Atelier CrennBest meal of my lifeI can here for my birthday during my visit to San Fran and I can unequivocally say that this was the most unique dining experience of my life. The food was also extremely delicious. The only down side is the price and the fact that the quantity of food is not large so do not come starving5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMLove love loveMy boyfriend and I ate here for his birthday. The staff was extremely knowledgable about the food they were serving and the service overall felt very personal and warm. Dominique came to our table and spoke with us and thanked us, which always makes me feel special. And then when there were only a few tables left she moved us to a better table and talked with us more. I could go on and on. But now to the food. Amazing and so creative. We had an amberjack course that left me floored. A definite must go for foodies or someone looking to impress a date. I cannot wait til I'm back in SF to go again.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMSeamply amazing!!We are so absolutely blown away by this restaurant!! Simply genious!! A must try for a fine dining lover!!5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic food, I really likedFantastic food, I really liked the incredible flavors that the chef achieves. This place does an excellent job of being very original and inventive, which makes each dish incredibly fun. Also, the poem-style menu is a fun addition because you really don't know what's coming next!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellenceI have been a few times and I am always taken by how everyone who works there seems to be driven by excellence.
All four of us felt taken on a trip and loved each minute.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMunforgettable experience!it is just an amazing restaurant! the food is exceptional....5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing culinary experienceI'd almost given up on tasting menus: often gorgeous, intricate, inventive and, more often than not, disappointing and more style than substance (or flavor). Not at Atelier Crenn. The food was inventive, with amazing presentations, but, more importantly, there was flavor, texture, balance. Tons of style AND substance. While very modern and with an almost Japanese sensibility, the food was rooted in classic French technique. Every broth, jus and consomme was stunning. While the platings went from minimalist to nearly comically ostentatious (courses served on sheets of stone, slabs of tree trunks, etc) no course disappointed. . The sweet courses were equally creative and amazing. The wine service and over all service impeccable. Wow!!5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMA great experienceWe had the five course menu and accompanying wine. The food was fantastic and the service great. The Somelier was very knowledgable and taylored some of the wines to match our individual preferences but still got great matches to the dishes. We would definitely go again if we were in town.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMCreativity unleashed!You have to have an adventurous spirit and palate - who wouldn't live a menu item called "a walk in the woods"? The food is wonderful. Every plate is a visual and tasteful wonder, with many put together with tweezers! Wonderful experience!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMAn Unusual Dining ExperienceWife and I came to celebrate my 72nd Birthday, as we have been to many of the other fine SF restaurants. Both of us had the $180 tasting menu, which is a lot of money for us. Atelelier Creen interior is very harsh, cold, and austere, so diappointed for such a fine place. We agree with most diners that portions are small, only one or two bites at most. But the taste, presentation, artistic form are so special and unusual it is worth a visit. Service was excellent. Would not return but enjoyed the dining experience. When we arrived on a Tuesday night at 6:30PM, only 5 other tables taken, but around 8PM, place filled up. Ms. Creenn did come out and say hello to all the diners, she is deserving of the 2 Michelin stars.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMA special place to experience.Everyone should have the opportunity at least once to experience food in this way!
The food was exquisite and beautifully presented and the wine pairing perfect.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I were visitingMy wife and I were visiting from Chicago. This was the highlight of our trip. The chef came out and shook our hand, introduced herself, wanted to know our names. It was a nice touch. We ordered the 5 course menu, every dish was amazing. We will definitely be back for the other menu they have. Every staff member was outstanding. No complaints at all. Enjoy!4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding food, excellentOutstanding food, excellent presentation, extreme attention to details and customers.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing experience. I've beenAmazing experience. I've been to practically every Michelin restaurant in Bay Area, Atelier Crenn is by far the place I enjoyed the most. Cannot wait to go back!4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMOriginal innovate, creativeOriginal innovate, creative excellent what else could a person write. But it is $$$$ so it is not probably a place where you would frequently dine. The service was excellent and they made only one misstep they removed my wine glass when she still had wine in the bottle.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMVery creative chefDominique Crenn surprises you with every course. We went on a Saturday night and they only serve a twelve course tasting mention for $180 per person. No liquor license. Wine list is expensive. Food was exceptional. Dinner for 2 will be $800 - $900. Worth it for a very special occasion.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMExciting and ArtfulPoestic gastromonmy. Ms Crenn will not dissapoint if you believe food should be art. Items are transformed into super complex plates. Superb mixes and contrasts. Many sweet/savory combinations and surprises. Mostly overwhelming with a few underwhelming dishes. Sometimes so exciting and sometimes so odd.
The Saturday prix fix menu with wine pairing will cost you a mortgage payment so be prepared.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous foods! The best dinnerFabulous foods! The best dinner that my husband and I ever had. We had surprises after one another. Overall, the dinner reminded me of the movie "Babette's feast". The remarkable meal lasted in my memeory for many days.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMThe plates were unbelievablyThe plates were unbelievably creative and artistic! The food was incredible! Crenn will continue rising to rival the very best if she is not there now.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMCreative Dining ExperienceI have been to Michelin starred restaurants, but this place certainly gave us a memorable experience. The food was very creative, the wine parring surprised me as they included elements like sherry and beer into it along with the classics. The word "creative" would be the best way to describe this place. I wouldn't go so far as to say it is the best in the city, but was certainly a memorable experience.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMFood and Wine par excellenceWonderful food, and great fun trying to puzzle out the menu before each tasting course appeared. The servers were excellent and knowledgeable, and Chef Dominique Crenn came out to chat with every table. We loved the range of taste and textures, the wine pairings, and the extraordinary range of plates, rocks, boxes, and other shapes of serving device!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is my new favourite restaurantThis is my new favourite restaurant in San Francisco. It's not to everyone's tastes - the woman at the table next to me was clearly having a confusing and miserable experience - but if it appeals to your sense of adventure and whimsy then the poetry menu, unusual platings and sweet vs savoury taste palate will impress. I recommend it. Chef Crenn herself is charming and tours the dining room to ensure everyone is looked after in traditional French fashion.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding. Of all the MichelinOutstanding. Of all the Michelin two-stars in the Bay Area, Atelier Crenn was far better, tastier and more creative than the pretentious Benu, Manresa and Coi. Each plate was a work of art. I wish I had two of each plate -- one to eat and the other to frame. It's really refreshing to see a chef/owner walk around their dining room once in awhile. Chef Crenn was very welcoming, greeting and chatting with guests. Though the pacing of the plates were slow, the wait staff was courtesy and fantastic.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMA wonderful experience. TheA wonderful experience. The food is delicious and is presented as works of art.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic culinary experience.Fantastic culinary experience. Dominique is Picasso in her field.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMThere is a lot that goes intoThere is a lot that goes into the food that is made here.
Much of the experience I have to say is the presentation and the interpretation.
Plenty of appreciation for her work is needed when coming here.
I didn't know what to expect from the dishes, they were all so beautiful.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMThe very best restaurant inThe very best restaurant in town. Had grand tasting with wine pairing and food and wine both were amazing from start to end!!!3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was beautiful toThe food was beautiful to look at and delicious to eat. The combination of flavors and textures was the most creative and unusual we have ever experienced.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was one of the most unusualThis was one of the most unusual and fantastic restaurants I have ever dined at!3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMThe best service I have experiencedThe best service I have experienced in San Francisco! The food was superb!3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMSubtle and precise cookingAtelier Crenn is undeniably excellent. Dominique Crenn's cooking is very precise, and somewhat subtle. The rather flashy plating is sometimes a bit of a contrast to the calm and well-balanced flavors and textures. The wine pairings were well-chosen, and complemented the cooking very well. The hype is well deserved.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMA superb restaurant - probablyA superb restaurant - probably the most sophisticated food/service/presentation in all of SF.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWOWThis was a great experience... I am not sure why this is not in the top 50 restaurants in the world. Food was superb and the service was phenomenal.
can't wait to go again.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMA memorable poem unfolded.Dominique and her entire staff were absolutely fantastic in our celebration of our first date night out after our baby boy's birth. The experience was gastronomical theatre, as we followed (and ate our way through) the winter poem told through our Chef's grand menu and wine flight. The menu is revealed through each verse, adding a sense of mystery to how and what will be served. Each dish was delicately crafted and exquisitely presented. Like a good book, we finished the journey fulfilled, and eagerly await for her next story.
Two special shout outs: Dominique greeted each table and even welcomed us to come back with our baby - it was 'very European' as someone had put it. Other shout out is the sommelier - we enjoyed his passion.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMSuch a wonderful dining experience.Such a wonderful dining experience. Every dish was a surprise. The staff was friendly and professional and the chef is brilliant. Highly recommend for a romantic splurge night.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMMemorable Dining Experience!We celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary and dinner was a visual and mouthwatering journey. Definitely a very special place to celebrate. I would expect that normally the dining room is much quieter than the evening we were there. There was a party of 4 who were very loud and made it hard to hear in the dining room. A very nice touch was meeting Chef Dominique.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is the real deal. OneThis is the real deal. One of the best dining experiences I've ever had and I've had some doozies. A lot of doozies with 3 Michelin stars.
There are restaurants which appeal to one side of the brain, but ignore the other - in that they're interesting, even very interesting, but the taste doesn't always score a homerun. Not the case with Atelier Crenn - both interesting (and charming plating) and hits you over the head with that delicioso taste factor. Look forward to going back.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect mealPretty phenominal. One of the great places in this country. Had grand tasting menu with wine pairing. Wine pairing also fantastic, one of best ive ever had. chronicle review on pairing and food in general no longer acurate. Everything great. Chef pops into dining room thanks you for coming like many of the great places do in spain, i really like that, also lets you know the chef is actually cooking in their restaurant. Certainly best ive had in SF, but havent been to Saison yet. I also had plenty of food and wine, some on yelp complain of leaving hungry, not an issue for me and person i was with, we had plenty. Not too much, not too little; perfect. Some servers have very thick accents food descriptions often difficult to understand2/20/2013 12:00:00 AMAtelier Crenn gave you anAtelier Crenn gave you an new idea of fine dinning, but may not for everyone. the creation of the food will surprise you, the presentation is peom like just like their menu, some dishs is unlike you ever had before but there is some weak points I found.
first, as the 2013 winter chef tasting menu, i found there is wayyy to much cold courses and very little hot dishs, also I found two of the courses are very similar. time between the courses was really well managed, and the food portion is good too, but we still spend 3 and half hours for 13 main courses and 4 dessert coures menu (which is expected)1/18/2013 12:00:00 AMTo date, it's one of my finestTo date, it's one of my finest dining experience. The subtleties tell the whole story. The food, the service and individual attention was outstanding. It's always a very special touch when a chef/owner greets you and does so with such comfort.12/5/2012 12:00:00 AMOn short list for the "Best in SF"Definitely in the running for the best dining experience in San Francisco. At the very least, there's nothing else like it.8/29/2012 12:00:00 AM