The Charter Oak Restaurant - St Helena, California

Lu H.

We ordered the baked avocado with sea salt. Bread, the steak, and beets salad.

The bread was good, the butter was normal.

The beets salad was very refreshing. I highly recommend it. But just a bit too much creamy sauce than I expected.

Steak was normal. A bit hard to chew. You need to pair it with the creamy radish in the photo, and that would provide a better refreshing taste. Otherwise, the steak makes me feel I was chewing a raw bison or something. But note that I have bad teeth that it might be harder for me to chew.

Overall, I think it’s a normal restaurant. Not bad, but nothing impressed me.

Ariya Z.

Charter Oak is a must-visit The service was great, and the staff took their time to ensure everything was perfect. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with an open-fire counter that adds a unique touch. It feels like every dish is crafted with care and has its own distinct character.
The Caesar salad is an easy 9/10-absolutely amazing, one of the best l've had. The lettuce is incredibly fresh and crunchy, though at the end of the day, it's still just a Caesar salad.
The red beet salad is a 10/10, but you have to love beets. The thyme pairs beautifully with the beets and cream, and the crispy onions add just the right amount of texture.
The steak was okay I'd give it a 6/10-but the burger is an absolute must-try, hands down a 10/10. It's easily the best thing on the menu.
Trust me, you won't regret it.

Seth F.

We celebrated our anniversary while in Napa. We enjoyed our evening in one of the outdoor Yurts. They accommodated our early arrival and didn't charge for first bottle corkage. We had the tasting menu which was really treat. I would highly recommend this to anyone as a place to stop and enjoy a meal while in town.

Shel K.

Amazing ambience and excellent service. Food is always superb and delicious. Best cheeseburger ever! Do not discount the farm vegetables and fermented soy dip, I could just eat that with the Charter Oak bread and house butter and be happy. They have a new winter menu so we tried the chicken thighs cured in celeries, so yummy and perfect texture. Chips and dip was good, not what I was expecting but still worth getting. Standout desserts were the Jersey milk soft serve with pecan oil and the satsuma tangerine tart. Brie cheesecake was ok but my friend absolutely loved it. Sitting outdoors is lovely even in the cold. It’s absolutely beautiful. They do have outdoor heaters and outdoor yurt dining which is a fixed menu.
It was a little loud this trip with the music and full dining room but we loved the playlist so it’s perfectly fine. Also a wonderful part of this restaurant is that you can bring one bottle of wine with and there is no corkage fee. After that there is but still so very generous to allow that. I love this restaurant it’s one of my very favorites. I drive from Vacaville to come often. It would be a great place to host an event especially in the outdoor area.

natalie B.

Eating here is an HONOR. 5 stars is an understatement. Every single thing is the best of its kind. They gave us bubbly on the house and veggies for a longer wait time, and the vegetables + dip were incredible. The burger, immaculate. The trout, buttery as ever. The wings, AN EXPLOSION. Thank you to whoever opened this restaurant - you are doing the Lord’s work!

Oliver P.

Late Dec2024 We had lunch at the bar counter during a busy dining day at this renowned Californian restaurant.

The food is composed of seasonal and farm to plate ingredients as well as regional tastes. Definitely much care had been put into their balanced and creative rotating menu.

Our bar server was not only very helpful and informative in pairing our meals with our drinks.

The interiors are much like a rustic but stylish barn with dark wood motiffs and high ceilings.

Definitely one the recommended restos in the Napa Valley region.

Vince M.

Nope. This is for the Yurt Experience. I just can't recommend this restaurant based on our experience.

This is a tough review in that there were so many great elements here. And the execution was just off.

The Yurt isolated us from everything. We felt abandoned at times. The main service and wine service didn't seem to cooperate. Often wines were 5-10 minutes behind.

Portion sizes were too large (and yes, that seems crazy), but as out-of-town guests we weren't taking food back to our B&B. So we ate more at the start of the meal and less towards the end since we were filled. A fixed course meal usually is more balanced leaving you satisfied at the end and not full before the main course. And we were left for long periods of time with each course, so we picked at them waiting for the next course.

And the main course was required to be the same for everyone. No exceptions. And we decided on the duck. The dark meat was brilliant! The breast had some crispy elements, but generally overcooked and tough. Bummer!

The raw vegetables were a head scratcher. The fermented soy was exquisite. The giant bowl of raw carrots and broccoli were too much. You're proud of the veggie, great, but consider my experience and tone it down.

The oysters were a 100% yes! Homemade Worcestershire sauce was beyond description.

Caviar supplement, which was optional, felt like a loner since there were no accoutrements and we just added it to other dishes.

The value here was missing. For $900+ with wine pairing for two, I expect outstanding service, food I want more and to leave feeling better than when I arrived. None of the above for me.

Maybe the main restaurant would provide better service and more value. Skip the Yurt for sure.

One and done. Do not recommend.

Louie V.

The charter Oak restaurant is definitely an awesome, beautiful and posh restaurant to have lunch. The food, the service the ambience make a great lunchbox between tasting at multiple wineries. From the minute we walked in I knew this was going to be a great restaurant. Jessica, who was our waitress provided excellent service and the food was not only fresh but also delicious and savory.

For anyone looking for a great lunch spot that is family style, outdoorsy, and very posh this is the place.