THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Napa 29

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Napa 29 Restaurant Review:

A shopping center off the Riverside Freeway may not evoke images of bucolic vineyards. But Napa 29---named after the highway that meanders through California's premier winemaking region---has more in common with the Napa Valley than one might expect. The restaurant has a decidedly contemporary design; the art is mostly wine-related and shelves display trophy bottles and crystal decanters. Chef Matthew Green, a Culinary Institute of America alum, does an admirable job in the kitchen, while the front of the house, managed by his wife, boasts a professional and knowledgeable staff. The wine list---one of the best you'll find in the Inland Empire---is an all-California affair offering both prestigious big producers and small boutique wineries from around the state. Starters include a generous slab of foie gras, nicely seared and served with brioche french toast and tart cherry sauce. Among entrées, you'll find sesame-crusted ahi (a nice filet served with two contrasting and artfully presented sauces---a lemon beurre blanc and spicy soy-mustard), rack of lamb accompanied by Israeli couscous and pineapple-mango chutney, and duck served with Asiago cheese risotto and a cranberry-orange sauce.