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Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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Really, what can someone add to what has been said about this dining mecca? It is everything that every breathless, panting, drool-filled review says it is and more.
One thing I will note that was quite nice was that while we had a couple bottles of wine with dinner (one off the wine list, one that our friends brought from a nearby winery), one of our party wanted to avoid drinking alcohol that night. So for her courses they prepared an alternative series of fruit flavored sodas and drinks that ended up being wonderful complements to the dishes. Sometimes they worked even better than the wines, as they were more thoughtfully paired to a single course to bring out and enhance flavors in the dish.
Eight months later I still find myself pining at times for a dish we were lucky enough to try. I'll think "man I wish I had a salmon cone right now."
You will spend a lot of money to eat here. You will be here a long time. And you will love it. Or you don't have a soul. Or taste buds.
DAMN YOU THE FRENCH LAUNDRY!?!?
Nothing compares, nothing compares to your sweet delicious tasting menu.
For the last 2 weeks, After FL, everything has lost it's taste. Fluer de Lys was a sh!tshow disappointment where harmonious flavors were missing. Campton Place was just a place for ladies to lunch AkA the food is so lackluster therefore we don't eat very much and thereby stay the svelte 34s that we are.
So people need to be warned!
DO NOT go to the French laundry! It will destroy your view on the culinary world! Plates from any other place will become mere black and white copies! And the only salvation you can get will be to cough up another 1k to taste color again!
Damn u FL!!
FL 1, Jessica 0
The moment when we knew this was a 3 star michelin restaurant:
After serving the torchon, it took T…
Read more »
The second time is a charm. I can sum up the French Laundry experience very concisely:
The Service: Every time you go upstairs to use the restroom, the staff will back up the stairs if coming down. A friend had this happen as a waiter had one step left to go before reaching the bottom. The waiter backed all the way up the stairs in favor of the guest. That simple act says everything about how seriously they take service.
The Food: It's perfect. It's not possible for imperfect food to leave this kitchen. The Chef De Cuisine won't allow it and the runners won't serve it.
Four extended menus, three grand wine pairings, five blissful hours and another perfect dining experience at an amazing restaurant.
I'm not sure how this restaurant could be rated as anything other than perfect. The price is… Read more »
The menu changes everyday, the food is something out of this world, and the service is the best of the best.
Intimate, heavenly, and for me, it's a once in a lifetime experience.
BUT YOU MUST TRY THIS!
I was really looking forward to this place and finally got the chance to dine here after getting reservations.
Although this establishment met my expectations, I have to say that there are many many fine dining restaurants in the surrounding Napa Valley and San Francisco for a more affordable price tag, so don't fret if you can't dine here just yet.
French Laundry is definitely something you have to experience. I'm quite surprised about the negative reviews regarding the service. We had top notch service with very friendly and helpful staff.
The food was creative and unique. On this occasion, we also had frog legs, something I don't think they serve at the restaurant and they were much much better than the frog legs at Gary Danko!
We also heard about their complimentary signature "Coffee and Donuts" and made a request for them. They had the ingredients to make it, and boy is this a real treat!
Finally, there's lots of complimentary tid bits in addition to the 9 course chefs tasting menu including the famous salmon tartar cones and candies & take-home cookies at the end of your meal.
All in all, I would save this place for very special occasions or once a year, and stick to other places to dine at for those romantic dinners you want to have with your partner or friends ever so often. I recommend Redd, Chez Panisse, and Fleur de Lys if you like these type of foods.
If you also want to make the most of your experience, request a kitchen tour and go and check out their garden across the street - we are very glad our party did.
+
$240 includes tip
$240 includes all non-alcohol beverages
You can make any substitutes/requests
Free parking, unlike dining in San Francisco
-
Hard to make reservations
Very pricy
4 hour meal!!!!
Clarification: The menu changes slightly everyday. So if it is your second or third time there, like me, BORING!
The service could have been much better. The service staff was fumbling all over the place. We had to flag the som down for more wine... uuhhh what? At TFL I had to flag someone down for something. WOW. My rabbit tasted like overdone chicken AND YOU CAN GET WAY BETTER FOOD AT OTHER RESTAURANTS LIKE MASA 'S IN SF OR CYRUS IN HEALSBURG FOR HALF THE PRICE.
Good luck TK. The swarms will keep going to your restaurant until they get smart.
It is amusing to read other Yelpers' review of French Laundry and note that Thomas Keller was asked about Yelp, to which he replied, "what's Yelp?" Folks, it is inconsequential what you say here unless you truly understand what dining at French Laundry is all about. Since many people described what they ate in detail (I LOVE the eggy-custardy dish, which is served every time we've eaten here.), so I will focus on the special experience you get. The chef's tasting menu is the way to maximize your experience. Yes, often times it becomes a 14-course meal, so lunch is the best, so that on the day you go, you only eat one meal. With it, you can basically outline youe experience: yes/no on foie gras, beef ("wagyu"-real fatty Japanese beef), truffles (black and/or white), lobster, fish, you should specify what you don't enjoy or want emphasis on.
For other yelpers who talked about the price which was the main factor in deducting a star. Please read what it takes to earn a three-star Michelin rating. Let me ask you this: let's say you are a guitar player who absolutely loves the Beatles (or, pick your favorite band of all time) and was offered to play a set with them for $450. Would you say, "oh that's too expensive?" Then you should not eat at French Laundry. You do not value precious experience of a performance that focuses on passion, creativity and also playfulness. That is what French Laundry is all about. Who would think of putting tapioca, caviar, oysters together in a spectacular dish called "Oysters and Pearls?"
This is one restaurant you the Yelpers would sound silly if you do not have a five-star experience there. For me, the piece of fois gras was too big. Pasta course was amazing, but not spectacular (I've had Quince's pasta and theirs was as good). We skipped the Wagyu course, because we were too full and needed to save space for desserts. Would I dare remove any star for any of the above? Hell no! My personal preference vs. what the dishes are all about are separate. Oh, and if you need to take breaks during the meal, they welcome it unless the sequence of the courses does not allow it (e.g. they just fired the next course)
If you want to sit in and play with Coldplay (again, pick any band, folks), you wouldn't be saying, "I have many other bands to try so I won't be playing with them again anytime soon." See how silly that sounds?
I recently received my golden ticket to enter French Laundry. And I have to admit, it's really going to take some time to gather my thoughts and write the kind of review my experience deserves. No, I could not afford this meal...I literally went broke for this opportunity. But, you will hear more about the story when I am finished writing the review.
___________________________________________
I have a feeling this review will constantly be a work in progress, as I sit back and remember all of the wonderful thoughts and feelings that surged through my body at the table. I mean, what can you really expect from a man that stores fish in an upright position, because that's how they swim?
What I ate is a blur of euphoria, I can't even begin to tell you what I ate. Not only would you not get it if you have not eaten here, but...words can't express. What I do remember was the meticulous care of detail for the customer, but also for hisself. Keller, I mean.
The entire time I ate and drank, I couldn't keep a certain song out of my head. As the vocalist sings in his whispery voice, the plucked banjo wanes and the glockenspiel rings in the background. The lyrics are as follows: "I wanna share my skin, my hair, my face. I've got money saved up, I can buy a new name. I wonder. How many Menonites might feel just like this. I'll learn German, I'll teach sermons and lose my lisp."
That is the best way I can describe how I felt.
All I can say for now, is that this experience has truly been influencial and inspiring. I will not be able to look at my fellow classmates the same if they continue to think In-N-Out is a great burger. Or, if they think I'm insane for subscribing to every food related periodical in the world. There's no way someone who isn't obsessed with food could create the same meal that I just had at the French Laundry.
I have officially abandoned Mission: Onion Ring. Somehow, onion rings, while delicious, seem so small in the world of food.
I came. I saw. I devoured.
I liken my experience at FL to standing in the freezing cold in Times Square waiting for the ball to drop on NYE. Fantastic experience. Would I do it again? Probably not.
Don't get me wrong, the food was excellent, as expected. The ingredients were fresh, the thoughtfulness and creativity in preparation was top notch. But with the price being what it is, and so many other great restaurants left to try, I won't be coming back to FL anytime soon. For now, I'll just look at my pictures and reminisce about a great experience, all the while smiling because I've finally joined the FL club.
Wow. The meal was fantastic, which makes the review so difficult! I don't want to waste your time repeating other reviews so I'll try to be brief and informative. The food is amazing, right down to the butter. If I HAD to pick a favorite dish.... the oysters and pearls, but really all the main dishes were fantastic. We had the meat course, and tried to pick different dishes so we could to maximize our experience.
My new husband sprang for the lobster and truffle lasagna. I'd say it's worth treating yourself and the experience that comes along with it is just delightful. They brought out a beautiful wooden box with the truffle to our table and presented it to us like it was the hope diamond. Then the truffle was shaved fresh over the lasagna. You really felt like you were about to eat something special and of course you were.
The one part that did fall short .. was the dessert course. First of all the choices were (in more elegant wording) flourless chocolate cake, and a fig tart. Now we have the French Laundry cookbook - I KNOW you have some exotic desserts up your sleeve. Both were good, but the fig tart was what you would expect - kinda sorta fig newton-y, and well the flourless cake - like any other we've had. I want to at least be given a choice that sounds somewhat fanciful and slightly out of the ordinary.
Like the doughnuts and coffee dish. Now why not make that the dessert course? This is a course we had to ask for and was not charged as an addition to our bill, which was nice. The coffee is an exotic dessert given it's different mouse like layers with the warm foam topping it off. The doughnuts were of course delicious as well. If you can remember - definitely ask to try this.
We brought a few special bottle of wines with us to dinner, given it was our honeymoon finale and we had a bottle of 1989 champagne earmarked for the occasion, so I can't really judge the wine selection but I will say it's a huge mark up, so you may want to consider buying a few bottles of your own to bring. Even with the corkage fee it can be well worth it.
As far as the staff goes, we felt their reserved attitude was a bit unusual, but then we were eating a $240+ meal, so maybe the manner fits the bill. We didn't find our waiter or any other staff member to be rude in the slightest. The ambiance of the restaurant is a bit odd for such a fancy meal, but you get over it once you start to eat.
Another down was that we had to ask for the kitchen tour when we were leaving and I kinda felt like I was inconveniencing them..? I guess I assume that was part of the meal. Also our menu wasn't signed, siiigh.
We left with a bag of the bit size desserts they ended the meal with because we were that stuffed and the short bread cookies (which are soo freak'n fantastic!) along with lots of great pictures, and the imaginary "I've eaten at the french laundry badge" displayed proudly in our minds.
We parked behind the restaurant, spent around $900 ($240*2 with one 'supplement' for the lasagna dish, $150, and uncorked two bottles of wine $50*2, plus tax and tip). Our the meal lasted five hours.
For my early birthday celebration,
We booked many months ahead for this reservation.
All it took was a plane ticket to Cali,
Plus an hour drive into the wine country of Napa Valley.
We came to this rustic stone cottage with greenery covering the front trellis.
The hostess greeted us in a refined British accent fit for Buckingham Palace.
"We've been expecting you" she addressed us like dignitaries of relevance,
As we were led into the dining room designed with contemporary elegance.
The chef's tasting menu options were limited to regular and vegetarian.
We chose the regular since we both have a preference for meat.
The dishes were so exotic sounding (mostly in French) that we couldn't wait to eat.
The servers performed their duties with regimented perfection.
Like military personnel, they exhibited flawless execution.
The sommelier offered us complimentary champagne.
We're not into bubblies, but we gladly accepted and did not complain.
There were 10-minute intervals between the serving of each dish,
But we killed time by wandering around in the gardens whenever we wished.
The wine made us feel mellow and blushed.
Our lunch lasted 3 hours, but we never felt rushed.
Our meal kicked off with a two notable "AMUSE BOUCHE" (a.k.a. Mouth Amusers)
A. Gruyère Cheese Gougères: A small meatball sized cheese puff of gruyère and paté. It is light, airy, and melted as soon as I popped one in my mouth. It was so savory for a quick fleeting moment. Wish I had a hundred more of these so I can capture that moment again.
B. Salmon Coronet: An ice cream cone shaped "bite" of sesame cracker filled with crème fraiche, salmon tartare, and chives. The rich creamy sweetness of the fraiche is a nice complement to the spiciness of the tuna tartare. It was a mouthful of heaven, a constellation of palate pleasing taste and flavor.
APPETIZERS
1. Cauliflower Panna Cotta (cooked cream) with Island Creek oyster glaze and white sturgeon caviar - This is both creamy and subtle in taste. The flavor starts to kick in with the natural saltiness coming from the caviar.
2. Moulard Duck "Foie Gras en Terrine" with golden corn Genoise (sponge cake), Belgian endive, white honey, huckleberries, and Nasturtium - This is a very unusual combination. Although my friend didn't like the foie gras being the size of a hockey puck, I found it unbelievably smooth and decadent.
SEAFOOD
3. Sautéed fillet of Pacific Moi with edamame, carrots, red raddish, scallions, young ginger, and naval orange - I love the crispy exterior of this fish the most. The meat inside is light and very delicate, so delicate that it melted away once inside my mouth. The ginger and orange flavor combination overall gives this dish a nice kick.
4. Sweet butter-poached Maine Lobster Tail with red beets, black truffle, Piedmont hazelnuts, and celery - The lobster meat melted like butter in my mouth. The Piedmont hazelnuts are a nice complement as well.
MEAT
5. Rouelle de Tete de Cochon with braised red cabbage, Hobb's bacon, and chestnut purée - The chestnut puree is both unusual and smooth, but I like the Tete de Cochon (translates into "head of a pig") the most. It is deep-fried and has a nice crispiness to it with a slightly sweet smoky flavor. Our server explained to us the meat itself comes from the "cheeks".
6. Elysian Fields Farm Lamb Rib Eye with glazed sweetbreads, garden turnips, sugar snap peas, Chanterelle mushrooms, and Navarin Bouillon - The lamb is rare, firm, tender, juicy, and exceedingly flavorful.
CHEESE
7. Mahon with potato bravas, spicy aioli, butterball potatoes, chorizo, jingle bell peppers, and arugula - This cheese hails from the island of Menorca, one of the few cows' milk cheeses made in Spain. It has a sharp, lemony, and salty flavor very pleasing to the palate. They brought out fresh bread for us to spread the cheese.
SORBET (In its own category separate from the dessert)
8. Moonglow pear sorbet with chai tea sablé and Jacobson's farm roasted pears - Wow! There's more pear flavor in this tiny scoop of sorbet than a whole bushel of pears!
DESSERT
9. Gateau Saint Nizier Au Manjari with mango chili relish, Mast Brothers cocoa nibs, lime foam, and coconut milk sorbet - The gateau (sponge cake made with almond flour instead of what flour) was so flavorful and firm. I'm not big on sweets, but this has just the right amount of sweetness to it. The coconut sorbet is my favorite part. It is unbelievably smooth and powerfully rich in coconut flavor. The Mast Brothers cocoa nibs remind me of home. I can't believe these guys from Williamsburg, Brooklyn made it all the way out here to Yountville and landed right in front of me on my plate!
COMPLIMENTARY
* Crème Brulee - I didn't see this on the menu, but was more than happy to accept it.
** Truffles - We're so stuffed at this point, so we asked our server to wrap these up in a box for us to go.
How dare I !!!!!! How dare I give the French Laundry four stars. I mean come on people I've given Taco Trucks five stars. What on earth could possess me to do such a thing??? I'll tell you what could possess me.
20 dollar 3 course lunch Gramercy Tavern in New York City 2000.
Dinner in the Kitchen, TWO right here in San Francisco
BBQ cook off Sparks Nevada. 40 dollars some corn, some ribs, some country.
Perhaps I'm a bit jaded as I had read Michael Ruhlman years ago describing his experience at the FL with many of the items he described still appearing on the menu. That's fine but I wonder if Chef Keller feels like he has become a slave to the dishes he has created. I mean you have a captive audience that has waited months, sometimes years to dine at your establishment. They are paying so much fucking money to eat there you could serve braised elephant testicle and people would be like, "OH MY GOD this is the best elephant testicle I've ever had." Unfortunately, I fear FL has fallen victim to the classic struggle of expectation vs. reality. Expectation never wins out but add a 240 dollar per person price tag and the human brain will convince itself its worth it.
OK - all that being said. I came in my pants twice during the meal. First time was Beets and leeks with a Maine Lobster Tail poached in butter. I knew the dish was on the menu and it was as good as I thought it would be. That is an awesome experience - when what you think will happen actually does. What if relationships actually worked out that way?
Ok so I recover....rookie mistake, got a little too excited with Mrs. Lobster and then oh god I can't believe it I'm gonna do it again.....Kobe Beef Tar Tar and I'm a mess again. The tiniest little cubes of perfectly marbled beef and I felt like I was in Japan licking a cow being bathed in Sake and pure Colombian Cocaine. I loved it.
So some things were off the charts. You could never go to another place and get the range of ingredients and perfection of service that the FL offers. I would go back if the menu included 9 brand new dishes never before served, Keller was cooking, and I learned how to control my man parts.
First things first: if you are using Yelp to decide whether or not to eat at French Laundry, then you probably should not eat at French Laundry... This is probably one of the most famous restaurants on the planet right now, and rightfully so. Yes, it will set you back multiple hundred dollar bills per person. But the service and food are really unsurpassed in the Bay Area. I could write paragraphs about it, but this place has been dissected by every major restaurant critic from both coasts, so what can I add? In the words of Ferris B. "It's so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend..."
There are 500 reviews OMG-ing about the food here. What else can I add? I was most apprehensive about paying $500+ for a dinner, so let me tell you how to make sure you get 5+ stars out of the french laundry.
1. The dining equivalent of real estate's "location, location, location" rule is "people, people, people." Make sure you put some serious effort into choosing the perfect mix of dining compatriots because this is a FIVE HOUR dinner plus two more hours driving to and from San Francisco. "Excellent conversationalists" are more important than "good friends." If you have a serious wino amongst them, even better.
2. Get High. Yes. I said it. You're young. You're a yelper. Going to the French Laundry as a 20-something is simply debauched - make it more so. (and yes, you will have ample opportunities to step outside for a refresher).
3. Realize that YOU dictate the pace of the meal at this restaurant, and not the servers. Take breaks from the meal. Walk around outside, get some "fresh air," look at the stars, reflect on life. FL is a vacation from reality.
4. Make sure to get the kitchen tour - The kitchen is a swiss watch in human form. A good rule of thumb at FL is that "if they don't offer it to you, ASK" - the service here is unbelievable and I don't think they know how to say "no."
5. Forget the dollar bills for one night and get a good amount of wine. The actual food bill is $240, while the wine will generally double your bill. For four people we had four uniformly excellent bottles- champagne, a white, a red, and a port. We also had coffee and tea. Our total bill came out to roughly $500/person. Doing this meal without the appropriate wine pairings would be a travesty
And finally, a mea culpa: Maybe it was the weed, but when no one was looking, I ate the butter off of my plate. straight up.
Nirvana. In Yountville.
So for my birthday, Hubby tried to secure a reservation to the FL by phone. Rookie move. The next day, Hubby and Son tried simultaneously to get through while I on the other hand, scored a reservation on Open Table. I was in such shock that I was sure there was something wrong. Wrong year? No. Wrong date? No. Could it be true? One small caveat however. Only two of us were going there but the OT reservation can only be made for four. If you alter the number in your party after you make the reservation, you will be water-boarded! Hit enter! Hit enter! Get your credit card! Ok, we're in! Now, who do we know willing to shell out the big bucks for my dream birthday meal. We caught our whale with our first cast....er, phone call. Good friends they are, we were now a party of four!
I too won't go into all the details of each perfect course except to mention a few standouts...
So we all know the price per person is $240 US, right? Well, for an additional $30 supplement, one course could be the Moulard Duck 'Folie Gras en Terrine'. The best, smoothest, buttery, foie gras you ever tasted on warm brioche with prehistoric salt. My god!! We bought the Bouchon cookbook that contained the recipe. Now if I only had an extra four days to create it.
The sauteed striped bass was amazing and the 'Oysters and Pearls' was out of this galaxy!
Now the ambiance....so we walked in and I swear to you, EVERYONE stopped talking and looked at us. Uh-oh. Did I tuck my dress into my pantyhose again? I hate it when I do that. No? Hmmmm. Very intimate restaurant and i think everyone checks out the newcomers to see if there's a potential celeb sighting. Sorry for the letdown folks.
Once we were seated, Hubby was obviously uncomfortable. First impression of the dining room screams pretentious. But then something magical happens. The servers make you feel at home. They laugh at your jokes. They don't look down their noses at you. They're one of you...your new best friends.
What can I say? Me and my new best friends spent 4 1/2 hours enjoying every morsel, every scrap, every delectable tidbit FL had to offer.
One bad thing though....one of our guests had been battling the flu all week and although she was so looking forward to this night, had to leave early to go back to the hotel. Felt bad for her but not THAT bad. Did I mention how hard it was to get a reservation?!
Our server packed up what would have been the rest of her dinner and sent it home with her hubby. So sweet our new friends were!
After dinner, we took a tour of the kitchen and were so impressed by the well-oiled machine that turns out such incredible cuisine. And although Chef Keller was not present this night, Hubby requested he sign my personalized menu which of course our new best friends said he would and they would send it to us right away. And they did!
I could go on and on, but I won't. Suffice it to say...I kinda liked this place!
I give French Laundry a soft 4-star review--soft because I'd come back if the prix fixe was around $100 but otherwise, I'm going to file this as an "experience" and not some place that I'd come back again.
We were lucky enough to get a reservation because a dear friend gave us her reservation so that we could take our parents who were visiting from out of the country. And this is our consensus: each of the nine courses was solid but not a single course stuck in our minds. I had a particular problem with the 2-ounce (vs. standard 4-ounce) pours for the wines, especially since each glass cost about $50. OK, so this may just be the cheap side of me talking because the wine pairings were indeed very complementary but I just wanted more. Also, I question why I'm paying $30 extra on top of the $240 prix fixe to order the foie gras terrine as opposed to choosing the garden tomato salad. At the end of the day, I'd rather go to Gary Danko's three times (or Sushi Sam's 6 times) rather than French Laundry once.
Please don't hate me because I gave this place 4 stars and note that I concede that each course was clearly well thought-out and inspired. Also, the first bread offering (out of 3) and home-made chocolate truffles in the end were truly to-die-for. The aforementioned are just some of my issues after weighing the cost-benefit analysis.
What can I say? one of the most fabled restaurants in the world. I was Lucky enough to be taken here for my bday by my lovely parents.
To be honest, they had me when I walked through the door and they knew who we were. Or was it when they replaced the broche bread for the foie gras because it wasn't warm enough? The French Laundry really did exceed all expectations that I had.
In order to stay out of a play by play review which there are already enough of I will say that The French Laundry excelled at everything that they tried to do. I would agree that the price is high (240 a person) but it does include tip, which not many other places do. Yes, it may be 240 per person for dinner which is significant but, I believe it is worth it, if only for the experience.
So it only took a couple years, but I finally scored a coveted table at French Laundry. Got a relatively decent reservation (Friday evening) after months of daily refreshes on OpenTable...and as fate would have it, one popped up on the very day of my wedding anniversary dinner! Even though I had dinner reservations elsewhere that threatened a $100 cancellation charge, I jumped at the chance to finally dine at the top restaurant in America.
**TIP: If you're trying to secure a reservation through OpenTable, they release their last minute cancellations at midnight PST. So if you really want to get a chance at a slot without the two month notice, check right after midnight, because if you want until morning chances are someone else will have snagged it.**
There is nothing more I can say about the whole experience which has not been said by the other 550+ folks on here. Incredible plates and formal, yet approachable service. If you ask to use the restroom, they actually escort you and close the door behind you (which is probably unnerving if you're the Asian girl I spied using the potty three times in the span of a half-hour).
Was the food worth the $650 for dinner and a half-bottle of wine? Of course not. Nothing is. But am I glad that I came, ate, and conquered the culinary mecca known as French Laundry? Abso-frickin-lutely!
I guess this place is the rite of passage for anyone aspiring to be a true foodie. I won't bore you with a review of the food-- it's pretty amazing. Just some things to prepare for before you go.
If you go for lunch here and expect to get in a full day of wineries forget about it. There's a reason why it takes like two months to get a reservation-- because lunch lasts 3 hours! Don't get me wrong it's well worth it and trust me you're going to be paying for it so budget your time for it. Also don't expect the greatest atmosphere in the world. It's small and quaint and I think it's in a historical laundry building so it feels like you're eating in a rustic house than a fancy restaurant.
And yes the service was pretty impeccable but it felt a little sterile and clinical to me. Since you'll be eating in your suit (trust me it says jacket but you'll want to wear a suit if you don't want to stick out like a sore thumb) it feels a little odd to be in such a rustic vibe.
But overall it was a once in a lifetime experience for me as compared to my wife who thought it was a once in a year thing... which is why we're going to the poor house very soon.
Tips for dining at French Laundry:
1) Go on an occasion. It's more fun to be there celebrating something special, even if the occasion is a gathering of friends you don't see regularly.
2) Get someone else to pay the check. $250/person is simply too expensive for any meal. Since we live in a capitalist society and Keller is selling rare goods, he can charge such an astronomical price. That doesn't mean it's worth it.
3) Don't expect Perfection. Perfection rarely occurs when you're expecting it and it's incredibly difficult to attain. In part, this is due to what individual diners bring to the table... different palates, histories, opinions, etc. I can try something and think it's perfect and you can try it and think it's flawed. This will be the case everywhere, including French Laundry. The chances are high that you won't love everything, but you'll probably love most of it.
4) Whine if you don't like your table. I know... no one likes conflict, except for a small percentage of people who really LOVE conflict. As the damaged child of a mother who bitched about service constantly, I'm accustomed to sucking up a crappy table rather than causing a fuss. But it's worth it to get seated where you want at FL. And, since there are multiple dining rooms, it's very possible you'll want a different table. Just ask.
5) Tell them if you don't eat/like something on the menu. They will replace it with something you do like, in the same price point as the item you're subbing out. They do this often and even did it for my mom AFTER the plate of food arrived that she didn't want. I was impressed.
6) Bring good conversationalists. Your meal will last a long time and you don't want to be stuck at the table with stoic, boring mutes. The restaurant is intimate enough that if you're desperately eavesdropping on others' conversations, everyone can tell.
7) Don't finish every course. If you don't love the course, don't finish it. There will be more food coming and you'll leave full- I promise. Save your stomach for the things you like the most.
8) Savor your meal and enjoy the experience! Part of any occasion is your outlook, so try and focus on the best parts of your meal and you'll leave a happy person.
9) SAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT! Could just be my taste, but I thought dessert was one of the best courses. It's always creative and delicious.
10) Take home a menu. They store them in the lobby and you'll want to reference it later. Plus, it's a great memento! And if you want, the chef will sign it.
Words cannot describe my experience. The best meal I've ever had. You know what to expect, you know what you are getting yourself into. I can't expand on anything anybody else has said here. But I will say I am not one to have fish, oysters, etc, but I was loving every bite of both of those.
Do yourself a favor, plan for the two month wait, and GO. Maybe later I will expand on what I had.
I'm not keen on places that seem so lofty that you feel like you need to 1.) hold your stomach in when you walk across the room, 2.) speak in whispered tones, or 3.) feel like the entire dining room is giving you the up-and-down to see if you fit in. I was afraid The French Laundry would be something like this, but 1.) you'll definitely not be able to hold your stomach in after you've eaten here, 2.) after a couple of glasses of wine, nobody can keep their voices down anymore so you'll be privy to the conversations of folks that have come from everywhere to commune at the culinary capital, and 3.) okay, some of the peeps may give you the up-and-down, but hey, give them the look back because if you've gotten this far, you're in too!
The service is friendly and warm - not stuffy at all. The decor isn't starchy, but it's quite homey and comfy (since it is in the middle of Napa's farmland after all).
And the food... The French Laundry is one of those special places where the food must be savored so you can recall those incredible flavors for days and years to come... It was a taste-tastic, mouth-orgasmic experience.
Highlights include sturgeon caviar and oyster on creamy tapioca which was bursting with buttery, creamery, savory goodness, punctuated with the popping of the caviar and the smoothness of the oyster, all rounded out by the tenderness of the tapioca balls. Sinful. The lobster was touched with an aromatic but gentle beet sauce. The tail itself was tender and succulent, releasing a buttery flavor that filled my mouth. I also had a risotto with fresh, white truffle from Alba, sliced right at the table (you could smell the truffle coming all the way from the kitchen
The French Laundry is also kind enough to send you home with a present (if the memory of the food isn't enough)!. We got a gift bag filled with freshly-baked buttery shortbread cookies, homemade chocolates, and our menu!
Bliss.
Exactly 2 calendar months before my wedding anniversary, I started dialing at 9:58am with the hope that I could somehow score a reservation. To my surprise, after some busy signals, I actually got through to a real person within several minutes! I was put on hold for a few more minutes and finally got to talk to the reservationist. She was actually pretty nice and answered all my questions...
me: "Approximately how much would a full wine pairing cost"?
reservationist: "Around as much as your meal"
me: *gulp*
reservationist: "...but we can tailor the wine experience to suit any budget"
me: *sigh of relief*
Two months later, I finally get to eat at Thomas Keller's famed restaurant. I came in with fairly high expectations, knowing this would probably be our most expensive meal to date. I gotta say it's worth going here at least once in your life, though I probably wouldn't make a habit out of it.
The hubby and I both went for the regular tasting menu (as if the vegetarian tasting was even an option). We had a couple amuses-bouche to start, some gougères and these really cool salmon cone thingys. We started the 9 courses with his signature "oysters and pearls", which was freakin' AMAZING. I had to get every last bit out before I would let them take away my plate.
There were several courses where we had a choice, so the hubby and I decided to get one of each to maximize the amount of food we got to taste. Unfortunately for him, the next course was either a baby beet salad or terrine of foie gras ($30 supplement). Wanna guess who got the foie? :D Being on our anniversary dinner, I magnanimously shared some of the foie gras, at least the portion was pretty generous for a tasting menu. I usually prefer my foie gras seared, but I loved the smooth texture of the terrine and it tasted great. It came with 3 kinds of sea salt which was fun to try...and one of them even came from the Philippines!
We then had 2 kinds of fish...I got the sashimi while the hubby had the sauteed fillet, which suited us both just fine. I gotta say the sauteed fish was ever-so slightly better but it was nice to have the light refreshing sashimi after the rich foie.
One of the reasons I gave this place 5 stars is that it accomplished the rare feat of making me like lobster. I usually hate lobster, shrimp, crab, and similar crustaceans, but I gotta give props to Thomas Keller...he joins Ron Siegel as one of the only chefs to ever make me like lobster. Maybe 'cause it tasted more like butter than lobster. :)
For the next course, we had the choice of white quail or "tête de cochon". Since I love poultry of all kinds, I went immediately for the quail...my hubby was doubtful about his dish, but when the server mentioned "pig parts" he immediately brightened up. As much as I loved my quail I gotta say his pork dish was even better.
The beef dish was probably the highlight of the meal. I've had some real Japanese Kobe before (ordered online and cooked at home), which was the best beef I've ever had until I tasted this dish. Snake River Farms uses a hybrid of Wagyu and Black Angus, which explains its kobe-like texture, but it had a much beefier flavor. I guess no matter what ingredients you start with, beef cooked at home will probably never equal beef cooked at a 3-star Michelin restaurant...after all, that's what you're paying them for. Needless to say, I gotta go check out Snake River Farm's mail-order options after this!
The sorbet/desserts were a bit anticlimactic after the stunning savory courses, but I was ok with that for this sort of tasting menu. For me, only Johnny Iuzzini was ever able to accomplish the feat of having the pastries upstage the courses before it. I still enjoyed everything, especially the candies at the end.
Given the amount of money we were spending on this experience, I expected the service to be great, and I was not disappointed. I thought it was pretty cool/funny how all the servers seemed to speak in these hushed, modulated tones as if they went to French Laundry speech school or something. ;-) Everything (including the wine) was served at the perfect temperature, which is hard to achieve for so many courses.
I especially loved how they worked with us to make sure our wine would fit within our budget. As much as I would have loved to splurge on different wines for every course, it just seemed like a little too much given how much we had already spent that weekend. We got a mix of wines by the glass and half-bottles...the server even asked us if we would rather have the last wine in our budget with cheese or dessert. Of course we picked cheese and had coffee with dessert instead.
Was it worth spending almost 2x what I would spend at a typical "fancy" restaurant? Probably wasn't 2x as good as those other restaurants, but I gotta say I'm still glad I was able to go to this place at least once in my life. If I had tons of money, I would return in a heartbeat.
I liked Manresa better. And why all the saggy tits? This has nothing to do with the restaurant itself, I know, but Ladies, you're spending upwards of a $1000 for lunch, cant you afford some Spanks??!!
Not that French Laundry wasnt good, and I would eat here again, but Manresa was an overall better and more memorable experience with more interesting food preparations.
First, the kudos. The sommelier did a good job pairing wines with our food. We gave him our budget of $600 for 3 people and he made it work. Our table also received a tour of the kitchen which was outstanding and made the service seem even better.
However, I was disappointed in the Chef's tasting cheese course, which was way too tangy for the very heavy meal that led up to this course. I ended up trading for more milder cheese off my friend's Veggie tasting. Also, when you count all the amuse bouche, etc., there were way too many sweet courses.
The atmosphere was too enclosed for me. There were 5 tables in our small section upstairs. I felt like we were on top of one another. And one small bathroom for that area was awkward, especially when people are forced to stand waiting right outside the door staring at the 5 tables around them.
These may sound like nit-picking, but when I'm paying this much for lunch, and wearing properly undergarments, I get to complain as much as I want.
You know when you see the sun shining through a hole in the clouds like a spot light?? That's the feeling you get while seated at TFL table. This place is ridiculously, outrageously fantastic! With every plate coming out, you feel like your on Iron Chef tasting all the exotic flavors your buds never encountered. Besides the great food, the service was over the top!
We both ordered the Chef's tasting menu. Friday lunch has never been better...
We started off with..
Gruyere Cheese Gougeres- puff pastry stuffed with cheese- Perfect start
Salmon Cone Cornet-inside had creme fraiche, topped with a silky dollop of salmon in a sesame cone- wow, I'll never look at lox or anything salmon the same again!
now on to our meals....
California White Sturgeon Caviar- pearl apples, tarragon and turnip mousseline- this had the perfect sweetness from the mousseline and salty flavor from the caviar. This defines the salty and sweet together that you always hear on the foodnetwork channel. Perfect.
Warm pain au lait bread with two different butter- one creamy and sweet, the other at room temp and a little salty.
Salad of French Laundry Garden Cucumbers- Beets, navel oranges, mizuna and black sesame- This was a very refreshing salad with the perfect crunchiness from the cucumber and sweetness from the orange.
Moulard Duck Foie Gras en Terrine- vanilla yogurt glaze, pineapple relish, endive, granola and wildflower honey- this dish came with warm brioche and three different types of salt- french gray sea salt, white Japanese sea salt and pink salt from copper mines in Montana. Perfectly spreadable on the warm brioche, the three different salts made the dish. This also had the true meaning of savory sweetness with salty hints. This hit the spot... especially with my brioche being replaced with another to have the warming eating experience.
Olive oil poached halibut- chorizo, littleneck clams, corn, tomatoes and pimenton bouillon- the olive oil was poured in the dish when served at the table. the fish was perfectly cooked and super fresh. everything was perfect together.
Grilled sea of Japan octopus- artichokes, crispy garlic, arugula and romesco- the octopus was grilled perfectly and went great with the fried garlic cloves.
Maine lobster tail- mushrooms, sunchokes, spinach puree and brown butter gastrique- the texture was perfect on the lobster tail, the mushrooms tasted so good, I really think the mushroom made the dish! the flavors from it just went so well with the whole dish.
Salmon creek farms pork belly- quail egg, black truffles- pork belly was well seasoned and cooked, nice dish.
Tartare of kuroge beef from Shiga- pickled daikon radish, peach, almonds perilla and kansuri- perfect cut cubes of beef tasted wonderful. the peach and almonds went great with the dish. the pickled radish gave the dish the Asian flare.
Elysian fields farm selle d'agneau rotie entiere- aka Lamb-- cauliflower couscous, pistachios, mulberries, carrots sauce ras el hanout- the lamb cooked nicely, great with the couscous and mulberries. this also came with a piece of pork belly.
Dallenwailer waychas- aka goat cheese-- fig, fennel, watercress and dijon mustard- the goat cheese was great with the fig. this dish was had the savory flavors throughout.
Honeydew melon sorbet- compressed watermelon and basil nuage,foam- the sorbet wasn't overly sweet with the perfect amount of honeydew flavors which went great with the watermelon and basil foam.
We requested for donuts and coffee at the beginning of our meals....
And yes, come out the warm donuts and espresso ice cream. This was my bfs favorite dish.. he savored every bite, including my piece of donut. The espresso ice cream was my favorite part of this dish.
Chocolate brownie-mango chili relish, cocoa nibs, lime foam and coconut milk sorbet- the chili mango relish was great with the bites. also the cocoa nibs gave it great texture/crunch. The lime sorbet was tasty. They also remembered to place a little happy birthday for the bf.
Lemon verbena- panna cotta, lemon sherbet, chilled strawberry consomme- the lemon sorbet was great with the panna cotta and strawerry consomme. The consomme was poured in the dish when served at the table.
Between services, we were offered different types of bread to enjoy.
Next were the mignardises...
A chilled squared silver tray was presented onto our plate for our upcoming chocolates. The chocolate covered whole honey macadamia nuts were great! They had house made candies and piece of chocolates filled with surprises... The great part was, they packed up what we didn't taste for us to take it home. that was a plus because I was waaaay to full to taste every piece. Short bread cookies were also packed for us and chocolate bars.
For a measly $240 each person (service included-aka tip) it was by far worth every dollar.
Words cannot express the feeling you get while you eat, so it's a must for those pondering.
Sadly, was not as blown away as I had hoped. The experience was certainly high-end. For me, the food was mostly very tasty and of course exotic at times ; presentation was spectacular. Service was very good, not stellar. Ambiance was quaint and cozy, like in a fancy older home.
It's just that I've had better food, service, and ambiance elsewhere,and I was hoping this would be the ultimate. Waiting so long for this much-hyped dining adventure, my anticipation was in overdrive and my expectations too fanciful, I guess.
Glad I did it. Check it off the bucket list, and move on !
Top 5
#1 - Gordon Ramsay's The London NY
#2 - The Dining Room @ Ritz Carlton
#3 - The French Laundry
#4 - Alexanders Omakase Chefs choice
#5 - Black Cat Bistro
-------------------------------------------------- ----------------
I've been dying to try this place. And I did!
Here's my review for the 9 course Chef's Tasting Menu by Thomas Keller, September 5th.
Oysters and Pearls
Salad of Hawaiian Hearts of Palm
Sashimi of Japanese Bluefin Tuna
Sweet butter-poached maine lobster ***
four story hill farm poularde ***
elysian fields farm lamb rib eye
abbaye de tamie
honeydew melon sorbet ***
gateau saint nizier au manjari ***
** favorite
I enjoyed the main lobster, poularde (my "ratatouille" dish), honeydew sorbert and gateau saint nizier au manjari the most of the 9 courses. I like how they have a farm across the street for fresh local produce. Very nice.
The salad of hawaiian hearts of palm was interesting but it was okay. You can opt for the foie gras instead of the salad of hawaiian hearts. I got to sample the foie gras from a friend. It was delicious but not the best I've ever had. I would have picked the foie gras over the salad. But I wasn't willing to part an extra $30 supplement for the foie gras when I can sample. =)
I did enjoy the French Laundry but I thought the price $240 (lunch/dinner - not including wine) was a little too steep especially for lunch. Because the French Laundry garnered the most prestigious awards, I had high expectations . I assumed that FL thought they were worthy of charging a high lunch/dinner price because of their reputation.
I'd recommend the Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton over the FL because you get more bang for your buck (mind the ancient decor, wall at the Dining Room). It doesn't hurt that Ron Siegel, the current chef at the Dining Room, used to work alongside with Thomas Keller. Also, it doesnt hurt when you can try the 9 course dinner including the foie gras and the kobe beef at the Dining Room for almost half the price at the French Laundry.
Oh yeah, a jacket is required for the gentlemen. If you forgot, don't worry. They have jackets in different sizes for free of charge. Classy.
I wasn't sure if I was gong to be able to put into words the experience that I had at The French Laundry. I had many doubts/questions about this place, from how were they able to to exceed such extreme expectations, to how can they be so well revered, yet not be perceived as pretentious. The only way to explain these questions is to actually eat here. The rumors are true, it is nearly impossible to procure a reservation, unless you know someone. And know someone I did. They brought me here, to not only celebrate the culinary mastery that Chef Kellar and his team of magicians demonstrate on a daily basis, but to experience perfection.
I do consider myself hypercritical, I work at a Michelin starred restaurant and have standards that I am not even sure God could meet. I never fully understood what it was to eat at The French Laundry, and never fully understood the mysticism and majestic nature that just the name possesses. We arrived for lunch at 12:15pm and were promptly guided to the alcove. A quaint and cool area with three tables that showcased a small window into their wine cellar. The table was perfect including a clothes pin with a napkin (It was later divulged to me that the pin is used to hold the napkin on your lap, I dropped mine five times. It was immediately replaced). We were greeted by the server who asked us if it would be acceptable to have Chef cook for us. I died. Every person in the culinary world dreams of having a Chef prepare a three Michelin starred meal for them. We saw no menu. The parade began.
We were served Salmon Tartare ala ice-cream cone for the amuse bouche. The first thing I noticed was that French Laundry presents textures in a way that I have never seen before. The crunch of the cone combined with the ever so soft/supple tartare was enthralling.
The creme fraiche in the cone reminded me of finishing the last bites of my favorite past time treat.
***I PROMISE I WON'T"T GO THROUGH ALL 16 COURSES*
Unfortunately, I can't go through all the dishes, I know I will get cut off, so I will list my most memorable dishes. One of my favorites games that I enjoy playing is the "what is my favorite dish?" game. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it, I could not decide.
One of the most memorable dishes was the Foie Gras. Again the multiple layers of texture excited my palate to the point I entered into a state of euphoria, I literally thought I was high. Paired with a huckleberry compote and pecans, the delicate nuances of this dish sent me to new plane of existence. And then couple that with six different salts, my favorite being the salt from the Jurassic Period (40 million years old), I could not have been any happier.
Another dish that changed my perception on life was the frog legs. I have had frog legs before and I know that many people think they taste like chicken. No, these did not taste like chicken. They tasted like pure joy, with a black truffle mousseline, this dish was the most surprising. Dynamic and contrasting. On this dish there was a play on temperature as well as textures.
I have to now comment on the Kobe beef. It was so good, that I actually lost my ability to focus. My companions at the table were speaking to me and the next thing I remember they were laughing. Laughing because I had just zoned out reeling from the devastatingly delicious beef that I was so privileged to enjoy. I have never tasted anything like this in my entire life.
And then....there was coffee and doughnuts. Oh wow, I am not a dessert person, but the brioche doughnut paired with the cappuccino semifreddo was absolutely perfect. The aromatics of the semifreddo were vibrant and intense while the texture of the doughnut was simply sublime. A combination that was able to make me, the self proclaimed savory fiend, a true believer in sweet succulence.
I could go on and on but I know you get the point. I am so lucky to have experienced this. Not only was the staff remarkably gracious but Chef Kellar was so generous with his time that he stopped what he was doing to take a picture with me. He, along with his staff are so good at what they do that I will pay any amount of money to do this again. In their guest book the only words I could sign were, "I get it." because after leaving there filled to the brim with happiness I finally understood, I finally get what everyone means by saying the words, "The French Laundry". I will be back, mark my words, and I implore you readers to do yourself the favor of going, if only once, it may change your life.
How do you review a restaurant like this?
Wow.
In 2006 it was awarded three stars in the inaugural Michelin Guide to the Bay Area and has been reviewed by the New York Times.
Excellent from the service, skillfully decorated entrees, the dancing flavors on perfectly presented pure white china. Look forward to my next visit.
Having a Forest Gump blessed type of life I wondered into the French Laundry just as they opened for lunch. I was wearing jeans, a white shirt and black shoes. I had no reservations and didn't even know anything about the place. A bed and breakfast down the road recommended it.
I told the host that the B&B down the street recommended the place and asked if I they had any seats for lunch, which they did. I sat down and had ravioli that were very good. I remember that there were only 5 or 6 raviolis and the plate cost about $15 or $20 but I was hungry therefore I didn't think about it. I just remember reminding myself to eat them slowly because of the cost per ravioli. Don't wolf the food down like I normally do.
The service was friendly and the place was very nice. I thought to myself that I would come here again. The food is very good, small portions but good none the less. Reminded me of the quality and portions served in Europe.
Later when I was discussing my trip to Napa, I mentioned I wondered into this place called the French Laundry in Yountville. One of my friends said that he had made reservations 8 months in advance to get into the place to impress his girlfriend. How did I just wonder in off the street. "God likes me" I retorted. He just shook his head, "don't know how you wonder your way into these places. You don't even know the history or how exclusive the place is and you wonder in off the street in jeans!"
"Hell, I had sparkling wine (champagne) and a tour at Mumms vineyard afterward" I said after his protest. My friend put his hand up in disgusts and didn't want to talk about it anymore.
The French Laundry gets 5 stars from me because service was friendly, food was great and atmosphere was lovely plus let me wonder in off the street without reservations for a quick lunch. I had a wonderful experience, which was only made better because I didn't know how lucky I actually was being able to eat there. Finally, if it can leave friends speechless more better.
After years of dreaming about a meal at the famed French Laundry, some friends and I secured a Saturday night 9 pm reservation. We contemplated our wine cellars and pulled out 5 spectacular bottles, we found an inn in Yountville that didn't have a two night minimum, we got all dolled up, we walked to the restaurant, and then......
We waited for an hour
Our reservation was at 9, but we didn't get seated until 10:00. Apparently the party seated at our table was enjoying their coffee. While we waited, the hostess didn't apologize, and didn't even offer to bring us an appertif until we asked (around 9:30).
About 40 minutes in, they started serving us appetizers - in the lobby.
At another occassion, I would have just walked down the street and eaten somewhere else, but this was our special night, and we weren't in a rush. I understand that there is a limit on what the restaurant wants to do to encourage lingering guests to wrap up. On reflection, I wish we'd left.
When we were seated, the maitre'd apologized for the delay, said we would not have to pay corkage for the bottles we'd brought and offered to comp a few supplements on the menu, which was really nice.
Dinner was tasty, service was fine, though they kept confusing who ordered what (which, at a table of 4 in a restaurant like this, is surprising).
And when the bill came - they forgot to comp the items as promised.
We stared at the bill, feeling very awkward about the idea of grubbing for a discount, though our table captain was very polite when we pointed the error out to her.
It just left a bad taste in my mouth.
Amazing Food. The food was much better than Trotter's or L2O in Chicago. The reviews here already cover the food well so I'm not going to waste anyones time going over that again... Definitely go with the wine pairings, they were amazing!
Of course it's as good as it gets. It's the freaking Laundry!
Everything was perfect, as anyone can imagine, EVEN THE SERVICE. I had many negative expectations of their service having experienced so many terribly served meals in this valley. Pretentious, snobbish, disdainful, and condescending are a few words one could use to generally describe service in Napa Valley restaurants. Restaurant staff are obviously doing us a favor by being here for us to experience their superiority.
Everything here was spot-on. Friendly, accommodating, and even educational. I wish Keller ran a school on how to be successful in the service industry, and all local wait, bar, and host staff were required to complete the course.
Thank you Chef Keller for EVERYTHING you bring to this valley.
I first went to French Laundry about 2.5 years ago and mostly remember being impressed with everything: the food, the service, the charming atmosphere. However, the second time around, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The service was still fantastic, but the food wasn't quite as amazing. There were at least a few courses I didn't care for. Their signature oysters and pearls starter I loved, as well as the poached lobster and the lamb. The desserts were excellent. The servers continued to bring an assortment of candies and chocolates that were for the most part delicious and interesting. That leaves at least 3 or 4 courses as unremarkable, which is way too many for a $240 set menu.
So would I recommend dropping a lot of money here? Yes, but only once. It's worth it for the experience.
Another note on their waitstaff-- they will answer all your annoying questions. We asked our captain about his history with the restaurant and he patiently answered everything. AND, they have the most polite way of making you leave the table: they ask if you want to see the kitchen. It makes you feel so special, even though you know they're just trying to get you out of there!
Beautiful food and atmosphere. Everything was rich and delicious. Best donut I ever had. I wish I… Read more »
I've only been here once and it was years ago, but I wanted to share my experience with you. I hear things haven't changed much. I made reservations way ahead of time and got in on a Monday night. First, the restaurant is in a converted home. No signage. (first sign of pretentiousness.)
My spouse and I went in and were seated in what used to be a breakfast nook for the home. It had room for about 2-3 other couples. It's absolutely dead quiet in that room. Because you can hear the other couples breathe, you end up whispering to your dining companion and making small talk because you certainly can't talk about anything too personal because everyone in the nook can hear you.
The dinner itself took 3 hours. The portions are so tiny, it's unbelievable. But because they bring the courses out so slowly, you end up eating in very small bites and savoring the food mainly because you have nothing else to do and because the dinner costs so dang much. Under normal circumstances, I would gobble up a single course in about 10 seconds. As a consequence, you're actually pretty full after three hours of extremely slow dining. And the food was quite good.
OK, so I went there and sat in a tiny nook and whispered small talk for three hours with my spouse. I'd been married to my spouse at that point for over 15 years. We pretty much ran out of things to say to each other after about an hour. We spent the next two hours staring at each other and nibbling at our tiny courses.
If I went again, I'd go with a larger group so there's more to talk about for 3 hours. However, I don't know many people who would spend this kind of money for dinner.
The meal was unbelievably expensive, but you already knew that, didn't you?
Absolutely decadent! The service was exceptional - very knowledgeable and professional but not stuffy. After all these years of hearing about the elusive French Laundry, I have to say that it really lived up to all the hype. Thomas Keller should be proud. TO BE CONTINUED
I would, from the bottom of my heart, love to give French Laundry five stars but I can only give four stars. Here's why...
The girls and I dined here for lunch in '07 and yes, I remember every single course they served us.
For the cost, every aspect of your dining experience, from food to service, should be flawless. Service was impeccable, however, there was one course I have not-so-fond memories of: the butter-poached lobster. It was chewy and a bit dry instead of being moist and tender. I had better lobster on my Mediterranean Cruise aboard the Norwegian Jewel.
All in all, I think we were served 19 courses, so you leave the restaurant feeling content and even take home a little baggie of shortbread cookies from Bouchon.
The FL is a culinary destination and I wouldn't mind returning here for a special occasion. I just hope the lobster isn't dry.
The French Laundry plays at a level miles above any other restaurant I've visited. It is, without exaggeration, the best dining experience I've ever had.
To keep it short, aside from an almost comically long 13+ course marathon of food (which, of course, is exceptional), the service and attention to every detail of the experience is stellar. From the laundry symbols printed on the lampshades of the wall sconces, to the perfectly baked mini-baguettes, to the strawberries precision cut to precise 1/8" dice, everything was simply perfect.
$240 is a lot to pay for a single meal, and it will probably be more by the time your read this. But eating at the French Laundry is something that should be on everyone's 'list of things to do in your lifetime'.
The rumors are true.
Yountville, CA
Category: French
Yountville, CA
Category: American (New)
Yountville, CA
Category: French
Yountville, CA
Category: French
Sonoma, CA
Category: Meat Shops
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