San Francisco Chronicle associate food critic Cesar Hernandez heaped plenty of praise on Joella’s, particularly for its spicy fried chicken, which can be enjoyed on a sandwich or in nugget form. Aside from the chicken, the menu offers a meatball parmesan sandwich, spicy pork and beef chili, and PB&J bread pudding. Orders can be placed online for pick up at the food truck, which has a couple of tables available for customers. 

Serving escargots, sweetbreads, steak tartare, and ratatouille, this classic French gem at the end of downtown Napa’s Main Street has unparalleled river views and one of the best patios in town. Open for lunch and dinner, sip a cocktail like the Angèle Spritz (bubbles, vermouth, strawberries, mint, and vanilla) on a warm Napa day and watch stand-up paddle boarders and kayakers float by.

If you’re in the mood for a hearty meal, this newer restaurant serving Argentinian fare and tapas might be the ticket. Try a ribeye from the grill side of the menu, served with chimichurri, or a malbec ossobuco, a slow-braised beef shank that comes with fried polenta.

Zuzu isn’t new to the Napa dining scene but thanks to an expansion into the space next door, which now houses a cool bar, it’s been reinvigorated as a late-night cocktail and food destination. It’s a gin-centric beverage list with a build-your-own G&T option and a lengthy list of wines by the glass. Plus on the food side, diners can cobble together a meal of tapas or choose from one of the restaurant’s four varieties of paella.

A triple threat, Compline (pronounced like Compton) is a wine bar, restaurant, and wine shop in one. Started by two sommeliers — co-founder Matt Stamp is a master somm — Compline’s impressive collection of bottles goes far beyond Napa Valley and includes selections from all over the world, including some regions and grapes you’ve likely never heard of. The burger and duck fat fries are Compline’s reigning royalty, but the new fried chicken sandwich from Chef Jammir Gray has a shot at the throne. Those can be snagged at lunch while dinner brings other delights, like locally sourced duck breast and black cod.

The Ferry Building’s high-ceilinged little sister has a serious concentration of Bay Area restaurants (plus shops) under one roof. Slurp oysters at Hog Island Oysters, order the famous duck tacos at C Casa, or share some sushi rolls at Eiko’s. Don’t miss Oxbow’s newest tenants, Loveski, a Jewish-style deli from chef Christopher Kostow that’s dishing out sourdough bagels, sandwiches, latkes, and more, and Milestone Provisions, a butcher shop also offering roasted meats on sandwiches, salads, and platters.

Standout Vietnamese food and solid cocktails are the name of the game at chef Charles Phan’s Slanted Door, and Napa Valley locals are lucky to have the newest location of the restaurant while the San Francisco flagship remains closed. Expect classic SD dishes, such as the shaking beef, cellophane noodles, and spring rolls in a gorgeous space. For cocktails, expect perfected classic cocktails and a wine list befitting any upscale Napa restaurant.

Napa’s destination restaurants aren’t just of the fine dining variety, just ask Rancho Gordo founder Steve Sando, who’s intimately familiar with wine country’s best taco trucks. You’ll find El Muchacho Alegre tucked alongside the Universal Auto repair shop and the move is to order the torta ahogada, a Jaliscian specialty. The meat-filled sandwich is almost like a fiery French dip, served with a gazpacho-like salsa and drenched in a savory tomato and chile sauce.

Going on 40 years, this Napa Valley landmark from chef Cindy Pawlcyn is a go-to lunch spot for local winemakers and is beloved for its comfort food classics that pair great with Napa’s best wines. You can’t go wrong with Mustards Mighty Meatloaf, the Crazy Good Chicken Wings, Famous Mongolian Pork Chop, or Chalkboard Pasta, which changes each day but never disappoints.

This venerable sandwich shop and deli sits conveniently along Highway 29 and has soothed the soul of many a hungry traveler. The restored historic grocery — which has been in operation since 1881 and claims to be the oldest in the state — makes great sandwiches (the muffuletta is locally famous) and wood-fired pizzas. While you’re there, shop for high-end coffee, desserts, wine, olive oil, and other pantry provisions.

Though one of Napa’s main attractions is its upscale restaurant scene, fine dining fatigue is real. Thankfully, the valley is also dotted with taco trucks and small bodegas with back counters that serve good food in a casual setting. La Luna has tacos, quesadillas, and more, but it’s famous for its fully loaded burritos, especially the version stuffed with its delightfully crisp carnitas. If you can get there before 11 a.m., the massive breakfast burrito will lay solid groundwork for even the most ambitious day of wine tasting.

This casual restaurant from Meadowood chef Christopher Kostow has quickly become a staple in St. Helena, popular for its simple, seasonal, and family-style menu of Napa Valley’s bounty, much of it cooked in the huge hearth that’s the centerpiece of the main dining area. The cheeseburger is a top contender for the best burger in Napa Valley, the crudité is both good for you and delicious, and, as for the housemade bread with cultured butter, you’ll be sorry if you don’t go for the whole loaf. The cocktails are simple yet memorable, and they even have large-format cocktails, served in a delightful Art Deco punch bowl. 

Model Bakery has the best English muffins in the world — and some of the world’s best breakfast sandwiches made with said muffins. They’re so delicious that Oprah has admitted to having them flown to her house. The pastry case is stacked with buttery croissants, moist banana bread, cookies, savory bread puddings, and more. Model Bakery has grown from its original digs to two additional locations in Napa (by Oxbow) and Yountville, but several specialty items like avocado toast on sourdough bread with a hard-boiled egg and crispy bacon are only available at the flagship bakery in St. Helena. Breakfast goodies sell out fast, but you can place an order online ahead of time and get some extra muffins to take home. 

Napa Valley has its own constellation of Michelin-starred restaurants, and one of the newer one-star spots is Auro at the Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley. Helmed by chef Rogelio Garcia, the restaurant offers a highly seasonal tasting menu with produce grown and sourced from Triple S Ranch. Expect a hefty wine list as well, with a selection of 250 wines courtesy of sommelier Derek Stevenson.