He needs to hire really, really, REALLY good people then.

I just called FL and asked to see if they can add one more to my party. They said no for now but will put a note just in case there is a cancellation

I have feeling that this is not a good sign? I would hate to have one person getting shut out and I would also hate to have to cancel the reservation since we are going there for my Birthday.
This sucks! We have been trying to get in to this place for last 4 years and this happens....
Any other suggestion

Thanks
Rick

Its our schedule.... We make it up to Napa area twice a year and it is always at end of Nov and May.
I know I should try to make a reservation 2 months ahead but could never get thru
I have been on waiting list every year but no luck so far...... Maybe this year

John,

Getting a reservation at TFL is very difficult. One must call exactly 60 in advance of when you want the reservation at 10:00am Pacific and hope you can get through. With just over 60 tops and two seatings the reservations are gone in 10 minutes. You put the number on speed dial and pray.

I have never been able to get a reservation over the phone. The only times I have been when the Concierge has gone directly to TFL and stood in line outside the door first thing in the morning and one time my son went to opentable.com at 11:59 pm and was able to get on the site first. Those reservations are gone at 12:01am.

Just to correct David here, the advance is two calendar months, not 60 days. The time to call is 10:00 a.m. PT. The two tables that are available over the internet open up at 9:30 a.m. PT each day.

All of the above is as of a couple of months ago (the last time I tried to get a reservation).

I have tried for years to get a reservation (without luck) and we go to wine country 2x a yr. Someday if we want to splurge will book our stay at one of the more expensive Yountville properites so we can get reservations through their concierge. I hear that's the best way to get in! I have never even been able to get through by phone! Its always busy!

skwid,

The opentable thing is midnight; at least it was a couple of months ago.
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Skwid mentioned he wants to build a new hotel/resort across the street. I'm pretty sure this is in the works. I would assume that if you booked the hotel you would have first crack at restaurant reservations. But that is still down the road a couple of years. Who knows? By then we will probably want to go somewhere else.

TJ- Ted Drewe's Concretes love in a cup, good enough to shampoo with! as a native of STL I have spent many an evening in 12-16 deep lines waiting for a fix. Dutchman's Delight, Chip Cherry, I'm drooling. gotta get back to STL to say hey to the fam and head for Ted's

I was able to get a reservation for six on the telephone just recently. Of course it was the second day of trying and using speed dial like a mutha.

My partner in crime was doing the same thing. Fortunately one of us did get through.

Lucky You!

I have never had too much trouble getting through to the FL (phone). And we've heard lots of "day-of" good luck stories getting into the old brothel.

The New York joint, while not a cc of the French Laundry, Per Se , should be worth the wait as well. Just wondering what will the Cornets be filled with??

Konadog, man those concretes are awesome. We were out there for a friend's wedding and we made a point of making a pilgrimage not so much for the wedding, but for the promise of a concrete.

'love in a cup' -- totally, dude, totally

jazin: You don't have to spend top dollar to get a concierge to wait in line for you. We stayed at the modestly priced Bordeaux House in Yountville, and Jean, the Inn owner did us the favor.

When we stayed at the Bordeaux House, the last day of our stay I walked over to the FL at 9:15 to see how long the line was for "in-person" reservations. Truth is, only about 8-10 people were there. And some of those were couples. Didn't seem like a big deal. It was only then that I kicked myself for not thinking of this earlier, but had I been given reservation requests by Forumites, I could have made reservations for others each morning. Perhaps Forumites who are going to be in the Yountville area can post their availability to hop on over to the FL, to see if anyone else would like a reservation two months from that date. Sort of a "scratch my back/scratch your back" kind of thing. Something to think about after FL re-opens next Spring.

Lets hope the FL is still FL caliber come re-opening time.

It really helped knowing the prompts, I believe once the voice mail system picks up you enter 4 then 1. GA correct me if I am wrong.
PE

My wife just bought the latest Zagat (2004 edition). Marinus (Bernardus Lodge) that DavidN recommended has the top food rating - 29 (up from 28 in the 2002 edition) for the greater San Francisco area. FL went from 29 to 28 (2002 edition) in the food rating.

I was recently at Marinus. A very fine dining experience. Bernardus Lodge where Marinus is located is well worth staying at for a nice weekend getaway. A review of Marinus will be in the next issue of Oeno-File.

We also enjoyed staying at the Marinus, even thought it is a little too POSH for us. Since the lodging package includes dinner (except for wine and service IIRC) and breakfast, it is actually a good deal. Come to think of it, the total cost of a beautiful room, great dinner, wine and breakfast was about the same as just dinner at FL (mainly because they really get you on the wine).

The people (all dressed in white) playing croquet just ourside your patio is quite a site to see.

I have standing reservations for December 30th. Have for five years.