Thomas Keller, the chef behind The French Laundry and Per Se, is giving Yountville a decidedly high-low thrill with a burger pop-up that proudly wears its fast-food obsession. Burgers & Half Bottles pairs wagyu cheeseburgers and crinkle-cut fries with half-bottles of wine, plus a vintage "Brew Bus" parked out front for extra spectacle.
The pop-up first returned in August 2025 in the former La Calenda space at 6518 Washington Street in Yountville, billed as a limited run through the fall. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that it runs as counter service and leans into elevated ingredients like wagyu beef and Bouchon Bakery buns in a straight-ahead walk-in format.
What’s On The Menu
According to Chowhound, Keller’s marquee item is a wagyu burger dressed with his own "secret sauce" and served on a Bouchon Bakery bun. The compact menu also covers a grilled cheese, a fried chicken sandwich, a surf-and-turf sandwich, a lobster roll and an ice-cream sandwich for dessert.
Half Bottles, Local Beer And The Brew Bus
The official Burgers & Half Bottles site lays out the drink program: a lineup of half-bottles of wine plus five rotating taps from Russian River Brewing, including Pliny the Elder, all pouring from a cherry-red 1965 Volkswagen "Brew Bus" stationed outside. The site also lists Friday-through-Sunday hours and recurring specials like BYOB Thursdays and a Friday happy hour.
Why In‑N‑Out?
The concept traces back to a 1992 In‑N‑Out run, when a friend paired a burger and fries with a half-bottle of Zinfandel, a small pleasure that lodged in Keller’s memory and eventually helped shape the pop-up. As SFGATE recounts, that offhand combo became the organizing idea behind Burgers & Half Bottles.
Eater SF and other outlets note that the pop-up quickly evolved into a summer social event in town, with lines often snaking down the block and many menu items selling out before midday. The mix of Michelin-level pedigree and walk-up ease turned the counter into both a local hangout and a tourist magnet.
For a deeper dive into the backstory, check out the full write-up in Chowhound. For the latest hours, complete menu and location details, head to the pop-up’s official site.
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