My husband, 16 yr old daughter and myself arrived in the Downtown area with the intent of watching the Air Races at San Diego Harbor. Well, we parked at Horton Plaza and realized that we were very... More

My husband, 16 yr old daughter and myself arrived in the Downtown area with the intent of watching the Air Races at San Diego Harbor. Well, we parked at Horton Plaza and realized that we were very hungry. We wandered up to the food court and wah-lah - there was Napa Valley Grille. My husband has always had a penchant for Napa Valley food and wine so we HAD to try this place. We ordered baked Brie which came with pita-like flat bread, roasted garlic and carmelized onions. Mmm, mmmm..... My daughter and I split a baked crab sandwich. It was an open faced sandwich made of the bread mentioned in another review, crab salad, a tomato with cheese on top. The sandwich is then toasted and cheese is melted to a delicious crunch. The crab sandwich came with a salad (mixed greens) with a light dressing. My husband ordered the hamburger - not your typical hamburger. Excellent quality meat and delicious fries. We don't usually order dessert, but since the food was so good, the three of us agreed that we HAD to try the Brie cheesecake. Oh boy! It was more like a mousse - so light and tasty. Wished we had ordered coffee with it, but we were off to the air races. We sat outdoors on the roof-top patio and we could just see that planes darting around and the fly-overs by the military jets and the parachute jumpers. It was a beautiful early fall day and we couldn't ask for a better setting. Pros: Good food, good wine, great service, lovely menu Cons: Might be windy or chilly outside
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I don't normally even write reviews for restaurants however, after visiting Horton Plaza for some shopping, my husband and I "tried out" Napa Valley Grille. We have found since moving here that very... More

I don't normally even write reviews for restaurants however, after visiting Horton Plaza for some shopping, my husband and I "tried out" Napa Valley Grille. We have found since moving here that very few restaurants in San Diego even have the correct concept of what guests want when dining. This place has the understanding that it is everything from a great wine list to a warm welcome when you arrive. Every staff person was friendly and accomodating. Our server was extremely knowledgable of the menu items and wine. The cocktails were inventive and perfect. The food was amazing. This has to be THE best kept secret in San Diego Pros: great service, atmosphere, knowledgable staff & free easy parking in garage Cons: best to make a reservation albeit waiting at the bar was great fun, Thanks Jen!
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I've walked past the Napa Valley Grille on many shopping excursions in Horton Plaza. I finally decided to give it a try last week before a movie. To my surprise, the menu was much more elegant then... More

I've walked past the Napa Valley Grille on many shopping excursions in Horton Plaza. I finally decided to give it a try last week before a movie. To my surprise, the menu was much more elegant then I had anticipated, serving the FULL menu at the bar. I'm not much of a wine enthusiast, but the bartender was very knowlegable and offered "Something Different". I said, " I usually have a gin and tonic, what can you do with that?" She left the bar briefly, returning with fresh herbs to make me a Rosemary, Thyme Gimlet. It was Amazing! My date and I decided on a later showtime at the movies, in order to make time to enjoy a few more cocktails. Next time you're downtown, skip the parking headache, and pull into the garage. You'll get 4 hours free parking, a nice meal, and a great drink. I only wish I would've gone there sooner. Pros: No wait to be seated, and free parking. Cons: a little pricey, but worth your money.
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The food at the Napa valley Grille is consistently good. What more can you ask for a good glass of wine and a good meal. We ate here for lunch and was very happy with our meal. The ahi tuna salad... More

The food at the Napa valley Grille is consistently good. What more can you ask for a good glass of wine and a good meal. We ate here for lunch and was very happy with our meal. The ahi tuna salad was plentiful as was the chicken cobb salad. Too often you get a ton of greens and not enough ahi. Not in this case. Our server was attentive without being over bearing. He also poured a generous glass of wine. To fing this restaurant you have to go to the top floor of Horton Plaza but once you get there it's work the effort. Pros: roof top, great wine list, attentive staff Cons: location
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