On the Scene: Special Assignment – Clementine Opening a Grand Success
Last week Clementine opened in the space formerly occupied by Coqueta, kicking it off with a ribbon cutting and party on their beautiful new outdoor patio. Mayor Margie Mohler and Vice Mayor Robin McKee-Cant were joined by Napa Supervisor Anne Cottrell, town manager Brad Raulston, council members Eric Knight, Pamela Reeves and Hillery Trippe, and a variety of “who’s who” in Napa and beyond. Guests were greeted with towering displays of Aperol Spritz, the restaurant’s signature drink, and we all laughed late into the evening under the twinkling lights as endless drinks and light bites were passed.
We returned for dinner with friends on Saturday to the sold-out restaurant. In fact, according to Open Table, Clementine is now one of the toughest tables to book in town. Already!
Infinitely Instagrammable, every square inch of the restaurant is stunning, from the outdoor banquettes upholstered in decadently rich fabrics to the gorgeous light fixtures to the towering olive trees brought in to soften the space.
In their press release, they refer to the beautiful surroundings as “design that feels like a wink and a smile” and I would concur. It manages to be charming, sophisticated, approachable and hip all at once. Designer Julie King, of Elle and Vogue fame, collaborated with Candace Hickman who is known for her design of members-only clubs around the world including Soho House, to create a space that is welcoming, comfortable, and hard to leave.
Live music will be featured every night, and the duo (“Laura and Anton”) that performed Saturday was great, and the perfect volume, which many restaurants get wrong with live music. We were able to enjoy music that spanned French classics to Broadway favorites (I am still humming “these are a few of my favorite things”) and still carry on a conversation, although we were seated right next to the talented musicians. Hear them at www.LauraandAnton.com
Now that I have set the stage with the ambience and design, let’s get to the food and wine, shall we? Under the direction of Executive Chef Rebecca Weitzman, the menu draws on Mediterranean influences, highlighting seasonal ingredients in dishes that are both refined and approachable. Always bending the rules of cuisine, we ordered one of the sides, the crispy fennel flower, as an appetizer, and it was so good our group ordered seconds. And almost thirds until I physically restrained my husband Thomas Henthorne. The charred asparagus, served with a duck egg over easy, and the wood-grilled beets were also standouts.
For mains, the group sampled the wood-grilled pork porterhouse chop (my favorite), the salt-baked branzino (flavorful, moist, sublime), the mustard-crusted Napa Valley lamb (bold and paired beautifully with the bottle of Chianti we ordered) and the cast iron seared rosewood American Wagyu petite filet (not so petite, delicious).
Weitzman runs her kitchen with an easy style and consummate professionalism. She asked which were our favorite dishes and gave a proud smile to her team, standing nearby. “It is a true pleasure and honor to be part of the Clementine team. Our grand opening weekend has been an absolute joy, and we are delighted to be part of the Yountville community. We look forward to welcoming our guests here for many years to come,” she said. Weitzman is a great addition to Yountville and the greater SF Bay Area. Welcome, chef!
One of the “surprise and delight” moments was that each main is actually accompanied with lovely sides, which has become more rare in the restaurant world. For example, the lamb was served with fava beans and a cherry tomato salad. The pork chop was served over a bed of wilted frisée (aka “curly endive”). The accompaniments were thoughtful, generous and delicious.
For dessert, we had the orange clementine sorbet, which is surprisingly – and delightfully – paired with shaved rosemary, offering a contrast of flavors that is truly addictive. We may have ordered a second. They also offer a dark chocolate budino, which is ridiculously rich and decadent. Ask me for a taste of mine and I’ll snarl like a feral dog.
The wine list is evolving, according to sommelier Marco Buffa, who said he is going to see what guests prefer (we voted for more Italian wines). General Manager Aitor Bischoff, formerly of Charter Oak, has put together a great team of experienced servers from all over the valley. Also on hand was Food and Beverage Director for Estate Yountville Rudy Arreguin, whom many of you will remember from Bottega. His mother, Maria, was present for opening night, seated across from us. She beamed at him proudly through much of the evening.
There wasn’t one opening night hiccup during our service. Not one. It was truly a flawless evening. Clementine is a wonderful addition to our town. Give it a try soon. It’s a tough table to book, but stop by, smile, ask nicely, and you may be rewarded with a meal and an experience to remember.
