If I could give Six Test Kitchen six stars, I definitely would! We went for our honeymoon in February 2025, and I am now catching up on reviews many months later. In a word, the overall Six Test Kitchen experience was PERFECTION! Thank you to Chef Ricky and his team for creating a very unique and special dining experience. Food: Delicious. Beautiful. Sumptuous. Thoughtful. Creative. Props to the chef for taking great care not to serve us cilantro, which one of us can't eat. He went out of his way to ask us questions about this prior and we were so grateful for his clear communication to ensure we had a great experience. We enjoyed 14 (!) tastings and we were stuffed afterwards - which is quite surprising since the tastes are small. We did not order the wine pairings and are so glad we didn't because we think we would have been too full to enjoy all of the food. We saved our wine tasting for the previous and following days when visiting wineries, and we didn't feel it was necessary to include with this experience. We took a few photos of the food, but didn't want to spend a lot of time taking photos (since we wanted to really enjoy the food) and then luckily, we met a couple the next day at our hotel who also had dined at the restaurant at the same time we did, and they shared more photos too. So I'll include all of those photos here. Ambience: Comfortable and Intimate. We felt like we were on an episode of Hell's Kitchen - the lighting is dim-ish, you are sitting around a bar next to 11 other patrons, looking into the kitchen with steel appliances and counters and watching the chefs prepare your food very diligently. Service: Straightforward. Each chef that delivered the food was polite, but not overly chatty as they were focused on preparing and delivering the food. We can't say enough about our first Six Test Kitchen experience. We have been raving about it ever since we dined in February. On our next trip to Paso Robles, which we hope is soon, we plan to go back. We made sure to make our reservation well in advance as we had heard it books up, so make sure to mark your calendar if you want to go! Value: We thought the experience was well-priced. The very next day, we had booked a six-course dining experience at Justin Winery. It was quite good and was about the same price, and we felt Six Test Kitchen was just a better value and experience overall. We would choose Six Text Kitchen over that experience for a Michelin-star tasting experience that was truly immersive and fun. To end the night, they presented the menu to us detailing all a list of all of the food we enjoyed and signed it. A very nice touch! Can't wait to come back and enjoy another memorable evening with the Six Test Kitchen team!!!! read more

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I thought it was an OK experience. My favorite dish was the duck liver mousse. Nothing else really stood out to me. I'm glad I tried it, but don't think I'd go back. read more

Perfect as always. Masterfully orchestrated dance. Rich, bold flavors. Stunning setting. Immaculate vibes. Somehow better each time I visit. read more

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Amazing meal. I've gone to all of the Michelin star restaurants in Los Angeles and this is 100% on par (or even better). The food was amazing and the wine pairing a perfect addition. The experience is unique where you get to watch the dishes being prepared and assembled (sometimes in it can be intimidating to be watched while you eat but it was so fun). The chef/owner and rest of the staff took the time to explain each dish (and wine). Balanced and creative plates. Delicious all around. read more

Every dish on the tasting menu progresses into something more scrumptious than the last. The Six Test team - Ricky, Christian, Chris, David and Robert all nailed their presentations. Sitting on a counter in front of where all the magic happens and watching it all come together was one of the most amazing dining experience my wife Carol and I have ever had. My favorite course was the duck breast. We are definitely coming back! read more

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My wife and I had an amazing dinner and just an overall outstanding experience. The food was fantastic The service was wonderful and the people were just overall helpful and friendly. We really enjoyed the wine pairing and temperance pairing. Did I mention the food was outstanding? Definitely not every day dining, but most certainly special occasions, you definitely have to try this at least once in your life. read more

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Unique, delicious, and meticulously prepared! The hubby took me here for our surprise anniversary dinner. Everything from start to finish was thoughtfully planned and executed. We did the 9 course tasting with wine pairing. Each of the dishes was complicated, but the flavors n textures worked very well together. They change the menu often including the wine pairing of course. I won't go into details what any of the dishes was, since they would be all different with each dining experience more than likely. Especially since reservations are required at least a few weeks in advance. The dining room is very limited with only 12 bar style seats, with the first half seated 30mins before the second 6 people. It looks casual but also elegant at the same time. Both the sommelier and the chefs were very knowledgeable and friendly. All the chefs took turn to present and explain each dish. You don't get the menu at the beginning like most restaurants in order to keep the dishes as surprises. At the end of your meal is when you get to have a copy of the menu go take home. It was for sure a splurge but well worth it. We look forward to come back here at the next special occasion! read more

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We enjoyed a very special dinner experience at Six Test Kitchen, just outside of Paso Robles at Tin City, in Templeton. 16 seats around an open kitchen, so very intimate and interesting. Very creative menu and thoughtful wine pairings. We enjoyed every course; my personal favorites were the smoked trout appetizer, Kampachi, Chawanmushi, Black Cod and the Lamb dishes. The Earl Grey ice cream was incredible, and they graciously made an adjustment for my strawberry allergy. We were so full for the final dessert course, but still couldn't resist a few final bites! Everything was delicious, with dynamic flavors and beautifully presented. I've been trying to get a reservation here for several years, so very happy to finally visit; we thoroughly enjoyed it! I didn't get photos of every course (too busy enjoying!) but tried to capture a few. Sommelier was delightful and chefs and sous chefs were very friendly and professional (but also quite busy creating our courses, so understandably less chatty). Highly recommend. It's quite pricey, but worth it for a special experience. read more

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My words for this amazing restaurant: unique, creative, flawless, friendly, unbelievable! The food is to die for, and having only 12 seats makes it so unique and special. The elevated wine pairings were perfection as well! They have a well deserved Michelin and stack up to any tasting menu in NYC or LA that we have been to. Cheers to the whole team! read more

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Service was 10/10 Food was 10/10 Ambiance 10/10 Wine 7/10 Next time we do go we will bring our own PASO wines And not pay for the wine pairings just pay the corkage fee Perfect presentations and left way too full but HAPPY PASO ROBLANS read more

Only Michelin restaurant in the central coast area. And it is an absolute must try. Every bite from each course was packed with great flavor combinations and experience. This was my second time eating here and it was amazing. Highly recommend! There is limited seating which makes the experience more intimate read more

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We had 2 reservations for parties of 2 that they were able to combine so we sat next to each other. We all had the wine pairing which further elevated a great dinner. The presentation, taste and general quality of the food was outstanding. We loved the wine tasting. Sure the price is steep but this is worth it if you appreciate, and can occasionally afford, very fine dining. The place is not stuffy. Serving staff is busy, so not chatty, but we were able to engage the Somm in a bit of friendly convo at end of evening read more

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I've had the good fortune to dine in Michelin rated restaurants over the past three decades, more than a dozen or so rated between 1 & 3 stars. In fact, to celebrate my birthday I ended up in three these past two weeks. Last night's experience at Six Test Kitchen was superior. From reading through the many reviews I get that the restaurant's atmosphere, service style, ambiance, and methods aren't for everyone. Perhaps having visited once back in 2022 helped shape my expectations. In short, my expectations were exceeded. Our experience was exceptional. Every dish was complex and nuanced, with layers of flavor and a consistency within each grouping. Attention to detail was on point. For those looking for an intimate meal amongst friends, engaged conversation with staff, or a world-class wine cellar, Six Test Kitchen may not be best suited. However, if you're looking for a gastronomical offering of locally sourced vegetables and proteins, paired well with a variety of wines, served efficiently and with artistic flair, Six Test Kitchen presents an opportunity to over indulge. Looking forward to my next visit. read more

Saved our pennies for about a year and made a second visit to Six Test Kitchen. Absolutely worth it. We shared a wine pairing, and that definitely added to the experience. The sommelier, I think his name was Christian??, was very informative, and paired some very interesting wines with the courses that were very complimentary. The food itself was fantastic, honestly probably the best we've had. Lots of surprises, and fun nuanced bites. Service was attentive, providing great descriptions of the dishes. Presentation was very aesthetically pleasing. Must start saving those pennies ... read more

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This review is months late, and I lost the menu they gave us, but I felt compelled (late) to leave a review. This place is awesome. Go there. Everything is great, so who needs a description here? Super cool ambiance too -- limited seating, sitting right on top of the kitchen, upscale but unpretentious. Unbelievable wine list. Worth checking out for sure. Dining at its finest. read more

12 seats a night. Must have reservations and pay beforehand. All 12 seats are at a counter facing all the preparations. Everything was awesome. Intricate plating for beautiful dishes. It's a wonderful experience if you enjoy the creativity and flavors. They used a local honey on goat ice cream that was almost clear but so good. I asked about the honey, found out it's a local Paso Robles farm and went to go buy some to bring home. It's in the center of Tin City. Which is busy during the day but dinner time there is plenty of parking. It's just really dark when you come out after dinner. read more

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Brought the hubby here for his birthday and we had a great experience with all the unique courses with beautiful plating! We also opted to share a wine pairing (there's a small fee for sharing a wine pairing but it's totally worth it!) You're seated at a counter so you can watch the chefs preparing all the food. Great dinner spot for a special occasion/surprise in Paso Robles (although the ambiance is on the quieter side) read more

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This place was mind blowing. Also, I spilled on my dress and one of the employees brought me a hot towel without laughing at me hahahha

Living in Paso we are blessed with some fantastic restaurants, not necessarily in the downtown area. I was fortunate enough to get NYE reservations at Six, on a whim. My girlfriend had mentioned this restaurant in the past and when I was looking for NYE plans there just happened to be seats available. The price was over twice what you pay for a meal at Six any other time but in my opinion the price was justified with the wine pairings, champagne, level of service and food preparation. We arrived five minutes before six o'clock and walked in with just four other people at the bar that seats just 12 a night. We were led to the far side of the bar, able to watch all the food prep and see the other guests. The host/sommelier guided us to our seats and returned to pour us us the Louis Roederer 'Collection 242' Brut Champagne to start the evening. We had no indication of what was on the menu for the evening, nor the wine pairings. Each course as meticulously prepared by the chef/staff then served with an explanation of the dish and how it was prepared. The Sommelier was fantastic! He explained each wine/port/champagne in detail and how it paired with the upcoming courses. Just as fantastic, the chef and the staff provided generous information on each plate that was served. The evening featured a wide array of food; oyster, duck liver, caviar, yellow tail, black cod, roast duck, pork loin, beet sorbet, baked pear and cheese cake to name a few. Each course was paired very well with the champagne, wine and port provided. Would we return? Hell yes! An absolutely amazing meal with a top quality staffing. My girlfriend and I were so grateful for the experience we had at Six Test Kitchen. Keep up the great work! Cannot wait to return! read more

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Truly incredible, i ate so many dishes i would never typically even consider ordering but the thoughtfulness and creativity that went into each course was stupendous. Having two seating times is genius because it made service faster and the cozy bar, limited amount of guests immensely enhances the overall experience! read more

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Well worth the experience. We chose not to do wine pairing so we could focus on the food and loved every bite.

A Michelin star restaurant in Paso Robles? Is it worth going? For wide adventurous pallettes, the answer is Yes. This is not your usual dining experience. The restaurant is comprised of a single 12 seat 'L' shaped counter that is wrapped around the completely open kitchen. And that is it. 12 lucky diners are served each night, 4 nights each week. Christian greeted us at the door and is also the sommelier. Six is classy but not stuffy restaurant. Classic rock plays while the friendly highly trained chefs prepare each dish. We were seated at the high top counter. We were served 14 small bites over the 2 hour dining experience. Each dish is served by the lead chef who prepared that dish, explaining the ingredients and preparation. Each dish is masterfully and meticulously prepared. I totally understand how they achieved a Michelin star. Of the 14 small bites or dishes, 2 I didn't really care for and 12 I really liked. I loved 4 dishes so much that I would return to Six just to have those dishes again. It amazes me that a wine tasting town of 30,000 people can support a fine dining establishment like Six. It goes to show, people who enjoy great food masterfully and creatively prepared will support such a restaurant. I highly recommend Six Test Kitchen if you enjoy great food and appreciate the mastery of great chefs. read more

Truly an amazing and unique experience, will definitely be returning, and highly recommend to anyone in the area. Every bite really delivered on flavor and I felt like I was taken on an intimate culinary adventure that I'll never forget. The food service was superb and the sommelier just knocked it out of the park with the wine pairing. Overall, everyone was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Also loved the layout of the restaurant with its open kitchen. You get to watch the food being prepared which offers a unique view of the immense effort that goes into creating such artful food. read more

Had another lovely dinner here tonight. Every staff person and especially the owner/chef is friendly yet uber professional. We enjoyed all the tastings but tonight we were fortunate to also have the non-alcoholic beverage pairing. (I don't drink alcohol and older son drove.) Wow. The amount of thought, care and time put into the pairing was truly astounding. Flavors that a normal person would not consider were thoughtfully presented (and thoroughly enjoyed). Beet juice and fennel? Yes, odd sounding, but was my son's favorite. (Mine was the elderberry lemonade. Which, by the way, was the result of 2 lbs of hand picked elderberry, smashed and infused over 3 months.) No, the ambiance isn't as sedate as the French Laundry, or as interactive and theatrical as Cyrus, but I like this place because the chef is sincere and passionate about his food, and that comes across. And yes, you will leave full! read more

Six Test Kitchen - Non alcoholic beverage pairing menu - New American Near Me - Paso Robles, California

The food was delicious, the staff were so kind, it was amazing to try so many dishes in one go (my fav type of eating), and I loved the small guest allowance as it made it feel so intimate and special. I paired with the non-alcoholic drink option and that was very yummy. Definitely recommend that, and this! read more

Let me just say that, overall, this was an excellent experience. I believe pricing has gone up since lockdown but whether it's worth the money will be up to you. The ambiance is great, the track lighting is dim but spots around your seat make it easy to really see the food. Usually these places are very dim and you can fully see everything. From the counter to the dishwear, very close attention to detail was given and it shows. Friendly host and chefs made this a really great experience. Finger foods- some of my favorites from the whole meal. The oyster simple but full of flavor, the duck rillette was superb. Small little ball but so much duck meat packed in. I didn't get the sauce at all but it was delicious. The tartlette was so dang good as well. Three bites of flavor. Rock cod was definitely a great play on fish and chips. Fish perfectly fried and the aioli was the perfect compliment. Malign caviar- to me probably one of my least fav dishes. The mint and celery flavors really overpowered everything and the caviar got lost. It was delicious but the caviar played second fiddle. Kampachi with grapefruit was delicious. Fish was really meaty but just a tad too much grapefruit. You had to make sure to put enough fish in each bit to not lose it with the grapefruit. Chawan mushi- my favorite dish of the night. Fish fell off the bones (be careful to get the bones out) and that broth was so full of flavor and settled great with the egg. So dang good, it was perfect. Artic char had perfectly crisp skin and the onions and asparagus were a great compliment. Chicken liver- my wife's favorite. The brioche perfectly baked and the mousse was light and silky delicious. Roast duck- probably the dish I was most disappointed with. Everything was perfectly cooked but it fell flat to me. I didn't get any of the pickling in the red beet and the dried persimmon was kind of dried of flavor. It was fine but nothing really popped, flavor wise. Dry aged beef- best piece of steak I've had that's all I'll say. Great dish! Cake with strawberries- actually a tasty dessert but I would say those dried strawberries were very dry. Almost like jerky and hard to chew. Honey ice cream- so dang good and that puff pastry was amazing. The honey is the star and really shines here. The final three bites- all delicious and a perfect end to the meal. Chocolate and mushroom? Delicious, fruit roll up tangy and refreshing and the caramel was perfect! Overall a fun experience and delicious food. Had a good talk with the chef/owner and you can tell he loves what he does and cares about this menu and place. The pacing is great and you end up full at the end. Not many of any fine dining experiences in this area and glad we went. read more

Six Test Kitchen - Kaluga caviar - New American Near Me - Paso Robles, California

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Overall, a memorable experience with tasty and original cuisine served efficaciously. Our service expectation was set early on. Our reservation was for 6 pm. We arrived 15 mins early. We waited outside -- standing in front of the restaurant -- for 15 mins before they opened the doors to let us in. The service was diligent and efficient, but lacked personality. Yes, the food speaks for itself, but the clinical service is more of a distraction (and somewhat awkward) than if they engaged in polite, brisk conversation. The ambiance was modern, comfortable, and intimate. The bar-style seating was unique. It provided a view of the meals being prepared, but made it difficult to engage all of those in our party. I guess it's nice seeing the chefs at work, though, our party was more interested in talking with each other than watching the food being prepared. Perhaps a person preference. A minor annoyance, the stools/seats became uncomfortable midway through the two-hour experience. The pacing, presentation, utensils, and delivery of each course was fabulous. Each course had a unique delivery vessel and accompanying applicable flatware. Keen attention applied to the smallest details. I thoroughly enjoyed most courses. The duck and beef courses were the standouts (and I typically don't like duck), though, the ~1oz serving was dainty, and left me unfulfilled. There were some interesting and outstanding applications of duck liver, duck confit, and barbequed pumpkin, among others. Phenomenally memorable. Personally, I'd like to see fewer desert courses and heavier servings of the proteins within the entrees. From a business perspective, I love the Six Test Kitchen concept. Small group seating (I think 12 total stools/seats) reduces the chaos and cacophony felt in typical restaurants. Less pressure/stress for the staff and the patrons. We would definitely visit again and recommend to others. read more

Six Test Kitchen - New American Near Me - Paso Robles, California

Amazing meal and everything else. Not to be missed if you are in Paso Robles. Food was beautiful and delicious. Service was attentive and fun. read more

Six Test Kitchen has a lovely set-up with a courtyard feel, tall tables, and twinkly lights overhead. Service was impeccable and friendly. The dishes were great but the stand out for me was the duck. For dessert I was not looking forward to the goat's milk but it was surprisingly good. Six Test Kitchen is a must visit when wine tasting at Tin City! Chelsea Gem Oyster, Celery, Horseradish Pork Rillettes, Roasted Onion, Miso Beet, Shiso, Plum Kampachi, Tomato, Melon, Lemon Kosho Roast Duck, Pumpkin, Guajillo, Nuts and Seeds Pork Loin, Shishito Pepper, Peach, Polenta Riesling, Kaffir Lime, Epazote Raw Goat's Milk, Cajeta, Raspberry Almond Candy Cap read more

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Lovely spot, one of a kind food sourcing, dry aging, and service. If you are a foodie and love wine pairing, I truly think this is a unique experience that you cannot pass up! read more

Had to snag a reservation to celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary ! We opt for the wine pairing too to hubby! We had a exceptional evening ! Everything was just a work of art and simply delicious! I'm not usually pleased with most duck plate I've had but the duck plate hit my palateAgain thank you for making our anniversary more special read more

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What a grand experience! My daughter-in-law made reservations for my son and I for a birthday gift for he and I. We had a 12 course dinner with wine pairings. Every course was a wonderful eye and taste sensation. I can't say enough great things about the staff, the food, the wonderful chef who has worked so hard along with staff and the ambiance. They all definitely deserve the Michelin Star they recently r read more

We were lucky enough to score a reservation pre-Michelin star. What a phenomenal experience. I loved how each dish was representative of this region of California. Standouts for me were the local Morro oyster and the Kampachi, though if I'm going to be honest, there were so many memorable bites. The presentation of each dish is a work of art and complements the locally made dinnerware. We did the wine pairing. Overall good, but some pretty bold choices. We were not disappointed. A little on the pricey side, but so worth it. I can't wait to go back. read more

If you like an intimate atmosphere and attention to detail, you will truly appreciate the dining experience . read more

Six Test Kitchen - New American Near Me - Paso Robles, California

Six Test Kitchen is a complete gem and one of a kind gustatory experience. Chef David and team prepare an exquisite nine course meal in an intimate and very relaxed atmosphere. The team works together seamlessly and spends special time with each dining couple. Every bite was unique and exceptional. It's impossible to pick a favorite and the two-hour dining journey starts with Grassy Bar Oyster with Radish and Charred Cucumber, Smoked Steelhead Trout with Dill and Trout Roe followed by Duck Liver Pate with Dark Chocolate. Every course is a surprise and unquestionably delicious, perfectly executed and leaves you anticipating the next course. Highly recommend Six Test Kitchen and is alone worth a trip to beautiful Paso. And the wine pairing is a must. Six's Sommelier is the best!! He is knowledgeable and picked the absolute perfect pairings. Plus his friendly and witty conversational style only draws you in more to this fabulous, bucket list dining excursion. Thank you. read more

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We made it back again! Getting reservations was a challenge but we thoroughly enjoyed the meal. read more

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Food and service were amazing! Loved the wine pairing with the dishes. We had a great experience.

After waiting (and emailing), we (okay, our friends) managed to get four seats. Was it worth their recent Michelin star? That is up for debate. And we actively debated this point. Here are the highlights: Pros: The attention to detail on the food is wonderful. Every morsel placed in front of a diner is precisely thought through and presented. In the middle: It is definitely an interesting venue - take that comment as you will. Some of us liked it. Some didn't. But sitting on a (semi-comfortable) bar stool all night just didn't resonant with everyone. Cons: Although every piece of food is perfect - sometimes there is literally only a piece (or a bite). This is makes it difficult to really engage with the different dishes and/or interact with the wine. Fewer (but only slightly larger) servings would have made it a much better experience. Also, the wine list is extremely limited, yet they charge a high corkage and a 2 bottle max, and the (expensive) wine pairing isn't that great. Bottomline: Is it "good"? Yes. Is it "$200+/person good"? No. read more

We had a truly special dining experience in SLO County ... Very deserving to a Michelin star. The ambiance was comfortable, 12 seats. The food was delicious and we enjoyed each course. We left full for sure, but not uncomfortable ;) Plus, I discovered a new Pinot that is now one of my favorites next to Raj Parr's Domaine de la cote & Flowers. The service was top notch and wasn't overdone. Thank you to each and everyone at Six! read more

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This place is absolutely amazing! We were so happy to get a very solid fine dining experience before the end of 2020! The 5 of us stayed in the area for a few days and happened to find out about this place. We messaged their Instagram account and got very lucky to reserve a spot on the 30th. They only have 8 seats and there were just our party and another party of 2. The set up was very well socially distanced and we felt very safe. Now the important part, the food! Their tasting menu was very well thought out, with a lot of pleasant surprises and inspirations from different cultures. It was both delicate and fulfilling! 3 Small Bites: Onion Chicharron, Mushroom Tartlette and Duck Rillette - All very flavorful and opened up the palate very well. The onion chicharron was very thin and crispy, the mushroom tartlette was creamy and savory and the duck rillete, my personal favorite was a perfect combination of taste and texture. Caviar, Turnip and Green Apple - such a genius combination! I never had caviar with turnip but it actually worked very well! The acidity in the green apple also balanced the rich flavor or caviar. Kanpachi, Squash and Black Sunchoke - my favorite course of the meal! Kanpachi has always been my top 5 sashimi fish, it's very versatile and can go with a lot of different flavors. The aged sunchoke was a very pleasant surprise, it had some picked flavor and some nutty flavor but wasn't overpowering. The squash added a nice crunchiness to the course. Crab Chawan Mushi - the crab was very flavorful and the steamed egg was very tender. I can eat a lot of this! Grilled Arctic Char - one of the more traditional courses on the menu in my opinion, not surprising but still very delicious. The potato was made into the shape of a mini croissant which was very cute. Chicken Liver with Persimmon, going with Corn Bread - my second favorite course! The chicken liver was so smooth, and the persimmon added some sweet and freshness to the taste. And the corn bread, definitely one of the best I've had! They worked so well together that we all wanted to ask for more corn bread! Roast Duck, Squash and Pomegranate - this course reminds us of our childhood flavors! The squash has some cumin dressing and tasted like summer BBQ I had in China. The duck was cooked perfectly and my husband said that reminded him of the duck from his hometown in China. Very nice and nostalgic taste! Barbecue Pork Shoulder - perfect red meat course before the desserts! I usually don't like pork dishes in fine dining that much but this was definitely a good one! The pork shoulder had the right amount of fat, which was very important to the texture. The flavor reminded me of both a nice Hong Kong Cha Siu and a good American BBQ, and it also had some subtle spice to it. 3 Desserts - Riesling Flavored Pear, White Chocolate with Macadamia and Candy Cap - awesome desserts to end the meal! They put a lot of thoughts into these beautifully plated desserts! We tasted so many different flavors and textures and the sweet tooth was definitely satisfied. Two of us ordered the wine pairing. It had 6 glasses, with very generous pours and complemented the food very well. The rest of us ordered 2 bottles recommended by our sommelier, they were very delicious and also went perfectly with the food. The service was also impeccable! We got to talk to the chef for a bit after the meal and learned about some of his inspirations and thoughts behind the amazing courses! This place lives up to a Michelin 2 Star level in my opinion and I definitely recommend giving it a try if you happen to be in the area! read more

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