Restaurant: The French Laundry
Location: Yountville, CA
Visit: June 2016
Accolades: Three Michelin Stars (2006 to present) – Restaurant Magazine “Top Restaurants of the World” #1 (2003 & 2004) & Top 100 each year since – La Liste score of 99.25 (Top 10 in the World) (2019). Rated as Tier 2 on our Global 300 rating (just below the global top 10).
Named the top restaurant in the world by Restaurant Magazine in 2003 and again in 2004,
The French Laundry has consistently been named to their Top 100 list for over a decade, in addition to maintaining three Michelin stars (***) since the launch of the Michelin Guide for San Francisco Bay Area in 2006. Chef-owner, Thomas Keller, has been heralded as the most important American chef in the last 50 years by a variety of publications and many of the best restaurants in the world today and headed up by French Laundry alumni, such as Grant Achatz (
Alinea – Chicago), René Redzepi (
Noma – Copenhagen) and countless others. We visited The French Laundry for our one year anniversary, and it did not disappoint!
“You could die after eating this, cause it just ain’t gonna get any better” – Anthony Bourdain, chef & television personality
The restaurant is nestled in the tiny village of Yountville, about an hour north of San Francisco, in the heart of the famed Napa Valley. Keller opened the restaurant in 1994. The food is mainly French with contemporary American influences, focusing specifically on local ingredients that are either grown by Keller and his team, or locally sourced by farmers in the area.
Menu:
- Tartare coronet – fluke, creme fraiche and microgreens
- Puff pastry with Gruyere cheese
- Oysters & Pearls – pearl tapioca with Island Creek Oysters and Sterling White Sturgeon Caviar
- Pacific abalone with Chanterelle mushrooms (not pictured)
- Hudson Valley moulard duck foie gras with beets
- Wild Scottish sea trout with buttermilk fried avocado
- Wolfe Ranch white quail with glazed cauliflower
- Herb roasted Elysian Fields Farms lamb with roasted garden squash
- Cobb Hill “Ascutney” with berries and pecans (not pictured)
- Assorted ice cream, chocolate, candies and other desserts
Wines:
- Modicum Schramsberg Extra Brut Blanc de Blanc
- Massican 2015 Sauvignon Blanc
- Rivers-Marie 2013 Chardonnay
- Eugenia 2015 “The Motley” Rosé
- Dehlinger 2103 “Goldenridge Vineyard” Pinot Noir
- Topaz “Special Select” California Dessert Wine
- Oremus Tokaji Aszu 5 puttonyos Tokaji
Overall, the meal was spectacular! The price point is steep, as is the case with most three Michelin-starred restaurants, especially in the US and Europe, but between the setting, the food and the service, it’s worth the splurge for a special occasion.
Price Neutral Rating: 90 (Four Star!)
Four Star Rating: 67 (Overpriced)
Details:
- Flavor: 5 out of 5 (Exceptional)
- Signature Item: 4 out of 5 (Oyster & Pearl Tapioca)
- Consistency: 5 out of 5 (All items were excellent)
- Innovation: 3 out of 5 (Elevated versions of classic dishes)
- Locality/Seasonality: 5 out of 5 (All items sourced locally/seasonally)
- Tradition: 4 out of 5 (Mostly regional cuisine)
- Service: 5 out of 5 (Exceptional)
- Alcohol/Wine Pairing: 3 out of 5 (Very good, but no pairing available)
- Setting/Building: 3 out of 5 (Nice building in a rural town)
- Plating: 3 out of 5 (Beautiful, classic plating)
- Price: 1 out of 5 (High Price/Overpriced)
The Champagne Life on a Sparkling Wine Budget
“Top 100 Travel Tips“ included in this post: #12 – Experience epic meals; #52 – Use the concierge; #65 – Eat well; #100 – Share your adventures
Pro-Tip: Getting a reservation can be difficult. We recommend planning well ahead of time, having a few days that work as options and having a premium credit-card concierge book for you.
