Guides

Planning Your Visit

A confirmed reservation is only half of the evening. These guides handle the practical parts: what to wear, when to arrive, how long to allow and how to get there.

21 guides in this category

All planning your visit guides

The Complete Per Se GuideBooking, pricing, the salon, dress code, arrival, timing and neighbourhood — the full guide to dining at Thomas Keller's three-star restaurant in New York.Updated 2026-08-01 · 12 min read
The Complete French Laundry Visitor GuideEverything a first-time visitor needs: booking, pricing, dress code, timing, parking, the menu, the room and how to plan the day around a table in Yountville.Updated 2026-07-31 · 13 min read
Ad Hoc in Yountville: A Complete GuideWhat Ad Hoc is, how the four-course family-style menu works, when fried chicken is served, and why the group's most casual restaurant became permanent.Updated 2026-07-29 · 9 min read
How MICHELIN Stars Actually WorkWhat one, two and three MICHELIN stars mean, how inspectors assess a restaurant, how often ratings change, and what the guide's other symbols signify.Updated 2026-07-27 · 10 min read
What Dinner at The French Laundry Actually CostsA realistic breakdown of French Laundry pricing — menu price, wine pairings, supplements, service and the total a couple should budget for the evening.Updated 2026-07-25 · 9 min read
Visiting Bouchon Bistro in YountvillePractical information for visiting Bouchon Bistro: location, opening hours, dress code, atmosphere, parking and how it fits into a Yountville day.Updated 2026-07-24 · 8 min read
What Makes a Three-Star Restaurant DifferentWhy three-MICHELIN-star restaurants operate the way they do — brigade size, prepaid tickets, tasting menus, pacing and pricing — and how to decide whether one suits you.Updated 2026-07-24 · 9 min read
The French Laundry Dress CodeThe jacket requirement, what counts as appropriate for all guests, seasonal considerations in Napa and what happens if you arrive underdressed.Updated 2026-07-22 · 5 min read
Parking and Getting to The French LaundryValet arrangements, street parking in Yountville, driving from San Francisco and Napa, and safe alternatives to driving after a wine-paired dinner.Updated 2026-07-21 · 8 min read
A Practical Guide to Dining at MICHELIN-Starred RestaurantsHow to plan a trip around starred restaurants: sequencing bookings, pacing multiple meals, budgeting, and choosing between one, two and three-star rooms.Updated 2026-07-20 · 10 min read
Luxury Dining Etiquette, Explained Without SnobberyPractical etiquette for high-end restaurants: arrival, cutlery, wine service, photography, phones, questions, complaints and tipping — with the reasoning behind each convention.Updated 2026-07-17 · 10 min read
The Best Time to Visit The French LaundryHow the seasons change the menu, the crowds, the prices and the odds of getting a table at The French Laundry — and which months genuinely suit which visitor.Updated 2026-07-16 · 9 min read
What Dinner at Per Se CostsPer Se's tasting menu pricing, salon costs, wine pairings, supplements and service — with a realistic total for two people in New York.Updated 2026-07-14 · 8 min read
Fine Dining Tips That Actually Change the MealTwelve practical, tested tips for getting more out of an expensive dinner — timing, seating, ordering, wine, dietary requests and how to handle a special occasion.Updated 2026-07-13 · 9 min read
Visiting Per Se: What to ExpectFinding Per Se at the Time Warner Center, arrival timing, the room and its views over Central Park, service pacing and practical advice for a New York evening.Updated 2026-07-12 · 9 min read
The Per Se Dress CodeWhat to wear to Per Se at Columbus Circle, how it differs from Yountville, and how to dress for a business dinner in the dining room.Updated 2026-07-10 · 4 min read
Dining with Allergies and Dietary RestrictionsHow to communicate allergies and dietary needs to a tasting-menu kitchen, what can be accommodated, and the deadlines that matter.Updated 2026-07-01 · 6 min read
Accessibility and Mobility AccessStep-free access, restrooms, seating and hearing considerations across the Yountville restaurants and Per Se, and what to request in advance.Updated 2026-06-22 · 5 min read
How Long to Allow for DinnerRealistic timings for tasting menus and bistro meals across the group, and how to shorten or extend an evening without disrupting the kitchen.Updated 2026-06-16 · 4 min read
Tipping, Service Charges and What Is IncludedWhen service is included in the menu price, when a charge is added, and what additional tipping is appropriate in the United States.Updated 2026-06-06 · 4 min read
Bringing Children to a Tasting-Menu RestaurantAge expectations, menu adaptations and the honest question of whether a four-hour tasting menu suits a child — plus better family options.Updated 2026-05-14 · 4 min read

Reservations & BookingPractical, regularly updated guides to booking The French Laundry, Per Se, Bouchon and Ad Hoc: release times, deposits, cancellations and waitlists.Menus & DishesCourse-by-course explanations of the tasting menus, signature dishes and seasonal formats served across Thomas Keller's restaurants.Wine & BeverageHow the wine pairings, cellar lists and non-alcoholic programs work across Thomas Keller restaurants, and how to order well.Thomas Keller & the GroupThe chef, the cooking philosophy, the awards and the structure of the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, explained in depth.Napa & New York GuidesLocal guides to Yountville, Napa Valley and Columbus Circle: where to stay, what else to eat and how to build an itinerary around your reservation.

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