900 Meadowood Lane (near Silverado Trail)
St. Helena
Tel. (707) 967-1205
Christopher Kostow is the Bay Area's newest four-star chef, and anyone who has tasted his food knows why. His combinations are precise, fresh and unique. For example: Perfect medallions of goat meat are poached in whey and served with barley, dollops of creamy goat cheese, a drizzle of fresh-pressed olive oil, and delicate grasses and mustard blooms plucked from nearby vineyards. The food is served in a casually elegant dining room with bucolic views. In warm weather, the outside terrace is a beautiful place to dine overlooking majestic redwoods, the Mayacamas Mountains, the golf course and croquet court.
Specialties: Tasting menu changes regularly but might include Wagyu beef cured in local pine; medallions of goat braised in whey; or lobster roasted in lime salt.
Dinner 5:30-9:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday
From four-star spots to cozy neighborhood joints, these are Michael Bauer's picks for the best in Bay Area dining.