French Laundry - Private Room?
Does anyone have experience with the private room option at the French Laundry?
We're trying to put together a group meal there, and they have a room that accommodates 10. However, the menu price there is a good deal more expensive ($350 / person, vs $240 / person for their standard menu). Will it essentially be the same meal, and we're paying extra for the private room environment? Or, should I expect something more elaborate in terms of the meal itself?
By nsheth
on Jul 30, 2009 11:57 AM
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I think you should probably ask the people at TFL these questions. I'm sure they will not be offended and will be polite and responsive.
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If you call and find out, please post what they tell you. I would be curious to find out the answers to your questions.
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This is what they emailed us -
There is a price difference between the private dining room and the main dining room. The private dining room is the only table that seats 7 to 10 guests in our restaurant and is the only table that can be reserved up to a year in advance for reservations, enabling you to secure a reservation with out calling two months to the calendar date and risking not being able to get a reservation. Guests have access to a sommelier who specifically caters to their needs. In addition to having the privacy of the room, guests have access to a private balcony on which they can take breaks throughout their dining experience. The menu in this room is slightly more elevated than that of the main dining room. Should guests have any specific needs or dietary restrictions, the menu is created accordingly. An extra canapé course is also served. The menu can also be personalized with a brief heading or title. Parting gifts at different prices can be arranged for the guests as well. There are a variety of differences that enable the dining experience in the private dining room to be even more special.
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If I had 9 friends who wanted to go to The French Laundry with me I'd definitely reserve the Private room. The only problem frm my POV is I don't think they allow you to bring your own wine if you are in the Private room so that is a problem as I usually have a few bottles from my cellar I'd like to match with TFL's food.
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You might want to check Cyrus. I think you can order the 8 course tasting menu, with a $2000 food/bev minimum. Room seats 12. It does not appear they grossly inflate the price as does FL.
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My wife & I dined in the Private Room this past April as part of a group of 9. While it's nice to be able to sit together around one large circular table, it felt a bit cramped as the room itself isn't a whole lot larger than the table. It also gets pretty warm in there, and while there are multiple patio doors you can open up, it does get windy as the evening progresses.
We've dined previously at TFL in the main dining room. The menu we were served in the Private Room didn't seem appreciably better than what we received in the main dining room. With corkage being unavailable as well, the PR is a pricey route to take. It is the only way to seat a group larger than 6 together, and it is more convenient that the PR is typically available on shorter notice (I made the reservation right around a month before our visit).
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