“I love beautiful, loungey wine bars,” Dominique Crenn tells the Chronicle, “I don't think there are many in San Francisco.” As some of the city's wine shops, many with their own bars, are rather winning, it's most accurate to say that San Francisco doesn't have a beautiful, loungey wine bar from Dominique Crenn, but that's soon to change.
Crenn, the decorated chef with two Michelin stars to her name, recently acquired in full the restaurant that bears — and made — her name, Atelier Crenn on Fillmore. Last year, she brought a smaller sister restaurant, Petit Crenn, to Hayes Valley by way of her own, newly-created restaurant group. And now — a brief venture at the East Bay's Claremont Hotel notwithstanding — she's completing a trio of businesses with Bar Crenn, which will open next to Atelier Crenn in the current Cellar Door space next year.
"I've been trying to get this space for a long time," Crenn reportedly said, "but now that I have full control of my group and Atelier Crenn, I can focus on this." With a beer and wine permit but not a full liquor license, Crenn expects to serve low ABV cocktails in addition to wine, etc. plus small plates that will be, "very French." She'll begin work on the space when Atelier Crenn takes its annual January vacation. Now that's what I call "very French."
Bar Crenn, 3131 Fillmore Street between Pixley and Filbert Streets
