Downtown Joe's Napa, CA

While watching the New England Patriots dominate the New York Jets at Downtown Joe's Brewery and Resturant, Peta got a little peckish. She ordered the wilted spinach salad, but I did not notice the dish description of "baby spinach, pancetta, pine nuts, olive oil and Laura's cheval goat's cheese". I don't know if that's the exact menu listing (it's not listed in the pdf on the website), but it's close. I love a spinach salad with warm bacon dressing and I was looking forward to stealing a few bites. Unfortunately...

Food:
Wilted Spinach Salad: The goat's cheese was excellent, but things deteriorated rapidly from that high point. The pine nuts were not toasted enough and may have been past their prime. There was a touch of rancidity that may have been the pancetta standing in for what should have been regular ol' bacon. Restaurant folks: don't try to feign class by disrespecting a class-ic, AKA dance with the one that brung ya.

The salad was oily, in part because olive oil was used rather than the traditional bacon fat, in part because there was too much of it and in part because there was no/not enough vinegar to cut through the oil. That's all I can remember about that forgetful dish.

Drinks:
Bloody Mary with well vodka: They come in a big glass with a big price, but celery salt on the rim, the copious amounts of horseradish and the olive and cocktail onion garnish are nice touches. I use Old Bay myself and a bacon stirrer rather than celery salt and celery, but I liked the attention to detail regardless.

Double Secret Probation IPA: Super hoppy and clean tasting.

Staff:
Laid back, not too chatty, comfortable vibe