Rutherford Grill

Wow! best ribs ever

by laurasf32 at Citysearch

My friends and I were on a trip to the wine country. We had such great recommendations from everywhere we stayed, visited - all spot on. One of our must-stops was the Rutherford grill for their amazing ribs - they were perfectly marinated and grilled - we died and went to heaven. The owner from blush spa in Sonoma recommended the grilled artichoke and it was also soooo tasty! Its smack in the middle of all the wineries through Napa so its the perfect stop for lunch!

You'll never eat ribs anywhere else again. EVER!

by kellyduck at Citysearch

Anyone living in the valley will agree that we are very spoiled as far as good places to eat. Rutherfotd Grill is no exception. The ribs......seriously........you can't get better ribs anywhere in the world! Marinated for twelve hours and grilled to perfection, put your knife down, you won't need it! The soups they make are always unique and change with the season. You'll never have tortilla soup like this again. Let's take a moment to discuss everyone's favorite part of the meal, DESSERT! They have some wonderful dishes that include the famous Oreo Cookie Dessert (Two saucer size oreos filled with vanilla ice cream, bathing in a pool of chocolate syrup), the Key Lime Pie that is usually only served in the summer is a breath of cool air on a hot day. But my absolute favorite is the delicious Banana Cream Pie. A generous piece of light fluffy banana cream pie covered in whip cream (made from scratch) and drizzled with caramel and chocolate syrup. There are these little clusters of the grahamcracker/nut crust melted together with chocolate, sprinkled all over. Topped with slices of bananas and served with a smile! If you run out of room, get it to go, you won't regret it! The wine list is carefully chosen to pair well with your food. Ask for a suggestion from one of the knowledgeable bartenders and they will set you up for success! Kids are welcome and they have quite a few items on the childrens menu, including a grilled cheese sandwich and a childs size portion of the rotisserie chicken. The employees are great, the locals are great, they take reservations now, there's no reason not to check this place out. But like I said, if you have the ribs you won't be able to eat them anywhere else! Great job George!

• Pros: great food, great drinks
• Cons: the fire station across the street

Excellent Food! Excellent Energy! Ambience! A 'FIND' You'll Enjoy!

by iflymaui at Citysearch

You'll find Rutherford Grill right in the very middle of Napa Valley. On Hwy 29, across the street from a small fire station in the ultra small area/town of Rutherford, CA (in Napa Valley).

Its owned by the Houston's chain but not anything like it. I love this place. I love the service above all. A crew and staff to die for!

It is always consistent. Always busy. Always fun! My only complaint is that their wonderful outdoor patio isn't open more. They shy and run when the temperature drops below 70 degrees and close the beautiful patio.

It's loud outside. It's loud inside. It's nearly always packed. The outdoor pation brings not only noise from the restaurant but from Hwy-29 and the firehouse across the street. The Napa Valey Wine Train also passes there several times day adding to the level of sound.

Food is basic. Sandwiches mostly and main entrees mostly. Maybe 20 choices at best? American fare only despite a few attempts otherwise. Yet, you can always count on those items to be excellent. I love the Roast Beef Prime Rib sandwich as do so many people.

This is California/Napa casual and without any sort of attitude at all. Yet trendy too! Hectic inside but in a positive way combined with energy.

Prices are excellent considering portion size and freshness. The wine list is superior (they sell a local top-of-the-line Napa Valley chardonay-FRANK FAMILY-for about 30% less than almost all other restaurants) and yet pricey or pretencious.

It often appears to be mostly tourist. Yet we are only 45 minutes from Napa and often dine there.

I love this restaurant! You'll be pleased with its great energy and ambience but much to my regret, reservations are not offered so expect a wait but in the beautiful Napa Valley sunshine...

• Pros: Outdoor Patio! Staffing! Freshness! Location! Casual!
• Cons: There Are None

Great Cave Tour!

by monicalang at Citysearch

We had a fabulous time at Rutherford Hill. The tour of the caves was a highlight. Very informative. The tour guide was very knowledgable. Beautiful views from the winery. Sits up high on a hillside. Good wines too! Cost was $15 per person, which included the tour, tastings, and a logo wine glass to keep.

• Pros: Great Cave Tour! Nice views, Good wine

Great place - way underrated

by timozero2 at Citysearch

With so many great restaurants in Napa Valley, Rutherford Grill seems to get overlooked by many of the travel guides. Located right on 27 in Rutherford, my girlfriend and I liked this place so much that we ate here twice on a recent trip to Napa. The menu while traditionally American had many innovative choices. All four meals we had were fantastic. The steaks and fish were cooked to perfection. The sides were great and the wine list was a tour of Napa on its own. We took advantage of their no corkage fee policy, bringing in a find we had made earlier in the day. The views of the mountains were great and the outside patio was warm and inviting. I would reccomend Rutherford for anyone looking to relax and unwind after a day of tastings.

• Pros: Menu/Wine List
• Cons: Could have to wait as they do not accept reservations. Get there early