The Charter Oak sits in the heart of St. Helena, run by Chef Christopher Kostow, who also cooks at The Restaurant at Meadowood. The approach here is different: simple, approachable, seasonal food served family-style, with grilled meats, vegetables grown on the restaurant's own 3.5-acre farm, local wines, and cocktails anchoring the menu.
The restaurant is co-owned by Kostow alongside Martina Kostow and Eli Snowdon, with a team that includes a dedicated farm director overseeing the produce that shapes the seasonal offerings.
The Charter Oak was a James Beard Foundation Best New Restaurant finalist in 2018, was selected for the Michelin Guide's 2026 edition, and was named among Napa Valley Life magazine's best restaurants of 2025.
It has built a steady local following, drawing regular praise for its atmosphere, food, and service, and functions as something of a neighborhood fixture even as it pulls in visitors passing through wine country.
The restaurant is co-owned by Kostow alongside Martina Kostow and Eli Snowdon, with a team that includes a dedicated farm director overseeing the produce that shapes the seasonal offerings.
The Charter Oak was a James Beard Foundation Best New Restaurant finalist in 2018, was selected for the Michelin Guide's 2026 edition, and was named among Napa Valley Life magazine's best restaurants of 2025.
It has built a steady local following, drawing regular praise for its atmosphere, food, and service, and functions as something of a neighborhood fixture even as it pulls in visitors passing through wine country.