A Memorable Culinary Experience at CIA Napa – Thanks to Claudia! I recently had the pleasure of dining at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa, and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. The atmosphere is elegant yet welcoming, the food is masterfully prepared, and the location in the heart of wine country couldn't be more perfect. What truly elevated our visit, however, was the exceptional service provided by our server, Claudia. From the moment we were seated, Claudia made us feel genuinely welcomed. She was attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable about every dish and wine pairing, and had a warm, professional demeanor that made our experience feel personal and special. Claudia anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, offered thoughtful suggestions from the menu, and made sure every course was timed perfectly. Her passion for hospitality and deep understanding of the culinary arts clearly reflect the high standards of the CIA. If you're visiting Napa, a stop at the Culinary Institute is a must – and if you’re lucky enough to be served by Claudia, you’re in for a true five-star experience.

Thanks to CIA at Copia for the stunning job they did for my daughter’s rehearsal dinner. They were spot-on with timing. The filet mignon and cheesecake were the best I’ve ever tasted. Their plates were works-of-art. The service was quick and quiet. What a great start to the wedding festivities!

It was a yummy delight. My husband and I did the 4 course meal and discovered new dishes we love with the children.

What a happy surprise touring this place. The setting is inviting with high ceilings and lots of light. They have a wall that is hall of fame of wine with plaques for famous people in the winemaking world, and a culinary museum which was unexpectedly interesting and fun, and nice gift shop with unusual and high quality offerings for anyone who cooks or as a gift for friends or family who like to cook. They also have a very cool wine tasting set up which is automated (you pay with a credit card choose a nice glass and then select the type of wine you’d like to try and the amount you’d like and a dispenser pours it for you). Nice seating area nearby. Didn’t have dinner there so can’t speak to that (but it’s got to be good). Anyway, fun stop before or after Oxbow next door.

My family & I came here our first night of our vacation, this past Saturday, May 3rd. My mom had eaten here a few years ago and raved about it so we were excited to try it. We were seated at 6pm, had our apps and drinks by 6:30pm and then…nothing. At 7:30pm, we asked the server how much longer it would be for our entrees (2 pasta dishes and a fish dish), and she assured us it wouldn’t be much longer. At 7:45pm, she came back and said our dishes were being plated and offered us half glasses of prosecco. At 8pm, just as we were about to ask for the check and tell them to just forget about the entrees, the food came out. The entrees were good, but the 90 minute wait ruined the experience. Not only that, but the situation could have been easily been remedied if the manager had come by, apologized, and offered us an app or even bread on the house. Instead, we got mediocre prosecco when we weren’t even finished with our existing drinks. The worst part is, the manager stopped at every table in our section except for ours. She was having a great time dropping off plates and checking in on tables that actually had food while purposefully avoiding ours. It was almost entertaining to watch her avoid eye contact with us and take alternate routes in the dining room to keep from talking to us. We received much better service and meals from all of the other restaurants and bakeries we visited in the area so we will be skipping Copia during future visits.