We were running late and called to let them know and were told that while they couldn't hold our reservation, they could put us on their wait list. When we arrived the restaurant was packed, but we were got a very friendly greeting and were seated immediately. Our waitress, Brook, was really friendly and professional. The wait worked togethrr as a team and even the manager helped out with bussing tables-true professionals! As we had a reservation for dinner at Bouchon, we wanted something smaller so my wife and I got the house salad and the cup of chili. The salad was a good portion and loaded with toppings including hard boiled egg, homemade croutons, cheese, etc. And dressed just right. The "cup" of chili was a good sized bowl. It was the best chili I've ever had in a restaurant! Plenty of beef with a mix of cubed (chili cut) and ground beef. The spice level was just right, no added hot sauce needed, topped with cheddar and raw onion. My wife couldn't finish hers, but after finishing mine, as much as I wanted to I couldn't either! This may be a long review for salad and chili but the service made Rutherford Grill one of our best meals in Napa. We'll definitely be back next time we're in town. read more

If you're looking for that quintessential, old-school Napa vibe without the stiff "tasting-menu" theater, **Rutherford Grill** remains the undisputed king of the crossroads. It's the kind of place where you'll see local winemakers at the island bar, rubbing elbows with visitors who know exactly where to find the best seat in the valley. ### **The Atmosphere & Service** The energy here is high but perfectly balanced by a gracious, attentive staff. The service strikes that rare "appropriate formality" note--polished and professional, yet comfortable enough that you don't feel like you're on display. It feels established, reliable, and deeply rooted in the region's history. ### **The Wine List** As expected for its location, the wine list is an extensive collection of Napa favorites. Whether you're looking for a legendary Rutherford Bench Cabernet or a crisp local Sauvignon Blanc, the selection is curated to complement the bold, wood-fired flavors coming out of the display kitchen. ### **The Food** The menu focuses on American grill classics executed with uncompromising consistency. * **Starters:** If they are in season, the **Grilled Artichokes** are mandatory. Halved and charred to perfection with just the right amount of seasoning, they are arguably the best in Northern California. The **Deviled Eggs** are another staple--creamy, classic, and the perfect opening act. * **The Main Event:** You can't go wrong with the **Cheeseburger**. It's a masterclass in simplicity: fresh ground chuck, melted cheddar, and a toasted house-made egg bun. * **The Curveball:** The **Enchiladas** (often served as a butternut squash and white cheddar version or paired with tri-tip) are a sophisticated take on comfort food, offering a rich, savory depth that pairs surprisingly well with a heavy Napa red. **Verdict:** Whether it's a business lunch or a post-tasting dinner, Rutherford Grill delivers a high-quality, soulful experience that never goes out of style. read more

We regularly go to Rutherford Grill. It is one of our favorite places in the Napa area. The honey butter cornbread bytes are one of our must haves unless trying to reduce carbs. They are served in a small cast iron heated skillet. Yum. The flying Tuna tartare appetizer is a favorite that we often have. Tonight we had roasted kale with bread. We thank Helena, our server for recommending it. The double cut pork chop, cooked over the wood grill, was excellently grilled. We really like the smokiness of wood fired cooking for special evenings. For dessert, a double espresso and ice cream covered with espresso chocolate sauce. Yum. The restaurant is nicely set around the bar and the kitchen area. This makes for a nice elegant meal in a romantic setting. We highly recommend Rutherford Grill. read more

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Excellent French dip sandwich. I asked for more well done meat and I got what I asked for. I usually don't eat beef but this was too delicious to pass. Shoe string French fries were great, so were the broccolini side. Hubby had the burger which tasted fine but patty was thinner than expected according to him. This place shares the same parking lot with Beaulieu Vineyard tasting room. Can walk between the two places in thirty seconds. read more

Rutherford Grill - French dip with the broccolini - American Near Me - Rutherford, California

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Always a great time here with great food! Truly a Napa local staple. Good sized protein + salad plates that also taste divine. I appreciate the mood setting in the establishment. Also appreciate how on point the hospitality is. Can't forget how good the oreo dessert is either! A must. read more

Rutherford Grill - American Near Me - Rutherford, California

This restaurant is a part of a chain that includes Houstons. This ensures consistency and Rutherford Grill is nothing if not consistent and this is important because dining in Napa is so hit and miss. A restaurant can be great one night and mid the next. Rutherford Grill is a go to for me because dishes like the French Dip are always tasty. I especially enjoy their salads. The rotisserie chicken kale salad has a wonderful peanut dressing that brings all the flavors together. It feels like a cosy den at Rutherford Grill with a welcoming vibe and wonderful service. read more

Rutherford Grill - Chicken Kale Salad - American Near Me - Rutherford, California

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Rutherford Grill is one of the most reliably good restaurants in the valley. The whole restaurant is cozy, low lighting and easy to hear your friends. The booths contain the sound, so even when the restaurant is full, it's not loud. The servers are personable and friendly, they connect with the guests - and for us locals, they remember and bond!!! Our friends knew all their life details and vice versa- like FRIENDS! The food is excellent. Fresh, flavorful and tasty! Meats cooked perfectly, salads bright and chilled just perfectly. Plated fancy! Bring your friends, everyone will enjoy. read more

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We come to this restaurant every time we visit Napa Valley. The food and service is consistently good. This time was no different. We came with family members who have never been. They had the ribs and I ordered the trout with coleslaw. Delicious. Service was great! Lovely atmosphere in the restaurant. read more

Rutherford Grill - Ribs entree - American Near Me - Rutherford, California

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Cam, you were just incredible! I've written a few reviews here, and the food is just consistent every single time! But Cam was just an awesome server, and we enjoyed him so much! The service is just unbelievable! They are great about sharing plates here and still Kaump your first bottle of wine that you bring. We shared a salad and had blue cheese crumbles and man was that a good little salad! We also shared the french fries and French dip... You have to try their spicy aïoli on their fries... They are totally addicting! Absolutely delicious. Thank you, Cam and Rutherford Grill! read more

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I unfortunately found myself pretty disappointed with Rutherford Grill. It came highly recommended by some friends so we went when in the area, but it didn't really meet expectations for me. The staff was a bit rude to be honest--after making a reservation and checking back in after the time we were told, we still had to wait even longer. More disappointing though was the food. The portions were simply not worth the price--$30 for this relatively small sandwich! I understand it's Napa but still. The flavor wasn't anything special in my opinion to make up for it either. Same applies to the sides, we got fries and cornbread bites. Again, this did not meet expectations and I would very likely not return. read more

Rutherford Grill - French Dip Sandwich - American Near Me - Rutherford, California

This is a favorite of mine, not only for the consistently good food, but always impeccably friendly service. I brought some meat-eating "out of towners" that I knew the menu could satisfy well. We thoroughly enjoyed! Thank you, Lena (and Jaslyn)!! read more

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Ashley with dark hair (there are 2) was attentive and professional. She's actually raised and lived in Napa her whole life. We had a perfect hamburger but I ho there for the amazing Artichoke dip that includes Sour Cream & Salsa with the chips and artichoke dip. Place was packed during lunch, so don't go without reservations. read more

Phew. Boyfriend was craving and raving about the artichoke. Wasn't on the menu, but ASK- it was available and lived up to the hype. Sooo delicious. Smoky, perfectly seasoned and served with the remoulade that we asked more of for our fries that were coming. He had the French dip and that bun and meat with the dip melted in your mouth. I had the special- pork chop with potatoes and napa cabbage with feta-sold. Service was almost too efficient-took things we were not done with, but in so nice about it. You know I'm here for the bathrooms- super clean (great sign of the kitchen) but please note the picture- they offered a shelf above the toilet paper for your phone or purse! Thank you. Oh and the dessert was delicious- He ate it all read more

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Excellent food! Great service! Awesome ambiance! Our go to for Napa reasonably priced dinners. Great cheeseburger! Great prime rib sandwich with au jus. Consistently good every year we drop by. read more

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We've been to Rutherford Grill multiple times, the food and drinks are always good! We had excellent service and I love the ambiance inside. Food: 9/10 Service: 9/10 read more

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It's comforting to know this place is still on 29! My first time here was over 20 years ago and the quality of food, and service is still one of the best. My dad took my husband and I here for a late lunch/ early dinner on the Monday before Christmas and the place was pretty packed for a weekday. I had the best filet I've had in years out at a restaurant! The best...and I've been to my share of high end steak houses. Everything we ordered was done with thoughtful care. Excellent! read more

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Stopped for lunch in between Round Pound and Aonair, had reservations set up by our hotel concierge. Friday at 1:30 pm -- quite busy, but just a few people waiting for seats. We were quickly seated (hostess was busy though!) Waitress, Lina, was excellent. Service was excellent. We ordered the grilled artichokes (so good alone, we didn't even use the creamy white dipping sauce!) - not on the menu, seasonal item. The table next to us were excited when they heard the artichokes were available, sounds like a very popular appetizer! Came with 3 half pieces, fresh off the grill. I had the flying Tuna Platter salad, which was delicious! Tasty dressing and fresh ingredients, big chunks of mango and.avocado! Partner got the famous French Dip sandwich - excellent! The bread was toasty and soft! I had a bite with the horseradish sauce, so good and the perfect bite of heat! Would definitely come back. Would love to try dinner next time. Oh, we also got the harvest cheesecake which was made with kuri squash (had to ask her to repeat it bc I was thinking it was some kind of Thai curry cheesecake, lol). But I learned a red kuri squash is a winter squash, looks like a small pumpkin. Cheesecake was awesome, kissed just so lightly with a mild, sweet and nutty squash flavor. read more

Went to the Rutherford Grill before heading out to wine tasting. I made reservations for the 4 of us. We arrived about 10 mins before 11 when they open. There was already a gentleman waiting. Several more parties showed up before they opened the doors prompt at 11 am. When we sat down I let the server know that we had a noon wine tasting arranged. She was very accommodating. She said she would put our orders in right away. She left to get our drinks and by the time she was back we knew what we wanted to order. For the table we order 2 of the cornbread bits. I have to say they are excellent but I miss getting the skillet of cornbread they use to serve. I had the chicken salad which was delish. It is a bit reminiscent of a Chinese chicken salad with the peanut favor. I love it and always order it. My DH order the vegetarian enchiladas which comes with an egg and salad. He very much enjoyed the dish. My daughter had the French dip which she raved about. It came with both au jus and a horseradish sauce. She LOVED the horseradish sauce. She said it was nice and spicy!! Her husband had the Caesar salad with prawns. He loved the salad and dressing. He wasn't as happy with the prawns. They were breaded and deep fried. He said they were ok but kind of bland. He said he should have asked if he could have had some of the delish chicken that I had in my salad. But now we know to ask. The server was able to deliver our food and get us out the door so we were in time for our wine tasting. It was a fantastic meal with fantastic service. I highly recommend stop by if you're in town!! read more

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Food was mediocre at best. Had the filet mignon and it was fatty and plain. Fries were slightly better than In-N-Out. Staff was rude and pretentious, waitress rushed us along as fast as she could. Would not come here again. Not kid friendly in any way. They appeared to loathe the sight of children. read more

awesome experience, so much so we went back the next day and I had the same thing..CHEESBURGER!!! YUM!! I happen to love chopped salad and it's like there is this chopped salad with relish sauce on top that is to die for!! Hannah and Anna were superb. We all loved our meals but the cheeseburger sent me into gastro heaven!! Didn't care for the skinny fies so 2nd time I had coleslaw and it was excellent! Happy tummy Ambiance is very nice, like a chop/steak house with outstanding service. read more

Rutherford Grill - best ever cheeseburger! - American Near Me - Rutherford, California

What's to say that hasn't already been said about Rutherford Grill? Great service, good food, dark wood, comfortable booths, no corkage, nice and cool on a hot day in the summer, everyone in a good mood.....it's the perfect Napa hangout spot. Definitely recommend Rutherford Grill for lunch in the summer. Everything is a bit pricey, but then again, welcome to Napa. I definitely recommend reservations if you plan to go here for lunch. read more

Rutherford Grill - silverado chardonnay - American Near Me - Rutherford, California

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If your experiment needs statistics, you ought to have done a better experiment -- Ernest Rutherford I gave Hillstone another chance during a recent Napa trip but this restaurant is as lackluster now as the others. What a degradation in quality with this formerly stellar chain. My Hillstone experiment is over. French Dip sandwich was lackluster and tired, barely any meat. We had to send the other entree back as the southwest hamburger description did not match what was received. After a day of wine tasting, ordered a Diet Coke and refills are not free. Service was okay but nothing special. Interior is the same as other Hillstone restaurants. There are better options in Wine Country. Go elsewhere. Not recommended. read more

I love the Hillstone Restaurant Group, so when I came to visit Napa I knew that I had to come here. I ordered the kale & rotisserie chicken salad, and it did not disappoint. It was super light, refreshing, but also very filling. The peanut dressing is delicious. Also enjoyed the fries--perfectly thin and crispy. Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time because it can get extremely packed. They have a bar next to the waiting area which is really thoughtful of the restaurant. There's a huge parking lot behind the restaurant and some street parking nearby. read more

Rutherford Grill - American Near Me - Rutherford, California

Back again with a large group. Great service and beautiful historic spot and setup. Large bar area and raise seating. Artichoke season means that you must get them and enjoy the fresh flavors. Leaves are the best Salmon, chicken, beef with jus, kale salad and coleslaw were some of the dishes Salads are super fresh and crisp. Dressing is set at the right level to accent the salad and not overpower it. Rotisserie chicken is tasty and always moist. I love the breast and it is always filling of flavor. Service is attentive and fast.. I recommend this place. read more

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Exceptional service from Ashley last Wednesday evening. She is a true professional - warm, very present, helpful. The type of server that builds loyalty. The food as always was outstanding. My wife enjoyed the vegetarian enchiladas and the grouper sandwich was outstanding. My wife tried a bit and confirmed - and as she grew up in Florida she should know! The Manhattans were great as was Ashley's advice on the rye to pick. Always appreciate the free corkage. read more

I've been to Rutherford Grill 2-3 times over the past decade or so. It's right on Highway 29. So it's probably very popular since it's not off the beaten path. Each and every time I've been parking has been difficult. It has a small lot, but beware of spots specifically labeled for the post office or for Beaulieu Vineyards. The restaurant is much bigger than the parking situation would led you to believe. There's even patio outdoor seating. The ambiance is beautiful. It's casual for Napa. But there's still a dress code (like no sports jerseys or flip flops). I'm not sure how strictly they enforce it. Highly recommend making a reservations which can easily be done online. Walk-ins are acceptable but you will likely be waiting a while. The food is very tasty. Think American food like burgers and sandwiches and salads but elevated. It is a bit pricy, but that's to be expected of Napa. After tax and tip you'll likely have spent $45 per person. My most recent visit I got the ahi tuna salad per the recommendation of a friend. It was bright and somehow filling enough for lunch. It was $36. Next time I'd rather go for the famous artichokes or the French dip. Service was top notch! I cannot say anything negative about it at all. It's a nice restaurant. It's not quite fine dining but a lot more polished than your local Italian restaurant. Going home can be a bit tricky turning left on 29. You may want to just turn right with the flow of traffic and drive through Silverado Trail. It's a very nice restaurant but I would only come here if I was in the area and someone else chose it. The unfavorable parking situation is the main thing that sticks in my mind... It would be a lovely dinner to end a day of wine tasting in Napa or Sonoma. read more

Good atmosphere and service. Food is usually very good for mains. Steaks and fish are top notch. However the sides always disappoint Many menu items come with "something green" as the side which is often broccolini. A foul tasting vegetable. The only other options offered as a side for lunch are not much better. Why not offer higher quality sides like grilled Asparagus? They have great mains and higher end prices but only serve cheap sides. Improve the sides and a 5 star review is more attainable. read more

Still one of my favorite places to eat! The best French Dip in the Bay Area, delicious smoked salmon, smoky grilled artichoke, fall off the bone ribs! Been coming here for the last 22 years and the food quality has remained the same! But of course like everywhere else, the menu prices have shot up and the food quantity had shrunk. That's why the 4 stars and not 5. Also it's a bit weird they won't allow a larger reservation than a party of 5. They also won't sit more than 5 at a booth. read more

great service. mellow jazz music. the food was great. I love coming back here often when we are in the area. read more

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My friend and I decided to go and try it out. I would like to give a shout out to our server. Her name is Sarah. She gave great customer service. Sarah was very knowledgeable about the menu. Thank you again, Sarah! The ambiance was nice. It wasn't too dark. You were still able to read the menu without your cell phone light. The restrooms were clean fully stocked overall, I give it a 5 star. I ordered the Ruby trout. My friend ordered the salmon.The purple cabbage with goat cheese Is very delicious. read more

On a quiet night in Napa Valley, two dreary travelers sought to have a meal worthy of life's trials and tribulations. The somellier at the winery we were getting progressively drunk at recommended Rutherford Grill for a no-frills high-quality dinner. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful and effortlessly goes with the natural beauty of the scenery surrounding the rolling Hills and vineyards in this area. This is a large restaurant with very good ambience, absolutely buzzing with patrons. We were hungry, so opted to sit at the bar, our bartender was friendly and kept the wine flowing. We knew we were in for a treat as soon as we set foot in the establishment. To begin, we ordered the stuffed jalapeños. Delicious, and very spicy, so proceed at your own risk. We had heard high praise for the French dip sandwich, and this did not disappoint. I oddly did like the simple flavors of this dish that were enhanced by the Au jus served on the side. Beef was moist, salty, and the bread was pillowy and just beautiful. The Napa cabbage salad was to die for. Everything from the textures to the amount of chicken to the little bits and pieces in the salad were an absolute joy. To finish, we ordered the Oreo dessert. Texture heaven. Crisp biscuit, warm chocolate sauce, ice cream. This was a meal to remember. If you are in Napa Valley, just come here. You will not be disappointed. read more

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French dip was the highest quality I have ever consumed. Homemade bread that tolerated dipping into auju and horseradish sauce. The ribs were on par to being the best as well! Not to mention the coleslaw was delicious. Jessica was attentive and fun. A second bartender gave us great suggestions for night life in Napa. read more

Try the burger you will not believe how good it is. They can even cut it in 4 pieces to make it easy to enjoy bites. They know what they are doing in the kitchen for sure! There are so many items I can't wait to try. I'll be back! read more

Rutherford Grill is my go-to. Pre covid, post covid, it is and always has been on my list. Everything is excellent here. Food, service, ambiance. All of it. One of my favorite meals is the local sausages with a BBQ chicken thigh and their coleslaw. It never changes and is always perfection. The sausages are lovely. Savory, but not too salty or sweet. The chicken thigh is obviously smoky and has BBQ sauce, but it's juicy and a bit fatty. Satisfying. And the coleslaw is a staple at Rutherford Grill. Unique to them with tangy honey mustard sauce that is just right. As you can imagine, I almost always order this dish and look forward to it. Hubs ordered the fish sandwich this time and LOVED it. Gobbled it down lickety split. I will return to Rutherford Grill every time I am driving by it. And would not even consider NOT going there. read more

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Visiting Napa and decided to have dinner here based on the great reviews. So disappointed with the entire experience. My husband ordered the ribs and I ordered the combo chicken and ribs. We also ordered some drinks to start. I ordered a dirty martini. It was the saddest martini I have ever had. I asked our server for extra olive juice to see if that helped but it did not. My chicken was juicy and the brocolini was good however the ribs and cole slaw left much to be desired. The fries were ok. Equally awful was the sevice. Our server was not rude but she was indifferent and after getting our dinners she never checked on us once. When she finally did and we mentioned the drink not being the best, all we got was oh im sorry. Same response from another employee (not sure if that was the manager). The food was comparable to a chili's or TGIF and the service was non existent from the 3 ladies we encountered. I would imagine there are better establishments to eat in this area. read more

Rutherford Grill is solid and has been for over 2 decades. This is one place that I enjoy their ribs and steaks. I know that I am dating myself but the Hawaiian Rib Eye is the shit, if I do say so myself. Of course with it being in the wine county, Rutherford to be exact; the wine served is unpretentious with a full spectrum of offerings. If you're looking for meat and potatoes, this is it. If you're looking for a nice glass of wine and/ or drinks, this is it. If you're looking for a good ass meal, this is definitely it. Chow chow! read more

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No matter which Hillstone restaurant I go to in whatever city the food is consistently excellent. Rutherford Grill is no exception to this rule. Their menu features the famous Houston's Veggie Burger which never disappoints. This has been and still is THE BEST veg burg I ever tasted since my first bite over 25 years ago (@ Houston's, now Hillstone in San Francisco). Ambiance is cozy with deep dark woods and warm yellow lighting. Service is excellent - attentive and friendly. Open kitchen rounds out the lively vibe as tables filled up around us. We arrived when they opened for lunch at 11:30 on a Friday with a reservation. We were seated promptly. Of course they have a great wine list and a full bar. But sadly they don't offer espresso martinis. Same story in SF. Aside from that, the menu is standard Hillstone with something for everyone - salads, burgers, hot sandwiches, deviled eggs, steaks, veggie sides, a grilled artichoke, and just read they still don't have a corkage fee! Can't go wrong with this place. Highly recommend making a reservation. read more

Rutherford Grill is a must-stop in Napa. After a full day of wine tasting, this was the perfect spot for casual dining with elevated comfort food. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and just the right balance of lively and relaxed. The cheeseburgers were phenomenal--juicy, flavorful, and exactly what we were craving. The drinks were amazing, expertly made and hit the spot after a long day. And don't even think about skipping the cornbread bites... absolutely delicious and totally addictive. Top it all off with great service that made us feel right at home, and you've got a place we'd happily return to again and again. 10/10--comfort food done right in wine country. read more

10/10 for food, service, and ambiance. Wow! This was my first time here and I was very impressed. The food was absolutely delicious. Our waitress was great and I food came out rather quickly! You MUST try the artichokes and the French dip. You will not go wrong and that's what they are known for! HIGHLY recommended! The corn bread bites are absolutely delicious! read more

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Rutherford Grill is a lovely place! They have great tasting food, friendly staff, and create a casual atmosphere to enjoy food and drinks! The veggie and cheese enchiladas were delicious. We had their artichoke appetizer special, which were some of the best artichokes I have ever had at a restaurant. Props to the chef! read more

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