I’m at the phase in my life where there’s usually so much going on, that it becomes difficult to reach out to close friends and spend time with them. One of my dearest friends and I had been planning for months to find a day to get out and do something fun. When Dominique Ansel’s 189 Restaurant opened, we knew we needed to make this day happen.
189 is located at The Grove above his bakery. There is a bakery line outside, but you can check in with the hostess at the head of the line where they have a cozy outdoor seating area for you to wait. Reservations are necessary, but very easy. You can reserve a seat at Resy.com through the DA 189 website or the Resy app. You have an option to reserve at the kitchen counter or the dining room. The bar and open kitchen are separated by the dining room and the bay windows give you a glimpse of the main outdoor courtyard.
We made reservations at the kitchen counter and it’s something I highly recommend. However, it is very difficult to refrain from ordering everything on the menu as you are watching each chef work their magic at their stations.
The executive chef Hyun Lee, came out to greet us and to explain each dish as they were served. He explained where his ingredients came from and a little bit about what inspired the dish, which made this experience extra special.
Here are some of the things we ordered:
As we sat at the counter and ate, we watched the dessert chef as she created and plated the beautifully done dessert options. We nearly ordered everything she was making.
We decided on two desserts:
After dessert, we were taken to their Granola Room. Our visit was during the holidays, and we were able to create our own custom mix of dried fruit and other toppings with Chef Ansel’s special granola.
The experience at 189 was amazing. Our kitchen counter experience made us feel like being at home and part of the 189 family. Looking forward to more DAB experiences!
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