On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Mon-Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Loading...
After going back and forth trying to decide on a restaurant to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary, we had finally decided to go to Cyrus as French Laundry wasn't available for the date until the following week.
We unfortunately incurred some moderate traffic on the way there and I immediately called up the restaurant to let them know we might possible be running late. The hostess was very nice and told me it wasn't going to be a problem. Fortunately, we ended up coming right on time.
We were seated in a middle table side by side, rather than across from each other, next to another couple who happened to be celebrating their 50th anniversary! (now that's what I call dedication)
We were told we could mix and match from different menu items and decided to try the 7 course tasting menu which included two desserts.
I honestly have to say that I didn't enjoy most of my food as it was either raw fish/oysters or the pot pie they had. It wasn't that they didn't make it well, it was mostly because I wasn't into that type of food.
A few minutes after being seated, a waitress came by with a tier of different "bites" which we were told were palate teasers. Each one was supposed to evoke a certain taste bud: Sweet, salty, sour and bitter. I enjoyed these the most.
The did enjoy the lobster though it was quite small, the Japanese fish which was pan seared as well as the pumpkin pasta which was surprisingly very good. The desserts that came with our tasting menu were not very impressive and I was hoping for more choices, which Gary Danko gives you.
Overall, they did give us a special anniversary dessert which came in a glass vase where inside were 4 warm mini chocolate chip cookies and once I turned the nob on the glass case, the balloon then sprinkled out the chocolate dust onto the cookies, which was a surprise. It also came with two little glasses of chocolate cream soda (I was told it was a Brooklyn thing.)
We did have some trouble flagging down waiters most of the night. They had brought us butter and salts but no one came by with any bread until we pointed it out to them. The staff was attentive but not quite as attentive as the ones we've had at Gary Danko, where they actually would clean up the crumbs off the table when replacing utensils.
Most of the evening, although the staff was nice and accommodating, we continued to get the feeling that they were paying more attention to the older couples there as we were the only young couple. I wasn't sure if they thought we didn't expect as high of a service from them, but after dining at Gary Danko and receiving impeccable service along with waitstaff that literally stood by your table to see if you needed anything, I was expecting a little more form Cyrus for the money.
In between our entee's and dessert they gave us a palate cleanser which was a little frozen cube on a stick made of lime and pear juices, which I loved!
The best part of the night was the dessert cart I suppose. There were so many different selections, including dark chocolate, truffles, fruit geles and even lolly pops. We took samples of everything they had home as we were too full to finish them there. At the end of the night when our bill came, we received a bag with their logo on it and inside was a menu with all the entres we had that night, along with "Happy Anniversary" imprinted on it. We also received a dark chocolate brownie in a cute little white and gold box to enjoy at home.
Aside from not feeling impressed by a few entrees, the limited dessert choices and the slightly slow to come to our table or get our check, I felt all the sweet little extras of the night were a wonderful and kind gesture. We were definitively feeling stuffed. I guess my biggest complaint of the night was that we constantly had to try and flag down someone to take our picture as no one really offered, despite seeing us with a camera tying to take our own.
I can't say that I like Cyrus more than Gary Danko, but they do come in at a close second for me and if we could award half stars, I would be giving them 4 1/2 instead of 4 stars.
Cyrus is definitively worth visiting if you're looking for a long dining experience (ours took about three hours) and don't mind trying unique foods.
I've been looking forward to dining at Cyrus for sometime since I've read so many high praises for the food. Last weekend, we finally made it up there.
The Mediterranean interior was very open yet warm. Compared to Gary Danko, there is a lot more space. The overall experience was very nice. Everything from the service provided by the server and the sommelier, the space and the decor were outstanding. The food was very good, but it was not as unique as I had hoped it would be. As expected, our dinner was long at about 3 hours.
Cyrus offers a 5 or a 7 course tasting menu plus a 5 course vegetarian tasting menu. We both opted for the 5 course dinner with White Truffles added to one of our entrees. Prior to taking our order, the server brought to the table a fancy box that contains a huge piece of white truffle. He asked us to smell it and then proceed to tell us the cost which is $20 per gram. He also informs us that we will probably need about 3-4 grams of White Truffle on a dish. We ended up trying the White Truffle shavings on one of the entrees.
-Canapes (4 stars): which consisted of various types of exotically fruity, teaspoon sized, Jello-like finger foods. Very interesting sweet and sour flavors.
-Amuse Bouche (4.5 stars): shredded spicy Dugeness Crab. This was a good starter, just slightly spicy. Very tasty.
-Spot Prawn Sashimi with Tomatoes, Melon & Cucumber in a Sesame Balsamic sauce (4 stars). This was very good and very Japanese, but it's not that different from the sweet prawns at a very high end contemporary Japanese restaurant in Asia. Good but not that extraordinary or unique.
-Seared Foie Gras with Asian Pear Coulis and Lentils. Vanilla Gastrique (5 stars). This was outstanding. I wish it was bigger! The Foie Gras was so rich and went will with the slightly sweet and tart Asian Pear Coulis. Paring Foie Gras with Lentil is something I've had before. It definitely works. This along with Trio in Chicago are the best Foie Gras I've had.
-Roasted Lobster with Daikon and Blood Oranges. Tamarind Ponzu (4 stars). Another Japanese inspired dish. Similar to the Prawn, I thought it was good, but not that original. The Japanese flavors are nice but a bit too subtle for me. The Lobster while fresh, did not taste sweet, like it was alive just before serving. I was a bit underwhelmed with this dish.
-Wild Turbot with Matsutake adn Junsai, Ginger Shiso Dashi... Another Japanese inspired dish (4 stars). The sauce was very refreshing, but similar to the lobster, the fish was fresh but did not have the sweetness of fish that was swimming hours before. I'm a bit disappointed that it did not taste like it was flown in that day (as it would be in high end Chicago restaurants) and being Asian, the Japanese approach to the seafood was too familiar and too ordinary for the price.
Red Wine Truffled Risotto with Glazed Pork and Braised Cabbage (3 stars). This was the dish we had the White Truffle shavings added which added $64 more to the bill. I thought the pork was good, but had a hint of the strong porky/meaty flavor. The truffles were good, but much milder than it smelled and for $64, it's not quite worth it.
Lamb Roulade with Cannelloni and Parsnip Puree (5 stars). The lamb was outstanding. It was extremely tender and not a hint of gaminess. The texture was velvety.
Polenta with Figs and Pear (3 stars) - This dessert was surprisingly light.
Warm Gianduja Doughnuts with Caramelized Banana and Avocado (3 stars) - The doughnut was like any doughnut found in a high-end contemporary American restaurant. It didn't really stand out.
Overall, it was a great dinner. The service was stellar, the ambiance was luxurious and not stuffy. The food was good, but it did not make a strong impression. I was expecting it to be more unique. The entrees were overwhelmingly Japanese in approach which made it light but it was a bit too familiar and a bit too "light" in the seasoning and flavor. It also did not stand out when compared to real high end Japanese restaurants which cost a lot less and in someways are more particular (obsessive) about the freshness of the seafood. I guess I was looking for something a bit more decadent, more unique and more French for a meal that ended up costing $250 a person. Without a doubt the food was very good, just not $250 good.
4 stars over all
5 stars for the experience (flawless service and superb ambiance)
4 stars for the food
3 stars for price vs food quality & uniqueness
**Review on the bar.
Simply Amazing. And I must love, love, love the place for 5 stars! This place gets it! Service: Outstanding. Drinks: Speechless (they were THAT good)
My boyfriend and I were staying in Healdsburg for a night and made dinner reservations at Charlie Palmers, but had received so many recommendations for Cyrus we just had to go. So we stopped in for an early evening drink (or four). Our bartender was so friendly, welcoming, talkative and attentive. And his drinks, AHHHH, so good.
Pumpkin Martini: Best drink Ive ever had in my short 25 years of living! Gram cracker crust, perfect flavor combination. The alcohol wasn't over-powering the pumpkin. The pumpkin wasn't over powering the alcohol--and just the right amount of spice! If you go in season and this is on the menu--get it!
My boyfriend had the whiskey or scotch infusion that was in a big jar on the bar. He loved it.
Point is, we literally had 4 drinks here, and we LOVED each one. Its hard to please us that many times.
The menu has changed drastically and there is a lot more Asian influence on it right now including tofu, ginger, matsutake mushrooms, etc.
I had a nice lobster ($25 for half of a tail) with tamarind sauce, an exceptional pumpkin tagliatelle pasta with runny egg, and an average porcini pot pie (very bland). I really enjoyed the Ichabod Crane cocktail with brown sugar rim, pumpkin puree, orange juice, etc. If I were reviewing just the food during this visit, it would be only 3 stars.
Service was exceptional except for the truffle service. I was very put off by my experience with the truffle service. It's $20 per gram so I asked for 1 gram and that was a real splurge but I adore truffles and even cut out dessert so I could have this. So the boy shaves and shaves and it ends up being 2 grams on my bill! I totally understand that he can't shave off exactly 1 gram, so charge me for 1.3 or 1.5 but at some point, they need to eat the cost of their own mistake. I was charged $40 when I requested only $20 worth. Left me with a bad feeling.
This place deserves 10 stars. I love love love the squab entree and the lobster salad appetizer. One… Read more »
Where the Russian River hits the Alexander Valley lies Healdsburg where you may find the best nouveau gourmet/California/French/Japanese restaurant on this side of the Mayacamas.
Exotic farm-fresh fetishists will indulge in the exquisite produce laid lovingly upon the plates supporting a cast of classic and new twists of delectable proteins. Subtle snips of perfect pastas, delicate bitter greens so lightly dressed as if done with a faint essence from a parfum mister, and always the element of surprise for repeat visitors.
Even the supporting plates of local and import cheese, amuse and dessert (yuzu granita!!!), and zo my gaww the fresh baked bread is hard to take for granted.
The front of house attention to microscopic details should not go unnoticed. Carefully choreographed patterns are transmitted from the kitchen to servers via the expediter with the precision of Flughafen Stuttgart ATCs.
Your choice of 5 or 8 courses chefs tasting menus are both well worth perusing, leave some room for the cheese course and the epic dessert tray. Why does the menu set-up seem so familiar? The Cyrus guys were the original front of house and sous chefs for Gary Danko. And unlike Gary Danko, I think Cyrus is a fantastic restaurant!
I haven't gone wrong with sticking to the classics (lobster, gnocchi, lamb, foie 3-ways!) or improvising with the seasonal specialities. Even a few tastes from the vegetarian menu were solid (though I'd recommend Ubuntu in Napa for the strictly vegetarians).
distance: 103 miles
elevation gain: 9,116 ft
calories burned: 10,163 C
avg speed: 17.3 mph
Just went to the bar before heading down to the newly opened Affronti down the street. From the service, attitude, mixology, all around pleasantness, they really do deserve the 2 Michelin stars.
Can't wait to try the food. Menu looked great, except one thing. They put "Kinoko Mushi" that means mushroom steamed in Japanese, but in Japanese you would never say it like that. I think it will be more friendly to say Japanese mushroom steamed and not try hard to use another language wrongly.
But that's not a big issue, still the place is fantastic!
There are many things to say that are great about Cyrus. This is a 2 Michelin Star restaurant, experts agree this place is fantastic. There is a heavy Asian influence on the menu right now. It was all delicious, but took me back at first since these types of restaurant typically deliver a French Influence. The few criticisms I have include 1) service. Service was great, however, the 10 servers attending to our table never felt in the background. I felt like I was being watched the entire meal which made me slightly uncomfortable. 2) the Up sell. From the minute we sat down the first "temptation" came. That was how champagne and caviar were described, The 2nd "temptation" came with the offering of shavings of truffle for $20 a gram. The meal is already pretty fantastic and those items were on the menu, seems like you should let diners request them instead of having the up sell from the salesman. Just seemed weird to me.
There is not enough great things I can say about the meal. Each course was incredibly unique and delicious. The highlights for me were the pork cheeks risotto dish. It seemed the least interesting to me on the menu, but I found it to be fantastic. There was also a white fish that has already escaped me, but it was served in this Asian broth. It appeared very simple, but the flavors were unbelievable.
The restaurant is easy to find--your credit cards start vibrating when you get close. The food is fantastic. I don't have the energy to do it credit, but read some other reviews and just go!
We had the 8-course tasting menu, the regular wine flight and the "rare and fine" wine flight. I think next time I would order the 5-course tasting and the regular wine flight. The "rare and fine" wines were great, but not twice as good (and it was twice the $$). And the 8-course was just a lot of food. Really great food, but we were painfully stuffed when we left. Part of that was the bread, which I usually try to avoid at a big meal, but it was just stellar. I'd come back just to sit at the bar and have wine, bread and the goat butter.
Cyrus has two Michelin stars, charges accordingly, and will have three before long I think. They just need to find some lighter courses in the 8-course menu. We were eating for three hours, so that wasn't the issue. The problem was that it was all so good you couldn't leave any.
So, I hear it rivals French Laundry and my interest is immediately peaked. Made a reservation, they advised that they would need a credit card to hold the reservation. Sure, no biggie. But when we call to cancel because someone is our party is SICK, they tell us that they are going to charge our credit card $50 per person. Huh? UNLESS, of course, we re-book for another day. Hmmm... that might be a little difficult considering I'm leaving town the next day and not sure when I will return!
I get a little miff'ed, but then realize - being in the industry, those are just threatening tactics to ensure that people don;t abuse the reservation system. Surely they won't actually charge me $50 per person!?!? OF COURSE THEY DID. Pure profit! Can't come because someone is sick - cool, we just made $200 off you for doiNG absolutely nothing. And the irony.... oh the IRONY! Are they really that dense that they think they can get away with that!?!? I immediiately dispute the charges on my credit card and get issued a full refund.
So, no I did not dine here and NO I have no intentions of EVER dining here. i could care less How good the food is - the experience clearly SUCKS!
I hate to give a restaurant with such potential and such great service so few stars, but it was one of those real let downs of a dinner. And it cost an arm and a leg to learn that. It was more of a 1-1.5 star food experience but I bumped it up since it was a beautiful restaurant with great service.
Start with the positives: extremely friendly service. In fact it felt like the whole restaurant was serving us and they were all like our friends. they are dressed up in suits and formal attire but they are quite friendly. Atmosphere is somewhat nice but it gets quite noisy.
The highlight of the whole meal: the corn and black truffle risotto (yes it's off the vegetarian menu but sometimes you luck out and this time I did). And I added fresh 3g of black truffles for an additional 23 bucks or something. And it was so worth it. The dish it was served in was amazing (round dish with holes drilled through) and the risotto was to die for. I could have had 4 servings of that and had a 7-star experience (ok, a little boring in terms of diversity of dishes but it was so wonderful).
The duck was pretty good, as a dish, I'd give it 2.5-3 stars. It was overcooked, and I was surprised that a restaurant of this caliber would send out overcooked duck that was that tough. But the flavors were pretty good.
The BLT was also pretty good--would have been nice to have been warned that it was pork belly (I don't care for it) but I cut most of the fat off and enjoyed the wonderful flavors anyway. Wilted lettuce is an interesting concept.
The strawberry rhubarb breadpudding was quite nice.
and the rest was where it went downhill...
The starters were such a mixed bag; 1 good, out of 5 different types. It was a pretty tray, I must say, but flavor wise, it wasn't there and some were just awful and I wanted to spit it out.
The silken tofu was ok -- it didn't quite set properly and they doused mine with too much 3 year old soy sauce, and the yuzu drink was awful. The prawn sashimi was ok. Slimy (as expected) but ok. nothing to write home about.
The sea bass seemed to have a weird jelly thing that was better off staying in the kitchen. Or wherever it came from.
The foie gras torchon was ok. The best part was the mini naan bread that came along with it. And with their fantastic service, they noticed I ate it all up and kept offering me more!
The cherry and pistachio ice cream sandwich, well, I just didn't like it. I'd have preferred a chipwich because I didn't think those flavors went well. I was surprised to have such a subpar dessert at such a good restaurant. I would have thought it would have at least ended on a high note.
I'd go back to Per Se or even Coi in a heart beat, but I at these prices, I don't think I'd chance another bad meal at Cyrus. But good luck to you if you try it out; others have had a great experience so hopefully you will too.
The service was very good at Cyrus. The dinner, however, made both of us sick. We both felt ill almost immediately after the meal, and were both quite ill on the drive home. The server was quite nice, so we did not complain during the meal. But we puked on the roadside on the way home. We wrote a letter to complain, but have heard nothing in response, and it has been several weeks. Seriously, seriously disappointed.
Lived up to it's reputation. Everything was perfect. Pricey but worth it for a special occasion.
Cocktails/Bar: excellent selection and artisan cocktails.
Service: top notch without being intimidating. More friendly than Gary Danko.
Ambiance: excellent table seating orientation.
Food: Over the top, must have been over 300 ingredients in what we ate in 3 hours. All expertly prepared and presented.
Wine: Pricey with big mark ups but a good list. Paring was OK - maybe not the best value but made it easy.
Note: Yelp list this place as "French". I would say more new american/califorina cuisine with asian leaning using fresh local ingredients.
Had basically the same menu referenced in Mike C.'s 8/30/09 review, except risotto instead of abalone and the Cyrus BLT (Braised Pork Belly) as well the lamb. Both dishes represented some of the best versions ever tasted.
It does not get any better than Cyrus!!!!
I haven't had chance to eat at the French Laundry, but even then, I think my favorite restaurant will still be Cyrus. My wife and I were eager for our dinner at Cyrus after hearing so many glowing reviews. When we first entered the restaurant, we were greeted cordially and seated in the middle of the bright and spacious dining room. I'm glad that some restaurants still think bright and cheerful beats ornate and poorly lit. If I'm paying for a michelin starred dinner, I certainly want a good look at the food that the skilled kitchen staff spent so much effort creating.
Service was impeccable. Waiters were friendly and welcoming. Everyone around us was laughing, having a great time - classy yet comfortable. All of the little extras made such a difference. If you had a birthday, your table got chocolate egg creams and cookies. If you ordered caviar, you got a full service vodka ice-bar wheeled over and your dollop of fine eggs weighed by an exquisite old-fashioned silver scale (one of many trolleys).
The best part of the entire experience was the menu. Although the tasting menu was too good to resist, I was most impressed by the flexbility given the diners when ordering. You can order anywhere from 3 to 6 courses (IIRC) with ANY combination of courses. For example, you could start with an appetizer of Wagyu Beef (listed as an entree) then move onto a healthy salad entree and conclude with a decadent foie gras dessert. Everything is scaled up or down accordingly in size. Needless to say, this is the best thing EVER.
Now, as for the actual meal I ordered: The 7 course tasting menu had everything I dream about when I go to sleep hungry - foie gras, wagyu beef, an ample cheese plate, a dessert trolley, and so on. The wine list was vast and included many excellent local selections with a modest mark-up. The pacing of the courses was spot-on and never gave us just enough time to reflect on how good the prior course was. Simply put, we had an amazingly enjoyable time thanks to sublime food and picture-perfect execution on all fronts.
I can't recommend Cyrus high enough. It has beat out some terribly tough competition to become my favorite restaurant. If only it werent several thousand miles away. I just hope they keep things running the way they are for the next 50 years so I can return again and again and again.
Quick summary: This is a "special occasion" restaurant (at least with the present menu). If you are just looking for a really good, well prepared dinner, instead of a (somewhat pretentious) gastronomic experience, then this is probably not your best choice.
My wife and I, along with another couple, finally had the pleasure
of dining at Cyrus for the first time. I can say that the evening met and
exceeded our expectations and generally delivered the promise of the accolades
awarded the restaurant by the critics.
However, during the evening we noticed some very small lapses in service
that, while very minor,are still worth noting. BTW, most of our issues were with the cheese service..
When the cheese course was offered I was told firmly to "select three
cheeses." While this is probably a fine number of cheeses for a cheese
plate, I found it "ungenerous" and felt there was no need for a hard limit.
Given the nature of a tasting menu, and the associated price, I believe
patrons should be counseled: "...we suggest no more than five or six to
avoid losing the distinction between the cheeses." By the way, I ignored the
limit and ordered four.
While presenting the cheeses the server provided only a
description of each cheese, while neglecting to mention the actual name and
origin of the cheese. In the case of my wife and I, we are fairly
knowledgeable about cheese and we were interested not only that a cheese
might be a triple cream from the old world, but also that it was a
Brillat-Savarin. While many customers might not have the knowledge
we have, I believe they should still be treated with the expectation that
they would be interested in learning more about cheese and might want this
information. Thus, for example, we thought that the description might have
been offered as: A Brillat-Savarin, a soft triple-cream cow's milk cheese
from Normandy.
Also, while the accompaniments to the cheese plate were individually
delightful, I would have preferred being asked which I might like. With the
cracker bread, nut bread, baguette, nuts and apricot, plus the cheese, the
plate became fairly busy.
And one last small point re: the cheese service, we were not counseled on the order in
which the cheeses should be eaten. While I am familiar with the cheese
"rules" many others might not, and it would be a shame for someone to start
off with a blue cheese for their first taste.
Finally, the coffee service was offered prior to the desert. This alone was
not a problem. However, I, for one, was confused as to when the coffee
would actually be served, and was surprised to find it served prior to the
desert. We thought the server should have offered the coffee service and
then enquired as to whether the customer would want it served prior to, along
with or (as we prefer) after the desert.
So, while we loved our experience
at Cyrus, the format of the Carte, offering just tasting menus, would
probably preclude us from visiting more often. I would love for there to be
a more traditional three or four course dinner menu as well. I realize this
is more a business matter that a culinary issue and I must assume that the
present format works for the restaurant and the majority of your customers. I also realize
that most of the tasting courses are available on the bar menu a la carte,
still, there are those times when someone might want the quality of food and
service of the main dining room without the intricacy of a tasting menu.
"This is the kind of restaurant where the Arugula comes with a biography and a mission statement"
Read that in a book once and it so fits Cyrus.
Went here on a Tuesday night to celebrate my lady's birthday with her daughter and boyfriend.
Cocktails- A highlight for me- I had a Sazerac which was perfectly prepared and made me feel like I was transported to Louisiana in the 60's - all of the cocktails were perfectly prepared- 2 of them came with a stainless steel straw which was a little strange on the teeth.
Food- I would say more asian influenced than French- everything on the tasting menu was masterfully prepared.
Wait, the bread basket was out of this world.
Service-Impeccable, the head waiter was more of a butler really with "Radar O'Reily-esque" anticipation of our every whim and fancy.
WIne- We brought our own ($35 corkage per) but they treated the pouring and timing impeccably.
Price- Ridiculously expensive but you have to think of this as dinner-theatre because it is a 3.5 hour symphony for the palette, eyes and mind.
Recommendation- When we go back (and we will) we will sit at the bar, sip one or two of the glorious cocktails and order off the bar menu.
Took the boyfriend for christmas. Wasn't sure what to expect but thought it would be a prelude to French Laundry someday.
We decided to go for the whole sha bang and ordered the full course meal. Prior to that was an order of their caviar (caviar was delish...)
In the end, I thought i'd die from overeating. Food was good but service was EXCEPTIONAL!
My only gripe was that it was expensive.
Still phenomenal.
It's so good, I named by firstborn after the place.
I'm not kiddin'...
We're big fans of Gary Danko. Mr. Danko knows his shit. I love how generous Mr. Danko is with his… Read more »
After dining at Cyrus, I feel fat. But, I'm happy and fat.
The food was that good. And I only had the 5 course, unlike hubby, who had 8 courses because he said they're small servings. It's a tasting menu but you won't be hungry after that. He was stuffed after the 8 courses. On top of that, they give you tiny bites/tastes of other things.
It's our anniversary and they gave us a complimentary tasting of a traditional Brooklyn soda - like a chocolate milkshake fizz. The food is divine and would be top on my list of restaurants, along with Gary Danko. They served these tiny canapes with a tomato tartlet, a thin gelatinous gumdrop which gives a burst of beer when you bite into like a cherry tomato (they freeze the beer and put it into the gelatin). You have a choice of an 8 course menu or 8 course vegetarian, and the menu comes the same for 5 course regular or vegetarian menu. You can substitute laterally between the regular and vegetarian menus.
The foie gras torchon was fabulously creamy, like butter. The server comes around with a basket of small baked breads - sour dough (braided - shaped like a leaf), kalamata, and cheese roll, etc. All delicious. 2 containers of salt (sea and Hawaiian pink) and creamy butter (goat butter and cow butter) are placed on the table.
The poached halibut (a fingerling 4 in x 2 in) was absolutely fragrant and cooked just right, over sweet pureed corn, scallions and lemon verbena. The duck breast skin was crispy, soft, and tasty with rosti potatoes and peppers/sherry jus. I loved the Japanese Wagyu beef, 2 exquisitely tender 2 inch medallions which practically melted in your mouth with a flavorful oxtail umeshu consomme' served over it. We enjoyed the 1/2 bottle of cabernet from a microwinery, it was their last bottle and came in an unsually thin and tall bottle.
The cheese table was great, just like Gary Danko's, except for the fly which followed the table around and landed once on top of one of the cheese. We tried a British white cheese, tasted almost like a mild Gruyere' and a very true blue cheese and another creamy white cheese. All served with crackers, nuts and pieces of dried fruit and bread. Hubby had the chocolate cake which I didn't try but there were several tastes of watermelon - rind, compressed watermelon and what I really liked, a watermelon granita (only a teaspoon serving 'tho). My pistachio ice cream presented like 3 small cubes of ice cream sandwiched between a layer of crunchy phyllo-like dough.
When we thought we could eat no more, they come by with a dessert cart with more small tastes - we tried a coconut square 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch - tasted like a jelly, 2 small sugar lollipops delicately wrapped in clear plastic and tied with colorful dotted ribbons - one in a light cardamon and the other a Thai basil, chocolate (OK) and a small shortbread. There were more to try but we really could eat no more.
The diners next to us had champagne and caviar beforehand and then each the 8 course taster's menu with wine pairings. We left before I could see if they could even finish their entire meal. In a lovely white Cyrus with gold handled bag, they gave us each a boxed Cyrus brownie to take home and a dated copy of the menu, the name of our party and the event - "anniversary celebration" printed on it. Service was excellent and you don't just have one server, there's a team waiting on you.
Cyrus is sensational! It is beyond any typical dinning experience you could imagine. I never knew that a single bite of food could render so much magic! Ive been to Cyrus a few times and each time I am more and more convinced that I should have been born a trust fund baby! From the polished service, the divine edible art, and the pleasing aesthetic its well worth every penny. And if your'e anything like me you'll be wracking your mind coming up with the next worthwhile occasions to celebrate there.
If possible I recommend opening your evening with their exquisite caviar and vodka. From there is only goes up! The 5 course menu is totally sufficient too. Ive enjoyed both the 5 and 8 course menu, and although I could die happy after indulging in the 8 course, you may need to be wheeled out the door after the conquest.
Beyond the absolutely euphoric food, I have to say that one of the most impressive aspects of Cyrus is the unbelievable staff. They are polished, charming, educated, and passionate about what they do.
From start to finish you'll be enchanted with Cyrus. The effects of this place continue into the next day, as upon leaving they give you an after thought dessert to enjoy. Lovely....
I heart heart heart Cyrus. One of the best and most fun tasting menus in a while. This place delivered from service to presentation to creativity and taste. Had the tasting menu over Labor day weekend and loved it. Can't say more than what has already been said. Will surely be back!
Can you say food coma? They had to wheel us out on the four story desert cart at the end of our meal.
Seriously, this was a fabulous meal. Excellent service. Attentive and fun without a hint of pretentiousness even when they were describing the caviar cart. It is heavy on the show from the caviar cart to the desert cart or the cheese cart. It was our anniversary so they brought us homemade chocolate chip cookies in a glass tray compete with a balloon and flying chocolate confetti (have to see it, I can not begin to describe it).
Food was outstanding. The wine parings were superb and I loved the option of the elite wine pairing. Excellent sele3ction of wines by the glass and they happily let us share the tasting after a day of wine tasting. The Cyrus BLT was one of the highlights. A different experience than the French Laundry but I definitely feel that the food held its own in a comparison. Less formal and quaint than the French Laundry but you still feel like you are in a formal restaurant. A touch more crowded and less intimate but the atmosphere is very open and fun. I would definitely return!
I feel really bad giving this place a 3-star review but unfortunately, I wasn't blown away by the food. A few friends and I decided to rent a place nearby for the weekend just to try the restaurant. We heard such great things about this place so maybe we had unrealistically high expectations? Considering the 4-week wait for a table of 5 and the 2-hour drive from the city, the food was good but not great. I've had a better version of every dish they served elsewhere. On a bright note, the service was impeccable.
I just fed my 7-month-old his first strawberry and watched waves of curiosity, puzzlement, greed and elation wash over him as he chewed. This is how it felt at the age of 38 to eat at Cyrus, for three solid hours. It is a hyper-baric pleasure chamber, and probably the best meal I have ever had. I'm a hearty eater but the 5-course tasting menu was enough. It cost $350 for two, including one flight of wine which we split.
If you have a good baby, you can probably bring him. We didn't because everyone told us it was a mausoleum of food but it was actually pretty convivial inside. The waiters weren't stuck-up and the food was masterful without ever seeming over-produced; the service was on-the-spot and totally knowledgeable, which made it even more fun to eat new things.
I was actually prepared to be disappointed. Not because of anything that I had heard, but because I had it built up in my mind. It was going to be hard to live up to those expectations.
Cyrus did live up to those unrealistic expectations. And then some. The four of us did the tasting menu (eight courses, I think), with wine pairings. And some amuses thrown in.
Every dish was a hit. There were no misses. Four foodies, eight dishes and no one thought there was a miss or even an average. I will say, I thought one of the wine pairings did not work. That was the only flaw I could find.
The service was like watching a ballet. When you noticed it. Items were refreshed before we even knew we needed refreshing (like a super yummy butter). They anticipated perfectly.
And to top it off - a little box of heavenly to-go yummies. A perfect ending to a perfect meal.
Looking for a culinary adventure for your taste buds? This is THE PLACE! Having dined here a year ago, I made my reservations two months ahead of time in preparation for this wonderful journey. Coming from the Bay Area, this is a decent trek and definitely a great spot if you are spending a relaxing weekend up in the area. Knowing what to expect and having some engagements in the city on Sunday, we did not have the luxury of staying overnight here. There are basically three options on the menu: a) 5-course tasting, b) 5-course vegetarian tasting, and c) 8-course tasting menus. What did we choose? A 9-course tasting menu... we supplemented one course from the number of savory choices. Here is how our culinary triathlon went:
1) Amuse bouche - Five different individual bite-sized treats, each emphasizing the various taste sensations: bitter, sour, sweet, spicy, and savory/salty.
2) Yellow peach salad - A nice starter to the journey.
3) Seared Hamachi with Tomatoes, Melon, and Cucumber - Refreshing and, consistent with the theme, a variety of flavors.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
4) Foie Gras "Torchon" with Plums and Cashews, Toasted Crumpets - Rich and luscious Foie Gras spread on warm crumpets just melts in your mouth.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
5) Abalone with Hijiki Noodles and Snow Peas (supplement) - Thinly sliced, the freshness of the sea (abalone) with the interestingly textured noodles were the highlights of this dish.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
6) Ikejime Tai with Corn and Scallions, Ginger-Shiso Dashi - The star of the meal for me, the softness of this fish was heavenly paired with the dashi. I literally spooned the last drop from my bowl.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
7) Duck Breast with Rosti Potatoes and Peppers, Sherry Jus - A perfectly roasted medium rare slice of hearty duck with a fruity sauce; the potatoes was a perfectly cooked croquette.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
8) Lamb Roulade with Eggplant, Garbanzo Beans and Okra - Probably the least exciting of the courses, though still well prepared. It just didn't "wow" me like the others.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
9) Artisanal and Farmhouse Cheeses - The waiter guided us on this tour as our group are not cheese connoisseurs. With a great mix of goat and cow varieties, he was patient in explaining each of the six selections to us and directed us on what order to eat them.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
10) Cookies and Milk (birthday bonus) - They gave each of us a small glass of flavored milk and cookies, served in a unique presentation. Think snow globe...
11) Cherry and Pistachio Ice Cream Sandwich, Cardamom Streusel - A multiple of sweet, crunchy, and soft textured flavors.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
12) Chocolate Cake and Watermelon - Who would have thought this combination works? From a heavy dense chocolate to the clean, refreshing watermelon.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
13) Mignardises - A variety of chocolates, cookies, and lollipops that ended up being our leftovers.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Though not a course, the bread selection which included epi (crunchy), olive, bacon-flavored biscuit, brioche, and two different types of sourdough bread (all house baked) emphasized the wide variety of foods. This extravaganza lasted about 3.5 hours as we discussed how this was time well spent. The service was friendly and attentive as everyone answered our needs (refilling water glasses, removal of empty plates/bowls, offering additional bread, etc.). This meal was more than a dinner as the cuisine ranged from Asian, rustic, comfort, sophisticated gelees/foams, etc. Food and service wise, it's easy to see how they're deserving of the Michelin two star ranking. It's hard for me to imagine how they compare to the three star French Laundry. The food seemed more amazing last time, but the service was more relaxed and fun this time. My advice is to go in like a sheet of blank paper and let them turn your experience into a masterpiece. I just hope that my review can live up to the excellence of the meal.
The best of both worlds, a new refreshing dining experience and memories of my finest culinary… Read more »
We just went to Cyrus this past June for my husbands 50TH birthday. Since the food is so complicated in listing, I won't even try. I would have given them 5 stars, but I think the amount of wait staff on the floor was too much.. The food was excellent and it is a true rival for French Laundry, but I will have to say, that there is a reason it only has two Michelin stars, rather than three. It's very close though. The only true miss of the night was this very strange pickled thing, I think it was watermelon, that was on the dessert plate. Not good with chocolate I must say. I watched some fellow diners as they tried it,and they made the same face I did!
But in the end, the restaurant and the charming town that it is in, is worth a trip.
The bay area has many very good and some really good restaurants. Cyrus stands well above most of these. Why? Well naturally the place is beautiful without being at all stuffy. The service is spot on, and happily so. But mostly the food is exquisite, and often surprising. Even plates on which you may not care for a component command your attention. Foods are juxtaposed in new ways or prepared in ways that you have not experienced. Even the breads are incredible and different. The restaurant offers eight and five course tasting menus and vegetarian tasting menus as well. There's something for everyone.
A meal commences with canapes that are beautifully prepared and successfully wake the palate. Next two amuses. Both remarkable. The second a complex sweet pea ragu that puts whatever you may get at most other high end places to shame.
A first course of spot prawn sashimi so fresh the crustacean is still tingling. It comes over cucumbers and melon and the lightly fried head is on the side. Tastes and textures in balance.
Abalone with hijiki (seaweed) noodles and snow peas comes with a sweet and astringent broth that brings the plate together.
Turbot with corn and scallions comes with a, surprise, ginger sauce that again brings the plate together. The turbot is more dense than other fish, perfectly prepared, and perfectly tasty.
Duck breast is paired with rosti potatoes and a pepper ragu (that I didn't care for). The surprise here is the beautiful sprigs of grilled parsley, a preparation that amplifies the taste of the herb and presents it in a new light.
Butter soft lamb roulade tastes assertively like lamb without going over to mutton. It comes with eggplant (not to my taste) and garbanzo beans and okra (very much to my taste).
A server offers a choice of three cheeses. I ask his help and he happily complies. He has a twinkle in his eye knowing that the cheeses he has selected, accompanied by breads, a poached apricot and spiced nuts are going to satisfy, and then some
A cherry and pistachio ice cream sandwich with poached cherries is not too sweet and lovely. Rhubarb bread pudding is even better. Complex. An interplay of sweet strawberries, and tart and sweet rhubarb.
The meal finishes with mignardises (candies).
Notice that when a server brings a plate from the kitchen, he/she doesn't cross the room between tables but walks around the periphery. The small things, the big things, everything here is perfection or near perfection.
I have to admit I was terrified of going to Cyrus because I really felt I was not old enough, or maybe it just would not be the place for me. But I took a deep breath and went on the night of my birthday. It was everything I could have hoped for and more.
The presentation is beautiful and I have never experienced such small bites of food that are as flavorful. My boyfriend and I each tried the five course dinner and share the flight of wines. I was so impressed with how willing they were to cater to our request of sharing and even trying a few courses from the vegetarian menu.
I thank Cyrus for treating me with as much respect as the other older guests and giving me a 26th Birthday experience I will never forget. It is expensive, but you really feel that every penny is well spent.
I don't like Cyrus, I don't have warm fuzzies... it was rather a disappointting. So why give it 5 stars? It truly is the class of Sonoma County fine dining. General's Daughter, Girl & the Fig, Syrah & others... they are all wannabes... Cyrus based on ingredients, creativity & service is VASTLY superior to the rest in town.
With that said.. I also found it way overpriced & uninspiring. The food was not flawless... not that anything was bad... some of the dishes conceptually were just way off the mark. There was absolutely no consistency & story behind the dishes & wines they choose on the Food & Wine price fixe, and the service was impeccable if you like choreographed, disneyish, hovering style service. Also the dining room is ugly & devoid of style.
Canapes... these were very nice & tasty. One was a rift on Mexican Empanadas the other was simply roasted tomato in pastry. Both nice, neither memorable.
Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho with Hirame & Basil. Not a gazpacho at all... maybe a cross between a Deconstructed Gazpacho & a seafood cocktail. It was a clear cucumber "broth"... with a Hirame sashimi wrapped around a cherry tomato. The flavors varied from resort spa water to very subtle Thai lemon grass soup. It was refreshing, tasty and fit what we tend to think of as creative Calfornia cuisine.
This was paired with the Francois Cotat - Culs de Beaujeu - Sancerre 2004. It was an okay French style wine, well structured with good silky texture but plain, minerality that would be nice with a Chicken Kiev but completely mismatched to a dish of this delicacy.
Seared Foie Gras wtih Hazelnut Crusted Doughnut, Apples and Cinnamon. This was very nice... carmelized exterior, buttery interior, excellent doughnut, sauteed apples.. heavenly for three bites thats when my tongue instinctively begged for a mouthful of some sharp, gamey Chevre.... and I realized the dish - while well executed - was unbalanced and a surprising misstep for a chef of this caliber.
Paired with Heidi Shrock - Furmint Sauvignon Blanc - Ruster Ausbruch 2001. A sweet Austrian wine with flavors that reminded me of nail polish remover. It of course only added to the sweetness of the Foie Gras... a terrible pairing imo (but maybe with the Chevre)
Langoustine with Sweet Corn, Mussel-Saffron Sauce. This was one of our favorites... perfectly cooked, tender, light helped us recover from the overly sweet Foie Grass. The sauce was really a foam that really evoked a coconut curry. Very nice.
Paired with the Guy Amiot - 1er Cru Maltroie - Chassagne-Montrachet 2004. Again the insistence on pairing such delicate Thai-ish flavors with such a plain French wine seemed wrong... and was not particularly enjoyable.
Cyrus BLT (Pork Belly, Pancetta, Heirloom Tomato, stroke of aioli) This was one of our favorites... the pork belly was succulent & carmelized with some kind of red wine reduction.
Paired with the Williams Selyem - Bucher Vineyard- Pinot Noir 2005 (Russian River valley). The wine selection really started getting better here. It was well structured, luscious wine with very nice black cherry that melded perfectly with the "BLT".
Rib Eye of imported Japanese Wagyu beef with Bamboo Rice, Matsutakes & Ponzu Sauce. The beef...all 1 ounces of it... was wonderful. The rice was a disaster however it incorporated preserved limes & lime oil... and was way too bitter and clashed with the red wine pairing.
Paired with Gaja - Pieve Santa Restituta Rennina - Brunello di Montalcino 2001 (Tuscany). A very nice red that seemed very similar to the previous Pinot Noir.... structure, luscious, less black cherry, a bit more tannin.
Cheese Cart (French style service). Unfortunately the cheese monger read us incorrectly because he ended up selecting mostly young cheeses and we prefer aged... but it was still very nice. I can't remember all the cheeses... half were European, half were American (Indiana, Washington and a single local cheese). Our favorites were a French double creme Camembert, a Portugese "spread in cheese cloth", and the Indiana manchego like cheese that was wrapped in Grape leaves.
Paired with Alta Gracia - Eisle Vineyard - Araujo 2004 (Napa). Another nice red. However, I don't understand the insistence of red wines with cheese.... the pairing just doesn't do much for me.
Chocolate Egg Cream with Chocolate-Hazelnut cookies. (Complimentary for special occassions). The cookies were great, the egg cream was like ovaltine... they do something with a balloon and a hookah looking device to blow sprinkles over the cookies. I thought they were about to bust into a choreographed number as well.
Green Cardomom Ice Cream with Lychee Granite, Chilled Rose Soup. Nice & refreshing. The ice cream was a perfect, silky texture. Not particularly memorable.
Paired with Chateau D'Yquem Sauternes 1997 (Bordeaux). An okay dessert wine... also had a bit of that nail polish remover essence. I don't think the sommelier has ever heard of the virtues of a nice Mosca
Im not going to go too much detail about the food. it speaks for itself.
I called 3 months in advance for french laundry but since they said only 2 months i called back then and never got through. i gave up, but i had one of my customers made a recommendation to this place and decided to try it. i called and got right in. i mean wouldn't you like months in advance? whatever forget french laundry!
this place was a little tricky to find but if you call they're nice enough to show u and describe to you where its at. the setting of the place was very cozy. the servers and hostess are super friendly! they never once made me fell like i didn't belong. they aren't snobby at all and plus they actually crack jokes. but, what i really liked is how i told them that my friend was allergic to spicy food they really just babied her. they didn't let her eat a single thing until they went through all the ingredients just to make sure there wasn't any peppers. she also didn't like cheese so they gave her a plate of fruits. they really try their hardest to make sure that you like everything and they'll accommodate or substitute something if you ask.
we had the 8 course tasting and as weird as it sounds we were super stuffed! they also give you a copy of what you ate too! i'll be coming back soon.
Noise level 2/5
Food here was very inventive and creative. We did the 5 course menu and all of them were superbly done; getting the wine pairing was a smart move. The sommelier did a fabulous job of pairing different wines with the food, picking up on the most subtle nuances of the flavor in the wine to match the food.
The thai marinated lobster with avocado and melon was soo good! I would definitely go back for that.
Service was attentive with staff very engaging and personable.
Afterwards, they customized the menu that we selected along with the wines paired in a card to take home and a little box of brownies. Nice touch.
Overall, a very nice experience- well worth the money spent. If you are wine tasting in the beautiful valley, go easy on food and wine before going to dinner at Cyrus; you'll need the space and the attention to appreciate it.
Cyrus doesn't rival French Laundry, but is a strong Michelin 2 star. The food is creative and innovative, but the service lacks the personal experience more common with fine dining. I had no idea who my waiter was and found that runners lacked much personality. While Cyrus is strong in its category, it has a long way to go to catch up to French Laundry.
Let's just say my experience at this restaurant last weekend didn't meet expectations. When you get a 29 in Zagats, and people are comparing you to French Laundry and Gary Danko, I expect GREAT things. In my opinion, Cyrus missed the mark completely.
Service was good, not great like Gary Danko or Quince. However the food was the real disappointment. My fiance and I each had the 8 course prix fixe dinner, and we only felt one course was outstanding. That's not to say the meal wasn't good, but for $700 (two bottles of wine), I've had MUCH better at Danko & Quince.
The other really strange thing about the night was the crowd. I'm guessing it was prom/graduation night because 50% of the place was under the age of 25. The couple next too us (22-ish) were high on something. The girl was spilling wine everywhere, and her boyfriend couldn't keep his eyes from rolling into the back of his head. I guess this recession isn't affecting recent college grads.
Anyway, that will be the last time I dine at Cyrus. Unless of course, somebody else is picking up the tab. :)
I've been saving my 100th Yelp review for a special restaurant and I've decided on Cyrus, a restaurant which very much deserves its 2 Michelin stars and must be pushing for its third.
The staff were most amazed that I had driven up from San Francisco for the evening just to dine with them but I pointed out that after I had flown all the way from London for this meal, the extra hour and a half drive wasn't too much bother! There is a big parking lot just across the street from the restaurant, which was empty at that time of eveing.
Like the best establishments, I was ushered into a world of calm and there was a nice buzz and ambiance in the dining room. I got the distinct impression that diners were enjoying something special in the food and diners on the tables next to me spontaneously recommended dishes and wanted to share their experiences of dining there that evening.
I found the staff friendly and responded well to my enquiries about the food and restaurant. I especially enjoyed chatting to the maitre d' Nick Peyton about his many adventures in the restaurant world, his passion for cheeses and about his visits to the UK.
I was also impressed that the staff were very accommodating when they found out that I wasn't drinking alcohol. I was recommended to try one of their signature non-alcoholic cocktails - ginger ale, kaffir lime and lemongrass. It was fantastic and I've reproduced that combination at home for a summer refresher.
I had been much impresed by Chef Keane's accolades on Yelp and he wasn't to disappoint me on the gastronomic front. When dining in such wonderful restaurants, I invariably put myself in the hands of the culinary genuises and plump for the tasting menu. Here are my memories of an extraordinary evening.
1. Five tastes amuse bouche - yes, people, you do have 5 tastes - sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami. Each was represented by a separate morsel, the most interesting of which was the 'beer bubble'.
2. Gazpacho gelee which was a lovely palate clenaser
3. Tasting of beets which I've recorded as being good comfort food...
4. Amoebi (prawn) sashimi - beautifully sweet with a contrasting yummy crunchy deep fried prawn head
5. Taglriani with pea, lent a creamy texture with egg yolk
6. Nantucket scallop with matsutake mushroom, yuzu & watermelon in scallop & mushroom soup. I love eclectic dishes like this which demonstrate the ingenuity (or bravery!) of the top class chef in combining such disparate flavours
7. Local Petaluma duck breast with foie gras (yum!), rosti potato cake and mushroom. Lovely spicing on top class duck
8. Melon & lime ice served on a stick - a single small palate cleansing bite after the rich duck. This was all in preparation for the next dish
9. Then came the WOW moment! I've never had wagyu beef before and was a bit sceptical that a special diet and massaging the cows (yes, really!) could have that much effect on the flavour and texture. Well, I am a convert!!! I think the meat also needs the attention of a top chef but it was literally the best meat, not just beef, but the best meat of any sort that I've ever tasted. The wagyu strip loin was literally melt in your mouth. I think it was served with tomato and some vegetables but the beef was the star of the show and the whole meal.
10. The next course was the huge selection of artisanal American cheeses. Cheese is the maitre d' Nick Peyton's passion and he wheeled the cheese trolley over. We enjoyed a great chat about the growing quality of the American small cheese producers and his passion for American cheeses was evident in his knowledge about the provenance of the cheeses and also his comment that he did have one American cheddar that he wasn't ashamed to serve someone from the UK! The cheeses were beautifully accompanied by figs, dates, lovely bread, panneforte and glazed nuts.
11. Yuzu gelee, spearmint ice, crisp, strawberry verjus, another light and refreshing palate cleanser
12. Lemon souffle, tuile, chocolate ice cream bon bon, hucklberry. Technically perfect and a tastty end to the meal
I also observed tables which had booked for special occasions getting a special treat which involved a balloon and chocolate cake!
There was a lovely selection of mignardines served with coffee - I was too full to eat them all and so, my sister back in London got to sample these a couple of days later!
All guests also got a box of goodies to take away.
When I've enjoyed the meal so much, I do like to pop into the kitchen to thank chef and the brigade. It was a privilege to see Chef Keane hard at work in the kitchen and be able to thank him and the whole crew personally.
Cyrus is a wonderful experience with some innovative food, amazing ingredients, staff who love food (and cheese!) and well worth a journey from the Bay Area (and London!)
I give Cyrus my first 5 star review on Yelp not because the food was great (even though it was) but because of all the unexpected ways in which it exceeded expectations.
We were a party of five 20-somethings. We did not have reservations. We weren't particularly dressed up. I would have expected a place that serves its drinks with metal straws to have some staff that would have been arrogant or unwelcoming, given those circumstances. Not so at Cyrus. It was great to see a 2 Michelin star restaurant that is not stuffy or completely full of itself.
We chose to sit at the bar, though they did offer us a table surprisingly. The bartenders were amazing. I simply cannot overemphasize how much they contributed to an extremely enjoyable evening. They were knowledgeable and made for great conversation throughout the night.
We even discovered that one of the bartenders and one of our friends had a mutual acquaintance - a professional dominatrix. I'll leave it at that.
The cocktails are to die for. Every single one was like nothing I had ever tasted before. Their Thai-inspired cocktail tasted better than the best Thai food I've ever had. The Upstairs Neighbor was exquisite (with a great name to boot). And I even tried the Grapes of Roth, even though I don't like grapes or grape juice -- and, of course, it was amazing.
Cyrus is probably one of the only restaurants where I have spent an exorbitant amount of money and felt that it was truly worth every penny.
I went to Cyrus last week for dinner with a few friends, and had a wonderful experience. Our server Bryan was very attentive, which was important in such a setting. I like the orchestrated serving style in which everyone was served at the same time by a different waiter, and having each dish explained, including how the dish should be consumed.
The food itself was great as well, I particularly liked the amuse-bouche of the Kona kampachi sashimi, as well as the slow poached egg with new potatoes and asparagus. The Wagyu was alright, as I've had better ones in Japan. Oh yes, the caramelized walnut carrot cake was awesome, along with the rosemary brioche (I had three of those).
I would definitely be back soon for more. I think this next time I will try the full vegetarian menu.
the hubby really wanted to take me to the french laundry for our mini honeymoon dinner but alas we did not get a call back after being placed on the waitlist.
he was told by some locals that cyrus was healdsburg's version of the french laundry so he took me here instead. while i loved the service and ambiance of the restaurant, i can't say that either of us were wowed by the food. don't get me wrong, the dishes were all very good but nothing that really set apart from other fine dining establishments in the area or in sf.
we both opted for the 5 course tasting menu. the hubby also ordered a special caviar starter with $30 per glass champagne. i think the halibut course and the caviar were my favorites of the evening. also the chef had prepared special mini chocolate chip cookies and chocolate milk shakes to celebrate our wedding.
overall a great place!
Non stop eating from beginning to end. extremely friendly and not snooty staff. creative entrees, a lil fusion (which i am not a fan of), but executed perfectly. i had the tasting menu and they were kind enough to sub in some entrees from the vegetarian menu because either I didn't like it, but because i'm allergic to fish and there is fish sauce in the lobster marinade.
the bread is to die for, esp. the brioche! the goat milk and cow milk butter is okay. nothing super special. the plates come hot if needed to be and so does the milk for your coffee (mos def +.. i hate it when you have hot coffee and then given cold milk that brings down the temp of your joe).
i'm not going into detail about each dish, but i must say i was very satisfied with each. a must try for any food lover.
thumbs up: creative dishes, delicious dishes, friendly staff, extremely thorough in understanding my distinct allergies.
thumbs down: the espresso gelato was kinda yuck (i know. i just can't describe it nor can i justify it. it was sour and bitter at the same time), the wait staff miscounted our $ during payment, but it was nothing to get stressed about.
bravo.
Fabulous fetish food. We ate off the bar menu (same as the restaurant only a la cart instead of five-course meals) and were floored by each dish -- especially the papparadelle pasta. We slurped the porcini broth in a trance state.
Also, make it a point to have an after dinner coffee. It's great. You can skip the micro ice cream sandwich.
Healdsburg, CA
Category: Italian
Healdsburg, CA
Category: Italian
Healdsburg, CA
Category: French
Healdsburg, CA
Category: American (New)
Healdsburg, CA
Category: Hotels
*kaiseki -- NAOE (glad I was there before Zagat)…
Taking a weekend trip to the Napa Valley? You'll…
My regular haunts, favorite special occasion…
Where my girls and I were inappropriately loud and…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Trying to celebrate a special occasion or woo that…
Some outstanding culinary highlights on my foodie…
restaurants to be paired with great wineries...…
