Press Restaurant in St. Helena

About Press Restaurant

Press Restaurant St. Helena is one of those cult-like restaurants in Napa Valley that everyone adores. I heard about Press over the years and was very curious to see for myself what this restaurant was like. Why would people literally go bananas talking about how fabulous it was? This summer I finally got to experience Press for myself and I understand a bit better all the hype.

Upon arriving and entering the restaurant, you immediately take in the grand ceilings within the interior design. When I arrive on a Sunday at 6:30 pm the restaurant was already packed. It felt buzzing with energy and a lively scene. I sat at a booth with one of the best views on the floor overlooking the dining room and the bar. Tip, if you visit ask for a booth the view is hard to beat!

What to Expect

In terms of what to expect, I would compare Press to a high-end steak house combined with a California farm to table dining experience. They source as much of their food from their own gardens, using the highest quality of meats, seafood, and poultry available.

Some of their Prime beef, including their Cowboy Rib-eye, come from legendary Bay Area butcher Brian Flannery. Their free-range poultry and lamb come from the Sonoma Coast. Plus, they cook on a custom-built wood-fired grill and rotisserie. It’s details like the local sourcing and the wood-fired grill that make a difference in the high-quality foods at Press. See for yourself when you visit and I’m guessing you will be just as impressed as I was!

The beautiful outdoor dining setting.

So fun running into The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker writer Deb Dunnuck. He’s an incredibly knowledgeable, friendly expert in the wine world and it was great bumping into him during my Press visit.

After a day in wine country there is nothing more refreshing that an incredible cocktail. I had a feeling Press would be on their cocktail game and I was not disappointed. This Gin Gimlet was amazing. Perfectly balanced and delicious!

We started with a small seafood platter which was delicious. Super fresh, flavorful and the perfect light start since I was planning to have steak for dinner.

The incredible Filet I enjoyed for dinner. Amazing restaurants make their filet high-quality, flavorful, and excellently prepared.

A visit from the Chef checking in on us.

Thanks to the Press St. Helena team for hosting me for dinner. Honestly, it was lovely getting to finally experience this Napa gem myself.  I loved the beautiful architecture, excellent service, and amazing food and drinks. Truly, Press impressed me!