84399 Fri Feb 07 08:23:28 -0800 2003 5 3 California 0 467886 Does anyone have any suggestions for securing a dinner reservation at the French Laundry in Yountville. Mid-week dining would be OK Fri Feb 07 08:23:28 -0800 2003 0 Bill Greenberg 1 467890 My wife and I took a mini-vacation some four years ago and stayed in Yountville. At that time, the big collection of menus at our hotel didn't even include the French Laundry. Keller already had a collection of Chef of the Year awards, and reservations at his restaurant were booked over three months in advance, so there was no point in raising people's expectations only to dash them. My wife wanted to at least look at the menu of the famous place, so on a Thursday evening, as we were about to drive up to an eatery of somewhat lesser renown in St. Helena, we swung into the tiny parking lot at the French Laundry. Upon looking at the menu, both of us began to salivate like a couple of Pavlov's dogs. I swallowed my pride and asked the Maitre d', "I don't suppose you'd have any space for a couple of walk-ins, would you?" We were received as cordially as if we were VIPs and seated immediately at a table in the back yard where we could look through the windows at much of what was going on in the kitchen. At the suggestion of our waiter, we ordered the chef's tasting menu at something like $75 a pop. We also shared a bottle of Cakebread Fume Blanc. I didn't make notes, and it's been a long time, but I still remember the foie gras, the grilled arctic char and the best mashed potatoes I've ever tasted in my life. I think it was about 10 courses in all. It was early in the month of May, and we had not been prepared to eat outdoors, so by the time dessert came we were both shivering with the cold, but no way would we leave until the last crumb was gone. Despite the cold, we'll always cherish our dinner at the French Laundry as one of our warmest travel memories. I guess the moral of the story is to have a little chutzpah; you never know when it might pay off. Bon appetit and good luck. . . jim strain in san diego. Fri Feb 07 18:01:46 -0800 2003 467886 0 Jim Strain 2 467892 good story Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/16633#46532 Fri Feb 07 18:47:54 -0800 2003 467890 0 vn 2 467894 What a nice post. Lucky you! Did you happen to see The French Laundry and chef Keller featured on A Cook's Tour with Tony Bourdain? It was on the Food Network last Friday night. I really enjoyed it. D. Fri Feb 07 19:33:10 -0800 2003 467890 0 Donna - MI 1 467911 There's a similar thread going on over at the SF Bay Area Board...check it out Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/22933#85935 Mon Feb 10 17:30:03 -0800 2003 467886 0 Jennie Sheeks 1 467927 You can also try to book a table through www.opentable.com but when I tried I could not get any openings for the next month or so. It's kind of awkward, you have to input each request seperately, with each time of day seperately etc... Supposedly they have set aside a table 2 tables for lunch Fri, Sat, Sun, @11:00 am and 11:15, a table for 2 for dinner @6:00 pm and a table for 4, dinner @ 9:30. But for now it appears to be no easier getting in than the phone system. Fri Feb 14 10:56:10 -0800 2003 467886 0 Karen