French Laundry SO Not Worth It.

French Laundry SO Not Worth It. posted by JeffreyC206444 - on Sep. 21, 2008 at 1:22 PM We dined with a party of ten in Sept. 2006 and 2007. At our 2007 seating they forgot the promised birthday cake and 5 of the 9 dishes were the same as the previous year. When we emailed and asked them to vary the menu for our 2008 seating, Thomas Keller called us personally and said, "If you don't like what I serve, don't come. I'll even help you find another restaurant to eat at." We canceled and will now dine at Gary Danko's in S.F., a much better restaurant. French Laundry is SO not worth what they charge you. For $6,000.00 for dinner for 10 people Keller should kiss the foot of his customers and remember his roots and where he belongs, sweating over a hot stove to earn his keep. There is no longer room in his restaurant for customers along with his ego.

JeffreyC206444 San Mateo, CA Member Since: Jun 2004 Total Posts: 3 See JeffreyC206444's Profile Find Posts By JeffreyC206444 Save User as Favorite

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• PeggyG1522 replied on Sep. 23, 2008 at 10:58 PM I totally agree. We went there last May with 8 people. The staff was rude and pretentious. We ordered the wine recommended with the food we ordered - not a bottle under $200. The food was good, but not THAT good. Turns out there was a celebrity in the restaurant and us common folk weren't worth the time, even though the bill was over $5000.

  PeggyG1522 Alamo, CA Member Since: Nov 2007 Total Posts: 2 See PeggyG1522's Profile Find Posts By PeggyG1522 Save User as Favorite

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• ElliotW665338 replied on Mar. 4, 2009 at 1:16 PM Gary Danko's is a significantly better restaurant than French Laundry...better food, better service, And...you don't have to put up with Thomas Keller's insufferable ego! There's no subsitute for great food and wine, and the time and opportunity to enjoy both

  ElliotW665338 Laguna Niguel, CA Member Since: Jun 2005 Total Posts: 8 See ElliotW665338's Profile Find Posts By ElliotW665338 Save User as Favorite

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• Kirk - replied on Mar. 4, 2009 at 1:40 PM I have to admit that I love The French Laundry and Per Se, however I enjoy Gary Danko even more. Plus, he is quite an engaging person and makes dining a pleasure.

  Kirk - Torrance, CA Member Since: May 2000 Total Posts: 369 See Kirk -'s Profile Find Posts By Kirk - Save User as Favorite

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• MWS8324 replied on Mar. 7, 2009 at 12:06 PM The days of the No Cal Snooty Attitude Place are gone. The Classics keep going on good value, good service, no attitude to anyone. This Hyper Chef Whoo Haa is SO over. Look around Chefs see who is doing it right. They are busy, making money. On VOLUME not per plate. No Cal has lots to choose from thank the almighty. Zagat cuts through the Bull Pucky real fast. Vote with your $$$.

  MWS8324 Reno, NV Member Since: Oct 2007 Total Posts: 1 See MWS8324's Profile Find Posts By MWS8324 Save User as Favorite

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• Kirk - replied on Mar. 7, 2009 at 12:22 PM MWS8324 wrote: Look around Chefs see who is doing it right. They are busy, making money. On VOLUME not per plate. The restaurants whom you say are "doing it right," run thin on margin, and need the volume just to stay in business. The good top end restaurants I visit in different cities of the U.S., are still very busy and reservations are still in demand - even during the weekday. I was in the Napa Valley a couple of weeks ago and could not get a seating at The French Laundry. The restaurants I do notice having difficulty are the ones that do not have a realistic quality to value pricing structure.

  Kirk - Torrance, CA Member Since: May 2000 Total Posts: 369 See Kirk -'s Profile Find Posts By Kirk - Save User as Favorite

  Reply to this Post Save Post as Favorite Report This Post Post Reply close You are replying to Kirk -'s post. Quote Kirk -'s post in your message. Your Message Spell Check Your Zagat Links To attach ZAGAT links to your message, search for properties below. Attach ZAGAT links to your message (optional) To attach ZAGAT links to your message, search for properties below. Find a Property Name (required) City, State, Country Find You are replying to Kirk -'s post. Quote Kirk -'s post in your message. Your Message Spell Check [b]MWS8324 wrote:[/b] [i]Look around Chefs see who is doing it right. They are busy, making money. On VOLUME not per plate.[/i] The restaurants whom you say are "doing it right," run thin on margin, and need the volume just to stay in business. The good top end restaurants I visit in different cities of the U.S., are still very busy and reservations are still in demand - even during the weekday. I was in the Napa Valley a couple of weeks ago and could not get a seating at The French Laundry. The restaurants I do notice having difficulty are the ones that do not have a realistic quality to value pricing structure. Your Zagat Links To attach ZAGAT links to your message, search for properties below. Attach ZAGAT links to your message (optional) To attach ZAGAT links to your message, search for properties below. Find a Property Name (required) City, State, Country Find Cancel Post

• JosieW2164 replied on Jul. 28, 2009 at 11:37 PM I totally agree that French Laundry is so not worth it. The food was ok, nothing that makes me wanted more. I don't understand what all the hyped is about. Services is mediocre, a bit snobby in my view. Overall, not impressed at all.

  JosieW2164 Sioux Falls, SD Member Since: Jul 2009 Total Posts: 1 See JosieW2164's Profile Find Posts By JosieW2164 Save User as Favorite

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• gtucker86 replied on Aug. 5, 2009 at 1:07 PM You are so right. In 1997, The French Laundry treated us rudely, added extra charges to our bill, and when we had them removed after speaking with the manager, they re-charged the card AFTER we left the restaurant with the extra charges. We had American Express remove the charges and have never gone back in the 12 years since it happened (even though I live 10 minutes away). I have never been treated so poorly at any restaurant in the world. My best experience: Gary Danko - the opposite of French Laundry in service, its peer in food, unmatched in attitude.

  gtucker86 San Francisco, CA Member Since: Jun 2001 Total Posts: 1 See gtucker86's Profile Find Posts By gtucker86 Save User as Favorite

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• MarcR1447 replied on Sep. 9, 2009 at 9:26 PM It seems that chef Kellar has forgotten what got him where he is... his customers. I agree completely with you about Restaurant Gary Danko. They remain accomodating, creative and most importantly, focused on the dining experience of their clientele. Quite simply the best restaurant in Northern California. It's better to live rich than to die rich!

  MarcR1447 Pleasanton, CA Member Since: Mar 2009 Total Posts: 1 See MarcR1447's Profile Find Posts By MarcR1447 Save User as Favorite

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• DavidS2586 replied on Sep. 28, 2009 at 12:23 AM I am sorry, but I have to disagree with all of you. Gary Danko is a great restaurant and Gary is a great chef, but what is the point of comparing restaurants this way....they are two such different experiences. I have a feeling some bad behavior was involved here. Thomas Keller is a very bright, introspective man, and he would never act rudely towards a customer unless really provoked. The time I ate at French Laundry and the times I have recommended it to others, we all agree its not somewhere to eat every day, or even every year, but it is a gastronomical experience beyond any restaurant I have tried, as well as superb service, even for the "little guy" like me. But then again, I treat restaurant workers respectfully.

  DavidS2586 San Francisco, CA Member Since: May 2007 Total Posts: 1 See DavidS2586's Profile Find Posts By DavidS2586 Save User as Favorite

  Reply to this Post Save Post as Favorite Report This Post Post Reply close You are replying to DavidS2586's post. Quote DavidS2586's post in your message. Your Message Spell Check Your Zagat Links To attach ZAGAT links to your message, search for properties below. Attach ZAGAT links to your message (optional) To attach ZAGAT links to your message, search for properties below. Find a Property Name (required) City, State, Country Find You are replying to DavidS2586's post. Quote DavidS2586's post in your message. Your Message Spell Check I am sorry, but I have to disagree with all of you. Gary Danko is a great restaurant and Gary is a great chef, but what is the point of comparing restaurants this way....they are two such different experiences. I have a feeling some bad behavior was involved here. Thomas Keller is a very bright, introspective man, and he would never act rudely towards a customer unless really provoked. The time I ate at French Laundry and the times I have recommended it to others, we all agree its not somewhere to eat every day, or even every year, but it is a gastronomical experience beyond any restaurant I have tried, as well as superb service, even for the "little guy" like me. But then again, I treat restaurant workers respectfully. Your Zagat Links To attach ZAGAT links to your message, search for properties below. Attach ZAGAT links to your message (optional) To attach ZAGAT links to your message, search for properties below. Find a Property Name (required) City, State, Country Find Cancel Post

• JIMR1863 replied on Oct. 15, 2009 at 8:49 PM If I understand this right, when I go to a restaurant I am a GUEST and do not deserve rude treatment unless I have been rude. Over the last decade Keller has gone down hill and is the most overpriced restaurant I know of on the west coast. Never been treated this bad in Paris. Fortunately there are so many great places to dine in this country I will never miss the French Laudry BLADDERDOC

  JIMR1863 Salinas, CA Member Since: Apr 2008 Total Posts: 1 See JIMR1863's Profile Find Posts By JIMR1863 Save User as Favorite

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• LowellS647598 replied on Oct. 30, 2009 at 5:50 PM Keller is living on his reputation. he keeps getting the highest ratings and stars from michelin. the cost is ridiculous.  i go to delfina for great meal 7 also like gary danko for special occassions.

  LowellS647598 San Francisco, CA Member Since: Jul 2003 Total Posts: 2 See LowellS647598's Profile Find Posts By LowellS647598 Save User as Favorite

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• MIRIAMT543792 replied on Nov. 4, 2009 at 6:12 PM i'm glad to see some of the comments here re: FL. i've been there 10 times since 1999, i kept going back despite feeling that it's been going downhill since the renovation. the more recent (and definitely last) time just about tipped me over the cliff. no restaurants, not even dennys, justify that kind of unprofessionalism and rudeness. i'll never ever go back again.

  MIRIAMT543792 San Francisco, CA Member Since: Nov 2002 Total Posts: 1 See MIRIAMT543792's Profile Find Posts By MIRIAMT543792 Save User as Favorite

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