Reserve a tableOur story · Nuestra historia
More than 30 years of family, resilience, and a deep commitment to our community.
Marco & Berenice
Before Don Perico became a Napa tradition, it began with Marco and Berenice Castañeda and the life they hoped to build together.
After coming to California from Zacatecas, Mexico, Marco began his restaurant career as a busboy in Bakersfield. He worked hard, learned every part of the business, and was promoted repeatedly over the next ten years.
When his employer decided to open a restaurant in Napa and invited Marco to become a partner, Marco saw an opportunity to create a better future for his wife and family. With no savings, he borrowed money from relatives and took the leap.
Three homes · One familia
Every address has marked a new chapter. The commitment to good food, generous hospitality, and community at the heart of Don Perico has remained the same.
The first restaurant
Don Perico opened in Napa in January 1994. Over time, Marco bought out his original partner and became the sole owner. What started as a leap of faith grew into a local favorite—a place where Napa families returned for generous plates, familiar flavors, and the feeling of being welcomed home.
The earthquake
At 3:20 a.m. on August 24, 2014—the restaurant’s twentieth-anniversary year—the South Napa earthquake tore through the original Don Perico. Thankfully, the dining room was empty. Marco went downtown, entered by flashlight, made his way through the rubble, and shut off the gas. Although he initially hoped they could reopen within months, the extensive damage meant their first home could not be saved.
The second restaurant
After learning they could not return to their original location, Marco and Berenice took part-time jobs at a wine-storage facility in American Canyon while searching for a way back. A handshake agreement for a space across the street became five months of negotiations, but they never gave up.
When Don Perico reopened on May 15, 2015, guests were already waiting outside half an hour before the scheduled opening. For the first month, there was a dinner wait nearly every night. The family was humbled by Napa’s welcome—a reminder that Don Perico had become more than an address. That same year, Marco received the American Dream Award from the Napa County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Another unexpected move
Ten years later, redevelopment of the Dwight Murray Plaza site required Don Perico to close again. On August 17, 2025, the restaurant served its final meals at 1106 1st Street.
On Don Perico’s final day at 1106 1st Street, employees, family, friends, and longtime guests gathered for one more meal—and one last toast—to a place filled with ten years of memories.
The third restaurant
After nearly eleven months, Don Perico returned to downtown Napa at 1300 1st St., Suite 201. The new restaurant began its soft opening on July 15, welcoming members of the Don Perico family into the new space. The soft-opening period continued through the grand opening on August 15, celebrated with tamborazo and mariachi. The third restaurant brings indoor and outdoor seating, a refreshed design, and more room to gather—while carrying forward the signature dishes, margaritas, and family hospitality Don Perico has shared with Napa since 1994.
Food & hospitality
Our menu brings together Don Perico favorites such as sizzling fajitas, tender chile verde, and house-made salsas, paired with our signature margaritas.
We believe in consistency, quality, and hospitality that feels like home.
Explore the menuOur Napa community
Don Perico has supported local schools, nonprofits, and community events throughout its years in Napa. We are grateful to be part of the community that has supported our family from the beginning.
Longtime guests continue to join us for family dinners, birthdays, and familiar favorites, while new guests discover Don Perico for the first time.