Gatehouse Restaurant

I had the best ceviche I ever had on our visit on November 6, 2025. It was stunningly presented and contained a lot of very fresh seafood not all of which I can remember, but it was presented in a coconut sauce with dots of green oil (pumpkin maybe) and topped with a baked or fried slice of plantain balanced on top. There were also nasturtium leaves placed around the ceviche and it was beautiful to look at as well as eat. I followed up with stuffed roasted quail, also beautifully presented and prepared and my husband and I both finished with a delicious passionfruit cheesecake. My husband had little pieces of lamb filets with a variety of vegetables for his main course, roasted to pink perfection and again the presentation couldn't have been more appealing. Most of the greens and the mini peppers and tomatoes we saw growing in the huge vegetable garden all around the restaurant and the Culinary Institute. We were also grateful that the professor who was in charge of that particular evening's students (I think he was their hospitality prof) made it possible for us to have dinner there that very evening, even though the restaurant was fully booked. Kudos to the students of the CIA. They are certainly set up for a successful career in hospitality and, of course kudos to their teachers. Bravo!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We had the absolute pleasure of dining at Gatehouse and our servers Kenji and Jordan were absolutely amazing. They made us feel so special and made it such an enjoyable date night for my husband and I. Each course was beautifully curated, the students were very knowledgeable, and the menu was amazing. We even got to tour the back kitchen and meet the head chef. We can't wait to come back and dine again!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Well deserved 5 star rating! Amazing food, fun atmosphere, and unique experience. Kenji and Jordan were great servers for us, treated us very well, and showed us around the kitchen at the end - great job guys!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This is a must visit! New dishes with several options.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We come here every year at least twice. It is our favorite destination for food because the students have a lot of excitement about what they do and are very willing to share life stories with us. That is our favorite part. The food is tremendous. The service is even better.

This is a student operated restaurant associated with the Culinary Institute of America. The menu selections were limited, but each one we had was excellent. There is a limited wine selection as well. The prices were very reasonable.

The students really know their business of running a restaurant. We felt like we had a Michelin star meal and experience! The food was beyond delicious, the service was impeccable and the ambiance was perfect.

Not big on Mexican food. Great to talk to the students about the school, food and their ambitions

Fortunate to have the Gatehouse in our community... a "culinary journey" that is a must try!

Everything was wonderful. Our server Kelsey was absolutely amazing! She had answers to all our questions and was very engaging and pleasant to talk to. We will definitely come back on our next visit to Napa/Sonoma

Great atmosphere, great food and lovely interactions with the students.. always a pleasure to have dinner here.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This is an experience! Not only is the food as excellent as you would expect, but the ambiance is phenomenal. All I can say is treat yourself and don't miss out on an unforgettable experience.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

They say the CIA is the Harvard of culinary schools. I’d respectfully disagree and say that not only is it the Harvard, but it’s also the Hogwarts of culinary schools.

First reaction from the first bite was: Oh. My. God. You can’t beat dishes that hit every taste bud and give you savory, umami, sweet, bitter, smoky, and nutty. This meal was the best meal of our Napa trip by a long shot (the other reviews before mine about this being a James Beard level experience are no joke). We had the Mexican-themed meal and my girlfriend and I are not fans of Mexican food in general. Despite this, we loved every single dish and polished each plate. Suddenly, Mexican food was our favorite. Every component was intentional and worked to give the dish balance. Many ingredients are grown right on the campus that you can see walking around and are used in the dishes. At one point we were given sauces to complement our 2nd and 3rd courses. We whined and complained when the waiter took the sauces away before our dessert course because we wanted to finish them. Literally wanted to eat them on their own. The flavors just danced and stimulated our palates like few meals have, and we’ve been around NYC and Philly restaurants for quite some time.

Service and ambiance are amazing and flawless like the other reviews so won’t belabor the point. Timing, pacing, attention to detail and needs of diners, all on point and are Michelin level. The students involved are those passionate enough to stay in their schooling this far in so the effort and care is there.

If I REALLY had to critique something, and this is pulling hairs, it would be the squash blossom dish. The textures weren’t our favorite on the tlacoyo for us (again, not too familiar with Mexican food so this may be our lack of understanding/appreciation) and the flavor/seasoning was a little flat compared to the other dishes. Still giving 5 stars because the experience was that good.

If you are a foodie and/or appreciate fresh, quality ingredients and the culinary process, this is for you. My girlfriend and I were genuinely sad when our dinner was over. We were also watching Next Gen Chef on Netflix so this experience was just the perfect/fitting end to our Napa vacation. I could keep going but no one wants to hear my rambling anymore. Just come.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Absolutely Awesome! So great to be able to support the CIA students and have a fabulous meal at the same time. Creative & High Quality

Fantastic experience with students running both back and front of the house. This month's menu was a fine dining take on Mexican cuisine- a great taste! Dress code is advertised as business casual but we saw crocks and sweats unfortunately so seems anything goes for the attire but the staff is trying to provide an elevated experience. Highly recommend!