This delicious, informal lunch provided an ideal backdrop to check in on a handful of iconic California Pinot Noirs. Solbar is part of the stylish Solage Resort complex just outside Calistoga. The restaurant has received quite a bit of favorable press recently, all wholly deserved. The ambience is pretty casual at lunch, although I am told the dining room is a bit more elegant for dinner. Our two pizzas were delicious and would have made a fabulous lunch on their own. Distinctive and creative, they are worth a special trip on their own. I preferred the maitake mushroom pizza, which was bursting with flavor and character. My cod main course was also very nicely done. On this day, though, the focus was a bit tilted towards the wines on the table. I look forward to going back to Solbar and spending more time with the menu, as the food merits more attention than I was able to give it.
