
Ad Hoc
Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc offers an intimate and comforting dining experience with its daily changing family-style menu and renowned fried chicken.

Highlights
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Ad Hoc

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc offers an intimate and comforting dining experience with its daily changing family-style menu and renowned fried chicken.
Book Ahead
Make reservations in advance to avoid long waits, especially for popular times or days.
Consider Takeout
If you're craving the famous fried chicken, opt for takeout to save time and enjoy it at your leisure.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
American
Price
$$$
Phone
(707) 944-2487
Address
6476 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599, USA
Website
thomaskeller.com/adhocHighlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Legendary Fried Chicken
Indulge in what many call the best fried chicken outside of Kansas, with a crispy, seasoned crust and juicy interior. A must-try dish!

Unique Family-Style Prix Fixe
Experience a daily changing, family-style prix fixe menu that offers a delightful culinary journey with daily specials and comfort food.

Chef Thomas Keller's Comfort Food
Enjoy elevated American comfort fare from the renowned Chef Thomas Keller, emphasizing quality ingredients and skillful preparation.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Ahead
Make reservations in advance to avoid long waits, especially for popular times or days.
Consider Takeout
If you're craving the famous fried chicken, opt for takeout to save time and enjoy it at your leisure.
Check Daily Specials
Visit on specific days for unique menus like Fried Chicken Mondays or Sundaes on Sundays.
Outdoor Seating Comfort
If dining outdoors, don't hesitate to ask for heaters if the evening gets chilly.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Ahead
Make reservations in advance to avoid long waits, especially for popular times or days.
Consider Takeout
If you're craving the famous fried chicken, opt for takeout to save time and enjoy it at your leisure.
Check Daily Specials
Visit on specific days for unique menus like Fried Chicken Mondays or Sundaes on Sundays.
Outdoor Seating Comfort
If dining outdoors, don't hesitate to ask for heaters if the evening gets chilly.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Ad Hoc is celebrated for its exceptional fried chicken and unique family-style prix fixe menu, offering a delightful culinary experience. While many praise the impeccable service and cozy atmosphere, some diners have found certain dishes to be simple or overpriced, and a few have noted inconsistency in food preparation or service speed.
"Finally got to eat here and enjoy some of the tastes we'd previously had from Addendum. The excellent service makes this a step up from the brilliant takeout.
Our three course was salad, pork steak, and soft serve sundaes, and of course we had to add on the famous fried chicken. Note that this is a lot of food for two, but they were happy to package it up
While everything was perfectly prepared, the soft serve was sublime, especially with all-you-desire caramel!"
Brian Albers
"The restaurant is a casual but expensive one. They have fixed menus. I had one of the best fried chickens ever. However, the rest of the menu was simple and nothing to be wowed about. The service was great. Servers explained the menu well."
Soham S
"If you decide to dine in, please note that each person must order a prefixed meal. The prefixed meal typically includes three courses. If you're not very hungry but would still like to try the restaurant's famous fried chicken, you can opt for a takeout order."
Tung Tung Hung
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Ad Hoc is most famous for its incredible fried chicken and its unique, daily-changing family-style prix fixe menu.
Yes, it is highly recommended to make a reservation in advance due to the restaurant's popularity.
No, the menu changes daily, offering a different selection of comfort food dishes, though some specials like fried chicken are consistent.
Yes, takeout is available, particularly for their famous fried chicken, which can be a good option if you prefer not to dine in.
Yes, Ad Hoc offers day-of-the-week specials, such as Fried Chicken Mondays and Sundaes on Sundays.
Yes, Ad Hoc offers outdoor seating, and they can provide heaters if needed on cooler evenings.
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YountvilleThomas Keller is kind of the man when it comes to Napa, which makes it hard to decide which of his concepts to recommend. And while we fully support going big whenever possible (heard of a little restaurant called The French Laundry?), we’re a little bit obsessed with Ad Hoc, his more casual but still mouthwatering love letter to masterfully executed American comfort fare. The four-course menu changes daily, is served family style, and kind of feels like what a best-of-all-worlds family dinner should be, if one of your family members happened to be one of the best chefs in the world and cooked the best fried chicken you’ve ever had.
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At this low-key dining room with zinc-top tables, superstar chef Thomas Keller offers a changing daily fixed-price menu that might include smoked beef short ribs with creamy herb rice and charred broccolini or sesame chicken with radish kimchi and fried rice (check the website for that day's offerings). Ad Hoc also serves a small but decadent Sunday brunch, and Keller's Addendum annex, in a separate small building behind the restaurant, sells boxed lunches to go (including moist buttermilk fried chicken) from Thursday to Saturday except in winter.
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Picture that Sunday night dinner when the family decides to go all out and put together a menu of all their favorite dishes. Well, that’s what’s happening every day at Ad Hoc, but Thomas Keller runs the kitchen. No offense to your brother, mother, or grandfather, but that’s likely to be a reasonable upgrade.
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If you haven’t landed a table at hard-to-get-into French Laundry (6640 Washington St., Yountville, CA 94599), head down the street to Chef Thomas Keller’s casual Ad Hoc (6476 Washington St., Yountville, CA 94599), which serves classic American comfort foods like fried chicken and pot roast.
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We are waiting on a friend to get us in The Laundry .....We also heard Ad Hoc was something we should try ??. If you had to drop one of the 4 that I have reserved which would it be ??. Thank You all for your help with this trip !!!
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Address: 6476 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599 Phone: (707) 944-2487 Website. Chef Thomas Keller opened Ad Hoc in 2006 as an homage to his favorite childhood dishes. The eatery offers casual American fare with an upscale touch.
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The hotel is within walking distance from other top spots in Yountville, including Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc, Bouchon Bistro, and the French Laundry. The hotel has complimentary bicycles, too.
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Others to consider in the immediate area are Redd, L'Etoile, and Ad Hoc in Yountville and Auberge du Soleil and La Toque in Rutherford. None of these places is inexpensive.
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A winning formula by Thomas Keller, Yountville’s culinary patriarch, Ad Hoc serves the master’s favorite American home cooking in four family-style…
THE 10 BEST Restaurants in Yountville Updated May … RH Yountville Restaurant - Yountville, CA OpenTable THE 10 BEST Breakfast Restaurants in Yountville - Tripadvisor WebbThese are the best outdoor dining restaurants near Yountville, CA: Bottega Ad Hoc … WebbRH Yountville Restaurant 183 reviews Open Now American, Wine Bar $$ - $$$ … Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Yountville, Napa Valley - Tripadvisor Webb#6 of 108 places to eat in Yountville Compare ClosedOpens at 5PM New American, Pizza, American $$$$ Bouchon Bistro / Restaurant, Seafood, Steakhouse, Pub & bar #7 of 108 places to eat in Yountville Compare ClosedOpens at 11AM French, Vegetarian options $$$$ ... We loved it from the wine to appetizer to lunch to the macaroons. Read … Find the best place to eat in Yountville, autumn 2022 - Restaurant … WebbLate Night Restaurants in Yountville; Restaurants for Special Occasions in … WebbBistro Jeanty.
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From Chef Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc on one end to Bouchon Bistro on the other end, dining establishments in SoYo (South Yountville) that feature outdoor dining spaces include Keller’s Addendum, La Calenda and Bouchon Bakery, Bistro Jeanty from Chef Philippe Jeanty, Bottega, Ottimo and Coqueta Napa Valley from Chef Michael Chiarello, Atelier Fine Foods & Catering, Mini Model Bakery, and Protea Restaurant with its rooftop dining. Finally, Velo Deli & Pizzeria Yountville offers picnic tables for a quick, house made sandwich or slice of pizza between wine tastings. Additionally, all the public parks in town also offer picnic tables, no reservations required!
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In September 2006, Chef Keller opened the doors to Ad Hoc, his casual dining venue for showcasing the American comfort food of his childhood. The name Ad Hoc, literally meaning "for this purpose," derives from the restaurant's original purpose: to temporarily fill a space while Chef Keller's team developed a different restaurant concept. Yet from the first, Ad Hoc was loved by both Napa ad-hoc-yountville-Thomas KellerValley locals and visitors to the wine country alike, and so this "temporary" restaurant has now joined Chef Keller's three other Yountville, CA properties as a permanent fixture of Washington Street.
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The French Laundry and Bouchon aren’t Chef Thomas Keller’s only shining stars in Yountville; he also owns Ad Hoc, a casual restaurant that features a family-style four-course menu that changes daily, delighting patrons with its elegant take on American comfort food—think buttermilk fried chicken that’s to die for and uber tender and flavorful pot roast. The lively, contemporary setting is designed to exude the comforts of home (if only the kitchens in our own homes smelled this good), and makes for a welcoming place to sip wine while noshing on house favorites like the sinful lobster mac n’ cheese.
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As Chef Thomas Keller’s more casual spot, ad hoc (along with its outdoor addition addendum) is has become a cult favorite, thanks to its legendary Buttermilk Fried Chicken that may actually be the best fried chicken you’ll ever have in your life. Pretty much everything on ad hoc’s prix fixe menu, however, is amazing—from salads down to deserts, whether it’s a poultry or meat dish they are serving that day or seafood. Like most of the restaurants in Yountville, ad hoc is also deeply involved in the farm-to-table movement, which means everything you’re getting is fresh.
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Ad Hoc: Ad Hoc offers a relaxed yet refined dining experience that emphasizes comfort food with a gourmet twist, all created by the renowned chef Thomas Keller. The menu features a daily-changing family-style meal, showcasing seasonal and locally sourced ingredients designed to bring people together over delicious shared dishes. Fan favorites include the fried chicken, the cheese course and fun desserts, with the beverage program featuring local producers highlighting the best of Napa Valley.
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In September 2006, Thomas Keller, executive chef and owner of The French Laundry, Per Se, and Bouchon, opened a temporary restaurant in Yountville, CA called "Ad Hoc". At Ad Hoc, there is only one four-course menu for each night (everyone eats the same appetizers, entrees, and desserts), the menu is never the same, the food is based on home-style American comfort food, and the dinners are prix fixe. Oh, and the restaurant is supposed to close in a couple months, but no one really knows when.
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Another Yountville culinary success and Chef Keller concept, Ad Hoc, is to American fare what Bouchon Bistro is to French cuisine. The four-course menu at Ad Hoc changes daily and features classic American comfort food like fried chicken, pot roast, or short ribs served family-style to evoke the feeling of a simple, down-home meal with an elegant twist. The wine list offers selections from eleven countries and tries to arouse lucid memories of family meals around the table.
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Ad Hoc: Offering a family-style menu in an intimate space that feels like home, Ad Hoc is a casual yet magnificent restaurant run by Chef Thomas Keller. Serving a 4-course prix fixe menu of comfort food with a contemporary twist, the restaurant features fresh, seasonal ingredients often sourced from its own culinary garden. With a small and friendly wine list, Ad Hoc serves dinner five nights per week (Thursday through Monday) plus brunch on Sunday.
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Originally designed as a temporary concept by Thomas Keller, Ad Hoc became a permanent fixture thanks to its wildly popular comfort food. While known for its family-style dinners, brunch at Ad Hoc is a standout experience featuring fried chicken and waffles, seasonal scrambles, and warm, buttery biscuits. The ever-changing menu reflects local harvests, and the atmosphere is welcoming yet elevated—ideal for a slow start to your Napa day.
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Do you love the idea of fine dining, but don’t want to blow your entire girls’ trip budget on dinner at The French Laundry?. Half a mile down the road, you’ll find Ad Hoc — another Chef Thomas Keller creation, but at a fraction of the cost!. Four days a week, Ad Hoc offers a four-course family-style dinner that changes every day, but if you come for lunch on a Friday or Saturday, I highly recommend ordering the fried chicken!
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Most famously, it's the home of Thomas Keller’s perennial Michelin three-star The French Laundry, but several other establishments have earned mentions in that esteemed guide, including Bouchon, Ciccio, Ad Hoc, The Restaurant at North Block, and Mustards Grill. (Ed. note: Ad Hoc, temprorarily closed, is scheduled to reopen on May 30, 2025.) For a casual bite with Midwestern influences, check out The Kitchen at Priest Ranch.
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Ad Hoc is one of the best places to eat in Yountville, offering a casual yet luxurious dining experience. This Michelin Guide Recommended restaurant by Thomas Keller has earned the most Michelin stars in Napa Valley, so you know you’re getting quality cuisine. The multi-course menu changes regularly but always offers delicious and wholesome meals that are sure to satisfy even the pickiest of palates.
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One of Thomas Keller’s Michelin star restaurants, Ad Hoc serves up homey, family-style cuisine that never fails to impress – and is affordable too. The place is minimalist and modern, with a spacious dining room that has wood accents, bright lights, and simple decor. It’s the perfect place for lunch or dinner with your family after you’re done walking around this small yet charming town.
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The restaurant’s four-course menu changes daily and features classic American dishes like fried chicken and barbeque, all served family-style. Drinks here include signature twists on classic cocktails and small, straight-forward wine list. Offerings may include the likes of The French Laundry (TFL) Garden Lettuce Salad with fennel torn croutons and rigatoni carbonara with Hobbs’ bacon.
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If you want a taste of Thomas Keller’s magic (minus the taste of that huge bill waiting for you at the French Laundry), go to Addendum at Ad Hoc. It’s this tiny little backyard building behind Ad Hoc, surrounded by picnic tables and an outdoor scenic garden. You can get three pieces of fried chicken, buttery cornbread, a side of potato salad, and another side of cole slaw for $16.50.
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Ad Hoc is his "casual" dining venue for showcasing the American comfort food of his childhood. There, his daily-changing four-course menu features classic American dishes like fried chicken, pot roast and barbeque all served family style. Addendum is located directly behind Ad Hoc and features fried chicken and bbq options in an outdoor setting during the warm summer months.
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I’m starting off our list of the best Yountville restaurants with one of the most well-known spots in town. Ad Hoc is a traditional American eatery owned by world-renowned chef Thomas Keller (no surprise, but there will be several TK restaurants on this list ;)). Take a seat in the dining room or on their outdoor patio and prepare to be wowed by Ad Hoc’s menu.
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Ad Hoc, meaning “for this purpose” in Latin, originally started out as a temporary restaurant with the purpose of serving customers while the permanent restaurant was being built. With the positive feedback from the community, the owners decided to keep Ad Hoc just the way it was. Now the restaurant is serving up American cuisine in Yountville, California.
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The line for its bakery’s buttery goodness forms early every morning, as does the wait for the weekend-only fried chicken at his casual Ad Hoc eatery (his barbecue-focused Addendum is currently closed). Then there’s Calenda, Keller’s ode to Oaxacan cuisine and culture, and Regis Ova, his posh new caviar and champagne pop-up. Want to take some Keller home?.
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We don’t think Ad Hoc rises to the level of super restaurant, but then it is not supposed to. Best described as serving (the Valley’s best prepared) comfort food, the $49 menu for four courses is set in stone each night (changes being allowed for allergies and religious reasons). It is best to call and ask about the menu to see if it appeals to you.
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The menu changes daily and their Yountville brunch consists of a three-course menu. Guests can try items like their famous Buttermilk Fried Chicken, refreshing mixed green salad, Lobster Mac ‘n’ Cheese, and a citrus tart to finish the meal off. Of course Bloody Marys, Mimosas, and Caviar are available to complete the brunch experience..
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Bouchon and Ad Hoc are the other two, with Bouchon being the more popular of the two as it is right next to the bakery, which shares a name. I got a chance to visit Bouchon on my last trip, and it was one of the best foodie experiences I have had in a long time. Here is all the information so you can visit yourself.
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As I write this, I’m on the waiting list at French Laundry and am eating at Ad Hoc tomorrow night. Still, I needed a drastic new direction for dinner this evening and my research led me to Bear at Stanly Ranch, located at one of the new American Auberge properties in the cool climate Carneros region of Napa Valley.
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Here, it's all about food that warms the soul and company that fills the heart. The ever-evolving menu, a canvas of Chef Thomas Keller’s homestyle favorites, always promises a unique dining experience. Plates brimming with comfort food are passed around, evoking the nostalgia of family dinners.
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One of Thomas Keller’s more relaxed and casual locations, Ad Hoc is just as delicious as his other restaurants . It was highly recommended by my friends and it lived up to my high expectations. I enjoyed their Sunday night supper, but you should also try their well-known Addendum picnic lunch.
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Thomas Keller has spread throughout the town, with the famed French Laundry at one end, Ad Hoc at the other, and Bouchon and Bouchon Bakery in between. He's in good company, too. Richard Reddington's two spots, Redd and Redd Wood turn out Asian inspired fare and perfect pizzas, respectively.
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6476 Washington Street, Yountville * 707-944-2487 * Ad Hoc * $$$$. Chef Thomas Keller opened this spot in 2006, charming guests with hearty, down-home meals. The price is set ($62 per person) and so is the nightly menu, so you won't know what you'll be served when you make your reservation.
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For those who’d like to try star chef Thomas Keller’s cuisine (see The French Laundry) but also pay rent this month, Ad Hoc is the solution. Most famous for its fried chicken dinners (served only on Mon), the restaurant offers a daily changing, prix fixe menu, served family style.…
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Ad Hoc restaurant is located in the small town of Yountville, which is part of the larger Napa Valley region. If you’re driving to Ad Hoc from downtown Napa Valley, expect a 20 to 25 minute drive, depending on traffic. If you’re coming from St. Helena, plan on the same drive time.
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Thomas Keller's "Family Style" Restaurant - Extravagant $$$$. A different menu every day based on what's fresh and available, Ad Hoc is Thomas Keller's "more affordable" restaurant. One menu fits all, everyone gets the same thing and everything is served up family style.
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Bouchon is my favorite of Thomas Keller’s three restaurants in the area (the others being The French Laundry and Ad Hoc). It’s more expensive than Bistro Jeanty, but the food, ambiance and service are all fantastic. You can’t miss the crispy Parisian gnocchi.
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Bringing approachable farm-to-table food to the Napa Valley scene since 2006, Ad Hoc prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients that change according to the seasons. Please make sure you also try one or two of their signature cocktails!
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This casual Yountville restaurant serves family-style plates and features American classics such as crispy fried chicken and savory pot roast and barbeque. With a menu that changes daily, you will be pleasantly surprised with each visit!
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Down the road a bit are the classics - Bistro Jeanty, Bouchon, Michael Chiarello's Bottega, Ad Hoc, all delicious. Now if you really, really want to get into a car or Uber the classic restaurants in Napa are pretty close:
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I’ve had numerous birthday dinners at Ad Hoc, that’s how much I love it. Ad Hoc gives you the Thomas Keller restaurant experience in a more casual but still classy environment. The meals are done in 4-course family style.
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Ad Hoc makes gluten free biscuits and fried chicken (at Addendum by request too). When you dine at Ad Hoc they will make sure you have an incredible experience. They will alter the menu to make sure it is gluten free.
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Every year, I promise myself I'll at least dine at Ad Hoc or Bottega. And every day, a dry aged rib eye (or Iberico jamon, or Tomales Bay oysters, or chicken and truffles, or dungeness crab) win out and I dine in.
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Go for the fried chicken – the best fried chicken in the Napa Valley!. This is a brunch that will fill you up for a full day of wine tasting, or cure any hangover you may have from the day of tasting before.
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This home-style Yountville restaurant, also from Thomas Keller, opened as a pop-up five years ago, but its success made it a permanent mainstay. The buttermilk fried chicken and barbecue are legendary.
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For those seeking a more relaxed atmosphere, Ad Hoc is a one-star Michelin gem, known for its family-style comfort food. Their ever-changing menu promises a unique dining experience every visit.
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If you’d like to continue your tour of Thomas Keller eateries, be sure to check out Ad Hoc, his casual, family-style restaurant featuring a menu of American comfort food that changes daily.
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Keller also owns other prominent restaurants in Yountville which include Ad Hoc, Bouchon Bistro, Bouchon Bakery, Ad Hoc + Addendum, and La Calenda. They are all world-class.
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It’s a casual, family-style restaurant serving American comfort food. The menu changes daily, so you never know what you’re going to get. But it’s always delicious!
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Loved by both Napa Valley locals and visitors to the Wine Country alike, Ad Hoc offers a daily-changing four-course menu, featuring classic American dishes.
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You may also want to try Ad Hoc, a more casual (but still Michelin-approved) venture by Chef Keller, or Bouchon, his French inspired bistro.
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These restaurants include Bistro Jeanty, Ad Hoc, Red, Buchon and the very famous French Laundry (an excellent photo shoot location).
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