So there we were on a Thursday night at Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen. Just a few moments after being seated, along comes winemaker August “Joe�? Briggs to our table. Every Thursday night at Cindy’s it is “Celebrity Bartender Night.�? A local vintner walks around to the tables and pours samples of his or her wine. Joe introduces himself to us and pours us a generous amount of his Carneros Chardonnay. Later, he follows with a taste of Lake County Petite Sirah. This is a fun event and the crowd at Cindy’s is enjoying every minute of it. This is just one of the great things about Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen. The cuisine is the best, the servers are great, and the atmosphere is festive. The place is both a local’s hot spot and a tourist favorite. The menu consists of both small plates and regular entrées. If you go to Cindy’s, be sure to try the Piquillo Peppers, they are fabulous. The wine list and menu are priced just right for our budget.
Chef Cindy Pawlcyn is the owner and she also owns and operates Mustard’s Grill as well in Yountville. Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen is located at 1327 Railroad Avenue, just one block east of the main shopping street in St. Helena.
The Good: Excellent food and service. Fair prices for Napa Valley
The Bad: Noisy but festive