The French Laundry

We were there for more than four hours and had to stop mid-way to take a walk around the garden. We never expected to be that full, and by the tim... more

Decadent, amazing and a wonderful eating experience. We were there for over 4 hours savoring the most... more

Decadent, amazing and a wonderful eating experience. We were there for over 4 hours savoring the most amazing food. Besides Lumiere in Vancouver,... more

This is one of the best Restaurants in the United States. The chef, Thomas Keller, believes that regardless... more

This is one of the best Restaurants in the United States. The chef, Thomas Keller, believes that regardless of how good something tastes, you can ... more

This is pretty much the definition of a 5-star restaurant. Amazing food and impeccable service with a... more

This is pretty much the definition of a 5-star restaurant. Amazing food and impeccable service with a refined atmosphere. I've been three times and... more

Really an adventure. From getting reservations to anticipation of a good meal this is an experience you... more

Really an adventure. From getting reservations to anticipation of a good meal this is an experience you don't really forget. The service here is ... more

Get ready to close your eyes, open your wallet, and sign a blank check. This is not your average restaurant. The service can be compared to no other. (Not that you would, but intentionally bump into a waiter and they blame themselves.) The winelist is filled with the finest wines imaginable. (But, if you bring your own, there is a bottling charge.) The tables are quaint and dressed with heavy linen and superior silver. The meal is prix-fixe ($240), differentiated by vegetarian or non with few options. In all, it was an endless journey of food and wine, continually peaking your sense of smell and taste. (Oh, don't pass on the foie gras. It is absolutely yummy!) Pros: SERVICE, parking Cons: very expensive more

I would have to agree the experience was quite unique. How often do you get a 9-course tasting menu? But, I... more

I would have to agree the experience was quite unique. How often do you get a 9-course tasting menu? But, I would say its not worth all the hype.... more

The French Laundry served up very good food. We had some clear favorites - tuna tartar and the oysters with tapioca and caviar. Food was pretty flavorful. But felt we have had better food elsewhere. Service was very good throughout the 3-hour lunch. They did forget to acknowledge my wife's birthday even though the hostess asked about it and said she would tell the server. So that was a little disappointing -- when you drop a few hundred dollars you expect them to remember details! Overall, a nice experience, however, you can get an equally nice meal elsewhere for less. Pros: Good food, ease of parking, very good service. Cons: Expensive, difficult to make reservations. more

I'd have to agree with the critics and say this IS the best place to eat in California. Unique flavors,... more

I'd have to agree with the critics and say this IS the best place to eat in California. Unique flavors, best ingredients, impeccable service- ever... more

The food is everything it's said to be; Innovative. Interesting. Delicious. Noteworthy. Discussion inducing. Unfortunately, the menu has already ""been there, done that"". Everyone knows the salmon tartar in cones; the ""oysters and pearls"", the kobe beef, lobster poached in butter... Not everyone has tried it. But, if you have a few hundred bucks per person to spend, excluding wine, then by all means, have this experience. I can't call it romantic (too many lags between dishes; awkward!), but it is exhaustive. Four hours (two of which spent sitting next to a Japanese couple playing video games; our waitron kindly told them to put it away, after we complained), and a sommelier who just would NOT listen (thus giving us wines we didn't like and costing us $750 en total), we marvelled at some of the amazing dishes we were served. Go with the chef's tasting menu, and pay the extra for fois gras -- it is truly devine (until you go to France and realize that it's not so amazing at FL). The food goes on and on and on, and until you spend a simple evening at Babbo (not French, but then neither really, is FL, but truly amazing and entertaining), or a couple weeks travelling through france, you cannot know how (and I wince) pedestrian chef Keller really is at this point. Go because it's famous; go because you *must*, go because it's the French Laundry, but really, find yourself someplace quiet and exclusive in France, someplace exceptional in NY, like Babbo, or go to Japan and try a traditional Kaiseki-riori, and spend the same $1500 for 4 people, and you'll quietly remove yourself from Chef Keller's fan list. Not that it isn't good; it's just not all that when you compare it so many unbelievably excellent restaurants around the world. Now, if Keller would just come back to FL and come up with something new... then I might be impressed. Pros: Innovative, exceptional food Cons: Reservations nearly impossible, sommelier was an expensive dissappointment more

The attention to detail at this restaurant is incredible. The friendly waitstaff move about the room as if... more

The attention to detail at this restaurant is incredible. The friendly waitstaff move about the room as if it were choreographed. The food is prepa... more

I was fortunate enough to have a friend get me a reservation for two friends and me for my birthday and thought I had it made. The day of our reservation one of my guests was called into work at which time I notified the restaurant and they told me due to such last minute plans I would have to terminate the reservation. I was shocked by such a bold answer and immediately notified my dining guest. Her boss was familiar with the Laundry and told her to go and have fun, but it was a downer. \r \r Once we got to Yonteville we couldn't find the place because street signs are little 3 foot high posts on the ground, not lit markers in the sky so we weren't sure if we were on Washington yet. So, we called the restaurant, but apparently after 6 no one answeres the phone so we just searched around Yontville until we believed we had found the place. \r As we parked we got a call asking if we were coming and said we could find the palce and they sounded decent. That's when the experience began.\r \r \r Once inside serves was almost flawless, leaving vary little to be desired. During the course of the evening I'd say we had 8 servers attending us, our head server was Kevin, and two Sommelior's. Service had a nice flow, always allowing for adequete time to order another bottle of wine :). Servers were professional, but nice, unlike the the ultra stuck up servers u find at inner city restaurants in SF or NYC this isn't the Ritz. \r \r \r I chose the chef's tasting menu which covered all a Kellers bases with a few tricks up his sleeve. From the oyster and caviar to begin with to the little pastries at the end the food couldn't have been anybetter!!! The foie gras was a true treat... The wine list kind of finished of the whole experience seeing as how there were bottles in every price range and I mean every but it was great and truly well thought out. \r For 3 we spent 1500, but it's worth it! Only live once!\r Pros: food, service, location Cons: hosts and reservationist more

This is the best restaurant in the bay area, hands down. The food is spectacular, the setting amazing, and the service beyond compare. From the opening amous bouche to the final surprise package, the night passes quickly despite three hours of perfect food. When you're as good as the French Laundry, you can charge what you want, but I'm not sure it's that much better than other places. The wine list is amazing with finds, particularly with phenomenal half bottles, perfect for a couple. Pros: Just about everything Cons: Second Mortgage more