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Overall Ratings: ***

Overall Review:  Being that this restaurant is located in the Culinary Institute, I expected a higher quality of food than we were served. Though some things were of fine quality, I wasn't impressed with the overall quality!

Review Date:  November 27, 2006

Cuisine: Contemporary cuisine featuring Napa Valley regional foods.

Alcohol:  Full bar with a large wine list of Napa Valley wine. They also used and served one-size-fits-all wine glasses. This is one of my pet peeves in fine dining restaurants.

Attire: Casual Dress to business casual

Corkage Fee: $20

Location: Located in St. Helena in the Napa Valley wine area.

Open Hours: 
Sunday – Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday – Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Closed:  January 1–16, 2007, April 8, 2007, November 21–22, 2007, & December 24–25, 2007
Parking:  Parking on site, but hard to park. They have valet parking on weekends.

Price Range:  Moderate
First Course: $9 to $13
Main Course: $19 to $20

Reservations: Reservations recommended.


 Rating Key Explanations:
* Bad (will never go back)

** Fair (below average - will not go back)

*** Good (would consider dining there again)

**** Very Good (will definitely go back)

***** Extraordinary (will be back as soon as possible)

I make every attempt to remain anonymous while reviewing each restaurant.  All meals are paid for by myself.  This way, I can report the most honest and trustworthy restaurant reviews possible. Other recognizable critics frequently get special food and service. I forgo any perks so that my restaurant experience will be similar to yours.

If you would like to add a review of this restaurant, email Linda Stradley. Also feel free to send me suggestions of restaurants for review.
 

 


Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant


 Greystone, Culinary Institute of America
2555 Main St. (Deer Park Rd.)
St. Helena, CA 94574

Map & Directions

Web Site: http://www.ciachef.edu/restaurants/wsgr/

Phone: 707-967-1010

 

Photo by Viva magazine, AAA Traveler's Companion
 

I was excited to dine at the Greystone Restaurant in St. Helena, as I have heard so much about the culinary school there. From the outside, the restaurant looks very formal, but inside, it's quite casual with a fun atmosphere. The historic dining room, which was once part of the Christian Brothers Greystone Winery & Novitiate, has been restored to showcase its rustic charm.

The restaurant space is great, very elegant with great ambience. It offers a view of the chefs at every cooking station from every table.  A large bar encircles the cooking area, where you can also sit to dine. This gives a great view of the chefs working in the kitchen. My husband and I chose to sit at the bar for our dinner.

I was disappointed to find out that the students do not run the kitchen in the restaurant. In fact, they don't even cook in it. This is not a student-run operation, which is what we had assumed when we decided to eat here. It's simply a restaurant located on the CIA property.


Appetizers:

Today Temptations - An array of small bites prepared by our chef to be shared by all at the table. $8.95 per person
We started with the chef's choice of five amuse-like bites, called "Today's Temptations," inspired by the local farmers and foragers. This is a great way to begin your meal, especially if there are more than two of you dining. We enjoyed these small plates and were anxious to try the rest of the meal.

Bread - The bread served with the meal was very dry, and no butter or olive oil was served with it.

First Course:

 

Greystone French Onion Soup - Gruyere cheese souffle. $12
Very different as the top is an egg based cheese fluff. What there was of the broth, tasted like canned soup broth. I personally think this soup needed more broth and a better broth. This could have been a spectacular soup dish, but it wasn't.

 

Main Courses:

 

Pomegranate Glazed Chicken - Butternut squash risotto, Swiss chard with pine nuts and currants. $24
This dish was a disappointment, as the chicken was overcooked and dry.

 

Pan Roasted Pork Chop - Housemade streudel, sauteed mustard greens, whole grain mustard sauce. $26
My husband ordered this dish. He was disappointed as the pork was also overcooked and dry.

 

 

Dessert:

Ruby Port Poached Pear - Madeleines, creme fraiche, and sorbet. $12
This dessert was excellent. My husband and I both enjoyed sharing it.

The amuse bouche temptations and the dessert were very good! I would order them again.

 

The First Course and Main Courses were way below expectations. As there are so many great restaurants in the Napa Valley area, I would probably not go back to Greystone for a second visit.