Stephen Ellison

World-Renowned French Laundry Now Requiring Prepaid Reservations

A world famous, Michelin three-star restaurant in Napa County is among the latest high-end establishments to join the trend of requiring prepaid "tickets" for reservations.

The French Laundry in Yountville, long considered one of the finest restaurants in the world, began using a service called Tock on Monday for its customers to book prepaid tables online because, it seems, even a three-star dining room isn't immune to no-shows.

The new booking system requires diners to pay for some or all of their meals when they schedule their reservations. And at the time of purchase, they also can tell the restaurant about any food allergies or make other special requests.

The French Laundry's booking options through Tock include a table in the dining room for up to seven guests, which costs $310 per person, and a table in a private dining room for eight to 12 guests, which costs $400 per diner.

Other restaurants using the Tock system include Lazy Bear in San Francisco, Staplehouse in Atlanta and Lûmé in Melbourne, Australia.

The French Laundry has received Michelin's top three-star rating for the past six years, according to the restaurant's website.

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