After noticing a gradual decline in the quality of the food at the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) we decided to try a new restaurant when showing my cousin around Napa. We ended up choosing Mustards Grill for its kid friendliness and recommendations from Chowhound and Napa Valley locals.
Whenever I go to a new place, I try to ask the waiter/waitress what's popular. If you ask them what's best, sometimes they just say what's most expensive. We ended up ordering two of the most popular dishes, the Famous Mongolian Pork Chop and the Grilled Hanger Steak. We also ordered the Grilled Squab and the Fish of the day, which was Black Cod.
We found the food to be fairly good. The pork chops had a sweet glaze, which was deliciously sweet and tender, but some people may find it too sweet. The hanger steak was very tender and juicy, but I did not care too much for the watercress sauce that was on the side. The squab was also quite tasty. The only disappointment for me was the fish, which I actually mistook for chicken when I first tasted it. Overall, I think the food is seasoned a little on the heavy side which tends to mute the flavors of the ingredients instead of enhancing it. I think most Americans actually prefer stronger seasoning in general so you may find the level to be perfect. Also the portions are a wee bit on the small side so you may want to order appetizers if you're pretty hungry.
The service was good, which is average for the restaurants in Napa. We were seated promptly and the waitress was courteous and answered all our questions about the menu and helped us pair a wine with our food. The place is very accommodating to kids, but despite their welcomeness, I would still feel awkward bringing a misbehaving child to any place with white tablecloths such as this.
Value-wise, the food is moderately priced for what you get. For the area, it's probably even on the less expensive side with their most expensive dish being around $27.
I would definitely go there again and probably ask to reduce the seasoning just a tad and maybe start with a few appetizers. By itself, it may not be worth the 1hr drive, but if you're headed out there anyhow, its definitely worth stopping by.
Mustards Grill Photo taken from flickr.
Mustards Grill Photo taken from flickr.
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