Spring Menu at NAPA Restaurants

For wine lovers who crave a filling meal with their pours, NAPA is a must-visit restaurant. NAPA Restaurants have three locations in the Charlotte region, along with one in Raleigh, all serving seasonal dishes, a variety of wines and handcrafted cocktails. I was recently invited to try the new spring menu, available at all NAPA locations, and I’m giving you an inside look at some must-try dishes.

NAPA Restaurants Spring Menu

The spring dinner menu at NAPA Restaurants features new small plates, large plates and desserts. Chef Diego “Karma” Murillo explained that he and the culinary team wanted to curate a menu that was “simple but potent,” meaning lots of flavor yet still approachable to match the restaurant’s warm, welcoming atmosphere.

The selection of small plates includes ahi tuna tartare served atop avocado puree, with citrus vinaigrette and crispy wontons for scooping, a great option if you’re looking for a cold dish to cool down from the warm weather. Or, run a toasted crostini through the smooth herb-whipped goat cheese, drizzled with hot honey.

Ahi Tuna Tartare & Herb Whipped Goat Cheese

Bacon Flatbread

If you’re a year-round soup lover, definitely order a cup of the French onion soup. I’m a picky French onion soup fan, but NAPA’s head me ready to bring the bowl directly to my mouth to get every drop of those caramelized onions and rich broth.

The bacon flatbread was a combination of several of my favorite ingredients: mozzarella cheese, bacon lardons and hot honey. Add sautéed pearl onions and this flatbread is a great choice to get your NAPA meal started.

Don’t fill up on small plates, though, order another pour of wine to enjoy with your full-sized entree. 

Mushroom Sugo Pappardelle

Crusted Halibut

NAPA Fried Chicken

Salmon Caesar Salad

I was told that the mushroom sugo pappardelle is a favorite of chef Murillo. I can see why because this pasta entree, made with seared mushrooms, marsala, goat cheese and crispy onions, has the perfect umami flavor. While this is a vegetarian dish, you can add a protein or order it with gluten-free pasta for an additional cost.

Other full-plate entrees on the seasonal menu include crusted halibut served with creamy risotto and NAPA fried chicken with tasso gravy, charred broccolini and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. If you did fill up on small plates, the salmon Caesar salad, tossed in house-made dressing, is a lighter yet filling large-plate option.

If you like to end your meal with something sweet, choose from the milk chocolate mousse cake or the classic cheesecake. Since I rarely have a sweet tooth, I didn’t try the desserts, but I heard good things about the cheesecake.

Wines at NAPA Restaurants

During the menu preview, Scott Daniel, who is the general manager of NAPA Bistro & Wine Bar Stonecrest, walked us through a wine tasting and shared which paired best with dishes from the menu.

We started with a glass of Sancerre, which Daniel said is his favorite Sauvignon Blanc. Daniel explained that this aromatic wine is perfect for spring time, highlighting citrus fruits. He recommended pairing the Sancerre with the ahi tuna tartare small plate, “the high acid in this wine is going to cut right into the fat of the ahi tuna.”

Next was a pour of pinot noir from California’s Russian River Valley. Daniel gave an insider’s tip, saying that he can always identify a Russian River Valley pinot noir because of its cherry and cola flavors. He detailed that this light-bodied red wine is “food friendly” thanks to its high acidity without the high tannins. He recommends pairing this wine with seafood, such as the crusted halibut.

The last wine of the tasting was a red blend that’s 60% cabernet sauvignon and 40% merlot, a favorite of NAPA Restaurants’ owners Jeff and Paula Conway. This wine has more tannins, creating a drier finish that pairs best with a dish like a beautifully marbled steak.

NAPA Time Appetizers

If you’re not in the mood for a full meal, find a seat at the bar and order from the menu of NAPA Time Appetizers. Served daily from 3-6 p.m., this menu features cast iron meatballs topped with mozzarella; ham and gruyere sliders; and the NAPA Platter that consists of two meatballs, calamari, a ham and cheese slider, and two berbere chicken tenders. Wash down your appetizers with a classic cocktail for $8 or a glass of wine for $7.

NAPA on Providence is located at 110 Perrin Place, Charlotte.

NAPA Bistro & Wine Bar Stonecrest is located at 7708 Rea Rd, Charlotte.

NAPA at Kingsley is located at 1310 Broadcloth Street Suite 101, Fort Mill, S.C.