Reviews & Ratings for Rutherford Grill
15 reviews
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Great Atmosphere by Juan Z. at InsiderPages
Contributor
December 07, 2008
If you are looking for a reasonably affordable restaurant that still has that FLASHY feel, then look no further than to the Rutherford Grill. Great selection of beverages. Only down fall is the fact that if you are going to be drinking non-alcoholic refreshments you will be spending a lot of money on mini-sodas.
Call ahead by a h. at InsiderPages
Contributor
December 01, 2008
Don't plan on getting in right away if you didn't call ahead. Greate food and an awesome outdoor area. one of my favorite places to eat in the valley.
Restaurant by Karen C. at InsiderPages
Contributor
October 30, 2008
This has to be my favorite restaurant. No matter how often I go there the chef always surprises with a new twist to a favorite dish. The ostrich is excellent, as is the french dip sandwich, and the heirloom tomato salad during the summer is a palate pleaser. Wonderful outdoor area, as well as large and small booths inside. Very popular so be prepared to wait unless you made reservations.
You'll never eat ribs anywhere else again. EVER!
by kellyduck
January 17, 2008
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
April 02, 2007
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 place - way underrated
by timozero2
October 01, 2006
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
Great stop in wine country!
by elisabethmartin
October 01, 2006
I often stop in for lunch with friends as I am in the area quite a lot and it seems that I order the same thing each time; the prime rib sandwich and the roasted artichoke. It is so perfect that it's hard to stray from something I enjoy so much although every plate that passes by to another table looks delicious. The only downfall has to do with the region, it seems a lot of wine tasters stop by who have been enjoying the local wineries probably a little more than they should have but the staff handles them wonderfully!
- Pros: Usually isn't much of a wait for drop-ins
- Cons: Summer months tend to bring on surly tourists.
A "Local's" Favorite!
by scttourguide
August 11, 2006
Expect to wait for a table no matter what but it's worth it. Everything on the menu is great so here's what I recommend: For a party of two: Do yourselves a favor and order the Grilled Artichoke to share to start with. Then split both the mouth watering Chicken Sandwich (Order it "Old School") and the hacked chicken salad. Ask for an extra side of mashed potatoes to go with the sandwich because you won't want to share. Dessert? Fahggetaboudid. No room. Bottom line? Great food & a cozy atmosphere. Oh- and then afterwards, go wine tasting over at the Copolla Winery across the street and visit the "museum" upstairs.
what happened to this once great restaurant?
by jovifriend
March 07, 2005
Terrific bar, good service, beautiful setting - and once wonderful food. But my last meal there could have been frozen and shipped in from an interstate-side chain - the ribs were greasy and actually cold. The delicious, light coleslaw had morphed into a greasy chinese-chicken salad like thing. Thought they had a bad night, but every local I've talked to agrees. So sad to see a good restaurant go downhill. Hope it comes back. This is winter, 2004 - maybe they will read this and reform!
Rutherford Grill
by dylan_thomason
October 27, 2004
The Rutherford Grill, a.k.a. Houston's, is a successful version of it's bigger sister, especially for Napa Valley. Although this is probably the areas only chain restaurant, they certainly are surviving amongst the heavy hitters. This constantly busy eatery, is a sure winner when touring wineries. Yes it's Napa casual, yes it's noisy, but it's food is consistently good. Be prepared for a 30+ minute wait, but that's no problem if you head next door to the areas premiere olive-oil tasting room. For lunch, this is a simply good choice when cruising on Rutherford Road.
