Cuvee Restaurant

Cuvee is a romantic restaurant located in Napa that has an eclectic menu of “new American favorites”. On my first visit, I made sure to make a reservation after hearing good reviews from friends. When we arrived, our table was not quite ready, but with the cozy atmosphere around the bar area, I did not mind a small wait. Fifteen minutes later our table was ready and we were seated inside the dining room which had an alluring mix of modern and rustic décor, and plenty of candlelight to set the mood. The main dining room had a wall that was completely open to the adjacent private courtyard that made the room feel more expansive, and still intimate.

Our server was friendly, although service was slow. It was a weekend, and the dining room and the patio were both packed, so I assumed that they must be just understaffed on a busy night. We ordered appetizers, which were delicious—crispy duck lettuce cups with stir-fried vegetables and hoisin glaze ($13).

We had to ask again for a drink that was ordered when we were seated, and it came after we finished the appetizer, which has disappointing. I also had to ask for silverware after my main course arrived.

The food, however, was anything but disappointing. For my main course I ordered the Potato Wrapped Salmon ($22.50) with herbed orzo pasta in a citrus butter sauce. The salmon was fresh and flaky and paired beautifully with the crispy potato coating the fish, and the tender orzo pasta was mildly flavored with fresh herbs. My husband tried an assortment of gourmet sausages and grilled vegetables, which were very flavorful and quite a unique main course.

Cuvee has live music every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30. They have half priced cocktails and drafts on Mondays thru Fridays from 4-7pm, and no corkage fees on Wednesdays. They can also accommodate large parties on their patio and dining room for the holidays.

I enjoyed the food immensely, which compensated for the poor service and I would definitely recommend this restaurant. Although, you may try a week night or earlier in the evening to ensure better service.

Cuvee Restaurant is located on Soscol Avenue next to the River Terrace Inn. Visit

www.cuveenapa.com for more information.

Written by Karen