Like you, my wife and I woke up and needed to find some coffee. We had a great dinner the night…read morebefore and we were really looking forward to our day and we wanted to get started properly. Sam's was the answer that we were looking for. We enjoyed both their drip coffee and their espresso as well as one of their cinnamon buns. While we sat there in this pristine environment it was obvious to us that this location had emerged as a favorite in the community as we saw kids on their way to school and multigenerational families enjoying their morning there. So next time we're in town know that we'll be enjoying Sam's General Store.

3.5 STARS *Walks in*…read more *Stop and stare* To some it may be a red flag to have people stop and stare at you but to me, it's kinda a green flag. When you stick out like a sore thumb, sometimes it's a sign that you've stepped into a local's place, not a tourist trap. Sam's General Store is named after the man who started the Gold Rush. They're an artisanal cafe serving specialty coffee and matcha drinks, pastries (from Starter Bakery), breakfast bites, salads, and sandwiches. Their OG location is in Calistoga and their St. Helena location opened in 2025. Online ordering available. D R I N K S * Iced Latte ($6) w/ oat milk (+85 cents) - Add vanilla cold foam + whipped cream (+$1) - Request half-caffeine I couldn't find a small business in Napa Valley that offers a Einspänner but Sam's offers the components so you can make one. The latte was smooth and roasty with the cold foam adding a creamy sweetness and the whipped cream an extra later of richness. Pretty solid. * Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte w/ strawberry foam, extra shot of matcha ($9.25) - Batched made, not hand-whisked - Cannot adjust sweetness It looks nothing like the layered drink on their website and IG. Also, the color was dull, so either the matcha was oxidized or it's poor quality. Sadly, it tasted like a Crumbl cookie in liquid form. Even with the extra shot of matcha, there was no matcha flavor and tasted like an incredibly sweet strawberry milk. I hate wasting money but we tossed it. * NY Lox & Bagel w/ gravlax salmon, cream cheese, pickled red onions, cucumbers & capers ($17) - Served open-faced, no mods available - Bagels are flown in weekly from NY but shop/brand is not specified Deliciously chewy, lightly toasted plain bagel layered with rich, creamy schmear and silky, buttery lox. The fresh tang and crunch from the pickled red onions and pickled cucumbers balanced everything perfectly, adding brightness to each bite. S E R V I C E Transactional - I ordered online and they were just finishing up my order when I arrived. A M B I A N C E Modern, cozy boutique vibe with ample seating. Even on a weekday, all the indoor seating was taken; looks to be a regular gathering place for locals. Front patio and sidewalk seating. Free WiFi. Overall, cute cafe...if you're visiting from a city with great matcha - stick with their coffee!

Nice place to have a reasonably priced breakfast, lunch, or snack and watch CIA students in action…read more Very spacious and good for large groups. We had a cappuccino, oat latte, carrot cake, and earl gray Madeleine for our breakfast. The CIA students were sweet and attentive. We got a mango cheesecake tart and Yuzu matcha cookie for treats for later, the cheesecake was decadently rich and the cookie was deliciously matcha forward.

Lack of clear pricing:…read more The menu fails to alert customers that there is a mandatory 20% service charge in addition to the tax on the food. I told the instructor, Mr. Wolff, that the cafe needs to add a big sign about the service charge. The cafe is supposed to teach students about running a business and clear pricing is important so customers don't feel like they are being cheated or overcharged. Loud: You can ask for the students to help you carry your food or drink onto the terrace outside if you'd like to avoid the noise inside the cafe and enjoy the great view of the vineyard and hills across the road. Coffee: I like the coffee here. It reminds me of good European coffee. Gluten-free: There are few options. Potato chips: The freshly made chips were excellent. You can't compare them to the ones in the grocery store!

After a disappointing experience last year, I decided to give this place another chance, and it…read morecompletely turned my opinion around. The service was on point this time--very prompt and attentive, unlike my previous visit. I ordered the pork chop, and it was cooked perfectly. The meat had a great bite to it and wasn't dry at all. The portion size was still huge and no fly issue this time (visited in May).

Went there for a late dinner…read more Still light outside and it was nice to have a view of the busy restaurant and back and side gardens. Good service and knowledgeable staff. Sishito peppers were the started with the beet salad. Both were super fresh. Beets were cooked perfectly and generous dressing was applied! Peppers were not hot but were blistered nicely and dipping sauce was perfect for balance with acidity. We shared the special meat platter. It was ok.... Pulled pork was tough. Not a good choice in future as it is on the lunch menu Ribs were great. 3 ribs were cooked and seasoned well. Nice acidity so The sauce was not too sweet. Slaw was great and provided balance Mac and cheese was made with white cheese and while rich it was not overwhelming Chicken wings were a hit. Cooked perfectly and seasoned with a bbq sauce that was well balanced. A hit for next time.

Never heard of the Model Bakery but using Yelp for great Bakeries. We were on our way to a morning…read morehike to Linda Falls. This bakery was on the way and not so crowded then the one in Yountvile. There was no line waiting outside, which was good. There were people eating outside and inside. There was no line to order, but we never been here so we let the locals go in front of us. I decide on the Oxford Veggie Breakfast sandwich, minus the ketchup. The sandwich was great lots of Avocados in each bite and the egg was spot on. Id highly recommend this breakfast sandwich. By bf got the carmel mocha and a bear claw. The carmel mocha was excellent, I wanted ordernone for self. The bear claw was jus ok. Very dry. Not recommend. But that's just opinion. Cute little bakery, very popular, quick service, lots of options, and very friendly service. If your ever in St Helena. Definitely go here for bake goods, breakfast, lunch, or and coffee and tea drinks.

First off the Kale Beet Salad I had was good. A little expensive for the small size, about $16…read more Visited recently during Memorial Day weekend. The reason for my review is because of the cleaning procedure. We had a two top by the row of cushioned bench sitting by the bakery counter. One of the employees (who was nice but) was vigorously sweeping all the crumbs on the floor. They were flying in our direction and I was dodging the debris so my shoes wouldn't get hit, which was unsettling. The kicker was she then took that same broom she was sweeping the floor with and started vigorously sweeping off the crumbs on "the cushions" where people sit!! That grossed me out :( A clean warm towel to wipe the seating down would be more appropriate.

Oh My Goodness!! We were walking around exploring when we looked across the street!…read more After crossing the street, we stood in line impatiently awaiting to spoil ourselves with pastries and coffee. We ordered the Oatmeal Everything Cookies. Oooooh so delicious!! Crispy edges and soft and chewy middle. It consists of oats, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, coconut, cherries, and raisins. It was so good, I had to ask about the ingredients!! We also had their seasonal pumpkin spice cake with burnt butter cream frosting! It was so moist and delicious! The Cardamom Vanilla Latte was also good. After our snack, we went back in line and ordered a dozen to-go pastries to take home!!! Station is a gas station! So, it's a gas station with gourmet treats! Not your typical gas station foodies!! They offer pastries, sandwiches, salads, pizza, and a nice coffee drink choices. They also sell souvenirs as well. I am sure I am missing something. Overall, a great experience!! The young ladies working were both energetic and friendly!! They were very helpful and patient while we were picking out our to go treats. We are looking forward to our next trip.....

This is officially my second-ever gas station review -- the first was for fish tacos, and now here…read moreI am writing about an $11 Tropical Kale smoothie. On our drive back from Calistoga to Berkeley, my bestie and I needed a quick snack, and this stop in St. Helena was perfectly timed. She's been here plenty of times; it was my first visit. I went the smoothie route (solid, refreshing, did the job), but I couldn't help noticing that most people were walking out with pizza. That seemed to be the move. The place had a steady flow of locals and road-trippers, which is always a good sign when you're pulling off the highway. It was quick, easy, and exactly what we needed in the moment. Will I be back? Probably not, but this might be perfect for you.

Stumbled upon this place while walking downtown St Helena and was very pleased with the find…read more The menu is extensive. We were seated promptly outside. Great weather. To drink I had the mimosa flight which was great ($25). To eat I had the snack burger which was absolutely delicious! Had bacon and avocado. Yum. I chose seasoned fries as my side, a little salty. Dog friendly! Will definitely be back!

Solid brunch spot. Came on a Friday around 11 am and was seated immediately. We ordered the country…read morefried steak $21 with a pancake side upgrade $3, corned beef hash $20, and a single French toast $8. The main courses of country fried steak and corned beef hash were excellent. Not too salty. All the sides were mediocre though. Scrambled eggs can definitely be softer, hash browns were mushy on the inside, pancake was normal, French toast was ok. The honey wheat toast was pretty good though. Generous portions and reasonable prices. Medium sized restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Service was a bit slow, but depends on your server

I've been visiting Sam's General store multiple times now and felt due for a well deserved review!…read more This coffee shop/cafe is so cute and has a nice outdoor patio seating, as well as some seats inside if it's cold. The employees are all friendly and have always answered any questions I have about the menu. My favorite menu item is the iced strawberry matcha - I have tried to find one as good elsewhere and have not been successful! I have gotten lattes a couple of times which are good as well. They do have breakfast items - like bagels and toast. These are good as well but nothing too special to note. Overall - I will always come back when I am in town to get my favorite strawberry matcha drink!

A very unique and charming coffee shop with both indoor and outdoor seating. The food presentation…read morelooked great as well, though this time I only tried their honey coffee.