Los Gatos' Manresa to close Jan. 1 – but first, they'll have a 'no holds barred' New Year's Eve party | Peninsula Foodist | The Peninsula Foodist | Palo Alto Online |

Local Blogs

Peninsula Foodist

By The Peninsula Foodist

E-mail The Peninsula Foodist

About this blog: Get the latest food news with the biweekly Peninsula Foodist newsletter.
We are constantly on the lookout for new and undiscovered meals, from Michelin-starred restaurants to tac...  (More)

View all posts from The Peninsula Foodist

Los Gatos' Manresa to close Jan. 1 – but first, they'll have a 'no holds barred' New Year's Eve party

Uploaded: Nov 8, 2022

David Kinch’s departure to focus on his more casual restaurants follows a trend among Peninsula fine-dining establishments from the onset of the pandemic to shift toward casual. (Courtesy Marc Fiorito.)

By Kate Bradshaw

After a 20-year run, Manresa, Los Gatos' three-Michelin-star restaurant, will close Jan. 1, according to a Nov. 7 announcement.

Manresa is one of the area's most renowned fine-dining institutions – it has received three Michelin stars for six consecutive years, and chef David Kinch has been named James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Pacific and was recognized by Le Chef as one of the top 10 chefs worldwide. So it was surprising to some that Kinch announced in August that he planned to leave the restaurant at the end of 2022 and put the business and Los Gatos property up for sale.

"For the past 20 years, Manresa has essentially been my whole life. And like all passion projects, it has been more challenging and more rewarding than I could have imagined," he said at the time.

To round out the last month of service, Kinch and his team have added Tuesday services to accommodate more reservations. The restaurant has been planning seasonal menus to highlight new dishes and classics from the past two decades.

The last month's worth of reservations will be available starting at midnight on Nov. 14 on Tock. The tasting menu is $595 and there is an optional $255 wine-pairing cost.

On the restaurant's last night, New Year's Eve, Manresa will offer a special "no holds barred" tasting menu, highlighting luxury additions like truffles, caviar and fine wines, priced at $725, plus $325 for optional wine pairings.


Over its 20-year history, Manresa has become known for its seasonal tasting menus with a focus on fresh local ingredients. (Courtesy Marc Fiorito.)

In the new year, Kinch plans to focus on his more casual establishments, including the New Orleans-inspired The Bywater, Italian and French-inspired Mentone, and Manresa Bread, a local bakery led by founder and head baker Avery Ruzicka, according to a press statement.

"Since the announcement of my forthcoming departure, I’ve been overwhelmed by the support from my team, industry colleagues, and our guests—all encouraging my pursuit of new adventures. Our team is immensely talented, and I can’t wait to see what they do next," he said in the press statement.

The property is currently listed for sale, but a Manresa spokesperson said they didn't have any additional details to share right now about what might take Manresa's spot in the future.

Manresa, 320 Village Lane, Los Gatos; 408-354-4330; Instagram: @manresarestaurant.
Community.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Marissa Taylor, a resident of Menlo Park,
on Nov 9, 2022 at 9:13 am

Marissa Taylor is a registered user.

> The last month's worth of reservations will be available starting at midnight on Nov. 14 on Tock. The tasting menu is $595 and there is an optional $255 wine-pairing cost.

^ Paying close to $900.00 + tax/tip for a sampling is kind of expensive.

>> On the restaurant's last night, New Year's Eve, Manresa will offer a special "no holds barred" tasting menu, highlighting luxury additions like truffles, caviar and fine wines, priced at $725, plus $325 for optional wine pairings.

^ And another $1050.00 + tax/tip for a New Year's sampler?

It is obvious that some folks are either rolling in dough or have absolutely no sense when it comes to understanding and appreciating the value of a dollar.


Posted by Common sense, a resident of another community,
on Jan 18, 2023 at 9:29 pm

Common sense is a registered user.

I think it's far more about personal priorities. People spend as much, or more, on major sports events and big-time entertainment venues, and they're not all wealthy people at all. It isn't about "understanding and appreciating the value of a dollar" but what do you really cherish? Some people will never understand spending such money on playoff tickets, or big-time live theater, or traveling to total eclipses, or an extraordinary dining experience.

Those Manresa dinners also represented a bit of history (and the prices were unusually high) because the restaurant had announced the planned closure.


Follow this blogger.
Sign up to be notified of new posts by this blogger.

Email:

SUBMIT

Post a comment

Sorry, but further commenting on this topic has been closed.

Stay informed.

Get the day's top headlines from Palo Alto Online sent to your inbox in the Express newsletter.

Analysis/paralysis: The infamous ‘Palo Alto Process’ must go
By Diana Diamond | 7 comments | 2,526 views

Common Ground
By Sherry Listgarten | 3 comments | 2,130 views

The Time and Cost Savings of Avoiding a Long Commute
By Steve Levy | 6 comments | 1,793 views

Planting a Fall Garden?
By Laura Stec | 5 comments | 1,244 views

 

Sign-up now for 5K Run/Walk, 10k Run, Half Marathon

The 39th annual Moonlight Run and Walk is Friday evening, September 29. Join us under the light of the full Harvest Moon on a 5K walk, 5K run, 10K run or half marathon. Complete your race in person or virtually. Proceeds from the race go to the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund, benefiting local nonprofits that serve families and children in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

REGISTER