Tag Archive | napa

Filippi Pizza Grotto – Napa CA

Filippi Pizza Grotto is an Italian food restaurant with 14 locations throughout California. We chose the Napa location because we were going to Oxbow Market across the street but wanted more filling food than a taco. And we did not want something as ordinary as a hamburger. Filippi was across the street and we decided to give it a try after looking at their menu and prices. Their prices are comparable to Olive Garden, but the food tastes way better. The amount of food that they give is also a bargain. They are serving family size dishes here. There is enough food for two especially if you do not want to have a carry out box of leftovers.

We shared the spaghetti with marinara sauce and sausage ($9.45). All the pasta dishes came with Italian rolls. The Italian roll was about the size of a hoagie roll, crusty exterior with soft white bread on the inside. They brought it to the table warm and I ate two slices before I had a chance to butter the bread. It was that good. I am a sucker for good bread.

They make their own sausage and I could taste the effort that was put into it. The casing was a little chewy, but the meat inside was well seasoned and tender. The marinara sauce was thick and chunky with a lot of tomato pieces.

Overall: This was a hearty Italian meal served with friendly service at an affordable price.

Filippi Pizza Grotto 645 First Str Napa CA

707-254-9700

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Kara’s Cupcakes – Napa CA

Kara’s cupcakes has locations through San Francisco and Napa. I went to the one located in Oxbow Market place in Napa. You have to pass the cupcakes to get to the real food. But while you are trying to concentrate on whether you want tacos or chicken or beef, you are really thinking about what cupcake you are going to order for dessert. Maybe that is not what happens to you, but that is what happened to me.

I LOVE sweets.

Kara’s Cupcakes has mini and regular sized cupcakes. All of them look so pretty and delectable. The chocolate with chocolate frosting was filled with caramel and topped with sea salt. The cake was moist, soft, but not too crumbly. The creamy caramel mixed well with the chocolate cake and frosting with a tiny bite of saltiness from the sea salt. Mini Perfection and Decadent Delight!!!! I heard singing when I bit into it. And I think I eyes rolled back into my head a little bit while time stood still. Or at least that is the way it seemed.

Once I finished that one, I wanted to save my coconut cupcake for later. Well, the frosting was calling me. I took a little of the cream cheese frosting on the tip of my finger. I did not expect it to be so creamy. This was LITERALLY the best cream cheese frosting I have ever had at from a bakery. Yes I said literally. I meant it.

As you can imagine, the cupcake did not last long.

It is a good thing I do not live closer to Kara’s Cupcakes because I would be so chubby from eating cupcakes every day.