I Hate The French Laundry...
 

Why do I hate the French Laundry?

I hate the French Laundry because I woke up last night at 3am (EST Time - Toronto) in an attempt to score a reservation on opentable.com when the clock struck 12 in Napa. To my chagrin, I'm not that smart... as it turns out, many people had that idea – so I got zip. Keep in mind I was trying for a reservation on a MONDAY NIGHT in rainy March.

I also hate the French Laundry because this Friday I will inevitably spend probably 2 hours dialling and re-dialling their phone number to try to get the reservation I missed last night... odds are, I won't have any luck.

Lastly, I hate the French Laundry because at $240 per person for dinner + wine it is invariably setting me up for disappointment based on my 'value' scale.... it can’t be that good – can it?

What is it with this place? I've seen it in person, so I know it exists... It’s not just a make believe spot that locals tell tourists about and then giggle when the phone lines light up every morning at 9am… How is it possibly so hard to get a reservation? Especially for a MONDAY NIGHT in March?

Gotta be that "Top 50 in the World" thing. We went thru the same routine a few years ago.... been there, done that.

I've only been to a few of the TOP 50 .. Taillevent and Chez Panisse and French Laundry. By far the best was Taillevant. Chez Panisse and French Laundry were both fine ... but still glad we went.

How about other restaurants in Napa or Sonoma. We'll be in Sonoma for the month of march, and even though we've been to a lot of the restaurants, We're always interest in anything new and/or if they are still good.

I told you to stay in a place that will make the reservation for you. Sheesh - you get good advice, don't follow it and then complain. Are you one of my kids? :S- P.S. It's worth the $.

I agree - with a lot of these 'acclaimed' places i think it is a case of 'the Emperor has no clothes'... that said i'd still like to go.

although, due to the cost we thought we'd have takeout from oakville grocery in our room (napa valley cottages) one night and eat at the FL the other... however, i suppose we could visit two great restaurants for the price of the FL instead.

any specific suggestions? on our previous trip (1st time there) we went to Bouchon, Mustards Grill & Market (St. Helena).

any other must eats for our second trip to the valley?

Hi TTess,

;-) my own mother would agree!

although, i did follow your advice re: hotel getting the reservation. however the FL is closed for their winter holiday until friday the 18th and won't be accepting reservations until then...

hopefully the hotel will have more success that i anticipate.

Been to the French Laundry and I am the one that talked about opentable at the stroke of midnight to get that valued reservation..
I went for lunch and yes, it is worth the big bucks..
I do prefer Tetsuya's in Sydney which came in #4 in the top ten list of the world but don't tell Thomas Keller that..
Try for the lunch..you can enjoy the Napa area and I think you'll have better luck..
If not, there are so many great restaurants in the Yountville area..
Gary Danko or Slanted Door in SF too.

Instead of a picnic on your bed try Taylors Resfesher. It's the Hamburger stand in St Helena were all of the wine people go.

We've been in the wine distribution and retail business for years and years, so I just called one of our winery friends and this is there list:

1. BARBERS Q in city of Napa (New)
2. COLES CHOP HOUSE, again in Napa I've been hearing about this for the last few years
3. REDD in younteville
4. GO FISH is a new up scale sushi place in St. Helena


Personally we rarely go down to the town of Napa so a few others we like

On Silverado Trail - AUBERGE DU SOLEIL for lunch - good food, wine list and beautiful view

St Helena - Martini House or Press
(Used to go to Tra Vigne but don't hear much about them lately)

Domain Chandon does a good job

by Napa - Don Giovanni

DH and i ate there about 3 years ago. i got wait listed, but about a week before I wanted, they called and I got a ressie. I gotta tell you, and keep in mind DH and I are food and wine lovers, I was less than impressed. The food was very good, don't get me wrong, but it seemed to me that the kitchen and wait staff were so off. $600 and didn't love it. Won't go back.

I love the French Laundry. Eaten there twice and would go back in a heartbeat at any price.

Why would you want to go to a place that you hated and you haven't even eaten there yet? Yes, you are setting yourself up for a HUGE fall. Go someplace else where the expectation is lower.

I have never had desire to go there, though we've been to wine country many times. Lots of people say that Cyrus (Healdsburg) is every bit as good and not as $$. I have seen, on occasion, where people will make a reservation for 4 and the other couple cannot make it and then they advertise for another couple to join them.

Two years ago my wife and I stayed in San Francisco at the Mandarin Oriental. I decided within at few weeks of our stay to eat at French Laundry for dinner. Jacques the concierge was able get us a reservation which I thought was a miracle. I can tell you for sure they have ways of getting reservations at French Laundry when the restaurant is closed or even if they are on vacation.
As Ttess stated earlier, you may want to stay at a top hotel in San Francisco so they can get you in the best restaurants...even at the so called last minute.
Will

thanks for the ideas...

TahitiTams - that was your idea, i just didn't execute as well as you did obviuosly. slanted door for the prix fix lunch is on our list - can't wai.

jnjfraz - to be honest, picnic in the room from oakville grocery and a bottle of wine is more appealing that taylor's, but i appreciate the list - i think we will try Redd or Go Fish in the event we don't get FL...


iamq - my post was intended to be written somewhat tounge-in-cheek... if i can get in, great, if not, not the end of the world - glad you loved it and thought it was worth the $$$

GSTRDR - tried that, the mark hopkins obviously doen't have the pull the mandarin does. they said best bet is just to call on speed dial...

oh well... there are worse problems to have in life ;-)

can't wait for our trip. thanks again.


if anyone is ever in toronto and needs a 'French Laundry' equivalent restaurant check out Eigensinn Farm (a completely different experience)

http://www.torontolife.com/blogs/cha...igensinn-farm/

If you have an American Express Platinum card, use their concierge service to get your reservations. The number is on the back of the card. I've used them many time -- the system works!

Could be worse - just be glad you aren't try to book El Bulli. They get about 500,000/600,000 requests a year and less than 1% are successful. Makes the French Laundry seem like a walk in the park

got one!

2.5 hours hitting re-dial... was shocked they still had space.

looking forward to it. anyone know what the wine pairing will cost per person for the tasting menu?

trying to figure out how many pennies to save.

thanks again...

If you have to ask how much, you can't afford it. This is not starting out well for you, dahlink. When you dine somewhere amazing, your mind has to be open, along with your wallet. To do otherwise, just sets you up for failure.

Google it JMWF. Plenty of people have written reviews which include the price.

Discard your "value scale", be prepared to spend between $750 and $1000 per couple and you'll be fine.

TTess has a very valid point..
I find wine pairings a rip off for the most part..
We had a lovely bottle of red that went well with all of the 12 course meal..
Did you get lunch or dinner reservations?

One reason you may be having trouble getting a reservation is that even though it is March, Napa Valley is quite busy at that time because of the Mustard Festival. As others have said, you might want to reconsider going there and spending the money unless your value scale generally invovles this type of eating.

Isn't there barrel tasting in March too?

I've tasted a few barrels in my time, and frankly I think the custom is highly overrated. Most are too woody in flavor and splinters in the tongue is a real problem.

we got dinner reservations...

i agree barrel tasting is overrated - must take a lot of practice to tell how great a wine will be from the tanic sample they pour.

we did it at mouton rothschild for 40E each and the wine was tough to drink... and it was the famed 05's.

just figured out that the FL apparently (according to google) doesn't do a set wine pairing to match the menu... i usually like them as it keeps it interesting...

half bottles it is i guess...


ps - TTess the whole notion of 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it' is ridiculous...

Patrick, I mentioned barrel tasting only as way of explaining why it might have been hard to get a reservation, not as a suggestion of something to do.

Have a great time JMWF and report back!

iamq, surely you didn't think I was serious? Splinters in the tongue from tasting barrels -- hint!

Patrick,

#-O#-O#-O

I found Manresa in Los Gatos more interesting than French Laundry because the food still had some sense of season.

Patrick - that was hysterical. Iamq - 8-| Can't believe you didn't get his joke!

JMWF - Sorry if you didn't like my response but come on...this entire topic is...it's just....oh, never mind. #o

TTess, I know, me neither. Let's just say...I was distracted yesterday.