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