TORC

My husband and I eat out about 3 times a week. We live near the wine country so we decided to go up to Napa for dinner. We wanted to try someplace new to us, so we decided on Torc since they had a lot of openings on Open Table. I wanted a glass of «bubbles.» My choices were a Champaign for $ 19.00 per glass, a Cava for $ 8.00 per glass and Schramsberg Brut Rose for $ 17.00 per glass.
I decided to splurge and get the Schramberg. It arrived slightly more than ½ full in an 8 oz flute. My husband and I looked at each other and said «How CHEESY!» We figured they made a mistake. I asked the waiter and he said «we do a 5 oz pour.» Although he was nice, he did not tell us this before he took the order and it was not noted on the menu. I was a waitress in nice places, but never heard of this. Since we thought this strange, I asked to speak to the manager. His name was Patrrick Judkins. He was patronizing and had no rational explanation. I asked him why Torc didn’t use 6 oz glasses so the pour wouldn’t look short. He said it showed off the stemware. He didn’t apologize or offer to buy us a drink so I told him to bring me the Cava instead. There are plenty of good restaurants with nice, competent management in Napa. Support the town and it’s businesses since they are still rebuilding from an earthquake, but avoid TURC. Give your business to someone who would appreciate it.

Service was remarkable! It seemed like we always had someone taking care of our table never to let us go in need of anything.
We ordered the deviled eggs, mac&chees, potatoes, lobster rissotto, and the tagglianelle. All of our meals were phenomenal. I would definitely come back for more

Top service, interesting presentations and cool vibe. What’s not to like?
My husband I ordered everything to share: deviled eggs, lobster risotto, octopus salad and soft shelled crab.
We appreciated that practically every dish was served separately so that we could savor each dish for its esthetic presentation and taste.
We were subtly provided with new plating after each course.
In terms of ambience we enjoyed wondering about the art on the walls, one wall of B&W photography.
Prices were appropriate for high end food and high end service.

Amazing service– fresh ingredients– but the amount of different flavors going on was awful– each dish we tried was so disconnected… It was as if the chef took every amazing recipe that he had and mixed them all together. I love food, I love to eat. And I always want to
We started with the deviled eggs. Fresh ingredients, tasted great– I liked them, the fiancé not so much.
Then onto the (hamachi?) crudo. Tiny portion of fish with two or three different (huge amounts of) purées/​spreads. Each one tasted great on its own, but they overpowered the dish.
My main was the halibut. Loved the fish. But again with all the sauces, purées and waaaay too many flavors on the plate. Mushrooms, artichoke purée, Lima beans… It would have been ok to stop there. But then they threw in peaches… I love peaches– but didn’t understand why they were a part of my dish, it didn’t work.
Honeys main was schnitzel. He said it was like German food meets Asian, meets who knows what. There was a sweet glaze poured over– but then anchovies and capers paired with that… Just overall a weird bunch of flavors together.
We came here based on the high reviews. I’ve rated at restaurants more expensive than this and haven’t minded paying because I just didn’t want to stop eating. Not the case here, I just couldn’t get into the food.

I really enjoyed my first visit to TORC.
The ambiance was elegant and the service was great. We started out with the Hiramasa Tartare which was refreshing on a warm evening and overall had a really nice flavor. About 1 out of every 3 bites you would get spicy chile that was nice, but just not consistent throughout the whole experience. We also had the green deviled eggs that were excellent.
My wife enjoyed her Diver Scallops and I think the Short Rib I ordered was the best dish at the table. The presentation was really nice and both dishes were full of flavor.
For deserts we ordered were the dark chocolate Marquise and the Panna Cotta. I absolutely loved the combination of strawberries and basil with the Panna Cotta.
I’m sure we will be back again soon and I look forward to updating this review with our next experience.

Uncomfortable patio tables and chairs.
Screaming drunk millennials at the table next to us… thank God we had finished our meal and could quickly pay and scram.
Excuse me, do you have bread? Oh, um well maybe.
Chicken for two? Not at the size of a cornish game hen. This is good for me, honey… where’s yours?
No reasonably priced wines… oh silly me, we were in Napa Valley!
Best part of the meal? When we left to walk down the street to a real restaurant, bar, dancing and COOL people,

Food was delicious and reasonably priced. Definitely loved the Mac and cheese side. The sweet potatoes appetizer was also great. I ordered the short rib and it was very tender and cooked will. We sat upstairs which nice since it’s a bit quieter

Excellent selections for the discerning palate. As a large group we sampled nearly all the deserts. The panna cotta was amazing. The chocolate was also yummy. Full bar for when you’ve had enough wine. Short ribs awesome, deviled eggs awesome, sweet potatoes awesome… Place is awesome.

This was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had. The food was not at the quality you would expect from Napa, or at this price point. The mac and cheese was overcooked and bland. Who serves overcooked pasta? The short ribs was dry. The dry aged ribeye for two that cost us $ 160 was quite forgettable and not worthy of the cost. They don’t even come close to a low end steakhouse.
The tipping point was when one of the people in my party asked the waitress when his mac and cheese was coming, and she actually snapped at him and said he didn’t order it. She was extremely condescending and rude. It was a miscommunication, but at least give the customer the benefit of the doubt. At least treat my guest with some respect. For a bill over $ 300, I would have hoped for a bit more courtesy. When you eat at a nicer restaurant, aren’t you paying for better service? This was totally unacceptable and I will not be dining here ever again. This restaurant does not deserve to be in Napa.

Had a day trip with friends to Napa and we had book a reservation here for dinner. As we walked up for our reservation we saw people staring at us through window, and had wondered to ourselves should we go somewhere else? Just then the door opened, and the Host asked with a smile «Vanessa for table for 4?» We stated Yes in unison, and there was no turning back.
We were immediately seated to our table, and our waitress came by to drop some water off. I did feel a little out of place, we were probably younger then their usual crowd on a Sunday night. It seemed a little slow, but had great ambiance. The space was open and interesting.
Our waitress, whose name fails me at this time, was sweet and welcoming. She was quite knowledgeable about the wine list and the specials. She gave us recommendations, and did not just jump to the priciest wine on the list. We settled for a bottle of Capiaux Pinot Noir. Great bottle!
I had their soup special, and the lobster risotto. It was great! In honor of spring the dish tasted very fresh and light, even the risotto! The lobster was prepared well, not over cooked. My friends had some of the other specials and they were all great! If I was to go back again, and I hope I do. I really loved my friend’s Akaushi Beef Short Ribs! It was just fabulous! Everything tasted like it was prepared properly, cooked just right, temperature of the food was perfect.
Overall, the staff was wonderful, food wonderful, wine wonderful. Just wonderful! Can’t wait to have another Napa trip!

I would give them 6 stars if I could!
This is my first time in the restaurant where I can get a reserve wine by the glass! So if I only want one glass of wine with my dinner — I don’t have to settle for an average crowd-​pleaser they usually have in «wine by the glass» section — I can have fabulous wine with fabulous food!!! Yay !!!
Food was beyond our expectations, we were impressed with every course!
I highly recommend starting with their tiny pastry puffs with melted Gruyère — they are a real treat! Hiramisa Tartar and Octopus salad both displayed play on texture with excellent and unique flavors! Traditional but absolutely amazing foie grass, short rib and fingerling potatoes were done to perfection! Everything came out very well plated and looked incredibly appetizing. We finished with a fresh mint tea and rich chocolate cake with salted caramel ice-​cream!
For those who like to eat well without dressing up — it is a perfect combination of fine dining in a laid back atmosphere. This is a contemporary space with unique artwork, simple furniture with clean lines, trendy but not stuffy.
The service is outstanding!!! Starting with our waitress Klarissa who was very friendly, attentive, with a great knowledge of the menu! All the others who took care of us were quick and respectful! We were impressed that our plates and silverware were replaced after each course and serving spoons were provided with every plate we shared!

Hands down one of the best meals and most memorable dining experiences I’ve had this year! Service was way above par. Our server was friendly and attentive without being overbearing; a perfect example of great fine dining service. We needed to dine gluten-​free and they were very accommodating.
We ordered the rib eye for three, asparagus, potatoes and pakoras. And were treated to the deviled eggs, courtesy of our B&B — the Inn on Randolph. Everything, and I do mean everything, was delicious and cooked to perfection. The flavor combos were spot on!
I’d make a trip to Napa to dine here again.

We dined here last night with a party of 16. We had previously planned a pre fixed menu to be served family style. The pricing was to be approximately $ 85 per person.
We ordered filets and sea bass. Every one of the petite filets were either medium well or well done. At no point did they ask how the meat should be prepared, so they assumed that somehow we would all enjoy a nice charcoal bricket for dinner. The sea bass was dry and had no flavor. The rest of the food was about the quality you would expect at a Chilis.
We complained to the manager and nothing was done to make it right. Worst of all, the pricing came out double what we were expecting. We ordered no wine, but brought 6 bottles. The manager was a complete jerk and when one of our party stated that he would write a bad review, his response was that he would just write one back.
I’m really not sure where all of the good reviews came from, but I have never been so disappointed in a restaurant where I paid so much to eat.
Do not go here with a group. That manager also needs a lesson in customer service.

We met two of our friends here after not having a great experience at Ninebark. We showed up ravenous and the manager kind enough to make some room for us by adding a table to our friend’s table. We ordered the short rib and it just FELL off the bone, so delicious and tender. The service was great and we had a lovely experience to end our night. Next time we’ll start the night here!

After a day of wine tasting our appetites were big. We had a party of four and a reservation at 6:45 pm. We walked in and were sat promptly. We were greeted very quickly after. Service was great. Our food came out timely despite the busy atmosphere. Our water glasses never went half empty. We always had a beverage.
We ordered the sweet potato pakora with a yogurt sauce. Really tasty and great texture. I wanted to take the sauce home with me. We also ordered the Mac and cheese. It could of used a something little bit more, I just don’t know what.
Three of us split the lobster… I don’t even know what to say. Possibly the best I ever had. The sauce was light and delicious, not to over powering. It came with a creamy basmati rice with mushrooms.
We also ordered the risotto which was different as we got a taste of mint, but we really enjoyed it. And last the tagitelle was elegant, but a little bland tasting for me, however a little Cheese would of brought that dish home.
Last we ordered the dessert on special. French toast, black currents and sauce with a black pepper vanilla ice team with truffles. The vanilla pepper ice cream was not a fan favorite and it was too over powering. The sorbet at our table however was fought over!
Not one dish had a drop of food left on the plate. They had the date on the menu, which I’m assuming means this restaurant is farm to fork and seasonal ingredients.
The price compared to the portions were a little off, but please note the quality of the food is high end and after I finished I understood the ratio.

Good ambiance and excellent service get 2 stars to this place from me. Exorbitant prices for a 4 course Valentine’s evening meal was nothing to write home about. It was advertised as 5 course However, since when potato chips are considered a course? Come on Torc! You are located in Napa! Not in a potato chip festival in Idaho!
2 courses out of the 4 had meats with bones on them so that made the portion sizes much smaller than a normal tasting menu after stripping that little amount of meat off the bone. With growling stomachs, $ 300 meal for two left a bitter taste in our mouths. :/

Came here for valentines day and had an excellent set 6 course meal. Out server Tim was extremely pleasant and I believe he said he was a bartender there as well. Lovely interior without being too fancy. Recommended if you’re in Napa proper for a weekend and are looking for a new place to eat.

I dined her just before the New Year as a party of nine and thought it was a first rate restaurant. The décor is very attractive and I enjoyed watching the chefs work in the open kitchen. There is a huge bar area also and I saw some good looking cocktails go out but I was more interested in the wine list. Very well done list with reasonable prices; plenty of selections under $ 50 per bottle white or red. Champagne is reasonable too and I liked the smaller grower producer ‘Farmer Fizz’ they were using. Cazanove by the glass for $ 16 is a real find. Delamotte under $ 80 is an insiders bubbly.
Our server Tim was patient and described the menu well. The sommeliers were skilled and swift. The food was creative and tasted great. All in all, a very good restaurant that I will recommend to others very highly.

As we enjoyed a delicious Sunday night dinner that stretched out nearly two hours and was paced just right by the splendid blue-​jean-​and-​chambray-​shirt clad wait staff in a warm meets cool space, my husband and I observed Torc may be remarkable as much for what it is not as what it is.
It is not a hipster-​only venue with ‘we’re too important for you’ staff and over complicated food at outrageous prices. We were concerned it might be so given some of the reviews here and elsewhere.
What it is, at least was on that night, is an ‘all people are welcome’ kind of venue. That included parents with adorable six year old watching a movie on his Ipad (remember restaurant coloring books — me too), a foursome (smart to bring in their own two bottles of wine — more on that to follow) likely as senior as my husband (who was nearly old enough to vote in the Johnson v. Goldwater Presidential contest), as well as several couples who likely don’t remember a time before Kardashian became a household word.
Add in stellar service and fantastic food and we left fans. With so many places to eat during too few Napa visits whether we’d go back to Torc is uncertain. But for recommendation to others, Torc is certainly «Yes!»
VIBE:
Once another restaurant on the main floor and a yoga class studio up the flight of stairs inside, they’ve redone it all (upstairs is used for events?) in a perfect nexus of polished and rustic with big spaces and open kitchen. Seating to the left as you enter is the bar. Straight ahead and to the right is the main dining area with banquette backs along the walls and tables in the middle of the room and by the window. Tables have ample room between them to not feel as if you are sharing a sardine can with other diners. Hooray! The seating tip I pass along was provided in another review I read recommending one not choose a table at the open kitchen. Good advice, I could see when I arrived. I’m glad I took it.
The music mix is wonderfully… I SAID THE MUSIC MIX IS WONDERFULLY A FIT FOR MOOD OF THE PLACE. But yes, it is more than a tad too loud for conversation comfort. Or was on our night.
SERVICE:
I made our reservations on Open Table and called Torc the day of to confirm. From that conversation forward, every contact with the front of house staff was tip top. I don’t know who is doing front of house management here (one of the staff at B. Cellars mentioned the Chef’s wife), but whomever it is has done a very good job assembling a team of professionals and training them well. It was like enjoying great choreography. The only mis-​step in the service samba was every single table on our side of the house received their cocktail orders after the first plates of food appeared. In our case the bartender delivered the (luscious) libations to the table himself. Otherwise, pitch perfect.
MENU & FOOD:
The menu is as creative as you’ve heard. But maybe just a bit chaotic too. I appreciate dissonance, in music or on menu, but I think as Chef Sean O’Toole finds his voice the menu options could benefit by a little more harmony for kitchen identity. That said, all we had was lovely. The pumpkin soup was delectable to eat and the presentation of it by the kitchen staff server who ‘announced’ the ingredients as he did a pour of soup around the timbal of crispy shallots and other ingredients in the center of the bowl added to the fun. The lobster risotto was rich and flavor filled if maybe too little lobster for @$ 23. ( Unilocal text space is limited but those two dishes need mentioning.) It is also true the portion sizes are more modest than some more standard restaurants. We’re lighter eaters so they worked for us.
LIBATIONS:
The wine list by the glass is spendy and not as many options as expected. The bottle list is extensive and while a few that came in reasonable range ($ 55 ‘ish’ for us) the list was in general expensive, including library wines at $ 1K plus. Cocktails specials are creative and luscious. (Try the bourbon based «O’Pear». You’re welcome.) We opted for drinks in the $ 12 — $ 16 range each in the interest of budget although wine would be our usual choice. Which leads me to corkage fee here which is a mere $ 20 a bottle! This is the place to bring your own bottle, as the foursome at the table next to us obviously knew as they came prepared with two.
VALUE:
Just as in life outside Torc, you can make simpler choices and keep the cost here within a reasonable range or make extravagant choices and pay a bigger bill. In our case, two cocktails, four plates to share, one dessert, one espresso and the bill was $ 105 before tax. We were happy.
This N That:
1) Parking: On street.
2) Accessibility: Level in and all on one floor. Seating is standard table height. Most tables have ample path of travel room.
3) Others: You might consider these casual dining places for great meals. In random order: ZuZu, Farmstead, Oenotri, Celadon, Redd Wood, Ciccio and Mustards.

I really wanted TORC to be amazing. The service was on point, but sadly, some of the dishes left more to be desired. The short rib was a bit dry, and although the tagliatelle was immersed in a tasty foie gras sauce, the noodles were too flaccid for my liking.
The seared foie gras was good, but it certainly wasn’t the best preparation I’ve ever tasted. However, I really enjoyed the squash blossom frito misto and strawberry dessert.
Prices are fair — two appetizers, two entrees, one dessert and two glasses of wine came out to $ 144 pre-​tip.