Comfort Food Restaurants near Calistoga, CA

“I will say this, wine tasting is an excellent way to work up your appetite. And what better way than enjoying some hearty comfort food smack dap in historic downtown Calistoga? This takes me none other to "House of Better". Located directly on Lincoln Ave (Highway 29) and adjacent to Fair Way, this place has been serving delicious plates dating back to early-2021. They do have generous hours of operation being opened for business 7 days a week from 8am-8pm while being open an hour later at 9pm on Friday & Saturday nights. I came here for what would be a late lunch/early dinner during the afternoon of Saturday 4/6/2024 at around 2:50pm. My significant other and I parked just a block away at nearby Cal Mart and made the short 2-minute walk to the business. To give you an idea of what this place is all about, it is primarily an outdoor type atmosphere with Astroturf throughout, Adirondack chairs, hanging lights (after the sun goes down), a large pizza oven, a nearby swing, picnic tables, heat lamps, and an indoor shack (in case the weather is not cooperative). This place is also directly next to "Dr. Wilkinson's Resort & Mineral Spring" which is a hotel that includes an outdoor pool and other amenities including a dedicated mud bath area. As far as the menu goes, this place offers mainly that Tex-Mex cuisine combined with American, Spanish, and Mexican bites all in one. Best of all, they serve breakfast + brunch (until 2pm), small bites, all day dishes, pies, and a full bar that serves sangria, margaritas, beer, Kombucha, well drinks, and even hot + iced espresso drinks. Since I was starving, I ended up going with their "Green Chile Burger" (for $20). This burger offers Kobe beef, aged cheddar cheese, grilled onions, roasted green chiles, pickled onions, & seasoned french fries w/ketchup and chipotle aioli sauces. My lady went with their "Grains + Grills Kale Salad w/Chicken" (for $24). This warm salad had a blend of quinoa, black beans, jicama, and chipotle lime vinaigrette. To drink, I tried the "Corazon"; beet-infused agave wine margarita & oranges while she went with their "Red Sangria". Since it was a cool 58°F day, we took advantage eating inside the cozy shack area. Our drinks arrived in just a few minutes while our food followed shortly after. My burger was made to perfection as the patty was hearty and very juicy. It also had that nice spicy kick while the bun was slightly toasted. In all fairness, it was a good burger but priced a little high at $20. My lady also said her Grains + Grills was delicious but that too was priced steep at $18 and $6 more when you add the chicken. However, my agave margarita was tasty and quite filling. All in all, "House of Better" is definitely worth checking out and if you are okay spending around $40 for lunch, I say go for it. The employees & service were top notch, food was made to perfection, ambiance and atmosphere was unique and one-of-a-kind. Just the outdoor area alone is absolutely worth checking out. Therefore, when you factor everything in, I am giving House of Better an above average four-star rating.“

“Love how relaxed it is & how good the food is looking forward to coming back soon“

“Great Food & Drinks with a beautiful pet friendly patio.“