Cook's a local's nook for Northern Italian cuisine.
 Cook restaurant along St. Helena’s main drag does its best to stay under the radar. There’s no website and no plan for one. Locals hope tourists will bypass the understated spot so that they can claim one of the few vacancies in the bustling, dark-toned, wood planked alley of a dining room with an open kitchen. Stools at the bar offer added perches and old-fashioned, soda-counter-esque appeal. A concise menu culled from local purveyors and neighbors’ gardens draws diners. Bet on well-executed homemade pastas such as the soft, light Gorgonzola gnocchi, rustic penne with sausage or risotto di giorno. Entrées tend to play it straight and simple, whether it’s a steak or deep, dark short ribs. The wine list reads modest but impressive, matching the cuisine. Expect a moderate decibel level.
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