French Laundry

Extracted Attributes

• Address

  6640 Washington St., Yountville, CA 94599

• Cuisine

  French and Californian

• Founders

  Sally Schmitt and Don Schmitt

• Location

  Yountville, California, United States

• Year Built

  1900

• Michelin Stars

  3 Stars

• Current Owner & Chef

  Thomas Keller

• NRHP Reference Number

  78000728

Timeline

• The building was constructed by Scottish stonemason Pierre Guillaume, originally intended as a beer pub before being converted into a steam laundry. (Source: Web Search (Gourmet Food and Wine Tours))

  1900

• The French Laundry building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1978-04-19

• Sally Schmitt and her husband Don purchased the building, renovated it, and opened The French Laundry restaurant. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1978

• Thomas Keller purchased the restaurant from the Schmitts for $1.2 million and re-opened it. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1994

• Thomas Keller published 'The French Laundry Cookbook', which won multiple awards. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1999

• A $10 million renovation transformed the restaurant's kitchen into a state-of-the-art facility inspired by the Louvre. (Source: Web Search (Gourmet Food and Wine Tours))

  2017

The French Laundry

The French Laundry is a three-Michelin star French and Californian cuisine restaurant located in Yountville, California, in Napa Valley. Sally Schmitt opened The French Laundry in 1978 and designed her menus around local, seasonal ingredients; she was a visionary chef and pioneer of California cuisine. Since 1994, the chef and owner of The French Laundry is Thomas Keller. The restaurant building dates from 1900 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Web Search Results

• The French Laundry - Wikipedia

  In 1978, Sally Schmitt and her husband Don, a former bank appraiser and then-mayor of Yountville, purchased the building and renovated it into a restaurant. They kept the name, the French Laundry, because locals still referred to the building as such. The French Laundry was one of the first restaurants to offer what would become known as California cuisine. The Schmitts ran the restaurant for 17 years before selling it to Thomas Keller in 1994. In 1999, Keller published The French Laundry Cookbook, which he considers his definitive book on cuisine. That year it won three International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) awards for Cookbook of the Year, Julia Child "First Cookbook" Award, and Design Award. [...] Map 3 Michelin stars Edit this at Wikidata The French Laundry is located in California The French Laundry The French Laundry is located in the United States The French Laundry The French Laundry is a three-Michelin star French and Californian cuisine restaurant located in Yountville, California, in Napa Valley. Sally Schmitt opened The French Laundry in 1978 and designed her menus around local, seasonal ingredients; she was a visionary chef and pioneer of California cuisine. Since 1994, the chef and owner of The French Laundry is Thomas Keller. The restaurant building dates from 1900 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. ## History [...] | | | | French Laundry | | | U.S. National Register of Historic Places | | | | | | The French Laundry is located in California The French Laundry Show map of California The French Laundry is located in the United States The French Laundry Show map of the United States | | | Location | 6640 Washington St., Yountville, California | | Coordinates | 38°24′16″N 122°21′50″W / 38.40444°N 122.36389°W / 38.40444; -122.36389 | | Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha; 17,000 ft2; 1,600 m2) | | Built | 1900 | | Architect | Clark, Alexander (Gus) | | NRHP reference No. | 78000728 | | Added to NRHP | April 19, 1978 (48 years ago) (1978-04-19) | | | |

• Review: The French Laundry - Yountville

  At first glance, the French Laundry and its sibling Per Se are the most conservative among the three-Michelin-starred restaurants in the United States. The menu follows a very rigid, traditional French course progression: amuse bouche, salad, fish, seafood, white meat, red meat, cheese, dessert. The un-Californian “jacket required” dress code was abandoned only recently. But looking a bit more carefully, one notices small signs of whimsy. It's called the French Laundry, after the building's function before it became a restaurant. The napkin is held by a wooden clothespin, the lamps in the dining room have laundry symbols embossed on them, and the bill is hand-written on a laundry tag. [...] Overall: The French Laundry served delicious food, no doubt. French cuisine that was often inspired by American food staples. Flavors were bold, but nicely balanced, the produce was top-notch, and the execution very reliable. In fact, the consistency of The French Laundry is amazing - I've eaten there over a dozen times, and the food quality (almost) never wavered. Add to that a fantastic service team that is professional, but can also be appropriately goofy, creating a relaxed atmosphere. So what's not to like? Well, with consistency also comes a certain predictability. I've already mentioned that several dishes never seem to change, so after a while there won't be (m)any true “surprises” for a returning diner. Also, at a time where many kitchens experiment with novel preparation [...] # The French Laundry - Yountville The main downstairs dining room Rating: 18/20 Where: Yountville, California When: Dinner for 4 on 19 October 2023 Cost per Person: Tasting menu $390 Accolades: 3 Michelin Stars, #1 on Top 50 Restaurants list (2003, 2004) Why: American cuisine reimagined using French techniques, consistently high quality execution, great service “The French Laundry” is probably the most famous fine-dining restaurant in the United States. Owned by chef Thomas Keller since 1994, it has held three stars continuously since the Michelin Guide came to California in 2006.

• Thomas Keller - Wikipedia

  3 Michelin stars Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star 3 Michelin stars 3 Michelin stars 1 Michelin star Thomas Aloysius Keller (born October 14, 1955) is an American chef, restaurateur and cookbook author. He and his Napa Valley restaurant, the French Laundry in Yountville, California, have won multiple awards from the James Beard Foundation, including Best California Chef in 1996 and Best Chef in America in 1997. The restaurant was a perennial winner in the annual Restaurant list of the Top 50 Restaurants of the World_Top_50 "Restaurant (magazine) Top 50"); the voting process has since been changed to disallow previous winners from being considered. [...] In 1999, Thomas Keller published The French Laundry Cookbook, which he considers his definitive book on cuisine. That year it won three International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) awards for Cookbook of the Year, Julia Child "First Cookbook" Award, and Design Award. In 2004 he published "The Bouchon Cookbook," although he gives most of the credit to Bouchon chef Jeffrey Cerciello. Other cookbooks that he has written or contributed are The Food Lover's Companion to the Napa Valley, Under Pressure: Cooking Sous Vide, Ad Hoc at Home (2009) and Bouchon Bakery "Bouchon Bakery (cookbook)") (2012). He provided an introduction or foreword to The Vineyard Kitchen: Menus Inspired by the Seasons by Maria Helm Sinskey, "Happy in the Kitchen" by Michel Richard, "Indulge: 100 Perfect [...] ## The French Laundry Following the split with his partner at Rakel, Keller took various consultant and chef positions in New York and Los Angeles. In the spring of 1992 he came upon a restaurant in Yountville, California, founded by Sally Schmitt, in a space formerly occupied by an old French steam laundry. She and her husband Don purchased the building in 1978 and converted it into a restaurant. Keller spent nineteen months raising $1.2 million from acquaintances and investors to purchase the restaurant, then re-opened it in 1994. Over the next few years the restaurant earned numerous awards, including from the James Beard Foundation, gourmet magazines, the Mobil Guide (five stars), and the Michelin Guide (three stars).

• Discovering The French Laundry: 13 Fascinating Facts You (Maybe) Didn’t Know

  1. The Story Behind the Name The Historic French Laundry Soap Yes, it was literally a French laundry. Originally constructed in 1900 by a Scottish stonemason named Pierre Guillaume, the building was initially intended to serve as a beer pub. However, Yountville's early prohibition laws—enacted not long after he opened—quickly made that plan unworkable. These restrictions were unique to the town and stemmed from its desire to maintain a sober environment for the veterans living within a five-mile radius, as Yountville was home to the nation’s first Veterans Home. With his original vision no longer viable, the space was eventually converted into a French-style steam laundry—and the name stuck. [...] top of page Search # Discovering The French Laundry: 13 Fascinating Facts You (Maybe) Didn’t Know Renée ReBell Jun 18, 2025 4 min read 13 Fascinating Facts About The French Laundry in Napa Valley The French Laundry Restaurant If you’ve been lucky enough to snag a reservation at the legendary French Laundry in Yountville, California—or you’re just curious about what makes this culinary landmark so iconic—you’re in the right place. With its exquisite cuisine, impeccable service, and storied history, The French Laundry is more than a meal—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Before you try your luck getting in, here are 13 intriguing and essential facts to deepen your appreciation of one of the world’s most celebrated restaurants. 1. The Story Behind the Name [...] The Lourve in Paris France In 2017, a $10 million renovation transformed The French Laundry into one of the most advanced kitchens in the world. Inspired by the Louvre, the design prioritized seamless teamwork and visual harmony. Architect Teddy Tesser brought to life Chef Keller’s vision of a culinary temple—one that fosters positive collaboration, efficiency among the staff, and inspires awe in every guest. 8. A Wine Cellar Worth Exploring Wine from The French Laundry's 16,000+ Selection With over 16,000 bottles and a 90+ page wine list, the cellar is one of the most impressive in Napa Valley. Trust the somm—whether you're a connoisseur or not. There is exclusive space in this building for private parties. 9. Michelin Stars and Global Acclaim First Course, Oysters & Pearls

• The French Laundry : r/finedining

  Medium-Eggplant •2y ago We were there in June for my wife’s 50th and our experience mirrored yours. A truly perfect evening. We loved everything about it. Image 66: u/roba121 avatar roba121 •2y ago I was at per se this week (same ownership) and I recognise at least half those courses from my meal. I find that interesting. 1 more reply 1 more reply 1 more reply # People also ask about section People also ask about Best experiences at The French Laundry The French Laundry provides a phenomenal and highly personalized fine dining experience that often includes extra courses, kitchen tours, and thoughtful gifts, making it a bucket-list destination for many. ### Exceptional Service and Personalization [...] ### Contrasting Perspectives Not always groundbreaking: Some long-time fine diners feel that while excellent, The French Laundry is no longer at the forefront of culinary innovation compared to newer establishments. "TFL was HISTORICALLY one of the best places in the world. It hasn’t really changed much and I think that’s why you’ve seen it slide down the lists a bit." Wine pairing concerns: A few Redditors have expressed disappointment with the wine pairings, suggesting that selecting a bottle might be a better option. "I was a little disappointed with the wine pairing after talking to the Somm about what we generally like to drink." [...] # The French Laundry : r/finedining Skip to main contentThe French Laundry : r/finedining