We are back in San Francisco in part 4 of our 5-part series.
Reviewing the best 3 Michelin star restaurants in California.
Our restaurant for today is Benu. The head chef and owner is Corey Lee who Trained by some of the best French chefs in the world. Before opening Benu in 2010, he was head chef at The French Laundry under Thomas Keller. Benu was the first in San Francisco to earn three Michelin stars and has become the city’s most iconic restaurant.
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My name is Alexander. I’m the co-owner of a ONE Michelin star restaurant, and I’m on a mission – to find inspiration in gastronomy. I love fine dining, good wine and sharing what I know with other people.
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42 Comments
please come to australia and have a taste
I just realized, during the champagne pour, your image was put into the scene. You image wiggles in a way inconsistent with the rest of the room and the server.
A three Michelin Star restaurant should look the part. Benu is certainly unremarkable in appearance. The food may be good, but the ambience should have romance.
I've actually had that beer before, probably the only thing I've had the same of in real life I've seen on this channel. I will vouch for his characterization of frog legs tasting like chicken and fish for those who have never had them, but the ones I had were pretty mediocre.
I found Benu to be underwhelming when I went in 2022. I had a good amount of the dishes that you did and my fav was the soup dumpling. Had dinner at Saison straight after I finished Benu and enjoyed that ten times more.
The camera refocusing at 3:20 can be stopped by disabling macro control in the camera. You can enable it in 'preserve settings' as well so that once you turn it off you do not have to think about it again. Great video as always!
Respect! Not only for the excellent information packed beautiful food videos, but for keeping it real. Restaurant reviews despite an upset stomach, such dedication.
13:22 "It's like when a violin plays in perfect silence …"
What a poignant metaphor!
As a cook I did a stage early after opening. Cory was a screaming demon leaving some staff in tears. If that is what it takes for success, you can have it- as I told him to take a hike and walked.
When the GG bridge was completed it was not the longest suspension bridge in the world. But it was the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world. Love your channel, Alexander The Guest.
Looks like a diner. If they don't care, why should I?
Food looks great. Interior does not. Looks like an airport cafe. Very odd choice.
This might be an exceptional restaurant but it is definitely NOT the most iconic one in San Francisco! 😠
Funny how in the past buildings were built of exceptional beauty and now, far advanced in technology, buildings are so plain and boring. History is so obviously a complete lie.
This environment looks like the commissary I used to eat at in college! Looks like the owner went on the cheap side in decorating. Design. In fact it looked like there were some college students eating in the background. Not too impressed.
Anyone who eats foie gras is evil. What they do to those poor ducks to get it is horrible! Such cruelty!
The only thing I remember about Benu was that we had one of the last seatings. Last customers. When we finished our meal. I went to the bathroom. And all the lights went out mid business. Like I said. I’ve been to a ton of 3 stars. And nothing impresses me anymore. These are the memories of the meals I have.
Frog legs are delicious. I can't afford a Michelin 3 stars version, but the ones sold at my local convenience store are delicious. Louisiana has amazing food, lots of French influence.
I'll take great food and service over a putatively fancy interior design any day of any week. It would be hard for me to care less about that.
You have to be a guest star in the next season of drops of god😂
Thank you for the review….I’ll pass.
Again a nice and honest review. Difficult to rank with the other 3, but I think it's ranked 2nd or 3rd ATM.
Pretty dissapointing they dont prepare the century egg the old school way, with piss. Gotta be open minded when running a 3 star 😉
Alex, please review Mugaritz in S. Sebastian when you can! It would be very interesting to hear your opinion with all of the latest ruckus surrounding it. Love the content. Thanks!
you are not going to Addison? the sixth 3* restaurant in Cali
Not been to a 3 michelin restaurant so far, only 2 single star michelin places, but I would say the frog legs reminds me of a fried chicken dish I had at a Chinese restaurant in Singapore's Changi Airport Terminal 3, usually I go there with my family when we send someone off, it was very similar in presentation, a lot of sliced chilli with popcorn chicken in the dish. Though Frog legs in singapore are usually with a porridge not fried.
I love Duchess de Bourgogne, quite an acquired taste, metallic. Now I have to order a couple of big bottles for this summer.
Without your elevated commentary I cannot imagine a less inspiring visual tour.
Need a skilled chef to pull it off, or in my case a third grade french teacher who cooked froglegs for our class(in Australia) and it was wonderful
Hello Alexander. Could you please try hiša franko sometime? Its a wonderful restaurant in slovenia that just got 3 micheline stars.
I am so glad you liked it, Alex. I went there 1 year ago for my birthday/grad present from my parents, after having gone there the year it opened (I think I was 13 at the time). Everything had changed but the interior (or lack thereof). The food of course was incredible, but the people and service is what really made it for me. I would also like to point out that your meal was a fraction of the cost of the restaurants you typically go to. I think it's cool that they maintain such a focus on the food and pairings, and don't try to upsell you on nice to haves. Ultimately, everyone gets the exact same, dialed-in experience. Funny to have recommended it to you and to see you there a year later!
12:16 bro can't take it no more 😩😂
Microwaving my food and watching this
Great video. Hard no on the restaurant and food
I think a similar trip around northern Italy is needed. My favourite 3* (eaten at 50+) was Dal Pescatore in Italy.
Die anderen Gäste schauen aus wie Hobos!
That is THE most depressing dining room I have ever seen. Wow. I’ve seen outdated office buildings with more character…
No price given?
This is the first one that really doesn’t impress me
still, the interior look like a mall restaurant
The show must gooh
Looks pretty grim all round