Star power
Chef Dominique Crenn of Atelier Crenn in San Francisco has earned her third Michelin star.
So you’re caught up in the big Michelin news. San Francisco’s Dominique Crenn just became the first female chef in the country to garner three stars for her restaurant. And the Bay Area tops New York in the number of three-star honorees; we’ve got eight and they’ve got five.
Your next question may be … what’s this going to cost me? The adage “if you have to ask …” may apply here. Or not. Maybe you won’t be surprised by the prices of high-end dining if you’ve already been paying $50for steaks and $18for burgers with fries in Bay Area restaurants.
Here is the prix fixe range (that’s French for fixed-price menu) for the Bay Area’s big star-holders. A prix fixe menu at a high-end Michelin restaurant is a multicourse affair. Wine pairings are extra. And luxe ingredients may also cost more. At The French Laundry, for example, the surcharge for a caviar appetizer on the $325tasting menu is $60; for a terrine made with foie gras, $30; and if you want shavings of those rare white truffles from Italy’s Alba region with risotto or cavatelli, that supplement is $175.
Want to pay a bit less? A few of these offer cheaper fixed-price menus in the bar. Or check out a Michelin one-star or two-star restaurant (bayareane.ws/2AK9mZk). Or pay a lot less? Head straight for Michelin’s list of Bib Gourmand restaurants (bayareane. ws/2QoEvLJ), which offer what the Michelin inspectors rate as very good food at affordable prices.
Also remember: Advance reservations are mandatory. Many of these restaurants fully book weeks in advance.
ATELIER CRENN: $335 for the tasting menu. Chef Dominique Crenn’s restaurant is in
San Francisco’s Cow Hollow neighborhood at 3127 Fillmore St.; www.ateliercrenn.com.
BENU: $295for the tasting menu. Find chef Corey Lee’s flagship restaurant at 22Hawthorne St., San Francisco; www.benufsf.com. THE FRENCH LAUNDRY: $325 for the tasting menu. Chef Thomas Keller’s restaurant is at 6640 Washington St. in Yountville; www.thomaskeller. com.
MANRESA: $275for the tasting menu. David Kinch’s restaurant is at 320 Village Lane, Los Gatos; www.manresarestaurant.com. QUINCE: $275for the tasting menu. Chef Michael Tusk’s restaurant is at 470 Pacific Ave.,
San Francisco; www.quince restaurant.com.
THE RESTAURANT AT MEADOWOOD: $285for the tasting menu. (A lighter three-course menu is available in the bar for $125.) Chef Christopher Kostow’s restaurant is at 900Meadowood Lane, St. Helena; www.the restaurantatmeadowood.com. SAISON: $298for the tasting menu. (A smaller five-course menu is available in the bar for $148.) Chef Joshua Skenes’ restaurant is located at 178 Townsend St., San Francisco; www.saisonsf.com. SINGLETHREAD: $275 for the tasting menu. The Connaughtons’ restaurant (chef Kyle and farmer Katina) is located at 131North St., Healdsburg; www.single threadfarms.com.
— Linda Zavoral, Staff New York mixologist Nick Mautone’s
Grape & Grain cocktail is an easy and flavorful beverage for the holiday season.