Sporting an attractive remodel and new management team in both front and back of the house, Assaad Barazi's River City Bar and Grill reopened to its first customers of the year Monday.

The Lincoln Avenue restaurant was ravaged by the New Year's Eve flood, prompting Barazi to completely remodel the popular eatery he has owned for the past two decades. He spent the past six months undoing what the Napa River did on Dec. 31.

On top of that, Barazi invited two well-known members of the hospitality industry -- executive chef Tod Michael Kawachi and general manger Patrick Jeffries -- to join him as partners in the new River City Bar and Grill venture.

This was not the first time Barazi's business was affected by the Napa River coming out of its banks. He took title to the property two days after the 1986 flood sent three feet of water into the restaurant.

"We did extensive construction after that flood," Barazi said as he offered a tour of his latest remodel. "Then we had two floods in '95 and now this one at the start of the year. I've had to remodel the restaurant three times."

This time around, Barazi made significant changes in the flow of the building. He relocated the kitchen, provided a new entrance and opened up even more of the facility to river view dining.

He also enlisted the help of designer Eric Sedletzky to provide several unifying elements for the redesign -- a giant mural in the entryway depicting a downtown Napa riverfront setting, lacquered corrugated sheet metal on some interior walls, as well as metal and woodwork images of the restaurant's logo incorporating a drawing of the river flowing just beyond the building's doors.

Seating 140, the main dining room and bar captures the feel of a rustic riverfront establishment one might encounter on the New England seaboard. Riverfront dining is offered on a deck that can accommodate more than 100, with an area around a fountain and koi pond reserved for alfresco cocktails. River City Bar and Grill also has banquet facilities for parties as large as 120, says Barazi.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The bar serves drinks until midnight daily.

Kawachi comes to River City Bar and Grill after successful stints as opening chef at Brix in Yountville and partner in Sakatini in Napa's Bel Aire Plaza. Jeffries comes to the operation after spending several years as general manager at Cole's Chop House in downtown Napa.

Chef Kawachi's menu will be offered throughout the day. Ranging in price from $5 for the daily homemade soup to $12 for a half-dozen oysters on the half-shell, appetizers and salads include tiger shrimp cocktail, spring/summer rolls, crispy fried panko calamari, rib-eye sliders, crispy pork wonton triangles, plus Caesar and Chinese chicken salads. The chef also offers his signature black-and-blue tuna, a dish that has followed him since he opened Brix several years ago.

In addition to a trio of pizzas -- margarita, roasted chicken plus pepper jack cheese steak, $8-$11 -- sandwich offerings include grilled chicken breast, Angus chuck burger with smoked bacon and fries, and prime rib French dip with horseradish cream and fries ($10-$12).

Choices in the main course category ($16-$25) range from half rotisserie chicken to bone-in cowboy rib-eye steak, as well as barbecued smoked pork ribs, grilled flatiron steak with blue cheese and roasted potatoes, plus flash-seared rare ahi tuna with wasabi and ponzu sauce.

The chef's opening desserts ($6-$8) include molten chocolate cake, warm chocolate chip bread pudding, crme brle and fresh strawberries over shortbread with vanilla gelato.

For reservations or additional information, call 253-1111.