Visit Napa This Fall
Author:Annette HanamiFall is in the air, leaves are changing and the scent of wine is everywhere. If this doesn’t lure you to Wine Country, come to check out these new hot spots in Downtown Napa.
CADET Beer and Wine Bar
I love this hidden gem tucked away in a pedestrian alley off Franklin Street. When friends Colleen Fleming and Aubrey Bailey decided to open a beer and wine bar, they narrowed their search to Downtown Napa. Walking around one day, Fleming came across a non-descript, former storage space behind the First Street storefronts, its interiors shrouded from view. But she saw the potential of the alleyway location and its clean, mid-century lines.
They hired SF architect Kevin Zeller of Zero Ten Design to help create a space that was timeless, more metro than country, and inviting for guests to explore a broad range of drinks.
Photo courtesy CADET Beer and Wine Bar
The focal point of the room is the large, 12-seat chevron-shaped bar and soffit, its angular shape creating a dynamic, interactive environment between the owners and among guests. Dropped brass lighting, in the subtle shape of uniform buttons, keeps the focus on the unique international beverage selections.
CADET offers a focused menu of bar bites, but follow them for the occasional pop-up dinner by local chefs. Also planned are theme nights such as “Going back to Cali”, $25 decanter nights and “Big Monday” when they’ll open rare and magnum wines. Open Monday-Thursday 5 p.m. to 12 p.m., until 1:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. 930 Franklin Street, Napa
Mango On Main Bangkok Street Food
Bangkok-style street food has arrived in Downtown Napa with Mango on Main, a 1,500 square foot, 40-seat restaurant headed by Mee Pengchareon and wife/chef Anchalee Chitamnauyothin. Like the simplicity and diversions of street food, the new space adds charming touches of Asia – a carved Indian door, a collage of paper umbrellas softening the natural light above and black and white images of old Bangkok. All the tables, sourced from Wooden Duck, are made from rare Port Orford cedar wood reclaimed from UC Berkeley Memorial stadium.
Mango on Main’s Bangkok Noodles with a lemongrass Tom Yum broth
The street food additions to the menu of the popular Mini Mango – which will eventually be replaced by Mango on Main – include a variety of intensely flavored hot noodle soups that’s perfect for the cool weather approaching. Offerings include tangy Tom Yum, coconut infused Tom-kha, classic beefy Pho, green or yellow curries, as well as Southeast Asian Laksa, Chinese-style stir fry and Japanese inspired ramen or udon dishes. According to Mee, Bangkok is a melting pot of Asian cultures which is represented in the variety of different street foods.
The Crab Rangoon
Also on the menu are finger foods such as Micronesia rolls, Indochine corn fritters, Laotian Larb lettuce wraps and a daily-changing Bangkok bite. Mango on Main also offers local and international wines by the bottle and glass.
Mango on Main is open daily for lunch and dinner, check website for hours. 1142 Main Street, Napa
