The best restaurant in the USA
Having dined at many of the top tier restaurants, this is the only possible conclusion. Chef Keller composes a twelve course experience which leaves you wondering about the composition of each and every course and amazed at the smooth transit between them. He has no inhibitions and mixed traditional French technique with asian and african ingredients yet manages to create something that exceeds the usual fusion cuisines. The wine menu is superb and features some extraordinary california boutique wineries.
A word to the wise - if you managed to get a dinner table, don't waste your time on the "small" menu as it really is small and you will remain hungry and frustrated.    [20 Dec 1999 19:11:00]

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Recommended Dishes: let them feed you

     ­Orik   orik at orik dot co dot il

A Unique Food and Wine Experience but Overpriced
The food is true art in terms of presentation. Food choices were difficult. There are no simple choices. Having a vegetarian course was a good alternative. I found the service to be outstanding.

Getting a reservation is difficult. I do not know if I want to revisit this establishment after having dined here on two different occasions. (Member of A.I.W.F.)    [25 May 2003 09:37:27]

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     ­Anonymous   Rid20685 at ride dot ri dot net

A Night You Will Never Forget
This is must do in life - let the waiter staff be your guide...this food evokes every sense. Take your companion as this is a place for romance, during and after.

Enjoy...    [11 Jan 2006 17:21:32]

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Recommended Dishes: All of them!

     ­Anonymous   maxieblack at hotmail dot com

Is that all there is?
I have to admit that the tasting menu here was pretty fabulous. I was a bit put off by the draconian list of "don'ts" on the dress code (Yountville isn't Paris, you know), the staff was basically a great waiter captain and a herd of high schoolers. The most disappointing part was the wine list...stunningly overpriced ($90 bottles of wine selling for nearly $1000) so it is almost impossible to afford a bottle of wine there, which severly limits your "once in a lifetime" experience. I felt I had to compromise, which is something you never want to feel when paying $1227 for lunch for 4.

An interesting experience, but reading about it was better...didn't live up to the legend as a complete experience.    [14 Jun 2006 13:34:06]

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     ­Clark Jordan