My first dinner out in Napa was the perfect taste of what the valley had to offer. Bistro Don Giovanni – if the name isn’t completely obvious – is a low-key Italian eatery located just off Highway 29 (one of the main roads running North-South in the valley). Not only did I snag an absolutely perfect table but the weather was amazing and made for perfect al fresco dining.

The waiter was not my favorite. When I announced I am vegan (after he went through all the very meat-laden specials for the night) he kind of stopped loving me. But he was decent enough and the ambiance of the place coupled with the beautiful view made up for his semi-attitude.

But now let’s get to the food…

Everything came out at the same time – which I thought was a little strange (I’m a start-with-the-salad kinda girl myself) but I guess it at least made for variety in the bites.

I ordered the Beet & Haricot Verts salad (tossed in a lemon vinaigrette instead of the roquefort) and it was outstanding. Maybe it’s the fact that I began noticing how far superior standard produce is in California, but this was one awesome salad.

I also went with the basic Margherita Pizza without the mozzarella and I asked if the kitchen could “toss on some vegetables they have laying around.” What I got was roasted eggplant added, which was a good call. It ended up feeling like a meat substitute and definitely added to the pizza. The sauce was great and the dough was really nice – chewy but crusty.

Add a side of Bistro Garden Olives, (the fried olives are battered with buttermilk, so that’s a no-go), and Tuscan Beans, a glass of Chardonnay, and I had myself a fantastic first meal in Napa.

All-in-all, a definite go-to for the view, the ambiance and the food. All around solid.