For Guillermo, who once proclaimed "I am going home to eat my meat."
After an afternoon of wine tasting, it seemed appropriate to eat some steak. I had gotten a good tip from Chowhound that Coles Chop House was a great place to go and sit at the bar and eat some food.
We sat at the big, wooden bar because we didn't have reservations (duh). The bartender was very knowledgeable and professional, and made a great Mai-tini (tasted like a Mai Tai) for my friend, and a fancy glass-o-juice for me. The menu offered many meat options, mostly a la carte (which I don't get, $39 for a steak and I don't get a potato?) and then many sides. We were advised that the sides were large enough to share so we ordered two (huge) baked potatoes and some Broccoli with Hollandaise (just ok) to accompany one New York Steak (16oz, $39), one Rib Eye (16 oz, $26) and one Fillet Mignon (10 oz, $31). Chris and I shared a VERY mediocre Caesar salad, while Gloria enjoyed a very tasty Warm Spinach Salad with Pears and Apple Wood Smoked Bacon Vinaigrette. We also ordered a bottle of the lovely 2002 Ridge Zinfandel, Lytton Springs, which is one of Chris's favorite.
I tasted all three steaks and thought the New York Steak the best, and most flavorful, though I am starting to discover that I am getting kind of grossed out by eating a big piece of beef, and I barely touched my Rib Eye, which is usually my favorite cut. Basically, the less I can actually taste COW the happier I am. Besides my newest food weirdness, both the New York and Fillet Mignon were excellent and recommended.
This was a nice, traditional place to visit, especially for steak lovers (men). Do make a reservation, however, and avoid the Caesar salad. Also take a moment to appreciate the beautiful building itself, which, according to their website, "the Williams building was the first commercial block constructed north of the Napa Creek...In 1897, the Williams Building...was the scene of the last public execution held in California. That day, Billy Roe was hanged for murdering Lucina Greenwood of Napa in 1891."
Wow! Meat, wine, history and public executions! Does it get any better?
Coles Chop House
1122 Main St
Napa, CA 94559
Tel: (707) 224-6328
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