Finally, The French Laundry

After years of trying to get a reservation, I finally experienced one of America's most celebrated restaurants. Was it worth the wait?

For years, The French Laundry was the reservation I couldn't get.

We live only a couple of hours from Yountville, and every December around our anniversary I would try—and fail—to get a table. Eventually, we stopped waiting for the perfect occasion, picked a date two months out and made it happen.

We went with two other couples: six French Laundry first-timers, very high expectations, and an entire evening ahead of us.

Five hours later, I understood the hype. But I also had mixed feelings.

And honestly, that's what makes the dinner interesting to me, years later.

What Lived Up to the Hype

The tiny details immediately set the tone—the understated exterior, crisp white linens, and the wonderfully old-fashioned clothespin holding the napkin.

And then came the food.

The cheese gougères were so good I could happily have eaten a dozen. The famous salmon tartare “cone” was every bit as playful and delicious as I'd hoped, and Oysters and Pearls deserved its reputation.

The foie gras, served with cherry jam, graham cracker, and warm brioche, was another standout for me.

Rather than describing every plate from a very long tasting menu, those are the dishes I still remember—which probably says everything.

The Surprise

What genuinely surprised our table was the wine.

We arrived expecting to order the Chef's Tasting Menu with a wine pairing and discovered that a traditional pairing wasn't offered. Instead, the sommelier would work with us to select wines.

At a restaurant in the heart of Napa Valley, that wasn't what we'd expected.

It didn't ruin the evening by any means, but it was one of those reminders that even at one of the world's most celebrated restaurants, your experience doesn't necessarily follow the script you've created in your head.

Five Hours Later...

The meal was extraordinary in many ways. The service was impeccable. Some dishes were unforgettable. Others simply weren't to my personal taste.

And I actually like that I wrote that at the time.

There's sometimes a feeling that when you're lucky enough to eat somewhere as revered as The French Laundry, you're supposed to declare every bite life-changing.

I didn't.

I thought it was wonderful. I was incredibly glad we went. And I didn't love everything.

All three can be true.

Would I Do It Again?

Yes—but differently.

I wouldn't spend years trying to engineer it around an anniversary. I'd make the reservation, gather people I really enjoy spending time with and treat the evening itself as the occasion.

Because looking back, that's what I remember most.

Six of us finally sitting down at that little restaurant in Yountville we'd heard about for years, settling in for a five-hour dinner and experiencing it together.

Sometimes the anticipation becomes part of the story.

And sometimes it's simply nice to finally find out for yourself.

MBellished Takeaway

Go for the experience, not for perfection.

The French Laundry taught me something I still believe about celebrated restaurants—and perhaps travel in general: something doesn't have to live up to every expectation to be worth experiencing.