Inside Track: What the Locals are Doing

Panchas

Regaled as one of Napa Valley’s oldest dive bars, Panchas in Yountville has been a locals mainstay since its opening in 1982. Best known for its $3 beers and colorful juxtaposition of longstanding staff and patrons, which range from local farmworkers to doctors and everything in between, it’s gained national celebrity over the years, most notably, Playboy Magazine’s 2012 ranking as one of America’s Top Dive Bars. Open noon- 2 am. // 6764 WASHINGTON ST., YOUNTVILLE

West Won Bread

The Kuehner family: Kyle, Elise, Edie, Rollie & Otto

To keep up with community demand, local bread baker/chef Kyle Kuehner expanded the family’s artisan bread operation from the Napa Farmers Market to their new location on Soscol Avenue in April 2021. Along with their organic, natural leavened sour dough sour dough loaves such as Kalamata Olive, Sesame, Sprouted Rye, Toasted Pecan and Golden Raisin which are baked fresh daily, an all day menu of toasts, sandwiches and seasonal items like Panzanella salad keep the family business busy from 7 am -2 pm Wed-Fri and 8 am- 2 pm on weekends. // 1800 A SOSCOL AVE., NAPA • WESTWONBREAD.COM

Taqueria Maria Friday Night Fiesta

The Reynoso family’s Third Street restaurant, Taqueria Maria, is best known for their great, authentic Mexican food delicious margaritas, and their lively Friday entertainment by professional mariachi group, J. Nuevo Mexico. The 14-member ensemble keeps the crowd dancing and singing from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm as patrons share libations and the restaurant’s famed nachos, salsa, combo platters and Molcajetes (stoneware urns filled with mixed meats and seafood) on the riverfront patio. Reservations recommended. // 640 THIRD ST., NAPA • TAQUERIAMARIA.COM

Gillwoods Café

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in June, St. Helena’s Gillwoods Café is a local treasure. Owner Jennifer Fradelizio and her mother, Debbie, along with most of their staff, have been serving up sumptuous breakfasts and lunches in their cozy diner on Main Street to hungry locals and visitors who, on busy mornings may wait in line to score a coveted seat. Favorite items include their house baked cinnamon rolls, smoked salmon eggs benedict, bacon bloody Mary, and anything covered in their Country Gravy. Open 7 am- 2 pm Thu- Mon. // 1313 MAIN ST., ST. HELENA • GILLWOODSCAFE.COM

R + D Kitchen Patio Bar

Hillstone Group’s R + D Kitchen patio bar in Yountville is a popular lunch and happy hour hangout for locals (and their canine companions.) Besides offering the full restaurant menu, R + D’s full wine list, beers and handcrafted cocktails are the perfect respite for the handful of patrons lucky enough to snag a seat. Open Fri-Sun 11- 9 pm / Mon-Thu 11:30- 9 pm. // 6795 WASHINGTON ST., YOUNTVILLE • RD-KITCHEN.COM