7377 St. Helena Hwy, Yountville CA 94558
(707) 944-2749
Parking: in parking lot
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11:30am-9:00pm, Friday-Saturday: 11:30am-10:00pm
http://brix.com/
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$$$
We entered Brix after watching a show at the theater and found it pretty packed. The only seating available was at the bar, which was populated with a couple of kids (slightly ironic when you think that they’re sitting at the center of the bar). The hostess told us we could sit anywhere at the bar if there was space, and as we approached, we found that there weren’t any more stools left. After going back to the hostess, she then brought over some stools and placed them at the end of the bar.
This felt very much like self-service since nobody was taking us to a table/bar seating. Considering the atmosphere, I would have expected a little more hosting by the hostess. After being seated at the bar, the bartender gave us menus and provided very good service. Since we were seated at the end, we saw bread and butter tucked under the bar, but we weren’t offered any. Tables behind us were brought a bread basket and asked what type of bread they wished to select from it. Nobody else at the bar received bread, but I think they should have. Patrons should have the same experience dining at an establishment whether or not they’re sitting in a specific location.
There are three tall tables across from the bar which is to your right after entering the restaurant. To your immediate left is a gift shop with soaps, candles, and many other items for sale. The dining room is separated from the bar area by the bar.
The menu has a variety of typical California cuisine selections – seafood, duck, pork, and beef. Everything is ordered a la carte.
- Fried Calamari with Pepperoncini, watercress, and lemon garlic aioli – The calamari is lightly breaded and you receive an assortment of tentacles and rings. Very young watercress is lightly dressed and placed beneath the calamari. Pepperoncini are cut into rings also and tossed with the calamari. The aioli is served in a small ramekin. I would have liked the aioli to have more lemon in it, but overall, the dish was very good. I didn’t eat much of the pepperoncini, so that was wasted on me, but the calamari was fresh and cooked just right. $12
- Braised Short Rib with pommes espuma and baby vegetables – If I hadn’t looked at the menu, I would have thought the apple foam was mashed potatoes. It wasn’t really a foam, but more like a light mashed potato consistency. The single short rib was placed on top of the espuma and had been braised until very tender. A few baby carrots accompanied the short rib and were placed decoratively on the large white plate/bowl. The short rib melted in my mouth. Delicious. $32
- Seared Dayboat Scallops with broccoli, walnuts, golden raisins, and gruyere cheese – There were six scallops that had been seared until light brown and plated on top of a gruyere cheese mix. Golden raisins that had been lightly cooked were sprinkled over the scallops. The chopped walnuts and broccoli were also placed next to the scallops on this oval white plate. Overall, the scallops were nicely done and everything was very light. It wasn’t the best scallop dish I have ever had, but it was good. $30
Portions are petite, so if you have a large appetite, you’ll want to order a lot of appetizers. Desserts available today weren’t appealing to me, but that would be another option to fill your stomach.
Overall, the experience was pretty good. Prices are a bit on the high side, but may be more worth it if you are able to sit at a table. The bartender did a great job serving everyone at the bar (almost everyone was dining and not just having drinks). The only errors were giving us an appetizer and then taking it back since it belonged to another party at the bar (they had ordered the calamari also) and then not receiving any bread. Otherwise, it was a good experience and I would be willing to return to Brix again.
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