Meg W.

Celebrated our anniversary at Violetto and it did not disappoint. We were also guests at the Alila hotel and the staff there showed us so much love. We made a reservation for Saturday night and they sat us in the main dining room. Ambiance was romantic, a tad on the quiet side though there were probably 8 couples dining at the same time. On to the food. We opted for the 4 course tasting menu, non alcoholic. They started us off with a beautiful non-alcoholic rosé toast which was dry, crisp and delicious. We ordered mocktails which were equally tasty. I cannot remember the names. See photo. On to the meal. Amuse bouche: They also brought an amuse bouche of tuna tartare with a non-alcoholic wine. That was fresh & delicious. Supplements: We added the focaccia olive bread and oysters as supplements. The olive bread was absolutely delicious & served with an olive oil from France. The oysters were super fresh with a fluffy cream with a hint of dill on top. We loved them. First course: The next course was golden beets. The beets were fresh & delicious. Like, not love. Bonus course: The next course ended up being a mistake. We were served the egg diavlo which was not part of the 4-course menu. We alerted our server. She apologized and said she entered the 8-course by mistake. The egg diablo is like a fluffy scrambled egg with peppers but elevated. This was ok. Like not love. Second course: Then she brought out the farfalle pasta with peas. Everything about the dish was fresh and handmade but missing something, maybe salt. It was comforting, tasty in its own way but somewhat forgettable. Bonus course: The next course was another bonus! Risotto with truffle. This was super rich, creamy & delicious. Again really good, a tad too rich for me.. Third course: The next course was the duck paired with Israeli couscous. Wow wow wow. This was the star of the dinner. Amazingly tender, beautifully seasoned, bursting with flavor. This was a highlight for me. Everything worked together. Loved this dish so much. Side note: My husband got the veggie plate - grits, beans, squash - as he's vegetarian and he said it was super underwhelming. See photo. Fourth course: This was a two cheese with berry syrup, a fig, a peach and persimmon I think. We were getting so full but carried on. The two cheeses were excellent and the combination of flavors were complex yet surprising and yummy. We thought we were done but I guess there was one more dessert which was like an ice cream, semifreddo with fruit. Both desserts were delicious but we were so stuffed. We had to go for a long walk after. I think has we had the 4 course as planned, the dining experience would have been perfect. Service was good despite the coursing error. Overall Violetto is decent option that is pretty well priced for the amount of food they give you. Worth a visit!

Marios D.

An amazing evening!! Exceptional service. Each course was explained and the entire meal was excellently choreographed! We were treated to a starter before we chose our 4 course dinner. Lovely chick peas with a beniegh and a broth with it to start I picked the fish and pasta. Both were exceptional. All the courses were beautifully prepared. Well presented and super pleasing to the eye. Servers and sommelier were brilliant. All worked well together and knew their stuff Loved the ability to select form several choices for each course. A beautiful thing for each course. I highly recommend this place!! PS. One item I am not thrilled about is the ambiance. It feels like a hotel lobby rather thank the high end restaurant that it is. It is a shame. But can be easily fixed.

The Discerning Latino N.

Violetto is everything I hope for in a Napa Valley night out: refined, ingredient-driven cooking paired with genuinely warm hospitality, all framed by sweeping vineyard views at the Alila resort. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a breezy terrace look straight onto the neighboring Beringer vines, so golden-hour cocktails feel like you're sitting in the landscape painting you came to Napa to see. From the first amuse-bouche to the last mignardise, Chef Mark Shoemaker's cooking is equal parts French finesse and Italian soul. Highlights for us: a Liberty Farms duck breast, poached salsify, cordyceps mushroom, sumac hazelnut in a duck bordelaise; potato rosti and caviar; and a show-stopping braised "Rabbit Violetti" with caraway-laced ricotta that somehow tastes like every happy memory of Sunday supper at once. We enjoyed the four-course Chef's Tasting Menu and never looked back. Service threads the needle between polished and personal. Our server, Megan, anticipated pacing perfectly, and everyone seemed genuinely delighted we were there--a disappearing art in luxury dining. The wine list leans Napa but roams enough of the Old World to keep explorers happy, and the team isn't shy about steering you to bottles well below the top of the price column if that's what best matches your tastes. Bottom line: Violetto delivers the kind of "only-in-Napa" experience that makes you want to book the next reservation before you've even finished dessert. Perfect for celebrations, date nights, or whenever you need to be reminded why food and wine matter in the first place.

A. P.

Wow, excellent food. All dishes were superb. If there was a restaurant that really deserved a Michelin star, this is it. Two versions of preset menus 4 dish and 8 dish. You cannot go wrong with either. We felt satisfied after 4.

Jared S.

Violetto. I don't even know where to begin... I'm at a serious loss for words... If you are looking for an unforgettable dining EXPERIENCE, Violetto is the spot for you. If you want the BEST food you've possibly ever had, Violetto is the spot for you. If you want the BEST service and ambiance, Violetto is the spot for you. Violetto WILL get that Michelin star soon too. It's just a matter of time... Violetto is located in downtown St. Helena, California. St. Helena is a town in the northern part of Wine Country. The restaurant is right off Main Street (aka the St. Helena Highway) and just south of Beringer Vineyards. St. Helena is so small that you could actually walk to Violetto if you're staying in town. The problem for my wife and I was the weather (100+ degrees), so we opted to drive. I believe valet parking is provided, but we opted to park our ourselves. My wife and I arrived last Friday night for our 7:15pm reservation. We were immediately blown away just walking up to the actual restaurant. Violetto is brand new and opened two months ago. The front of the restaurant is extremely picturesque! Inside we were welcomed by the friendliest staff I've ever encountered. They treated us as if we were celebrities or incredibly important people! The warmness of the hosts and servers will be a constant theme in this review, so stay tuned! We were seated in one of Violetto's main dining hall rooms. They do have outdoor seating, but nobody was out there due to how ridiculously hot it was. The ambiance on the inside is INCREDIBLE! You can tell Violetto put so much planning and thought into the restaurant to make patrons feel special! Italian themed interior with white walls; and art everywhere! Our server then came to take our order. He was EXTREMELY welcoming and assured us we made the right decision to come in that night for dinner. Violetto offers two menus: Prix Fixe (4 course meal) and Tasting (7 courses). We opted for the Prix Fixe as 4 courses seemed more than enough. To start we added on some olive focaccia bread with lemon butter. When I tell you this bread was the best bread I've ever had... WOW. Buttery, soft, fresh... we DEVOURED the focaccia! Like it was our last meal on earth! I then realized I really needed to slow down and enjoy each bite of each dish, as we weren't at Wendy's or something (lol). Violetto surprised us and brought out a few small items on the house. One of them was crispy potato skin with chickpeas on it and the other was a small mushroom soup. The potato skin/ chickpea item was incredibly flavorful and I loved the soup (and I don't even like mushrooms!) Next out was the first official course we ordered, aka the "beginner" course. I chose the Crudo of Wild Salmon and California Cherry. This came with taggiasca olive, pistachio, caviar, and morello cherry succo. INCREDIBLE. If you love the taste of "fishiness" this is the dish for you. The caviar melted in my mouth like butter, with the cherry dressing adding some surprising sweetness to the salmon slices. With the pistachio adding crunch! MMM. Second was the "pasta" course. I opted for the Rigatoni with Lamb Sugo, which was rigatoni with hand cut lamb ragu, ramps, and ricotta salata. GAME CHANGER. Maybe the best pasta I've had in my life!!! The "meatiness" of the lamb MADE this dish. It was like nothing I've ever eaten before. I savored each bite like nothing else. If you come, you HAVE to get this as your "pasta" course. Servers kept coming up to us saying how it was their favorite menu item PERIOD. For the main course I went with the Mamasi Wagyu Ribeye with preboggion greens in fontina fonduta, spring vegetable giardiniera, pine nuts and borolo jus. BEST. STEAK. EVER. Period. I had never had wagyu before and WOW the hype is real. Incredibly marbleized steak with streaks of fat running thru... I took my time with this and enjoyed every chew!! My wife even finished her dish before me (she opted for the lamb which was also fantastic). And that never happens!! I was incredibly sad when I had finished everything on the plate, I legit wanted to cry (lol). Lastly, for dessert, I opted for the deconstructed strawberry cheesecake. It came with strawberries prepared three ways: regular, dehydrated, and pickled. I had never had nor heard of pickled strawberries. But on this dish it worked! It balanced out the sweetness of the others. 11/10! In the end, I can arguably say this was one of the best meals I've ever had in my life. Everything about Violetto is FIRST CLASS. The service is unbeatable. The ambiance is top notch. The food is to DIE for!! And the price was reasonable at $90/ person. We don't eat like this that often. Maybe a couple times a year. But life is short and sometimes you have to treat yourself! Best of all we were very full at the end of dinner! And I'm a big eater! This isn't some dainty, high end place where you'll be hungry at the end. BANGING FOOD. INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. 100000000000 out of 10!

Anissa R.

If you are looking for an incredible dining EXPERIENCE, Violetto is a must. From driving up to the restaurant, to being seated, we felt incredibly taken care of. Violetto feels like a Michelin star restaurant without all the stuffiness (and I've been to a Michelin star restaurant that was NOTHING compared to this place). The interior is beautifully designed, combining simplicity and class. As for the service, everyone was incredibly helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. Several servers/staff approached our table throughout our meal to check on us, but it wasn't overbearing. Once seated, we were pleasantly surprised to be served a glass of sparkling wine to celebrate our anniversary. We opted for the "Dinner Prix Fixe" menu option and were incredibly happy with our selection. We also added on the fresh focaccia and lemon butter to start that was delicious! The meal truly began with an amuse-bouche (bite-sized hors d'œuvre of three small dishes) that really set the stage. My starter was the Green and White Asparagus Salad, which was super fresh. Then, my pasta dish was the Rigatoni with Lamb Sugo and that stole the show! Yum! My main dish was the Lamb Loin Braciole; I'm a lamb lover and savored every bite! Our meal was finished with a deconstructed cheesecake with pickled strawberries on it! Wow! They also gave us some truffles post-meal as well. I am unsure how to properly paint the picture of this unforgettable experience because you really need to try it for yourself. But all I can say is that I highly recommend Violetto! This would be a great place for any special occasion or fancy date night. Ps. don't be fooled, the plates may look small, but we were stuffed by the end (you can also order starters if you're worried you might still be hungry). 10/10 would recommend!

Robert C.

We thought we were going to be at the spa for the day, and made a brunch reservation here, so this review will be light on culinary appeal. They only offer brunch on the weekends, from 7:30am to 2:30pm. The setting is beautiful, with seating on the porch (our choice) or inside the dining room. The menu offered some terrific choices, but I had your basic bacon, eggs and potatoes ($22). It was all fine (the potatoes were particularly delicious) but at a price. I just wasn't in the mood for a sandwich or salad. My wife loved her smoked trout Benedict, with the Hollandaise on the side ($28). Lunch features both an a la carte menu and a rotating three-course prix fixe option ($45). Dinner is a unique story of each season told through a prix-fixe, with a mix of individual and family-style dining. Our main dining room presents the option of a four-course prix fixe menu ($95) or seven-course tasting menu ($130). We each had a glass of wine and our brunch bill was $100, but it was relaxing and fulfilling. Service was solid and we might have tried dinner were the surroundings at the central pool more accommodating.

Amanda P.

We visited Violetto for dinner while staying in the hotel but would revisit this restaurant regardless of stay. From the start, was provided with an apertif that included chickpea, cream, and a mushroom broth. Enjoyed fresh focaccia with olive oil, and a salad. Our mains were the burger and rigatoni. We finished with one of the desserts that was essentially a mousse enclosed in a white chocolate shell with fig garnish. Everything was fantastic. Fresh ingredients, prepared well and in interesting ways. The ambience is lovely here, especially on the porch - quiet setting with lush greenery and sufficient spacing. Service was attentive and friendly. This was a memorable meal that exceeded our expectations and checked all the boxes for everything we could have wanted.

Russ K.

This restaurant is relatively new in the sense it was rebranded from its previous incarnation, but retained the same chef and most of the staff, sommelier, etc. It's located inside Alila hotel, which used to be a Marriott property but is now part of Hyatt. But let's talk about the food: Each of us three had a four course fixe price menu. Some selections were a big hit, and others a bit less so. The chef's amuse bouche was incredible (see pic), and Parmesan risotto (had some mushroom & other veggies) was great. My rabbit ragu pasta was also delicious. I also enjoyed my beef cheek course that was ultra tender. All of our desserts were very nice as well. The wine list is expansive and you can find some hidden gems. Service was excellent (ask for Meghan!).

Justin C.

Overall food was pretty decent, but with a fantastic wine selection. Our waiter had great knowledge of the wines.

Morgan ..

Had a lovely pre fixe dinner here with the wine pairing. All the food was innovative, fresh and filling. We loved the cozy ambiance and all of the wine pairings were unique and not too predictable (think a cab franc with fish!). Severely underrated in St Helena.

Angad S.

Just had the prixe-fixe dinner and was absolutely blown away. So much gratitude to Chef Thomas Lents and his team for this gastronomical experience. Every course has a story ranging from the construction of the dish to the specific ingredients used. The depth and flavors of each dish while keeping in mind sustainable practices and highlighting seasonal produce is remarkable. The front house staff was just as exceptional with their kindness and attention to detail. Shoutout to Trevor for coordinating one of the best meals I've had. Will be back soon, much gratitude to the entire team.