We will be visiting the wine country at the end of july. What is the #1 restaurant in the area.

I know it's been asked before but Ca has several areas where wine is made. Let's assume that you are talking about Napa since it's the most popular. Lot's of people will say The French Laundry. Contemporary American with French influences
Dinner: $120 Chef's Tasting Menu
$105 Five Course Prix Fixe Menu with choices
$80 Five Course Prix Fixe Vegetarian Menu
If this is the kind of food you like then you should make reservations two months to the day of when you'd like to eat there.

If on the other hand you have a preference for a certain type of food and ambiance you'd like, then you should let us kknow and you'll get a bunch of responses. There are good restuarants for all types of tastes. Tell us and we'll help you out!!

Good luck with that reservation at the French Laundry and oh yea...you better call exactly two months to the day you want to eat there.

Check out this story about reservations at the French Laundry..

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...4/FD105019.DTL

Hey good luck, why do you feel you need to restate what I said about calling two months to the day?

There are tons of reviews on the French Laundry that put it among the top restuarants. Not everyone likes the type of food served in the top restaurants but if you do and you want it to be special then this might be the place.

x

Touchy, touchy, touchy...

The link to the San Fran article was very good and entertaining. It's almost two years old now but those restaurants are still going strong!

We ate there for dinner about 3 years ago and had the tasting menu, 9 courses, for $80. Got lucky and had a table in their garden and were just blown away by the food. My wife teaches cooking and when we were given a tour of the kitchen afterwards and met everyone. A very special place.

And oh yeah....we called two months to the day for those reservations.

Here ar ethe other Napa restaurants:

BISTRO DON GIOVANNI
BISTRO JEANTY
BOUCHON
TERRA


If you are willing to go to restaurants outside Napa, there are other restaurants to recommend. Quiet, romantic, what?

We ate at Terra which we loved, also Domaine Chandon...while Jeanty was still there, Auberge du Soleil ( expensive and not as good as the others ), Mustard's Grill, Tra Vigne ( not so great that night ) and a few others. The quality of the restaurants in the Napa area is just outstanding.

A newer restaurant that you can add to the list is Martini House in St. Helena.

thanks for the replys. Its our 25th anniversary and I am looking for romantic, and the best. We are there for 5 nights, any other romantic restaurants???? Is the French Laundry the one???

We have been to Napa and Sonoma several times and always find it enjoyable. One of the main reasons are the wonderful restaurants. The last time we were there was our anniversary and we ate at French Laundry. The food was amazing, really "food as art," but the ambience was less than romantic due to several large groups also seating in our dining room. Of course, you can't control that, but it did make any real conversation difficult. We are very glad that we went, but I don't think that I would choose it again for a romantic occasion.

Other restaurants in the area that we love are: Domaine Chandon, particularly nice for a long, lazy champagne lunch on the terrace; Terra, delicious food, cozy and romantic; and Tra Vigne. I know that many people think Tra Vigne is too crowded, but we found it charming and never an imposition to wait for our reservation at the Cantinetta or in their courtyard garden. In fact, we usually go early to sit outside and share a special flight of wines from the Cantinetta - perfect atomoshpere.

I hope this helps. With any of these restaurants, I would suggest letting your hotel make the reservations. They are familiar with the people and can probably get you in more easily. We even had a complimentary glass of champagne from our hotel owner at one restaurant which was a really nice touch.

Have a great trip and bon appetit!

I will be in Ca. wine valley at the end of July The French Laundry is closed that week. What is the second best restaurant in the vally? Looking for romantic.

I know everyone will recommend making reservations for restaurants in wine country but what happens if I don't make a reservation? Do restaurants only accept people with reservations or do most offer a wait list if you don't choose to make a reservation in advance?

I have no idea what I'll want or what time I'll want it two weeks ahead of time! I'm willing to wait if that's an option.