The 22 best places for people and crowd watching in St. Helena (2024)

My husband and I stopped here on our visit in Napa for our honeymoon. Every other place we went during the week was incredibly welcoming and made sure to congratulate us on being newlyweds. However, no one at charter oak did.Burger was good, although I wouldn’t say it’s the best in the valley.Trout was delicious, but a fairly small portion. The restaurant had a beautiful atmosphere.

We came there for our first dinner at Napa with high expectations about food, service and view. The price is high as expected, the view is romantic and cool when you stay outside. We waited for a while for entrees with a $20 salad appetizer...it was not bad, mix sauce every single leaf. We order half grilled chicken and shoulder pork chop with corn and rice. The food was good with even spices and smoky flavor. However the service was bad. It started well with friendly chat and order fast, after the appetizer came, no one came or stopped by to ask, then food came by another waiter, and continued our waiter didn't come to ask about either how food was or we needed to order more wine...until we finished and gave a check.It is the fine restaurant with good food but the service was not at the high level.Recommend for food, but up to you comes with luck with service.

Absolutely fantastic. There wasn’t a single item on the Legacy Menu that I didn’t at least love. The house made sourdough was perfect, better than Manresa Bread IMHO. And the chicken liver mousse? I’m generally not a huge fan - it’s fine, I’ll eat it. This though? Incredibly light, flavorful, and went perfectly as recommended with the Asian pears. My favorite though might have been the cabbage preparation, which was paired perfectly with the cracked wheat porridge and the steak. Would come back any day.

Delicious, chic, and super fun restaurant in wine country. We have been going to CO for lunch and dinners since they opened. It is also located in the middle of Napa Valley; when we go wine tasting is easier to have access to it without taking too much time on the wine tour. I love recommending this place to my guests, friends, and family, and it never disappoints us, and everyone always has the best time and delicious meal. Their Burger is a must, veggies in a bowl with a yogurt dipping sauce is stupid delicious. It is fun to order different items and share them with the family style. If you are looking for the best Napa offers, look no further; this is a place to dine and create memories.

Enjoyed a beautiful night here with my wife … the veggie is picked from its own yard, so fresh and crunchy. Of course its steak and wines are memorable, esp Red Rock TerraceRecommend first timers to try it out

I have to write unequivocally - amazing... and that word belongs to the place, the service and the great culinary experience that I had the honor to experience in your wonderful restaurant... I owe you a big thank you and I absolutely recommend it. I search in vain in my memory when and where I ate such a good meal ... wonderful....

The charter Oak restaurant is definitely an awesome, beautiful and posh restaurant to have lunch. The food, the service the ambience make a great lunchbox between tasting at multiple wineries. From the minute we walked in I knew this was going to be a great restaurant. Jessica, who was our waitress provided excellent service and the food was not only fresh but also delicious and savory.For anyone looking for a great lunch spot that is family style, outdoorsy, and very posh this is the place.

Amazing spread of options. The waiter was excellent and the food was great. We got three mains and split them all. The cheeseburger and short rib were awesome. For dessert, they've got a tequila cold brew that is worth a try.

On my first visit back to Napa Valley in a long time there was one place on my short list. The Charter Oak did not disappoint.You can’t go wrong sitting anywhere in the restaurant, I opted for the patio as it was a beautiful fall evening.The staff were super helpful and shared all sorts of personal insights about the food, wines and their origins. I even discovered a new wine maker that I am now obsessed with.The garden vegetables were delicious and I followed that with the pork collar which is reminiscent of Chinese spare ribs, sweet tangy and delicious.The concept is solid, the execution is on point and the team is top notch. If you have one meal in the area, you should give serious consideration to having it here.

Food: 3.5/5Service: 4/5Ambiance: 4/5Overall: A nice setting for a meal with good food.The extended review...Food: 3.5/5 -We did family style and amongst a group of 7. The food was decent but nothing really stood out to me. We ordered...StracciatellaAged Beef TartareSalad of Little GemsDurum Wheat BucatiniGrilled Smoked TomahawkSoft ServeChocolate TartService: 4/5 - We had a very attentive and friendly server.Ambiance: 4/5 - It's a very cute setting.

Really enjoyed the “library” vibe here. Great date spot for dinner. Unfortunately our waitress wasn’t great and hoped the food would make up for it but it didn’t. The Ceasar salad with the miso dressing and roasted corn 10/10. My steak was supposed to be well done and was bleeding. And bread was extra. Disappointed in that but it’s okay enjoyed the experience overall.

The Charter Oak in St. Helena offers a dining experience that artfully combines rustic charm with culinary excellence. During my visit, the standout dish was, without doubt, the whole duck grilled on an open fire. The aroma of the wood fire greeted us as we entered, setting the tone for a memorable meal.The duck itself was a masterpiece of flavor and texture. Cooked to perfection over the open flames, the skin was irresistibly crispy, while the meat retained a succulent tenderness that was deeply infused with smoky richness. Paired with thoughtfully selected seasonal vegetables, the dish was a celebration of Napa Valley’s bounty.The ambiance of the restaurant, with its warm lighting and comfortable seating, complemented the meal beautifully, creating an atmosphere that was both sophisticated and relaxed. Service was impeccable, attentive without being intrusive.The whole experience at The Charter Oak, punctuated by the unforgettable whole duck, left me thoroughly impressed. It’s a testament to the chef’s ability to elevate simple, high-quality ingredients into something truly extraordinary. A must-visit destination for any food enthusiast in the Napa Valley area.

This place is sensational! We were an hour early but the hostess still sat us. Our waitress (Ruby, I think) was so sweet and attentive. She had great recommendations, we enjoyed our meal immensely! The bread is UNREAL, what dreams are made of. We also had steak, seasonal veggies with dip and fries. Everything was superb! The ambiance is so cool, it’s moody but approachable. Perfect for a special occasion. We would come back in a heartbeat, highly recommend!

If I could give 7 stars, I would definitely do so for this upper crust eatery. I had the trout with a side of rice. I also had sourdough 🍞 bread that the starter was 45 years old. It was divine. Now first off every dish was nigh unto perfect. All of us enjoyed everything. The only downside was my waiter never refreshed my tea but we still tipped him very well. Be prepared to spend at least $25 even for a cheeseburger 🍔 and fries. A steak will set you back over 4 times that. Nonetheless, you're in Napa Valley country -- wine tasting, touring and shopping. So, a nicer restaurant like this is expected to be exactly as it is -- an unforgettably wonderful experience. Highly recommended.

I didn’t go into dinner planning to order the cheeseburger (especially knowing that this was a casual spot from Chef Christopher post TRAM), but it was highly recommended so O gave it a go. It didn’t disappoint; it was flavorful and juicy. If the fries were more crispy it would have been perfect. Nonetheless, we had a delicious dinner experience with our friends.

Ideally, I'd give this place a 3.5/5.The Charter Oak offers a beautiful setting and a menu that showcases high-quality ingredients. While the experience has its strong points, a few inconsistencies kept it from being a slam dunk.The restaurant's interior boasts a grand atmosphere. High ceilings and an open layout create a sense of airiness, while exposed brick (on the outside and plush seating add a touch of warmth. The dedicated meat-cooking area allows guests a glimpse of the culinary action and adds a touch of visual intrigue.We opted for a selection of dishes to share: the signature Charter Oak bread, the Flannery 14-day dry-aged ribeye with brown butter hollandaise, the black roasted cod with daylily pesto, and the upside-down cake for dessert.The bread and house-cultured butter were a clear winner. Warm and crusty bread paired perfectly with the rich, salty butter. However, the sides served with the bread were a bit overdone, offering a touch of unintended bitterness.The Flannery ribeye was a huge letdown. While cooked to a good degree overall, the silver skin remained somewhat tough, making parts of the meat chewy. Additionally, the lack of pre-emptive inquiry about our preferred doneness felt like a missed opportunity. The richness of the meat could have benefited from a touch more salt to complement the tangy brown butter hollandaise. For being the most expensive dish on the menu, this was a major letdown.The black roasted cod, on the other hand, was a triumph. The fish itself was cooked perfectly – crispy skin gave way to a juicy and delicate interior, expertly deboned for a seamless dining experience. The citrusy daylily pesto complemented the fish beautifully.The upside-down cake fell a bit short. While the cake itself was alright, the tartness of the yogurt overpowered the sweetness of the cake, resulting in an unbalanced flavor profile.The service was efficient and friendly. Our meals arrived promptly, and our server was attentive throughout the evening. However, neglecting to ask about our preferred doneness for the ribeye felt like a minor oversight in an otherwise attentive experience.The Charter Oak offers a beautiful dining experience in Napa Valley. The stunning ambiance, high-quality ingredients, and fast service make it a strong contender. However, some inconsistencies with the steak and the imbalance in the dessert detracted from a perfect experience. For those seeking a stylish setting with delicious, well-sourced options, The Charter Oak is still worth a visit but maybe steer away from the ribeye.

Our expectations were a little high for this place. The food was good. The pork dish was my favorite! The steak dish was tough and not that flavorful. I would visit in the future, but would select something else besides the beef.

If you're in Napa and looking for the perfect lunch spot on a winery day, Charter Oak is your spot. This place is absolutely beautiful and posh, making it an ideal stop between tastings.The tomato salad here is to die for. It's not just a salad; it's clearly a crop picked yesterday or today even. The presentation is stunning, and every bite is bursting with fresh, vibrant flavors that tell me it’s summer. I also had the fish dish which was wonderful as well.

Farm to table style restaurant. Love everything here especially the raw vegetables from the farm and the french toast! Super fresh, flavorful, and satisfying!Reservation is recommended for weekends.

The vibe here was great - huge outdoor patio and a cool interior. But the food was pretty subpar. Cold noodles were surprisingly bland and the crudo was beautiful but missed the mark.A perfectly nice place to go on a beautiful day, but there’s better food around here. We were here for Saturday lunch, potentially dinner is better.

Loved the restaurant property. Cocktails were done right. Ordered aged rib eye, charcoal grilled duck, Spring pea sales and a side of grilled kohlrabi.Most impressed with the charcoal fire station. Ribeye came out exactly medium rare. Duck was also perfectly grilled. Spring pea salad was refreshing.

It was my birthday & I’ve been wanting to come here for years!! Beautiful atmosphere, however, the raw veggies weren’t as good as at Stanly Ranch. Much smaller variety for the same price. The burger reminded me of In n out except it was missing lettuce & tomato. Our server recommended the zucchini though I was hesitant. He said “if you don’t like it, we will take it back”. I didn’t like it. When I told the server, his entire attitude changed. Older gentleman w/ a pony tail(long grey hair. Was so friendly at first but since we were only 2 people, I felt like he was solely focused on the Tip and not the service). At least I can cross it off my list now. Sorely disappointed as I am a Napa native and in the industry.

My favorite restaurant in Napa Valley. The food is amazing, everything is shareable so is a good option to go with friends or family. Is also a restaurant that you can enjoy in the day or night.

amazing service and great food - we were here for the weekend and this was one of our favorite spots!the beef tartare is great, but the LITTLE GEM CEASAR SALAD is a 10/10! it was not your basic ceasar, and was so refreshing and crunchy - perfect for a hot napa day. cheeseburger was good but the fries were better. i’d recommend this beautiful spot for a nice meal when you’re in town!

This is such an awesome restaurant! Every dish was fresh and delicious, with a great local touch and farm-to-table style (the waiter said they have a farm not far from here).We ordered the raw vegetables, chuck eye steak, trout, and milk soft serve. Everything is a perfect, but if I had to pick one, the raw vegetable is a must try! It might look plain, but it was so fresh and the soy dip really surprised me!

The hamburger is tasty and juicy, probably the best in Napa Valley. Really enjoyed their Potluck Series. It’s great food for a fun occasion.We just went to celebrate husband’s birthday. Chef Phil is heading up the kitchen. We had an ‘as fresh as can be’ dinner of 75% of the menu. Utterly amazing. The kitchen goes relatively light on the salt, to highlight the freshness of the ingredients.

Beautiful setting with the food to back it up. Starters were the highlight. Baby gem salad, beef tartare and the mixed greens were top notch. For main dishes we had the Halibut and the beef tip which were slightly on the salty side.

Did the yurt seating. Really fun setting. Very romantic. The food and service were ok but minor flaws made it not quite hit the quality for this price point in Napa. Also - skip the "table side" cocktails. They are made in the bar and just poured into your glass at your table...

I highly recommend having at least one of your meals during your Napa Valley visit!Our served Todd was amazing and he explained about how the food is brought from the farm and is always fresh. And boy was it fresh!!! I've never had such yummy fresh french fries.I got their Charter oak bread, 1/2 portion chicken from the hearth, french fries and the famous soy dip sauce.You must try the bread if you're a sourdough fan, they serve it with their housemade butter and I just kept stuffing myself!! The fries with the soy dip was definitely a great choice; the dip had flavors that were very new to me and I loved it.The chicken was good but I felt that by the time I finished it, it had become chewy(or hard?) and only the crust was flavourful; the chicken in itself was lacking flavors.

I've fallen in love with Charter Oak, and after several visits, I feel compelled to share my review to affirm it's truly a destination worth visiting. Charter Oak shines, particularly for large gatherings of more than six people. The reservation process is impressively smooth, effortlessly accommodating my party with exceptional seating and graciously extending our stay by an uninterrupted fifteen minutes beyond our reservation time. The service is outstanding, matched by delightfully delicious dishes that never fail to impress. Having visited The Charter Oak on multiple occasions, I've noticed the menu evolves, maintaining a balance between beloved staples and new introductions, yet the quality, taste, and presentation consistently remain exceptional. The wine selection is remarkable, and the cocktails are equally impressive. A simple pleasure such as their fresh sourdough bread is enough to keep me coming back. I highly recommend this place, especially if you find yourself in the far reaches of Napa Valley, in the St. Helena area. It's a must-visit for an unforgettable dining experience.

I really enjoyed eating here. I thought the burger was delicious. Also got a vegetable tray and that was tasty. The beef tartare was good with the onions but would have preferred more yolk or seasoning with the beef. Frosés were awesome and got them with the aperol. My friend got the eggs for brunch and said they were runny. I thought the garden was beautiful and service was great. I would come back.

Great service and atmosphere! I just came in for drinks but the food looks great! They cook on a coal fired grill! The cocktails were top notch! This is a great place for an intimate meal or group setting! I will come again!

Rustic charm meets elevated ambiance!A great experience where you are seated in a great room with an open fire kitchen in the back! The simplicity of the menu is paired perfectly with bold flavors and fresh ingredients.We started with a “no” espresso martini that set the stage for what was to come!Added the 35 year old sourdough bread starter with a 2 week churned butter that was OH Sooooo Delicious!!!! It’s a must when you come here!The beet salad was next! So fresh!!! The greens mixed with the reds from the beet made this a beautiful salad! The pomegranate seeds added an extra layer of flavor and overall provided a good balance of texture and taste!We then had to get the cheeseburger, which they are famous for- and I’m so glad we did! Perfectly cooked and balanced on a soft bun with the cheese that was infused with peppers, that added a crunch and flavorful kick! The fries that accompanied the burger could have been its own meal! Super long and full, crispy and soft all at the same time!! Probably the BEST fries I’ve ever had! (If you’re not super hungry, this could be shared amongst 2 people)And we ended the meal with their Eton- which at first glance didn’t look so appealing but the flavors more than made up for the lack beauty!! Soft and creamy with a sweet sour punch with all the flavors of fall!! It was a unique dessert that I’ve never had before but am very pleased to have had it!Overall a great restaurant that lives up to its reputation- great atmosphere and amazing food!! Add this to your list!

Charter Oak is fantastic. I highly recommend having dinner here on your trip to Napa! The atmosphere is warm, upscale and comfortable. Service from the moment we walked in was friendly and impeccable. Most importantly, the food is outstanding - one of the best burgers I’ve had anywhere. If the oyster mushrooms are on the menu, get them! My husband and I still dream about them. Nice wine list, of course, but we loved that we could bring a bottle from one of our winery visits that day. When we go back to Napa, Charter Oak will be the first restaurant we book.

My heart was warm but my food was cold; this was a disappointing one for us. Usually well-researched reservations, the promise of a Michelin star Chef, a stunning space and the romance of Napa are sure bets for a great date night but not this time. The most memorable part of this night was the company and the beautiful space. The Albacore Conserva and Little Gems Salad were fine but not memorable and both entrees were served cold (Bavette Steak was tough and cold; the Sturgeon was cold). If I had to pick a ‘best dish’ it would be the Slow Smoked Beets which were unique and delicious (and arrived hot). Also, two thumbs up on the Mandarin Tart. A very positive shout out to Ruby who made all efforts to improve the situation - thank you! I would absolutely recommend Ciccio (excellent!) and Loveski (causal deli) by the same Chef!

The food is delicious! We ordered two starters: raw vegetables and beef tartare. The raw vegetables were beyond my expectations. Every ingredient inside the dish was so fresh and so tasty. The carrots, the beans, and some unknown vegetables, all of them were sweet even without the sauce. For the beef tartare, I especially like the brioche. The tartare itself didn't look attractive but once inside your mouth you would find it enjoyable.For the main dish we had lamb and roasted cod. The lamb was cooked very well: it still had a crispy surface and the meat was very tender. The cod was also very tender. A very nice experience to eat at this place.

I love places like The Charter Oak Restaurant. High quality food, top notch ingredients yet a very low key and casual ambiance. Backed by the 3 Michelin Star chops of Christopher Kostow from the Restaurant at Meadowood, the Charter Oak brings simple and elegant cooking to the fantastic farm produce they cultivate from the region.We focused mainly on appetizers and I likely over ordered but there are so many delicious sounding items to choose from. Our choices:Charter Oak Bread with House Cultured Butter - Small $8. It’s a generous portion and the bread is fantastic as is the butter.Raw Vegetables from Our Farm $25 - another must order. Chilled, with fantastic variety, you won’t find better tasting or sweeter vegetables anywhere. The soy bean based dip is absolutely amazing and worth saving.This Months Wings $25 - based on a changing monthly menu, it’s what happens when fine dining chefs make wings…they’re juicy, delicious and bursting with flavorAged Beef Chuck Tartare $23 - I love tartare but the mayo based sauce distracted me from the beef flavor. Also the milk bread paled compare to the Charter Oak bread.Hamachi Gardeniera $25 - a miss for me. I found the sour pickled vegetables distracted from the clean hamachi taste and the slices were cut much more thickly than I’m used to for this lovely fishThe Cheeseburger $26 - our sole entree and it is amazing. This isn’t a smash burger with crispy edges…it’s a true burger, cooked medium with insane flavor, juiciness and a very soft roll bread that just envelopes the cheese and the flavors. I loved it.Black Apple Butter Tart $12 - a tad too sweet for me. I count have skipped.The Charter Oak is an anchor institution in St. Helena. Plentiful outdoor and indoor seating. Perfect for kids. Perfect for elderly. Perfect for families. Perfect for couples. Perfect for everyone.Reservations are accepted on Tock and all credit cards including AmEx are accepted.