Reservations at The French Laundry
Okay--I'm going to take the plunge and try to get a reservation at The Greatest American Restaurant of Our Time for my 50th birthday.
The website says they will take reservations two months to the day before the date on which you want to dine.
Anyone have any idea when the reservation line opens, or any other good ideas about getting that reservation?
Very much appreciated.
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22 Comments:
http://www.thefrenchlaundry.com
Click reservations and reservations information. The line opens at 10am Pacific time.
ccbweb at 6:26PM on 06/14/08
Best thing to do is go in person at 10 am.
karen r at 7:14PM on 06/14/08
But Karen, at 10 AM Pacific Time on June 19 I'll be in Kingston, NY!!
If you're going to be in Yountville anyway, can you go in and pretend you're me?
(I'll buy you dinner at Ad Hoc when I get there!)
annien at 7:23PM on 06/14/08
the real trick is to NEVER give up.
I was unable to get a reservation on the day I called (I think they filled up within five or ten minutes. But I checked back relentlessly and I got in.
Ok so was it worth the effort? Was it as good as I had imagined?
No it wasn't what I imagined. IT WAS BETTER.
best of luck to you.
Indigo608 at 11:13AM on 06/15/08
I have gotten a rez at the Laundry twice. A few tips:
1. Use multiple lines or multiple phones if necessary to maximize your chances of getting through.
2. Be flexible on dates and times. It has been my experience that it was much easier to get a reservation on a weekday than on a weekend. Also, as I recall, lunch may be an option.
3. Avoid the busiest times of year, i.e. September and October. (I went in February and November).
4.
If you do get through, bring your wallet
Mizbee at 6:34PM on 06/15/08
Oops! Hit the wrong key and posted before I finished . . .
It is my recollection that Open Table has one table a day that comes on line at midnight (I cannot remember in which time zone).
If you do get in, bring your wallet . . . the prix fixe alone is pricey, but both times I was there the restaurant had supplements for various items. The wine list also is spendy and, last I checked, corkage is $50 a bottle and only available for bottles not on the list.
Good luck!!
Mizbee at 6:37PM on 06/15/08
Thanks, everyone. I might even go to the extent of buying two more Tracfones and setting them on speed dial. In addition to my own cell, my old Tracfone and my roommate's phone.
But hey--if I can get this, I'll be in training for getting a reservation at Per Se for May 19, 2009, the day I graduate with my MSW.
Expensive? Oh, Lord! But think of how much money it took to get me through 50 years of life, much less 4 years of graduate school! Why spoil the ship for a ha'penny-worth of tar, as they say?
And anyway, I don't drink. Tap water throughout, unless TK has some other suggestion.
annien at 9:34PM on 06/15/08
I got through to the reservations desk by dialing a few seconds before 10 a.m. so that the call would connect at 10 precisely. And even then the earliest seating was booked when they got to me.
Matcha at 9:19AM on 06/16/08
Perseverance. I got through (and got a table!) after 4 hours of redialing the reservation line. This was just after they re-opened from a break, so they were taking reservations for a couple of weeks rather than one day, so maybe we were just lucky.
palmsey at 1:48PM on 06/16/08
I've never tried it, but I've heard of people getting in at the time and date of their choosing by using the rule of 8. If you can wrangle together a table of 8 + they will take you. Like most restaurants the reservation will probably require a deposit. It could be an urban myth, but worth a try =)
tinat at 4:47PM on 06/16/08
Yeah. If only I had 6 more friends.
annien at 8:15PM on 06/16/08
I was lucky enough to dine at the French Laundry back in 2001. I essentially did the same thing. I wrote it in my appointment book to be free when the phones opened so when I got back to the office from lunch (1pm Est.) I immediately started dialing. It took me 15 minutes to get threw with constant redial and waited on hold 10 more minutes. By that time they had only one table left. It is the same with most places, in 1999 it was a $65 phone call to book a reservation at Alain Ducasse in Paris. Some other time I will tell you about me being drunk when I was at the French Laundry (from winery tours all day) and falling down in the stairs in the middle of the restaurant.
LRS3445 at 10:31AM on 06/17/08
"Yeah. If only I had 6 more friends."---annien at 8:15PM on 06/16/08
Heck, if you can get the reservations, my husband and I would be delighted to be friends #3 and #4! LOL. Long live the French Laundry Gang of Eight!
wookie at 11:33AM on 06/17/08
Okay the phone system is automated, so if you call at 9:59 am for Per Se and FL, you will get an automated message. You have to time it right at 10:00. Don't even try after 10:01. Someone already mentioned this, but multiple lines help. Speed dial also helps. When you are put on hold you are in line to get a spot, this varies on the number you are, also varies what time slots are left. If you get a busy tone then you are out of luck for that day. I have gotten reservations for Valentines and other major days. Just plan 2 months ahead.
pookguy at 2:18PM on 06/17/08
I
Response: They have private party rooms, the service and food are the same. It just you need a certain amount of people cause they have a standard rate to rent out the room. This usually can be rented 2 weeks in advanced if you have enough people.
I've never tried it, but I've heard of people getting in at the time and date of their choosing by using the rule of 8. If you can wrangle together a table of 8 + they will take you. Like most restaurants the reservation will probably require a deposit. It could be an urban myth, but worth a try =)
pookguy at 2:21PM on 06/17/08
I was told that TFL no longer accepts walk-in reservations.
I used this method last year - 4 for lunch (Lunch menu is the same as dinner).
http://www.thesandersens.com/res/french.laundry.reservations.html
winterjade at 4:05PM on 06/17/08
good luck getting a reservation! i put my name on the waiting list & ended up getting a call back within the week. they have a great selection of non-alcoholic beverages for those not interested in the wine list. at per se, they actually do a non-alcoholic beverage flight to match your dinner! i heart TK and his staff!
dmarina at 7:11PM on 06/17/08
I had heard about that non-alcoholic flight--when better ideas in food service are had, TK will have them; the man's a genius!
annien at 8:46PM on 06/17/08
I hate even talking about restaurants of this caliber. If I was ever in one, it was in a small town in Italy and they did not know they were in such exalted company. The wine was excellent, served by a twelve year old son, and not a drop spilled. The dishes came one after another, fresh and light mixed with heavy, pungent, treat to all the senses. The sun was golden in the west, and lit the whole countryside still. When the meal was over, there was coffee and a local liquor made from dried cranberries. It cost me 2000 lira.
fewteeth at 10:46PM on 06/17/08
Well, gang, I finally got the rez...which opens up a whole new comment...
annien at 2:02PM on 06/18/08
congrats!
I assume the reservation was for eight and you are going to auction off the other places... (tee hee)
I hope this will be the beginning of the great second half of your life!
Indigo608 at 8:53AM on 06/22/08
Hi there,
I am new here, but I wanted to share my experience about getting a reservation for the French Laundry. I just got one 3 days ago, but I almost got one as well four days ago.
First of all, I highly recommend you not use the phone unless you do like other people mentioned and have like 10 people helping you out. It is SUPER SUPER frustrating.
My first attempt to get a reservation was on Tuesday July 15th. I went to Opentable.com and created an account. Then I pulled up the ebay clock since it is set to Pacific Time (I live in FL). I waited until exactly 2:59:56 and then pushed the red button. WHEN YOU SEE A RED TIME POSTED THAT COMES UP, YOU HAVE THE RESERVATION. BUT DON'T DO LIKE ME. I WAS ELATED BUT DIDN'T REALIZE I HAD TO CLICK ON IT IMMEDIATELY, SO WHEN I CLICKED ON IT IT SAID "SORRY, YOUR RESERVATION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO SOMEONE ELSE"
I was sickened. Then the next day I tried to call the number and redialed for 30 minutes before giving up. I just felt devastated, like it was the "fish that got away." But I remained determined, which you must do too if you want to eat there.
The next night, Wednesday the 16th, I tried the same thing. I hoped and prayed it worked. Again, EXACTLY at 2:59:56 I pushed the red button and to my utter amazment the time popped up again. I IMMEDIATELY, AND I MEAN IMMEDIATELY CLICKED ON THE TIME, AND YOU MUST HAVE A CREDIT CARD HANDY AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE LOGGED IN AS A MEMBER SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO FILL IN OTHER THINGS THAT BEING ALREADY LOGGED IN WILL KEEP YOU FROM HAVING TO DO. IF YOU ARE NOT A FAST AND ACCURATE TYPIST, HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS, BECAUSE UNTIL YOU COMPLETE THE CREDIT CARD PART THE RESERVATION IS NOT YOURS. THEN IMMEDIATELY PUSH THE BUTTON, AND THE RESERVATION WILL BE YOURS.
Sorry for all the caps, but this really worked for me TWO nights in a row, I just messed up the first night. But for fun I tried Thursday and Friday and did not get it, so there is some luck involved. But I am convinced that if you try this for several days and you are patient that you will be successful.
And words cannot explain what it feels like to actually have a reservation. I printed out the confirmation about 3 times just to be sure. =) Peace, Dave R.
Leem37 at 5:01PM on 07/19/08