The Bistro at Auberge du Soleil

Every since I moved to Hong Kong, seeing friends from the US has not been nearly as easy. Add on top of that a two (going on three) year pandemic, I truly cherish any chance I have to see old friends.

My best friend from college lives in San Francisco. Back when I lived in Boston we managed to see each other almost annually. However, since Covid, it’s been years since I’ve seen her. So, when the opportunity to meet in Napa materialized, I was determined to find a really nice place for our lunch. After all, she was the one driving over an hour to meet me. The least I could do was treat her to a nice lunch. Key requirements: good food and phenomenal views.

The Bistro at Auberge du Soleil, the more casual outpost of the very famous Michelin starred Restaurant Auberge du Soleil.

Auberge du Soleil is a collection of ultra luxury resorts with locations around the world. In Napa, the more famous Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil (which has one Michelin star) is often booked out solid for weeks on end. It’s difficult to book at the last minute, especially during peak season on a Saturday. However, I was thankful that the Bistro at Auberge du Soleil was much easier to book. Better yet, it also has a lovely terrace and shares equally stunning views of the valley.

Smoked Salmon Tartine, fromage Blanc, lemon - $17.00, Oysters on the Half Shell $4.25 each — The food is a bit more casual, with some seafood starters, salads, soups, flatbreads, sandwiches, and the like. It’s a small menu, but everything seems to be made with high quality, fresh ingredients. It’s perfect for lunch, in my opinion.

Starters to Share

Smoked Salmon Tartine, fromage Blanc, lemon - $17.00

Main Course

Grilled Yellowfin Tuna, little gem lettuce, pickled ginger, abovado, soba — For my entree, I had a Japanese inspired grilled yellowfin tuna ”avocado toast” with little gem lettuce. On the side was a small bowl of soba noodles with scallions and pickled ginger.

Fish of the day (halibut), claims with bacon, carrots, — My friend enjoyed the pan-seared ”Fish of the Day”, which was halibut, servied with clams, bacon, and carrots.

The weather was perfect and the views were breathtaking. We sat under the sun, enjoying fresh Californian food while catching up on conversations long overdue. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that good friendships are hard to come by, and they don’t develop overnight. I cherish my old friends, and I certainly cherished our lunch on this beautiful patio.

The food was fine. Not the best there is in Napa, but still pretty enjoyable. It’s a bit expensive for what it offers, but perfectly reasonable for a 5-star Relais & Chateaux resort.

At the end of the day, I was more there for the space and the environment. For that, the experience was top notch. The food was fine and the views were spectacular. After all, it’s hard to put a price on the ability to dine in that environment. Our lunch was special and memorable. I’d certainly come back again in a heartbeat.

Bistro at Auberge du Soleil Napa
180 Rutherford Hill Road
Rutherford, California

Starters to Share

Main Course

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