This was the most expensive meal I've ever eaten, but it was mostly my fault for getting confused with the menu. $309 before tip. We did the tasting menu with an additional up charge of $75 to get the ribeye as opposed to a steak made of mushroom. Beet salad was fresh but bland and very small to share. The pasta was the best part. Both the Gnocchi and the Putanesca were delicious. The ribeye, however, was good in parts, but was severely under seasoned, and had a lot of gristle veins. The dessert was basic and nothing to write home about. I'm even more bummed bc we don't have enough left to go to the Bear for brunch tomorrow. Should have looked more closely at the Google reviews and 4.3 rating. š¢
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Anisha Cronin
The atmosphere was calm and welcoming. However, our table was seated near a tree and my head often fought with the branches. This struggle was not solved by the staff so we moved the large plant out of the way. The restaurant wasnāt crowded with many other seating options however none were offered. The food was lack luster. The pasta either the crab ( which was fishy - likely from the a broth used as the crab by itself was very good) or the gnocchi (which had the texture of mashed potatoes rather than a potato dumpling) were both disappointing. For the next course we got the ribeye to share- and it was just a meat course with no vegetable or starch. The meat itself was likely sous vided to temp and then only light (very lightly) seared. There was little taste and just not desirable. Lastly the lemon shortbread dessert was layered with a grainy lemon mousse and graham cracker crust- not pleasant. Overall would not recommend. The price was similar to much nicer restaurants. If this is a training environment then the prices should reflect it.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Michael Block
The culinary equivalent of a beauty school haircut... Our group of 10 arrived on time in 2 separate Ubers. One group was less than 5 min ahead and seated when the 2nd group arrived. Less than 1 minute after joining the group, the server brings bread, cheese and salad which is all of the "appetizers" on the pre-fixe menu.
When I kindly explain that we haven't even ordered drinks, the server said, "I was told to bring these out". OK, so ALL the first 3 courses are served in the first 5 minutes. It got MUCH worse. After a long wait for drinks (which was actually OK), we get 3 entrees "family style". The rib eye was sliced wrong, against the grain and fatty. Pretty awful. Fish was a rockfish (cheap skinny 'garbage' fish) in a clam butter sauce that just was terrible. And the Lions Mane mushroom steak was decently OK, but the only thing that was. Only side dish (no vegetables) was a "bean puree" that was OK, but tasted like a can of bean dip. Gourmet? No. Awful? Yes. Bad service? 100%. Overpriced? $90pp + $45 for truffles we didn't order + drinks + 23% forced gratuity? Ridiculous. Not 1 of our adult group of 10 enjoyed it. We spoke with the manager and she defensively said, "we don't ever hear complaints on our ribeye". Zero apology for a terrible experience and a big drain on the wallet.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
J. Medeiros
Good fine dining experience. Open, well lit modern layout with a tiny, full bar, and a good, local wine list. Service was friendly, though a visible kitchen staff was just standing, looking bored with her pinky in her mouth. The Foccacia was had interesting flavors. The Gnocchi with Oxtail Ragu had good flavor but was chewy.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Liliana Simmons
It is a very good place and a terrific tax deduction. All the money made goes to the CIA students.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wee Khim Lee
Was here for Valentineās Day long weekend and came here after reading some good reviews. It is a nice location by the bank of the Napa River and next to the Oxbow Public Market. The service is good and the place exudes a calm sophisticated ambiance. The garden/farm outside adds a nice touch. The weekend we were there the restaurant only offered a prix fixe menu which was a little disappointing as we were looking for a little more variety. Nevertheless the choices all looked decent. The bread was good, and the salad tasted very fresh. The salami was so-so. We tried all 3 types of pasta and they were all fine. None of the protein add-ons (mushroom, clams, ribeye) sounded great so we didnāt order those. The dessert (layered chocolate cake) was not great. Overall an enjoyable experience with food selection/quality below expectation.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Jared Kassan
We went on 2/15 and maybe my fault for not realizing they would force a pre-fixe menu on me for āValentines Weekendā. But pretty much everything on the pre-fixe menu was not good. Focaccia with olive oil and salt you would think is something impossible to mess up but they somehow messed it up. The salad was way too bitter. The oxtail gnocchi was okay. The fudge chocolate dessert was gross but Iām not a big chocolate person so could be just my own taste buds.
Brittnay Williams
We dined on v-day, were not told about the pre fixed menu on the phone, but they were gracious and allowed my son to order an ala carte item. Our service was so sparse, it was amusing (25 minutes to get drinks). I asked about our food (45 minutes) it came and was cold (crab spaghetti), my husbandās $40 steak never came but was on our bill at $0.00c so clearly it was put in but never fired. I brought this up to our server and we received a shoulder shrug and an apology. Really, really disappointed.
The people were really sweet & gracious, just seemed their sequence of service was off and they couldnāt keep up.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Chris Arakawa
Overall the restaurant is very nice and service was great! The waiter was very helpful and gave us great info and history on the CIA and its founding.
I ordered the rigatoni with guanciale and the sauce was good and the pasta handmade. The serving size was small but the dish was rich so no complaints. Unfortunately, the guanciale was crazy tough and while I expected the dish to be salty (cooked with cured meats etc), it was possibly the saltiest dish I have ever had at a restaurant. Really a disappointment seeing as the place was so well regarded. I'll need to give it another try sometime.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Anne Beyer
Amazing service. Everyone was warm, inviting and attentive. Food was beautiful and bright!
Nestled very close to downtown Napa, the Groove truly embodies the farm-to-table concept, and it does so with remarkable flair. From the moment you step inside, the warm and inviting atmosphere sets the tone for a delightful dining experience.
The menu is a celebration of local produce, featuring ingredients sourced from their own garden. Each dish is a testament to the freshness and quality of the ingredients used. Service was implacable as well! Overall, The Groove is a gem for anyone who appreciates delicious, wholesome food with a commitment to sustainability. Whether youāre a local or just passing through, this restaurant is a must-visit for a satisfying dining experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Meg E
Came for brunch and WOW, so worth it! We tried a lot of things. The brioche was out of this world. My jammy eggs had the best sauce that I borrowed my husbandās bread to mop up. Service was friendly and helpful. Enjoyed our mimosas. Such a treat!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggs Benedict, Breakfast
Anthony Riha
Excellent setting, professional and friendly staff...
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Garden
Angus Wu
This restaurant brings a taste of Paris to Napa Valley, combining great food and ambiance. Ideal for a memorable, unique dining experience in a beautiful setting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amy Charlett
Had some great wine and martinis. Bartender Sam was so friendly!
This was the most expensive meal I've ever eaten, but it was mostly my fault for getting confused with the menu. $309 before tip. We did the tasting menu with an additional up charge of $75 to get the ribeye as opposed to a steak made of mushroom. Beet salad was fresh but bland and very small to share. The pasta was the best part. Both the Gnocchi and the Putanesca were delicious. The ribeye, however, was good in parts, but was severely under seasoned, and had a lot of gristle veins. The dessert was basic and nothing to write home about. I'm even more bummed bc we don't have enough left to go to the Bear for brunch tomorrow. Should have looked more closely at the Google reviews and 4.3 rating. š¢
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
The atmosphere was calm and welcoming. However, our table was seated near a tree and my head often fought with the branches. This struggle was not solved by the staff so we moved the large plant out of the way. The restaurant wasnāt crowded with many other seating options however none were offered.
The food was lack luster. The pasta either the crab ( which was fishy - likely from the a broth used as the crab by itself was very good) or the gnocchi (which had the texture of mashed potatoes rather than a potato dumpling) were both disappointing. For the next course we got the ribeye to share- and it was just a meat course with no vegetable or starch. The meat itself was likely sous vided to temp and then only light (very lightly) seared. There was little taste and just not desirable. Lastly the lemon shortbread dessert was layered with a grainy lemon mousse and graham cracker crust- not pleasant. Overall would not recommend. The price was similar to much nicer restaurants. If this is a training environment then the prices should reflect it.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
The culinary equivalent of a beauty school haircut... Our group of 10 arrived on time in 2 separate Ubers. One group was less than 5 min ahead and seated when the 2nd group arrived. Less than 1 minute after joining the group, the server brings bread, cheese and salad which is all of the "appetizers" on the pre-fixe menu.
When I kindly explain that we haven't even ordered drinks, the server said, "I was told to bring these out". OK, so ALL the first 3 courses are served in the first 5 minutes. It got MUCH worse. After a long wait for drinks (which was actually OK), we get 3 entrees "family style". The rib eye was sliced wrong, against the grain and fatty. Pretty awful. Fish was a rockfish (cheap skinny 'garbage' fish) in a clam butter sauce that just was terrible. And the Lions Mane mushroom steak was decently OK, but the only thing that was. Only side dish (no vegetables) was a "bean puree" that was OK, but tasted like a can of bean dip.
Gourmet? No. Awful? Yes. Bad service? 100%. Overpriced? $90pp + $45 for truffles we didn't order + drinks + 23% forced gratuity? Ridiculous. Not 1 of our adult group of 10 enjoyed it. We spoke with the manager and she defensively said, "we don't ever hear complaints on our ribeye". Zero apology for a terrible experience and a big drain on the wallet.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Good fine dining experience. Open, well lit modern layout with a tiny, full bar, and a good, local wine list. Service was friendly, though a visible kitchen staff was just standing, looking bored with her pinky in her mouth. The Foccacia was had interesting flavors. The Gnocchi with Oxtail Ragu had good flavor but was chewy.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
It is a very good place and a terrific tax deduction. All the money made goes to the CIA students.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Was here for Valentineās Day long weekend and came here after reading some good reviews. It is a nice location by the bank of the Napa River and next to the Oxbow Public Market. The service is good and the place exudes a calm sophisticated ambiance. The garden/farm outside adds a nice touch. The weekend we were there the restaurant only offered a prix fixe menu which was a little disappointing as we were looking for a little more variety. Nevertheless the choices all looked decent. The bread was good, and the salad tasted very fresh. The salami was so-so. We tried all 3 types of pasta and they were all fine. None of the protein add-ons (mushroom, clams, ribeye) sounded great so we didnāt order those. The dessert (layered chocolate cake) was not great. Overall an enjoyable experience with food selection/quality below expectation.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
We went on 2/15 and maybe my fault for not realizing they would force a pre-fixe menu on me for āValentines Weekendā. But pretty much everything on the pre-fixe menu was not good. Focaccia with olive oil and salt you would think is something impossible to mess up but they somehow messed it up. The salad was way too bitter. The oxtail gnocchi was okay. The fudge chocolate dessert was gross but Iām not a big chocolate person so could be just my own taste buds.
We dined on v-day, were not told about the pre fixed menu on the phone, but they were gracious and allowed my son to order an ala carte item. Our service was so sparse, it was amusing (25 minutes to get drinks). I asked about our food (45 minutes) it came and was cold (crab spaghetti), my husbandās $40 steak never came but was on our bill at $0.00c so clearly it was put in but never fired. I brought this up to our server and we received a shoulder shrug and an apology. Really, really disappointed.
The people were really sweet & gracious, just seemed their sequence of service was off and they couldnāt keep up.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Overall the restaurant is very nice and service was great! The waiter was very helpful and gave us great info and history on the CIA and its founding.
I ordered the rigatoni with guanciale and the sauce was good and the pasta handmade. The serving size was small but the dish was rich so no complaints. Unfortunately, the guanciale was crazy tough and while I expected the dish to be salty (cooked with cured meats etc), it was possibly the saltiest dish I have ever had at a restaurant. Really a disappointment seeing as the place was so well regarded. I'll need to give it another try sometime.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Amazing service. Everyone was warm, inviting and attentive. Food was beautiful and bright!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Nestled very close to downtown Napa, the Groove truly embodies the farm-to-table concept, and it does so with remarkable flair. From the moment you step inside, the warm and inviting atmosphere sets the tone for a delightful dining experience.
The menu is a celebration of local produce, featuring ingredients sourced from their own garden. Each dish is a testament to the freshness and quality of the ingredients used. Service was implacable as well!
Overall, The Groove is a gem for anyone who appreciates delicious, wholesome food with a commitment to sustainability. Whether youāre a local or just passing through, this restaurant is a must-visit for a satisfying dining experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came for brunch and WOW, so worth it! We tried a lot of things. The brioche was out of this world.
My jammy eggs had the best sauce that I borrowed my husbandās bread to mop up. Service was friendly and helpful. Enjoyed our mimosas. Such a treat!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggs Benedict, Breakfast
Excellent setting, professional and friendly staff...
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Garden
This restaurant brings a taste of Paris to Napa Valley, combining great food and ambiance. Ideal for a memorable, unique dining experience in a beautiful setting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had some great wine and martinis. Bartender Sam was so friendly!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
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