I have never been to The French Laundry but had to come check out their sister restaurant in between my wine tastings. We were lucky enough to score a reservation the day before, and were excited as Bouchon came highly recommended, and expectations were high as one would expect. We arrived early and were seated at the time of our reservation (stopped by the bakery while we waited for our table). Service was ok except for 2 small hiccups. A waiter mixed sparkling water into our still water when refilling one round. Not a big deal, just a little annoying. What was upsetting was I literally got stabbed in the back with a fork or knife after our table got cleared. In the waiters defense, it's kind of a tight space, but still shouldn't have happened regardless. I would expect better service from a place like this. Now let's talk food. Absolutely obsessed with the bread we got to start. We got the escargot, a salad, and beef tartare to start. The salad had a bit too much vinegar, but the beef and snails were perfect! Our next course consisted of the duck leg confit, mussels, and trout. The duck was a little dry. Trout was nice and buttery but could've had more flavor. Mussels were delightful. Overall, it was an okay meal. I wasn't blown away by anything and since expectations were high I felt that Bouchon missed the mark a little. Probably would've given 4 stars if I didn't get stabbed and if Thomas Keller's name wasn't attached to set such high expectations. For the price point I would assume there's better restaurants to check out in the area. read more

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If everything at Bouchon was a good as their butter, then it would be 5 stars. I made a reservation for a friend's Birthday as far in advance as I could. I'm a fan of Top Chef, and have wanted to go to one of Thomas Keller's restaurants. The restaurant is a French bistro, and is lovely inside, however, the tables are quite packed in. It was quite loud when we arrived. I think if there a couple loud tables, everyone has to be louder, and the acoustics in the restaurant are not great. We had trouble hearing our server. We were disappointed in the service for a Michelin star restaurant. There were several times where we felt that we had to wave him down. It should not be difficult to pay the bill at a high quality restaurant. The menu was focused, with all the traditional favorites. I had one of their specials to start, a lobster dish that was fantastic. They also have bread they bring to the table, with their butter. We thought the bread was fine, not as good as expected with their own bakery, and as strange as it sounds, the butter helped make up for it. The rest of the meal, steaks, fries, and truffle potatoes, was very good. However, besides the mashed potatoes, which were stand out, I have had equally good elsewhere. I do not regret trying Bouchon, but did not find it Michelin star level. read more

Bouchon - French Near Me - Yountville, California

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Love love love every time I go to about Bouchon and the Yountville location is no different. Gorgeous location and chic French style bistro decor. Our server was very attentive and it was packed since it was a Saturday morning. We specifically asked for a corner booth and they were able to accommodate for us thankfully. I felt like the customers at nearby tables were staring plenty and I didn't enjoy that part. For appetizers we had the pate and the escargot. Both so amazing. For mains, we split the wagyu steak and the mussels. Both were great as well. We were stuffed by the end and had all of our fries leftover. The cocktails were so delicious as well, the mezcal based one was our fav. read more

Bouchon - Escargots la Bourguignonne and pate - French Near Me - Yountville, California

DELICIOUS! This was on my friend's bucket list but I waited a little too long to make reservations. About a month in advance there was one reso left for the night I wanted and it was at 5:30pm, but that was fine for us. They were PACKED when we got there, but they had a table all ready for us. It's a little cramped, I had to shimmy between tables to get to my seat, but it was doable. There were three of us and we shared everything we ordered. I knew I had to have the chicken liver mousse, I'd highly recommend that! We shared the boudin noir, none of us had ever tried blood sausage and when I first cut into it I was a little nervous when I saw the texture but it was DELICIOUS! Even my picky friend had a few bites and enjoyed it. Last we had the boeuf bourguignon, very good, but nothing I'd be dying to try again. read more

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Just. Go. This place is the best! Usually can get a spot at the bar if you're with a small party! read more

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We came here on a Sunday afternoon and were pleasantly surprised to see a prix fix menu for some sort of restaurant week, or restaurant month, promotion. $65 for an app and a main which was not bad of a deal. So I had the salmon tartare and the steak frites. The bread was warm. The salmon was great and the steak was cooked perfectly medium rare. Service was good, waiter filled our water glasses often. Ambiance was nice, feels like a bistro in Paris. read more

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Came here once with a friend and another time with my father after a Broadway and Vine show. The first time I went was for my friend's birthday. We ordered three things being the steak tartare, the salmon, and the steak frites. Honestly, all were wonderful but they were all nothing to write home about. The plus side was that while we were full and the staff were kind enough to offer us a birthday dessert that we declined, they gave us a chocolate bar to celebrate my friend with. The gesture was incredibly sweet and beyond what I would have thought they would do. The second time with my father, I found the experience to be a lot better. We came in late on a busy weekend night. Although we were late and had no reservations (and were not able to make any), they quickly found us a table outside where we had an incredible table and the funniest and personable server. We started with the caviar service and it was incredibly done. All the detail that went into the accoutrements was evident and even as we demolished certain aspects of it, the server and the waitstaff were quick to replenish what we vacuumed up with our mouths. For dinner, we got the poulet roti and the mussels. Both were incredible and worth returning for in the future. Although my first experience felt bland in flavor and service, the second appearance I made persuaded me that I shall return in the near future. read more

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Some of the morning sandwiches, prepared with croissants, are exquisite! The quality of the ingredients is definitely noticeable. read more

Thierry is the most graceful and warmest server I have met for a long time. Usually when I dined at Napa and decline wine or alcohol offer, people usually look at me a little funny. Thierry's warm personality and friendliness were the main reason that our dinner experience were very pleasant and enjoyable. Food is good and service is the best! read more

Bouchon - Petit Plateau - French Near Me - Yountville, California

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Some nights you stumble into magic. You don't plan it. You don't deserve it. But there it is, served up like the last course of a meal you didn't know you were hungry for. We rolled into Yountville later than expected. Delayed flights, a rental car that felt like it ran on regret, and a hotel across the street where we tossed our bags and set out into the night. Half-starved, a little road-worn, and just looking for something to make the trip feel worthwhile. Then we saw it. Bouchon. Buzzing. Alive. Lights warm and golden, spilling out onto the sidewalk like an invitation. The place was packed, the air humming with conversation and clinking glasses. And somehow, like the universe held the door open, there were two empty seats at the bar. We took them without asking. Front and center. The sweet spot. Behind the bar, it was chaos dressed as choreography. Bartenders slicing citrus, pouring with precision, building cocktails like architects. Plates flew past, garnished within an inch of their lives. The room crackled. We started with a bottle of red. I couldn't tell you the varietal. The bartender said it was the best value on the list. He spoke with conviction, and he was right. French. Balanced. Bigger than it had any right to be. It opened the door to the night. Then came the bread. Still warm from the oven, crusty, comforting. Bread and wine can carry a night on their own, but then came the knockout punch. The Bouchon escargot. Snails swimming in garlicky butter, crowned with a puff pastry so delicate it flaked like ash. We've had escargot in Paris, in Nice, in back-alley bistros in Bordeaux. This beat them all. It was decadent, loud, unapologetically French in the best possible way. We didn't need entrées. It was late, and we were there for the moment. But the truffle fries.. those we couldn't resist. Earthy, crisp, addictive. They didn't just pair with the wine, they danced with it. Oysters and smoked trout passed by like minor characters in a story we'll come back to finish. Tonight was about the bar. The energy. The accidental perfection of it all. If you ever find yourself at Bouchon, do yourself a favor.. sit at the bar. Don't wait for the white linen and candlelight. Take the heartbeat of the place, right there in the middle of it all. Watch the show. Feel the rhythm. Be part of something. We'll be back. With time to spare and an appetite to match. But some nights, the unexpected ones, live longest. This was one of those. Not just a chef's kiss. A love letter to the power of a perfect night. read more

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Excellent old style French restaurant with great atmosphere. Our lunches and dinners have been consistently excellent. Not cheap, But good value for the spend. Family favorite. read more

I have to admit, I was disappointed. Bouchon was on my bucket list of restaurants to check out due to Thomas Keller's brilliance. The restaurant was located right around the block from where we were staying at Maison Fleurie, so it was a two-minute walk to enjoy what the hype was about for Bouchon. Unfortunately, the experience fell short. The acoustics were loud to near deafening within the interior dining room. The clientele was quite obnoxious seated around us, and the service was slower than I anticipated, when we waited a bit for our main entrees. Sure the house-made butter for the freshly made bread and pistachio was nice to nosh while we reviewed our menu that represented a vintage newspaper similar to what you saw in early 20th century Paris -- which I admit was cool, it was challenging to get the server's attention for more drinks and to order our meal. While the cocktails from the bar were great such as the bee's knees and salade lyonnaise was magical, the steak frites was so chewy, I had a hard time swallowing it. The Gigot D'Agneau was also underwhelming between the chewiness and not tasting as flavorful as I anticipated. Maybe it was an off night for Bouchon, but I was expecting a lot more, especially with Keller's reputation in Yountville with all of his restaurant. Outside of the French Laundry, Bouchon was supposed to be gold standard with its centrally placed location in town. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment. read more

Escargot and steak and Frites are an absolute must!! Overall everything was delicious and they have a super cute courtyard with heaters read more

Not sure where the negative reviews are coming from, but I absolutely loved my time at Bouchon. We ordered the chilled corn soup, salmon tartare, petit plateau and steak frites for my boyfriend. The chill corn soup is some of the best I have ever had, tastes similar to Japanese corn pottage. Petit Plateau was amazing, all the shellfish was so fresh loved the Kusshi Oysters and mussels. Smoked Salmon was great as well. The oat cappuccino is some of the best I have had in the US. Service was amazing, celebrated our anniversary here and they gave us a cute little card. read more

Bouchon - corn soup - French Near Me - Yountville, California

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I came here for a birthday lunch with my husband and I was REALLY disappointed. Unfortunately I only give this place 2 stars and that's a " barely made it to 2' rating. When you think of Thomas Keller, some words come to mind are " excellence ", " inspirational " " spectacular  " and unfortunately Bouchon did not fit the bill on any of these. First let's talk about the ambiance. We got a really nice booth at the back but the place was so crowded! The inside is definitely VERY small and the tables are pretty close together. I know it's supposed to be modeled after a " French bistro " but man, you can barely get up without bumping into someone next to you. Also... SO MANY FLIES! I don't know what was happening there but we had SO many flies around us! It was reallyyyy annoying. The food: I can live with the ambiance being ok, as long as the food was great. But it wasn't. It was just... meh. We ordered the salmon tartare and it was just terrible. It lacked seasoning and I could barely eat it. Next we ate the fish and it was eatable but again, not great. I feel like their specialty is their steak and frites which we didn't have as it's pretty heavy and we were not that hungry. So that dish is definitely their classic. We also got a salad, that was meh again tolerable but not great. The best part of the meal was the peach cake for dessert. They even put a candle on it for my birthday which was really nice. Do note that the birthday cake is NOT complimentary and they will charge you for your dessert. Now the service... oh man that was also just awful. Our server barely came to talk to us but spend sooo much more time with the table next door as they were super drunk and kept ordering more bottles. And we were totally ignored. So not cool. So yeah thankfully we didn't splurge here but still for the experience it left a terrible impression especially since it's supposed to be Michelin star worthy. I would not make the trip specifically for this place as there are so many other better places to try in the area. read more

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quaint little French bistro. We were seated in a little corner table making it a lovely romantic setting. The French onion soup was good. The braided bread was perfect combination of crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The mussels and fries were flavorful and very generous. But the winner would be the dessert, pots de creme, delicious chocolate mouse in a little pot read more

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Flat iron steak: perfectly medium-rare, juicy, with a crisp crust and garlicky maître d'hôtel butter. Frites are golden, crisp, and fluffy--addictive. Crème brûlée: silky vanilla custard, ideal crackly top, balanced sweetness. Flawless execution, warm service, classic bistro vibe. Worth every penny. read more

Not a good experience. The first clue would be the restroom. Paper and water on the floor, trash cans overflowing...yikes The server was fantastic, knows how to charm and attend. Wine was good. Can't say the same for the entrees, which is shame since we were celebrating a birthday. Would recommend the lamb. Definitely not the chicken or the fish. read more

Magnificent French Style Bistro in California's foodie heaven. Bouchon is an excellent experience from beginning to end. A lovely facility with indoor and outdoor seating, you feel the mix of old and new California with every view from this gem. Service is absolutely flawless, excellent proper French Champagnes are displayed next to Napa's absolute finest wines. Very reasonable prices for wines and champagnes. Warm and extremely knowledgeable staff. Despite the incredible pedigree here, every guest is treated like a VIP. Food was simply magnificent. You won't find a better French onion soup anywhere in the world. First class. Succulent wagyu meats, fresh and exquisitely prepared seafood. You simply can't go wrong at Bouchon. This is one of the Napa culinary experiences CANNOT miss. I highly recommend and can't wait to return. read more

Some foods were great, some were pretty good, and one not good. The service was great. Our waiter was polite and attentive. 5 stars for service. The restaurant had a quaint feel, but it was pretty loud. I found it hard to hear my date at times. Anyways, food wise, we had the steak frites and mussel meals, plus onion soup. They served fresh bread which made my date very surprised at how good it was. Then, we had the onion soup which was fantastic as well. The main course was steak and mussels. The main dishes were cooked well, just a little salty. I was happy they made the steak medium rare correctly! We had truffle fries and spinach for the sides. The fries were nice and crispy with a light truffle flavor, a tad salty. The spinach was cooked nicely, but too salty. We considered telling the waiter, but decided not to bother the nice man. We were already full. read more

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This was my second time here. I had Thursday 7:45 PM dinner reservations for 2. Upon arrival, we were greeted and seated. Nothing has changed, tables still jammed together. Besides that, I still love the feel and look of this restaurant. Complementary bread and butter were placed on our table. Shawna was our server, nice and friendly. We ordered cocktails while deciding what to order. Not being super hungry, we ordered the Escargot, Onion Soup and we were able to share a Steak Frites. The soup and escargot were excellent. My friends steak was cooked perfectly to his request. mine was extremely rare. I sent it back to be cooked more, obviously having to wait. Finally it came back cooked perfectly. My friend an I though both agreed, it was not the best cut of beef, very hard to cut and tough. Both cuts of meat had a lot of silverskin throughout and at this caliber of a restaurant... it's a disappointment. Atmosphere: you felt like you were actually in France in a Bistro. Service: good. Food: good. read more

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We had a wonderful evening at Bouchon last Tuesday made even more romantic by the power going out in the entire town. The wait staff handled it beautifully and dinner went off without a hitch. The food was incredible as you would imagine from a Thomas Keller establishment. All in all a fantastic evening and experience. read more

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Another restaurant in Yountville that did not disappoint! I made a reservation on tock 2 days before, and I noticed a lot of open times. I believe you can make a reservation the same day if you wanted to. We came on a Monday for lunch and decided to sit outside since the weather was so nice. The patio area is not that big, but I didn't feel cramped and there were many open 2 and 4 seaters. Since they were known for their escargots, I decided to order that as an appetizer. The shell didn't come with it but instead the top was Bouchon Bakery puff pastry and the bottom were the snails. The parsley-garlic butter seasoning was delicious. The complementary bread was warm and the butter was out of the world. I also ordered the Steak Frites, Salmon Fume, Boudin Blanc. The steak was tender and the fries were crispy. I've never had an entire white sausage as a dish and it completely blew my mind, especially with the potato puree. I will definitely be back for another lunch or maybe even dinner. So glad I get to check off another restaurant on my Yountville list! read more

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10/10!!! food was Amazing ambiance was great. The Service was Top Tier!!! would highly recommend coming here if you're visiting napa. The bread and butter are absolutely amazing!!!! read more

Fantastic Keller restaurant. Small atmosphere very good food. Had the short rib in a great sauce and the mussels in a butter broth. Both amazing. read more

Came in last night with a group of friends. The service was good/okay, they are always pretty busy. For food I got the gnocchi with vegetables which was sweeter than I expected. I wish it was more savory than sweet as it was a little overpowering. The French onion soup was good. I believe it looks the best, but taste was just okay. Ambiance overall was nice inside the restaurant. read more

Bouchon - Gnocchi with vegetables - French Near Me - Yountville, California

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Very refined traditional French cuisine. Most all dishes you'd recognise and enjoy Keller's imprints on them. It's great food, it's consistent, the service is good, especially if you're polite and friendly. I've had many kitchen tours over the years at multiple Bouchon's. They never get old. If you like the food, I'd highly recommend getting the Bouchon cookbook. Every dish is in there and it my favourite to cook from. I use it about twice a week and have for about 10 years. read more

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Been here twice. First time we ordered the wrong items and had a mediocre experience. Second time we had a perfect experience. We ordered the escargot, steak frites and duck confit. The steak was cooked perfectly, seasoned well and was tender. The duck confit was perfectly crispy on outside and juicy on the inside. For dessert we ordered the chocolate mousse and the crème brûlée. The chocolate mousse was amazing. Probably the best mousse I have ever had. I would come back just to order the mousse. Service was friendly and quick. read more

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Went here for a late birthday lunch. We were immediately greeted and seated. We came around 12:30pm on a Tuesday and it wasn't too crowded. The inside was cute and our server was super friendly and attentive. We ordered the steak tartare, steak frites, and salmon. They gave us complimentary freshly baked bread and butter. My friend loved the bread, but I found the bread to be a bit hard and it scratched up the roof of my mouth. Steak tartare (3.5/5): it was good, nothing special Saumon en Ecailles (4/5): salmon was perfectly cooked and the leeks in this dish were a wonderful addition Steak frites (4/5): steak was good, nothing special. The fries were really well done. We customized it to make them truffle fries. The server brought us out a birthday chocolate bar and it was pretty good too. Overall, Bouchon was a pleasant experience with solid food. It's a nice place to try at least once. read more

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We were promtly seated right at the time of our reservation. The service was prompt, warm and friendly. There were specials of the day but we decided with the onion soup, poulet roti and steak frites. Everything was perfectly cooked. It was our wedding anniversary so our server Nic provided each of us a glass of champagne for starter and a dessert at the end. Love the bread! read more

Bouchon - French Near Me - Yountville, California

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Hmm, this is like wearing the sorting hat in Harry Potter - it can be this or that house. Their certainly is a big buzz for this place, with patrons showing up wearing this best outfits and trying to take in all the vibs. I have now eaten here 4 times. First about 10 years ago, and three more time in the last 6 months. I have been there as a couple and with big groups. It is a nice setup,but very crowded. The food is good, but not over the top. The menu is limited. I have had the steak, fish, pasta and sausage dishes. I have also had their salads, drinks and deserts. We happened to get the same server 2 times, who was outstanding, but the others were also very attentive - although the place was completely full. Taste 3+ (I found the food very salty and over buttery - the 3rd and fourth time I asked for no salt and it was better) Quality 5 Quantity 4 Aroma 4 Taste 3 - the fish was very plain, the steak was difficult, everything was very salty (fries over the top - could not even eat them) Presentation 5 (the presentation is a statement) Appetizer 3 - I found them confused and tasteless Service 5 Parking 5 (just across the street- although had to look) Atmosphere 5 (very nice, but extremely loud) Selection 3 Alcohol 2 - the wine and spirits are very high price. An average wine was over $100. In Napa, the same wine is much much less. Dessert 3 - average Experience 4- it is a very pleasant experience if you do not think of the final bill- nice menu folded with napkins, etc. Value 2 - poor value for the money This is a one time visit restaurant. The menu is very limited. I like their bakery much more, but have to wait 30 minutes to get in. Not sure I like food that much. I need to point out that the visits included late lunches and dinners and review covers both. Maybe at some point they were interesting, with all the books and notoriety - but just average food. It might be a 3 start place on a good day, but dinged them half a start for their pretentiousness. I notice a lot of 'Elite' reviewers giving the place 5 start- because they will get free food at some point. The reason I stay anonymous. read more

Bouchon - French Near Me - Yountville, California

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I went here just for a drink at the bar since we didn't have reservations on a busy Saturday night of harvest season in Napa. We didn't wait too long and was able to snag four seats up at the intimate bar. The bartender was engaging with us while still making drinks for the whole restaurant. I loved the Martini Espresso. We got the salmon tare tare as an app and it was so good!! We had dinner reservations elsewhere that night, butttt having stop here just for a drink and app made me want to stay for the rest of the dinner service. I will be back to do that for my next Napa trip. read more

Bouchon - French Near Me - Yountville, California

Been here several times before. Lunch and dinner. Food is 3 star with limited menu and place is very nice french style but... Dinner at 730. Place packed and tables uncomfortably squeezed and stacked close against one another. Every patron was very loud. Sound was unbearable. Music was terrible. Waitress was polite but rushed. They need to sharpen their knives to cut the steak. Really looked forward to this meal but was disappointed. $$$$$. Place lost it's class from previous visits. read more

This was my first time in Yountville, California. I colleague recommended this place to try and it did not disappoint. This was my first time eating at a place like this. The service was excellent from the beginning to end. I was able to meet the top chef of the restaurant and he was super nice and caring to me and my colleagues. The food was excellent, everything was cooked very well and it was well seasoned. The scenario of this restaurant was very beautiful and this was really an experience everyone needs to experience. I definitely give this establishment a 5/5 rating in my book. Everything from the moment we got there and the moment we left the customer service was great and the food was even better. Do not get me started with the bakery they have right next door. I will 100% be back here and would recommend this restaurant to anyone! read more

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The food is too salty. Not worth the wait and price. The service is decent enough The bakery next to it have average baking, not sure why there are always lone line all the time. read more

Treated like family here in this beautiful French restaurant in Yountville, CA. Heard so many great things about this place having great food but to our amazement all of it is True and how authentic the people are in this wonderful eatery. Thank you again Head Chef Rey and Luis for making our French Cuisine experience delightful. We will come back and eat here again read more

Bouchon - It was great meeting you both! - French Near Me - Yountville, California

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An incredible, authentic spot--definitely make a reservation! They surprised us with a complimentary glass of champagne for my friend's birthday, which made the experience even more special. We absolutely loved the truffle fries, the fresh bread, and the perfectly cooked steak frites. We also tried a truffle pasta special; while it was decent, it lacked some depth of flavor. The service was exceptional from start to finish. Highly recommend! read more

My first mistake was not calling in to reserve outdoor seating since we had our two dogs with us. We ended up waiting an hour 1+ hour for outdoor seating, even though I had a reservation. The outdoor seating space is very limited, so call ahead. The restaurant made it up in service with the waiter, Mike, who deserves a shoutout. He was kind, helpful, and engaged in friendly conversation. I missed the bakery closing next door and he was able to help get pastries. I really appreciated that! The food was delicious and worth the drive up from San Francisco. I would definitely come again. We got the Croque Madame, Trout and Gnocchi. Our appetizers included escargot, chicken liver moouse, and beef tartare. read more

Bouchon - French Near Me - Yountville, California

Everything we ordered was fantastic! We started with the complimentary bread service, which was a nice touch. The laitue salad was light and refreshing, and both the steak tartare and French onion soup were spot on. For mains, the leg of lamb and steak frites were cooked and seasoned to perfection. The dessert special was a bit sweet for our taste, but still a lovely way to end the meal. We celebrated our anniversary, and the complimentary champagne made it even more special! read more

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Really good authentic baked goods. Our favorite was the simple yet amazing croissant. The line was long but moved quick. The raspberry macaroons were light yet tasty. read more

Bouchon - Desserts - French Near Me - Yountville, California

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