Description: We had traveled to Napa Valley specifically to eat at the French Laundry (well, and drink a lot of wine), so I have to say right off that La Toque had a lot to live up to. We had gotten recommendations from a few different people that claimed that La Toque was "the new French Laundry" and that it was just as good as Thomas Keller’s venerable restaurant.
Well, no.
La Toque is a good restaurant. Some could even call it a great restaurant. They are trying really hard, but they aren’t quite at the same level as the top-tier restaurants in the country. I don’t want to discourage you from going – it is a good restaurant and we had a nice dining experience there. But don’t let people tell you it is an incredible restaurant. It just isn’t there yet.
You can see the difference in the little things – service that can sometimes be a little slow, some things a little off in the presentation, etc.
The one thing that really sets it apart is their truffle menus. If you happen to be in Napa when truffles are in season, that’s the best time to go visit La Toque.
The menus at La Toque are great tasting menus ($98/person, with vegetarian options available). The best thing we had on the particular night that we went was fresh skate served with champagne grapes. It was tender and delicious. The vegetarian dish was also a nice surprise. Two people at our table got it and it was so good I was wishing I had selected it for my main course as well.
The cheese courses are also quite good and served in a traditional manner. I advise you to go with the wine pairing as well; at $48/person, you do get around a bottle apiece once you add up all the pours, so it is worth the money. The only "bad" thing, and I say that loosely, is that you’ll usually wind up with more white wine than red. I happen to like red better, but I was surprised at how many of the whites I would have tried again.
The atmosphere is very nice, as the restaurant is quite small and intimate. Perfect for a romantic evening. You can learn more about La Toque at their Web site at http://www.latoque.com.
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