Charlie's Napa Valley

"We went because a winery host recommended it. Lately, Napa Valley hasn’t had many restaurants that really stood out, so I was happy to discover a new spot. We came because we heard the chicken was better than Ad Hoc’s—and it really was. The batter was extremely crispy, the chicken was perfectly cooked with no pink at all, and the seasoning was just right. The crispy cauliflower was an absolute favorite. I thought the pretzel ham might be predictable, but the pretzel itself was surprisingly soft and excellent. The steak was cooked exactly to the right doneness, and since it was aged, it was incredibly tender. We ordered the French dip sandwich—the sauce had a deep, rich beef flavor that was fantastic. We also had the smoked trout; for something smoked, the salt level was very well balanced. At first, I thought the lunch menu was a bit limited, but the fried items and bread were outstanding. They even changed our plates midway, which was a nice touch. The only downside was that it was very crowded, so the wine service was slow. Corkage is $25. Everything was great, but the restroom had a very unpleasant smell. But we’ll definitely be back."