Drop by the Big Red Barn for the Best Breakfast in Napa Valley
Written: Feb 11 '08 (Updated Feb 16 '08)
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Pros: Well-executed, refined American cuisine at reasonable prices, great service
Cons: Long waits on the weekend due to popularity, limited space for waiting
The Bottom Line: This is a must-visit pit stop for those weekending in Napa/Sonoma as it offers one of the best breakfast/brunches.
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Napa Valley is famous for its wines, its beautiful weather, and its many wonderful amenities which draw tourists from all over the world. One of my favorite reasons to visit Napa Valley is the food. Over the past year, we discovered the Boon Fly Cafe in the Carneros region between Napa and Sonoma and have since visited the area again to specifically to eat here.
Background information
Named for a pioneer who planted orchards and vineyards in Carneros in the 1800s, the Boon Fly Cafe is a refreshing oasis to stop in for a casual meal. While it is technically a roadside cafe, this is a far cry from the typical diners one stumbles upon on road trips.
The Boon Fly Cafe is one of three restaurants that are part of the Carneros Inn resort. Fortunately, Boon Fly is the most reasonable and casual of the three. The website even mentions that guests can order meals packed to go for picnics.
When you approach the property, it doesn't look like your typical resort at all. Instead, the first thing you see is a big red barn and some other metal-sided buildings that look like they could be farm buildings. The entire resort is set up to be reminiscent of a rustic yet luxurious farm that makes the most of the gorgeous landscape.
The Boon Fly Cafe is right next to the Highway 12/121 and is located inside the big red barn. You should know it's a crazy left turn against oncoming traffic if you're coming from Sonoma, since Sonoma Highway has cars speeding by that don't let up enough for you to easily turn left. Thus, we ended up going all the way to the traffic light-controlled intersection to u-turn.
On our first visit on a Monday morning, we were able to pull into the TINY one-way only parking lot that is directly adjacent to the cafe on your right after entering. It has something like 10 spots, which were totally full the second time we came during breakfast on the weekend, so we had to pull an awkward 3 point turn and go the other way to another lot and walk 5 minutes in.
As you drive into that tiny lot on the right, you'll see some swinging benches on the porch--perfect for the inevitable long waits on the weekend. Thank goodness for the AMAZING (and free!) coffee that is available during the wait.
The Dining Experience
Once you enter, the first thing that strikes you is the open interior with its high ceilings. The decor is an interesting mix of industrial touches--exposed ductwork, large farm windows, and corrugated tin accents--and luxurious yet modern choices including stainless steel, microsuede-covered benches, hardwood floors, and classic beadboard wall paneling. It's a cozy space (despite the high ceilings) that I think can seat about 30.
The food is casual "New American" cuisine. Think gourmet execution of comfort foods with a focus on fresh local ingredients. The menu includes typical American entrees like sandwiches, salads, meat and fish entrees, flatbread pizzas, etc.
The First Trip
On our first trip on a late Monday morning, we arrived just 10 minutes after breakfast stopped being served at 11 am. We were kicking ourselves for moving so slowly on a leisurely morning because we both thought the breakfast menu looked much more appealing than the lunch. I can't say it more strongly: COME FOR THE BREAKFAST! Lunch is good, but not spectacular like breakfast is. The restaurant is open daily from 7 am - 9 pm, but breakfast is only served until 11 am on weekdays and there are no exceptions. The waitress said the chef literally tosses out all the breakfast foods at 11.
Thus, I ended up ordering the medium rare American Kobe Burger on a Brioche Poppyseed Bun with choice of cheese ($14)and added the avocado and bacon option ($2), while my husband had the special of the day: mussels (unknown price, as this was last summer and the current menu is for winter).
I can't recall if we definitely ordered the fries, but in looking at the menu, they sound really good so we may have: Crispy French Fries with Malt Vinegar Aïoli ($6.50). Other items on the current winter lunch menu include sandwiches, flatbreads, and some fish and meat entrees. The only ones that catch my eye are the Pappardelle and Slow Braised Short Ribs, Brocollini, Arugula and Parmesan ($16.50) and two of the flatbreads: Point Reyes Blue Cheese, Bacon, Caramelized Onions, Sautéed Mushroom and Thyme ($12.00) and Cow Girl Creamery Farmers Cheese, Red Onion with Ohlone Smoked Salmon, Lemon Cream ($13.00).
We did not order any wine since it was only 11:30 and we had to get back on the road to drive home. However, many critics have praised the wine list at Boon Fly Cafe, which undoubtedly feature Carneros and other Napa Valley wines. I think most folks who stop through are probably either on their way to wine tastings or coming from them, so I don't know how often folks order more wine. But there is a 14 page list on the website with a good variety of both local wines and some from other regions of the world that vary greatly in cost (up to $142/bottle).
I think our regret at missing breakfast colored the whole meal, so it would have had to been an outstanding meal to get us out of that funk. The burger was good (how can you go wrong when making a burger with great ingredients?) while the mussels were decent, and both were reasonably priced, but we weren't super impressed and certainly wouldn't make a special trip here just for lunch.
Service was good (i.e., prompt refills of water, polite and respectful, good pacing, clearing of dishes, etc.), but the restaurant was more than half-empty on a Monday morning, so I wouldn't expect anything less.
During that first meal, we sat at small corner table (where I got the bench seat), though I noticed they also have a large community table and a bar on the left side of the restaurant.
The Second Impression is Even Better!
On our next visit, when we came back just for the breakfast, we made sure to get there well before they stopped serving it (2 pm on the weekends!). But given the strong weekend crowds (even in the off-season!), we ended up eating at the bar, as I was starving and couldn't wait for a table any more after 30 minutes!
While waiting outside with a newspaper on a swinging bench, I had a mimosa (can't recall the price but probably around $10) and my husband enjoyed some complimentary coffee (normally $3). The mimosa was perfectly made--not too heavy on the champagne but also not so light that it tasted like regular orange juice. I tried some of his coffee and found it pleasantly full-flavored and rich. This is definitely a huge step up from diner coffee or even the Hawaiian roasts my husband normally prepares at home on our dinky little coffeemaker!
When one seat opened up at the bar, I asked my husband to take it so he could order us food while I finished reading the paper outside. By that time, I was starving, and I didn't think I could take seeing other bar patrons eating the delicious food when ours hadn't arrived yet. Thus, my husband did all the ordering and the seat next to him opened up minutes after the food arrived. Fortunately, the one advantage to waiting is that we got to see what other folks ordered so a number of his choices were inspired by seeing what other diners had.
We started with the Baker's Dozen Housemade Boon Fly Donuts $7 since we saw a few of those walk right by us on their way into the main dining room. The doughnuts are like large doughnut holes (rather than the circular doughnut I'm used to, as there is no hole), and actually remind me of malasadas (the Portuguese/Hawaiian dessert) topped with a light sprinkling of cinnamon sugar.
A diner at the bar had ordered the Breakfast Flatbread with Two Fried Eggs, Bacon, Caramelized Onions and Mozzarella ($12), which my husband thought I would enjoy so he picked that for me. It was divine! The housemade flatbread is light, yet strong enough to hold the toppings without flopping. I loved the combination of typical breakfast items like eggs and bacon with the caramelized onions and mozzarella. It was probably at least 8" wide, but I inhaled the whole thing (after giving one slice to my husband to try).
My husband ordered the Corned Beef Hash with New Potatoes, Peppers, Poached Eggs and Hollandaise ($11.50) for himself, though I must confess to eating nearly a 1/3 of his plate, too. Everything was exquisitely prepared and with a light touch, giving it a more refined presentation compared to your typical diner breakfast.
Even though we sat at the bar, we still received excellent service. Plates were cleared quickly and coffee was refilled promptly. It was clear that it was exceptionally busy, but service was still clearly a priority.
Other items on the wonderful breakfast/weekend brunch menu that I hope to try soon include:
"Green Eggs and Ham" - Herb Poached Farm Fresh Eggs Wrapped in Applewood Smoked Ham on Crispy Hash Browns with an Herbed Lemon-Leek Cream ($12.00)
Boon Fly Benedict: Grilled Housemade Pain Levain, Thick Sliced Ham, Poached Eggs, and Jalapeno Hollandaise with Crispy Hash Browns ($12.00)
Poppa Joe’s Eggs in a Hole: Grilled Sourdough Bread with Two Fried Eggs in the Center served with Hash Browns and choice of Ham, Sausage or Bacon ($10.50)
B.E.L.T. Applewood Smoked Bacon with One Egg any Style, Lettuce, Tomato, and Mayonnaise on Wild Rice Sourdough Bread ($14.00)
Triple Stack of Buttermilk Griddle Cakes with Real Vermont Maple Syrup (Blueberries, Bananas or Chocolate Chips add a buck) ($9.00)
Other details
It was a beautiful late fall/early winter morning when we went for brunch, so I didn't mind sitting outside on that swinging bench. One should note that the road for cars to enter that tiny one-way lot is just inches away and far too close for my comfort. Every time I saw a car approach, I stopped swinging my bench as I didn't want to risk having my feet hit by a car that drove too closely to the building. I would definitely not feel safe having my toddler running around while waiting outside, so I don't blame those families who squeezed into the bar/corridor area to wait. But that leads to my only complaint: there is not enough room for the waiting crowds on the weekends. Thus, when waiters needed to walk past the bar to bring food to patrons in the seated main area, the waiting patrons sometimes jostled us as we ate at the bar.
The women's bathroom is one large room that was very spacious and stylish. I believe it was white subway tile with stainless steel/chrome accents. I recall it looking very classic and chic. It had at least 2 large chrome hooks for purses/diaper bags/shopping totes, was gleaming clean, and brightly lit with natural light from a window (it had some sort of opaque window liner on it).
Final thoughts
As I said earlier, breakfast/brunch is the star here, at least in our opinion. We can't wait to go back to try the other breakfast entrees. My husband even joked about trying to go today when he saw me working on this review last night. I highly recommend making a pit stop at the Boon Fly Cafe for breakfast on our next trip out to the Napa Valley.
Special thanks to megugrrrl for adding this to the database for me!
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Go for breakfast! It's the best menu with the most options that really caught our attention.
Best Suited For: Friends
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