North Block

The story

North Block Yountville: Michelin-Recommended California Cuisine by Chef Juan Cabrera

The Restaurant at North Block

In Yountville, at the heart of Napa Valley, The Restaurant at North Block offers a focused take on Californian cuisine. Executive Chef Juan Cabrera draws on the state’s valleys and coastlines, building a menu around ingredients sourced from regional farms, local fisheries, and foragers. The result is seasonal cooking that feels grounded in place, not gimmick.

The dining room opens onto a signature courtyard, making the indoor-outdoor space a natural setting for the food. Guests can choose from an à la carte menu or the Valley to Coast Tasting Menu, a multi-course experience that captures Chef Cabrera’s philosophy. A recent winter tasting menu included dishes such as heirloom carrot mousse with beet tartare, butter-poached lobster bisque with house sourdough, and Flannery beef NY strip aged 28 days. The kitchen also works with live fire, adding depth to coastal and valley ingredients.

The cocktail program follows the same regional logic: classic techniques reworked with local produce and landscape-inspired flavors. A bar-only offering called “Shaken & Stacked” (available Sunday and Monday) pairs Chef’s short rib burger, fries, and a martini for $35—a straightforward, well-priced option.

The restaurant has been recommended in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide, a recognition that aligns with the precision and care evident in Chef Cabrera’s cooking. The space also hosts rotating art installations, currently in collaboration with SLATE Contemporary Gallery and Erica Tanov Atelier, with paintings by Hannah Franco on view through July.

North Block keeps things simple: good ingredients, a clear point of view, and a setting that lets the food speak.