Though this is now old news, Hillstone Restaurant Group, who owns the Rutherford Grill here in the Napa Valley has purchased Washington Square, site of the former Napa Valley Grille, for a price of $9.8 million earlier this year. They have just gotten Town of Yountville approval to open a new R + D Kitchens there. R + D Kitchens is one of several chains Hillstone, formerly known as Houston’s, operates with other R + D’s in Newport Beach, Santa Monica, California and Dallas, Texas.
The new design is radically different than what exists now with the new restaurant holding 137 seats. The sample menu for R + D Kitchens includes a variety of sushi rolls, sandwiches, salads, seven dinner courses and a variety of side dishes. They should be breaking ground sometime this spring.
With Laura Cunningham’s Vita currently on hold, but no doubt coming sometime soon, the north end of Town has definity changed since the days of Mama Nina’s, Suburban Propane, Tonascia’s Grocery Store and of course the old Pancha’s. Ask me what I mean about the old Pancha’s vs what it is today. Another story.
Photo from the Yountville Sun
Chris says
January 5, 2012 at 6:41 pmWe will be happy to go to R+D, as the over-all quality of service and food at Rutherford Grill has steadily declined over the years. (why is there not a chef at the Grill?) We are looking for a new favorite restaurant to go to.
Curtis Van Carter says
January 5, 2012 at 9:36 pmHi
Couple of my favorites at the Rutherford Grill price point are all in Napa. In Napa, try the Bounty Hunter, Ubuntu, Oenotri, Grace’s Table, Norman Rose; a little more in Napa Bistro Don Giovanni and in Yountville, Bottega.
Email me if want anything else, cheers in 2012 cvc