A friend and I came in for dinner on a Thursday night. We sat on the very cute patio, where they had some heat lamps to ensure comfort. Our server was friendly and attentive. For the meal we had the french onion soup, bouillabaisse, duck confit, tiramisu, and bread pudding. We also split a bottle of wine. Everything was absolutely delicious! The french onion soup was rich and flavorful without being overly salty. The bouillabaisse had ample meat and a rich and savory base to sop up with the bread. The duck confit was crispy skinned, moist, and not greasy, on a delicious bean base and roasted onion and tomato base. Finally, our desserts were the perfect finishing touch; sweet, delicate, and balanced. Absolutely recommend! read more

See all

Simple French! This guy keeps it same as neighborhood style The "French" onion soup is up front and perfect example. Bouillabaisse is to be experienced not explained. Highly recommend Enjoy read more

Been here twice now and do not recommend for dinner. Pretty patio, good wine. Maybe bring some friends to have some wine, but definitely do not eat. Very slow service on the food as well (I write this after 2 visits over 3 years; 2 random repeated bad nights?) read more

This was my first time Evangeline and was impressed! They have considerable outdoor dining, but we opted for indoor as the interior is adorably cute & efficiently laid out. We both ordered the salmon special and were happy with our decisions. Salad was both fresh & artistic too! Service was excellent. read more

See all

Came in for dinner and was immediately impressed with the sophisticated ambiance. You would have no idea of what to expect from the outside. Was seated in a cozy booth next to the window and was soon greeted by the food server, Wendy. Super sweet woman. I wanted to treat myself to a very nice dinner and was not going to rush this. I started with their Sazerac which was so smooth and warmed me up since it was a cold and dreary evening. Wendy didn't rush me...let me finish my cocktail before ordering. I decided on the bouillabaisse and a glass of Rombauer Sauvignon Blanc to go with it. The wine was brought to me first and was perfect as Rombauer usually is. I was able to enjoy my wine a bit before my main course came out. The bouillabaisse was incredible. Lots of fish (Salmon and a white fish) along with several clams, muscles crab legs and potatoes in the most awesome broth based liquid. Two wonderful pieces of garlic toasted sourdough served along with it. This stew was OUTSTANDING to say the least. After I devoured my dish, and the plates were cleared Wendy came over (again, not rushing me at all) to check and see if I had room for dessert and/or coffee. OF COURSE I did. I knew that if my meal was great then dessert had to be wonderful. I was not disappointed with my choice of housemade bread pudding and vanilla bean ice cream with caramel sauce and a cappuccino to finish a beautiful and delicious dinner. read more

Evangeline - Bread pudding with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce along with a wonderful cappuccino - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Calistoga, California

See all

Had dinner and sat inside. Our server was attentive and everything was timed perfectly. We had the gumbo and the short rib on polenta. Food was cooked perfectly! I would definitely return. read more

Ambiance was fantastic. Rainy night...covered patio, heat lamps. Food was meh and service was meh. We ordered the seasonal cocktail. It was delivered as the regular cocktail. But the waitress never bothered to check. When brought to her attention, I was told I was wrong and that we could share 1 of the correct drink. So rude. read more

A very mediocre experience for what we paid. We were initially seated in the enclosed patio area but it was very drafty and must have been close to some drain since there was a nasty smell. Staff were accommodating and moved us to a table inside. Food was just ok. The short rib and halibut mains were ok, the seared ahi tuna main and poached pear salad were bad in multiple ways. Left disappointed read more

3.5-4 stars. A nice ambiance that suits all seasons, but could use some TLC and more frequent cleanings. The four cocktails we sampled were all wonderful, but the sangria was a real treat! Our server was fantastic, and he deserves the bulk of this review. There were some great bites, but also some letdowns with the food. Calamari, parpadelle Bolognese, and the French onion soup were nice. Unfortunately, the fried chicken was dry and intolerable. The breading was not a traditional flour dredge like many photos; it's now much more of a cornmeal breading, and had I known that, I wouldn't have ordered it. The "whipped" potatoes were starchy and over processed, yet the coleslaw was a nice acidic relief--fresh and dressed nicely. I think I would likely return, but with more tempered expectations. read more

The cocktails were delicious! The Mezcalita unbelievable, the pear salad delicious, and the hangar steak dinner with roasted Brussels, and mashed potato purée was Devine! I only wish this French restaurant had Escargot and French Onion soup! I say go you won't be let down! read more

See all

This is our first visit to Calistoga, quaint little town. Dined in last evening and were greeted at the door by friendly staff. There is seating inside and outside. We chose inside because it was 90 degrees outside. Began with Beet salad, wonderful, next we had the Drake Bay oysters, which were good ( we are Malpeque fans from PEI Canada). We ended with Gumbo Ya Ya. Absolutely amazing, nice thick rouge. Loved it. Great friendly staff, fantastic dining experience. Prides are compatible to other quality restaurants and would recommend this establishment to all that enjoy good food. Thank you for a wonderful evening. read more

We dined at Evangeline mid-November and had a great experience. Food and service was excellent. Had the braised short ribs and steak. Of course they had an excellent wine selection but we brought our own bottle for a nominal corkage fee. Don't forget to try the espresso martinis! read more

Evangeline - Espresso Martinis - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Calistoga, California

See all

The portions are quite large, but there's a lack of attention to detail I would typically expect at this price point. - The chicory, prosciutto, and apple salad was light and refreshing--perfect for an early fall evening after wandering around Calistoga. - The rice with the chicken was extremely crunchy to the point I had to spit out a few grains. The seasoning was also inconsistent on the chicken between two pieces on the same plate. - The short rib was wonderfully tender, but lacked any real flavor. To make up for this, the polenta was extremely salty. - The vegetables on the plate seemed to be more consistently seasoned. - The tarte tatine was a nice desert, but I had a few bites that were really burnt. The water also tastes pretty bad. I know some restaurants like to up charge for bottled or sparkling water, but it is environmentally irresponsible not to offer filtered water in this day and age. When I initially declined to order a bottled water, the waiter emphasized that the water otherwise would be tap. I did not think it could be that bad, but it was, and I ultimately ordered a bottle of sparkling instead. (This choice was somewhat on me, admittedly.) Overall, this was a pleasant dining experience in a lovely outdoor courtyard. A few little tweaks could make this something quite special, but as it stood, there the food just wasn't quite what we'd hoped for. read more

See all

Nice ambience. Not very busy on a week night. Food was just ok for the price. A small cup of French onion soup was $21, I'm even shocked by that price. Cocktails were good so was dessert. None of the mains were that noteworthy. Next time I'd probably explore other places that have food to support that price point. read more

Great place to go for wine and ambiance but the food was rather pricy and I would rate the quality of the food just above Appleby's based on my wife and my dishes. Both entrees were overcooked and her chicken was borderline inedible. The service was also middling for a restaurant with these prices. However, the wine selection was nice and the patio area has a great vibe. read more

Fantastic experience. Delicious food and beautiful patio and outdoor seating. We are from Europe and loved the French atmosphere. Absolutely can recommend this outstanding restaurant. read more

See all

We love French food and don't have access to a restaurant near our home, so we were excited to find this place during our trip to Napa. The ambiance is warm and romantic. It's quiet and the service is good. Our cocktails were delicious and the soup was flavorful. The coq au vin was bland and the meat wasn't tender. The gumbo was hearty and spicy. The sausage was a chore because each slice had to be cut into smaller pieces which was a bit annoying. We were unsure why our food took so much longer to get than the surrounding tables but it did. Not sure we'll return since there are so many other tasty looking options nearby and we don't get to Napa more than once or twice a year. read more

See all

Food is pretty tasty, however needs some help. -no bread service -salty beans -overly plain/simple gem salad (it was literally whole leaves lightly dressed with some pickled carrots and 2 cherry tomatoes) -uncooked potato gratin cake Service was friendly but the host was young and inexperienced and overwhelmed or confused. Our server informed us the food we ordered was out and didn't bring a menu which resulted in an expensive error. The ambience is nice, but strange. Plastic table covers with roses. Almost all of the seating is outside on the patio with heat lamps or outside in an fabric enclosed structure with heat lamps. It's dim and seems a romantic setting but the ground is quite uneven, and they sat us with really bad feng shui (back facing the black cloth wall and away from entry). There were a couple errors and/or miscommunications on the bill, and they were not very accommodating (they took $3 off but would not reduce the price for something we did not intend to order). read more

Evangeline - Ribeye steak, undercooked gratin, grilled Asparagus - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Calistoga, California

See all

Went for dinner. Ordered two bowls of the Bouillabaisse. One had two large pieces of crab, mine had one small one. When I pointed it out to our waiter he said that the other person was just lucky. I told him that was not acceptable. He came back and said the kitchen told him that the entrees were assembled by weight and there was nothing he could do. At almost $50 a dish I was not happy at all. Hope that bit of crab helped your bottom line that night. You won't see me again. read more

When we arrived greeter indicated choice of two tables indoors-both near party of two screaming children. We said no. Then offered outdoor table and he would turn on heater. Cold January night. Then tent area heaters were turned on and we ate there. Felt like not ready for patrons. Cocktails and service good. Food very nice but our entrees were cold on arrival. They definitely have potential. read more

We started at Sam's dinner club but the host had a conniption fit about me opening my bottle of wine!! 1 star for them, the guy was so embarrassing my quiet friends wanted to leave. So I got the last reservation at Evegaline's!! We got there and were escorted to an outside dining area with plenty of heat from the heat lamps. We ordered our dinner and the waiter came over and uncorked the magnum 1.5 Liter of Sean Thackrey's Sirius a silky smooth Petite Sirah from 2008. It was exquisite and super delicious!! Get a hold of me if interested in a Magnum of Sean Thackrey's wine! I had the Risotto done with saffron and Mike had the New York steak which we split our entrees! Then Emily had the Risotto with Shrimp and Robert had the Prime Rib special all were complimented. Then we had dessert Robert and Emily split a Panna Cotta and Mike and I had the chocolate mousse and everything was delicious and they only charged us for one corkage fee, our water was informative and appropriately friendly. We had a fantastic meal and I'll be back!! read more

See all

Great food, great service, great setting. This place just never disappoints. Also, nice pleasant music, not like a few other places in town that overwhelm you with a loud singer. read more

I have mixed feelings with Evangeline. Let me start with the service, which was really good. Our server was attentive and courteous. We came in a Saturday lunch and the place was not crowded at 1pm. Lots of seating in the patio. The brunch menu food is ok. The oysters were a little sandy. All other dishes were just ok. The complementary cake and ice cream for Mother's Day was a nice surprise. I would go back again and try the regular menu. read more

See all

Recommended by the front desk at our hotel. We were drawn by the promise of seafood and Cajun. We shared a crab cake appetizer. The crab cakes were meaty and flavorful. My dining partner got the Gumbo Ya Ya and I got the Halibut. The gumbo was flavorful, spicy and chock full of chicken and andouille. The Halibut was a salty, dried presentation on a bed of beans, pearl onions and squash. We shared a tasty bed pudding for dessert. We were seated in a pleasant heated & covered dining patio. Service was pleasant and efficient. All in all an enjoyable meal and experience. read more

See all

First off- I wanted to love this place, it's like a little Hallmark movie set, beautiful. The food was good, seafood stew was good, the pasta dish was well done and tasty. The wine pour was pretty stingy for the area though. The bad part was even though we were seated indoors, there were little gnats flying about all dinner. I pointed this out to the server who basically shrugged. Very disappointing. read more

I'm very disappointed I have to do this review but need to keep it real. Been coming to this restaurant for over a decade and this was the most disappointing food experience not service experience I have encountered. Calamari Misto- nicely done Pork tenderloin, overdone, cooked and dry Short ribs, extremely sweet and the smallest portion. The fries were delicious though. Steak frites- the cut was underwhelming and the seasoning was not on par with what we've had before. We skipped dessert read more

Sent back both our meals! Excessively salty! Squash soups was great! Very very disappointing!! Not a favorite of ours

Food was ok Over priced! The friend chicken could of better batter, I was let down! They had good customer service but the food was subpar. read more

Evangeline - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Calistoga, California

See all

Seared Hokkaido Scallop 4 super juicy large scallops, crispy yellow parsnip strips & light creamy puree, refreshing pomegranate touch French Onion Soup 3 cheesy topping, soggy croutons, slightly sour Shrimp Etouffee 4 large juicy shrimp, white rice, hush puppies (deep fried yellow grain balls), mildly spicy, flavorful Braised Neiman Ranch Pork Shoulder 2 slightly dry pork, sour braised cabbage, roasted apple, mustard puree Panna Cotta 4 light, creamy, syrupy blueberries, not too sweet read more

Delicious food, friendly servers, large covered patio seating, leisurely service. We enjoyed our evening at Evangeline. There is limited seating indoors, but their patio has multiple areas with heat lamps to stay warm. The Cajun and Zydeco music makes this little restaurant seem more lively than it actually is. The bar was clean and the craft cocktail list was modest but diverse. The wine list by the glass was also brief. The bottle list was only about 30 choices, but most were priced north of $200. (It's Napa county... What did you expect?) Our reservation was at 7:30. We arrived at 7 and ordered a drink at the bar. By 7:20 the host rushed us to our table because 'they have to turn their tables'. Minus 1 star for rushing us. That's a huge no-no. The fried pickles were a stand out for me. They were really good thick cut pickles to begin with but they were fried to a crunchy perfection. The dipping sauce had just enough zing to bring out the pickles for flavors. This app is a 5 out of 5. We both tried the French Onion soup and enjoyed it immensely. It was hot and steamy with a layer of gooey melted cheese layered on top, spilling down the sides of the cup. The broth was a rich veal stock loaded with onions. I would have liked a few more croutons in my cup but it was a hearty soup course all the same. The steak part of the steak frites entree was exceptional if not a bit undercooked for the med rare we ordered. That beef melted in your mouth, it was so tender. Never had a flatiron steak so good before. The burger was a near perfect entree. The cousteux bun had a great crust with a soft crumb that held up to the rest. The burger was ground American wagyu, OMG! The Louis sauce was just enough to bring it all together without overpowering the beef and crispy produce. Oh, and those pickles once again were a hit! The only lackluster component were the fries. They were extra starchy and needed more seasoning. They came with a presumably house made ketchup and mayonnaise on the side, neither of which I cared for. Unfortunately when you order an entree that is 50% fries, that is kind of a bummer when they don't stand up to the beef. Recommend you make a reservation as they can get busy. read more

See all

From start to finish this was a wonderful dining experience. Enjoyed the best old fashion cocktail ever. The beet salad and little gem salad were delish. We had the Gumbo and Bouillabaisse that was plentiful and sooooo flavorful. The staff were delightful. We will definitely return. read more

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with great service and outstanding food. From the drink to the desert everything was amazing. We only can recommend that place with a beautiful, romantic atmosphere. read more

We were celebrating our 40-year anniversary and decided to give Evangeline a try. Very nice ambiance and pleasant staff. They gave us a complimentary glass of sparkling wine. The food was very good, but I wouldn't rate it as the highest caliber restaurant we've ever been at. The bread rolls we ordered were very fresh, however lacked any salt and slightly bland. Worth a try if you happen to be in Calistoga. read more

This is one of our go to spots in Calistoga. Always a great menu, outside seating area year round is gorgeous and well maintained - the food is chefs kiss!! read more

See all

During our short trip to Calistoga to celebrate Mom's birthday, we included dinner at Evangeline on December 22, 2022 in our itinerary. We had a nice time, though the food left us a bit hungry for more impressive plates, especially for some of their high prices. Venue: B+ grade/4 stars: Staying at the Mount View Hotel & Spa, the restaurant was only a five-minute walk from our place of lodging. Perhaps business is slow during the days close to Christmas as there was no shortage of parking in the streets. There were only a few occupied tables when we arrived, but we came with reservations, so were seated immediately at the front corner table. They never filled up to capacity that evening, the night appeared to be on the slow side, so anyone who came without reservations was also seated without wait. The venue is a cute place, offering indoor, bar, and patio seating. Our booth table, adjacent to the front door, was not dressed with any tablecloth, but the entire space appeared to be clean and very well kept. They were also festive and ready for the holidays with their lit Christmas lights and Christmas tree. Food & Drink: C- grade/2 stars: The bread shaped as a vine and butter molded into a fleur de lis were cute and enjoyable. Heads-up - they charge a hefty $5 for this. Irish Coffee - Good. ($16.50) Skuna King Salmon - Mom found the fish to be dry. ($29) Chicken Gumbo Yaya - Disappointingly extremely bland...and not big enough to qualify as a MAIN. This should be an appetizer. I had to add salt, pepper AND hot sauce for flavour, but it still was not satisfactory. I then ended up ordering a French Onion Soup from the SMALL menu to feel like I ate an entrée. At $27, this is an expensive bowl and not worth even half the price. Skip this. French Onion Soup - A good choice for a cold winter night, but, again, $19 for this cup of soup is steep. Definitely more flavourful than my bowl of gumbo. Panna Cotta - I love panna cotta as well as blueberries, so this beautifully decorated and creamy dessert with blueberry sauce and poppies was an instant winner for me. ($12.50) Service: B+ grade/4 stars. Initially, I didn't think that service was warm and fuzzy. As the night went on and we began to converse more with our server, my opinion changed. Our waitress was very amiable and we enjoyed engaging in conversations with her. She even served a complimentary scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with a lit candle for Mom to blow out and make a wish for her birthday. Going beyond her server duties, our waitress even offered to take several photos of us outside. She took at least fifteen minutes of her time on our mini photo shoot before closing the restaurant. She was very sweet and friendly. Unfortunately, we likely will not return. The food was just not satisfying enough for us foodies to come back for another visit, even if they adjusted their prices accordingly. read more

See all

Hubby and I venture to try Evangeline for Sunday Funday. We sat outside in the garden area. It was nice and shaded on a hot August say. The Bloody Mary was solid with plenty of decedent trash. The service was good. I enjoyed the fried chicken but it's not the best in the valley. I personally prefer Adhoc fried chicken but overall Evangeline is a solid 7/10. I will definitely go back. read more

Evangeline - Bloody Mary - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Calistoga, California

Visited on a quiet Monday evening. Initial drink and appetizer arrived quickly, but after that, crickets... Despite only 4-5 tables of diners, it took over an hour before our entrees arrived. Wouldn't have been so bad if Raul (our server) had checked in to perhaps ask if we would like another drink. Cocktails were ok, and the peach & prosciutto salad was spectacular, but the entrees were so-so. Steak Frites seems to have set out for part of that hour, and the fried chicken dinner did not include a breast or any white meat at all. Huge disappointment- cannot recommend read more

Evangeline - Peach & Proscuito Salad - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Calistoga, California

We had the Misto combination with Shrimp and Calamare and the Gumbo Ya-ya, with the Gem salad on the side. Wonderful and with a glass of pinot and friendly service, a great experience! read more

Evangeline is a locally-owned French restaurant located in downtown Calistoga and serves Creole food. We made reservations online beforehand and were seated right away for a party of four. There is some but not much indoor seating, outdoor seating, and also heated outdoor seating. BRAISED NIMAN RANCH PORK SHOULDER ($29) - this wasn't melt-in-your-mouth braised like I would've expected but it was okay. It was crispy on the outside but as the evening went on the inside got more dry and tough. The maple syrup was an interesting touch. 3/5 BRAISED CALIFORNIA LAMB SHANK ($33) - this was literally fall-off-the-bone. It was slightly gamy but in a good way. 3.5/5 CHICKEN GUMBO YAYA ($26) - this was my favorite dish of the three. I loved the flavor and slight spice of the gumbo and the sausage. I just wished there was more of it! 4.5/5 ST. CLAUDE SAZERAC ($16) - I liked that this sazerac used a more traditional split base of rye and cognac. It was very dry and spirit forward. 4.5/5 ESPLANADE MANHATTAN ($18) - I'm not sure why this drink had a $2 sub charge whereas all the other drinks didn't. Regardless, this was also a nice spirit forward drink but I preferred the sazerac. 3.5/5 At the end of the meal we ordered the creme brûlée ($12.5) which was good but not out-of-this-world. Overall I was expecting a little more flavor given the typical flavor bombs I get from Cajun food. It wasn't bad though and the staff was very nice. read more

See all

It was our first night of a three day mini spa vacation at Indian Springs in Calistoga. We were looking forward to a good dining experience to kick things off. I have never posted a review with anything as low as two stars. However, last night's experience at Evangeline has left me, disappointed, and very perplexed. It was only just one item in the dining experience, but to me I find it just unconscionable that a restaurant that sees itself as a fine dining establishment would allow this to occur. My husband ordered the special entrée that night, which was a flat steak grilled, with a Bordelaise sauce. The meat was inedible. He took one bite and was clearly upset and said "This tastes awful." I asked him to slice me off a piece, I tasted it, and although I have never tasted cardboard, the expression "tastes like cardboard" was spot on. The meat was dry and tasteless. I think it was most likely old in the freezer and they were trying to sell it off. But for $48, it was insulting. I don't know how any restaurant with that popularity and advertised caliber could permit this to leave the kitchen. We replaced the dish with a rigatoni Bolognese, which was excellent. Indeed, everything else about the evening was a good experience. The oysters were sweet, plump, briny and delicious. The Parker rolls were hot and steaming from the oven; my boullaibaise was delicious and teeming with seafood, including Dungeness crab - it was truly a generous portion of seafood. The service was excellent; very hospitable, friendly, and attentive. They comped us one of our martinis, and albeit it was a top shelf, Hendrix gin martini, the effort seemed token for such a culinary disaster. We're not hating Evangeline, but I don't think we'll be back. read more