Wine Country is known for its world-class cuisine. Now, two of the region’s Michelin-starred restaurants also are getting recognized for the amounts of cash diners shell out to experience their food.
SingleThread in Healdsburg and The French Laundry in Yountville are on a new list of the “10 Most Expensive Restaurants in the U.S.” compiled by GoBankingRates, a personal finance publication.
SingleThread, Healdsburg
SingleThread, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant and inn in downtown Healdsburg, offers a 10-course Kaiseki-style tasting menu that ranges from $425 to $500 per person, depending on the day of the week.
Opened by Kyle and Katina Connaughton nearly a decade ago, the restaurant quickly rose to prominence — earning two Michelin stars in 2018 and achieving the coveted third star the following year. In 2024, it was recognized on the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurants list for the fourth time in a row.
Nearby, the Connaughtons operate a 24-acre working farm that supplies the restaurant with seasonal ingredients central to its Japanese-influenced, hyper-local approach. Above the restaurant, a five-room inn offers guests an immersive experience, recently earning Three Keys from the Michelin Guide in recognition of its elevated hospitality.
Restaurant reservations are released at 9 a.m. on the first of each month via OpenTable, for the following month’s availability. A prepayment in full is required to confirm a booking, and cancellations or rescheduling are not permitted. Guests can also pre-select beverage pairings through OpenTable or order them tableside during their visit.
SingleThread, 131 North St., Healdsburg, 707-723-4646, singlethreadfarms.com
The French Laundry, Yountville
Just across the county line in Napa Valley, The French Laundry in Yountville offers a lavish multi-course tasting menu — one of the most iconic dining experiences in the country.
Opened in 1994 by acclaimed chef Thomas Keller, The French Laundry is housed in a historic stone building that once served as a 1920s French steam laundry. The 1,600-square-foot space dates back to 1900, when it was constructed as a saloon. Keller discovered the property in the early 1990s while searching for a space to realize his dream of bringing refined French cuisine to Napa Valley.
The French Laundry’s menu changes daily but remains steadfastly committed to classical French techniques and seasonal ingredients of the highest quality. It has held Michelin’s highest honor — three stars — since 2007, helping to make Keller the only American-born chef to simultaneously operate two restaurants with that distinction: The French Laundry in California and Per Se in New York.
In 2023, English food review and recipe website Lovefood named it California’s “most famous” restaurant, and recommended it as one of the 50 places in the country that diners should experience at least once in their lives.
Guests can choose from several dining options, all requiring prepaid reservations. GoBankingRates stated The French Laundry’s tasting menu starts at $390 per person; however, the restaurant’s Tock page has reservations starting at $425 per person. Private dining spaces are also available for $600 per person. For an even more exclusive experience, The French Laundry offers occasional special events, such as its Black Truffle & Caviar Dinner, priced at $1,200 per person.
The French Laundry, 6640 Washington St., Yountville, 707-944-2380, thomaskeller.com/tfl
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