Play games, watch sports on TV, toss back a few, dine on elevated comfort cuisine.
My dining companion and I felt instantly uplifted upon arrival at The Lincoln, whose outdoor deck overlooks the Napa River about a half mile north of Downtown Napa’s Oxbow bend. The restaurant and bar, next to the Ace & Vine card club, is a relaxed space to watch sports on TV, play games, and toss back a few, but the gastropub menu merits attention, too. Arriving midweek at twilight, we scored a prime riverside table and spent the next two hours sampling shareable plates and more substantial fare as sky and water faded to black.
Elevated Apps, Generous Portions
Well-chosen ingredients elevated several apps beyond the expected – bourbon bacon for the deviled eggs, a mildly spicy sesame-laced coleslaw underneath crispy salmon “lollipops,” and “Wild Wings” that come with sauce choices that include lemon-pepper-feta in addition to blue cheese. The portions were generous for the wings, the salmon, and the hummus and guac.
Although the wine list tempted, The Lincoln seems more like a beer or cocktail place, so we took our waiter’s suggestion and ordered a Pennies from Heaven (Barr Hill gin, honey, and lemon) and a Green Flash (kiwi, pineapple, sparkling apple cider over crushed ice). The latter was zero-proof but zesty – and with its grape-flavored popping boba balls, entertaining as well.
We split a short rib entrée to see how the chef handled larger plates. Served with au gratin potatoes and roasted carrots, the beef was fall-off-the-bone tender (though there was no bone), the gravy a natural for sopping up with the hummus and guac’s remaining flatbread. We didn’t try the smash burger, a customer favorite, so a return visit is a must. We thought we were too full for dessert, but duty called. We were glad we answered because the smooth and creamy panna cotta with berries sent us on our way smiling.
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This story first appeared in 2023; it was most recently updated in 2025.