Culinary Institute of America at Greystone
St. Helena, California, USA
Cuisine Style: Californian, Italian
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 3/5
Dined in: August 2013
Review Updated in April 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Wine Spectator / Gate House Executive Chef:
Bill Huebel
Students:
Francis Sy and Joe Zielinski
Sitting down reading a book on a subject may help you to retain the knowledge for an upcoming test, or to remember little bits when you hear the question on Jeopardy a few years later, but on the job training, getting your hands dirty is how you learn. And at the Greystone Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena’s Wine Spectator Restaurant (Now called the Gatehouse Restaurant) is on the job training. For when you come into the restaurant, your servers and cooks are all future Chef’s, still attending classes, but required to work in a live environment for school credit.
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| Wine Spectator / Greystone Student Chef's |
Inspired by local, seasonal ingredients, the menu features an interpretation of world flavors, daily hors d’oeuvre, and a large, wine list. There are so many Restaurants to choose from in Wine Country, but what attracted me to the wine Spectator Restaurant was the students doing the cooking just so I could see what the school was teaching them, and if it was all worth the very steep price tag for the degree at the CIA. The menu items in the restaurant reflect Mediterranean, South East Asian, and Latin Flavor profiles. The Restaurant is attached to the main campus building, a beautiful structure resembling an 18 Century style cathedral castle. The Restaurant setup consisted of the outdoor patio, then inside, the bar, and dining room surrounding the circled open air kitchen so that you could view the action, and see the students go to work. My server was also a student, and because of that, I relaxed on my normal standards for service since I could tell she was nervous and learning. So I knew in advance that if my drink didn’t get filled on time, or the table being crumbed, then I knew that I was dealing with someone who was still in training, yet throughout the night, her service was attentive, drinks remained filled, and plates were removed in a timely manner, so job well done.
I chose the 4-course Student Prix Fixe Menu with wine pairings for the evening, though their regular menu also had some interesting selections. For the Amuse course, I was presented with a glass containing an Ahi tuna Ceviche with watermelon and green Puebla Serrano peppers. A good mix combining the fruit, balancing the spice, and of course as always, a nice flavored fish.
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| Wine Spectator / Ahi Tuna Ceviche |
The first course was a chilled melon soup mixed with cantaloupe, honeydew, strawberry, blackberries, and mint, with a very creative garnish presentation. This course was presented with a Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc, 2010 from the North Coast.
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| Wine Spectator / Chilled melon soup |
The main course was a buttered poached Charmoula Ling Cod served over a bed of orzo rice, shrimp, and a Mediterranean Ragù. A very tasty light to medium flavored fish, that went down well with the flavors of the Ragù. The wine served with this course was the Boat Dock Rose of Sangiovese, 2012 from Napa Valley.
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| Wine Spectator / Charmoula Ling Cod |
Dessert:
For dessert, I had the lemon pudding cake served with a sweet Moscato D’ Oro 2011 from Robert Mondavi, not the best selection to go with this dessert, but it was palatable, and the pudding had a great sweet with acid flavor combinations and was very enjoyable.
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| Wine Spectator / Lemon Pudding Cake |
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
United States:
California:
Sub-Napa AVA’s:
European Union:
Italy:
Other noteworthy California Cuisine articles and restaurants similar to Wine Spectator/Gatehouse:
California cuisine is a style of cuisine marked by an interest in fusion cuisine (integrating disparate cooking styles and ingredients) and in the use of freshly prepared local ingredients. The food is typically prepared with strong attention to presentation. Foods low in saturated fats and high in fresh vegetables and fruits with lean meats and seafood from the California coast often define the style.
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse Chain (180+) for pub grub and brewed beer; reviewed in Pinellas Park, Florida
FarmTable Kitchen Casual Cal-Italian cuisine and chef tables in St. Petersburg, Florida
Fleur de Lys Lavish French-Californian by Hubert Keller in San Francisco, California
Gaia Restaurant Organic and sustainable concept in American Canyon, California (Renamed Table 29 Bistro and Bar)
Harvest Moon Café Farm-to-Fork daily changing new American fare menu in Sonoma, California
Wipeout Bar and Grill Surf shack theme with California and Mexican cuisine in San Francisco, California
Wolfgang Puck Celebrity Chef’s California cuisine and fine dining chain; reviewed in Orlando, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Calistoga articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Napa and Sonoma wines owned by Silver Oak
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Tuscan inspired castle with wine tours
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Bottle shocked Judgement of Paris
Calistoga, California
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A few California favorites:
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French-American Fine Dining
A top 20 on Wine Dine and Play
Yountville, California, USA
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Artisan Cheese Shop
Point Reyes Station, California
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3-day tour of Napa and Sonoma
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations, and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Greystone Wine Spectator / Gatehouse a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning that they were not only far above the average dining experience of most restaurants, but exceeded all my expectations.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Greystone
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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11
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11
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0
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Food quality
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11
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8
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3
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Plate presentation
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12
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11
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1
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Customer service
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13
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8
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5
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Alcohol and other beverages
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10
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8
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2
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Total regular points awarded
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57
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46
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11
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.807017543859649
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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1
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0175438596491228
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.824561403508772
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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3
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
Review basics:
***
Overall Star Rating:
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3 of 5 Stars:
82% Rating with a 1 point “wow” bonus
Exceeded my Expectations in a Dining Experience
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Restaurant style:
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Conservative dining
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Cuisine Style at Gate House:
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American, Asian, Californian, Italian, Mediterranean
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Gluten-Free choices, Low Carb Choices, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required, but Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Smart casual attire
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Wine Spectator / Gate House Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Contemporary, Modern, Trendy, Business parties, Great outdoor dining, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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valet and campus parking
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Medium
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Smoking:
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non-smoking restaurant with a non-smoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€
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Alcohol prices:
$18.00 USD
Greystone Gatehouse Restaurant:
2555 Main St.
St. Helena, CA 94574
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 (707) 967-1100
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Online reservations
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Website Contact:
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Serving hours:
Pacific Standard Time (GMT, Zulu, or UTC-8:00)
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Lunch: Tue - Fri
11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Dinner:
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Saturday
11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Sunday
12:0 pm - 7:00 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for Greystone Wine Spectator / Gatehouse
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Eclectic tavern for Surf 'n' Turf in Griffin, Georgia, USA
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Nautical themed eatery with crafted cocktails and raw bar
Sarasota, Florida, USA
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New American Cuisine, tapas, and exotic cocktails
St Pete Beach, Florida, USA
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Other Greystone Pictures:
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| Wine Spectator / Logo |
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| Wine Spectator / CIA School |
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| Wine Spectator / Greystone Students |
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| Wine Spectator / Greystone Students |
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| Wine Spectator / AGreystone Students |
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| Wine Spectator / Mixed desserts |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
