Ad Hoc - Yountville, California

Andi M.

We had a really great brunch at Ad Hoc! The highlight was definitely the fried chicken—it’s truly next level and worth all the hype, especially paired with the waffles. The citrus salad was also fabulous, fresh, and flavorful. The meal ended with banana pudding, which was a bit of a surprising choice. While it was well-prepared, banana flavoring can be polarizing, and it felt like there were so many other dessert options that could have rounded out the meal better.

One thing to note is the set menu—while I appreciate the simplicity, it would have been nice to have some choice in what we ordered. The fixed menu feels a bit reminiscent of the Covid era, and some flexibility could enhance the experience.

Overall, Ad Hoc delivers on taste and quality, but a bit more variety in the menu would make it even better!

Erin H.

Everyone knows this place, always a long line in front of the restaurant! Highly recommend making a reservation before visiting!

If you visit only for fried chicken, you can order to go! Otherwise, the fried chicken is an add-on item outside of the pre-fix menu ($32).

If it is your first time in Napa, it will be super nice to grab a seat! The salad and protein are very impressive, the only thing I do not feel is from Thomas Keller’s kitchen was the pie with ice cream dessert. Other than that everything was perfect!

Chelsea B.

Absolutely wonderful. Of course the food was sublime, but what really made our visit excellent was our server, Brianna. I forgot to tell her about one my allergens and it was in the salad, and she was so kind and had it remade for me, and made sure the sauce that contained it was on the side for a later dish. She was also so kind to my 3 year old and got him his own special kids meal and ice cream. She went above and beyond with her excellent service (especially since it was my mistake!!!) and was so gracious that it made our meal so special. She’s a credit to the Keller restaurant group and I thank her for making our meal so wonderful. We’ll be back for sure!

Dano

Ad Hoc was our introduction to Thomas Keller’s restaurants, and it set a high standard for exceptional service and cuisine, shaping our subsequent experiences at his other establishments.

Our dinner included a Kale Caesar Salad, Roasted New York Striploin, a Cheeseboard, and Gingerbread Cake. The striploin was flavorful, though the portion was only about 2.5 pieces per person (the attached image is 3 servings). Even so, the generous sides ensured we left feeling full and completely satisfied!

Zhongyi T.

Well... The most famous Fried Chicken is way overrated. I'd prefer KFC to this. The avocado toast was great. Also there's only set menus so you can't just get whatever you want and a brunch can end up costly.

Mike L.

Visited with my family as we were on a trip to northern California to visit the Charles Schulz Museum and checked out a bunch of the other sites around the area. Got reservations fairly easily here and were excited to check out a Thomas Keller restaurant without breaking the bank and going to his French Laundry.

The service was on the spot, all of the waitstaff were pleasant and checked on us not too often but just enough to make sure we had what we needed/wanted. The atmosphere of the restaurant is a bit on the noisy/loud side and the 80-90's music was irritating for my wife. None the less, the decor and setting were nice and they had outdoor seating as well.

Now, onto the food... The short rib was a bit on the dry side and I was expecting it to be savory and fall apart tender but for me, it was not. We had the gluten free fried chicken as an add-on and it was very good. The mushroom side was a bit on the salty side and the salad was large and it was for our family of 4 but sadly our two children don't do salads so for me and wife, it was too much but that's on us not telling the staff we only needed salad for two. The rest of the meal was very good.

So, all in all, a good, but not a great dinner at Ad Hoc for the money spent.

Winnie Y.

The best deep-fried chicken I’ve ever tasted! It has a perfectly crispy exterior and tender, juicy meat inside. From the 3rd pieces onwards, i have to pair it with the spicy sauce, which helps cut through the oiliness.

Melissa Y.

Made reservations. Seated right away. It's a chill setting. Tables are well spaced. I read that the chef wanted it to be high-end food but a casual vibe. Mission accomplished.

The staff are great. Explain the dishes. They are attentive.

It's a set menu. You can add on options. The salad is really good. We had the option to add protein, but it is not needed. The dressing with the hint of dill is so refreshing. The croutons are great.
The ham, eggs and potatoes are awesome. I am not a ham lover, but this I would eat all the time. Add the The fried chicken. Don't come if you're not gonna do it.

Would come again to try the other options.