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San Francisco Chronicle​

The best places to eat in Napa before and after BottleRock this weekend

Napa's BottleRock Napa Valley is arguably more famous for its food than its musical acts. (It even has a star-studded culinary stage.) Nevertheless, festival food is expensive, often requires waiting in long lines and doesn't always live up to the hype. Luckily, some of Napa's best restaurants are within walking distance of the festival grounds. Here are the top casual food options — recommended by a longtime Napa local — for breakfast, lunch and late night if you're headed to BottleRock, which runs Friday-Sunday, May 23-25. Breakfast San Francisco Chronicle associate restaurant critic Cesar Hernandez crowned Contimo's fluffy, buttery biscuits the Bay Area's best. Try them with the Ham & Jam breakfast sandwich ($8.75) — add Pimento cheese for a surprising twist — or whatever the 'Baller Biscuit' special is on Friday, and pair with coffee or a mimosa. Napa Farmers Market Swing by the Napa Farmers Market on Saturday morning and piece together a robust breakfast spread consisting of Toasted's bagels, breakfast tacos from Ray Ray's, Frenchy Gourmet's insanely creamy yogurt and fresh fruit from a local farm. 1100 West St., Napa. 8 a.m.-noon Saturday. Croccante Find Napa's best hangover brunch in an unexpected location: Detroit-style pizza joint Croccante. Recover from the previous night's festivities with steak and eggs ($26), a massive stack of buttermilk pancakes ($18) and khachapuri ($18), a cheesy, egg-topped Georgian specialty. Rory's Bakehouse 2766 Old Sonoma Rd., Napa. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Lunch One of downtown Napa's longest-running eateries, Small World serves criminally underrated Mediterranean fare. Get the lamb salad ($18); it should keep you full until dinner. Armistice Brewing This chill Napa brewery offers a two-for-one: Pre-game with a pint or two while you scarf down a filling, juicy burger made by French Laundry alum Christopher Ruiz of Butter's Burgers. If you're feeling especially hangry, opt for the incredibly messy pastrami burger ($17). The brewery will also stay open until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday for BottleRock. Joella's Deli The fried chicken sandwich ($18) stuffed with a spicy ranch slaw at Joella's Deli food truck — founded by another French Laundry alum — ranks among the best fried chicken sandwiches in the Bay Area, according to the Chronicle's Hernandez. If you're in an empty industrial park, you're in the right place. 2410 Second St., Napa. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Rutherford Pizza at Frankie's Deli Napa's first New York City-inspired slice shop opened just in time for BottleRock, and it's the best deal in town. This satellite location of Napa's Rutherford Family Pizza slings $5 slices, including pepperoni, chicken alfredo and Hawaiian, until 3 a.m. (yes, seriously) on Friday and Saturday. 1331 First St., Napa. 4 p.m.-3 a.m. Friday-Saturday. The Fink The Fink has the most extensive and inventive cocktail menu in Napa, but don't sleep on its bar food, like the Japanese-inspired egg sandwich ($15), Korean-style fried chicken ($15) and Maine lobster roll ($26). 530 Main St., Napa. 4 p.m.-12 a.m. Friday-Saturday, 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Sunday. Oxbow Public Market One block from the festival grounds, the Oxbow Public Market is throwing a cover-free, after-party on Saturday featuring a D.J. and food from its vendors, including Hog Island Oyster Co. and Loveski Deli. 61 First. St., Napa. 10 p.m.-12 a.m. Saturday.