The Thomas was the perfect way to kick off our Napa weekend! After reading reviews, I knew to ask for a rooftop table and I was so happy they were able to accomodate that. It could not have been more perfect!
A lovely and intimate setting amongst a very convivial atmosphere, we settled in for some serious noshing!
What we had:
Wild mushroom mousse with whiskey jelly and grilled sourdough - OMG, weeks later, I'm still thinking about the flavor and texture of this amazing dish!
Chilled English pea soup with Dungeness crab, Meyer lemon and smoked almond yogurt - the crab in the this really made it exceptional and the Meyer lemon just made the whole dish sing. So awesome!
Grilled Asparagus with hazelnuts, crispy bacon, a poached egg and truffle-yuzu hollandaise - BF and I 'fought' over the last bite. It was so good that negotiations ensued over household chores to see who got to finish it.
Pan seared halibut with pickled garden radish, cucumber, grilled corn, spicy mustard greens and lemon verbena broth - beautiful dish. The fish was amazingly fresh and all the ingredients came together perfectly.
Herb roasted "Rocky Jr" Â 1/2 chicken with with crispy kale, pickled fennel, overnight tomatoes and truffled corn puree - I used to never order chicken out. Thankfully I've long since gotten over that. I can't and don't make chicken like this at home. Incredible!
We finished with the wam cinnamon sugar doughnuts with vanilla cream and black pepper strawberry sauce and also had some salted caramel ice cream. An excellent way to walk away very sated.
The service was good, the wine list was exceptional and we did a pairing with everything we had which really made everything that much more spectacular. I would make this a regular spot when I'm here.
Exceptional cuisine, charming service, great ambience, and the waiter was excellent.  We were both impressed with the quality of the food.  We had one nectarine salad. The dressing made it special.  We also had a duck confit salad with mango and spinach, over toast with an egg.  It would make a meal.  The duck had lots of meat and was prepared perfectly.  We followed this with the salmon entree.  Each course had unusual preparation of the extras on the plate.  The carrot preparation and design were something to see as   well as enjoy.  We had salted caramel ice cream and lemon/basil ice cream.  We couldn't decide which was better. They had a good IPA beer on the menu.  I had a Pimm's Cup but requested no vodka.  The bartender deconstructed the drink so I had something very unique but if you are basically a non-drinker I would avoid this one.  It was delicious but after drinking less than half I realized I shouldn't have any more.  We will definitely return to this restaurant.  Why are all the best chefs in Napa Valley?
Review Source:Don't eat here. We ordered four burgers today - all medium rare. Â Three of them were almost raw. Â Two of us sent them back to the kitchen. Â Twenty five minutes later the same burgers came back well done. We also ordered a BLT with an egg on it - we wanted it scrambled instead of sunny side up. Â The chef refused.
Review Source:Stopped in for the first time for an early lunch during a week day, so we were the only two. Â Very cute 3 story restaurant. Â We went to the top floor which is a open patio and spans a great view of downtown Napa. Â We ordered the Oyster Po' Boy and Duck Confit salad. Â Both were absolutely delicious. Â The oysters were cooked perfectly on a delicious brioche like bun. Â This was served with sweet potato chips that were seasoned just right. Â The duck confit salad was served on a piece of rustic toast and an absolutely perfectly cooked sunny side up egg. Â Seriously, I have never seen a more beautifully cooked sunny side up egg. Â The duck was flavorful and crisp, and the salad dressing was slightly tart and went very well with the egg and duck. Â We will definitely come back next time. Â Great service too.
Review Source:In town for a girls weekend, we spent the day at wineries and then rallied for dinner and cocktails at Fagiani's. The decor was spot on and added to the experience right away. We ordered a round of cocktails which were very on trend with the whole specialty/authentic speakeasy cocktail thing. I switched to wine for dinner but the pims cup was very flavorful and boozy.
We were seated upstairs on the patio which was perfect. We started with the grilled asparagus which came with egg and bacon and was perfect for a nice night outdoors. Light but flavorful. We cleaned the plate. I had the salmon which was billed by our waiter as medium rare, but actually was cooked all the way through. Still delicious, though. The burger and fries were a hit with the table as well, and the pork chop was great.
My highlight was the donuts. Definitely order them... Heaven.
After a day in Napa, we were looking forward to dinner at The Thomas and Fagiani's Bar.  The restaurant opened last August after a renovation and an addition of a rooftop patio terrace.  We checked in with the hostess for our reservations for a table in the rooftop patio.  She asked if we wanted to take the elevator or walk up the stairs.  We opted to walk, so that we would get a tour of the restaurant.  As she led us from the first floor, which consisted of the bar area for drinks and bar food, the second floor was the restaurant with an open kitchen, and the top floor patio had a bar with counter/tables and table out in the patio for dining. (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=jfwZxsoArf8XTRKbcIHj2A#jfwZxsoArf8XTRKbcIHj2A">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
We were seated a table at the front corner of the patio with a view of The Riverfront complex and the Napa River.  What a view!  (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw#hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)( <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw#AXh9l5FzJWtC0BHVLLPqpQ">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Our waitress, Kayla, promptly greeted us and described the menu to us and answered our questions that we had.
Our order:
Starter cocktail - Negroni, which was on tap.  Made from Beefeater gin, Campari and rosso vermouth with an orange peel.  (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw#CZdIJHKoAxH48rCx4GixLw">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Bread - Rosemary Focaccia with olive oil for dipping.  This was so soft and delicious.  Oh, they will offer to bring more when you're finished each serving. (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw#HaVDUlFV_vsnDfvc9A929w">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Starters:
Nice Blue Plate Chenin Blanc for a starter pairing (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw#CUd5AdezcuF2B1CA23Bxxg">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Mini Seafood Tower - Oysters, clams, mussels, and prawns over ice with three sauces.  Very fresh seafood. (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw#pnJUSXE3Y_xiN5H_3MJ4Sw">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Wild mushroom mousse with whiskey jelly and grilled sourdough.  Wow, never had mushroom mousse before.  This was so delicious on the sourdough. (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw#X48hz5ZaAxfM68MbWwkLPw">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Grilled asparagus with crispy bacon, hazelnuts, truffle-yuzu hollandaise and a poached egg.  Perfectly poached egg over nicely grilled asparagus.  (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw#VQ5lHx9ptIqt7yh-BCN9bw">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Grilled Monterey Bay squid with roasted gypsy peppers, summer beans, frisee, chilies, and squid ink vinaigrette.  Nice, light dish with perfectly grilled squid with some greens.  (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw#ICZeQ9Tdz0q9ijPVhUq34g">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Entrees:
Delicious Horse and Plow "The Gardener" Pinot Noir for the entrée pairing.  (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw#JK1fPop2lYEhQPWPw9oOLg">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Pan seared halibut with pickled garden radish, cucumber, grilled corn, spicy mustard green and lemon verbena broth.  Tasty halibut complemented by all these accompaniments.  (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw#CnLNRUSwOcl7NGRiS1HxOA">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Herb roasted "Rocky Jr"  1/2 roasted chicken with crispy kale, pickled fennel, overnight tomatoes, and truffle corn puree.  This was one of the best roasted chickens that I've eaten.  The breast meat was perfectly cooked.  So juicy and tender. (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw#8tibER--ymrQJuY4zQfN9g">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Sides of:
French fries with chili ketchup and blue cheese mayo.  Loved the blue cheese mayo (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw#mCpx7erJEqfY1pTEjjQLpA">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Artichoke chips with green garlic aioli.  Artichoke heart sliced into chips.  Never had this before and it was good.  (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa?select=hhgz4jq40QQuvtODNUn9jw#25Y7sIrA7e7sW9L4WT781w">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Dessert:
Warm cinnamon sugar doughnuts with vanilla cream and black pepper strawberry sauce  (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa#mEWKRnq-0crYS926t1sZEg">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Lemon & basil sorbet.  If you like the tartness of lemons, this fits your bill.  (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-thomas-and-fagianis-bar-napa#drScjhIhP8oCLNb_KEAC-Q">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Coffee and tea. Â The coffee is very bold from Mr. Coffee Roasters. Â
Overall, a great dining experience. Â From the nice ambiance, to the delicious food and great friendly service from Kayla, who explained everything served to us, from drinks to food.
Last Monday my collogue and I wanted to grab a drink before a movie. We work in hospitality, so our "Friday Night" is everyone else's Monday night. Imagine our surprise and disappointment when almost every place we walked to downtown Napa was closed! As we were about to give up, I saw some lights coming from the roof of The Thomas  (the old Fagiani's)  and recalled that they host an industry night every Monday night. At the bar we met Andrew, who is the best barman-mixologist west of the Mississippi. Not only did he make us two great cocktails, but he happily answered all of our questions on spirits and such. I could tell from his wealth of knowledge he enjoyed his work and that passion shows in his truly amazing cocktails. If you are in the wine/hospitality industry, I highly recommend a visit to The Thomas on Monday nights, and ask for Andrew
Review Source:WORST EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD!
I came to Napa to experience the wine and the food NOT pretentious waiting staff and poor food. There were two of us, we were both nicely dressed and the hostess seemed to size us up before agreeing that there may be a table for us (there were lots of empty tables once we were seated on the second floor) A waiter came over to ask about water preferences and then left for quite awhile. Upon his return we were finally asked about drinks, no info on the specials or any nice interaction. We did not order an appetizer which really seemed to put him off. We asked for a small change to an entree which was met with disdain - my dining partner has a few food issues- we did try to explain but he left mid sentence.
OVER COOKED CHICKEN and practically RAW SALMON. I know that it is the trend to  serve fish lightly sauted... the people the next table over ordered it as well, and ate about the same amount as we did
Again, worst experience I've had in a long time.
Whether you live in the Napa region or are visiting, I would encourage anyone to make this place a priority on the must-visit list. Â When you visit, ask for Ben Koenig (one of the managers) and tell him Evan S referred you.
Ambience: outstanding. Â With a 1st and 3rd floor bar and a nice dining room on the 2nd floor, there's a little something for everybody. Â Plus, it has a couple staples that the lady and I think are great traits: exposed brick and big street-side windows. Â Nice soulful soundtrack in the background and glimpses of the kitchen.
Service: wonderful. Â Jen took care of us. Â Extremely friendly service with a smile. Â Every dish that was brought out was explained in detail and we never felt like we were on an island.
Food: VERY, very good. Â We shared the Asian pear salad for appetizer in addition to the beef tartare. Â The herb roasted chicken was just right and hit the spot. Â Definitely make sure you end the dinner with the cinnamon sugar donuts.
Seriously, this is a great stop in Napa. Â Has a happening happy hour scene, is cozier than some of the bigger spots, and has an awesome back story. Â I'll let you research that one on your own.
Been here about half a dozen times, and the experience just keeps getting better.
The menu is simple, seasonal, and delicious, and the cocktails are excellent. Order the steak tartare, you'll be glad you did.
Three levels are each a bit different but great experiences, all.
- Ground floor: full cockatil bar and bar food
- Second floor: full restaurant menu, with open kitchen
- Rooftop terrace: full menu and separate full bar - GREAT for warm summer nights!
It could get a little loud in the bar, but this is to be expected. After all, it's a bar. The restaurant and rooftop terrace can get a little noisy as well, but not so loud you have to shout.
The decor in each room is really nice: they each have a really stylish feel without being stodgy or too trendy. I am considering stealing some of the ideas for my house.
Love the fact that they are open later into the evening as well.
The wine list is very interesting: lots of international flavors to choose from as well as some local favorites. I really like the fact that I can be adventurous and venture away from Napa wines, and try something Hungarian or Spanish for once.
Additionally I want to commend the staff. They are always very attentive, professional and friendly. Recently I witnessed a pretty terrible customer approaching and abusing other clients of the restaurant, and the server and manager handled the horrible woman with class and diplomacy. Kudos to them!
I've been here about 8 times since they opened...enough to make an informed decision.  My first experience was fairly positive (they seemed to be working out the kinks with the food but there were good cocktails).  This was around the first week or so they opened.  Sadly, since then even the cocktails have gone downhill and the food has not improved (I haven't made it here for brunch, though).  As a local who likes to go out a lot, I want to see our downtown business thrive, but this place needs a serious overhaul.  A few weeks ago, I was there before my friends arrived and I waited awhile (in a pretty empty bar) before a seemingly inconvenienced bartender approached me.  He made my cocktail but refused to correct it when it was clearly not crafted correctly...it was a classic cocktail, previously  made very well in the same bar by others.  I will not be back anytime soon, especially when there are so many options in town now.
Review Source:As a Napa Native, I was excited to finally see this wonderful old building open and being used. Â It is beautiful inside and the view from the rooftop is just great. Sadly, the food is disappointing. Â The "lunch" portions" were appetizer size. Â The 'burger' was the size of a meatball. Â The pork sandwich was just bigger than a slider. I might go again for drinks, then go someplace else for dinner/lunch.
Review Source:After visiting 5 times I think it's time to review..... I will NOT go into detail about my first 2 visits to the Fagiani's Bar, other to say that I wasn't impressed (with the staff).
My 3rd, 4th, and 5th visit have changed my mind. Visit 3 & 5 were at the 3rd floor bar. Jonathan was my bartender those 2 times. He's inspired, inventive, and not afraid to MAKE you try new things. Let him make up a cocktail on a whim, you won't be disappointed. The food we had at the bar was wonderful! The Tea-Smoke Salmon (Breakfast all day!) was divine, with just the right amount of yuzu hollandaise, and spinach. I very much enjoyed my refreshing cocktail, The Garden Daquiri, which is gin, limoncello, cucumber syrup, and cucumber slices floating. For light snacks, try the artichoke chips with spicy ketchup, or the fries, (basic, but yummy!)
Dinner on June 15th, was off the hook! (Partially because of my company, perhaps?)
The bar downstairs made me a beautiful Pims Cup, light and refreshing. Dinner on the 2nd floor started with blistered Padron Peppers, that are more addicting than potato chips, perfectly salted, and just the right amount of olive oil. The scallop appetizer was served in a lemon/verbena broth, and were so light and delicate! (they paired perfectly with the wine chosen, Scholium Project Cinsault, almost a rose, but not quite. More like biting into a ripe honeydew melon). Â
I chose the Pan Seared Halibut, that was served with asparagus ribbons, garlic, chilis, and a touch of squid ink vinaigrette. The portion was larger than I anticipated, and was cooked to perfection! My companion had the Wood Grilled Flat Iron, served with crispy polenta. The Flat Iron was absolutely, perfectly, rare, and had a bit of smoked paprika oil. We loved this dinner with the School House Mescolanza Syrah blend.
Our dessert (holy cow, we ordered dessert!) was the perfect size to end our meal. Warm Cinnamon Sugar Donuts! The Black Pepper, Strawberry dipping sauce was my favorite, although the vanilla cream sauce was nice, as well. Â
I will come back.
Here's the setup: they advertise the heck out of the menu, the cocktail menu and bartender online. Â When you enter, they emphasize the same in the menu and with little fliers scattered about.
I will say, this location is exceptional. Â A remodeled old-world building with charm and ambience. Â SO much potential and such a great location.
Then you look at the cocktail menu. Â All the booze is mid-level. Â The only distinguishing feature is a cucumber stick or slice in many of the drinks. Â Nothing compared to the real "modern" bars in SF (such as Bourbon and Branch) or even Portland (such as Red Star Tavern). Â Yet they make a big, big deal about it. Â I had to upgrade my Gin to make the drink passable for this cocktail lover.
OK. Â On to the food. Â We always order brussel sprouts when they're on a menu - a definite benchmark for any chef. Â Our brussel benchmarks are Mala Ocean Tavern in Maui and Boone in Guernville, CA. Â These were far too sweet and cloying, no complexity or depth whatsoever, totally masking the earthy and naturally sweet and nutty flavor of a well-prepared brussel.
Then the flatiron steak. Â Our server concurred that medium-rare was best. Â She didn't tell us that this flatiron was twice the thickness of any flatiron we've ever had (from the meat market or from a restaurant). Â Literally thicker than most Ribeyes. Â It was underdone as a result - so we sent it back to be re-fired. Â It was acceptably cooked on the second go-round, but very uninspired overall.
The pear salad was OK (although if you advertise blue cheese crumbles it should have more than three pea-sized crumbles) and the artichoke crisps were quite good.
Overall - lots of potential with the building and the ingredients they have available. Â Too much marketing about the cocktails and the food. Â Generally uninspired.
Way overdue and much needed review of Fagiani's Bar.
My boyfriend and I frequent Napa 2-3x a month, so when we walk about DT Napa, we keep a list of must-go to places. I remember when The Thomas and Fagiani's Bar was a shell of a building. When it came to life, especially with the outdoor eating area, we knew we would make our way here. I chose the bar for my after-movie dinner for my birthday (Memorial Day weekend).
There is limited seating, so if you want to stand there is standing tables or if you want to mingle, they have "mingle counters" where you can rest your drink but cannot sit (the counter comes up to your knee or thigh [depending on how tall you are]). We saw many people step in and then out because they had no clue how to use the counters.
The prices are definitely $$. Ever the researcher, I browsed the menu beforehand and made sure my boyfriend was prepared for the prices. To drink we both started off with the $13 Gin and Tonic (complete with cucumber slice and frozen cucumber ice spear). Never had a cucumber ice spear in my drink but I felt pretty darn classy and refreshed drinking my g&t with it. And is it worth the $13, that's for you to decide ;D
For decent size nibbles and good for my dieting, we shared The Thomas burger (angus & kobe blend on brioche with optional cheddar) [$18]. Okay, let's stop here for a moment, not only did this burger curb my burger craving, despite its size was BACON onion jam! Holy moly - I know we all love bacon but make it into a jam to smother each and every bite with. Well you I was in nom nom heaven. I seriously would go back there and get the jam alone to store forever and ever. *Drools*
The fries were tasteful and come with a choice of blue cheese or sriracha ketchup dip. We chose the blue cheese and yes we did the crazy mixture of blue cheese and bacon onion jam all up on our burger and fries. Why we shared is beyond me, but it was easy on our pockets and good for our foodie souls.
Now next to us was a guy and his date/friend, who seem to be ordering practically the whole menu. I happen to look over and see them eating what looked like pate. I couldn't help myself and asked him what he had after his plate was cleared. It was the wild mushroom mousse served with whiskey jelly [$12]. I asked him how he liked it and we went back and forth to if I should try it (of course!). Well this very friendly and obviously appreciator of food offered to pay for this order. I took him up on his generosity. My boyfriend and I feasted on not only unique flavor but texture. Puree mushroom made into a pate then you top with the whiskey jelly. Smother it on bread, be prepared to eat in exploration. Its different, delicious, and definitely a must try if you haven't ever tried something like it. (Thank you Mizel (sp) for being so kind to pay for this dish).
My bar-side date was a great start to my birthday weekend. Complete with my foodie belly and good drinks, I would love to come here for their restaurant.
We had a drink in the bar downstairs while waiting for our reservation and felt like we were in an episode of Portlandia with the ironic-mustachioed barkeep and various bottles of herbs and elixirs on display. The drinks were NOT reasonably priced in that my gin and tonic was $13 and the glass was only filled 3/4 (small glass, too!).
We dined on the rooftop area, which was very noisy. We don't mind noise, but we had to raise our voices to hear each other. We brought an older bottle of wine, and the sommelier was very attentive in decanting it and bringing great stemware. Our tattooed/pierced waiter was attentive and cordial as well - some of the best service we'd had in a while.
However.....the food was hit-and-miss. The beef tartare we shared as a table (which was fabulous). I had the Kobe burger, which was good, but not earth-shattering. Two of my party had the pear-glazed pork chop, which they found to be lacking in flavor and over cooked. I had a bite and wanted to spit it out. My brother had the filet mignon which was accompanied by a bone-marrow bearnaise...he said the sauce was the star of the dish, which doesn't say much for the ho-hum beef.
Will I return? Maybe, but I won't buy their 'special' cocktails and will definitely stick to the burger.
AMAZING FIND!!!
At first this place was kind of a turn off because it was a 45minute wait for a table upstairs on the 3rd floor, but then 2 spots opened up at the bar and I'm SO GLAD they did.
The bartender was GREAT!! Â (I think his name was Charlie) is such a great character. Â Friendly and a good people person.
The food was DELICIOUS! Â The Asian pear salad is a must try and the cinnamon donuts were finger licking good! Â the salted caramel ice cream was also really good. Â
This is a great local spot and the history in of the building is super interesting. Â If you stop by, don't forget to ask about it!
Why do you all close so early with a bar FULL of people? Â I was in town with a group of girls for BottleRock, we actually came here twice. And man does Cinderella's slippers turn when that clock strikes midnight. Â The bar itself was 4 or 5 people deep and they were locking it up and kicking people out. Â Hey I'm an American...if there's money to be made, I say MAKE it. They wouldn't even serve us drinks at all. My friend offered to tip the barmaid 100% of the drink cost, she refused.
We landed up going down the street and dropping like $200 on drinks (in about an hour) at some dive bar called Downtown Joe's.
My fiance and I purchased a voucher from Gilt City and enjoyed an absolutely fantastic 4-course meal with a well-done wine pairing while visiting the Napa area over the weekend. We started off with the seafood tower and the bay squid, which were both quite good. Â The wild mushroom mousse and grilled asparagus with poached egg appetizers were amazing, as we're the half chicken and halibut that we had for our entrees. Â In fact my fiance says that the chicken was the best he's ever had. Â The sides were all incredibly good - we had the brussel sprouts, artichoke chips, and french fries. Â And the meal was topped off by some absolutely delicious warm cinnamon donuts with the best strawberry sauce I've ever tasted. Â We also enjoyed a very tasty scoop of cappuccino ice cream.
This was one of the best meals we've had in a long time - I only wish we lived closer so we could go back!
REDEMPTION!
Decided to give them another shot and wow, talk about an entirely different experience. Beautiful day and we were seated on the rooftop patio.
*SEAFOOD TOWER - Yep, didn't get to try it last time so I went for it this time but the mini version. Came with several oysters, prawns and crawfish. Mixed East and West coast oysters that were juicy and creamy (medium sized). Although I prefer smaller ones like Kumomotos when enjoying raw, they were still good. Prawns could've used some cocktail sauce but I just didn't bother asking since there were only 2. Great dish to share.
*GRILLED SQUID - Small appetizer but tasty. Good for 2 people. The sweet chili sauce and creme go very well together.
*PAN SEARED HALIBUT - Cooked to perfection and delicious. Nice sear leaving the edges crispy.
*FRIES - Can't go wrong with these fries. Chili ketchup was good too.
*LAVENDER LEMONADE - Wasn't exactly a fan of this.
*DOUGHNUTS - These are homemade with 2 different types of sauces. I didn't try it but GF said they were good.
It's crazy how 2nd chances work. I'll be coming back.
Went to The Thomas for a private party last night and it was exceptional. Â Fantastic cocktails from a lovely bartender who I believe is a CIA grad. Â We had so much food- was all delicious- but the highlights were the mushroom mousse, the lentil/green bean salad (heavenly) the fried brussel sprouts (how can you go wrong with salty and sweet?), the chicken, and was it an orange ginger sorbet? Â Not sure, had way too much to drink to be sure. Â Thank god for the driver (my husband). : ) Â I owe you, honey.
The story behind this place is a little eerie, but who doesn't love a good mystery? Â The place is down-right cool and it seems like I imagine it was 40 years ago. Â Kudos to the new owners. Â Your staff is great too.
Worth a visit to this unique restaurant and bar. Started the evening at the bar located on the main floor. The bar - is reminiscent of an era gone by and really cool. After having a drink, my colleagues and I headed up to the second floor which is where the main dining room and open kitchen are located.
We started with a variety of appetizers, of which I tasted the mushroom mousse with whiskey jelly and brussel spouts with chili caramel- both very good.
Although I was going to order a steak, the hamburger at another table looked too enticing to pass up so went with the very thick burger which was cooked perfectly with french fries and spicy ketchup.
I was too full to enjoy the multiple choices of ice cream that followed but they certainly looked great.
Great place to enjoy with a lounge on floor 3 and a rooftop bar with a great view of Downtown Napa.
What we need in this case is an incomplete rating. Yes, I came here on a Friday night at 11pm. Yes, it was crowded. Having said that, I gave them two chances to be served and it just didnt happen. Upon entering, I was met by a waiter who said I could still get food and drink on any level. (there are 3). I saw an open table and asked waitress if I could sit there. Yes, absolutely, she exclaimed with a smile. So, I waited. Then I waited some more. Finally, I decided to go check out 2nd floor using elevator and they were closed but encouraged me to go to third floor. In/out dining concept with a great view over Veteran's Memorial Park. I found my own seat and waived a waitress over to let her know I was interested in a craft cocktail and something to eat, after she kept her head down and avoided eye contact the first two times in my area. So....I waited. Then I waited some more. Truthfully, there are way too many great places to waste my time with bad service, so I got up to leave and waited for the elevator. One of the waitresses apologized and said they were still looking for another menu. I assured her it was alright but I was leaving. A menu? Are you kidding me?
The place looks fantastic and the vibe is pretty cool. I am dissapointed that I didnt get a chance to check it out. Maybe I will try during the week while I am here and then again maybe I wont. Epic fail people, I believe you are better than this.
Okay...so my son and I decided to experience something new and instead of going to our favorite Oenotri we decided to go to the Thomas...
I ordered:
-half seafood tower (good, fresh...nothing special)
-Beef tartare (too much beet influence...I didn't get a whole lot of beef out of it so it was disappointing although, my boy loved the lotus chips and the fresh basil added a nice contrast to the wasabi crème fraiche)
-Grilled Asparagus(I have decided that even though "everyone" raves about truffles...they aren't a pleasant experience to my palate, so the hollandaise was a bit lacking...the hazelnuts and bacon were a nice touch and the egg was cooked perfectly...)
-my boy got the Thomas burger which was cooked perfectly and had good enough flavor...but it wasn't the best I'd experienced
-I ordered the filet mignon which was grilled perfectly...the parsnip dish that was served on the side was...odd...there was an additional spice or something that left an odd taste in the mouth... but the brussel sprout leaves and bone marrow béarnaise were phenomenal!  Wonderful choice in using the fat content in the marrow for the sauce...very tasty!
-Finally, the dessert was worth the experience....they served donuts that were big, airy, warm, and well...just perfect. Â There were plenty, they didn't skimp and the sauces they served with were extraordinary....the cream was....well, they wouldn't allow me to take a gallon home so...I might just go back for the donut sauce...
the service was good, no the best I've experienced but it usually takes a few times... All in all it was an okay experience and I think we might go back on occasion but keep Oenotri at the top and Ristorante Allegria as our favorite spot for phenomenal brussel sprouts and marrow bones....
The best night out that we've had a in while. Beautiful update to Fagiani's, love how the seismic upgrade turns into the wine cellar on the second floor. Cocktails and bartenders, were equally charismatic, hard to say which of the two (drinks or people) were my favorites. Try the Red Bellpepper Daisy, unique, refreshing and delicious.
The dining room is superb, and the food was top notch. Waitstaff was excellent, especially our extra helpful waiter who steered us towards some of the extra deliciousness.
Typically when I go north I avoid Napa unless I'm going to carve a pig at the Fatted Calf. Now I'll always stop for at least one cocktail, if not an entire meal, at The Thomas. Most worthwhile meal I've had in ages.
I love what they've done to the old haunted Fagiani's! The atmosphere and craft cocktails are the highlights here. The food was about average, but I'm hopeful that will improve as they become more established. They need something new and innovative on the menu, I was just very underwhelmed on that front. What we did order was good, but nothing memorable or something I would come back for.
Fortunately the service is always pretty knock-out. I highly recommend heading up to the top floor. They even have a smaller bar up there with an amazing patio overlooking a view of all of downtown Napa. When I come back, I'll probably just come to the top floor for cocktails and appetizers.
When it comes to cocktails, it's about quality over quanity. The perfect drink can set the mood and start the night off right. Before our dinner reservations, I brought my guy to this classic Napa bar.
We found ourselves a couple of seats at the end of the car and I ordered for us both. I ordered the Lavender Lemonade made with vodka that was excellent and beautiful with lavender in it. For my guy I ordered the Gin and Tonic, which was above and beyond a plain ol' cocktail.
I can't lie, I'm often impressed with the craft of fine cocktails, but this Gin and Tonic had a cucumber spear ice cube and was topped with cucumber puree that was foamed with a C02 carbinator thing. I was beyond impressed and wished this one was mine.
I like the bar, classic design and the bar is original and other pieces came from an antique bar in San Francisco. The historical look gives it a speakeasy vibe and the drinks are reminisant of the classic cocktails made new.
On our next stop we headed over to Fagiani's thanks to a recommendation from our bartender. You can't miss this place, there is an outrageously large neon sign that can be seen all the way down main st.
The atmosphere reminds me of a saloon with a modern update. It is a fantastic place to have a great craft cocktail but can get really crowded. Everything was fresh, vibrant and flavorful. I especially liked how they serve their Gin and Tonic with a cucumber ice spear, it had the most beautiful translucent green color.
Their Pimm's cup wasn't too sweet and balanced quite well. I would gladly order this drink again. The prices overall are typical of craft cocktail establishments ($12-$14).
Overall Thoughts
Days of mix drinks with cheap booze and inferior ingredients no more! Its time to make way for a higher class of drinks
In my last review I said the Thomas had a lot of potential. Â I'm so glad I gave it another chance, because I think it's finally finding it's place.
I went back to the Thomas last night for dinner with friends and was very pleasantly surprised. Â All of the issues that bugged me on my first trip have been taken care of.
The best part? Â The food! Â I started with the brussel sprout leaves with hazelnuts, crispy bacon, a poached egg and truffle-yuzu hollandaise. Â To die for. Â For my main, I had the wood grilled salmon with fingerling potatoes, an avocado, fennel & green apple slaw, pistachio and preserved lemon yogurt. Â Perfectly cooked salmon, delightful slaw, and the lemon yogurt was a great compliment.
For dessert we ordered everything (except the cheese plate--who does that?). Â The monkey bread was as good as I remembered, the sticky toffee a dream, but what took the cake (pun totally intended) was the churrros and hot chocolate. Â I will dream about that hot chocolate for months. Â It was incredible. Â like hot, melted chocolate, with a dab of super thick whipped cream.
Service was better, and the decor of course is still excellent. Â A little pricy, but now that the food is so good, I'm okay with paying it. Â I hope to go back soon!
The Fagiani building has a mythical foothold in Napa's history. Â The site of a 1974 murder that remained unsolved for 37 years, the interior was kept as a snapshot of yesteryear in the hopes of the police reopening the case. Â The murder, eventually solved and the killer convicted, hung heavy over that prime piece of Main Street real estate.
So when the building was massively retrofitted and renovated (with a third floor added), all of us locals hoped that the resulting dining spot would be worth the wait.
The ground floor bar area gives a nod to the past, with a gorgeous vintage bar, old liquor bottles and glasses on the west wall, and cancelled 1945 checks for bar provisions and the water bill on the north wall.
The second floor is the main dining area and it a bit on the fancy side. Â The room is dressed up, but the clientele is the typical "California dress-down". Â
The third "rooftop terrace" floor has another bar and, quite frankly, the best view in Napa overlooking our muddy river and the Veteran's Park.
On to the menu: over the course of two visits we spent time at the bar, the bar booths, and the top floor dining terrace.
The stand-out on the menu tried was the appetizer of warm brussel sprout leaves with hazelnuts, crispy bacon, a poached egg and truffle-yuzu hollandaise. Â Beyond a doubt, a dream-inducing combination of flavors. Â It they had this as an entree portion it would be hard to say no. Â Seriously, it's worth a visit for this particular dish alone.
It didn't seem like the main courses were given as much care. Â The portions seemed huge at first, but I counted a whopping four quarters of roasted potato on the side of my pork chop dish. Â That seemed a bit cheesy to me; surely two more creamer-sized potatoes could be roasted and added to the dish without adding anything more to the enormous $28 price tag for the dish. Â The braised lamb shank enjoyed by my wife was competently prepared but nothing that shouts out "Hey! Â This is $30 worth of preparation and ingredients!"
The burger is surprisingly the best entree available; cooked exactly to order and just the right size. Â The fries, served with siracha ketchup and some sort of tartar sauce/mayo/??? were also excellent.
Dessert was fine; I believe we had the pot de creme which stands out in memory as being well above average and quite delicious.
Another offering on the bar menu that we tried out was the cheese plate. Â They stick to the easy winners from Cowgirl Creamery and others like them. Â No atom-smashing in the cheese plate department, but good portions and a lovely little peach jam/compote/thing on the side. Â Quite nice, particularly if you're not a nerdy cheese snob.
So what about the cocktails? Â They are excellent, with real care put into the preparation and the whole "mixologist" thing turned to 11. Â The bar service we enjoyed was extremely friendly, albeit a bit slow, mostly due to enthusiastic mixology.
There are two things I flat out don't like about Fagiani's:
1) The name. Â The Thomas and Fagiani's. Â Terrible, terrible name. Â Just call it Fagiani's and take the ego hit. Â Or maybe call it "Fagiani's" with a subscript "A Thomas Restaurant". Â Or whatever. Â But the name now is clunky and causes people to say "Fagiani's" anyway.
2) The prices. Â Now, I understand the financial need for covering the cost of the amazing renovation, but $29 for salmon or $30 for lamb is just head-first crazy. Â Even $16 for an admittedly excellent burger borders on preposterous. Â Strangely, the prices on the bar food menu are entirely reasonable.
Finally, the waitstaff were efficient and friendly, almost excessively so. Â Very impressed in that area.
So, TL;DR- High prices, appetizers and bar food appear to be better than the entrees, excellent cocktails, cool bar.
I'd love to return to Fagiani's again soon, but it's just hard to justify spending $150 on dinner for two. Â Maybe I'll just hang at the bar next time.
Four stars, but I'm really in the Christmas mood right now. Â Seriously it's more of a 3.5 star place considering the work that needs to happen on the entrees.
Best brunch ever.
Now, if you happen to know the history of the building, don't be scared. Â They've done some amazing things with the joint. I mean wow, for a new restaurant that waltzed into that space and went all-out, I gotta say, The Thomas comes off like an old pro.
Far exceeded my expectations. Â In fact, can I bump my EPIC Roasthouse brunch review down to 3?
Let me get down to business...
*Walk into the charming downstairs bar area - history is still there, but upgrades are well done.
*Pass through the beautiful 2nd floor dining area(I'm so dying to dine in that dining room). Â Very vintage-y feel.
*Head up to the third floor. Â A casual dining area. Â Think mason jar-esque. And YES, a rooftoop. This is where I ate my brunch on a warm 75 degree morning :)
**CORN PANCAKES with fresh blueberries and blueberry syrup ARE TO DIE FOR.
**FRENCH TOAST with bananas and homemade nutella WILL BLOW YOU AWAY.
**MIMOSA with fresh orange juice. Â JUST HOW I LIKE IT.
**BELLINI with fresh strawberry puree. YOU'VE NEVER HAD IT LIKE THIS.
**DID I SAY ALREADY SAY HOMEMADE NUTELLA? Â BOOM.
If you haven't already guessed, The Thomas & Fagiani's has most definitely made it into my weekend rotation.
When I was growing up in Napa, this place was steeped in mystery and folklore.  It was the scene of a murder in the early 1970's.  Anita Andrews, one of a pair of sisters who owned the place, was found murdered inside the building.  After police  were unable to follow the clues to i.d. a killer, her family --- the Fagianis sealed off the building leaving everything untouched.  Glasses stayed where they were on the bar, change scattered the stairwell in the back.  The place  became a time capsule frozen in time.
Once in a while, my siblings and I would press our faces against the octagon-shaped front windows expecting to see a ghost. Â It was an intriguing place, haunting and sad, a place in search of justice.
It finally found it. Â Ms. Andrews killer was identified once technology caught up with forensic science. Â Shortly afterwards, the building was sold and new life was breathed into it in the form of the Thomas and Fagiani's Bar ---- and it is GREAT!
Bright, polished, stylish and filled with light, drinks are again served from the original bar. Â Chatter, laughter and toasts fill the room again. Â The upstairs dining room looks out over Veteran's Memorial Park and the Napa River beyond it. Â If you look away from the window, it's possible to look right into the kitchen.
The staff is very personable and nice. The ambiance is casual and welcoming. Â I highly recommend the wood grilled salmon with fingerling potatoes, an avocado, fennel & green apple slaw, pistachio and preserved lemon yogurt. Â My son enjoyed the Thomas burger & fries. Â It's a blend of of dry aged Angus and Kobe beef on a brioche bun with bacon onion jam. Â It is the closest dish you'll find to a kids menu item at this establishment. Â My daughter poo pooed everything on the menu. Â Nevertheless, the chef was nice enough to rummage through the pantry and rustle up a box of pasta which he prepared for her in a cheesy buttery sauce. Â God Bless that chef!!
I look forward to returning, only with my spouse. Â So Honey, book a sitter because we're going out!
Best cocktails I have every had. I met my friend here after a long, busy week at work with the intentions of having "a" drink. After looking at their cocktail list, I knew ordering just one drink was not going to cut it. After loving the first cocktails we ordered, we made it our goal to try every single cocktail on the list, with the exception of the negroni and gin and tonic because we were already familiar with what those were about. We loved every cocktail on the list! (I'd also like to add that we accomplished our goal....we didn't finish all 8 cocktails, but we tried all 8 of them).
The atmosphere was also pretty cool. It looks like a dive bar from the outside with the bright neon lights that say "Fagiani's," but the inside is well done. The first floor has a bar, some booths, and a communal standing table. The bar looks very old timey and the ceiling was made out of antique, detailed black tin. The second floor was the main dining area, and the third floor was a continuation of the dining area with another bar, and a rooftop patio.
I definitely want to go back to try their food. My friend went back the next morning for their brunch and said it was outstanding!
I spotted The Thomas Bar a ways away near the Wine Train location. I saw a cool looking patio that had a view of downtown Napa. The previous nights we had mediocre  experiences at the Pearl restaurant and Downtown Joes. My wife and I were giving up on finding anything fun in Napa.
As we eyed the balcony seating from across the brigde, we decided to stop by. As we made our way to the Thomas we noticed that it was a really cool looking bar. Looks new, cool urban decor and good music.
We asked the waitress for seating in the upstair balcony and decided to have a few drinks at the bar until we were seated.
Drinks: Well made and tastey but small.
Service: The bartender was really cool. The service was a bit slow at the bar with only one person manning the saloon. The wait for the balcony seating was pretty damn long but fortunately we were getting juiced up and didnt mind the wait.
Balcony: Awesome view, but again very slow service. I thought that they actually forgot my order. My beers took about 15 minutes to retrieve. My wife didnt mind since she enjoyed the scenery and it made us eat and drink slower.
Food: We had the brussel sprouts and I cant remember the rest...But it was good.
Bonus: Casey Thompson from Top Chef sat at the table next to us!
Overall: 4 Stars - We had a great time and the food and drinks were good. I guess its not a place for seniors that need to eat quick and get to bed by 4pm.
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