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Kenzo Napa Reviews
This is a walkthrough of Kenzo's Spring 2024 Menu and a few
This is a walkthrough of Kenzo's Spring 2024 Menu and a few of my notes for each course: Simmered Shimane Lake Shinji Icefish with Jidori Egg Yolk | Icefish was phenomenal. Great addition of the wakame in the jidori egg yolk. Seasonal Hassun (crispy hokkaido scallop with lotus root, hyogo firefly squid, hokkaido cherry trout nanbanzuke, green pea tofu with hokkaido sea urchin, sweet kumquat with tofu dressing) | The crispy scallop with lotus was the best; squid was a silky, delightful texture; closing on the tangy-sweet kumquat note was creative. Have to love that green pea tofu with uni. Canadian Snow Crab Shinjo Owan (signature dashi broth, turnip, maitake mushroom, mitsuba parsley, and yuzu) | I didn't love the snow crab shinjo dumpling with that particular blending of vegetables; the Canadian snow crab ends up in a supportive role to the maitake and to the broth. Nagasaki Cornet Fish Sashimi (with a ponzu gelee) | I love akayagara; this presentation was balanced perfection. Grilled Chiba Sawara Mackerel | A surprising rustic inclusion to this menu line-up. still contemplating the rationale for the mackerel feature at this point of the food journey, as the next dish is also a grilled fish Cherrywood Smoked Mie Bluefin Tuna Okakiage (kale, black pepper and tamari soy sauce-an) | The tamari soy sauce overpowered the tuna. The enso calligraphy with the sauce was a nice aesthetic touch. A5 Satsuma Wagyu Tenderloin Jibuni (taro, chrysanthemum cress, and grated shizuoka wasabi) | Easily the star of the show this evening; I am still thinking fondly of that wasabi; could have scaled back on that rich sauce, however -- it became a bit overpowering. Chef's Selection of Sushi with Red Miso Soup | I cannot recall what that first one to the right that looks spherical was, but loved it; so glad to close with that fatty tuna; a heartwarming red miso. If I'm being nitpicky, however, the presentation of the miso is reminiscent of a cremation urn for ashes, so in terms of aesthetic considerations, I might have gone with a different style of soup bowl and lid. Chef's Featured Desserts | An apple jelly with the perfect mousse topping; strawberry mochi and leaf wrap with red beans; ginger ice cream Overall, I highly recommend this experience. Great attention to detail. Most of the ingredients shine, although at times the dishes could be heavy-handed with the sauce. The Japanese cuisine almost felt French influenced.
Kenzo is a kaiseki based Japanese restaurant with seasonal
Kenzo is a kaiseki based Japanese restaurant with seasonal ingredients and menus that change. The flavors were delicious and clean, accentuating each ingredient in various ways of intervention. Overall I really enjoyed my meal, though I can't say it's more memorable than some of the meals I had at ryokans in Japan. The ambiance was minimal and the service was attentive.
We chose Kenzo to celebrate our first wedding anniversary,
We chose Kenzo to celebrate our first wedding anniversary, and it also marked our first Kaiseki experience. From the moment we arrived, we were immersed in Japanese hospitality, or omotenashi, which made the evening unforgettable. We were seated at a private counter, and the personalized menu with "Happy Anniversary" printed on it was a delightful touch. Our server, who had recently moved from Japan and had been with Kenzo for just two weeks, greeted us warmly and presented us with warm wet towels and an exquisite wine menu. Each dish we enjoyed showcased simple yet amplified flavors that left us thoroughly impressed. The timing and sequence of the courses created a beautiful flow, making us feel as though we were journeying through different cities in Japan, where the ingredients originated. Having visited various cities in Japan, this dining experience truly took me back. We were so impressed that we recommended Kenzo to my sister and brother-in-law, who described their meal as life-changing. We can't wait to return for their summer menu and relive the magic. Highly recommended for anyone seeking an authentic and extraordinary Japanese dining experience.
The last time I visited Napa, I went to Kenzo's estate and
The last time I visited Napa, I went to Kenzo's estate and the ladies there recommended I go dine at Kenzo Napa if we had time. Unfortunately we didn't have time our last visit. So when I found out I was going to Napa again, I immediately made reservations to this restaurant. I really liked the service here. My cup of tea was never empty because they kept refilling for me even without me asking them to. Also, they made sure to serve us together and if one of us went to the restroom, they would hold on bringing out food until we were both ready. The servers made sure to explain each dish to us in detail and the sake pairing they offered went really well with each dish. However, I feel like for the price we paid, the food was not as impressive as I had hope for. I think the presentation of the dishes was amazing, but the taste was a little lacking. The 2 dishes that stood out to me was the wagyu and the desserts. Overall, I feel like everyone should come at least once for the experience, but I don't think I would be back again since it was pretty expensive.
Things I aspire to in life: to go here exactly four times
Things I aspire to in life: to go here exactly four times per year -- to have each new season's menu. It's just so good.
Superb Japanese kaiseke in Napa!
Superb Kaiseki meal this side of the Pacific! Note not a sushi “omakase” restaurant - this is kaiseke, so know the difference. There is one sushi course, which was as amazing as the other courses. A 7-star meal and attentive service to match.
I would not normally leave a review for a mediocre
I would not normally leave a review for a mediocre experience but with about $1,000 spent, I would definitely not make the same decision to have my birthday dinner here. One of the dishes had a cold fish component that tasted like canned sardines. I agree with a previous review that only one of the dishes had a wow factor (wagyu) but the rest of the dishes were so subpar it wasn't worth it. The one nigiri dish with uni was so scant with uni. Please save your money and go elsewhere.
Overpriced for average food and mediocre service.
I was put off by our waiter who seemed not totally with it (talked super slow and would forget what he was saying mid sentence and often seemed like he was somewhere else) and was also not responsive, not attentive, and forgetful. At $300pp, I expected at least one dish or two to wow me but none really stood out, except maybe the A5 wagyu, which was very tender. Save your money and leave the Japanese meals for when you're in NYC or SF.
Just phenomenal.
If you appreciate extremely high quality fish, exceptional customer service, genuine omakase experience and gorgeous display of dishes, dining at the bar is a must. Kenzo is quietly tucked away one street down from the heart of downtown Napa. We were so intrigued by the restaurant and it's story connected to the Kenzo Winery in the hills of Napa, we visited the next day for a tasting. Recommend you look it up! Custom menus for our anniversary and complimentary champagne made the experience that more enjoyable. We hope to come back soon.
I ate at French Laundry 2 weeks ago.
I mention that because Kenzo was EVERYTHING French Laundry was not. There were exotic ingredients and new tastes I'd never experienced, and old ones with a new spin that changed my appreciation of them. The service was simply impeccable! You would look over and a cup of tea empty a moment ago was magically refilled. The wait staff were professional, incredibly knowledgeable, and clearly proud of the restaurant and service they provided. The in-depth knowledge of sake was also very, very much appreciated! There were only 2 tables (plus sushi bar seating), so the attention to diners was laser-focused. The environment is spare, which was fine and focused more attention on what we were there for: the food. Normally I would go dish by dish to describe, except I don't want to ruin it for you. Half the fun was the surprise of unusual and delightful tastes. For me, the highlight was the Wagu beef. It was mouthwatering, texture like butter. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. But what really set it apart was a rice cracker crust. It brought this novel umami and crunchy texture that sent the experience into the stratisphere! The wagyu spring roll was also elevated to a Michelin star experience. A chef who can take a dish as pedestrian as a spring roll and make it memorable is a genius. Similar for 2 separate interpretations of miso soup. The first had a yuzu-infused spinach that was sublime. The second used a red miso I had never tasted before, and was a new experience of savory. While only 3 bites, the scallops wrapped in daikon radish also delighted the palette. As I said, I won't ruin the rest, as the discovery was half the fun. The portions were all perfect. And let me strongly suggest that you follow the order of tasting each plate recommended by your server. It was well conceived to build and contrast, one taste following the other. The chef is a master. This restaurant is deserving of 2 more stars!
Hands down the best dining experience we've ever had! The
Hands down the best dining experience we've ever had! The food is outstanding !! The staff amazing !! A special thank you to Adrian our main server. We celebrated my husband's 40th bday & already can't wait to go back.
Kenzo.... You got this.
Loved the atmosphere. It was a soft opening for a new owner May I put new owner in quotes. Maybe didn't have the fastest staff for the soft opening but the food was phenomenal. Please give them the opportunities to work some kinks out. There staff was really nice and very friendly nice and accommodating.
Very disappointed
Michelin star rated, I am not sure how. While many ingredients added to each dish in an attempt to make it interesting, the food lacked taste. We started with the grilled Shizuoka freshwater eel, which was the highlight, although the last dinner dish, the wagyu tenderloin with raisin miso, was also good. The seasonal Hassan, the sea bass with asparagus, tilefish were ok but the somen noodles with Abelone was not good and the cutlassfish was INEDIBLE. The mochi desert in the watermelon soup was mushy and slimy, on a good note, the staff was attentive and the wine/sake pairing was very nice. When I think about Michelin star restaurants, I think “wow, everything I ate was absolutely delicious”. I did not think this about one dish I had! Oh, and it cost over $700. I was really looking forward to this, disappointed!
Great find in Napa valley
After visiting many Michelin starred restaurant is hard to impress us honestly ... But... we love the selección of the menu .. the open variety of crusines , the selection of the materials and variety of style cooking methods ... it's a great harmony of a course and definitely worth the visit ;)
A swing and a miss!
The good - Service was impeccable. Decor was simple and elegant. Plating was beautiful. The seafood was fresh and clean. Some of the courses were very good and at least one was exceptional. The bad - Other than the waygu course (and it’s pretty tough for A5 waygu to not be great) nothing about this meal blew me away. There were some very tasty bites, but in my opinion, what made them tasty was the quality of the ingredients, not the preparation or technique. Three biggest misses were a miso soup served in a metal container (the metal impacted the taste more than I think intended for this very humble soup), a mackerel sashimi that was cut too thick and coated with a sauce that was too sweet, and the dessert was a joke. I’m not even joking when I say you could get similar quality desserts at a Japanese 7/11. The attention to detail was also lacking-we sat at the chefs counter, and the chef was wearing a wrinkled, shabby looking coat, I mean come on, we’re paying several hundreds of dollars, can you starch your damn coat? I’ve been to 10-12 michilen star restaurants around the world and been to many restaurants in Japan. This is the least enjoyable culinarily experienced I’ve had in one and would not put this on par with a good meal at a local neighborhood restaurant in Japan. Perhaps I was expecting too much
I would like to say the food was great.
I also enjoyed the ambiance and service. I can vouch for that!! However, what made my experience horrible was the fact that I found hair on three different occasions. I was extremely dissatisfied and made this a point. Although I can say that it was probably just a mistake it ruined my Michelin star experience. I eat at Michelin star restaurants frequently and being a native in Napa, I am blessed with different options. I will choose other options for dinning in the future. What makes this worse is that, it was a dinner to reward myself for a military graduation. I highly recommend others eat elsewhere!!
Visited for our first wedding anniversary, and we had a
Visited for our first wedding anniversary, and we had a wonderful experience. We were seated at the bar, which was still an intimate setting, and we were able to watch as the chef prepared each bite. Every bite we tried, we really enjoyed. The servers were extremely attentive and helpful with any questions we had. They were very educated on their wine/sake list. The staff went above and beyond and had the chef write some well wishes on our menu from the night. Overall, it was a very memorable experience.
Impeccable dining experience - especially the service.
We sat at the chef's counter and the attendees explained every dish to us. Also, they explained the difference between kaiseki and omakase. Even when we left, the chef walked us to the door to say goodbye. Too many amazing dishes to touch on them all. The standouts were the yuzu infused miso on the grilled Alaska Sable Fish, the A5 Wagyu, and the toro sushi. Minimalist decor and only a few seatings, so make sure to book the reservation 30 days in advance (when the reservations open up).Well deserved Michelin star!
My wife and I had an absolutely incredible experience at
My wife and I had an absolutely incredible experience at Kenzo Napa, and we cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough! From start to finish, the meal was an incredible experience, with each course showcasing the best of Japanese cuisine and ingredients.The Kaiseki experience was a real highlight. Each course was beautifully presented and expertly prepared, with flavors that were bold, nuanced, and perfectly balanced. We were both impressed by the attention to detail in each dish, from the delicate cuts of fish to the perfectly cooked rice and the deliciously savory sauces. And the A5 wagyu tenderloin and Hokkaido uni were simply out of this world - we couldn't believe how rich and flavorful they were.The service was impeccable throughout our meal, with the waitstaff being incredibly attentive and knowledgeable about each dish and the ingredients used. They were happy to answer any questions we had and made excellent recommendations for wine pairings.The atmosphere of the restaurant was also fantastic, with a calming and serene environment that made us feel like we had been transported to a luxurious dining experience in Japan. We were both thoroughly impressed by the attention to detail in every aspect of the restaurant, from the beautifully designed interior to the exquisite tableware and flatware.Overall, we had an unforgettable experience at Kenzo Napa and cannot wait to return for another delicious meal. We highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for an exceptional dining experience, with world-class Japanese cuisine and impeccable service. Thank you for an unforgettable evening, Kenzo Napa!
If you want to be immersed in a dining experience then got
If you want to be immersed in a dining experience then got to Kenzo for their Omakase dinner. First of all they abide by all safety measures, and the service is top notched. The food is beautiful art work that delights your palate in so many directions. The ambiance is minimal but beautiful. The General Manager Tomonori Iwao along with the many knowledgeable waiters made sure they explain the dishes and my goodness the attention to detail. Highly recommended. I was there on my birthday and it is one I will always remember. Thank you again. We will be back
Perfect for a special occasion
Had a wonderful dinner here a couple weeks back. Food was superb, a nut allergy easily accommodated, and the most friendly and professional staff you could hope for. Highly recommended!
Kenzo was one of the best experiences of my life.
Location is very lowkey. Interior is very simple and minimalist. Servers and staff are absolutely amazing. Now the food. I went with a partner. Spent about $1000 for two on one meal and I would do it again if I were in Napa. Absolutely amazing food. Each course was paired with a wine selection and a thorough explanation of what and why we were eating. The server also had an amazing personally that paired well with the items. I can't describe enough how amazing an experience this was.
I loooooved every minute of this meal.
the service was impeccable. The manager opened the door for us. The service is top notch. all the courses are brought out in a perfect timely manner. Every course was creative and delicious. My husband and I came on our anniversary and were given a personalized menu and a glass of their dessert wine from the kenzo estate. I didnt want this night to end. I highly recommend.
Best Omakase ever.
Amazing service. We were treated like royalty. Worth the trip and the price.
Great food.
Excellent services. Quiet and elegance. The quality and taste of dishes are great. Will come again.
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Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Kenzo Napa at 6 PM the same day.
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* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Kenzo Napa!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
