Yountville: Spontaneous Day Out in the Wine Country

Yountville, Napa Valley, California

Food and wine are best consumed together. It is only natural, then, that the Napa Valley offers gourmet dining destinations throughout the wine country.

Those wanting one stop to dine before, during, or after wine tasting can head straight to Yountville. This tiny village boasts of the World’s Best and Michelin-starred restaurants, including Thomas Keller’s French Laundry.

For a casual day out, you can savor Keller’s dining experience in his other Yountville restaurants: Bouchon, Ad Hoc, and Addendum.

Bouchon

Bouchon Bistro opened a few years after French Laundry. The restaurant serves classic French bistro cuisine, such as moules, boudin noir, and steak frites.

Next door, Bouchon Bakery serves as the artisan bread commissary for Keller’s restaurants. The storefront also sells classic French pastries as well as sandwiches and salads for a take-away meal.

Always expect a line out the door at Bouchon Bakery. The queue moves quickly as Yountville is a pleasant little town to enjoy the outdoors. Once you step inside, you can watch the bakers prepare the breads through the glass doors

A Bouchon Bakery classic. Bouchons au chocolat, French-style brownies, are a highlight of the bakery. Made of dark chocolate and dark chocolate chunks, these tender and moist brownies are beyond excellent

Bouchon Bistro Yountville
6534 Washington Street
Yountville, California
Monday to Friday, 11am to 12am
Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 12am
Weekend Brunch, 10am to 12pm
+1-707-944-8037

Bouchon Bakery Yountville
6528 Washington Street
Yountville, California
Daily, 7am to 7pm
+1-707-944-2253

Ad Hoc

Ad Hoc originally opened as temporary restaurant while Keller developed his next big dining concept. However, the casual American comfort food quickly won the hearts and stomachs of locals and visitors.

Today, the format remains with a daily changing four course menu (in which you find out of the day itself) and family-style dining to reflect the comforts of home. While casual, the quality of ingredients are reflective in the taste of the food and the level of service which relaxed yet refined.

Salad course. Apple and Endive. A rustic presentation of salad served family style to begin meal. You can taste the quality of the individual ingredients from local purveyors. The light salad is a refreshing start to the hearty meal ahead

Fish and chips, an additional course for a supplementary price, are one of the best plates in the Bay Area. Light, fluffy fish with the perfect amount of batter and frying. Keller’s success of fried chicken translates to the success of his other fried items

Ribeye with Yorkshire pudding and creamed spinach. The main course of the family style meal is typically a hearty order to share. The plating in pots, All Clad no less, reflects the “comforts of home” theme of the restaurant

Cheese course with goat cheese with honey toast. The cheese course transitions of the meal from savory to sweet. Honey and cheese are a beautiful pairing with the savory and sweet playing on your palate

Sundaes. Do-it-yourself sundaes to conclude the fun, family-style meal. While it may seem like just a sundae, the quality and flavor of the sauces (chocolate, caramel, and strawberry) are clearly made from the expertise of this World’s Best chef

Ad Hoc
6476 Washington Street
Yountville, California
Thursday to Sunday, 5pm to 10pm
Sunday Brunch, 9am to 1:30pm
+1-707-944-2487

Addendum

Addendum is an addition to Ad Hoc, as it is literally in the backyard of the restaurant. In the outdoor setting, Addendum serves its boxed lunch to-go orders from a shed in which guests can dine on the benches or take it with them during their wine tasting adventures.

The idea for Addendum, and its continued success, stems from the popularity and demand of Ad Hoc’s Sunday fried chicken. At Addendum, the menu only offers 3 items for $16.50 each: the famous buttermilk fried chicken, barbeque pork ribs, and pull pork sandwiches. Side dishes, beers, and wines are also offered on the menu for full enjoyment of the meal.

In the backyard of Ad Hoc behind the parking lot is a manicured garden for Addendum. The summer garden opens during Spring, Summer, and Fall months and hibernates during the winter

Open only on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays for lunch, you can always expect a long line of eager eaters who made the journey for this amazing fried chicken. If you plan ahead, you can also call in your order and pick it up in the “phone orders” window

It’s not the wine country without the wine. The menu offers a fine selection of beers and local wines which you can order by the glass, carafe, or bottle. This is a carafe of rose wine to pair with the fried chicken

The famous Thomas Keller buttermilk fried chicken, served with cornbread and your choice of two sides. The fried chicken has the perfect seasoning and bite of the batter with a deep tender and moistness of the chicken meat inside

Barbeque pork ribs with pulled pork. Another specialty of Addendum with the ribs coming from the garden’s smoker. If you come with a group, these ribs are worth getting. However if you want one item, always go with the fried chicken

Addendum
6476 Washington Street
Yountville, California
Thursday to Saturday, 11am to 2pm
Closed for Winter
Opens in the Spring, Summer, and Fall months
+1-707-944-2487

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Angela

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Angela

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