Poetry in all ways. Hands down one of the top three dining experiences of my life. The food is innovative and beautiful: it pleases all the senses (well, I guess it did not please my ears). Everything was sensual and refined. The service is impeccable. (I dined there five years ago; this short review is woefully late.)

I've wanted to check out this restaurant for a while, and I finally made it happen last month. As we sat down at our table, the server walked us through the tasting menu. It's written like poetry, with dishes delivered as interpretations of lines from the poem. The dairy-free, pescatarian menu showcases Chef Dominique's memories and inspiration from the sea, as well as the finest local ingredients from the Bay Area. The entire flow of the dinner was seamless, with each course elegantly presented by the hospitable staff. Overall, the flavors were more subtle but creative. We also opted for both the wine pairing and the non-alcoholic pairing. I enjoyed the NA pairing more, especially some of the house-made options. It was definitely a better value as well! I also want to highlight the desserts by Pastry Chef Juan Contreras. My favorite was the Sugar Bee Apple, which, compressed with yuzu, sake, and ginger, was very refreshing. It also helped cleanse the palate and transition from savory dishes to sweets. The dessert courses, holistically speaking, harmonized beautifully with the preceding savory dishes. We enjoyed all of them. Thanks for a vibrant culinary experience! Congratulations to the entire team for maintaining 3 stars from Michelin Guide this year!

Dearest Reader, Dining at Atelier Crenn once again, this time in celebration of my husband's birthday, was a delightful experience, albeit with some unexpected turns. Due to its immense popularity, our request to expand the reservation was understandably not accommodated. For those drawn to Atelier Crenn by its widespread acclaim or the Chef's Table episode, it's essential to approach with an open mind, free from rigid expectations. The restaurant has evolved, embracing a pescatarian and dairy-free ethos. My second visit contrasted sharply with the first. While the passion, purpose, and artistry that define Atelier Crenn were palpable, the experience differed. Consistently, however, the service remains impeccable, the selection of seasonal and thematic dishes is curated with the finest ingredients, and the wine program is robust and thoughtfully designed. The seafood offerings were a highlight, reflecting the restaurant's commitment to excellence. This month's tasting menu had a distinct Californian influence. The clarity of the shrimp broth was impressive, though the compressed caviar, reminiscent of seaweed from Costco, was disappointing. The caviar's compression seemed to alter its glutamate structure, diminishing the umami. We opted for the "Study in the World of Wine" pairing, which exceeded expectations. The journey through wines of increasing salinity and minerality, culminating in the light-bodied wines often found in Montalcino and the mid-bodied selection found in Burgundy, was the evening's highlight. The thoughtful wine arrangements spoke volumes, often more than the dishes themselves. In essence, Atelier Crenn continues to be a bastion of culinary artistry, offering an ever-evolving dining experience that marries impeccable service with innovative gastronomy and a stellar wine program.

Went here for my birthday, had been curious about it for a long time. Courses were perfectly paced and portioned. Standouts included the apple cider truffle to start, the crab-three-ways course, the faux oyster made from frozen champagne and oyster essence, and the pine ice cream. I loved how they played with temperature - I found myself being forced to hold bites in my mouth a bit longer, move it around, etc due to the chill - sort of a clever way to force my hand in tasting the dish as it was intended. Only dish I didn't enjoy was a quite bitter uni and huckleberry one, but it was my partners top favorite so YMMV. Never had better service in my life. No notes there. The NA drink pairing was cool but I just know this place would make amazing cocktails. Oh well. Overall a wonderful experience! Amazing also how well they did without any dairy, love that new direction.

I feel so fortunate to share my thoughts on my second dining experience @ Atelier Crenn Absolutely the Most creative delicately assembled vegan small plates highlighting locally grown flowers & produce A feast for the eyes as well as the palette The looks of each plate though gorgeously presented, can be delightfully deceiving as to their texture & complex flavors & ingredients The pairings of nonalcoholic beverages was superb, so varied & most delicious Impeccable service, but the soft-spoken descriptions were often hard to hear due to background convos‼ Dimly lit, feels very intimate, tables generously spaced apart‼ Very enjoyable background music, servers very knowledgeable & professional‼ Perfection & timing rules, yet the demeanor is warm & welcoming, from first entering to saying farewell‼ The host was much more than a maitre d, spending time @ our table to check in, explain the story & vision of Dominique Crenn & was so sincere & warmly genuine & shared that the kitchen had created an alternate course for our table ( I had casually mentioned to the hostess upon my arrival, that I did not enjoy the beet dish I was served on my 1st visit in December) ...wow, I was so impressed by this thoughtful gesture & it was delici He also gently explained the "cheering" we occasionally heard coming from the kitchen ( I inquired if the kitchen was watching a soccer game) & personally walked me to the door as I was leaving ( My "favorite" server had a lovely French accent that made every description sound even more magical & authentic) All in all, Just the most wonderful, memorable meal & evening, also planting a "seed" to visit Bar Crenn in the near future

Dominique Crenn is a food genius! Her creativity jumps off the menu and into your food hole with immense pleasure. Since I'm a poet myself, I cannot begin to explain the immense joy that her menu is paired with actual poetry she has written - amour pur et plaisir pour les yeux, le cœur et l'estomac! I cannot wait to visit again! Thank you for existing and thank you for the love you show to your guests. A purely magical place.

Another 3 star that for me just wasn't quite worth the hype. At 500 a person after tax tip you need to be blown away. Everything was good I have no complaints but I just didn't feel the wow factor unfortunately, which makes me a lil sad cause I've been eyeing this place for years. I also wonder since fine dining spots are known to change their menus seasonally if I just hit a not as impressive season. The first two courses started of really well. I really liked the popping sphere thing. But it just kind of tapered off a lil during the middle. The dessert tho omg that was excellent. Some things to note: they don't have liquor license so no cocktails just beer or wine. Also note that they are totally pescatarian which is cool and they def did some wonderful things with that. Overall, yes it was good... Of course it's gonna be good.. But was my mind blown away? Not so much. To be fair I didn't think Manresa nor French laundry really lived up to the hype either. I've also had a 3 star kaiseki in Japan and was also not blown away so maybe it's me I dunno. Either way if you're collecting fine dining, it's prob something you need to try yourself.

Atelier Crenn is a restaurant owned by chef Dominique Crenn, who also happened to work on the food design in the movie, The Menu. My cousin took me here as a graduation/birthday gift. This was my first time at a Michelin star restaurant, and the whole experience blew me away. When we first entered, the staff were very welcoming and checked in our coats. The restaurant itself offers a medium sized space and intimate experience that accommodates around 8 tables, give or take. This restaurant's menu is fully dairy-free and pescatarian, which we weren't aware of prior. Luckily for us, we love seafood. There were around 17 courses served, and while the portions seem tiny and non-filling, they add up over the course of the dinner. The courses offered were all fresh, with most of them having a strong acidic flavor profile. One notable dish we had was the amuse bouche which was a small ball that exploded with a cold, sweet, slightly acidic liquid. We asked the server about that dish and he explained the 15 step process it takes for that creation. The service was top notch, and the servers/chefs were very accommodating. At the end of our meal, I asked if they had hot chocolate because it wasn't on the menu and our server disappeared for a minute and came back to say "we've never made a hot chocolate here before, but the chef will make do. Is oat milk okay?" Hell yes! Overall, this place is pricey, but it is an experience and definitely worth a try at least once in your lifetime if you're into gastronomy and seafood.

What can you say about dining at Atelier Crenn that isn't already know. The service is excellent and their are so attentive. The interior is warm and very pleasant. And the food...it's no wonder that it has 3 Michelin Stars with it's fresh, quality food that raises presentation to a whole other level. I would recommend trying their non-alcoholic pairing. It it so creative and unique. One of the best drink pairings I have had and actually preferred it to wine pairings because it was so different and fit perfectly with the dishes.