Manresa

Basis for my starred ratings (which skews heavily to the food or drink):
1 star: Never again.
2 stars: Poor food, poor experience, extraordinary measures in order for me to come back.
3 stars: Average, nothing really special, nothing particularly bad.
4 stars: Very good, would definitely return.
5 stars: A favorite, one of the best.
Chef Kinch deserves every one of his three stars. I will have to say that the dinner here lacked the extra dazzle that we both expected and have experienced at other 3-​star restaurants, but — the food here truly shines. Local, Asian influenced, Japanese technique, but totally rooted in California cuisine and the feel of California cuisine.
In terms of the taste of the food — one of the best meals of our lives.
The beverage pairing was also quite good in terms of matching food to wine. The service of the pairing was polite but lacked pizzazz. I would say that applies to the service as a whole — polite, friendly, professional but not as stellar as other restaurants. Still, the food alone warrants a Unilocal 5-​star review.
The other main complaint — parking. Had a 6:30 dinner reservation which we were almost late to because the parking lot here is so ridiculously busy — and no valet stand. That was a tad annoying. Surprised there’s no valet.
As for dinner:
Red pepper petit fours
Granola crisp
Chestnut truffle
Blood orange beignet — perhaps the weakest dish of the night
Tidal pool — a superb dish, one of the best anywhere
Into the garden, green and bitter — one of the best vegetable dishes I’ve had anywhere
Squid
Scallops
Abalone — one of the best prepared abalone dishes anywhere
Black cod
Roast duck — the potato almost outshined the duck, but na excellent dish
Roe deer — side of brassicas almost outhsined the deer, but an excellent dish
Paris brest
Milk chocolate bavarois
Strawberry-​chocolate petit fours
A few superlative dishes, many excellent dishes, none truly disappointed. Though out of the way down in Los Gatos, we would return to see Chef Kinch work his magic.

Manresa was hands down the most luxurious dining experience I have ever had. I used to live in Tokyo and picked up the Michelin guide to try new places, but this topped all the places we had dined at prior! All the dishes were Instagram ready and tasted just as good as it looked. We arrived at 8:30 for the late seating and spent 3.5 hours there. I rarely felt like I was waiting for the next dish. Food kept coming out and different people would serve it even though Kent was our primary server. The service was impeccable. They clearly train their servers to pick up on cues. Each dish was delicious, my favorite was the kale steamed bun stuffed with sea scallops and the cavier beignet was to die for! Dessert was exquisite and it was nice to have a variety to try. They sent us away with the most delicious and decadent strawberry and almond granola. I don’t know when we will go again, but we definitely will come back!!!

The day that I dreamed about dining at Manresa had finally came true. The dining experience started at 8:45pm on a Saturday night and our reservation time was 9pm. I believe it was the last seating during the night. We went in just a little early so we were seated in the waiting area with a cute small fireplace. The host handed us the drink menu. During the wait, I noticed that they have displayed a wide variety of books and magazines that showcase the restaurant and other Michelin’s guide and star restaurants. For a good 15 minutes, I was taking notes on restaurants I would like to try in the future — (talk about being fat, lol.)
Right around 9pm, we were lead to our table and the adventure begins. We didn’t get the wine pairing, knowing me I would pass out during the meal — yea, i am a weak sauce. So the meal started off with small bites, appetizers, entrees, desserts, small bites desserts. Food was obviously amazing. Portions are small but there were a lot of courses to go through. I eventually had to start packing food from my 2^nd entrée and moving it home. I was full, very full. The night ended with a gift from them and a copy of the menu we had. It was a nice gesture to remembered the night we dined here and to see how their menus changes every so often. What a incredible experience and would love to revisit one day in the future.
Unfortunately, service was not attentive and slow, was disappointed there. (–1)

I’m going to hold off on judging Manresa too hard because I may have made the mistake of coming when the local produce was not at its peak, namely New Year’s Eve.
Here were my highlights:
Best Negroni I’ve ever had
Really nice hors d’oeuvres (oyster with gel in particular)
Great tamago with caviar
Nothing else was really that great.
I’d like to come back again sometime in the spring/​summer and see what the difference is.

As you would expect from a 3 star Michelin restaurant the food was amazing and the service was very good. The taste packed into each dish was outstanding. It is not my husband’s type of place (i.e. small dishes, slower meal) but even he had a wonderful meal.
I’m sure there is an army of tweezer-​wielding people in the kitchen. Each dish was a work of art. The servers (and there were a lot of them) knew what was in each dish and provided a lengthy description when it was brought to the table.
All in all it was an excellent meal, one that we would save for a special occasion. A few items to note (only because for a 3 star restaurant you wouldn’t expect this):
— Our friends had surprised us with a contribution to the cost. There was a card on the table when we arrived letting us know, and the waiter also mentioned it. But when the bill came the $ 200 was not reflected and I had to ask for the bill to be revised.
— My husband had to ask for the bread. I’m not sure if this is a standard approach or not. Manresa does make its own bread, and it is excellent (3 different types to choose from), so it seemed strange they did not offer it until we asked.
— If you decline the cookies and other items they bring after the dessert course they will put them in a bag to take with you. Our waiter told us they would be waiting at the front when we were ready to leave but they were not. We had to ask and the woman at the front had to track them down.

Excellent service, in a chic, classy and cozy ambiance, where the artistically created and tasty food items are the jewels/​centerpiece!
Be ready for a large number of small bites, with many amuse bouche items: excellent for socializing or celebrating an event! Our dinner time was about 5 hours: It was relaxing while enjoying the social gathering and the multitude of tasty creations!
While many food items were definitely delicious, most of them were highly salty: including some of the sweets/​desert items.

Exceptional, exquisite, artful, and posh only begin to describe my experience at Manresa.
Manresa is a fine dining extravaganza designed to delight all your senses. Plan to arrive and spend your entire evening here.
Complete with attentive servers, sommelier, amazing chefs, and a planned 14 course meal, yes 14 courses of culinary amazement!
I can’t begin to describe every course yet I was able to take lovely photos that just may make your mouth water by looking. Complete with exotic tastes from truffles, to abalone garnished with finishing touches of finely caramelized red onion, and crispy fennel. The painstaking attention to detail is not lost, with each bite a culinary treasure.
Visit myRDN to see full review with pictures of each course

Michelin 3 stars for David Kinch’s Manresa and what that means for me:
The shooting stars +‘s:
+ Service. Hostess kindly greeted us as we approached the restaurant and made pleasant small talk before seating us. Dishes are explained and brought out at a steady and synchronized pace.
+ Décor and music. Not to dim so you can see faces across the room. Not too bright where someone’s foundation looks harsh.
+ Music. ABBA and Radiohead at the right volume and speed.
+ Tasting menu. No question a memorable meal. Why belabor the details when it is best appreciated through sight and taste. See pictures and descriptions which I’ve tried to relay as told by the servers.
+ Most memorable tastes were the caviar beignet with crème fraîche and spring soup. Overall it was wonderful progression!
+ Manresa bread accompanies the meal but try to not go crazy on the carbs and save room for the ending.
+ Cheese course is an option but we passed. The courses fill up fast.
The dim stars -‘s:
— Cocktails run like $ 19 for an Old Fashion and $ 13 for virgin cocktails.
— Macarons ended the night with oats, green tea or lavender. Not the best samples I’ve had.
Note on attire: Business casual attire and no shorts or open toe shoes. I did a 180 and got away with a lace romper and motorcycle boots. That night I’d say it’s more pearls and shift dresses for the women and jackets for the guys.
Overall yes I would go back but since I don’t live the rich and famous lifestyle, it will have to be a special occasion. Having only dined at one other 3 star Michelin restaurant, I say Manresa did not disappoint.

Three Michelin Star restaurant checked off my bucket-​list, but still wanting to do French Laundry!
Ordered: Chef’s Menu Pre-​fixed Meal $ 235 per guest
Tina’s Thoughts and Triggers
— Total of $ 511.13 with tax (no tip included yet) — Did it just increase my credit score? Maybe.
— Kent was beyond great as a server! He was willing to work with us and answer our silly questions. Very knowledgeable of Manresa’s bakery and history.
— Experience, ambiance, appeal, taste, and everything else was on point and I would rate it 5 star all around even with or without the pricing
— I could probably write about each dish here and explain, but David Kinch changes his menu all the time.
— The difference between Manresa and French Laundry? I’ll let you try both then you can tell me.
— How did we do it? I’m not really sure, but we got a kitchen tour.
— Left with a complimentary morning bun and a smile!
— Twice I’ve been here, maybe third or fourth time in the future. ;)

Had dinner at Manresa last night for my 31^st bday– it was tricky to find because the gps made us circle around because you don’t realize that it’s at the back of the other buildings.
It was a beautiful building we had a 6ish dinner but arrived a little earlier. The staff was nice and courteous– our main guy I couldn’t remember his name (he was the Asian guy with glasses) gave up every detail on what we were eating and was very professional.
I enjoyed my dinner except when I had the fish (don’t remember which dish it was) a bone got caught in my throat and poked me and i swallowed it but got scared eating the rest of it. I wasn’t sure if I should have spit out my food or finish the rest and of course I kind of got scared swallowing the rest of the food because I didn’t want to spit it out. Kind of panicked but luckily when the food was going down– nothing else poked me.
The food in the beginning was memorable and the end– it was definitely a lot of food though and a blur in between. I would come back but hopefully nothing pokes me– considering the price my BF shelled out for this dinner… I wasn’t sure if I should have told the staff cuz it’s such a fancy place? But I kept my mouth shut because I didn’t want to make a scene.
$ 735 was the bill and whoever was handling the fish should have known how to debone the fish– not something I want to remember the restaurant by and my 31^st bday.
The Waitors/​Waitress that served and took plates in and out get a 5 star.
The cooks who dealt with my fish gets a 0 star–

Promptly blown away by the imaginative dishes and the inspired dinner service. The dishes were beautifully presented with an equal emphasis on farm-​to-​table ingredients and international ingredients (think Hokkaido uni side by side with Texas venison!). The service was well orchestrated but not overbearing or stuffy like some of the more regal three-​star spots we’ve dined at. Excellent coordination between front of the house, deck hands, and somm for all courses. Your mileage may vary depending on the seasonal menu on hand, but we definitely felt that this was a peculiar and pleasant experience that pushes the boundaries of fine dining.

I had the pleasure of coming here to celebrate my 5 year anniversary, and it was a great experience. The BF had to book 3 months i advance for the prime 7:30 spot for dinner, and thank god he did because dinner took 4 hours. The place was beautiful with fresh flowers displayed around the restaurant. There are 2 dining rooms separated by a hallway, but they are open so you can see into them. I loved this because it gave me a better sense of intimacy, not only with my BF, but with my waiter as well. At the same time, I could people watch and see everyone enjoying the dishes that would soon be in front of me.
We were greeted before we even reached the door, and quickly seated to our table. I had the great opportunity of having Kent as my waiter for most of the night. I say most of the night because there was a flop where someone else introduced himself as my waiter after Kent (which made Kent think he wasn’t our waiter), and then kinda just left my BF and I for dead. When Kent realized he came back. That was the only problem during the entire night, but it was more than made up by the impeccable service from everyone else we encountered.
We sampled the tasting menu, and I loved everything on it except for the winter tidal pool (monk fish liver is not tasty IMO, and I was so tired of Uni). My favorite dish was the charcoaled grilled squid, closely followed by the scallops. My BF loved everything; his favorite was the scallops, hands down. The menu flowed very well up until the last meat course, which was venison. I am a little biased against venison and so it threw me off, but I think this dish was done very well. The flavors were great, and the meat was only slightly gamy. I didn’t completely agree with venison being on the menu, but I admired attempt.
The entire night was amazing, and I can not wait until I can come back here again and try another tasting menu. It was one of the best dining experiences ever and I still am very appreciative that the BF made dinner plans for us here to celebrate our special day. My only regret was not grabbing more caramels on my way out; they’re to die for!!!

Came here for my birthday and it surly did not disappoint. From the moment they open the door to leaving, eveything was on point. We walk close to the door and the host opens the door before we got to the door and took our jackets to hang. We get seated and the ambiance was beautiful. Sean, our server, was on fleek — very personal and friendly. The restaurant was not pretentious as all. It was an amazing 3 hr experience and the stafff was very attentive and extremely nice.
The food and the presentation was awesome and my mouth enjoyed majority of the dishes. The one stand out dish was the Winter Tide Pool and the one that I didn’t really care for was the mushroom with truffles. I did enjoy the 3 course dessert and the last dessert plate really pushed me over the top. The first course and the last course tied in together uniquely. Awesome experience!
When we left, the hostess already had our jackets in hand and ready for us. The timing and orchestra of staff really made this a very memorable experience.

My boyfriend surprised me with a reservation here for to celebrate our 3 year anniversary and I was blown away.
We arrived a bit early, so we checked our coats and hung out at the couches and lounge area. I was in awe of the beautiful décor and ambience. The restaurant was well staffed, well lit, and had just THE perfect temperature. Usually at other fine dining restaurants I’m always cold, but I surprisingly comfortable.
They sat at us right at 7pm and started off our 10-​course tasting menu with a few amazing amuse-​bouche. We paired our dinner with a Radio Coteau 2010 Pinot Noir.
*Tasting Menu*
[Amuse-​bouche] Petit fours «red pepper-​black olive» & Granola Crisp
[Amuse-​bouche] Chestnut truffle, brillat savarin — Cheesy and creamy
[Amuse-​bouche] Savory blood orange beignet — So amazing, sweet yet salty. The flavor of the onion really complimented the acidity of the blood orange.
[1^st] Winter tidal pool — Fresh bowl of hamachi, uni, monk fish liver, oyster.
[2^nd] Into the garden — Exotic greens, florals, arugula on top of custard egg.
[3^rd] Charcoal grilled squid, kiwi, exotic citrus
[4^th] Scallops, chestnut and black truffle milk — Best scallops ever!
[5^th] Abalone, tapioca with radish and parmesan
[6^th] Mushrooms, toasted levain mousseline
[7^th] Roast duck, spiced orange confit, yam and chevre pave, and consommé
[8^th] Ribeye with five vegetables
[9^th dessert] Pari brest, hazelnut praline and kuno wase satsuma — Hazelnut cream puff with fresh orange peel sauce
[10^th] Milk chocolate bavarois, black sesame finance, winged lime
[On the house] Slice of caramel cake with gold flakes
[Petit fours] Strawberry-​chocolate and macarons
What an amazing experience, every dish was super complex in flavors. They started off with salty, then salty & citrusy, as we approach the main course savory, and lastly delectable desserts. The tasting menu was an out of this world food journey and each dish complimented the next.
Nothing less than extraordinary for this 3 michelin star restaurant, David Kinch is truly an amazing chef. Each dish was well thought out, presentation was absolutely impeccable and everything was made to perfection.
4.5 STARS

We ate here for dinner on a friday night. We had a fantastic time. Beautiful in every way.
Parking is tough. We got a spot right next to the restaurant in our fist time around. But we saw many cars circling looking for spots. So, when you come, allow extra time to find a parking spot.
Service. Perfect in every way. We were well taken care of. Staff was attentive and there was immediate attention to every detail. Our waiter was excellent— superb.
Atmosphere and ambiance was excellent. Manresa dinning experience is what I would call «open floor» for lack of a better term. That is, you are seated in a open dinning room with many other tables. This is as opposed to Baume in Palo Alto, also a Michelin restaurant, which is a private dinning experience. By private dinning I mean one or two tables in an enclosed area.
Cleanliness— again perfect. No issues, no problems. No dirt, no debris anywhere.
Food— well, wow. Every dish was a work of art. Taste, quality, presentation, appropriate temperature were all perfection. We had the testing menu of course. It seems it constantly changes so pointless to recite what we had, except to say WOW, just wow. The food style here was an Asian influence, including wine pairings in support of the meal. This is as opposed to a continental style you find at Baume, or an American style at Plumed Horse. Not good, not bad just information for you.
Price – well, wow. If I was a spaceship and placed in a spot relating price to distance from Earth, well I would be out in another galaxy. My grandfather always use to say «If you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it». Well, it certainly applies here. This is the most expensive meal I have ever eaten– and I have eaten a lot, trust me. Be prepared for $ 500+ a person. We had it all though; wine pairing, cocktails, cheese, coffee. BE WARNED ABOUT PRICE. Was it worth it? Heck, Yes.
You do not eat at Manresa. You dine. It is an evening entertainment to go through the many courses and presentation. It took us 3.5 hours. When you take a table, its yours basically for the evening. They do not turn over the tables multiple times in an evening for guests.
This is a wonderful place. Excellent in every way. It is a place you go to dine for an evening. I would come back on special occasions without hesitation or qualification. Bravo to Manrisa— you did it right.

As a 3-​Michelin Star restaurant, this place certainly is worthy of its praises.
The food is very Japanese inspired, so for me, these familiar flavors certainly earned points with me since I’m a big fan of Japanese fare.
The presentation of the food was well thought out and elegant.
There was a nice variety and progression with the courses, as a lot of different proteins were used in conjunction with some bright and savory flavors. Rib eye steak, mussels, uni, and cod are some examples of things I got to try on my tasting.
Beware the bread… it’s very delicious (you have your choices of 3 – 4 kinds) and you might get full from that if you’re not careful. Somehow I was able to eat three rolls and not spoil the rest of my meal.
I thought the service was quite excellent and didn’t go too over the top so as to make it feel suffocating.
The interior is quite nice, although my only complaint is that I wish it was a little more casual in there. To me, elegant and high-​end food doesn’t need to forced into the old-​timey formalities of white tablecloth and dressy attire. Places like Saison where it’s a «come as you are» vibe is the proper direction and I hope places like Manresa that are more on the stuffy side of the spectrum loosen up a bit.
A cool unexpected bonus was being invited to the kitchen after our meal concluded to sort of see how everything is put together. It’s always quite a surprise to see how many people are back there and how relatively peaceful it is.
When you’re going out the door too, they encourage you to take a handful of their caramels. These are caramels that you’ll see some place charge close to $ 1/​piece, so take full advantage of it!
I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an over the top, high-​end dining experience. There aren’t many places (that I’ve been) that are better than this.

2^nd time dining at this fine restaurant in less than 6 months. I was very impressed during my 1^st visit with the menu which was completely catered to my dietary needs (vegetarian).
I made reservations for tonight that night after my first visit. And tonight was another memorable experience! More than the ambience, impeccable service and extremely knowledgeable staff members, David Kinch’s ability to create and deliver an extremely unique gastronomical experience with the chef’s tasting menu that impresses me the most.
I would highly recommend this for special occasions, «getaways» or no occasion at all. You’re guaranteed to love the food and the experience of having a 14 course chef’s tasting menu catered to your needs (as long as you enjoy eating).

We came for our anniversary and overall had a fantastic time. Our waiter, Shawn, made us feel comfortable encouraging us to have fun and enjoy the experience, both of which we did.
Some of my favorites were the Into the Garden; Charcoal Grilled Squid, Kiwi, Spiced Citrus; Bay Scallop, Chestnut, Black Truffle Milk Foam; Roast Duck, Sour Pumpkin, Walnut Wine; and the Wonderball dessert of Black Walnut, Chocolate, and Fiorre de Latte.
Only one small gripe and one disappointment. About ²⁄₃ the way through our meal, we heard quite a bit of loud talking from what I assumed was the lounge toward the front of the restaurant. We were at the very back and could still hear what was like sports bar noise. On top of that, overhead speakers started playing music. The lounge noise eventually died down by the end of our meal, but it was disruptive and not what I would expect from a fine dining establishment.
Disappointment was our take home gift was a small box of granola vs the usual orange brioche or another pastry. Granola was good though.

Hmmm, is it worth it? I get the show part etc. would say it is a dining experience you should try at least once.
But for the $ 650 a person price tag I expect absolute perfection. It cost me more because I treated a friend (1300).
I agree really out of the fourteen dishes we had one stood out, the charcoal squid with kiwi. I really think the reason it stood apart was the wine pairing, not so much the food itself.
Twice we received dirty silverware, that is unacceptable, it was replaced seamlessly but should have never occurred.
Oh I do remember another dish the egg shell one, I’m a chef served something very similar eight years ago, the difference is I made my staff remove the inner membrane. Sure its tedious but it is the way it should be done.
Conclusion yes go if you have a few hours and cash to blow, but honestly we had the same service and food quality for a quarter of the price at a small farmhouse restaurant in Sonoma. Would have given three stars but the silverware and egg took that away.

After eating at Manresa, I gained a whole new respect for a McDonald’s hash brown. I’ll explain more, later in this review.
I will have to say that the service was great! They were attentive and yet relaxed. They really embraced our personality. The few flaws in the service were more about the delivery than anything else. When one goes to these types of restaurant, you aren’t paying for just the food itself, you are paying for the atmosphere, the service, the food, and a show. Yes, a show. A three hour plus dinner at fine-​dining restaurants are an orchestrated event, where the food is served with lots of fan fare, explanations, and excitement.
While the service was great, the show itself was a little bit to be desired. The sommelier was amazing and knew his stuff. He thoroughly explained the pairings and the flavors of the wines, beers, and champagnes served to us. However, the food was delivered in a less than stellar mode, especially compared to other restaurants of the same caliber. It was a ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ execution, where one staff member delivered the food with great detail and an impressive showmanship. Then when the other person stepped in, it felt like it was someone just mumbling off the ingredients without an explanation of what we had in store. If I wanted that, I would just have Joe read the menu aloud for me. So, while the service was good, the show part of the meal was a bit muddled.
Now onto the food. The food was good. Memorable? Not really. While subtle flavors should be championed, and I appreciate Manresa being at the forefront of it, it seems that the flavor was lost in the art. I also didn’t feel a cohesiveness in the tasting menu. They did try to tie the first and last course together, but honestly, both of those courses were forgettable. So by the time the last dish arrived, which was tied to the first dish, I forgot what I even had for our first bite to compare it with. In other similar places, there was a distinct progression in the courses, each dish was a nice transition to the next. Here, I didn’t feel the same way. Each course was okay. There were extremely delicious components in each dish, but most the time, I kept hoping for more or have at least one dish that was delicious in all its parts. There was one very memorable moment, which leads me back to the hash brown. There was a dish, I forget the name, that had a ton of ingredients in one small bite, but to me, it tasted exactly like a hash brown from McDonalds. It was uncanny. I mean, I don’t mind the flavor but it made me regret about the price tag I paid for the meal, when I could just buy hash browns for less than a dollar. Also, all the work they put into the dish for it to taste like a hash brown had me chuckle a bit. It was the only memorable part of the tasting.
These meals are a treat for us, we pay for a great meal and an amazing experience. There hasn’t been a time, with the exception of Alkimia in Spain (which is now closed), that we felt that we didn’t get our money’s worth; however, Manresa made us feel exactly that, and it was quite disappointing.

I went back for an anniversary celebration, 6 years after the first time I visited there (before the fire).
In the 2^nd visit the food was still amazing, artistic on all levels, visually, flavor wise, smell, very good experience. I loved the sea food but the duck and the desserts weren’t my favorite.
I was also surprised by how much more expansive it was in the 2^nd visit, in the first time the options were $ 125 per person for a 9 course meal or $ 90 for a 4 course meal. This time there was only one option, a 12 course meal for a much higher price… if you add the wine paring, the cocktails while waiting to be seated, water, coffee etc it sums up to a pretty high price…
The service was perfect.
All in all it was a fun experience and well recommended.

Wow!!! I had a wonderful dining experience at Manresa last week.
Manresa was on my bucket list for a long while and I am glad I made the reservation! Chef David Kinch created an extravagant farm-​to-​table tasting menus. The whole meal was one surprise after another.
We did the wine pairing. The wine truly brought out the favor of each dish.
Service is flawless! I know it’s a $$$$ meal, but I felt totally worth it!

Shockingly disappointing
After trying Alexander’s Steakhouse, I was looking to try a two Michelin star restaurant, and decided on Manresa in 2013. I expected being near the top of perfection would be an even better experience, but that didn’t turn out to be the case. I would not go back.
Food
At this level of restaurant, I expect the food is like eating art, and the chef has a specific vision that we are to enjoy. We had a nine course meal and I was excited to see what would come. The food was okay, wasn’t exciting, which I find disappointing at $ 300 per person. The presentation was beautiful. There were two courses that were too salty to finish. Note, I don’t cook with salt, but as often as I go out to eat, I rarely run into a problem of overly salted food. I wish we had had the wherewithal to send the food back, but alas, we just sat and endured.
Drink
I don’t get it. I love trying new cocktails, but they went too experimental for me. The first cocktail I tried, the server brought me a sample of the unusual liquor they used before hand to see if I would like it, and I didn’t so I skipped it. The second cocktail I did actually, but tasted like fresh cut grass. Interesting, but not the «tasty» I was hoping for.
Service
The food is presented beautifully, like a dance between the multiple waiters. I would wish for some more personality in the severs, they seemed very wooden, and at this level of restaurant that seems acceptable to complain about. Our main server, though polite, and nice, was not helpful in helping me pair a cocktail with my meal, nor was she engaging. I’ve been to restaurants where the server is a huge part of an enjoyable time, and this was not it. (Ask for Tony if you go to Bouchon in Santa Barbara).

Like the waiter at the table next to us said «the food is a game of surprise,» and each tasting was a surprise indeed. Each tasting that came out of the kitchen did not disappoint. Light appetizers, 8 savory dishes, bread in between, a cheese plate followed by two desserts!
The 3 star Michelin restaurant was beyond what I was expecting. Upon our arrival, the door was opened and we were greeted with a warm welcome from the host. He greeted me a happy birthday and took us to our table right away. As we sat down a birthday card was waiting for me, which was signed by the staff for the night.
Kent was our server for the night and he did an exquisite job explaining each dish that we were about to eat. My personal favorites were Into the Garden, Winter Tidal Pool, and the Bay Scallop, Chestnut, and Black Truffle Milk. Delicious!
Come and try this restaurant. It’s definitely a special occasion type of place. In the end, don’t forget to grab a hand full of their yummy candy. Don’t be shy either, they encourage you to take handfuls.

Manresa has been on my bucket list for some time now & since the boyfriend will be in California for the week, I decided to surprise him with an early Valentine’s dinner. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the staff and seated in the bar for some cocktails. The boyfriend had his usual old fashioned & I tried their pear sour & later on the night we had the smoke signal — all mediocre. It was the first time we both had an old fashioned without the typical large ice cube.
I enjoy every dish from their tasting menu but not too fond of the desserts. I kept telling my boyfriend how impress I am with a certain dish until our server brings out the next course. Hence, I had plenty of «favorite» dishes from our tasting menu.
Winter tidal pool — my absolute favorite. the dashi was AMAZING! Every bite took was gushing with unique flavors that blends so perfectly together.
Into the garden — their classic dish. the staff did such a wonderful job with the presentation that i felt it was too beautiful to eat, but course I couldn’t resist.
Charcoal grilled squid, kiwi, exotic citrus — i love ceviche, but the utilization of kiwi & exotic fruit juice brings this dish to a whole new level Extremely refreshing.
Scallop, chestnut, black truffle milk — I’m not usually a big fan of scallop, but
Abalone, tapioca with watercress and parmesan — abalone & tapioca?! Such a genius creation. No boba needed afterwards.
Mushrooms, toasted levain mousseline — Absolutely love the different texture, taste, and variety of mushrooms used.
Roast duck with warm spices, cauliflower, and pear — Another unforgettable dish of the night. The duck was cook to perfection & confit broth filled with slices of pears was simply orgasmic.
Needless to say, Manresa has definitely become my #1 favorite restaurant. David Kinch did an absolutely amazing job. Every course was breathtakingly beautiful. Although the desserts were a tad a bit too sweet for my taste buds, Manresa does deserve the 3 michelin star.

Each course warranted my undivided attention. I felt like I was having a moment with the food — it was very zen for me. Forced me to focus, and have a mindful meal.
There was a minor issue with the bill, they accidentally charged us for an extra bottle of wine. They were very apologetic and pretty much coddled us after that, giving us a tour of the kitchen, which surprisingly calm and quiet.
Great experience!

I was really excited to try Manresa but came away underwhelmed. Excellent presentation, good but forgettable dishes, indifferent service, and outrageous price, make this is a miss.
We arrived right on time for our reservation but we’re not seated for 10 minutes. We started with cocktails in the lounge. They were very good, but at $ 25 per, its not worth it.
After being seated nothing happened for nearly 20 minutes. 30 minutes after the start of our reservation things finally got into motion. At a later start time of 8, I wished it would have been more quick.
They allow for splitting of the wine pairings which is a good way to try the pairings at a more reasonable price, and the pairings for the most part are well done. At $ 100 per split pairing you only get a sip of wine, but enough to measure the pairing. They pair each course with a new wine. With the pace of the meal, I do not see how any one could do the pairings on their own without getting behind and destroyed.
4 quick amuses were the highlight, especially the gelled chili with cookie.
Once the meal started, it was paced nicely without long delays in between courses. However, the service was just going through the motions. They were not very interactive, friendly, or overly descriptive in the dishes or the pairings.
I was expecting more a vegetable focused menu, but it was focused mostly on the sea. The presentation, ie plating and actual plates were the highlight of the meal. There wasn’t a bad course but a mere 12 hours later I cannot pick anything out that wowed me, let alone that I can vividly remember.
I can live with a well rounded meal, if not forgettable if there is value, but alas there is not. At $ 235 per menu, $ 198 for pairings, and that doesn’t include $ 25 cocktails or tip, it adds up to $ 400-​$ 500 per person. There are so many better places to eat at that price or well below, this is a skip.

I once read an article that said, «Manresa is America’s answer to France’s L’Arpege.»
Being a patron of both restaurants… I would have to say that is slightly true but different in some ways.
L’Arpege is France’s 3-​michelin starred restaurant that has won «best restaurant» many years in a row. They are known for their vegetable dishes and I’m sorry … but I don’t go to a restaurant to pay $ 1000 to eat a vegetarian meal :(
Manresa…on the other hand… is a bit more generous with their blood. They’re known for their seafood, which is delicious. I’ve been here twice but haven’t been since they became a 3-​Michelin starred restaurant. I know my family has complained that this is the first Michelin restaurant they’ve left hungry, but I found it to be the perfect amount. I’m not stuffed when I leave, but my palate is satisfied.

I needed a last minute Christmas gift for my husband — imagine my delight when I looked up Manresa on OpenTable and was able to book three days in advance (two days before Christmas)!
After receiving a follow-​up email and phone call from the restaurant over the next few days confirming our reservation and aversion to foie gras (which I made clear in the reservation notes), we headed over to downtown Los Gatos, greatly anticipating the menu (though not knowing what it was).
The Manresa staff members who greeted us were swift and cordial, taking my jacket (without requiring that I hold onto a ticket) and seating us promptly.
The nearly 10 meal course was amazing. Japanese inspired with mostly seafood offerings, «The Early Winter Garden» menu featured grilled squid with parmesan and persimmon, scallops with white truffle milk, trout with sun chokes, abalone and chickpeas with saffron, duck with sour pumpkin and walnut wine, and beef with five different kinds of vegetables. Dessert was green tea yogurt, frozen yuzu, and mint and assorted pastries such as macaroons. There was an optional cheese course as well, but I was already stuffed at that point (perhaps I ended up being the foie gras?). I did not request the wine pairing, but my husband did and loved it. Each wine and its origin (Japan, France, Italy, California) was carefully explained and consumed with alacrity!
It was a marvel at how the coordination and logistical maneuvering of the servers made for such an evenly paced, and well-​timed meal. Even with all of the guests present and numerous meals swirling around the restaurant, we were well looked after and had enough time to linger over our food, while never feeling hungry in between.
Another aspect of this dining experience that I loved was how local artisanship seemed to be a theme at Manresa. The elegant work of Santa Cruz artist David Kimball Anderson (which I recognized from the Los Gatos Iwasawa Oriental Art gallery) featured prominently in their décor. And we noticed several courses were served on annieglass (which has a factory in Watsonville). A Cabernet from Ghostwriter (also in Santa Cruz) was on the pairing menu.
Would absolutely recommend.

I took my husband here to celebrate his birthday this year — Manresa had been on our radar for quite awhile until we read about the fire that took down the former location. We were very excited when we found out that they had re-​opened since the accident and we decided to finally give it a try before something else happens again (*knock on wood*)…
The restaurant is very small, cozy, and intimate. There were several waiters serving the whole dining room — it almost feels like there were more servers than customers, ha ha. From start to finish, the pace was fairly consistent but some of the dishes took a little longer to get to us (or maybe it was just me being mental!).
For one of the dishes (sashimi), they had served us chopsticks to dine with. However, I noticed right away that the tips were oily and thought it was strange… my husband said they probably oiled it on purpose, but I insisted that he check with the waiter and we were provided with new ones…
(It turned out they were actually dirty chopsticks used by previous patrons because after we ate the sashimi with the newly served chopsticks, I can see the oily spots on the tip that matched the old ones we returned! Eek?!)
I enjoyed all of the dishes up until an abalone soup with rice crispy dish — the rice crispy resembled SO much likes bugs under the lighting that I was too scared to eat it and started feeling a little nauseated. After that, they had lamb on the menu (I am NOT a fan) and didn’t really wow me either. By the time we got to dessert, I was SO stuffed I basically asked them to pack everything for us to-​go…
Interestingly, something did happen as Manresa was awarded 3 Michelin stars for 2016! Thankfully we had the opportunity to try it before they may decide to raise their prices now that they can after getting 3 stars!

I enjoy a good dining experience and don’t mind paying an exorbitant amount of money for it but I was not completely and thoroughly impressed by the menu to value ratio.
I have eaten at French Laundry and Cyrus and was very excited to come here but the dishes left me nonplussed. Every dish was flavorful and nicely presented.
I would have wished for more protein and less sauce… there were a lot of dishes with sauce and not much else.
Also 3 hours was way too long to be sitting eating/​drinking my dinner. The pauses between dishes was excessive and it would have been nice for a little faster pace.
I wanted to like it but too much didn’t work for me.

Manresa is a restaurant by David Kinch. He has worked in kitchens from Japan to New York to France to Germany to Spain. He’s been exposed to different type of cooking techniques and flavors. It definitely shows through his cooking as a lot of the dishes drew influences from everywhere. With that expertise, it comes with many awards and accolades:
1) 2 Michelin stars in 2014
2) 2 Michelin stars in 2015
3) #62 on the San Pellegrino 2014 World’s Best Restaurants
4) #100 on the San Pellegrino 2015 World’s Best Restaurants
I arrived a Manresa and it has a beautiful courtyard. As you walk up, the hostess opens the door for you then greets you. The restaurant is broken up into three areas, which are the main dining hall, the bar, and the secondary dining room. I sat in the secondary dining hall like some loser without any friends. However, it was okay cause I was starving and don’t mind eating alone.
Anyway, the service is on the same level as other Michelin 2 or 3 star restaurant. The level of service is very comparable. From what I observed, the third star is really for the décor and ambiance. I guess you can say it’s one of those fake it til you make it. Ain’t no future in yo frontin, son!
Now, the food. The menu was about 14 – 15 dishes depending whether you include the amuse bouche. I’m only going to go through my favorites like UFCing people on Unilocal.
1) Tortilla Espanola — This was a fried tomato and the best dish of the night. It was only a bite and the initial bite was a nice crispy crunch. It had a zesty flavor to it and the Spanish influences of the dish was very apparent. I only wish it came in 6 like a case of beer.
2) «Pot au feu» of Squab — The dish was served with matsutake, parmesan and kale chips. The ingredients went very well with the tender squab and the aroma of the parmesan wasn’t over powering the dish. The squab was very juicy and tender. The sightly salted kale chips was a nice touch to the squab if eaten together in a bit.
3) Tamago — Tamago is a dish found on every sushi menu and Chef Kinch draws his influences from his Japanese experience. It was a Rockfish paste laid in black truffle sauce. The strong aroma of the black truffle was heaven and added a complexity to the Tamago. It was nicely done but wasn’t as fluffy as Tamago made with egg from other notable restaurants I’ve had it at.
Overall, I really wanted to like Manresa. The service was great and I had a good time talking to my waiter. However, there was something missing from Manresa. There wasn’t one dish that really stuck out for me. Lastly, Manresa is a really good restaurant but I wouldn’t say the food was unforgettable.
US 2015 Michelin 3 Stars Count: 12 Down. 0 More.
2015 Michelin Rated Restaurant Count: 27
San Pellegrino 2014 World’s 100 Best Restaurants Count: 16
San Pellegrino 2015 World’s 100 Best Restaurants Count: 17

agree that each course is either a hit or a miss … a lot of Japanese elements which turned out to work perfectly well though!
Food
— Some of the dishes were too adventurous and I think David Kinch did go way too far in trying to be so «out of the box» that some were borderline not-​that-​great but overall I loved the meal.
— bread was not warm (–1 star), 4 choices to choose from: broiche was superb, sourdough and wholewheat were decent, baguette was ok.
— for the $$$ I have paid, I would expect more red meat or more substantial «decent» ingredients… the only red meat we got was squab (which was great by the way) and some sashimi/​cod/​uni/​small piece of abalone…
— portion-​wise… It was on the smaller size and I could see why some people might complain but given that we ate there for 3 hours, I could barely finish the desserts so portion was not the problem for me…
Service
— as most reviewers have mentioned, more like a 1 starred restaurant
— wish they had spent more time to explain the dishes… I actually had to ask them for more details
— We went for the 5.30pm round and David Kinch did come out when there were not that many tables; however, he did not come to talk to us… which was very sad… I did not want to comment on this but it did make me feel like I was not treated like other desks did (due to my age, race or whatever…)
— too stingy for freebies… other 2+ starred places are more generous with giveaways… it is just a minor thing but leaves a big impression on the customers!
Wine pairing
— not that great of the selection or maybe i am not a big fan of white wine (which is the majority of the pairing since we only had one course of red meat)
— it is actually «beverage pairing» with beer (sour beer! for the first course which was new to me but turned out to be pretty decent)
All in all, I expect more for the price tag. It was decent but definitely not the 2 michelin star level. More like a 1.5-starred restaurant. Might not come back again since there are many places in the Bay Area (or even the South Bay) with better cost-​performance.

I first dined at Manresa in 2010, and was blown away by the quality and the creativity behind the food. It was my first visit to a place with two Michelin stars, and also my first visit to a «fine-​dining» establishment of any standing that I felt was actually worth the cost of admission, and worthy of a return visit.
Some five years later that return visit happened. In the intervening time I visited a fair number of other restaurants, including the three-​starred L’Astrance in Paris. L’Astrance was a disappointing experience when weighed against my previous meal at Manresa. Their quality was around the same level as Manresa, but their level of creativity didn’t measure up. And for twice the cost of admission, I expected something that would completely blow Manresa out of the water. That didn’t happen, and I can only conclude that Michelin stars don’t count for jack. Or at the very least, they count for too many things that aren’t simply «how good is the food?».
But anyways, the return visit happened, and the food was no less amazing than the first time. Excellent quality, extreme creativity, and the only thing that didn’t change was the bread. Manresa is a place you should visit not because of how many stars they have (or don’t have) but because they have good food. Incredibly tasty, creative food that you’re not going to find anywhere else in the world.
The portion sizes are about perfect. Each dish is certainly on the small side, because you’ll be expected to make it through quite a number of them! Seriously, if you come away from Manresa hungry, it’s either because you’re a hardcore glutton or because you didn’t eat even half of what they served you. If you eat everything you’re served, you’ll be staggering home with a full stomach.
Is the food here absolutely perfect? No. On my first visit, they served a gazpacho shooter that I just did not care for at all. On the second, everyone at the table agreed that the squab was seriously oversalted. However, we’re talking about a meal with 10+ courses (not including any amuse-​bouche, palate cleansers, bread, and similar extras). It’s not the end of the world if one dish is subpar while the rest are amazing.
What else can I really say? It seems pointless to critique the individual dishes I was served, given that in a few months they’ll be serving something entirely different (but probably just as outstanding). So I’ll just say this; in my opinion, Manresa is one of the top restaurants in the world. Others would seem to agree, as Manresa consistently ranks on various published lists of the world’s top 100 restaurants. Of the restaurants in the world that I’ve personally visited, Manresa is hands-​down the best, and by a significant margin.
If you’re fortunate enough to be in the area, pay them a visit. It won’t be a cheap experience, but it’s worth doing. At least once, if not more.

Celebrated our 14^th anniversary at Manresa tonight.
I am not sure how to describe the culinary experience, except that it was an experience in all senses of the word. We had surprise after surprise of flavors and textures brought to us — and the flowers, so many flowers! (Yes, you eat them.)
My favorite dish was the custard — I didn’t know what to expect, and the first bite blew my mind, pardon the cliché. This was by far the dish that stood out above the rest. The foie gras was a whole new experience for me as well.
Quite a few reviews complain about portion sizes, but we left the restaurant completely full and sated.
The staff were more than courteous, and Kent, our main server for the night, made the evening fun and enjoyable. He was more than comfortable to laugh with us as we talked about the different dishes, and made the restaurant feel not pretentious at all.
Two gastro-​thumbs up!