Chuck S.
Yelp
Modern style, timeless, understated classical French elegance. Such is Dior, and the mariage of Monsieur Dior and the legendary French Michelin grade Dominique Crenn; Quintessential French luxury for all the senses in food and fashion. I've been yearning to try Crenn's food since watching Chef's Table Season 2, Episode 3.
3rd floor up from the Dior boutique, everything is bright and inviting. Everything is Dior. The glassware, silverware, cutlery, and even the very French knife rest. The Christmas tree. Everyone is very friendly, very happy to be here. Even if the wall mural evokes a sense of half impressionist Monet, half Stranger Things.
The whole experience is pretty solid. The food alone is at least 2-Michelin Star level. Whether the menu items are to your palate or not, the calculation, the artistic level of execution, and the intent of the menu is delightfully precise. Clean. Nutritious. Nurturing. Soulful. I can't imagine how small a person must be if they're still in a bad mood after eating such good food.
I like that the menu is curated, and concise. And most of all, delicious. Uniquely delicious. The complementary bread alone makes me happy. The laminated, compressed, croissant style dough, delicately flaky with a sweet butteryness that permeates the palate. The cut sourdough slices. Both mated to proper French, creamy silky butter. So simple, but it's just the most perfect thing. Most restaurants don't even treat their bread with this level of reverence and respect.
As seared scallops go, I cannot think of a place where I've had better cooked scallops. You get that sear, that lush golden crust, with that gentle, almost sashimi-like center that retains the inherent umami-laden sweetness born from the sea. Accented by the beurre blanc sauce, the touch of acidity of blood orange dolops. And the small inviting bites of toast and cream in-between.
The purple yam chips, shaped into flowers, covering the bounty of tuna tartare underneath is almost too beautiful to eat. But it's not beauty beyond the reach of my grungy, labor-ridden, cracked fingertips. To scoop up the tuna like dip. Many places do a raw ahi tuna something or other with chips, but not like this. Not with this kind of balance and brightness in flavors. Offset by the little slivers what is either lime zest or kaffir lime leaves. Like Dior. Classy. Quality. Modern. Just avant-garde enough. But soaked in luxury.
I'm not a big pasta guy. But the agnolotti still delivers. The little pillows of bites, filled with black truffle cream, soaking in the clarity and essence of mushroom consomme. It makes me think of someone like Audrey Hepburn, or Lim Yoona. Demure, but mysteriously inviting. Gently beautiful. But the more you sit with it, sit with the experience, the more the subtle, unseen qualities begin to captivate you and fill you with comfort and contentment.
The beef perle, the slow-cooked short ribs topped with truffles are soft. Dense. Rich. It has gravity, condensed with richness and calories. It's something you want paired with a solid red wine. It's good. It makes a statement. Personally, I don't know if I would order it again, as it's not my preferred way of eating beef; the emphasis of flavor is like 40% beef, 60% fat, sauce, and dressings. The side of mushrooms is a welcome break from the beef's richness.
The guinea hen, flipped my paradigm as I though it felt more in flow with the other selection of dishes in contrast to the beef. Clean, light, elegant fragrant sauce. The side of pureed potatoes is addictive, yet simple luxurious crystal meth in creamy potato form. The kind where you scrape off every last bit, and hope to dig for more if you breakthrough to the upside down world.
I want to come back for sure to try all the desserts. I started with Feuilles Caramel because Hoji Cha (roasted green tea) isn't an ingredient you see used often. It's a very gentle, light, creamy dessert with those pleasant notes of roasted tea leaves.
The coconut rose is a colorful work of art. Framboise gives it glimpses of tartness, as it meanders between creamy and blocky textural bites as you break it down to get to the heart of it.
My choice of drink, the Crimson Star is strong. It's definitely a drink for a man of the Gen X generation. We're talking bourbon and absinthe. Absinthe which was once banned in the US until 2007, and gets as high as 148 proof in strength. If you like drinks like an old-fashioned or a rusty nail, this could be up your alley.
J'adior. I adore. Like I adore Dior. It's not your watered down brunch cocktail. The toastiness and depth of champagne is predominant. The bartender/mixologist does an excellent job of imparting pear and elderflower without overpowering the foundation of the drink. Again, it's Dior. Elegant. Lovely. Classy. Just like our server Carlina, and the supporting staff.
Would I come back again? For a bite. A drink. A meal. I would.