Dominique Crenn Restaurants: Key Takeaways
- Dominique Crenn currently owns 4 restaurants worldwide, with key locations in the United States and France.
- Her Michelin accolades include 3 stars at Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, plus an additional Michelin star at Bar Crenn.
- Crenn’s portfolio spans fine dining, wine bars, and casual bistro-style concepts, all reflecting her artistic culinary vision.
- Recent expansion includes a plant-based fine dining restaurant in Paris, marking her European growth.
Dominique Crenn is a pioneering chef celebrated for blending poetic storytelling with modern French cuisine. Her restaurants, few in number but highly revered, reflect a dedication to artistry and refined flavors.
This article explores Dominique Crenn’s global restaurant footprint, including Michelin-starred flagships and diverse concepts ranging from intimate fine dining to approachable casual venues.
Dominique Crenn Restaurants: Global Presence and Restaurant Count
Dominique Crenn’s portfolio comprises 4 restaurants worldwide, concentrated mainly in the United States with a growing presence in France. Her culinary ventures focus on both fine dining and more casual, approachable settings.
As of 2025, three of her venues are located in San Francisco, California, and one is based in Paris, France. Each restaurant embodies a distinct concept but maintains the consistent creative vision she is famous for.
| Region | Approx. Number of Restaurants | Notable Examples |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 3 | Atelier Crenn, Bar Crenn, Petit Crenn (San Francisco) |
| France | 1 | Golden Poppy (Paris) |
| Total (Global) | 4 | Including flagship and casual dining locations |
Note: Dominique Crenn fully owns all of her restaurants; there are no franchised or licensed operations in her portfolio.
This curated selection reflects a focused brand strategy prioritizing quality and originality over rapid expansion. The addition of Golden Poppy in Paris marks Crenn’s first major foray into the European fine dining market in recent years.
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Michelin-Starred Flagship Restaurants
Dominique Crenn’s reputation as an elite chef is highlighted by her Michelin-starred restaurants, which emphasize innovation and artistic expression on the plate.
Her flagship, Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, holds 3 Michelin stars since its opening in 2011. Recognized for its poetic culinary style and meticulously crafted multi-course tasting menus, it is considered one of the finest dining destinations in the United States.
Additionally, Bar Crenn, also in San Francisco, has 1 Michelin star. This venue operates as a Parisian-style wine bar offering classical French small plates paired with biodynamic wines, delivering a more casual but refined experience compared to the flagship.
- Atelier Crenn (San Francisco, USA) – 3 Michelin stars, opened in 2011, known for poetic cuisine and an intimate fine dining atmosphere.
- Bar Crenn (San Francisco, USA) – 1 Michelin star, opened in 2018, a wine bar with classical French small plates emphasizing biodynamic wines.
These starred venues reinforce Dominique Crenn’s standing as one of the few female chefs globally to attain such high Michelin distinction.
Her Michelin profile is unique in reflecting not only classical French techniques but also innovative, narrative-driven cuisine that challenges traditional fine dining norms.
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Notable Dominique Crenn Restaurant Concepts and Locations
Dominique Crenn’s restaurant concepts are diverse yet unified by her dedication to culinary art and sustainability, ranging from ultra-fine dining to more relaxed venues.
Atelier Crenn
Atelier Crenn, opened in 2011 in San Francisco, is Dominique Crenn’s flagship fine dining restaurant. It is celebrated for its poetic cuisine—each dish is presented as a verse in an edible poem. The menu is a highly curated multi-course tasting experience, priced between $335 and $445 per person.
The intimate setting seats a limited number of guests to ensure a personalized experience. Atelier Crenn’s philosophy intertwines artistry, storytelling, and sustainability, employing seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
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Bar Crenn
Established in 2018 also in San Francisco, Bar Crenn is a Parisian-style wine bar emphasizing biodynamic wines and classical French small plates. With a price range of $150 to $200 per person, it offers a sophisticated yet accessible wine-focused experience.
The venue’s design and menu pay homage to French heritage while bringing an innovative twist on traditional bistro flavors.
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Petit Crenn
Petit Crenn, another San Francisco location, offers a more casual dining experience with a seafood-centric, bistro-style menu. Prices usually range from $105 to $210 per person.
The restaurant features communal tables and a convivial atmosphere, aimed at delivering high-quality French cuisine in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
Golden Poppy
Golden Poppy is Dominique Crenn’s first Paris-based restaurant, opened recently as part of her international expansion. It features a plant-based fine dining menu that pays tribute to California cuisine and the artistic presentation synonymous with her brand.
Priced between €100 and €150 per person, Golden Poppy represents a fusion of sustainable culinary innovation and French gastronomic tradition.
Employers considering hiring plant-based culinary professionals may benefit from our how to hire a cook spotlight, offering strategies applicable to specialized culinary roles.
Dominique Crenn Restaurant Empire: Conclusion
Dominique Crenn’s restaurant empire, though modest in size with just four establishments, is marked by a distinctive commitment to artistry, refined technique, and sustainability.
With a strong foothold in San Francisco and a recent expansion to Paris, her restaurants cover a range of dining styles—from the globally celebrated 3-Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn to approachable casual and wine bar concepts.
Crenn fully owns her venues with no franchising or licensing arrangements, emphasizing quality control and brand integrity. Her Michelin presence, particularly the three stars at Atelier Crenn, highlights her as a trailblazer in contemporary French cuisine.
This tight-knit portfolio exemplifies a focused and thoughtful hospitality business model that values creativity and guest experience over rapid scale.
For hospitality operators seeking to optimize operations and reduce employee turnover as seen in successful ventures like Crenn’s, our strategies to reduce restaurant employee turnover can offer valuable actionable advice.
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