Planning Your Visit to The French Laundry: What You Need to Know
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I hadn’t spent years dreaming aboutThe French Laundry. In fact, I barely knew anything about it before my sister casually mentioned that we’d be going there to celebrate her milestone birthday. I did know that one of my childhood friends,Rafaela Dulanto, was the restaurant’s manager at the time. And that her newlywed husband,David Breeden, had only recently stepped down as The French Laundry’s Chef de Cuisine, a position he’d held for 12 years.
But it wasn’t until I started doing some research that I realized just how big of a deal this was. A three-Michelin-starred restaurant?Woa. One of the most exclusive dining experiences in the world?Holy cow.
And the best part for me wasn’t just that I was going to get to experience what many consider a bucket-list meal, it’s that I was about to experience it through the lens of people who had been at its heart for over a decade.
Meet Rafa and David, and join me as I experience a world-famous meal at The French Laundry,only on the Globocurious podcast.
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Scoring a Reservation
Getting a reservation at The French Laundry can feel like trying to win the lottery. Here’s what you need to know and some tips to help make it happen:
- Reservations open on the first of each month at 10 a.m. PST for the following month. So if you want a November reservation, be ready to book on October 1.
- Everything is booked throughTock, and reservations are non-refundable—which is where the secret trick comes in.
Pro Tip: Since reservations are locked in, people who can no longer go often look for someone to transfer their booking to. There are online forums and Facebook groups where last-minute spots get rehomed. If you’ve been trying for years and keep missing out, this might be your best bet.
Cost: Expect to pay $425 per person, plus add-ons, wine, and a 20% service charge.
What to Expect from the Dining Experience
When people say The French Laundry is a meal you’ll never forget, they mean it. The restaurant, housed in a beautiful stone building that isactually a former French steam laundry, is located in Yountville, a neighborhood in Napa Valley, California. The small area oozes a calm, ethereal charm that only adds to the dining experience.
Menus:Each dinner consists of a 9-course tasting menu, designed with seasonal ingredients, including some produce and garnishes sourced from The French Laundry’s own gardens. There are two menu options, both of which can be tailored to other dietary restrictions (like my gluten allergy): the Chef’s Tasting Menu, which is the traditional menu with seafood and meat courses; and the Tasting of Vegetables, which is a plant-based menu that is just as intricate and luxurious. In fact, my sister-in-law got the vegetarian menu and the table enjoyed some of her dishes even more than the meat-based versions!
Wine Pairings: The French Laundry boasts one of the most impressive wine lists in the world, including the largest half-bottle collection in the U.S. Prepare for Napa-level pricing. A single glass can cost upwards of$75.Pro Tip: If you’re not much of a wino but still want a few sips here and there to add to your experience, just let your service team know and they’ll very likely accommodate you,especially if someone at your table is getting a pairing with their meal.
Behind the Scenes: The Kitchen and Garden Tour
One of the most unexpected highlights of my experience wasn’t just the meal—it was getting a tour of The French Laundry’s kitchen and gardens.
While the garden tour used to be open to the public, a few too many infringements closed the doors on that opportunity.
Good news! You can experience the private garden tour by listening to this episode of Globocurious.
That said, a kitchen and back-of-house tour is available to all guests, so make sure to ask your head server about it at the beginning of your meal. At the end of our dinner, we were invited to step inside the kitchen—a gleaming, high-tech space with a live video feed directly linked to Thomas Keller’s New York restaurant,Per Se. This was especially cool to see after watching Season 3 of The Bear, which filmed its finale episode there.
What to Wear to The French Laundry
In true Californian fashion, The French Laundry is surprisingly chill about its dress code. After all, Chef Breeden does say how their goal as a culinary team is to “just make a really good dinner.” My group was made up of women who all love an excuse to dress up, but outfits ranged from khakis and a button-down to cotton maxi dresses. I’d say keep it at least business attire (I’d say business casual but that can mean vastly different things to different people).Pro Tip: If you’re celebrating a special occasion, use this as your excuse to goall out. Part of the fun is leaning into the luxury.
Is The French Laundry Worth the Hype?
The French Laundry is often described as a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience, but the reality is, not everyone walks away feeling like it was worth the price tag. Some diners find the experience flawless, while others feel it doesn’t quite live up to the mythology.
For me, the experience was more about celebration, connection, and witnessing a piece of culinary history in action. And getting to see it through the eyes of those who had dedicated years of their lives to the restaurant added a layer of appreciation I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
That’s exactly what I explore in this Globocurious episode: What makes The French Laundry so revered? Does the reality live up to the legend?
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Would I go again? Probably not—let’s be real, a yearly visit isn’t in my budget. But I am immeasurably grateful for the experience. If The French Laundry is on your bucket list, I hope this guide will help you make the most of it.
Bon appétit!
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