Ubuntu Restaurant - Napa, California
Since I could not get reservations at the French Laundry, I decided to visit an up and coming "new" restaurant in Napa called Ubuntu. Self-described as a "vegetable" restaurant, not vegetarian, Ubuntu brings a fresh approach to serving seasonal vegetables in an exciting way. You will not find any meat on the menu here and we really did not miss it. The combination of flavors and textures, the elegant plating and the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant will keep me coming back. As I left the restaurant, I told my friend that if I lived anywhere near this place, it would be a second home to me. I enjoyed it THAT much.
left: carrot and orange juice with spiced rim
right: salt-roasted beets and horseradish mousse, orange, dill and Indonesian cubeb pepper (US$9.00)
Crunchy radishes with local chevre, mustard and banyuls vinaigrette, maldon salt (US$9.00).
left: UBUNTU greens dressed with bourbon maple, pear & almond chutney, px vinegar (US$8.00)
right: chickpeas with manchego, olive vinaigrette, pepper quenelles with mint & breadcrumbs (US$9.00)
left: cauliflower in a cast iron pot, roast-puree-"couscous", vadouvan spice, toast (US$13.00)
right: fregola: toasted pearl pasta in mushroom broth, pea tendrils, young carrots, green garlic (US$14.00, half)
potato puree, Robuchon style, with a slow egg, UBUNTU leaks with warm sherry vinaigrette (US$12.00)
left: winter citrus float, kieffer lime-lemograsss soda, grapefruit sherbet (US$8.00)
right: hot chocolate infused with teeccino with stroopwafel, foamed condensed milk (US$4.00)
vanilla bean "cheesecake" in a jar, sour cherries, pine nut sable (US$8.00)
Ubuntu Restaurant and Yoga Studio
1140 Main Street
Napa, California
Telephone: 707.251.5656
website
hello! i just stumbled across your site and the first entry i saw was on one of my favorite cities, napa valley and had to comment! i've never heard of that restaurant but will definitely try it next time!
i am planning on running the honolulu marathon this year so i will be getting ideas on places to eat here :)
Posted by: fumipuriri | April 13, 2008 at 12:07 PM
I will have to try this when I get back to California! Wish I could have met you there, maybe sometime soon in the future. HUGZ :)
Posted by: milgwimper | April 15, 2008 at 11:59 AM
wow, how delicious does THAT look? If you get a chance please visit my food blog http://www.themaindiscourse.com
Posted by: Jason | April 19, 2008 at 03:09 PM
nice pics.
Posted by: RONW | April 19, 2008 at 10:47 PM
looks great!
Posted by: kat | April 20, 2008 at 02:37 PM
Hey Reid - Man does that look good! By the looks of it, I can see why you wouldn't miss meat....
Posted by: Kirk | April 20, 2008 at 03:52 PM
Beautiful. I have to get there one day.
Posted by: Nate 2.0 | April 24, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Wow what an exciting way to have vegetables! I already love my veggies and salad but this would take the tastes to a whole different level. Definitely not stuff you can just throw together at home. Wish we had something similar here in Aus.
Posted by: Rachel | April 26, 2008 at 04:15 AM