quantity with thoughtful dishes driven by fresh ingredients. We attended one of their 12 days of Christmas holiday dinners featuring guest chefs. The meal was fabulous, integrating flavors from the guest chef with favorite Meadowood classics.

An elegant and incredible dining experience. The creativity, presentation, hospitality, and overall atmosphere was an absolute delight and left a memorable impression. I can’t wait to return!

Attended their 12 Days of Christmas dinner on Day 7 with Chef Yoshi Takazawa from Japan. A fabulous Christmas gift to myself. Must try dinner experience if you are a foodie. Will definitely return to try their tasting menu. Some highlights below.

First time in 2017 was a magical three-hour journey, ending with an invitation to tour the kitchen and meet the talented chefs. Wow. Back in 2019 - still love it just as much. Can’t wait to come back 2 years later.

My third Michelin 3 star and prob my favorite so far. All is amazing here with my favorite being he smoked wagyu and rhubarb dessert. Well deserved 3 stars!

A truly special experience. One of the best meals I have ever had, and truly world class service. A spectacular restaurant.

😋 So amazing from start to finish! It's like a fairytale storybook meal come to life. Impeccable but not stuffy service. MAGNIFICENT!

Amazing fine dining. Honestly one of the best experiences you’ll thoroughly enjoy when it comes to all of the small details. Can’t wait for this place to come back!

Best meal you'll ever eat. Wine pairings are perfect!

Micheál Ó

Oh my word! My sweetheart got us a reservation at the Chef's Table in the Kitchen, and were we ever treated to every conceivable delight the restaurant has to offer!? I'm really sorry I can't tell you much, as things were very rapid-fire as staff brought one thing and then another, and we were treated to bits of delightfulness that were "extra" of what went out to the tables in the dining room. This place is worthy of the most special occasion, and I was extremely fortunate that my significant other wanted to share an evening with me, and The Restaurant at Meadowood. Just look at these photos and try not to find your mouth watering!

Bill S

Wholeheartedly deserves all three of its Michelin stars. Unlike other restaurants of this caliber that I have visited the restaurant at Meadowood focuses on presenting ingredients in their whole and nearly complete form. The creativity and effort that goes into each dish is stunning. Service operated like a highly coordinated and well-oiled machine. The parking can be a bit difficult if there is another event like a wedding taking place at the same time. Plus tax and tip a bit over $700 makes this a place that I will only visit once every decade or so but I'm glad that I came.

Monty Griswald

We had dinner inside the kitchen and got to see the disciplined team work and skilled chefs working side-by-side. The best part was perhaps actually engaging with the waiters and cooks as they were all stellar people with interesting backgrounds. We had fun conversations alongside excellent food. The atmosphere of having dinner inside the kitchen is special and I've only done this at Alexander Steakhouse before in the past when they were still doing it. Head and sous are also very involved with their craft, was totally involved the whole time with perfecting each dish... Would definitely recommend due to fine dining and service.

Rachael Vaughn Ray

I've been to the Meadowood twice and it continues to be a Yountville favorite. The restaurant focus on quality over quantity with thoughtful dishes driven by fresh ingredients. We attended one of their 12 days of Christmas holiday dinners featuring guest chefs. The meal was fabulous, integrating flavors from the guest chef with favorite Meadowood classics.

Trips By Tricia

An elegant and incredible dining experience. The creativity, presentation, hospitality, and overall atmosphere was an absolute delight and left a memorable impression. I can’t wait to return!

Kar Wing Ho

Attended their 12 Days of Christmas dinner on Day 7 with Chef Yoshi Takazawa from Japan. A fabulous Christmas gift to myself. Must try dinner experience if you are a foodie. Will definitely return to try their tasting menu. Some highlights below.

Keira Chu

First time in 2017 was a magical three-hour journey, ending with an invitation to tour the kitchen and meet the talented chefs. Wow. Back in 2019 - still love it just as much. Can’t wait to come back 2 years later.

Tuan Pham

My third Michelin 3 star and prob my favorite so far. All is amazing here with my favorite being he smoked wagyu and rhubarb dessert. Well deserved 3 stars!

Don Burns

A truly special experience. One of the best meals I have ever had, and truly world class service. A spectacular restaurant.

Epicurious

😋 So amazing from start to finish! It's like a fairytale storybook meal come to life. Impeccable but not stuffy service. MAGNIFICENT!

Marcos M

Amazing fine dining. Honestly one of the best experiences you’ll thoroughly enjoy when it comes to all of the small details. Can’t wait for this place to come back!

Brandon Burton

Best meal you'll ever eat. Wine pairings are perfect!

There is a reason The Restaurant at Meadowood has been awarded 3 Michelin stars. The food is as creative and dynamic as their team. The entire staff was exceptionally friendly, professional and seemed to enjoy the experience as much as their guests. The food and wine was an absolute delight. Each serving presentation was as unique as the dish itself. The servers were very creative and authentic in their delivery and explanation of each course. The food and service, accompanied by the ambiance and decor, are the reasons I look forward to returning to The Restaurant.

My wife and I came to Meadowood for our anniversary. Our first night we ate at "The Restaurant". We enjoyed a multi-course meal with wine pairing that was outstanding! The small bites were imaginative and all from the restaurants own farm. I don't eat eggplant, but I did this particular night and it was fantastic. I didn't want to be inconsiderate to our dining partners. Wow! perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Clearly Chef Christopher Kostow is a talented chef. Eating at restaurants offering gastronomic fare can get tiring. Chef Kostow's farm to table fare is a wonderful change. Especially since the food is sooooo wonderfully prepared. The Koji souffle' was a perfect desert to close out the dining experience. Should you find yourself in the St. Helena area and want to have an outstanding meal at a world class location, dine at The Restaurant at Meadowood. Thank you chef Kostow. Service was first rate! The wait staff was attentive at the right moments without being invasive. Polite and professional in every manner. Each course was delivered with perfect timing and at a pace not to rush the evening. Due to Covid-19, our table was located to an outside venue in a private area with wall to wall lawn and an outdoor fireplace. The tables were more than adequately spaced allowing a feeling of safe environment and private conversation. Honestly, my wife and I enjoyed the outdoor dining more so than indoor. The service was “outstanding” and went well beyond expectations.

Michael Kavanaugh

My wife and I came to Meadowood for our anniversary. Our first night we ate at "The Restaurant". We enjoyed a multi-course meal with wine pairing that was outstanding! The small bites were imaginative and all from the restaurants own farm. I don't eat eggplant, but I did this particular night and it was fantastic. I didn't want to be inconsiderate to our dining partners. Wow! perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Clearly Chef Christopher Kostow is a talented chef. Eating at restaurants offering gastronomic fare can get tiring. Chef Kostow's farm to table fare is a wonderful change. Especially since the food is sooooo wonderfully prepared. The Koji souffle' was a perfect desert to close out the dining experience. Should you find yourself in the St. Helena area and want to have an outstanding meal at a world class location, dine at The Restaurant at Meadowood. Thank you chef Kostow. Service was first rate! The wait staff was attentive at the right moments without being invasive. Polite and professional in every manner. Each course was delivered with perfect timing and at a pace not to rush the evening. Due to Covid-19, our table was located to an outside venue in a private area with wall to wall lawn and an outdoor fireplace. The tables were more than adequately spaced allowing a feeling of safe environment and private conversation. Honestly, my wife and I enjoyed the outdoor dining more so than indoor. The service was “outstanding” and went well beyond expectations.

Peter Wehbe

There is a reason The Restaurant at Meadowood has been awarded 3 Michelin stars. The food is as creative and dynamic as their team. The entire staff was exceptionally friendly, professional and seemed to enjoy the experience as much as their guests. The food and wine was an absolute delight. Each serving presentation was as unique as the dish itself. The servers were very creative and authentic in their delivery and explanation of each course. The food and service, accompanied by the ambiance and decor, are the reasons I look forward to returning to The Restaurant.

This was my first Michelin 3 star experience, and the dinner was really good overall. After a few amuse bouches, our meal started with surf clam (gwai fei pong at Chinese restaurants) with avocado and lardo. I loved the flavor combination as avocado and lardo added a nice richness to the clam. My only complaint about this dish is that the surf clam was minced up. I really think it would've been more interesting if the clam meat was cut into large, thin slices, because the surf clam's natural firm texture would've created a nice contrast with the softer avocado and lardo. The little mini brioche that accompanied the clam was also pretty fantastic. It had a rich and buttery flavor, but it was still soft and fluffy. Mmmm so good. My favorite dish of the night was the abalone on smoked peppers and eggplant. The abalone was perfectly tender and not rubbery at all. There was no hint of fishiness, and its delicate sweetness was complimented by the fragrant smoke in the peppers, eggplant, and brothy sauce. I really enjoyed the execution of the dish as well. The crisp sides of the abalone with the soft eggplant and runny sauce created really deep layers of textures. I kinda wish the dinner was just multiple servings of this course. The poultry and vegetable broth was also surprisingly good. While some thought it was too salty, I liked its boldness, and it had a strong umami flavor. The vegetables gave it a balanced sweetness, but I'm not sure if the bee resin did anything. I've never had bee resin before, so I wasn't sure what to look for. What would really take this broth to the next level would be a little ginseng. Maybe it's my Chinese taste buds, but I think just a hint of ginseng bitterness would've added some more complexity and balance to the broth. Regardless, it was still really tasty. I think the only other memorable dish was the brillat savarin cheese, which was the last of the savory courses. It's very rich, creamy, savory, slightly salty, but not very sour which I liked. I can't say I cared that much about the handmade rye bread (Tartine's country loaf tastes better), but the cheese was delicious. The rest of the dinner was either weird or underwhelming. There was this strange cereal dish in the middle of the meal that felt out of place. It was various grains in Oaxacan corn flavored milk. Maybe I'm just not sophisticated enough to appreciate its inclusion, but I didn't like it. The pork collar and squab courses also didn't feel very special. They were served with their typical complimentary fruits like figs and berries. I thought the seafood courses were way more delicious and creative. While not everything was perfect, there were some very memorable courses that made the experience worthwhile. Yay Meadowood.

Fantastic wine and food collections. The staffs were very cordial in nature. The ambiance was very cozy and friendly. I loved the dishes which we tried out there. A must visit place for all.

Now I know why this place got its third star. The food was great. I still remember my reaction when I took the first bite of the Japanese horse fish dish. It was that good. The service was excellent. Our waiter knew exactly how to be attentive without being intrusive. What's not to like? OK maybe the decor wasn't so hot. But then I'm not into interior design. As long as a restaurant's got good food and good service, I really could care less about the decor. And Meadowood definitely nailed it in both categories.

$225 for a 12 course tasting menu dinner. Reservations are not easy because the restaurant is very small and intimate. The food is made from a lot of local ingredients and very creative. The mash potato and caviar dish is my favorite and simply explode in your mouth. Service was very good but with a few hiccups here and there. They do have an onsite sommelier that talks about different wines and does a great job.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere at the 3 course bar tasting and hope to return for dinner in the dining room one day. The bar was quite interesting considering that it is a 3 Michelin star restaurant. I really wanted to love this experience but it was marred by one of our friends who wanted to drink wine which was quite good, but the cocktails seemed far more interesting as there were many handmade flavored liquors in evidence and the barkeep was very knowledgeable. I did enjoy the food, but again hypercritical comments marred this aspect as well. Great service and nice memoir food gift at the end. Hope to return in the future.

The definition of a 3-star Michelin is "exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey". Unfortunately the Spring '19 menu did not meet this high bar, and it is with some consternation that I write this less-than-perfect review, because our experience here was quite wonderful. So let's begin with all that the Restaurant had done right -- the ambiance, the location, and especially the SERVICE. The Restaurant at Meadowood is itself nestled within the resort, up a short but scenic tree-lined drive. The gate man, the valet, the host were all very friendly and attentive, and we were promptly ushered into a calming and serene location -- exposed wood, solid stone, leather chairs, perfectly placed lighting, Zalto glasses, and even a faux tree. The service staff was superb, wonderful (but also appropriate) wine recommendations by the Somm, followed by a consistent and delicate dance of 6 plates hitting the table within 10 seconds during each of the 16+ times they were served and subsequently cleared -- mesmerizing to watch. Also important, taxes and gratuity are included (and the staff helpfully mentioned this again at the end of the meal), saves one from the anxiety and mental gymnastics of calculating a living wage subsidy, guilty of not doing it properly, or the regret of overdoing it. TL;DR: this place was fancy a-f, and tasteful at it. But alas, the crux of Michelin's guide (which navigated us here), is one based in cuisine, and the majority of the dishes left something to be desired. The theme, for the Spring '19 menu, is likely one rooted in ingredients, farm-to-table, hyper-local, [insert buzzword], there is no presentation, no flair, no frills, no pizzazz -- which is something we have grown accustomed to with Michelin "destinations" -- a Disneyland for your mouth; a Broadway play for your palate. This ... was much more simple. Perhaps zen? Prior to the meal, a basket of fresh vegetables was brought out -- perhaps the same that went into our dishes? We were not sure. On asking why the asparagus is white, the presenter just rehearsed the same line (but I Googled it -- it was because it was sun/chlorophyll deprived -- by growing completely submerged in soil or covering with a tarp, the result is a more fibrous and milder ... asparagus). The dishes were brought out one by one, properly spaced, interjected with the few bottles of aptly paired wines we had ordered. However, few were particularly memorable: 1. the salad roll tasted... green; 2. the baby potatoes tasted... like my garden potatoes; 3. the beignet chestnut had a good texture; 4. the miso oyster nasturtium (a perennial weed) was fresh; 5. the white asparagus was cooked and chilled to perfection, the pacific rock crab and wild onion flavorful; 6. the escabeche of broccoli clams tasted of al dente broccoli, and fine textured clams; 7. the caviar smoked tendon cultured butter sabayon was DELICIOUS, like a perfectly integrated red wine it just all melded together -- this was the single dish we probably came for; 8. abalone and cabbage, meh; 9. local sole cover crop, meh; 10. duck tea followed by pekin duck, had much better in Beijing, the risotto (specifically noted that it was made with CA rice! i.e. Cal-rose which accounts for more than 90% of rice consumed in the US?) was on the salty side and did not quite showcase the duck; 11. the slow cooked pork collar, interesting kohlrabi texture but taste was lacking; 12. black truffle veined blue cheese with beeswax pear and charter oak bread -- this screamed "lazy chef", the blue cheese completely overpowered any truffle aroma, olfactory or taste; 13. yogurt cultured with almond blossoms rhubarb sorrels - not sure what the almond flowers did for this dish, but the presentation was somewhat pretty, tasted like yogurt; 14. bay leaf ice cream with a chocolate ball over a bay leaf sprig - good and unique ice cream flavor, perfect texture; 15. last bites - cute box, but snacks were reminiscent of Asian grocery store knick knacks. In sum... good food? Yes. "Exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey?" No.

For our 20th anniversary we chose 20 of the best restaurants in the Bay Area. Meadowood is clearly one of the best, but not 5 stars for both of us. Meadowood is definitely at the top end of high-end restaurants, and the man at the gate assumed we were heading to the grill when we pulled up in our 15-year-old Minivan for dinner. Certainly that was a safe assumption considering the cost of a meal here. Meadowood is exactly what you expect from a top quality restaurant. Everything about the experience is polished. After the meal we were even invited to tour the amazing kitchen and found out that you can have a special meal in there! We had a huge variety of dishes, many of which were the best of their kind among all the great restaurants we have been to. Like others have mentioned in their reviews the desserts are not quite up to par with the rest of the meal. The Oil Oil Pudding we had was great, but the candied garden was not special. Why not 5 stars? Certainly the meal and experience at the restaurant were 5 star quality, however my wife had severe stomach issues after the meal. She often had stomach issues after these large tasting menus, but this was beyond that. I had no issues at all, and the meal had so many different items that impossible to know what the problem was.

Millie Kwan

I really enjoyed the atmosphere at the 3 course bar tasting and hope to return for dinner in the dining room one day. The bar was quite interesting considering that it is a 3 Michelin star restaurant. I really wanted to love this experience but it was marred by one of our friends who wanted to drink wine which was quite good, but the cocktails seemed far more interesting as there were many handmade flavored liquors in evidence and the barkeep was very knowledgeable. I did enjoy the food, but again hypercritical comments marred this aspect as well. Great service and nice memoir food gift at the end. Hope to return in the future.

Anthony K

The definition of a 3-star Michelin is "exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey". Unfortunately the Spring '19 menu did not meet this high bar, and it is with some consternation that I write this less-than-perfect review, because our experience here was quite wonderful. So let's begin with all that the Restaurant had done right -- the ambiance, the location, and especially the SERVICE. The Restaurant at Meadowood is itself nestled within the resort, up a short but scenic tree-lined drive. The gate man, the valet, the host were all very friendly and attentive, and we were promptly ushered into a calming and serene location -- exposed wood, solid stone, leather chairs, perfectly placed lighting, Zalto glasses, and even a faux tree. The service staff was superb, wonderful (but also appropriate) wine recommendations by the Somm, followed by a consistent and delicate dance of 6 plates hitting the table within 10 seconds during each of the 16+ times they were served and subsequently cleared -- mesmerizing to watch. Also important, taxes and gratuity are included (and the staff helpfully mentioned this again at the end of the meal), saves one from the anxiety and mental gymnastics of calculating a living wage subsidy, guilty of not doing it properly, or the regret of overdoing it. TL;DR: this place was fancy a-f, and tasteful at it. But alas, the crux of Michelin's guide (which navigated us here), is one based in cuisine, and the majority of the dishes left something to be desired. The theme, for the Spring '19 menu, is likely one rooted in ingredients, farm-to-table, hyper-local, [insert buzzword], there is no presentation, no flair, no frills, no pizzazz -- which is something we have grown accustomed to with Michelin "destinations" -- a Disneyland for your mouth; a Broadway play for your palate. This ... was much more simple. Perhaps zen? Prior to the meal, a basket of fresh vegetables was brought out -- perhaps the same that went into our dishes? We were not sure. On asking why the asparagus is white, the presenter just rehearsed the same line (but I Googled it -- it was because it was sun/chlorophyll deprived -- by growing completely submerged in soil or covering with a tarp, the result is a more fibrous and milder ... asparagus). The dishes were brought out one by one, properly spaced, interjected with the few bottles of aptly paired wines we had ordered. However, few were particularly memorable: 1. the salad roll tasted... green; 2. the baby potatoes tasted... like my garden potatoes; 3. the beignet chestnut had a good texture; 4. the miso oyster nasturtium (a perennial weed) was fresh; 5. the white asparagus was cooked and chilled to perfection, the pacific rock crab and wild onion flavorful; 6. the escabeche of broccoli clams tasted of al dente broccoli, and fine textured clams; 7. the caviar smoked tendon cultured butter sabayon was DELICIOUS, like a perfectly integrated red wine it just all melded together -- this was the single dish we probably came for; 8. abalone and cabbage, meh; 9. local sole cover crop, meh; 10. duck tea followed by pekin duck, had much better in Beijing, the risotto (specifically noted that it was made with CA rice! i.e. Cal-rose which accounts for more than 90% of rice consumed in the US?) was on the salty side and did not quite showcase the duck; 11. the slow cooked pork collar, interesting kohlrabi texture but taste was lacking; 12. black truffle veined blue cheese with beeswax pear and charter oak bread -- this screamed "lazy chef", the blue cheese completely overpowered any truffle aroma, olfactory or taste; 13. yogurt cultured with almond blossoms rhubarb sorrels - not sure what the almond flowers did for this dish, but the presentation was somewhat pretty, tasted like yogurt; 14. bay leaf ice cream with a chocolate ball over a bay leaf sprig - good and unique ice cream flavor, perfect texture; 15. last bites - cute box, but snacks were reminiscent of Asian grocery store knick knacks. In sum... good food? Yes. "Exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey?" No.

Vincent Sartor

For our 20th anniversary we chose 20 of the best restaurants in the Bay Area. Meadowood is clearly one of the best, but not 5 stars for both of us. Meadowood is definitely at the top end of high-end restaurants, and the man at the gate assumed we were heading to the grill when we pulled up in our 15-year-old Minivan for dinner. Certainly that was a safe assumption considering the cost of a meal here. Meadowood is exactly what you expect from a top quality restaurant. Everything about the experience is polished. After the meal we were even invited to tour the amazing kitchen and found out that you can have a special meal in there! We had a huge variety of dishes, many of which were the best of their kind among all the great restaurants we have been to. Like others have mentioned in their reviews the desserts are not quite up to par with the rest of the meal. The Oil Oil Pudding we had was great, but the candied garden was not special. Why not 5 stars? Certainly the meal and experience at the restaurant were 5 star quality, however my wife had severe stomach issues after the meal. She often had stomach issues after these large tasting menus, but this was beyond that. I had no issues at all, and the meal had so many different items that impossible to know what the problem was.

We were expecting to be wowed, but were underwhelmed. Service was impeccable and the space is fantastic, but none of the dishes or the paired wines stood out nor were memorable. For this amount of money in a place that’s lauded by all the critics, we would expect more amazing flavors and a more creative presentation of the dishes.

This used to be my favorite 3 starred Michelin restaurant. Just recently had dinner here for my birthday and comparing to the last time I was here around this season 4 years ago, I'd have to say that I am somewhat disappointed. Everything was prepared and executed well with fresh quality ingredients as it should be since it is a 3 star Michelin but seems more like a 1 or 2 star restaurant instead. Nothing was too overpowering or too salty or too sweet which is good, but this time I didn't see as much innovation, creativity, or heart as I did 4 yrs ago. None of the dishes really stood out except maybe the first single bite amuse bouche of the savory beignet and maybe the first fish dish. I was getting sick of the 3rd raw/cured protein tasting. Textures were one-noted, I wish there was some crunch or something charred/grilled. There was this banana foster dessert without the banana on top, instead they used an eggplant (this might be considered creative but I miss the actual banana flavor!) otherwise the icecream and whiskey caramel sauce were delicious. Since it was my birthday, the card and special bday treat at the end were a nice gesture but we never received any menus to take home like the waiter had promised us when we were first seated. Last time I was here, we were given menus by the end of the meal and I couldn't get enough of one of the best desserts I have ever eaten of all restaurants which was such an amazing magical original combination of flavors of pandan leaf, toasted rice, lime, apples, and carrot malt all in a glass to drink. Why can't they do something incredible like that anymore? Seriously I was so disappointed and we were also taken back to the kitchen, lots of young cooks working hard...really what you are paying for is a lot of staffing and dish washing with well cooked but average tasting food. Food was good and nothing in particular we disliked, but not GREAT which is what should be expected for the price and the rating of this Michelin restaurant. They did try different combinations of ingredients and flavors but really nothing special. I would have rather had authentic home cooked meals by my family or eaten at some ethnic mom and pop hole in the wall. Guess I was just dreaming of my previous experience years ago which is why I had to come back. Sorry just not worth it and I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anyone especially if I wouldn't go back there. I almost felt uneasy there too with all the staff kind of acting and putting on a show from a script. Sometimes some people want to be left alone without small talk and other times it's appropriate, all that just felt too forced and overbearing. We understand you want our table for the next guest, we really didn't need to see the kitchen, just don't forget to give out menus

One of the most beautiful dining rooms and kitchens I’ve ever had the pleasure dining in. The dining room faces out into the Forrest and you really get he feel for cuisine which focuses on foraging for ingredient in the area. Service was top notch, staff were very friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. Wine and cocktail list was extensive. The food however was lacking in my opinion. I can’t fault the execution or technique but the flavor combinations for many of he dishes we not to my liking. And the foraged ingredients....some should have stayed in a the forest. I do understand the philosophy and concept of foraging, but if the produce isn’t up to standard or unavailable from foraging, I’d rather source from farmers and producers instead of risk sticking to foraging for the sake of it. But then again this was my first time dining in a restaurant whose focus foraging and may have unreasonable expectations before coming here.

Brandon Teo

One of the most beautiful dining rooms and kitchens I’ve ever had the pleasure dining in. The dining room faces out into the Forrest and you really get he feel for cuisine which focuses on foraging for ingredient in the area. Service was top notch, staff were very friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. Wine and cocktail list was extensive. The food however was lacking in my opinion. I can’t fault the execution or technique but the flavor combinations for many of he dishes we not to my liking. And the foraged ingredients....some should have stayed in a the forest. I do understand the philosophy and concept of foraging, but if the produce isn’t up to standard or unavailable from foraging, I’d rather source from farmers and producers instead of risk sticking to foraging for the sake of it. But then again this was my first time dining in a restaurant whose focus foraging and may have unreasonable expectations before coming here.

This is a hard review to write, because on our first experience I would have surely given a five star rating, consistent with its Michelin stars. But, sadly our second experience was anything but five star worthy. The staff, quite contrary to what we have previously experienced, was not accommodating and verged on being rude. I must also point out that the waiter we had had at a previous visit recognized us and went out of his way to come welcome us. So perhaps we had a few people on a bad night, but bad nights aren’t supposed to happen at Michelin three stars at those prices. Plus, we had talked guests into joining us because we had raves about the service. We were, to say the least, disappointed and a bit embarrassed. Perhaps worst, my wife wrote a thoughtful note to the Resturant describing our experience, not expecting any accommodation, but assuming we’d get a response. But nope, not a word. Too bad. A sad indication of decline??? Perhaps they can handle 2, but 6 was not good.

Incredibly disappointing. We dined here maybe a year and a half ago and where blown away. We insisted our group of friends try it on our return visit and deeply regret it now. The menu started out ok with Loads of vegi options but ended with a thud of toast and cheese. The entire group was disappointed with the meal and wondering what we paid for and hard to grasp the grand finale was toast.

Went here for both my girlfriends birthday and mine. The presentation, the service and the beauty of the place was 5/5. The food looked AMAZING! My girlfriend didnt finish half of the meals from the chef's 16?13? course tasting menu. Overall for the price I thought I was going to be blown away, but was not. You can tell the vegetables and the produce used in the meals were of the highest quality, but just the food made was truly 1/5 stars in terms of TASTE only. I was really disappointed. I would absolutely avoid, never would I come again.

osh “elul21”

Went here for both my girlfriends birthday and mine. The presentation, the service and the beauty of the place was 5/5. The food looked AMAZING! My girlfriend didnt finish half of the meals from the chef's 16?13? course tasting menu. Overall for the price I thought I was going to be blown away, but was not. You can tell the vegetables and the produce used in the meals were of the highest quality, but just the food made was truly 1/5 stars in terms of TASTE only. I was really disappointed. I would absolutely avoid, never would I come again.

I want to warn you all, my fellow fine diners, about my horrible experience at Meadowood. With so many fine dining and casual dining options in the Napa Valley, I strongly urge you all to look elsewhere for your culinary needs or else risk the same problems I had during my visit and subsequent communications with management. In a nutshell, my wife and I went to dinner with our friends [another couple] and all of us disliked EVERY COURSE of food. Nothing was even close to appealing except the tea cookies that came with one of the dessert courses. For over $1400 for the four of us without any alcohol, this is simply unacceptable. Please bear in mind that we frequent Michelin starred restaurants and understand how great food tastes [we had been at the French Laundry the night before which was tremendous and also Epicure in Paris three weeks earlier which was also marvelous - as any establishment with THREE Michelin stars should be]. The fact that not one of us liked any of the numerous courses of food is almost hard for us to believe and we left the restaurant in shock that we all felt the same way. After reflecting on our evening, I had my travel concierge reach out to the restaurant’s management. Meadowood’s assistant director, Chitra Samanta, proceeded to tell him that my group was intoxicated and argued with each other outside. Yes, you are reading this correctly - instead of addressing the bad food - they went after us personally. After some simply questions from my concierge, Chitra admitted that her staff said we had not had any alcohol with our meal, that they had not addressed the alleged intoxication with us, and that we had not made any staff or restaurant guests uncomfortable. They just “felt that way” - basically trying to cover up/divert from the issue at hand. At this point, I called Chitra and spoke with her myself. I calmly relayed our disappointment and addressed each of their unfounded issues with our party [it is ridiculous that we were put in this situation in the first place when it was a problem with the food!]. She agreed to speak with the head chef and restaurant director about what she called “your side of the story.” A few hours later I received an email [not even a phone call] stating that they were not going to do anything about our negative experience. Instead, the email insituated that our palettes were not up to par with their food!! Unbelievable! It is clear to me that Meadowood cares more about keeping our money than doing ANYTHING to resolve this horrible situation. They insulted our characters with baseless claims of intoxication and poor behavior, which are totally false. FOOD LOVERS BEWARE! DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY AT MEADOWOOD!

We planned a very special meal for my in-laws’ 44th wedding anniversary and took them to the fine dining restaurant at Meadowood. We assumed this would be a lovely evening and exceptional meal considering the high ratings and the premium pricing - we were VERY wrong. The meal was awful! Each dish, starting from the first bites (amuse bouche) were texturally wrong and bizarre tasting. Even though, when asked by the servers if we were enjoying the meal, we honestly told them that the seasoning and flavors were not right, we were charged full price at the end of the night and were never offered any alternatives or any compensation of any kind. Even a very modest self-respecting restaurant would offer to bring you food of some kind that you would enjoy! No such thing happened here. We were thoroughly underwhelmed at the quality and overall flavor of the meal, and ultimately we felt so bad that the anniversary dinner for my in-laws was ruined! We will NEVER be able to recommend this restaurant. We have dined around the world at some of the finest establishments, including The French Laundry (which is comparable in price), and we have truly never experienced a meal that was this bad - absolutely inedible - and SO expensive. Unless you enjoy soapy, burnt-tasting food, you’ll be wildly disappointed and seriously regretting the purchase.

My husband made Valentines plans for us to stay at the resort, and to dine in the restaurant. We were told that only the bar area was available, despite being resort guests. He assumed we would be seated at a table in the bar area. We were literally seated at the bar for dinner..... only viewing the bartender and bar!! No ambience, or Valentine’s theme. He spent over 500 dollars for small bites of chef creations! It was absolutely ridiculous ...... so bad that I never plan to return to this restaurant again. Btw.... the dessert on V/day was butternut squash cake!!!! Pathetic. We were not told the menu prior to dinner. Given the resort, we assumed it would be good. So not true!!

I usually vote with my feet and just not return to a restaurant where I have have had a bad experience but felt I should warn other unsuspecting diners that Meadowood is an outrageous ripoff. I can't speak to the dining room experience but we were arriving in late and opted for the 3 course tasting at the restaurant bar. First off understand that they force you to eat at the bar - force is not too strong a word as we asked to moved from the bar to empty tables in the bar areas twice (due to drunk patrons coming into the bar and ordering scotch over my shoulder). Each time they refused and refused in a snooty and pretentious way. Keep in mind this is a $520 prepaid non-refundable three course tasting menu. Why they wouldn't move us and get us away from the noise in the Rotunda and the drunk scotch drinkers is beyond me. The courses were minuscule and we left there hungry and angry at the experience. I shared our frustration with the bar manager and his response was come back and we will do better next time - but didn't have the decency to comp our pre-dinner cocktails. With so many great choices for excellent food in Napa - steer clear of this restaurant - you have been warned.

Mixed review of the Grill, not the restaurant. On the deck was excellent, chicken soup was the best ever. Menu was limited and they could not get my hamburger even close to OK. They took it back three times, no go. Fries were good, servers couldn't be nicer. No charge for the burger.

As a guest of Meadowood (a beautiful 5 star resort) I was shocked and stunned at the lack of creativity and quality of the dishes. The food was awful, came out on similar plates for each meal and flavors were bland. Very disappointed and wouldn't be surprised to see the restaurant lose it's Michelin rating.

Not a good experience. Very high priced, which we don’t mind for a truly incredible dinner. But this was not. The chef’s main course was cow heart... disguised as “Wagyu beef”. They weren’t up front with what it really was. So if you want to spend thousands of dollars for a dinner of organ meat, this is the place for you! Worst dining experience I’ve ever had.

Our meal at Meadowood was comically bad. My wife is allergic to fin fish -- fish with a backbone. I explained this when making the reservation, and was told the kitchen would be happy to accommodate. When we arrived for dinner, the staff had no knowledge of this information, so we went over it again. Our server explained during the fish course, my wife would receive a "share plate." That confused us, so we asked what the "share plate" was. "Well, since you can't eat fish, during the fish course you'll get a share plate." "Yes, but what's on this 'share plate'?" we pressed. Clearly uncomfortable, our server clarified, "Oh, it's just an empty plate. Because she can't eat what's being served." It seemed ridiculous that at a three-star restaurant, after being told they'd be happy to accommodate this allergy, we learn that the way they accommodate the allergy is just to serve an empty plate. What's even more ridiculous, however, is that on the subsequent chicken course, they served my wife and then spooned a sauce all over the chicken, and then explained it was an anchovy-based sauce. They almost poisoned my wife and we avoided a trip to the hospital only because we keenly paid attention to what they were saying as they served us. Quickly, the chicken was removed, and out came the share plate. I have to wonder, why is it called a "share plate"? If they're not going to serve my wife any food, and she's allergic to what's served to the other guests, what sort of sharing do they anticipate?! The service was untrained in other ways less likely to cause a visit to the hospital. For example, at a three-star restaurant, I don't expect to have to help the staff clear the table after each course. It was interesting, though, when I was explicitly asked to pass down plates to other guests or pick up used utensils, so that the staff doesn't have to walk the full length of the table. I wrote a letter to the restaurant director about this experience. Never heard back.

David Baker

Our meal at Meadowood was comically bad. My wife is allergic to fin fish -- fish with a backbone. I explained this when making the reservation, and was told the kitchen would be happy to accommodate. When we arrived for dinner, the staff had no knowledge of this information, so we went over it again. Our server explained during the fish course, my wife would receive a "share plate." That confused us, so we asked what the "share plate" was. "Well, since you can't eat fish, during the fish course you'll get a share plate." "Yes, but what's on this 'share plate'?" we pressed. Clearly uncomfortable, our server clarified, "Oh, it's just an empty plate. Because she can't eat what's being served." It seemed ridiculous that at a three-star restaurant, after being told they'd be happy to accommodate this allergy, we learn that the way they accommodate the allergy is just to serve an empty plate. What's even more ridiculous, however, is that on the subsequent chicken course, they served my wife and then spooned a sauce all over the chicken, and then explained it was an anchovy-based sauce. They almost poisoned my wife and we avoided a trip to the hospital only because we keenly paid attention to what they were saying as they served us. Quickly, the chicken was removed, and out came the share plate. I have to wonder, why is it called a "share plate"? If they're not going to serve my wife any food, and she's allergic to what's served to the other guests, what sort of sharing do they anticipate?! The service was untrained in other ways less likely to cause a visit to the hospital. For example, at a three-star restaurant, I don't expect to have to help the staff clear the table after each course. It was interesting, though, when I was explicitly asked to pass down plates to other guests or pick up used utensils, so that the staff doesn't have to walk the full length of the table. I wrote a letter to the restaurant director about this experience. Never heard back.