The French Laundry (Napa, CA)

[sygyzy]

It's been one of my life's goals (over 5 years) to dine here. I have an opportunity to this Monday but it's going to be very costly (meal, gas, vacation days, etc).

Has anyone been here? Thoughts?

 

[lawyerdad]

Great food. Very, very expensive. (But you knew that.)

 

[swisloc]

please do this, if only so we who haven't been can live vicariously through you.

 

[drizzt3117]

I have eaten there 4-5 times. I would say it's definitely worth it, despite the high cost. Are you going to go with their pairings?

 

[GQgeek]

If I'm ever in Napa, I'll definitely go.

A word on wine pairings in general... Make sure you're not a lightweight. I recently had wine pairings with a nine course menu and the woman I was with left plastered and I woke-up at 3am with a queasy stomach. Five glasses of wine (2 red, 2 white + dessert wine) plus cocktails will do that, but it's the red that really hits me. In the future I'll just be sticking to a bottle.

 

[sygyzy]

I am not sure how their pairings work. I know it's a prie fixe tasting menu at $240.00.

I can't find the information about the price for pairings. My concern is our hotel is far away (near Oakland Airport?) so driving will be a logistical challenge if we are all plastered. I can probably handle the alcohol best in the group but 5 glasses of wine is no joke for anyone.

 

[lawyerdad]

friggin' quintuple post, damn screwy dsl

 

[lawyerdad]

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[lawyerdad]

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[lawyerdad]

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[lawyerdad]

Originally Posted by sygyzy

I am not sure how their pairings work. I know it's a prie fixe tasting menu at $240.00.

I can't find the information about the price for pairings. My concern is our hotel is far away (near Oakland Airport?) so driving will be a logistical challenge if we are all plastered. I can probably handle the alcohol best in the group but 5 glasses of wine is no joke for anyone.
That is one hell of a drive if you're even a bit tipsy, or even if you're sober but have been traveling and just had a big, rich meal. If it's a budget issue, I think you'd be better off staying in a Motel 6 or something closer, even in Vacaville or some other place north of the Berkeley/Oakland density.
Or depending on the size of the group, maybe it makes sense to split the cost of a car service.

 

[Tarmac]

yeah Oakland is ridiculously far. you need to stay in Napa or Yountville. Rates should be really cheap on a Monday night in February. Maybe $90 for a nice bed and breakfast type of place.

 

[sygyzy]

The reason we have to stay in Oakland is a buddy of mine is using points to get a free room and he wants it by the airport since he has to fly out at 4AM the next morning. Maybe I can convince him to change his mind. I guess his thinking is he doesnt want to wake up at 230 to make a 4AM flight.

 

[lawyerdad]

Originally Posted by sygyzy

The reason we have to stay in Oakland is a buddy of mine is using points to get a free room and he wants it by the airport since he has to fly out at 4AM the next morning. Maybe I can convince him to change his mind. I guess his thinking is he doesnt want to wake up at 230 to make a 4AM flight.
The free room isn't worth it - it's just too far to drive. And really, what's the difference between waking up at 2:30 in the morning and waking up at 3:00? Either way, he gets no sleep, and that drive back to Oakland will be a ***** after dinner.

 

[LARon]

Its definitely worth it, but as oters have plainly indicated, its not worth the drive back to Oaktown. Besides, part of the joy of the meal is the relaxed backdrop of Napa. The best way to really enjoy is to have the food and wine, trundle back to your LOCAL hotel and wake up the next morning next to your sweet smelling, wine sopped date/wife.

But since you're traveling with a buddy on a time schedule, its already a less than ideal situation; total bust. I'd wait until conditions were more favorable. In the meantime, just grab a bucket 'o chicken and watch the rerun of Rome.