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

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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

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

Brunch anyone? Location, downtown Calistoga. Options to sit inside or outside, chose outside as they had a beautiful garden. Upfront service was a little of a debbie downer with the multiple servers that assisted us. One please smile and do not ignore us or say I'll be right back and you forgot what I asked for. One server had a language barriers, did not understand or asked someone to interpret. Food: filling and great options. I want to give Evangelines another chance but for dinner. Great choice before you explore wine country. read more

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We love Calistoga and we're thrilled to add this restaurant to our list of great dinner spots when we visit (as there are about 4/5 in my opinion). For a date night, I think the outside area has amazing ambience. With the greenery overhead, it gives off nice, intimate vibe. To start, we had a few cocktails (the old fashioned was delicious) and the fried green tomatoes were on point. Having lived in the south, my expectations are always high. I liked the cheese dip with it, too. The deviled eggs were also fantastic little bites. I ended up getting the peaches with prosciutto for my dinner because I wanted something lighter- especially after the appetizers. It was really good. I would note this is probably not your pick for a healthy or lighter dinner...but if you want some hearty creole food, then this is your spot! read more

Evangeline - Peaches with prosciutto - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Calistoga, California

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Evangeline treated us well on our first night in Calistoga with a magical dinner. Sitting in the courtyard outside, where we didn't have to worry about the humidity we usually experience in South Florida, we were quite comfortable and content as we noshed on the various food entrees and cocktails we ordered. Since we were celebrating our first wedding anniversary, the restaurant welcomed us with complimentary sparkling wine, which was quite lovely. From there, we ordered drinks, where the St. Claude Sazerac and Paloma were refreshing. I completely enjoyed the freshly baked bread from Bucheron with butter reduction, while the confit of beets was sweet and tasty. The braised California lamb shank was tantalizing and satisfying. The restaurant served a complimentary chocolate mousse for dessert, which was a lovely anniversary touch to conclude our evening. read more

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We had reservations for dinner here after our tour at a nearby winery but we're running a bit behind. We tried giving them a call but ended being placed on hold for 10 minutes. Luckily we were seated immediately so everything worked out in the end. Although we were seated outside, and I'm not sure if it was because we were seated close to some pipes but there was a heavy sulfuric smell. We were pretty hungry at this point and had a few glasses of wine in us already but food seemed to come out a little slow that night. We ordered some fried Brussels sprouts for the table, the lamb shank, gumbo, shrimp etouffee, and the braised short rib. The Brussels sprouts were good but honestly what fried food isn't delicious? We thought that the braised short rib was the best dish of the night. It was a big piece of short rib, flavored well and super tender. The lamb shank was also tender. I didn't care too much for the gumbo yaya as it seemed pretty watery which was disappointing cause I was looking forward to having that. The shrimp etouffee was also just alright unfortunately. I think overall, this spot is just okay but at least we gave it a shot otherwise we wouldn't have known. read more

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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

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

This spot is super cute and the staff is fantastic. We need to go back and experience the food again though. The wife and I have been eating gluten free for a while now and decided to splurge on a regular burger. We opted to try the wagyu burger. In all honesty, the price didn't match the expectation. The patty was thin, the burger was packed with your normal burger stuff, but nothing that made it special. Burger, Fries, and fried Brussel sprouts are the same that I would expect to get at BJ's sports franchise. Not super impressive. We showed up without a reservation and the staff was super accommodating, on point, service was terrific. We will be back! read more

Evangeline - Great looking place! - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Calistoga, California

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My husband brought me here from brunch on our weekend getaway to Calistoga. What a lovely brunch date we had. We walked here from our hotel stay and we fell in love with their beautiful outdoor patio. Food: - Fried Pickles - so tasty! - Half Dozen raw oysters - these were a little briney so I wasn't too much of a fan - Chicken and Waffle - delicious. There isn't a chicken and waffle that we don't like! - inverted biscuit and gravy - rich and delicious but maybe too rich considering all the other items we had for brunch. - vanilla panna cotta with berry compote - definitely a winner for me! I love panna cotta! Overall, the ambiance and service were all wonderful. read more

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I love this place. The food and service are consistently great. We had a late evening reservation, and they accommodated us, although we did close the place down. The standouts entrees was the fried chicken and steak and fries. Highly recommend especially in nice weather sitting in the courtyard. read more

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Fastest service ever! We were in and out in 50 mins and we did not feel rushed at all! We had reservations but arrived about half hour early and they seated us right away. After ordering our food, we had just about made trips to the bathroom before the food showed up! We ordered the fried chicken and waffles, prosciutto Benedict, avocado toast and the Evangeline burger. Everything was really good! I would've liked the avocado toast to be a little bigger or come with a side to be more filling. The rye bread it came on was a little bit sweet and matched the greens, avocado and the egg. The egg comes runny Benedict style so if you don't like that, please tell your server to switch it. I should've but I had it any way! The chicken was crispy and came with gravy to accompany. The prosciutto Benedict was very good with the exception of quite a lot of kale which my friend doesn't like a lot. The burger was delicious but definitely the biggest of the plates. The fries that came with it were delicious, particularly with the rosemary and thyme. We also got the grapefruit mimosas which were well-made. All in all, a beautiful day to have brunch and we really liked our food. And of course, the service! read more

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We went for an anniversary dinner and had a great time. Everyone was very friendly and they gifted us a glass of champagne since we were celebrating. The food was good too - I recommend the steak and the charcuterie board. It was a nice set up outside and the heaters work really well on a cold night. read more

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

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

Very nice staff! Fried pickles were really good with a nice aioli on the side. The gumbo is delicious. Wine pricing is kind of high but to be expected when in wine country. Definitely would recommend as a stop in Calistoga read more

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5/21/22 Ambiance: 4 stars: Small, cute outside patio dining area with plenty of coverage from wind. Food: 4.5/ 5 stars The shrimp and grits were amazing! I'm clearly enjoying their soul brunch concept Service: 5/5 stars Great service! read more

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Evangeline is tucked away in a little cozy corner restaurant. We came for brunch. A bar when you walk in to the patio. We had cocktails and appetizers first. Very Hospitable hosts, delicious dishes, great presentation. I recommend this restaurant to everyone! I would like to come back here again and again. Do yourself a favor and visit Evangeline lovely restaurant in Napa, The customer service is nice . The staff were very friendly. The food was tasty. read more

Great venue, patio is super cute. Great service. Oysters were so fresh! We had the gumbo and the waygo burger. The gumbo was soooo flavorful, delicious. The burger was cooked medium and I can taste the quality. Only thing is that it could use some salt and pepper. It tasted a bit bland for me. The wine was great. I would definitely come back. read more

Evangeline - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Calistoga, California

I was really looking forward to trying Evangeline as I enjoy Cajun and Creole food and it's not easy to find in Northern California. The food was very good, but the portions was very small for the price (hence why only 3 stars instead of 4). We got the Artichoke, peach salad, Shrimp etouffee, panna cotta and creme brûlée. read more

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This place was just ok. The crab bites were tasty, but nothing to really rave about, and we were sat in the blazing sun, so that wasn't the most comfortable dining experience either. read more

Evangeline - Menu - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Calistoga, California

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The ambiance is great and we had great service from the servers. However the food was very unfortunate: stale wine, fried calamari missing the cauliflower which was on the menu description, the gumbo ya ya was so salty that I still couldn't finish it after ordering extra rice...felt like somehow the kitchen staff wasn't paying attention at all read more

Our only brunch in Calistoga last weekend, and I'm *so* happy we got reservations at Evangeline as there was a line out of the door. We shared the crab rolls as a starter, and followed that up with the shrimp & grits and a good ol' chicken & waffles dish. Perfect portion size and such a cute spot in downtown Calistoga. (The drinks were also on-point.) Highly recommend! read more

Evangeline - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Calistoga, California

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Had dinner here again last weekend. Last I was here was 6 years ago and I still recalled the crab cake to this date. Unfornately it wasn't on the menu this time. Visited this location on a Monday evening and there were about 7 or 8 tables of customers total. They are pet friendly and seated us at the courtyard. They also set up the propane heater for us so it wasn't cold at all. The staff gave the doggies a bowl of water after we were seated. We had the following in our meal: Oyster: really fresh, that was a surprise. They had good source Fries: good, but nothing too fancy French onion soup: they were nice enough to split them for us without extra charge! Fried Pickle: good, but nothing too fancy Duck Leg Confit: really tender and flavorful, whipped potato was great! Shrimp Etouffee: shrimp were fresh, lots of rice Pork Shoulder: probably the best out of all of the entree that night! Risotto: pretty good Panna Cotta: must order! it wasn't too sweet, strong vanilla flavor We brought a bottle of wine and in the end they waived the corkage fee! read more

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I loved everything about Evangeline - the food was delectable, the service prompt and warm, and the ambience romantically evocative of an evening in New Orleans. I will definitely return next time I'm in Calistoga. I'm not sure why the overall rating isn't much higher. Every single dish we had was so fresh, and so tasty. The shrimp in the shrimp cocktail were perfectly prepared - not chewy or tough, but fresh and a pleasure to chew on. The oysters were super fresh and juicy. The tomato's in the heirloom tomato salad were paired nicely with fresh figs - a combination I would not have guessed but will definitely try again! The shrimp etouffee was deliciously sauced and seasoned. And, we couldn't pass up the deserts - a perfectly smoky caramel pot de creme, and chocolate ice cream that just hit the right spot of sweet but not too sweet. I will definitely recommend this place to anyone spending time in Calistoga! read more

Walked in Friday night and was seated quickly on the outdoor patio. Server was attentive and very friendly. Outdoor heaters were set up outside and it was the perfect temperature for a calm April night. All the food was delicious, I loved the desserts and they were the perfect ending to our meal. Music was the perfect volume and kept the mood light and enjoyable for a New Orleans feel in Northern California. Can't wait to visit again! read more

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We walked in around 7:45pm on a Thursday and we're seated right away. Friendly staff and really nice patio ambiance. The beet salad was REALLY good. So many different flavors in one dish that perfectly blend together. Husband was happy with Steak Frites too. Unfortunately, the King Salmon dish was a little one note due to the bed of frisée the salmon is placed on. The salmon was cooked perfectly and I enjoyed it but the bed of frisée was overly drenched in mustard. I couldn't eat it. It would have been better to have a small amount of it and add a bit of a some other vegetable. The waiter said he'd pass along the feedback to chef and offered sparkling wine or desert to cap off the dinner. read more

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My favorite restaurant in the entire Napa region! I was so happy to be back dining here on the lovely patio with my family. I had one of the best beet salads I have ever had. It was so fresh with different color beets; I could tell it was farm to table. Same with the burrata cheese, so quality! My husband enjoyed his burger a lot (not pictured) and the kids were very happy with the perfectly salted fries (as were we). The atmosphere is so quiet, relaxing and nice under the outside patio (I was glad we had the kids set-up and happy with their media). They have the arbors covered to keep in just enough warmth, along with overhead heaters which were nice. My crab cake had such a yummy touch of tomato spice flavor and sauce that elevated it from the basic crab cake elsewhere. Service was great and helpful, (as always) here. The wine was great too, of course. ;) Thank you Evangeline! read more

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Service. We did not have a rezzy & they welcomed us in & sat right away in back tent. delish, we wanted to lick our plates. Can be breezy in winter months so pack a shawl read more

Probably one of the best pork chops I've ever had. Tender, juicy and flavorful. Both my wife and I had one. My two daughters shared the famous fried chicken, it was also delicious. Friendly and quick service. We sat outside in the patio, very nice and relaxing. The food was so good I didn't even stop to take pictures. read more

We went to Calistoga for the long weekend and after a few months we visited Evangeline. I was excited to hear that they serve brunch again! You know Evangeline is one of my favorite restaurants in the Napa County. I like the restaurant's vibe and of course their food! Because it was a busy day, and I forgot to make a reservation, we sat next to the bar and it was nice, talking with their staff and enjoying my delicious omelet and coffee :) read more

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Yum! Gumbo, lamb, apps, wine selection. Check, che k, check. Highly recommend. Enjoyed the patio seating and they had the leaf xo errs! read more

Proteins were great. Appetizers were good, but super basic and expensive. French onion soup was great, but nowhere near $20 great. Maybe $8 great. Sides were lacking. Worst coleslaw ever? Quite possibly. Worst chard ever? Also quite possibly. Took an hour from placing our order to getting our food in a half-full restaurant. read more

I continue to love everything about Evangeline. The house-made pasta is always a good choice, and this evening I had a tomato and mushroom risotto topped with grilled prawns that my teenage daughter kept stealing bites from. We ended with chocolate mousse and vanilla ice cream, which had a faint taste of something (honey? Bourbon vanilla?) that we couldn't put a finger on. A great meal served in a beautiful setting, just off the main drag in downtown Calistoga. read more

Evangeline - Chocolate mousse with blueberry compote and strawberries. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Calistoga, California

Yes, this is a really cool place. Well, I am biased because it was named after me (not really, I would like to believe that). Fortunately, we did not need reservations on a Sunday night. Requirements: Walking in and walking to/from the restroom, face masks are required at all times. Seating is outside only and distanced apart from other guests. Your napkin/place setting are securely sealed in plastic. What we consumed: Fried Brussel Sprouts Me: Evangeline Paloma (good, but I'm not a fan of the tajin that was rimmed on the glasses) Me: Salmon (YES!) with the fuji apples! Him: Crispy Braised Pork Dessert: Apple tart (a little on the sweet side - I like sweet/tart) We inquired on the chicken dinner, but found out that is take out only. Overall, we had a good experience. I even paid quite a bit much for the Evangeline mask because I had to have it. read more

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French Onion soup was perfect for a cold evening. The King Salmon and Alaskan Halibut was very good for a Monday. The Lava cake should have been served warmer with more chocolate. The chocolate didn't flow on this dish. Service was great until the crowd flowed in and the staff was overwhelmed. Very nice and clean. Even the restroom was kept clean as it should be. read more

Well I must say my food was good and flavorful. The service was just okay nothing write home about. It was my birthday and I didn't even get a free dessert lol. Most eateries will say Happy Birthday with a dessert. The ambiance was okay , but my dish was flavorful. read more

I had great expectations for this place. I'm saddened to say I was a bit disappointed. The place is adorable and quaint. It appears as though larger parties are seated outside. The outside area is a a fairly spacious tent with heating lamps. The service our party of 7 received was adequate. I decided on the lobster omelette, consisting of gruyere cheese, spinach, and lobster. This came with a choice of fries or salad. . My fake , low-carb, diet having self opted for the salad. . The salad was the most beautiful I've ever consumed. Unfortunate the beauty had to compensate for the lack in flavor. First thing I noticed about the omelette was it was dry and overcooked. It also was in need of salt and pepper. I can say my Bloody Mary was delicious. A spicy libation with a hint of Cajun seasoning. read more

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We loved Evangline and cannot wait to visit again. It was a quiet Saturday morning and the entire staff was so so nice and attentive. We ordered two dozen oysters- the horseradish was delicious, the oysters fresh. I got the biscuit and gravy with an over easy egg, and my husband ordered the shrimp and grits. I cannot say enough how delicious the food was. We each enjoyed a Bloody Mary, it had a sweet take with a pretty spicy kick at the end. The courtyard seating area is adorable and it's located at the corner of a Calistoga main town street. What a great find! read more

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