PRESS Restaurant St. Helena - Buy Reservations

Helena, you have the view of the vineyards surrounding the property. The ambiance of the place is very open and beautiful when you first walk in. We started with the braised abalone with pickled cucumber and ponzu which was sliced so intricately. We also had the smoked sea scallop which came out on a shell topped with slices of broccoli, chestnut and pear. It was a refreshing way to start the meal. Next, we tried the lobster kuri bisque which was so delicious we were both savoring every last bite. The charred octopus had a black truffle mole sauce with a potato salad. We also tried the beef fat potato which was served with broccolini with lemon shavings and a garlic aoili sauce. Lastly, we got the alaskan halibut which was probably the only dish we would have skipped as it was not super flavorful and lacked some depth. For desserts, we started with the warm apple tatin which was so delicious that we ordered the other two desserts on the menu which were the fig leaf panna cotta and brown butter maple creameux. I really liked the warm apple tatin and the brown butter maple creameux as the flavors complemented each other very well. Overall the meal was wonderful and the presentation of every dish was exquisite. Definitely a great place for a treat meal or celebration!

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Don’t waste your time or money. Press is fully on the decline. We’ve dined her many times over the last 15 years and won’t be back. The new menu style is grossly overpriced for what you get. Service was just off timing and a bit prickly. No one cleared our sparkling wine glasses until late in the meal. Our “entree” aka tiny snack came long before our dinner wine service…we actually had to ask about the wine since it took so long. Desert was the only redeeming experience.

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Been there many times and probably last. Service wad average, food not surprising. I had some steak and it was completely average! Service was average! Not bad but I would expect something better. One of my favorite restaurants and probably my las visit.

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Good size portions, food was spectacular and seasonally appropriate, service was top notch. Ambiance was romantic and upscale. Better experience than some 1 stars we have had. 10/10 would recommend and a must visit!

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We try to try a new restaurant every time we go up and for an early Valentine's Day we tried Press. We could only get 5 pm reservations and let me tell you, we were so impressed. The service was impeccable. Definitely ask to speak with a sommelier. Ours was a MASTER sommelier and was so knowledgeable about all the wine. As for the food we were very impressed. I was hesitant about the pig ears (I'm not that adventurous) and it was my FAVORITE dish. Definitely get it! Honestly I'd skip the oysters, the foam was a little weird. Dessert was really good too! I forget the formal name but it was a hazelnut ice cream and cake. We both agreed Press is our favorite restaurant in Napa so far and we will be returning.

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It's definitely a dining experience (expensive food, small portions, lovely plating). I wouldn't do this often, but for my birthday it was fun. The risotto was wonderful and the chicken was cooked perfectly. I wasn't in love with all the dishes which is why I gave the 4 stars, but our mains were great.

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Food was okay and the drinks were perfect. I would only go back for small bites and drinks when in the area. Food wasn't terrible, just wasn't spectacular for the $$ Way too many good choices in the area. The restaurant is very pretty and cozy

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Alright, where to start? Service or food? Both were EXCELLENT.Okay, I'll start with service. The moment that we walked in we were treated with such respect and attention to detail. Our water glasses never got below half-full and the sommelier was happy to recommend a wine for every dish. Our server was so kind and really good at directing us to to right dishes. I sprained my ankle the night before and had to hobble around all our tastings and in the dining room when we entered. The host at the front (gosh, I wish I had gotten his name) came and checked on me and asked me how I was doing. When I told him my foot/ankle really hurt he returned with a chair for me to prop it up on. The kind gesture made me want to cry/hug him. Okay the food. I'm a vegetarian so I know my dietary restrictions can be challenging but dang, PRESS nailed it. I started with a little appetizer salad that was absolutely amazing and ended with the truffle risotto (which melts in your mouth!). They also hand grated the truffle after removing it from a wooden humidor, very fancy and cool. My husband was smiling the whole dinner and said he LOVED everything he tasted. PRESS, you guys nailed it. We made memories tonight and we WILL be back. Thank you guys!

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The portions are small beautiful but small. I had the Octopus croquette to start. It arrived on a raised up dish with little space to actually cut it with the fork given. I thought to myself did the chef ever actually try to eat it off this dish? .... A challenge ! The Lobster bisque was good but nothing to blow my mind ! The Sole was rather a disappointment, it just lacked real flavor. The portion was small and I would have loved a nice play on vegetables around it ! Chives didn't really do it. For the price I would have expected more of a wow moment . My daughter had the NY steak which was amazing. The Apple Tart to follow was the high light it was heavenly !All in all we enjoyed it but were underwhelmed for the high price point. We have dined all over the Napa Valley and the world. Out of all the high end Napa restaurants ,think this was our least favorite! Money was no object but that doesn't mean I don't want value! The service was impeccable. The lady who greeted us was so delightful and had a lovely smile. Would we return ? I think we have been there done that.

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One of the first restaurants we were recommended to try while visiting Napa, we were excited that this restaurant offers so many types of small plates so that we could try many different menu options. We tried multiple plates and not a single one disappointed. The salmon tartare, the dry-aged beef tartare, and the lobster-kuri bisque were our top picks - absolutely delicious and worth the try.The entire restaurant is beautiful and wonderfully designed. We had to make reservations in advance. We showed up early, and while our table wasn't ready, they let us sit and the bar. Their signature drinks are on point. This is a must try while in Napa Valley.

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Press has been a Napa Valley fine dining staple for over 15 years - known for its meticulously sourced cuts of aged beef that pair well with big Napa Cabs, along with amazing shellfish selection. This has evolved and elevated by chef Philip Tessier, previously at a Le Bernardin, Per Se, and French Laundry. The cocktail program also set a high bar for the evening. Drinks are refreshing and well balanced.You can't go wrong with the ricotta gnudi for apps. In fact, order a bunch of apps that is a feast for your tummy and the eyes. The famous bocuse chicken was amazing. The braised abalone ($15) with some thinly sliced cucumber at the bottom was tender and full of flavors, the lobster bisque ($20) had great chunks of fresh lobster and edible flower garnish. Press also has one of the most comprehensive Napa Valley-exclusive wine lists with more than 1,800 selections.

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Two were in The Before Times and the last two were in 2021 and last month. It seems like fine dining is still attempting to adapt to how life is NOW. Legacy staff are all gone and there is a new generation of servers and sommeliers out there who are trying to find their fit as teams. I understand that times are challenging, but Press is an expensive experiment to me. Maybe in a few more months they will be back to their former luster.Our last visit was in January. I worried how the Omicron surge would affect the staffing at the restaurant, and unfortunately my fears became a reality. We were entertaining guests from Michigan who are well-versed in fine-dining. They take me out to some very nice venues when I visit, and we wanted to do so in kind. I talked up Press quite a bit, but ended up having to make excuses for the experience. I'll attempt to give the Reader's Digest version of my complaints since I know I tend to go on and on...The service was good until it wasn't. The main person handling our table seemed to grow impatient with us as the evening wore on. I expect more. To the contrary, the sommelier was very upbeat and he saved the evening. He was the one who seemed to actually care about our dining experience. He was there in July of 2021 as well as in January. His enthusiasm for wine is palpable and his recommendations were spot on. Unfortunately, Press is really lacking in their solo glass selections. I concur with another diner (recent review, you'll have to hunt for it) regarding their bottles being super pricey. Press before the pandemic had many bottles under $200. I know the mark up on wine so I don't feel like it's uncalled for to have a bit more then they offer in that range. Over a grand for a bottle? That's just a profit grab and we all know it. Maybe that's just the way wine lists are now. Ask me in six months after I've traveled a bit more throughout the country.The food: it was good but not on the level of pre-pandemic. This is the second Tomahawk I've had there. It did not knock our socks off. Sadly, our memory will be of our leftovers getting tossed. I specifically said to whomever cleared our plates, "THAT IS GOING HOME WITH US." It was one slice of meat as well as the bone. It's sort of THE REASON why you order that meal folks: you want to be a heathen and chew on the bone in private. When our leftovers never returned, it was truly a sad day. I'll spare you how the restaurant attempted to rectify the situation, but it was awkward. It also took way too long to be remedied...Lastly: the dessert menu is really weird. I can say that. I've dined around the world and even in Antwerp, the dessert menu has never looked so bizarre (Belgium has some very odd ideas about sweets at their Michelin starred restaurants). There is usually a safe chocolate dish and a fancy one. Not this time around. Our friend really just wanted something chocolate that tasted like chocolate. There are those of us who are in the "leave your fruit out of my chocolate" camp. We are a die hard bunch who usually have had childhood trauma regarding non-consensual fruit additions. It wasn't the hint or orange his dessert that slayed him though. No, it was the olive oil sorbet. I'm a good sport but even I couldn't stomach that selection. The rest of us at the table were all similarly displeased with our desserts. I feel like the pastry chef is just trying too hard. You don't need to add "all of the things" to a dessert to make it fancy and tasty. I know. I'm a bit of a baker. Maple and huckleberries aren't always a good match.One more thing: the cream brought to our table was sour. My partner wondered why our coffee seemed off. Then he tasted the cream on its own. I was dubious. It was completely foul. Yes, it was replaced and the sommelier made sure we had a stop gap item brought out before our regular dessert, but even so. I expect more for $$$$.I'll return, at some point. I really want this place to be great but I feel like more time needs to pass for it to return to its former glory.

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Been to press many times over the years and we were all extremely underwhelmed. Portions were about half the size of normal and just lacking in flavor etc.
Chicken had barely any flavor or seasoning, the best thing on the menu was lobster but at $78 I could’ve bought two whole lobsters instead of a few pieces in between the pasta. Black cod was just OK
And for a small ring of epi- bread $16 was ridiculous. We don’t mind spending money when it’s fair S or as portions go but you can definitely see the change, and I understand a lot of things are blamed on the virus ,however they had full staff in the restaurant that night, or so it looked like it as there were a lot of servers walking around. Also noticed a lot of empty tables as well. Sign of the times, or just lack of attention to flavor and creativity?

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Ridiculously small dishes, completely overpriced. There are so many places that you can eat better, that it’s offensive to be charged this amount of money. Not even the service was confortable. Sorry, not worth it. Get out there, put your money in any other of the delicious restaurants in the area.

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