Reviewed by Jessica Thornton and Blane Ellsworth…THE DINING DUO
When you walk into Rotisserie and Wine, you feel like you are coming over to your friend’s house for dinner. The lighting is just dim enough to make you look more attractive than when you arrived, and if you have to wait for your table, there is an inviting lounge area for you to relax with your friends while you watch Tyler tell his chef’s what to do.
The wait staff is dressed in button down flannels with jeans, and although the intention is to be hip and comfortable, we think they may have missed a beat. We personally don’t want to dine at a restaurant where we may be caught wearing the same outfit as our server.
The service was overly attentive, due to the fact that it was a Grand Opening; and of course trying to make an impression. Nonetheless we cannot be complimentary enough to Mariah and Maddy who brought us our food. Their sweet congeniality made the wait for the food to arrive much more bearable.
Our busser Luis made sure our water glasses were never empty and we had fresh plates with every serving.
At Rotisserie and Wine the music was loud and overbearing, at times, but evened itself out with the cool selection of Radiohead and Phoenix.
If you are visually challenged like myself the staff will supply you with reading glasses and a cool miniature mag light to look over the hard to view font on the menu. The font on the menu is bit off-putting, considering the average age of the Napa Valley diner is above 45.
Now let’s talk about the food, because that is why your are reading this, right? The service director, Corey, with experience from New York’s renowned Nobu, whose tall stature put off a friendly yet commanding vibe, dropped off the most delectable corn bread sticks to start off the meal.
They were delicious, decadent, and tasted like a cross between dessert and dinner. They are savory enough to start your meal, and sweet enough to finish it. Be careful, you could just eat enough of them to ruin your dinner – good thing they only serve you one per person. You don’t even need the divine honey butter that comes with it, but it helps, because butter always does!!!!
After the wonderful cornbread, that set our expectations high, we started off with a Charcuterie platter, McEvoy Olives, Kale Chips, and the Cheese Puff, and the Cheese Puff, and the Cheese Puff – wait, “did we repeat ourselves?” “Why yes”, We think we did, and we did because it was that phenomenal!! Bacon Morney, aged Villa Jack Cheese, and Chives. It was a pillow of heaven. We literally felt like we wanted to just dive into the Villa Jack Cheese and wrap ourselves in the Gougeres. The puff made us so dizzy our picture of it was way out of focus.
The Kale Chips were original, and Debbie from Napa thought they were the best thing on the menu. We, on the other hand couldn’t figure out whether it was burnt paper, or a Japanese concoction of dried seaweed. Hmmm, let us tell you this, just try it because you may like it, love it, or hate it.
Did we talk about the olives? Wait, there is nothing to talk about. To be fair the McEvoy olives were not available. We had a selection of local olives that were ok if they were free. The walnut pesto sauce was mediocre at best, and our advice would be to order an extra Cheese Puff.
Jessica thought the Charcuterie Platter was the best thing she has ever ordered at a restaurant. The presentation blew her socks off. There were small points of different types of local mustard, large presentation of beets, and the flavors of the duck pate was let me think, what is the word, velvety, smooth, mild, bold, significant, daring, and humble. Clap, clap Tyler Florence, you are brave and you deserve applause!
Second course please. We had French champagne from the wine list “here or there” meaning from the Napa Valley or somewhere else. A cute and trendy touch, yet courageous in the Napa Valley where for years so called wine connoisseurs would be offended by the mere thought of possibly imbibing wine from another region. We hail Rotisserie and Wine for providing their diners with this refreshing spin on wine choices!
We tried two of the house syrups. One of us felt the Meyer Lemon which was accentuated with Bar Keep Swedish herbs was tasty and original. We had mixed feelings about the Beet, Sour Apple, Black Pepper Syrup. While it had a sense of adventure… one of us wanted to spit it out while the other found it sexy and savory.
The restaurant’s General Manager, James, was encouraging us to tantalize our taste buds with these syrups. His engaging sweetness made us all the more excited to give them a try.
The one of us with vegetarian leanings was hoping for a richness in texture and hearty cheese flavor in ordering the Mac and Cheese, but found it disappointing and too oily….. The one of us with carnivore cravings found the lightness of it satisfying mixing well with meat.
The Rosemary Potatoes were bite sized and addictive and the Broccoli can make you feel better about yourself if you gorged on all of this comfort food.
Beef and Bones – the biggest, most amazing portion I have ever seen. If you are a marrow fan, which if you eat food you should be, then go to Rotisserie and Wine. YUM YUM YUM, and then you can take the bone home to your beloved pets. Order this dish with a side of the most delectable Grits that you can get. Peanuts that are baked like beans, with a nutty yummy flavor with leeks on top (lardo) don’t get scared off by the terminology, it is all “chef talk”
For dessert we shared a generous slice of chocolate cake with Chantilly. It was good but not great. We believe the dessert selection was lacking at best.
While we wanted some tea of which there was no selection, you can tell we found the espresso eloquently alluring.
Bottom line – the food was original and unique. It made you feel at home, but like you should be paying for something, because it was just “too good.” The entire experience stood out compared to most of the “California Cuisine” restaurants that are trying to make an impression.
The décor is some of the coolest we have seen. Intriguing chandeliers, different sterling silverware and monogrammed “hip” but yet professional flatware.
Right outside are inviting rockers and throws to invite you on a seasonal, delightful, Autumn Eve, and Tyler Florence’s presence didn’t hurt. We loved the vibe, the tables with no linen. and the down-home, comfortable feel that you get when you step in the door.
GO TO THE ROTISSERE! You can walk out of there feeling like you had a 5 star meal with the price of the Olive Garden. That is embarrassing to say, but true. An honorable and noteworthy reflection of the famed Tyler Florence….. It’s ULTIMATE!
Overall Grades….
Ambiance….. B…While the décor and rockers are extraordinary…. Ambient noise is abundant and the lock on the women’s restroom does not work properly.
Food…..B…. While the meat dishes are superb…. The vegetarian and dessert choices need to be as provocative as the wine list.
Price…. A…. Napa Valley diners will find Rotisserie and Wine’s prices most refreshing.
Service…. A-…. While our waiters excelled and the general manager warm and welcoming… the service manager was lacking in finesse.
