Cook Tavern in St. Helena opened this week with a seriously noshable menu that includes house made fried pickles, poutine with beef cheeks, sautéed sweetbreads with red wine veal jus, mini grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup and bigger plates of buttermilk fried chicken wings, a house ground burger, slow roasted pork Cubano, and steak frites among the offerings.
Potables include an old school daiquiri, barrel aged Manhattan, hot toddy, and crafty cocktails like the Cougar Juice (Grey Goose, St. Germain, peach shrub, lemon juice and wine). Why do I feel slightly offended, yet thirsty?
The tavern is the little sister restaurant of the popular Cook Restaurant 1310 Main St., St. Helena, (707) 963-7088.