The food at BottleRock 2024 left a bad taste in attendees’ mouths

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The BottleRock festival is known for its incredible music performances and alcoholic offering and that is probably for the best. While it would have been impossible to try every bit of nosh Napa had to offer, most of the food that was tried did not live up to the hype or their price points.

While there were a few diamonds in the rough, most of the meals were either a disappointment or at best, nothing to write home about. After three days at the BottleRock music festival, here is how the food lines up.

Curry Up: Mango Lasey and Chicken Burrito, Chicken Tikka Masala Rice Bowl and Samosas

The mango lassi was rich and smooth. There was a definite intense mango flavor and it wasn’t chunky like a smoothy. Though $9, not including tax, is too much for a premade item that was just sitting in a cooler.

The chicken burrito was also overpriced for a premade item: the price being $19, again, not including tax. The chicken was dry, but the flavor was really good, though it all came from the curry sauce. The burrito also had a subtle heat, which was nice, and the garbanzo beans offered a good textural variation. It also had a good distribution of ingredients, which can all be tasted in each bite. The final complaint is that the tortilla should have been charred to give the burrito some crunch instead of it being a warm, soft, lump of mush. 3/5.

The Chicken Tikka Masala Rice Bowl fared a bit better than the burrito for the textures were better separated than they did combined. The chicken was soft and tender, and the rice and Chana were also cooked well. Coming on at $20, the meal was still most definitely overpriced but offered a filling meal option.

The samosas were by far the most impressive item the truck had to offer as they were beautifully cooked and packed with intense and delicious flavor. Though most likely the most overpriced item coming in at a whopping $13 for two small samosas, they were, at least, tasty.

Hodmonk: Cubano

A Cubano is a legendary sandwich and this one didn’t quite do it justice. The bread should have been crispier but was just doughy. The mustard did cut through the fat of the pork nicely when it was there. As for the meat of the meal, the pork seemed like pre-packaged slices of ham people can buy at the grocery store. I wish the ham was thrown onto the flat top so it could have developed crispy bits on the ends. The Swiss cheese was a great binder for the sandwich. The pickles were amazing and created the perfect bit if you can find one. The sandwich had all the elements and amazing flavor profile a Cubano should have but lacked a simple excess that makes it legendary. 3.3/5

Tarla Mediterranean Grill: Chicken Gyro

The chicken had a very strong rotisserie flavor and was surprisingly tender. The entire dish also tasted really fresh and gets bonus points for the wrap being filled to the brim. The tatsuki could have used a bit more lemon but it was good enough. Overall, this was a very fresh and light bite in a crowd of burgers and mac and cheese. 3.2/5

Danny and Coop’s: Cheesesteak

Bradly Cooper has officially redeemed himself for “Maestro.” This sandwich was phenomenal and only $17.78. The meat in the sandwich was ribeye, so it was super melt-in-the-mouth tender. The cheese was similar to a fondue cheese. It was super creamy, rich and full of flavor. It also coated the meat magnificently. The onions were in that perfect spot between raw and caramelized and they added a slightly different texture to the sandwich. My one complaint is the bread. While it did taste great and was covered in poppy seeds, exactly what you want to see from a cheesesteak, it was way too chewy and I wish the crust had more of a crunch. But this was still the best thing BottleRock had to offer. 4.5/5

OSHA Thai Restaurant Napa: Chicken Spicy Basil, Thai Iced Coffee and Thai Iced Tea

The coffee was very light and refreshing. It had a good balance between the sweetness of the milk and a bitter finish from the coffee. It was honestly very refreshing and a great sip to start the afternoon.

The Thai Iced Tea followed suit in being a tasty and refreshing kick-start to the day. For $8 that one would likely spend on a customized coffee or drink of choice at any larger chain establishment, the purchase wasn’t too unreasonable.

For chicken spicy basil, the ground chicken was surprisingly packed with flavor. The spice level from the Thai chilies hit the back of the tongue nicely. The chicken was super moist and it wasn’t overcooked, a surprise for ground chicken. The inclusion of the charred basil proved a subtle freshness to the dish. The peppers gave a nice snap. I do wish it were pieces of chicken instead of ground and that there was more of it in general. Also, $33.19 is a bit expensive for such small portions of meat and coffee. That said, the coffee and the spicy chicken were a great combo because the milk from the coffee nulled the spice. 3.6/5

Doughpamine: Miso Peanut Butter Cookie and Chocolate Cookie

The miso peanut butter cookie was more miso than peanut butter and tasted like almond extract. Needless to say, a peanut butter cookie should taste like peanut butter. If there was such a thing as too much peanut butter, which there is not, that’s what it should taste like. The cookie also used way too much butter, so much so in fact that there was a grease stain on the packaging. The edges were crispy though and did have a soft interior, so it does get props for being well baked. 2/5

The second cookie was a chocolate one that tasted of straight almond extract, with no chocolate in sight. It also had these weird chewy nougat things that added nothing but a weird mouth feel to the cookie. Again, it was baked well. This cookie was fatter and better supported by a fuggy interior with crunchy edges. 1/5

1.5/5 overall score.

Mustards Grill: Slow-Smoked American Wagyu Beef Brisket

They actually took time to prepare the sandwich, so points for them. It was just a white bread bun but it was super soft. The coleslaw was pretty flavorless and added nothing to the sandwich; it wasn’t even cold. The pickles were good though, sweet not sour, but it fit because there was no BBQ sauce, which is usually sweet. The brisket is the namesake of the sandwich and it did not disappoint. While the one awkward giant piece was gray in the center, every other piece was tender and falling apart. It also wasn’t slathered in sauce so it was just the flavor of smoked meat which I was not expecting. Second best thing I ate at BottleRock. 3.8/5

Acai Bowl: Berry Me Up Bowl and Matcha Latte

As one of the few fruity meal options at the festivals in a greasy-food-heavy environment, Acai Bowl definitely provided some refreshing meal alternatives that did not disappoint. Their $17 Berry Me Up bowl was definitely overpriced for its portion size but offered a smooth and rich acai base topped with perfectly ripe fruit and dried goji berries. Overall it was incredibly tasty and provided a great healthy food option for festivalgoers.

The matcha latte also proved delicious as its oat milk base and agave sweetener made for the perfect blend.

Dia De Los Tacos: Chicken Burrito Bowl

Packing a hefty portion size that made its sizeable $20 price tag a bit more reasonable, the chicken burrito bowl proved a weak Chipotle counterpart for more than double the price. Though the chicken was fresh and the rice was well-seasoned, the clearly store-packaged avocado spread marketed as guacamole atop the bowl soured the entire dish. Overall, it was one of the more disappointing food truck options at this year’s festival.

Street Vendor: Hot Dog

While $10 is a bit expensive, there will never be a better hot dog than the ones sold after big events. The hot dog had grilled opinions and peppers that was cooked in the hot dog juice and slathered in ketchup, mustard and mayo. A perfect bite for a perfect dog. 3.6/5

How You Mac’n: Bacon Mac and Cheese

One of the less pricey items at the festival this year, the bacon mac and cheese rang in at $16 and was definitely very filling. While very creamy and rich, the super flaky bacon bits threw off the flavor by making every bite unsettlingly crispy. The creaminess of the pasta was lost through the flakiness, and after just a few bites the density of the dish in itself proved challenging to get through.

In the end, while there was the definite stand out of Danny & Coop’s and the pleasant surprise of OSHA, overall the food scene at BottleRock 2024 left a bad taste in some attendees’ mouths.

Sweetie Pie’s Bakery: Caramel Brownie and Confetti Cookie with Vanilla Ice Cream

As one of the more popular dessert booths at this year’s festival, Sweetie Pie’s Bakery always had a lengthy line with friends and families eager to grab a sweet treat to help them cool down in the weekend’s heat. The Caramel Brownie was rich and incredibly chocolatey, but certainly felt a bit too dense, perhaps a better fit for some chocolate fudge, but not quite a brownie. The confetti cookie was very well cooked with a crunchy exterior but soft and moist inside. Though delicious, the prices for both did feel a bit high coming in at $9 each, with the additional ice cream costing an extra $4. The ice cream was definitely cooling and refreshing on the hot days and was well worth the $4 upcharge.

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Featured Image Photographed by Cathryn Kuczynski/BruinLife