Manresa - Los GatosAs expected.It's been about 6 years since I was last there, and things have only improved. Job well done, Mr. Kinch and friends.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMManresa Lives Up to its ReputationTook my husband to Manresa for his birthday. Our experience was sublime. We arrived early to sit at the bar and have a cocktail. Great bartender! Not too chatty, but friendly and made a terrific old fashioned. Diningroom is very conducive to a romantic meal, a business dinner, or just friends having fun. Noise level is very low. We chose the prix fixe. It was superb. We ordered two glasses of a French sauvignon blanc for the first two courses. Perfect! Then we ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir for the balance of the dinner. The dinner was perfectly paced. We never felt like we were rushed or that we were waiting for our food. Everything was delicious!! So much flavor! Highly recommend!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMUnforgettable!Dining at Manresa has been on my husband's bucket list, so we invited close friends to join us there for his 60th birthday. It was a night to remember. This is what I call "HD food" -- the flavors are so vibrant, the food combinations are so creative. The first and last courses echoing one another, with the first savory and the last sweet -- fantastic! The servers were friendly and knowledgeable. Conversation at our table of four was easy because the tables are far enough apart. The only negative of the evening was that once we were seated it took nearly 45 minutes before the first course arrived. But once the meal, created from the list of seasonal ingredients, started, it was simply stunning. Unforgettable!5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMExquisite foodI wanted to take my daughter to a Michelin-starred restaurant for her 16th birthday, and Manresa was the closest. I have been there before, and was thoroughly impressed. This time was equally impressive. I'm sure they're not used to having minors, but they treated her with the same respect they would adult clientele. She wants to own and manage her own restaurant one day, so she had been wanting to visit a Michelin-rated restaurant for awhile. (And compared to French Laundry, this was a bargain!) We opted for the prix fixe menu, thinking that the seasonal tasting menu would be too much. (But we later learned that the seasonal tasting menu is not much more filling.) The dishes were consistently exquisite.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMExceptionnel restaurant !Nous sommes venus de France via le Canada spécialement pour découvrir ce restaurant dont la notoriété avait été présenté dans un reportage télé sur Paris .
Beaucoup d attente avant de venir ... Et au miracle ce fut bien au delà de toutes nos attentes .
Plats raffinés , service précis et fabuleusement souriant, cuisine qui fait exploser les saveurs et les papilles ! Merveilleux moments !
Le meilleur souvenir de la Californie .
Sincerely yours,
Florent Poittevin de la Fregonniere5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMDeserves that third Michelin star!We have dined at Manresa over a ten year period (including when it was named Sent Sovi). Every year it just gets better. The food was beautifully presented; creative in the combinations of flavors, temperatures, and textures; and --most important-- delicious. We feel fortunate to have such an outstanding restaurant in the South Bay. It ranks even with and often surpassses the three star Michelin restaurants at which we have dined.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMA Star Worthy ExperienceAs amateur foodies, we make it a point in our travels to find some superior dining experiences. Manresa rates among the best we have experienced to date. Whether looking for the locavore, molecular or haute cuisine experience, Manresa rises to the challenge. We were more in a cocktail mood, so we bypassed a good wine list to have some bourbon specials. The Manresa Bread Project options were really a treat. Loved the fresh olive oil too. We opted for the prix fixe meal, 2 amuse bouches, 4 mains, a cheese course and 2 desserts. I think the prime ingredients were sourced local and fresh. Exceptions were obviously cheeses from all over the country. If we were passing out Michelin's, there is no doubt that Manresa was star worthy.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding, but...Food and experience was amazing, the caveat is, this place ain't cheap by any stretch of the imagination. 185 before tax and tip for the seasonal tasting menu. For two people plus one wine pairing will easily set you back over 600. Is it worth it? That's up to a diner and what food is really worth to them. Unless you have wads of cash burning a hole in your pocket, this place is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Every dish was wonderfully executed and very cerebral. Everything was top notch although I could have used another protein dish since I'm a glutton. The vegetables were the star of the meal which is a nice change of pace from other tasting menus. Glad I got to experience it!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMOur experience was outstanding.Our experience was outstanding. The food was simply amazing. Service was impeccable.
Five stars all the way around.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing from start to finish.Amazing from start to finish. Not just a dinner but a true experience.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWaiter Alan (?) was awesome.Waiter Alan (?) was awesome. He laughed at our jokes and was genuinely thrilled when we got excited about our food. He made even more recommendations about wine than the sommelier! Food was exquisite. They even hussled as we were tired and intimidated by the 3 hour tour. Yum!4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMSuperb, an exquisitely memorableSuperb, an exquisitely memorable evening. All we talked about for nearly four hours was the food -- one surprise after another.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMChef Kinch does amazing thingsChef Kinch does amazing things with ingredients that have unbelievable flavor and taste, and creativity is top notch! Service is excellent and atmosphere serene and cozy. Well worth it being listed among the Top 100 food pilgrimages in Food & Wine Magazine.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMIt's been over three yearsIt's been over three years since last eating at Manresa. The remodel with new courtyard landscaping is lovely. What I really like about this restaurant, besides impeccable food, is that a party of four can have a conversation and, 1) hear each other and 2) not disturb other diners... such a rarity in most restaurants. There was the same ambiance at Sent Sovi when the chef started that restaurant. I think he has this aspect of fine dining just right and I, for one, fully appreciate it. Well worth the price and the visit for any special occasion.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AM3 star treatment!What can you say about Manresa? It was recommended to us by a 3 Michelin star chef in Tokyo. The food was creative and delicious. The meal was very pricey, but well worth it. The chef was extremely gracious, though this may have been because of a note from the chef in Tokyo. He came to our table several times. He answered questions about a particularly unusual tool that he used to make one dish, and at the end of the meal talked with us about the Aesthetic theory of cooking. They even gave us a tour of the kitchen. What an incredible experience.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent - must try.WOW - we are big foodies and this did not disappoint. Fantastic service, fantastic wine, fantastic food. It was excellent.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMManresa lived up to my expectationsManresa lived up to my expectations and more. I went here for a birthday dinner but the fact it has two Michelin stars definitely helped ;] From excellent service to friendly and engaging staff, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The food was magnificent and any questions or requests we may have had during the night (additional bread, etc) were accommodated. I would definitely recommend Manresa to anybody who wants their dinner to be an experience while they lavish in exquisite food.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was one of the most enjoyableThis was one of the most enjoyable evenings I have ever spent. We recently found out about the existence of Manresa and decided to spend our two wedding anniversaries there (our 36th and our daughter & son-in-law's 4th). The tasting menu is the way to go-surprises at every turn of the meal. The wine pairings were notable with selections from around the world. Our glasses were never empty. I cannot say enough about the wait staff who were well trained in the finer points of service. We look forward to a return soon.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent fixed price menu,Excellent fixed price menu, go when you are hungry, lots of food served, all Dishes are very special.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMAdventure is the secret ingredientAdventure is the secret ingredient at Manresa. The food is pleasing to all the senses. The plates are unique, satisfying and exploratory. Expect the unexpected. And the chef took great care of the vegetarian at our table.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding dinner for 2 couplesOutstanding dinner for 2 couples over 3.5 hours. We especially enjoyed these dishes: spring mix salad (spectacular!), oyster/citrus, calimari/mole sauce, runner beans/smoked avocado/brussel sprout, wagyu beef. Premium wine pairings were all well done. Two improvement points:
- Compared to other Michelin-level restaurants where we have eaten, the amount of wine seemed too much, too fast to be comfortable.
- The pace of service at the end before the final two courses slowed notably, at one point leaving one guest wondering "if we were done" (we were not)
One special point: the bartender took care to try to create a Jack Rose out of alternate ingredients - we appreciated the effort!
In any case, we will certainly will return!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMWithout question Manresa isWithout question Manresa is one of the finest restaurants in the US, if not the western world. We've eaten in probably 20 or so Michelin three star restaurants in Europe and the US over the years and can only remember a couple of meals that would rival our dinner last Thursday night. Everything about the experience was three star, so we are baffled by Michelin only giving Manresa two. The French Laundry with three isn't any better.
We had the chefs tasting menu. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and accommodated various food allergies and preferences. Four or five of the dishes were made slightly different for my wife and me to avoid any issues. Our four hour dinner was terrific.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMPleasant surpriseAbsolutely fabulous. we had the tasting menu for March. Had to laugh at the salad, looked like it did come straight out of the garden! Many surprises await anyone who dines at Manresa!3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a fantastic eveningWe had a fantastic evening at Manresa! The food was delicious och the service superb. We'll definitely be back!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMYes, it's all that. And some.Manresa is simply one of the great US restaurants. Of course, it's not for everyone. If you look at Yelp reviews, folks complain about pretentiousness and being hungry when the meal is done. Valid in some quarters. And dinner for two with wine cost more than a good HD TV, sure. But if you're the sort who really cares about the art of food. The possibilities of food. The depth of flavor food can produce. Well, then this is one of about 20 places in the US that can blow your mind. Among my 8 courses from the $175 tasting menu -- they give you a lot more than just those 8, by the way -- none were disappointing. The service was pitch-perfect. Kinch is a special guy, and this restaurant should be on your bucket list.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMGo. It's special. From theGo. It's special. From the bookend madeleines and gumdrops to every little item in between, it's very special. Inventive. Local. Organic. Appealing. Fun.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMTheir tasting menu is highlyTheir tasting menu is highly recommended for people who enjoy being surprised by creative and delicious dishes. The menu changes monthly and the individual dishes reflect the season and the are tasty and imaginative. Service is absolutely outstanding. It is fun to just watch the choreography of the wait staff as they efficiently serve the tables and explain the offerings. The wine list is first rate and the cocktails feature many natural and refreshing choices. This isn't an inexpensive dining experience. It is a great place to go for a special occasion or to simply experience something special.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWe cannot but add to the hyperbole,We cannot but add to the hyperbole, except to say that hyperbole sounds pejorative, something like "hyped." This restaurant--its warm and engaging staff from the hostesses to the young bartender and the choreographed servers--they all pay homage to the chef's beautifully plated courses, each composed of seasonal ingredients matched in novel ways. Everything was simply complicated or complicatedly simple. Whatever, it afforded us a leisurely, yet challenging, evening with no pressure on us to "turn the table." Manresa makes food to be sure, but it really makes memories!3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous ExperienceService was fantastic! The Maitre'd and servers were more than welcoming when I had arrived to the restaurant. The food was superb if you're looking for quality ingredidents in each dish. Nothing was overly-seasoned, and each ingredient was it's own highligt in each bite. Everyone was very knowledgeable and quick to answer when I had questions regarding the dish. When I had mentioned that I worked in the kitchen, the maitre'd even set-up a tour of the kitchen for me when I had thought that it couldn't even get any better! My first Michelin restaurant experience, and every second/penny was worth it!My date and I had the tasting menu, and would definitely come back in the near future to try the prefixed and tasting menus to come =]3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThe entire Manresa experienceThe entire Manresa experience was unimpeachable, we had a wonderful time and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a special experience.3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMNot as great as previous visitsThey've updated the interior quite a bit since last time I was here, but the food is not quite as great. a few misteps on components of a course or two and desserts not great; but usually not thrilled with dessert here or at most places for that matter. overly sweet white chocolate based one and date cake one in which date cake was great but must other componants did not work together.
Service continues to improve and wine suggestions were great - I didn't have the pairing just a very good cocktail, and a white, a red and a sweet to go with tasting menu.
With all the newer great options at this level in SF think I'll stay closer to home in the future; thinking Alteir Crenn, for example.2/28/2013 12:00:00 AMWe liked the atmosphere andWe liked the atmosphere and the particular attention to detail for the service. The bread service was addictive! We had the tasting menu for February, our favourite dish was the 'in the garden' salad. We also tried the garden egg with cauliflower and black truffle as an extra option which was very good. Our only disappointment was the two last dishes of meat- duck and waygu which were somewhat salty for me (just my tastebuds and maybe because I am meat lover) and less enjoyable as the earlier vegetarian and seafood options.2/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is a wonderful escapeThis is a wonderful escape from the world. The food is always interesting and playful, wine pairings intrigue . The wait staff is exceptional and attentive to detail including remembering us each time we dine at the restaurant.2/22/2013 12:00:00 AMJust simply superbThe service was great and not suprisingly the food was better - creative and delicious. The drinks were also stellar, I know they want to accent the food, but a little more life on the walls would be welcomed by us all.2/16/2013 12:00:00 AMManresa once again providedManresa once again provided us with an amazing dining experience. Based only on a long list of ingredients, we opted for the tasting menu which provided us a true pleasure for the senses. Each course was a surprise and they just seemed to keep coming. Presentation exceptional - some courses served on a slab of slate, another on a bed of sassafras bark. And I can't say enough about the selection of homemade breads! Four hours later, we left completely satisfied yet not overly stuffed. Now mind you, this restaurant is not cheap but how often do you celebrate the 50th birthday of your BFF?1/26/2013 12:00:00 AMRomantic, deft dining experienceI've been enjoying David Kinch's cooking since the 90s, back to his days at Sent Sovi. This was our third time at Manresa, and by far the best. David has always enjoyed challenging diners, and he still does, but this time he did so in such a refined way that it was never jarring. The tasting menu, though it seemed endless, was so perfectly timed and choreographed that we never felt overly full, were ready for the next course, and had been deftly prepared for it by the preceding one. Even the presentation has been refined: it still has an element of drama and staging, but it no longer feels like a floor show. The food itself was much lighter, yet still rich in surprising flavor combinations. Perhaps my best meal ever.1/17/2013 12:00:00 AMOnce you've found ManresaOnce you've found Manresa (it can be tricky) you're in for an amazing dining experience. The tasting menu is a true pleasure for the senses. Each course features seasonal ingredients. Presentation exceptional - amuse bouche served on a slab of slate, for example. What a selection of homemade breads! Sit back, relax, and let the staff take care of you. Yes it's pricey, but for a memorable evening, it's worth it.1/11/2013 12:00:00 AMHuge decline in food qualityHuge decline in food quality and even bigger increase in prices12/30/2012 12:00:00 AMWinter menu is not as exciting,Winter menu is not as exciting, original, or inventive as the Summer menu. (Summer menu, both presentation and taste, show cases inspiration from David Kinch and Love Apple Farms.)12/30/2012 12:00:00 AMMagical!MAGICAL - the only word! Manresa deserves the place it holds among the top 50 restaurants in the world of 2012. We stayed in Los Gatos just to try it, but I never expected the perfection we were about to experience. Our Early Winter Garden Tasting Menu @ $175/person & the classic wine pairings @ $98/person (best pairings ever!) were dimensional & perfect. Every wine "popped" with each course. Unforgettable courses: Sunchoke/Creme/Egg/Bitter Herbs & Braised Chesnuts/Brassicas/Anchovy. Wow!12/30/2012 12:00:00 AMRomantic, wonderful, special dinnerEverything was really great -
Loved the presentation of the dishes, the superb quality of ingredients, and delicacy and subtlety of flavors!
Thought the wine pairing could have been either priced less or fuller glass of pours.12/29/2012 12:00:00 AMHaving read about this restaurant,Having read about this restaurant, it fell short of the best in Chicago, where I'm from. Food was not that "Oh Wow" experience you wish for in such a restaurant. We chose the prix fixe which was the right amount of food for us. We split the wine flight--and enjoyed the pairings, without over-indulging. The 3 of us were disappointed that we all had to have the same thing, whichever menu choice we made. We enjoy tasting each other's things. Some minimal selection would be nice on the prix fixe. A high note was the service--our main server was lovely, attentive, warm, informative about the food in an expansive rather than mechanical way (there are a lot of servers here, some less friendly).12/29/2012 12:00:00 AMTerrific food and wine pairingsTerrific food and wine pairings that made for a memorable evening. However, wished the other patrons actually had some manners. There were three tables near us who sat on their smart phones all night, texting, facebooking and passing phones around the table. Please, people...we were not at a pizza parlour! A little etiquette and respect for fellow patrons would go a long way.12/24/2012 12:00:00 AMExcllent, innovative smallExcllent, innovative small dishes with nice variety and flavor and texture combinations. The tasting menu had too many courses for our taste — less is sometimes more. The cost is extravagantly high, but perhaps warranted given the quality of service, variety of dishes and presentations, amount of cutlery consumed, etc. That doesn't excuse the greatly elevated cost of wine by the glass (or of corkage) as far as I'm concerned.12/16/2012 12:00:00 AMGive your review a title (optional)We were looking for that special restaurant to celebrate our Silver Anniversary. We looked at several quality restaurants and settled on Manresa. We arrived at our reservation time sharp and promptly led to our table. We selected the tasting menu with 14 dishes. Each dish was served simultaneously to me and my wife, with the waitress explaining the ingredients of the dish. Each dish tasted marvelously. My wife don't usually finish her dishes, but not this time. That's how good it was. The whole dinner was about 3 hours and we never felt the passage of time. We definitely made the right choice for a memorable dinner on our special day.12/12/2012 12:00:00 AMThe positives: 1) ExpectationThe positives:
1) Expectation was that the food would be terrific--innovative, attractive, and delicisious. Manresa delivered on all counts
2) The atmosphere is peaceful and conducive to conversation
3) The wine pairings were creative and worked well
The negatives:
1) I object to a mandatory stop at the bar for a cocktail when we show up on time for our reservation and more than half the tables are open. We should have been seated right away.
2) The wine pairings are pretty much the only way to go. The wine list is ridiculously out of touch
3) I object to being asked about another expensive option for dinner after having already made our decisions and starting the meal.12/9/2012 12:00:00 AMTraveled to CA just for dinnerTraveled to CA just for dinner at Manresa and felt the experience was worth the journey and cost. Excellent, friendly service that we did not think was too formal. They were on top of everything yet were quick with to discuss questions, other restaurants or anything other topic. We had the longer chef's tasting menu with wine pairings and found the menu to be consistently very good- no clunkers, but few true peaks, just dish after solid dish. We do not typically order wine pairings, but found these to be well chosen and a fair value for the cost. If we lived closer, we would try to go as often as possible as the cuisine and style of the restaurant is more subtle than most and would reward return visits. Definitely recommend.12/8/2012 12:00:00 AMvery good service...smallvery good service...small portions...very expensive...corkage fee of $50 is outrages...not a good price value12/5/2012 12:00:00 AMWhat a spectacular experience!What a spectacular experience! It felt like a mixture of a formal Japanese kaiseki dinner and a top Michelin restaurant in Paris. We opted for the seasonal tasting menu and wine pairing and we surprised by course after course of the most beautifully and creatively prepared small dishes, combining wonderful flavors and served with precision and flourish by the well-trained staff. Despite what could have been a stiff and stuffy experience, our waiter was engaging and friendly. A notable fun play on the food is that the first three courses were amuse bouche -- each savory, but presented to look like dessert, whereas the desserts looked like appetizers. It is pricey, so save it for a special occasion and enjoy!12/5/2012 12:00:00 AM