La Condesa: Austin Hot Spot Hits St. Helena

Photos courtesy of the restaurant

Say hola to this shiny new West Coast outpost of the James Beard–nominated Austin hot spot La Condesa, which officially opens today in Downtown St. Helena.

The moderately priced, modern Mexican menu is a surprisingly good fit with the wine-country ethos – owner Jesse Herman and chef Rene Ortiz have spent the last few months establishing personal relationships with local growers, ranchers and fishermen to supply sustainably sourced ingredients. Expect dishes such as blue masa–stuffed zucchini blossoms, wild salmon ceviche and Rancho Gordo black bean pasilla purée served with locally made goat cheese, along with Lone Star favorites such as taquitos, huitlacoche huaraches and Ortiz’s signature two-day mole served with duck breast. Attention porkophiles: call three days ahead to order a whole roasted suckling pig served family-style.

The space is done up with reclaimed wooden furniture and mixed media art by the chef’s brother, Cruz Ortiz, and there’s also a bar presided over by a mounted bull’s head from Jalisco. 42 Below Cocktail World Cup national champion Nate Wales pours 200 varieties of 100% blue agave tequila and 30 mezcals, served straight up or mixed into fresh-squeezed cocktails, plus a bevy of California and South American wines.

La Condesa is currently serving dinner only, with lunch and brunch in the works. Check out the private dining room, and get a look at the dinner menu, below.

1320 Main St., St. Helena; 707-967-8111