Auberge du Soleil

General Notes

Michelin-star French restaurant at the Auberge du Soleil hotel near St. Helena. The hotel is situated atop a hill, and the views overlooking the napa valley are gorgeous. Unfortunately we came here for dinner in winter so we didn't really get to see a ton (it was very dark), but the overall ambiance was excellent. The food was overall pretty solid, the dishes can be a bit hit or miss but some of them (especially the squab, which unfortunately is only on the tasting menu) are really good. Very pricey experience and I'd say it's probably not worth it for the experience you get.

Dishes Tasted

• ★☆☆☆ liberty farms duck -- orange glazed endive, concord grape, walnuts, fennel, star anise sauce. This felt just okay, compared to some other duck I've had. The skin wasn't quite as crispy, and the meat itself felt a bit overcooked. The duck leg itself was meh.
• ★★☆☆ potato gnocchi -- wild mushrooms, pea shoots, parmesan nage. Overall pretty good, I'm not sure it needs the foam though.
• ★☆☆☆ petrale sole -- i don't remember this dish super well, but it was made with clams, bacon, and some kind of foam. Overall, it was just okay, the sole was pretty bland.
• ★★★☆ sauteed octopus -- yellow eye beans, fines herbes, gribiche. Super tender, sauteed well.
• ★★☆☆ apple cider doughnuts -- ginger compressed granny smith apples, calvados caramel shortbread struesel. Solid dessert
• ★★☆☆ roasted local lamb -- moroccan spiced carrots, jimmy nardellos, picholine olives, lemon confit. Excellent flavor combination. The flavor on the lamb is awesome. The lamb is a bit too rare and sometimes tough with the silver skin for me
• ★★★★ paine farm squab -- polenta tempura, castelvetrano olives, cavolo nero, rosemary jus. So tender + skin so crispy, amazing!
• ★★★★ veal sweetbread roulade -- poached pairs, brussel sprouts, bacon, almond, pomegranate. First time having sweetbread, it was incredible!
• ★★★☆ sauteed diver scallop -- chanterelles, spinach, sunchokes, mushroom sauce. Cooked very well, excellent flavor, just a bit too salty
• ★☆☆☆ california albacore crudo -- mandarin, avocado, santa barbara uni. Pretty meh, not the best crudo texture