Kai Hanohano is the Chef de Cuisine at RO Restaurant & Lounge, leading a kitchen focused on Asian flavors and locally sourced produce. He has a progressive career history, starting from entry-level positions to his...
Insights
Asian FusionLocal ModernFine diningDinnerFarm To TableFine Dining
Last updated: 10/8/2026, 5:11:29 AM
Key Information
RO Restaurant & Lounge is a new destination in Yountville, California, offering Asian-inspired cuisine with a California twist. It emphasizes refined simplicity and seasonality, utilizing local ingredients of the highest quality.
Customer Perception
Customers generally perceive RO Restaurant & Lounge as a high-quality dining establishment with an Asian-inspired menu rooted in California's local produce. It is noted as a new destination from a renowned chef.
Additional Details
The restaurant is located at 6480 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599.
Operating hours suggest dinner service is available from Wednesday to Sunday, starting at 4:00 PM. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
5
We recently dined on the outdoor patio at RO, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. We were warmly greeted by the hostess, and when we asked if we could dine outside, she was very accommodating and seated us next to the beautiful fireplace, which created the perfect ambiance.
Our servers, Rommel and Alexis, were wonderful. They were knowledgeable, attentive, and did an excellent job explaining the menu and making recommendations.
We started with cocktails and ordered the RO Sour. It was absolutely delicious, with the perfect balance of sake, yuzu, and black cherry.
For starters, we ordered the Chili Cucumbers, made with fresh ingredients from Thomas Keller's Culinary Garden. We also shared the Chirashi Rice Bowl, featuring fresh tuna and trout roe—it was my favorite dish of the evening and a huge hit at the table. The Garden Tempura was another standout, with perfectly crisp mushrooms and zucchini paired with a sauce that was simply incredible.
Of course, we had to end the evening with dessert, and I highly recommend trying all three. The Shiokoji Ice Cream was exquisite, topped with Royal Caviar and miso caramel for a truly unique and unforgettable combination. The Strawberry Chouquette, with fresh strawberries and buckwheat shiso, was equally delicious. And you absolutely have to order the shaved ice—it tastes exactly like an Orange Creamsicle! We shared all three desserts, and every bite was amazing. We couldn't get enough.
RO delivered an outstanding dining experience with exceptional service, beautifully crafted dishes, and unforgettable desserts. We can't wait to return.
I really wanted to like this place, after all a TK restaurant. Unfortunately this place felt short for me. My favorite plate was the scallops. The others were OK but not spectacular. This was surprising as some had the names of the popular French Laundry and Bouchon suggesting they were created in those places. If I ever go back, I would only order from the appetizer section. The rest is overpriced and poorly executed. As an example, my fish was super dried and the fried chicken was mostly breading than anything else. The tempura was OK but nothing different than one would get at a local above average place. Cocktails were solid and the service was solid. Ambience is nice but the place has more a lounge vibe than a high end restaurant experience. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the lounge is in the name of the place, just letting you know this is not the place to go and talk either casually or for business if your interest is getting to know the other person or just have a nice conversation. Finally, I thought the food was way overpriced for the quality and quantity. This is my third TK restaurant and quite honestly, I don’t get it. With such name recognition, I would expect much more from his restaurants yet I have always come out disappointed been that at Bouchon, the Mexican spot now closed or this new venture.
Amazing dinner, high quality ingredients, fine and well presented dishes. Staff is nice and well prepared, we also had the chance to exchange a few words with the Sommelier about Italians and world wines!
Cool atmosphere and vibes, perfect for a romantic dinner but also for a chill evening with friends.
We would come back 100%!
The RO Lounge is simply exquisite; a true gem in Yountville. It’s the perfect place to unwind with a glass (or bottle) of champagne and some incredible bites. The chip & dip, deviled eggs, and oysters are all delightful, especially when paired with caviar.
They offer an impressive selection of champagnes by the glass and bottle, along with a few still wines. We’re especially fond of their restaurant group’s own sparkling wine, Modicum, produced by Schramsberg; a beautiful wine made exclusively for Thomas Keller.
Be sure to check their Instagram or website for nights with live jazz, it adds such a wonderful touch to the already sophisticated atmosphere.
Phenomenal experience! The dishes are exquisite, and well balanced, and the service is top notch. Everyone from the chefs to the front of house cares about what they do, is insightful, and it shows. Premium selection of wines, spirits, and caviar as well. Pay a visit!! You will be glad you did.
