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The French Laundry
6640 Washington St
Yountville CA 94599
(707) 944-2380
Yountville CA 94599
(707) 944-2380
Reservation OpenTable.com
How did a chef whose innovative restaurant in Manhattan failed and who headed west to cook in a downtown LA hotel suddenly emerge in the Napa Valley to create a restaurant to rival the great three-star establishments of rural France? Hard work and outsize talent, most probably. Taking over what had been a good but far simpler restaurant located in a turn-of-the-century stone building surrounded by gardens, chef Thomas Keller approached contemporary American food with classical technique. His French Laundry, with its now-famous blue door, has established new standards for fine dining in this country. Two $270 nine-course tasting menus are devised each day (one traditional and one vegetarian), and no single ingredient is ever repeated throughout the meal. The classic "Oysters and Pearls," pearl tapioca with Island Creek oysters and white sturgeon caviar, is a perennial favorite, though, and while items like sautéed cod with tamarind-glazed eggplant and tomato chutney might sound simple, the techniques used are anything but. In 2012, Keller and The French Laundry received a coveted AAA Five Diamond Award, just another honor to add to the pile.
Click here to watch the Daily Meal’s “At the Chef’s Table” video interview with Chef Thomas Keller. — Arthur Bovino
The French Laundry Photos
The Daily Meal Editors and Community Say
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"Oyster and pearls"
Reviewed By:
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tdmstaff
"A classic dish from Thomas Keller's kitchen. Fresh shucked oysters accompanied by a caviar that gives a ""pop"" of seaside aroma, on a creamy sabayon with a warm tapioca. - 100eats100days.com"
"A classic dish from Thomas Keller's kitchen. Fresh shucked oysters accompanied by a caviar that gives a ""pop"" of seaside aroma, on a creamy sabayon with a warm tapioca. - 100eats100days.com"
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Around the Web
The French Laundry Loses a Manager to Philly -- Grub Street San Francisco
Fanucci will be coming in at the once iconic restaurant as a partner.
Fanucci will be coming in at the once iconic restaurant as a partner.
http://sanfrancisco.grubstreet.com/2012/02/french-laundry-nicolas-fanucci-le-bec-fin.html
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Foursquare Tips
Bravo
The setting is serene, the food very sophisticated & delicious, the service of outmost grandeur. Overall it's a very unique experience from a very caring team guided by one of the world's leading chef
The setting is serene, the food very sophisticated & delicious, the service of outmost grandeur. Overall it's a very unique experience from a very caring team guided by one of the world's leading chef
Bravo
With a tasting menu, best meal EVER. -Mary Schmidt Amons, Real Housewives of DC
With a tasting menu, best meal EVER. -Mary Schmidt Amons, Real Housewives of DC
Bravo
The location is amazing. Their food is extraordinary. -Timothy Dean, Top Chef
The location is amazing. Their food is extraordinary. -Timothy Dean, Top Chef
kmeelyon n.
Scored reservations two months in advance and had a divine dinner.
Scored reservations two months in advance and had a divine dinner.
Epicurious
Request a fireside table in one of the tiny stone rooms and settle in for a tasting menu that is whimsical, flavorful, and worth every minute of the two full months you waited to get a reservation.
Request a fireside table in one of the tiny stone rooms and settle in for a tasting menu that is whimsical, flavorful, and worth every minute of the two full months you waited to get a reservation.
Bravo
With a tasting menu, best meal EVER. -Mary Schmidt Amons, Real Housewives of DC
With a tasting menu, best meal EVER. -Mary Schmidt Amons, Real Housewives of DC
Courtney P.
Succumb to the whims of the chef for a meal I've been waiting years for.
Succumb to the whims of the chef for a meal I've been waiting years for.
anne j.
wanted to not love this place as much as I did. searched for flaws. couldn't find any. I want to marry french laundry.
wanted to not love this place as much as I did. searched for flaws. couldn't find any. I want to marry french laundry.
A.J. B.
Get 9 of your friends and book the private room. You won't be disappointed. One of the best meals I have had in my life. If you can sneak a peak of the kitchen afterwards, its a must!
Get 9 of your friends and book the private room. You won't be disappointed. One of the best meals I have had in my life. If you can sneak a peak of the kitchen afterwards, its a must!
christina s.
Best food I ever had! Was worth the wait and the money!! I hope I get to eat there again.
Best food I ever had! Was worth the wait and the money!! I hope I get to eat there again.
Stasch K.
#3 on Bourdain's Places to eat before you die
#3 on Bourdain's Places to eat before you die
Aaron K.
I don't need to tell you this, but probably the best restaurant in the country.
I don't need to tell you this, but probably the best restaurant in the country.
Boon Y.
Tasting menu = spectacular!! Try it, please. :-)
Tasting menu = spectacular!! Try it, please. :-)
Kathy J.
I still can taste and smell my last meal. Divine truffle permeated the air and rendered me intoxicated on first bite. Pricey but ohhhh so worth it!
I still can taste and smell my last meal. Divine truffle permeated the air and rendered me intoxicated on first bite. Pricey but ohhhh so worth it!
Visit Napa Valley
Got a bucket list? Add having the pleasure to experiencing a meal at The French Laundry to your list! This is food taken to the highest level.
Got a bucket list? Add having the pleasure to experiencing a meal at The French Laundry to your list! This is food taken to the highest level.
Marshall M.
Look, it's the best dinner you'll ever have by a long way. Settle down and enjoy it. Let the staff guide you along. They know their stuff better than anyone.
Look, it's the best dinner you'll ever have by a long way. Settle down and enjoy it. Let the staff guide you along. They know their stuff better than anyone.
Marshall M.
Have a walk around the French Laundry's unique garden before dinner -- you won't want to afterwards.
Have a walk around the French Laundry's unique garden before dinner -- you won't want to afterwards.
Manoj K.
There are no coin-op washing machines here.
There are no coin-op washing machines here.
PoP O.
Try the Oysters and Pearls - “Sabayon” of Pearl Tapioca with Island Creek Oysters and White Sturgeon Caviar (via @Foodspotting)
Try the Oysters and Pearls - “Sabayon” of Pearl Tapioca with Island Creek Oysters and White Sturgeon Caviar (via @Foodspotting)
The Daily Meal
Taking over what had been a good but far simpler restaurant, chef Thomas Keller approached contemporary American food with French technique and established new standards for fine dining in America.
Taking over what had been a good but far simpler restaurant, chef Thomas Keller approached contemporary American food with French technique and established new standards for fine dining in America.
Rony C.
Many of the ingredients come from their garden across the street. Don't even look at the menu, let the chef surprise you with every dish.
Many of the ingredients come from their garden across the street. Don't even look at the menu, let the chef surprise you with every dish.
Dev A.
Scallops and glasses of Dolce, thats right up your alley.
Scallops and glasses of Dolce, thats right up your alley.
Ryan V.
What more is there to say? Everything was amazing. I had the highest expectations and they were exceeded.
What more is there to say? Everything was amazing. I had the highest expectations and they were exceeded.
Kjell
Like Arnold said in Pumping Iron, I am cumming.
Like Arnold said in Pumping Iron, I am cumming.
The Daily Meal
Chef Thomas Keller’s iconic restaurant is located in a buildingthat used to be a brothel.
Chef Thomas Keller’s iconic restaurant is located in a buildingthat used to be a brothel.
Harry O.
Ask you server about Blue Apron Brown Ale, a special bottle fermented beer from Brooklyn Brewery. Only found at TFL, it is excellent to share with your cheese pairing.
Ask you server about Blue Apron Brown Ale, a special bottle fermented beer from Brooklyn Brewery. Only found at TFL, it is excellent to share with your cheese pairing.
Jorge D.
awesome ... worth every penny of it
awesome ... worth every penny of it
James F.
Try the Passion Fruit "Swiss Roll" - (via @Foodspotting)
Try the Passion Fruit "Swiss Roll" - (via @Foodspotting)
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