Where the Chefs Eat and Drink in Napa

Although it proffers the familiar Cal-Italian fare of other high-end St. Helena restaurants, this hole-in-the wall has something the others lack: locals. Families, singles and chefs pack into this tiny nook for a nice meal out without going all out. Service is warm and without frills, and the menu delivers consistent flavor without stuffy presentation or inflated prices.

Tourists and locals battle for barstools at this downtown Napa establishment. A prevailing wine retailer in the Valley, this shop/bar doubles as a meeting place for wine professionals to sample new wines and mingle with colleagues. The no-nonsense bistro menu offers sharable fare like beer can-chicken and sliders.

You can't really call this place a local's secret, but it's surely a local's favorite. This huge, Highway 29 restaurant preserves a loyal following with its no corkage fee and huge portions. Although the swarms of diners in queue may steer some away, locals vow that the BBQ ribs and the Oreo ice cream sandwich are worth the wait.

Easily mistaken for an out-of-place dive in upscale St. Helena (it is neighbored by soap boutiques and designer shoe shops), this Mexican-themed watering hole is proof that the Napa Valley does have a nightlife pulse. Twenty-something locals spill onto Main Street each Thursday night for the karaoke party. Harvest season means intern season, and this is the favorite haunt and hook-up spot for the corps of temporary winery workers.

Some may find it odd that one of the nation's best restaurants shares a street with one of the valley's grungiest dive bars, but anyone that really knows Yountville knows Pancha's. The smoke-filled cavern often teems with restaurant-industry locals. Fresh from work in their chef and server whites, they hog the jukebox, crowd the pool table, and profit from cheap plastic cups of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

After a long day in the cellar, the vineyard, or the crush pad, the first thing any wine-stained Valley worker wants is an ice-cold beer. This St. Helena spot offers an array of house brews, burgers and salads to satiate big appetites. During fall months, the outdoor picnic tables are a favorite hang out of cult winemakers (think Screaming Eagle) and harvest crews alike

Mountains of cheap Southern BBQ may not be a main draw for refined tourist taste, but it sure is for hungry local chefs. This roadside spot in Calistoga is acclaimed for tender BBQ treats like pork ribs, chicken and tri tip. Dinner specials come with meat and two sides for less that $10. Chefs from Yountville (aka Keller-ville) have been known to trek up-valley just for the cornbread.

Wine country may have some of the best restaurants in the world, but when it comes to Burmese cuisine, Napa is sorely deprived. When visiting the city, the people who power the Valley's fine food and wine industries are happy to line up at this always-packed SF institution for complex, exotic, dishes like the 22-ingredient Rainbow Salad, or the simple-but-perfect samusas.