Rutherford Grill @ Napa

Another day in the valley in the little hamlet of Rutherford, we finished tasting at Beaulieu and came over to Rutherford Grill for dinner before heading back to Napa.

Rutherford Grill is situated at the crossroads of Highway 29 and Rutherford Road, occupying a site amongst Napa’s oldest historic wineries like Beaulieu, Inglenook, and others. They make their food with only the freshest and highest quality ingredients possible. The menu is focused on grilled dishes; with an emphasis on well executed simplicity. 

The Grill has been operating in this prime location since 1994 and has a high energy vibe with terrific wines and a dramatic display kitchen. This is a popular spot with locals and visitors alike, and sitting down for a beverage here could lead to rubbing shoulders with winemakers and industry professionals. It shares a parking lot with the Beaulieu Vineyard tasting room next door.

Chilled Jumbo Shrimp

Served with cocktail and rémoulade sauces

Delicious steakhouse classic, the cocktail sauce was what I remembered from my childhood when I had the same shrimp cocktails in those fancy hotel cafes. Need recipe, anyone?

Grilled Artichokes

Served with garlic aioli

The grilled artichokes are seasonal, and when we were there, it was already the end of the season and these were the lasts of the artichokes. Halved and grille open face downwards on their Josper grill, these over-charred cousins of the cactus were very well seasoned with spices and salt, and were great eats.

USDA Prime Filet Aged Center-Cut Beef Tenderloin

Served with something green and potatoes colcannon

This being a steakhouse, the judgement is always on the steak. It’s common to wonder, “Is centre-cut beef tenderloin the same as filet mignon?” The answer is no, they are two different cuts of beef. However, filet mignon does come from the beef tenderloin, cut from the very end and most tender area of the tenderloin.

The marbling on this steak cut was rather lean, but it was grilled to perfectly and the doneness was spot-on. Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish of mashed potatoes with cabbage. It is only served after 5pm, and we were lucky to have tasted this beautiful mashed potato crossed with coleslaw. “Something green” tonight was grilled broccolinis topped with shaved fresh horseradish. Delicious.

Rutherford Grill was high up among the online comments, many giving praises on the food and service. Our outing to the restaurant did not disappoint as well.

Rutherford Grill
1180 Rutherford Road, Rutherford, California 94573
Tel : +1 (707) 963-1792

Visited Oct 2023

@rutherfordgrill #grilledartichokes  #napavalley #winecountry #letseat #ribeye #feastmode