Having been to Bouchon a couple times for dinner, I recently visited for lunch and had a great experience. We arrived right around noon and the indoor dining area was nearly empty (outside was full). We were promptly greeted by a friendly server and started to browse through the menu.

Overall, the food was great--I had the Tartine du Jour, which was an open faced halibut sandwich served on toasted levain with french fries. I was a bit hesitant to order this as I wasn't sure about having halibut on a sandwich, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The good thing about going to the more upscale restaurants for lunch is that it is generally more relaxed and a bit lighter on the wallet--not to mention easier to get in at a decent hour. Check out Bouchon for lunch next time you're in the valley.