Knife Pleat
French · Costa Mesa · $$$
4.3(194)
French · San Francisco, CA · $$$$
An ever-evolving 3-star Michelin dining experience, Atelier Crenn is a deeply personal project inspired by Chef Dominique Crenn’s life story. Memories from childhood, her awe of nature, and boundless curiosity of the flavors, textures, and techniques from the culinary world are all building blocks for her menu. Dishes come to life using traditional French technique infused with Chef Crenn’s global imagination.
“Impeccable dining experience at one of the best Michelin-starred restaurants in the world. The entire experience from check-in to meeting the chefs in the kitchen at the end of the meal was perfectly orchestrated, and all of the dishes were exquisitely presented and immaculately prepared. So many wonderful flavors, and so many incredible details. Great wine menu. Highly recommend it!! Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Several parking lots with a 5-10 minute walk.”
“My wife and I had an exceptional dining experience tonight. The service was, of course, excellent and what you would expect of such a restaurant with this reputation. The food tonight was absolutely stellar. The pescatarian dishes were some of the best I’ve ever had, but it was the sauces that stood out. Simply divine!”
“What an amazing experience! We were even fortunate enough to have gone on a night when there was a collaboration with Chef Viki. The ambiance was warm and welcoming. Service was impeccable and in keeping with the standards of a 3 star restaurant. The food was incredible. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared and reflected the creativity and passion of the chef. It was more than just a meal, it was a culinary journey. Chef Viki came table-side during service to introduce the dishes and finish them. Chef Crenn greeted guests and even took a photo with us. The whole experience from beginning to end was unforgettable! We look forward to going back again to try Chef Crenn’s full menu! Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Food: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Total: 5/5 Price: $$$$$ Rating Criteria: Based on comparisons to other establishments in the area 1/5: Terrible, would not recommend 2/5: Might be worth it depending on price and other factors. 3/5: Solid option. Average in this category for the area. 4/5: Above average and excels in this area. 5/5: Excellent, needs no improvement Pricing Criteria: Based on what we spent $: $0 - $50 per person $$: $50 - $100 per person $$$: $100 - $200 per person $$$$: $200 - $500 per person $$$$$: $500+ per person Please be mindful that reviews are based on personal experience which may differ from person to person based upon a multitude of factors (individual/specific workers, time of day, personal preferences, etc). Pricing may also differ and is reflected here based on what we paid for our meal. We typically enjoy multiple courses with our meals including appetizers, salads, entrees, desserts, and sometimes drinks or tasting menus when available. Please do your own research if concerned about potential pricing.”
“What an incredible experience. Still dreaming about that bread service! The food was thoughtful and amazing. I also really love how personable and present Chef Dominique was with her guest. This was our fifth Michelin starred fine dining experience and the first where the chef stopped by multiple times to engage in conversation and be attentive to how guests were experiencing the cuisine. Loved the poem, what a beautiful nod to “poetic culinaria.””
“Hands down the best restaurant I have ever been to and the top Michelin by leagues ahead. Before the reservation, we went next door to Bar Cren. We knew that we would opt for the wine tasting menu and decided to take one quick shot beforehand... Customer service is phenomenal and friendly -- From entering the restaurant to ending, every single worker here treated us with kindness. They joked with us about how we wanted to take 1942 shots next door and set a jovial mood. The sommeliers did a great job at explaining how each wine pairing would complement the dish and then also pointed out how it could complement other dishes that we were having. I don't remember their name specifically but there was a lady with the blonde bob cut and the tall gentleman with the slickback hair, they were amazing and made our experience so much more enjoyable. Every dish had a ton of flavor and could not decide which is my favorite -- (I am not going to outline the tasting menu but I will point out the main ingredient in my favorite dishes) The first round brought out several dishes and my favorite from the selection was definitely the uni and the oyster. Such an explosion of flavors with each bite. I don't want to dissect and give away their tasting menu but it was pescatarian! There were scallops, kind crab, geoduck, black cod, abalone, madai! A smorgasbord of critters with sauce reductions topped off with truffles. My favorite was the black cod with spiced yogurt! The brioche bun with their cultured butter was fantastic. Best bread from a restaurant I've ever had. The dessert menu was cultivated by a pâtissier? The mochi was delicious and I dropped my citrus pillow. The wafer and "blackberry" icecream was so unique. Cream shaped into blackberries! Should be on food network for sure. Heavy on the wine pairing, a must. There were a total of 8 1 oz glasses. Heavy on ordering, not them pouring. They don't want to overdo it. They want you to enjoy the experience without being completely inebriated. Although, we did take shots next door... Then Dominique came out! She made the rounds and said hello to everyone. Very personable, had some laughs and light conversation with her. Such a unique, personable experience that blew every other one out of the water. Overall, best Michelin star I've been to (I've been to about 10 now). Amazing staff, amazing food, and amazing owner!”
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