Tra Vigne in 1050 Charter Oak Ave (along highway 29), Saint Helena on Dine.com

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Tra Vigne

3.7222/5 (16 reviews)

1050 Charter Oak Ave (along highway 29)
Saint Helena, CA 9999
(707) 963-4444

Category: Californian, Italian

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18 Reviews

REVIEW #1

j L.
Rating: Unknown

November 30, 2007
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Excellent flavors, attentive service, great food , drinks are very good. Not pricey and very pretty decor.

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REVIEW #2

bill Y.
Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:

June 26, 2003
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Dining here on a recent Saturday evening was a sublime ending to a marvelous day spent at the Napa Valley Antiques Show. We made reservations late in the week (spur of a momemt thing) but we were able to get in for the first seating (something that will never happen at the French Laundry). There are a numbe of dishes on the menu that reminded us of Tuscany...but none more so than the braised short ribs my wife ordered...I ordered the lamb loin with canneloni...and while it was good...I will order the ribs the next time...if you want to feel really decadent, start off the evening at the bar (or at your table) with a French 75...just order it and enjoy it (made with champagne and cognac),

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REVIEW #3

Gene A.
Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:

February 19, 2002
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

My wife and some friends and I ate at Tra Vigne for a special occasion. It was very good, but not perfect. One of the entrees was spicy beyond being flavorful to almost inedible. The other entrees were very, very good, and everything else (wine, dessert, service) was very good.
The restaurant and surrounding grounds are beautiful. Be sure to take some time to check them out. My only complaint is that it was pretty noise, in part due to the design of the restaurant -- high, reflective ceiling.
Overall I liked it, but with a few reservations.

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REVIEW #4

Betty N.
Avg. Entree: $15-20
Rating:

September 2, 2001
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Okay, with all the hype, Michael's book and show, we were very excited to finally book lunch reservations here. However, after our meals, we were quite disappointed. Their salads were overly oily. My husband had a melon soup which was light and refreshing. For our main entree, I ordered the whole fish, requesting "filet". The fish was good, but not great. Chris ordered pizza, but instead they gave him a plate of calamari. We just shook our heads and decided to stick with the calamari instead of causing a scene. We did not order wine nor dessert and the final bill was around $60. Overall, the place was decent for lunch - but where was Michael Chiarello when you need him most?

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REVIEW #5

Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:

August 19, 2001
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

I have been able to eat here several times and have nothing but good to say. The food is wonderful, the staff is atentive and polite. I would definitly eat here more often if I could afford to.

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REVIEW #6

Bart B.
Avg. Entree: $15-20
Rating:

January 3, 2001
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

TraVigne is a beautiful restaurant with a unique ambiance. The food is generally excellent. I have eaten there with family many times over the past several years and we had the rehersal dinner for our wedding here as well. Unfortunately, their catering isn't quite up to par with the restaurant up stairs, but the room downstairs is a great place to have a meal with friends after appetizers on the patio.

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REVIEW #7

E L.
Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:

June 1, 2000
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Tra Vigne is beautiful inside, with high ceilings and a pleasant atmosphere. One can dine outside as well, in a lovely garden type setting. Although I enjoyed the meal, I felt that the two entrees that I sampled were extremely oversalted. The rabbit dish was delicious, but overladen with sodium. The was beef short ribs were incredible in that the meat was very tender and juicy. However, again, the natural flavor of the meat was overpowered by the taste of salt. The appetizer of fresh mozerella crostini was good, as was the panna cotta brulee dessert.

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REVIEW #8

Richard P.
Avg. Entree: $15-20
Rating:

May 1, 2000
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

A beautiful Italian courtyard welcomes you to the soft Italian Country setting forlunch or dinner. A grand staiway leads you to a well appointed restaurant with warm and friendly service.

The meals were of small but ample portions. The falvors were well blended and provided the pallet with complex tastes of Italy.

If available, the Insalata Mista with Warm Gogonzola Brushetta and Insalata Di Carciofi are great salads. The Pappardelle Con Agnello, with "forever" roasted lamb or the Insalata Di Gnochi, brown butter crisped ricotta gnocchi with apring morels are outstanding choices.
Finish the dinner with Torta Di Arancia and a 1954 Blandy's Maderia and you have had a marvelous meal in the perfect setting.

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REVIEW #9

Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:

March 23, 1998
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Really yummy Cal/Italian food. The smoked lentils w/sausages were my husband's favorite, while I tend to order the rabbit. We always hit this place when we go to wine country, but make reservations! They fill up fast.

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REVIEW #10

Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:

January 27, 1998
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

This was a dining experience to remember. I had pasta with rabbit and it was awesome. However the dessert is what I rave about to this day. I agree with one reviewer, the creme brulee was to die for. I had reservations but my friend was late but we were still seated. We lingered and did not feel we were being rushed. When we commented on the custard, our waiter even gave us a copy of the recipe. Well worth the price.

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REVIEW #11

Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:

October 19, 1997
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

We arrived at about 6pm on a Saturday and we were not really expecting to get to eat here. We're glad we waited about 30 minutes for a seat at the bar. We drank the fine Tra Vigne Cab and Chardonay. After the first course neighbors at the bar become friends because everyone is enjoying the food so much. We had a polenta in a balsamic sauce as the first course which seemed a little salty to Min. The ravioli in butter sauce melted in our mouths and the seafood pasta bowl was perfect. We did not want to give up our seats so we had a Hazelnut Creme Brulee and Chocolate Tiramasu for desert, both were superb. The food here was tops and so was the service. If you like casual dining and friendly people, don't worry if the only seats are at the bar. We'll be back.

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REVIEW #12

Rating: Unknown

February 22, 1997
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

We ate at this fine restaurant for lunch on a brief visit to the Napa Valley. We found the food to be excellent, the service very good and the wine list to be extensive and our selection was an excellent Merlot.This was a very enjoyable experience and we would highly recommend it. list

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REVIEW #13

Alex W.
Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:

September 19, 1996
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

My wife and I visited Tra Vigne a few years ago right as it was becoming one of THE places to eat in the wine region. Our visits since then have seen the place become quite noisy and hurried (although some people like that). The folks at the door have always been excellent (once we went without reservations and got seated in less than 30 minutes and once we missed our time by a wopping 45 mins and they still seated us within 10). However, we have had the spectrum of waiters and, in our opinion, the food has suffered due to the popularity of the place. There was a time I would have given it 4 stars. As we have gotten older, I guess our tastes have changed and we now prefer a quieter side of things. Still love the T-shirts.

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REVIEW #14

Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:

August 21, 1996
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Tra Vigne is a very good resturant. The food is prepared and presented well, but I must say that the service left a sour taste in my mouth. We sat out in the patio, which is excellent on warm evenings, but our waiter spent most of his time inside (this evening was windy and cool!) and we could'nt get waited on. We were there for over 20 minutes before we even got any water! This was our first time there and I imagine we will go back and try it one more time before blowing this place off. Do make reservations. It is quite popular.

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REVIEW #15

Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:

July 9, 1996
1 of 2 people found this review helpful

This restaurant was recommended to us by a friend in the restaurant business, however we were disappointed. We found the menu to be small, with little variety. The portions were small (for a man, but OK for a woman). The food was good, however pricey for the portion size. The staff seemed to have an 'attitude' that they were doing us a favor to wait on us... on the snobby side. Wouldn't go back. Trilogy is much better and just up the street!!

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REVIEW #16

Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:

June 21, 1996
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Having immersed ourselves in the mud baths of Calistoga for the afternoon, we chose Tra Vigne for a relaxing evening meal and we were not disappointed with our choice. Everything was perfect - the waiters were humourous and attentive without being intrusive, the atmosphere was relaxed and food was exquisite. I had the grilled polenta to start and one of the specials, a sweet white corn and fettucine in a sage broth for a main meal. Both were extremely delicious. The meal was topped off by a straw- berry creme brulee and it was the best I have ever tasted (I have one in every restaurant if it is on the menu, so I have tasted a few in my time!!). I would have no hesitation in going back whenever I visit the Napa Valley - especially as the Maitre d' was from my home town back in Britain.

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REVIEW #17

Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:

June 17, 1996
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Was referred to this restaurant and was not sorry. We didn't have reservations, but were told if we could be there before 6:30, we had a chance. Got there before 6 pm and got seated right away. My friehd and I shared the salad with goat cheese--good portion and excellent. We also both ordered pasta and it was not only served beautifully, but was delicious. Dessert was chocolate, of course, and good to the last morsel. Would recommend it to anyone.

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REVIEW #18

Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:

January 5, 1996
0 of 1 people found this review helpful

I whole-heartedly agree with the rest of the reviewers. Tre Vigne is worth going way out of your way for. But make sure you have a reservation. If, as in the stage play "Our Town", people really do get a chance to relive one moment from their life after they die, sitting on the patio at Tre Vigne on a warm spring afternoon eating wonderful food with a bottle of Duckhorn Merlot will be at the top of my list.

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