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Atelier Crenn
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
3127 Fillmore St(between Filbert St & Pixley St)
San Francisco, CA 94123
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
(415) 440-0460
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 6 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Denny B. said: "Maybe it is too hard to find. Jeanne D'arc is definitely a place that needs reservations. You will meet everyone involved with the restaurant and the kitchen before the night is over. This is really a quaint place that upholds a…" read more »
150 reviews for Atelier Crenn
Review Highlights
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"Both the foie gras and pate were scrumptious." In 29 reviews -
"We both got the Chef Tasting Menu - 7 courses for $125." In 40 reviews -
"Normally, Kir Breton substitutes hard apple cider." In 14 reviews
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150 reviews in English
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Review from Arlene M.
5/26/2012
Went here for my birthday dinner with the hubby a couple of weeks ago. I cannot believe this place only has one Michelin star. It is easily better than Coi or Cyrus, both 2-star places, and is in the same league as Manresa, which has had 2 stars for ages.
At first I was thinking about just going for the classic menu for $95, but a friend of mine who went recently said it wasn't quite enough food, so hubby and decided to splurge on full tasting menu and wine pairings ($160, +$90 for the regular wine pairing). I'm so glad we did since it was totally worth it (and we were definitely NOT hungry in the end!) Including multiple amuses-bouche, palate cleansers, and desserts it must have been at least 18-19 courses...we got there at 7pm and we left at 11:30pm.
I probably won't have the space to talk about every single one but here are the highlights:
- "Kir Royale" amuse-bouche: I'm a sucker for molecular gastronomy and one of my favorite techniques are when they make these little spheres that are filled with liquid-y goodness. It did taste like a kir royale...though I do wish it had champagne inside instead of the cider!
- Speaking of champagne, they started our wine pairings with a wonderful bubbly and they served it in these cool wine glasses (those extra wide ones that are supposedly shaped after Marie Antoinette's breast). You just don't see those anymore really and they were just so fun and festive. The bubbly was good too. :)
- Oyster: It was served with a really great soup/sauce, and it even had an "oyster leaf" palate cleanser that went right before it, which was a leaf that tasted like an oyster! Definitely never had anything like that before
- Razor clam: I loved razor clams in Spain, but this is definitely a very different preparation than anything I've had there. Maybe because I've never had it with carrot foam before. A lot of people hate on foam, but I think when it works, it just really works. This is one of those dishes.
- Abalone: This was definitely one of the WOW dishes. Just had so much flavor, and it was actually a pretty decent sized portion. At this point, I thought this was the best item on the menu, that is until the next course...
- Foie Gras: This was easily the dish of the night, and probably the best preparation of cold foie gras that I've ever had (better than the French Laundry!) The texture was just perfect, it was so cold and thin, but melted instantly as soon as you put it in your mouth. Came with a nice piece of brioche. Makes me sad that I'll probably never have it again after the foie gras ban takes effect in July :(
- Palate cleanser "lollipop". This thing was sticking out of a plant. Seriously. It may be too much for some, but I actually dig the over-the-top presentation. And it was yummy :)
- Some sort of dessert with liquid nitrogen: I don't even know how to describe it, except it was weird, and tasty, and unlike anything I've had before. Spectacular.
- Extra desserts: I got an extra dessert since it was my birthday! :) The split log of mignardises came around the same time, and it was full of awesome. I only wish they had little to-go boxes for these candies like some places I've been to since I was ready to burst at this point.
The wine pairings was excellent overall, and the pours were very generous. I do kinda wish there were more red wines, but since most of the early courses were light vegetables or seafood I can see why there were a lot of white wines. My favorite was a wonderful beaujolais which was probably had the most "oomph" out of any beaujolais I've ever tried, and this was definitely the best and most surprising wine of the evening. I definitely appreciated getting extra pours when we needed it, like when we finish a wine after one course that's supposed to last 2 courses (Oops...you put it in front of me, I will drink it!). I think they probably underestimated our wine-drinking capability though, since even after we put away all the extra pours, I was still craving some wine during my cheese course, which didn't come with any. I wish they had given me the option to get a glass of port then, though I finally decided to get a port-like French fortified wine to go with the last of the desserts.
Chef Crenn came by the table to say hi, which is always great, not all top chefs do this, or are even present in the restaurant every night. This dinner definitely blurred the line between food and entertainment. My only regret is that I didn't get to take a picture of every single dish since everything looked spectacular (not that pictures would do it any justice). This is definitely one of my top meals I've ever had, and I would love to come back someday. -
Review from A J.
San Francisco, CA
5/20/2012
The best meal we've had in San Francisco (or anywhere else?).
It's hard to overstate how enjoyable we found dining at Atelier Crenn. Constantly playful and surprising, unbelievably beautiful, and almost always delicious- the 4-hour stream of dishes on the full spring tasting menu was perfectly sized and paced. We shared a regular beverage (mostly wine) pairing between two and would definitely recommend that. Most of the pairings were excellent, with a couple of surprising departures from the usual.
Overall we were delighted at every turn, wowed by the creative presentations, and in gastronomical heaven from the carefully chosen flavors. It was also a nice touch that Chef Crenn stopped by our table a couple of times during the meal to check in on how we were doing.
If you are thinking of a high end meal anywhere near San Francisco you owe it to yourself to give Atelier Crenn a try. Expensive, yes, but an incredible culinary experience and nowhere near the price of Saison or The French Laundry. Seriously impressive work and we can't wait to come back again. -
Review from Chantel C.
Burlingame, CA
4/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'll just mention the memorable dishes from the ($160) tasting menu.
The squab....you'll see.
The abalone here was definitely better than the one I had at Coi.
Razor Clam...the flavors in this dish were all so different..but yet mixed very well together.
Shaved Foie Gras was actually tasty....and that's saying something since I just had Per Se and Daniel a few weeks ago...
Overall, it's a place I would like to try again. -
Review from Albert H.
3/26/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Second best fine dining experience we've had in the city and county of San Francisco, and certainly head and shoulders above third place. I'm surprised it's not completely overrun ... yet.
The conceit of poetry in the form of food is appropriate to chef Crenn's relatively modern and often Asian-inspired food. Platings were artful, the dishes were skillfully prepared and delicious, and the experience was a cohesive one. There is a tendency in making fancy food to use ingredients or fancy platings just because the look cool or are in vogue, without regard to whether they make sense. The beautiful meal we received made sense, fit a theme, and above all tasted good.
They offered two menus the night we visited - the Chef's Classic Menu and the longer form "Moments of Winter, An Introduction". We chose the latter, longer form dinner and shared a wine pairing. They have a list of a dozen or so wines by the glass, from which the classic pairing seemed to be chosen, though it also included some things which were not quite wine. The single wine pairing was definitely generous enough for two to share, all wines from France as far as I can recall, supplemented by a sort of cocktail at the beginning and another solid cocktail with the palate cleanser.
The menu was seafood-heavy with some amount of Asian influence. Poached mussels, trout roe, kir in a thin chocolate shell, a single sweet shrimp, oyster, dungeness crab, razor clam, shaved foie gras, madai, mackrel, pigeon, an amazing pear, hibiscus leaf and sage dessert and one of the most gorgeous sets of mignardises we've seen in a long while. All beautifully and complexly plated. All flavors well exposed.
Service was formal without being stuffy at all and pacing was almost perfect. Dishes were explained clearly, the kitchen was queried when we had ingredient questions, and the wines were explained well, if not particularly thoroughly.
Chef Crenn appeared and stopped to chat with each table, unfortunately approaching ours just as I was engrossed in trying to take a picture of a particularly nice vegetable garden which was provided in place of the crab due to an allergy. Sorry, chef.
If there were any missteps, it might have been a slight bitterness in one bite of the shaved foie course ( having tried to de-vein a lobe or two myself, this is not exactly unforgivable in a shaved course like this - nothing visible ), and it being somewhat unclear when and how the beautiful cheese cart might have come into play in our particular meal. We were asked at one point if we might be ready to move on to dessert, and it was not quite clear what the other option would have been; I guess we could have asked.
Unlike many over-the-top fine dining experiences we've had, we left the restaurant full but not overstuffed. The individual dishes are small, and there are a lot of them, but somehow the portioning was perfect for us.
I would not hesitate for a moment to return when the seasonal menu changes ... if I can get a reservation by then. -
Review from Jay D.
Savannah, GA
4/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
An absolutely amazing culinary experience, one I will surely remember. The service was spectacular, topped only by the meal.
When first looking at the menu it can be a little confusing. On one side there was a lovely poem and on the other were several prose (in this particular instance describing spring). My partner and I were confused until our server told us this was the chefs own creation and her way of describing the courses. We opted for the individual prose ($95) and the wine accompaniment ($70).
Our first delectable bit was an asparagus bread w/ accompanying asparagus butter. We were offered complimentary champagne since our wine flight didn't begin till the next course.
As each course presented itself we were truly shocked and awed. The Chef even came out and introduced herself to us and personally explained one of the dishes.
At one point during the meal we were asked to decide between "a walk in the forest" which featured mushrooms or a dish who's title I can't remember that featured onions. We went with the mushroom option and BOY were we happy. There was the most amazing Douglas Fir meringue on top which our shrooms were placed. SERIOUSLY. OUT. OF. THIS. WORLD.
Overall, this place is spectacular. But expect to pay specular prices. I would recommend this only for the serious of heart.
A great experience. -
Review from Vivian L.
5/12/2012
I came here for dinner with a friend of mine last month and we had an excellent, perfect dining experience. We chose the lower priced dining option on the right side $95 each I think that was 6-7 courses and we chose 2 of them. The photos here pretty much sum up my meal. Every meal was presented thoughtfully and creatively. The staff was so nice and attentive. I won't break down each course but say this was the best dining experience I've had in a long time, I was so happy and pleased with my meal, and I can't wait to go back again. Great job Chef Crenn and team!
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Review from Matt M.
Santa Clara, CA
4/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Chef Crenn is really working some magic in San Francisco.
Ever since Atelier Crenn debuted on the SF Michelin Guide, I have been excited to come and experience her 'poetic' approach at contemporary cuisine. And aptly put, the poetic flow of the "Moments of Spring" tasting menu kept us curious as to deciphering each stanza and predicting what we were to enjoy.
I chose this place for an anniversary dinner. The dining room was a beautiful juxtaposition of modern minimalistic design with bountiful earthy features which I adored, from the wicker lamps and ceilings, the gnarled wooden wallpieces, it gave a sense of nature in the dining room that really compliments her colorful cuisine that really is meant to showcase the glory of nature. Dishes plated on rocks, dessert intermezzos hidden in eucalyptus bushes, mignardises on bonzai trees, and the like.
The cuisine was quite honestly stunning. While overly complicated courses comprised of numerous elements can often come across as a bit 'been there done that' for the SF scene, Chef Crenn managed to keep focus in the dishes where every component played its part well. The most memorable course being the 'walk in the forest' being a collection of exotic mushrooms in various preparations; roasted, pickled, etc., accompanied with a pine needle meringue and hazelnuts. I haven't been impressed by a course so much in a long time like this so that it took me a few minutes of silent (and slow) enjoyment to appreciate and maximize the pleasure in every bite. Bravo, Chef Crenn, Bravo.
This was also an experience where I tasted mackerel that I liked! I tend to avoid mackerel whenever possible but this was done spectacularly.
One course was beautifully plated, but to eat challenging and honestly unpractical. Following the amuse bouches was 'a shallow pool stirs' - a whole langoustine in the shell. Hard to eat, messy, and my hands didn't feel clean even after the towlette provided for the course. The neighboring table with the smaller tasting menu were provided a langoustine out of the shell for their course- something I would have prefered.
Service was flawless. Amanda was wonderful.
Why four stars if the food was so wonderful? Portion sizes. Now I'm not naive about tasting menus of this size (had 20 courses at Benu twice, Saison's was almost as many,), but we were both still very hungry throughout the entire meal until we enjoyed the cheeses from the cart. It took also quite a few courses to get into anything substantial. For $160 a person, I wanted to at least be full.
Overall, Chef Crenn puts on quite a show with her cuisine. It's nature meets food meets art, and I loved that. I can't wait to visit again once the seasons change. However, I think I will indulge in the Chef's Tasting Menu at $95 per person which we observed our neighbors enjoying, with much large portions it seemed.
With cuisine like this, it very much could be 2 Michelin stars in the making.
I really, really, REALLY hope I see that mushroom course next time.Listed in: Michelin Star Restaurants
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Review from Grace C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Definitely one of the best dining experiences ever.
I took my boyfriend to Atelier Crenn to celebrate his birthday last weekend & it was an incredible experience.
Each course represents a line of a poem (in their menu) & each one was a work of art. And with the exception of one course, each was delightful to experience & eat. My favorites include: white chocolate truffle w/kir breton, crab & nori cracker w/soup, hamachi, sorbet, eucalyptus popsicle, and ALL of the desserts =0)
Portions were perfect. I was full at the end of the meal, but not uncomfortably full.
Service was impeccable to the point where it made me slightly uncomfortable, but overall fantastic. I did have to ask for hot water for my tea once, however. No biggie.
Yes, it's pricey ($160 per person + extra if you order wine or drinks). Don't make plans for the rest of the night, because the meal is meant to be enjoyed over 3.5 hours. However, they do have a lighter menu ($115/person) with fewer courses. -
Review from George L.
San Francisco, CA
4/28/2012
This might be one of the most eye-opening restaurants I've ever been to. Every course was like a little masterpiece. I felt like the chef really thought about what it's like to go from one dish to the next, and coaxed us along from light, refreshing tastes at the beginning, toward the meatier courses int he middle, and unbelievably creative desserts at the end. It's not the kind of place I could go every day--it takes a long time and costs a fair bit of money--but from now on, Atelier Crenn is going to be my choice for special occasions.
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Review from Anastasia B.
San Francisco, CA
3/21/2012
THINGS YOU EXPECT FROM A FINE DINING EXPERIENCE:
1) Exceptional Food
(Dining at Atelier Crenn is a one of a kind experience, whether or not you're into molecular gastronomy. Every course is truly a work of art, and should be savored and enjoyed with all of your senses. Don't expect super size me portions. This ain't a freakin' Vegas buffet.)
2) Impeccable Service
(In my opinion, this is where Atelier Crenn falls short. The service was not flawless by any means. A server clumsily tipped over an amuse bouche right off the bat, and a $50 miniscule dice of gelee escaped from the glass. Doh! Faux pas #1.)
3) A Visit From The Chef
(Yes, if I'm with a large party and we're spending a shitload of money that should be otherwise deposited into my piggy bank or donated to a cleft palate baby in Nicaragua instead, then hell yeah, the chef better come to our table and greet us. Chef Crenn did not disappoint.)
4) An Overall Memorable Dining Experience
(Despite multiple faux pas throughout the evening, this dining experience is still in my all time memorable top ten meals.)
THINGS YOU DON'T EXPECT FROM A FINE DINING EXPERIENCE:
1) To find SEVERAL fish bones in your salmon
(Really? REALLY?? I'm speechless. Faux pas #2.)
2) To find the server continuously kicking your clutch beneath your chair
(Seriously?!! I found myself having to retrieve my itty bitty purse from practically across the freakin' room on several occasions. What the phuck is someone's foot doing that far beneath my chair?!! How clumsy! Watch where you step! Faux pas #3.)
So kids, the lessons to be learned before you dine at Atelier Crenn are:
1) Don't come with overly high expectations. Just enjoy each moment so you can fully indulge all of your senses.
2) Don't come starving. Each course is meant to be enjoyed slowly, sloooowly. It ain't a freakin' hot dog eating contest!
3) Don't even think about eating here if you're going to complain about the portion sizes or prices. It's called fine dining for a reason. It's definitely an investment in both time and money. Your return is a rich culinary experience that you can reminisce about when you're reclining your 80 year old ass in a La-Z-Boy chair, gumming your TV dinner in front of reruns of Welcome Back Kotter on TV Land.
4) Ladies, leave your purse at home or securely locked in your car. Really.
3.5 stars ~ generously rounded up!Listed in: Foodie Schmoodie!
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Review from J D.
San Francisco, CA
4/22/2012
I love Dominique crenn!
Im not a huge fan of gastronomy, but appreciate the artistry. I thought it was a great meal but the atmosphere feels a little bit pretentious. Luckily the chef is not pretentious, just the guests and the waitstaff.
I prob wouldnt return unless someone else had an occasion here. But loved it nonetheless. -
Review from Vickie Z.
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
The most creative, fun, enjoyable food we've ever had!
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Review from DeathandFood b.
San Francisco, CA
3/7/2012
This without a doubt one of the best meals I have ever had in my life. Why this place isn't the premiere attraction for anyone who likes creative, amazing, delicious fine dining in San Francisco is beyond me. There are many places that get far more press than Atelier Crenn and that's just wrong.
Yes it is very expensive but it also totally and completely worth. If there is one high end place you can go to a year, this should be it. They can accommodate vegetarians, allergies and the dishes they made are as good if not better than the meat selections.
We had the winter tasting menu which you can find details of in other reviews. We had two amuse bouches, 2 palate cleaners, 8 savory courses, 2 bread courses, one dessert palate cleaners, 2 desserts including one that had an assortment of more than a dozen truffles, gelees, caramels, chocolates, cookies and other goodies, a cheese course of 5 cheeses that was an additional cost and one super awesome drink that was infused at our table.
The dishes are small and perfect. Every dish was an artwork but the best thing was they all tasted amazing. The fish had the best skin on it, the razor clam was divine. It was kinds mindblowing how there were so many flavours in such tiny dishes. Also loved how there was flower petal in every dish.
The service was also some of the best I've experienced in SF, I often find servers here to not have some basic formal dining training but the servers here had both the training but a very friendly and engaging manner. They were very knowledgeable about the menu.
I love seeing a chef in her kitchen and she came out three times to check on us. I also love how quiet and small the place is and how not overdesigned the decor is. The atmosphere was timeless while the food is cutting edge without being pretentious.
If you just want a steak or don't like to have multi-course dishes that are complex and unlike much of what you have eaten don't come here. If you do not like modernist food or taking your time to eat, do not come here. If you think that spending 160 a person for food is too much, do not come here. If you judge how good food is by the size of the plate, do not come here. really you wouldn't enjoy it at all.
We got there 15 minutes early and found street parking in 5 minutes but we have a small car and good parking karma, if you are driving give yourself time or get the insanely expensive valet a block away.
It was indeed worth every penny. If I could I would eat here every month as it is I will probably eat here every season.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from maria a.
San Francisco, CA
3/1/2012
Our dinner exceeded our expectations. I had been a little leery of what appeared to be such preciousness (the menu's listing of the $160 tasting is merely a poem entitled "Introduction to Winter"!) Highlights:
Palate cleanser #1 - White chocolate "egg" with a fantastic burst of Kir breton inside. The chocolate shell was paper thin and crackly brittle.
Foie gras flash chilled and shaved, shaped like a curl of bark, along with vanilla, cocoa nibs, apple bits, balsamic gelee little cubes, rice cracker. This was absolutely wonderful, and a true signal that the pleasure would ratchet up exponentially from here on out. The lovely foie melted with each bite of sweet vanilla and cocoa, tart apple, and crispy cracker....
Razor clam with carrot foam, squid ink, seaweed, smoked paprika "soil", and smoked sturgeon pearls. This was our favorite item ... to this point. The sweetish foam on the sweet clam, and the smokiness of the entire dish - astounding.
Madai (japanese snapper) with fried sage, alliums, kumquat shells, cilantro puree, edible flowers, browned butter, and fried capers. This topped the razor clam. The apparently freeze dried and powdered browned butter "snow" melted with the perfectly grilled snapper, the alliums contrasted with the kumquat...this dish was earthy and substantial, and yet still light.
Pigeon ume, with "ash" of coffee, puree of black garlic, and other delicious things I can no longer read in my notes. The squab held its own heart (or liver - both were definitely on the plate) in its claw - completely dramatic presentation amongst the 10 or more preceding gorgeous presentations (reminded us of Grayson's dish on TC during the Snow White challenge). I was blown away by the delicious, ruby rare flesh, and the attendant deeply warm flavors of the ume and coffee.
Next came the best dessert I've had in my entire life: a pear sorbet in the shape of a pear and "spray painted" with pear, apple, and quince, to look like a frosted, golden and rosy pear that had fallen from its wintry tree onto the forest floor below. The forest floor was made of more of the powdery, nutty browned butter, maple, sage cake, apple granita and greek yogurt snow - so with each bite you got cold and crunch of snow and a little munch like mud and leaves (I cannot remember what they were, but in my pics they look pretty leaf-like) and the only thing that was inedible was the stem on the pear, which was actually a piece of vanilla, and which I discovered I had inhaled when my plate was empty. This was an unbelievably thought provoking dish. And I don't even care about pears.
Then a split log was brought out covered in mignardises: passion fruit marshmallows, madeleines, rice crispy covered chocolate and passionfruit, ginger something, key lime something else, mango something, gold leaf covered bitter chocolate sheets, and a salted caramel that made us both actually moan out loud. (Well, there was a lot of that throughout the meal but this was particularly guttural and we both did it at completely different times.) Our serer told us the pastry chef had tried 15 different ways to make that cellophane wrapped sweet until he hit upon that one.
Service was excellent and warm, extremely tolerant of our picture taking and endless requests for repetition of ingredients. The sommelier took care of me, adhering to my budget conscious request of half glasses. The only tiny complaint we had was that we were not told, as we almost always are, that we would be charged for the sparkling water. A small quibble of $10 - I was too happy to bring it up.
This was, by far, the best meal I've ever had. Better than Masa, better than Danko, even better than Coi. We left satiated but not stuffed. Chef Crenn, as others have mentioned, came out several times to ask how we were faring, inquiring how we liked a particular dish, discussing ingredients, techniques. She was warm and engaging, and affirmed that she was indeed cooking from her heart. It's not a trite declaration, coming from her. The food was for me a perfect mixture of intellect, wonder and rusticity.
If I could afford it, I would love to come back to see what flights of thoughtful fancy Ms. Crenn will conjure up each season. I am just a wee bit in love. -
Review from Justin P.
Madison, WI
3/17/2012
The food, the wine, the service.. outstanding!
The amuse that was their take on a Kir Royal, amazing!
My issues is... The website says "jackets..." under the dress code. So we all wore jackets.. Meanwhile, there were people in polo shirts, jeans and some of the guests were in torn jeans and sandals. If your going to be so bold as to suggest a dress code, you should enforce it...I realize it shouldn't taint my experience, but it did. -
Review from Len S.
2/28/2012
Here's the good: the deserts. That's it. Really.
I've been to enough Michelin star restaurants to know when a place is doing it right and when they are so off base that you question why they even earned a damn star. Yes, the tree with the fancy little deserts and quince tea was charming, however it was a dollar short and a day late.
The problems started when we walked in.
Our table wasn't ready, it was simply overbooked. We were escorted to the bar next door where we continued to wait, for nearly an hour. Had it not been pouring rain we might've left at that point despite the bottle of wine the restaurant bought us to help tide us over.
When we were seated we were left alone for waaaaay too long given how long we waited for a table. Cups arrived water didn't follow very close behind.
Half the table drank still, the other half sparkling. Who drank what was confused not once, but at least three times. There are little devices, color of coaster, bottle shape, size, that help wait staff remember who is drinking what,
The overall service was shoddy, poorly paced and after the hour wait we had I would expect a bit more. Here's the thing: when you shell out that much money for a meal it's more than just food, it's a dining experience. From the way the dishes are brought out in unison so everyone gets the plate at the same time, to the actual plates they are served on and the aromas that come trailing from the kitchen. The idea is to engage all of your senses. With the service falling so far behind what I would expect of a restaurant this lauded I would hope the food would make up the difference. Sadly our dinner from start to finish, with the exception of the deserts was completely forgettable. Really.
You might say that with many small courses on a tasting menu you can't be expected to remember how each one was or what you had and I say rubbish. If you love the food and it makes an impression, if it enriches your dinning experience you will remember it, and there was nothing terribly memorable about any of it. -
Review from Tim W.
Daly City, CA
12/24/2011
AMAZING meal! If you are looking for complex flavors, creative presentation and an over all amazing French fusion/New American dining experience, look no further. LOVED the decor. Not overly pretentious nor stuffy. Business casual would be the perfect way to describe the attire here.
Definitely felt comfortable eating and talking here. A perfect way to describe the vibe and setting here - Two gentlemen next to our table came in full suit and tie, but SLUPRED their white chocolate apple cider ball. So AWESOME!
Definitely getting your value here. @ $160 for the full tasting menu, you will leave satisfied with a smile on your face. You will not be overly stuff, just enough food with a wonderful selection of dessert. Juan(?) the pastry is amazing! WOW!! is the only way to describe the spectacularly amazing finish the the meal!
You will not be disappointed with Altelier Crenn. Hands down my favorite French spot in the city. They definitely deserve their Star. -
Review from Kyu L.
4/3/2012
we came here for a "dessert tasting" and it blew my mind!
we started with a fromage tasting to get the palate going and had a great bottle of Cab..
our server was a very modest level 1 sommelier with great knowledge of the wine she was recommending to us...very nice server...
when the desserts started to come out, the chit chat at the table went from loud to deathly silent...
we were all in our own little world...enjoying the artistry and intricacy of each and every little detail the chef put into each dish...
i cant begin to describe how perfect each dessert was...honestly...i didnt even listen to the descriptions the servers gave us for each dish...all were nature themed desserts...nothing was too sweet...every bite was balanced...exceptional. cant say more than that.
chef contreras came out to greet us and i didnt even pay attention to him talking...i was too damn involved with enjoying my desserts...i did recall him telling us about his new dessert prix fixe menu for the spring...needless to say...well be coming back to try this soon...
chef crenn came out and i tried to flirt with her...we dont get to see iron chef master contestants too often around these parts...LOL...she was great...
the only bad part of the whole experience was that they overcharged my credit card and when i called them the following week, the person who took my call just kinda laughed about it and said "oh, this happened last week to someone else too...har har har...." i didnt appreciate her response, but the dessert made up for it...i let it slide...
will be back again for the next spring dessert tasting and will be paying CASH this time around...
service: excellent
food: amazing
price: $$$$$ but worth it.Listed in: stars
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Review from Joel S.
Redding, CA
3/23/2012
We enjoyed Dominique's delectable winter menu on the second day of spring and swooned as we pleasantly and patiently (3.5 hours) indulged in a colorful, aphrodisiacal rainbow of over fifteen "moments," as the dishes are referred to at Atelier Crenn, that were a creative and seductive blend of color, taste, texture and presentation. The informative and professional (None of this "My name is Jack and I'll be your...." nonsense) servers added to the orgasmic impact and deserved a 25% tip.
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Review from Reza M.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012
We just visited Atelier Crenn this past week end and chose the 18 course tasting menu. It is the chef's signature menu and requires a commitment of about 3 to 4 hours at the table. We booked for 8pm and left the restaurant past midnight. The dishes were very original for the greater part and we discovered interesting things and tastes. The sizes were good and we did not feel filled nor hungry: just right!
Service was good with a reasonable pace which did not make us feel rushed.
The wine list is pretty poor and having looked at it ahead of time, we chose to bring our own bottle and pay the $30 corkage fee. Still water that did not seem to be coming from mineral bottles was charged $2 per person. Won't get us broke but feels a little "cheap" to be charged $2 when you look at the price of the tasting menu per person ($160 per person).
On the downside, the tables are really too close to each other and you could help but hear the conversations around you. The room was rather noisy and it was pretty disappointing in an establishment like this. It made the experience less enjoyable overall.
The price / value was not that great. We have paid less for far better experiences in other high end restaurants. -
Review from Bruce C.
San Francisco, CA
12/1/2011
Love the table service, professional of the standard you expect for this kind of restaurant, but friendly and laid back too. Dishes were as you'd expect, some surprising, some knock your socks off, all well executed and presented, and with the chef's interesting take on content and presentation.
As a helpful note, parking in the area is usually non-existent and it's not clear they have valet service, but as we fortunately, but accidentally found out, the valet at the corner, by the Balboa Cafe, does valet for Atelier Crenn too. -
Review from Rick T.
San Jose, CA
2/17/2012
The gastronomic philosophy and artistry in the dish presentations set Atelier apart from the bourgeoisie. The closest parallel would be the excellent restaurant Alinea in Chicago. Atelier delivers with unique combinations of earthy flavors that are complex and refined. The winter menu was very satisfying and I cannot wait to try the next season's creation. Chef Crenn even stopped by the table to see how I and my pregnant wife were doing, and that demonstrated that Atelier is not just about a business but it's also about a community.
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Review from Hanah K.
Mountain View, CA
1/29/2012
I had a difficult time enjoying my meal at Atelier Crenn.
The service was unacceptable for a 1-star Michelin, the cuisine felt like a direct rip off from El Bulli and Alinea and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, 3 out of the 6 dishes employed slightly off flavor combinations (the citrus and foie gras combo didn't quite cut it for me).
We arrived 15 minutes late, after giving the restaurant a call to inform them, and were NOT given the option of ordering the larger of the two tasting menus. The three employees we spoke with gave us disparate answers as to why ordering the first menu was not an option. Most restaurants should have an agile back of the house and an honest front of the house.
The experience was enough to leave a sour taste in my mouth for the rest of the evening.
The staff did nothing to acknowledge that we were celebrating our anniversary.
Some of the dishes were a delight to eat but others fell a little flat. I would recommend this place to those who have not tried any molecular gastronomy restaurants and suggest the shorter of the two tasting menus since all in all it was of good value on the wallet.
The only other hat tips I'll give to this restaurant are due to its beer selection and the fact that the restaurant offers great vegetarian alternatives.
Street parking is a nightmare. You can valet park your car at Cafe Balboa for $16. -
Review from Noah C.
10/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had a seriously long and drawn out mental argument with myself about Atelier Crenn.
The mixed reviews that sort of plagued this place when it first opened didn't dampen my ambitions to eventually eat here. They did, however, make me extra nitpicky when I came. Some of the lower starred reviews on Yelp also made me want to scrutinize this place a little more closely than I normally would have.
But I can say, in all honesty, that I loved Atelier Crenn. It is one of the best places I've eaten at this year, and maybe one of the best places I've eaten at in all of SF. I probably won't return here for awhile (more due to price and the time required for the full menu), but I'm also going to recommend this place to friends and family that enjoy creative food journeys.
I honestly didn't want to sound like a fawning and easily impressed "foodie" fanboy in my review of this place, but almost every dish hit the note it was going for. My friend and I had the tasting menu, and our reactions bounced between awe, slightly stifled moans of pleasure, and enormous grins.
In order (and please forgive my slightly foggy memory. I didn't get a chance to write down every ingredient for each dish as it was explained):
0.1: Starting taste - Fig and heirloom tomato gelee. The last few weeks have been peak heirloom time, and the fig flavors blended well. You can almost literally taste the change in season from summer to fall in this dish.
0.2: Kir breton - Crenn's famous white chocolate ball with explosively flavorful cider inside. Biting into this was the first true message we received that the evening was going to be something special. I don't know how she prepares this, and I don't care. It was amazing.
1: Wagyu tartare, horseradish "droplets", sturgeon caviar. Intensely rich American wagyu tartare, with droplets of frozen horseradish and caviar. I seem to remember there being microgreens on the plate as well. The flavor of the caviar and horseradish combined with the beef were so intoxicatingly delicious that I was sad when I reached the end of the plate. The beef itself was good enough to be eaten without garnish, but the salinity of the caviar and the tang of the horseradish really added layers of goodness.
2: Oyster, seafood foam, creme fraiche, tapioca. A solitary, almost sexually glistening oyster surrounded by a lightly flavored seafood foam. Dabs of creme fraiche and gelatinized tapioca added a creamy sweetness to the dish. Another winner.
3: "Frozen" foie gras, vanilla, cocoa nibs, fried apple crisp, balsamic gelee cubes. Oh. My. Fuck. The foie melted (literally, and yes, I honestly mean literally) in my mouth. The slightly salty, slightly acidic apple crisp paired with the sweetness of the vanilla, the bitter of the cocoa, and the sweetly tangy balsamic cubes went well with the fatty foie.
4: My favorite - "A Walk in the Woods" - Pine merengue, pickled and fresh mushrooms, mushroom "paper", grated chestnut and hazelnut. I can't even accurately describe how amazing this dish was. Following the "trail" (start at the merengue and work your way up to the pickled mushrooms, then the mushrooms dusted with chestnut) totally spazzed out my palate (in a good way!). Wow.
4.1: Palate cleanser - maybe the only thing I didn't truly love, this was celery gratinee, melon sorbet, and "shaved" iced apple. The celery kind of dominated a bit too strongly. But it was still good.
5: Trout, dried squid ink, romesco foam, oyster. The trout was prepared sous vide, with the squid ink sprinkled onto the fish and romesco foam, with a little oyster treasure buried inside. The romesco foam was super intense, and went well the pungent trout. The squid ink was crispy and added a nice texture contrast.
6: Guinea hen, chanterelles, baby Bok Choy, dried basil, dried coconut, coconut gelee, cilantro gelee. Wow. The hen was cooked perfectly, and retained delicious levels of moisture and flavor. The chanterelles were also fantastic, and the garnishes were subtle in flavor (even the coconut), so the poultry flavor wasn't overwhelmed.
7: Cheese. Lots of cheese. Blue, triple goat, brie, and cayenne herb cheddar. Most were from Cowgirl Creamery or other local cheesemakers. All delicious.
8: Insane presentation of eucalyptus ice cream. The ice cream was formed into a pseudo-marshmallow shape and placed on the end of a eucalyptus branch. Served in a giant granite bowl with several other branches of eucalyptus sticking out.
9: "A Tribute to Olives" - served on a log from an olive tree, this had olive oil ice cream, black olive cake, almond crisps, fennel gelee, and lemon granita. Superb.
10: A variety of small dessert bites: salted caramels, sweet mochi, ganache, etc. I don't remember all of it because I was delirious due to the flavor overload.
Dominique Crenn even came table to table to thank diners for their patronage. A truly amazing dinner.Listed in: Deluxe, Son, Deluxe
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Review from Jeff C.
San Francisco, CA
12/3/2011
It was a unique dining experience, but I don't think I will come back here. A 4 hour meal that leaves you hungry and thinking about where you will go to eat after isn't exactly my first choice in dinner options. However, I do feel like the uniqueness and creativity of dishes give the restaurant a 4 star rating.
So my advice: On a scale of 1-10, 1 being you have been left out in the middle of the desert for a week and 10 being you just had Two 5 course chef menu from La Folie, I would come here with a 5 in terms of hunger. -
Review from Wei K.
The tasting menu at Atelier Crenn is one of the best I've had so far. It's really comparable to Coi in concept, but I felt it gives more bang for the buck. You get a decent amount of proteins with the meal, unlike the vegetable heavy menu at Coi. Standouts were the steak tartare and two different preparations of foie gras. The desserts are outstanding as well, kudos to their talented pastry chef. The "Olive" dessert was by far the most impressive dessert I've had at any restaurant, multidimensional and a great concept that was executed perfectly. I would go back just for that dessert alone.
The only drawback of the evening was the fact we were seated in the garden room. It's a detached room in the back that they turned into an extension of the dining room. We were the only ones seated there for more than half our dinner which was very awkward. Later on another party was seated in the room as well. The garden room is quieter and does not really evoke the same lively atmosphere as the main dining room. I would probably make it a point to request the main dining room the next time I go.Listed in: Fine Dining
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Review from Allie E.
Danville, CA
10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place was too unique for me to handle...
I went to dinner STARVING, and excited to try Atelier Crenn's tasting menu.
I ended up filling my stomach with more champagne and wine than anything and even more dessert than food. Let's just say.. my stomach was definitely not satisfied afterwards.
The tasting menu is 9 courses, two of which are dessert courses.
The first few courses are so small that me and my boyfriend couldn't tell whether they were complimentary hors d'oeuvres or courses. The courses range from jello like substances and a celery sherbert like thing (to cleanse your palette) to beef tartare and cold foie gras. Really high caliber food (obviously), but almost too interesting.
The desserts were phenomenal. The ice cream was brought to us attached to a eucalyptus twig and the olive oil ice cream was served on a log. IT WAS SO COOL.
Props to the chef for being so adventurous with her dishes. Everything was beautifully displayed and it is obvious that thorough thought and creativity were put into each one. However, I don't feel like she balanced the entree courses evenly with the dessert courses. I truly ate 1.5 times as much dessert as food. Don't get me wrong.. everything tasted good in its own way; there just simply wasn't enough food.
Overall, I was very impressed by each course. I just wish I hadn't left hungry! -
Review from C M.
Pleasant Hill, CA
11/12/2011 4 photos
It pains me to give Atelier Crenn a 2 because I really wanted to like it. But I kept waiting for a wow course and it just didn't happen, among other problems. I have to compare it to other restaurants at the same level and price (Saison, Fleur de Lys, Quince, Benu, Cyrus) and sadly it's not close.
Each course looked beautiful, but the flavors were just not impressive. The best part was the classic wine pairing actually, the choices were excellent.
I was really put off by how much up-selling was going on. Never had a fine dining place be like that. Another annoyance was the fact that they only have one unisex bathroom, which you can see from the dining room and faces the kitchen staff. There was a line all night. Kind of gross to pay $200 per person and watch the bathroom door sliding open and closed for 3 hours. I spent too much time watching for the line to get short.
The place is very loud and the tables along the side wall are very close together. Didn't bother me but if you are looking for an intimate dinner this might not be a good choice.
So many great dining options in the city, not sure I'll be back to this one. -
Review from Deva H.
San Francisco, CA
10/21/2011
Outstanding. Our dinner was basically the same as Noah C's, and I think he describes it very well. The wagyu tartare, frozen foie gras, and sous vide guinea hen were the highlights of the dinner for me. And the wine pairings were really incredible - way more creative than the standard combinations you'll find a lot of places. And very generous pours! And the mignardises at the end of the meal, which are often just an afterthought, were incredible here. First time I've ate all of them at a restaurant!
Only a few minor issues with the meal. I thought the gelee amuse was sorta whatever, the oyster was v tasty but it was hard to get all of the tastes together - I would have liked a big spoon to scoop it all up, and the wine paired with the trout was overwhelmed by the strong flavors in the fish dish.
But those are just nitpicks in an outstanding meal in a very elegant, but also casual and comfortable environment, with great staff and service. Very expensive ($300 each for tasting + wine pairing + extra glass of champagne + cheese + coffee), but I got someone else to pay for it, so that was pretty awesome. People have written about not being full after this meal, so I was preparing to need a post-meal Tommy's Joynt sandwich on the way home, but that complaint seems absurd. I was totally full (sure, not stuffed like after a giant House of Rib dinner) after the meal and definitely didn't need any more food (or alcohol)! -
Review from Pauline S.
Richmond, CA
3/11/2012
I enjoyed my time here; the food was scrumptious and the presentation/plating knocked my socks off (especially dessert--a beautiful interpretation of black forest for the black forest cake). Chef Crenn came out a couple of times to greet patrons, which is a nice touch. You can tell that a lot of thought goes into each and every detail of the food and restaurant. However, I didn't feel full when leaving the restaurant and for the price you pay, you would expect to feel at least a bit fuller than I did. My party included an additional cheese course, too. Is it because there is not much bread that accompanies the meal (2 pieces, outside of the cheese course we had)? They give these tiny, mini pieces of bread that accompany a particular entree. In any case, the food, atmosphere and presentation are great but the overall value is questionable given the meager portion sizes (and this is in comparison to peer restaurants of the same caliber).
Also, the restroom has a misleading sign on the door. It tells you to pull to the left to open the door...but it's a sliding door, so it should really tell you to slide the door to the left. -
Review from Whitney J.
New Orleans, LA
8/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
AWFUL.
ALL HYPE.
Best way to describe the food is "Stoner cuisine." Why? Because only someone stoned out of their mind would a) make those sort of food combinations and b) think it was actually good.
We ended up asking for our check after the third course of the tasting menu.
Save your money and go somewhere else because this spot is ALL hype. -
Review from Ann L.
7/31/2011 3 photos
Atelier Crenn is an expensive restaurant, but it's very unique! Make reservations & plan for 3hrs for dinner!
I made reservations on OpenTable about a week before eating there. Very easy, didn't have to give credit number or anything. Listed food allergies & the waiter mentioned he read that.
We both got the Chef Tasting Menu - 7 courses for $125.
Still or Sparkling water - We picked Still - no charge. Is there for Sparkling?
Started w/ 2 tiny rolls - good
Frozen pea soup - very cool.
Kir Breton - 2 round balls - one for ea. I think white chocolate shell & Apple Cider inside. Stick it in your mouth, close, then bite down. Otherwise will go all over.
1. Ocean & Land - Waggu beef, tartare & smoked sturgeon pearls. Yum, but small portions.
2. "Broken" avocado-Grapefruit tarragon, sourdough & popcorn. They freeze the avocado then break it with a hammer, add some grapefruit, & popcorn, some kind of popcorn sauce. Interesting.
Frozen palette cleanser - tasty.
3. Foie Gras "Log" - pickled cherries, vanilla, apricot & oat. I thought it was TOO much foie gras. Wish for some veggies or crackers with it.
4. Apricot & Foie Gras - More foie gras. This was smaller w/ a slice of apricot & foam sauce.
Supplement Heirloom Tomatoes $18 - 3 tiny tomato slices & other stuff with it. It was tasty.
Crennologie - apple & celery - it was tasty enough.
5. Arctic Char - small amount of fish, some hazelnut, squid "rock", uni, liquorices.
6. Pork "a la thailandaise" - 2 tiny pieces of pork w/ fat, some other things. Fine.
7. Desserts - "Eucalpytus" - tiny thing of frozen treat delivered w/ Eucalpytus.
"Olives" - frozen dessert tiny tasted like olives w/ cake thing & crunchy candy underneath - served on a log.
Mignardises - many tiny desserts about 10 different things: chocolate, caramel, jellies, marshmallow, chocolate dessert, panna cotta, meringue - served w/ a Bonsai tree.
One unisex bathroom sliding door -in the back across from the kitchen area. Inside nice flowers by the sink nicely arranged, art work on back wall.
Chef Dominique Crenn came to all the tables to meet & greet us. That was very cool. She came to our table twice. Once to say Hi & shook my hand, other time to deliver the "Eucalpytus" dessert.
B. got glass of .5 Moreux Sancerre $9 & Glass of St. Francois Santenay $20 - he liked them both, I didn't try them.
Our bill $297 (2 tastings, $18 tomato dish & 2 glasses wine) + tax $25.25 = $322.25 before tip.
I recommend it & would go back, but I'd eat something beforehand.
If you're still hungry there's Tacko next door for $5 taco; Pizza Orgasmica up the street, & Taco Bell a block away. I wanted to get something, but didn't. -
Review from Luis M.
San Francisco, CA
3/11/2012 3 photos
Came here on a Saturday night around 7:30 PM and ended up staying for almost close to 4 hours.
The restaurant is a bit unique in that their menu consists of only 2 selections, either a roughly 12 course tasting menu or a smaller roughly 6-8 course tasting menu.
Obviously, with this being a michelin rated restaurant the food is amazing, but what makes this place really stand out is its approach to presentation. I would hate to ruin the surprises, so I will save those for in person experiences, but suffice to say that this place takes fine dining presentation to a new level, all the while weaving in their theme of a meal that tells a "story."
The only complaint I would have, and it is a minor one, is that for me personally, I prefer the rapid-fire approach some restaurants employ where they bombard you with a succession of course after course. Here, if you're hungry, it may take a while before your appetite is satisfied, as you are presented with a litany of courses that, while incredibly delicious, are diminutive in size, amounting to nothing more than one or two bites per dish. Still, I would hate for this to come off as if it's a major issue, because it really is not, this place is truly top notch.
I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys fine dining (and is alright with the high price that this place carries) that wants to venture out and try a different approach based on a conceptual meal. The service is great and the food is amazing; truly one of SF's finest. -
Review from Han L.
Mountain View, CA
8/6/2011
For the price and the hype, I expected a lot more. Four of us decided to visit on a Saturday night. We left the car with the valet stand in front of Balboa which services this restaurant as well. Did the 4 course menu instead of the 12 course tasting menu (simply bc we started at 9 and didn't want to eat until midnight), and sadly the best thing about the meal were the three bottles of wine we ordered. I love molecular gastronomy as much as the next guy, but this was not up to par. The initial salad was nothing special, the foie gras was trying too hard to be cute and ended up failing, and the main course -- "the sea"-- was unexpected in a BAD way. It was literally two tiny pieces of (delish) salmon, two pieces of pickled mussels (bleh), one piece of uni (delish), and a few little other tiny offerings. I left hungry. For $200/person, I left hungry!!
Then the worst part of the night -- upon leaving around 11:15, we see the valet is gone. The guy and his stand from in front of Balboa were just gone. The bouncers had no idea where he went. Our keys were nowhere to be found. Obviously not the restaurant's fault, but unfortunately turned what was maybe a slightly disappointing meal into a generally awful experience.
If you really want to try molecular gastronomy done right, go to Baume. -
Review from Mike H.
10/30/2011
Atelier Crenn unquestionably earns a 5-star review despite our dinner taking 5 hours last night. Yes, that's a door-to-door trip to Seattle or Denver. Because our group numbered six, and because we went through four bottles (but not a fifth!) in total, the speed of dinner certainly was impacted.
Regardless, the combinations of ingredients, in design and preparation, had us looking forward to every successive course. My expectations were exceeded by the conception, execution and presentation of the dishes. Since I knew the bill would be $200/person, you can imagine how high my expectations were.
I saw only a few options are listed: two tasting menus, chef's or vegetarian, plus a four-course prix fixe menu. We chose the chef's menu and opted for bottles of white and red instead of the wine pairings. Everyone at the table is required to order the same menu. FWIW, I was incredibly impressed by the focused wine list that was ready for ~12 courses including 40+ ingredients in combinations we hadn't seen elsewhere.
No need for me to discuss individual dishes, given recent reviews and an upcoming menu change as of Nov. 1. Of course I know of no reason why that would deter anyone from making a reservation. My only advice would be to limit your party to 4 people or fewer. -
Review from Yuan W.
Santa Clara, CA
12/12/2011
Yes, I'm one of those people that enjoy a frou frou dining experience once in awhile, and this place doesn't disappoint.
I walked in and remembered being here when it was Plumpjack Cafe. What happened to that place?
Anyway, great variety of gastronomique experiments. Service was wonderful. They did everything to accommodate my super picky eating habits. There wasn't one single thing that I didn't enjoy. The best, however, was "A Walk in the Forest" (Shroom-tastic!)
Wasn't quite as good as Baume in Palo Alto though.
The only thing that annoyed me was the pair of old ladies at the table next to us who spent the whole evening comparing their pocket change.
"Go easy on the pour. I have to drive all the way back to Belvedere tonight!"
"You would think the maid knows how to take care of my $700 Ferragamo shoes. I showed her how to use the shoe trees!"
This is the 1% that people complain about. -
Review from MukhaMoksh A.
San Francisco, CA
3/24/2012
phenomenal flavors... to perfection presentation, service... over the top wonderfulness. 24 kt gold-plated chocolate, eucalyptus popsicle hanging from eucalyptus tree branches, pear ice cream... oyster leaf.... it was very surreal dreamy food like out of a childhood fairy tale. i had a veggie substitute for one meat dish and it was mushrooms and merengue, sounds crazy but it was so delicious. the elixir with dessert was also a blessing in my mouth. i loved it and will go back. good for very special dates and occasions.
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Review from TopCat W.
San Francisco, CA
11/7/2011
We had the chef's grand tasting menu, and we were not disappointed. Everything was absolutely wonderful. They were extremely accommodating with our food allergies and intolerances. We've tried many tasting menus at high-end restaurants, and none of the other restaurants were nearly as accommodating as here. The service was very friendly, efficient, and professional.
We like this restaurant better than French Laundry, Gary Danko, Coi, Manresa, Benu, to name a few. The chef even came out to the dining room to greet us. Another nice touch is they offer a chef's vegetarian tasting menu, which you don't see very often.
We think they deserve more than 1 Michelin star. Will definitely return. -
Review from Lina M.
San Francisco, CA
8/18/2011 8 photos
This restaurant is by far my favorite in San Francisco. I went there with my family to celebrate graduating college and it was the perfect choice. If you want to impress a date (someone who appreciates food, of course), THIS is the place. It's not like any other restaurant I've ever been to. Open minds are necessary for this experience, to fully enjoy it and take it for what it is: A culinary journey that delights both your eyes and taste buds.
The food was so good that I had to eat slow in order to take in all the different flavor pairings.
This restaurant is pushing boundaries that too many restaurants are afraid to in this city. If you want tomato soup with croutons, mac and cheese or steak and fries- this is not your place! I'm so sick of all the new 'popular' hot spots in this city that do nothing but imitate each other by pairing fresh seasonal ingredients in a conventional way. Finally a place that can surprise and make a good impression!
The atmosphere is understated and quite. It makes the food be the centerpiece. I can't wait to go back. Every foodie in the bay area NEEDS to try this spot, I promise you won't be disappointed :)
Possible negatives: This is by no means comfort food, it's culinary art at it's finest. It's pricey. It's not a quick in and out dining experience. But, I swear it's all worth it! :) -
Review from Marina N.
7/1/2011 2 photos
We didn't believe our well-to-do foodie friend, who could and would hop on his private jet for a special meal if he wanted to, that Crenn is his favorite restaurant in SF. Then we tried it and have been back every week since, for 2.5 months so far. It has only been getting better. We feel like children after eating Crenn's amazing dishes because they are playful, sometimes magical, and they are lovingly crafted as if by a mother nourishing her children with the highest quality and beauty that the earth has to offer. Chef Crenn bares herself emotionally through her food and it is truly a privilege to feel her vulnerability, her love of family, her appreciation for the fruits of farm labor, and how lucky she feels to have her own restaurant (which she richly deserves). The pastry chef, Juan, is a genius and I love his palette as well.
I have tried all of the dishes and my current favorites are the wagyu tartare with pearls of smoked sturgeon, the 'sea' (I often order this as two of my courses), the duck with smoked buckwheat and strawberries or cherries, the foie torchon with apricot and cinnamon streusel, the asparagus with trout caviar and goat hollandaise, the jardin, and the prawn a la plancha, I enjoy all of the dishes frankly but those are the ones I really crave again and again. Some of the complimentary items are ones that I would order if I needed to including the beet meringues and the cucumber sorbet intermezzo.
The three things I feel could use improvement are the bathroom (although it's nicely decorated, there's only one), the cheese course, and the pain au lait.
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Examples of playfulness: The pork thailandaise was served with cucumber marinated melon and melon marinated cucumber. The 'jardin' salad is served as a growing garden with puffed rice as the dirt. The 'sea' dish is served with seafoam of anchovy and meyer lemon. The carrot cake is served 'in' a large carrot, complete with carrot top stem. The olive dessert is evoo sorbet in the shape of a lemon that has fallen from the tree.
