Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1002743
s u m m e r 2 0 1 8 | 5 7 OENOTRI Owned by Chef Tyler Rodde, Oenotri really has it all: delicious food, the finest olive oil, and a wine club offering some of Italy's best. Try the garden lettuce salad, seasonal pasta dishes, or any of the pizzas—and if you see truffles on the menu, run, don't walk, and grab a table! Pitch a tent outside and wait if you must, as Rodde has a knack for cooking just about anything with truffles. While you wait, savor a glass of Soave or Nebbiolo, or explore the Italian-focused wine list for unique offerings. Oenotri, 1425 1st St., Napa, 707-252-1022, oenotri.com COLE'S CHOP HOUSE An immediate Godfather vibe hits you the moment you walk through the door at Cole's, with its dim lighting, round leather booths, and darkened ambiance. Order the filet mignon, 21-day dry-aged New York strip steak, or cold-water lobster tail from Maine, but don't even think about leaving without trying the Yukon gold potato with gruyere gratin. Plenty of options are available from local boutique wineries, but if wine isn't your passion, try one of the popular whiskey flights. Cole's Chop House, 1122 Main St., Napa, 707-224-6328, coleschophouse.com The Philly cheesesteak at Protéa gets some Caribbean flavor with mojo-marinated prime rib, beer-battered onions, and blue cheese-caramelized onion aioli. PROTÉA Protéa, co-owned by chef Anita Cartagena and Dwayne Gosselin, has taken the culinary scene in Napa Valley by storm by cooking up Michelin-caliber food at affordable prices. The constantly shifting menu is exciting, fresh, and well-balanced, and during the roughly two dozen times I've dined at Protéa, a particular hallmark quality stands out: consistency. With Puerto Rico swimming in her veins, Cartagena uses her Caribbean heritage to serve favorites like bistec encebollado, spicy shrimp over bomba rice, and the best Philly chees- esteak sandwich outside of, well, Philly itself. Protéa also offers a collection of delectable wines, including winemaker Heidi Barrett's Primitivo rosé, to enjoy on the rooftop deck. Protéa, 6488 Washington St., Yountville, 707-415-5035, proteayv.com Oenotri's pizzas are baked in the restaurant's Neapolitan pizza oven. Steak at Cole's is served with traditional sides like white gulf prawn cocktail, an iceberg wedge with Point Reyes blue cheese dressing, and grilled asparagus. ■cr