It saddens me to be unable to rave about this place. I had high hopes but the dining experience left much to be desired for a one-starred Michelin restaurant. The biggest complaint I had was how long it took for a meal of 9 courses (including amuse bouche and intermezzo) to be served -- we started at 5:30pm and by 8:30pm, had to request service to wrap up by 9pm since it didn't seem like it was going to be. Each course took a good 20-30minutes to appear, which is way too long. Second complaint was that we requested to add the white truffle and thought it would accompany the pasta dish, but it didn't. Then when the server announced it was the last savory course and the truffle had yet to appear (they do not present the menu until you are done with the meal, so we kept waiting, since we didn't know how many courses were left), we asked to cancel the order (they were apologetic that they had forgotten.) Also, there is only one bathroom so you need to notify the staff before using the loo so they can play traffic cop. We sat outdoors in the garden/patio with three heat lamps, which was lovely and toasty. Felt safer this way since they do not check for Vax status. Aside from how slow each course was served, the service staff were extremely friendly, warm and attentive. As for food, each course was beautiful to behold, and perfectly executed; however no one dish was special enough for me to call it a stand out in terms of complexity or composition, which is what I look for when dining at these establishments. read more

See all

Definitely a special occasions type of place, first of all, because time wise, expect to spend about around 3 hours, you can't rush these courses (lol if you sat the entire time, your legs may have fallen asleep by the end of the meal). But definitely not your palate! You will need to let them know ahead if there are any dietary restrictions so they could be on top of that, and they are. The menu and each course is a surprise, you find out when they bring them to the table and they will describe each in detail. The actual printed menu will be presented at the end of your meal. As for the shaved black truffles, it was an extra charge but we went for it this time. (Was it worth it? Hmmm jury is kind of out on that, maybe not this particular truffle) I have to also mention, since it is still during a pandemic, we chose this restaurant partly because of its outdoor dining space. They renovated the side yard and added dining tables in 2020 while they were closed. The staff were all so professional yet friendly and courteous. I also have to mention, the restaurant only has one restroom. You will need to alert your waitstaff a head of time of need so that they can make sure no one else is inside, AND they sanitize it each and every time after use (they also fold up the toilet paper each time), and there is an air purifier inside the restroom as well. They think of almost everything. *note the last photo: they have little stools for bags. Which is thoughtful, I didn't bring a special occasions purse, but I still never put any purses directly on the floor anyway (that's just gross, please don't do it). read more

See all

Amazing experience, the food was phenomenal and extremely well presented. The staff were excellent and really made the dinner special. We sat on the deck which was beautiful, overall 10/10 would definitely come back read more

We came here to celebrate our anniversary and had such a great time. The restaurant is in one the oldest historical properties in Mountain View. Staff was very warm and welcoming once we came in. They checked us in and took our coats. We were seated in one the front rooms of the house, and were the only ones there for most of our meal. Our server was Alex, and he was incredible. We kept our masks off while at our table, but we're asked to put them on if we needed to walk around or visit the restroom (we did need to notify staff beforehand as there is only one of the premise). As many other reviews have stated, the menu changes daily, but we absolutely loved the selections - ESPECIALLY the seafood. The presentation was lovely, and Alex answered any and all follow up questions we had about the dishes. He even took us for a tour outside to the gardens out back. The tasting menu price has gone up a bit since pre-pandemic to $225/person. My husband and I are not drinkers and opted out for the truffle, and our total bill was $622 (they include service charge for tip). They included a sweet card and menus at the end of the meal wishing us a Happy Anniversary. We don't often opt for French cuisine (we almost always choose upscale Asian food for a celebratory meal), but this was really nice. Absolutely loved that it was South Bay and we were able to experience a Michelin started restaurant so close to home. read more

See all

Our experience at Chez TJ was really perfect. I wanted to do something special for my birthday and talked my boyfriend into taking me. I think I've probably walked by this spot more than once - it's a block from Castro Street in Mountain View. It was easy to park at one of the public lots and they are free. Chez TJ contacted me before the meal to make sure we had no allergies. It would have been interesting to see what the vegetarian menu was like - but we both wanted to try the standard meal. It is pretty cool how they don't tell you what anything is until it comes out, so it's very suspenseful in a way. I think the asparagus dish was probably my favorite though everything was really good. My boyfriend loved the palate cleanser as well - a kind of spicy lemon-pepper sorbet. Everything was really exquisite, a combination of intense flavors and freshness. The meal took over three hours and it did get a little chilly at night but their outdoor heaters were very warm. I found the staff extremely helpful and personable. I appreciated the extra touch of getting a candle in the second dessert! read more

See all

Had a birthday dinner at Chez TJ last night and it was a very enjoyable experience. We did the 4 course meal and it was excellent. It started with an amuse bouche of a small zucchini fritter with parmesan aioli and a striped coon shrimp tartlet along with a bit of melon with panna cotta and caviar with bits of chanterelle mushroom. Following that they served a light and thinly sliced nectarine salad with burgundy black truffle. Next course was a nice piece of fish called Medai, similar to butterfish with peppers and watermelon relish. The main course was a 4 oz piece of Wagyu beef cooked to a beautiful rare to medium rare with baby eggplant and peppers with a black garlic sauce. Palette cleanser was a cooling mint mojito sorbet, followed by dessert of honey mousse gateau and candied fig inside a parmesan crisp roll along with fig whip ganache. Service was excellent, attentive but not rushed. Highly recommend if you enjoy excellent and inventive dishes with interesting and complex flavors. Expensive but worth the journey. read more

I took my mom to celebrate her birthday. The restaurant was not snobby at all against our expectation and we loved it! Food was interesting and delicious. Service is an important part of the dining experience and they did an excellent job. read more

We frequent Michelin star restaurants for a variety of cuisine's across the bay. I was excited to eat at Chez TJ, it's been a Mountain View establishment for a long time and in my early 20's I would walk by it frequently though I couldn't afford it at the time. Finally now in my 40's my wife and walked into Chez TJ...... Chez TJ has it's one star. I understand why they have their one star but to me the food was just OK when compared to the other options in the area. We opted in for the grand cru tasting as well and that was also, just OK. For the food the canapes were a highlight of the meal...which as it was our first course was sad. It wasn't really mind blowing nor was it boring afterwards. For the main I had the Guinea Fowl and it was great. My wife opted for the A5 wagyu and it was great. Everything else seemed to be quite lack luster. We also added the truffle supplement which came in the form of risotto and it wasn't really up to what my expectations or standards for one star are. For the wine we had a really great champagne, an amazing sauvignon blanc and what I think was a good burgundian pinot (can't quite remember) but after that we were served a just OK mead and a port that I've seen a million times as a desert pairing. The sommelier was knowledgeable and engaging, we liked him. Just a matter of taste I suppose, mead and port were not great. The other thing I would mention is that the menu while six courses has three savory components and three sweet components. I felt like this was overkill on the sugar side. For the price, experience and style of cooking/wine I'd opt into Plumed Horse, Selby's, Madera, Le Papillion or Village Pub again rather than go back to Chez TJ in recent future...maybe though we'll check it out again in a year or two and see how things are going. read more

Chez TJ - Pretty dang good Guinea Fowl but the rest of the meal, meh. - French Near Me - Mountain View, California

I never like leaving such few star reviews, but this restaurant did not meet expectations. It's price point for the food served/taste/quality was not acceptable. We frequent many michelin stars restaurants in California as well as fine dining locations. This restaurant has us scratching our heads. The food was not wow. Was just ok. Was not filling. Just a few small courses. And with a price tag at $250 per person plus, it's simply not acceptable. We gave it a try, and will not be returning OR recommending. I'd suggest other fine dining establishments in SF that are not only cheaper but come with so so so much more courses, quality, and wow factor. **Staff here was fabulous. We enjoyed the Somm & our waiter. Food and price point though is NOT it. read more

See all

Michelin Star 47. Was Chez TJ as good as Single Thread, Madcap, Benu, and Atelier Crenn? No, but Madcap is the only one with one Michelin star; the other three have three Michelin stars each. I enjoyed my fine dining experience here regardless. The only downside was my dining companion - a pompous know-it-all - who was actually totally ignorant about fine dining. When the little starters arrived on uncooked black beans in a bowl, he thought that he was getting an entire bowl of cooked black beans to eat at a Michelin star restaurant! What Michelin restaurant serves portion sizes such as an entire bowl of anything ever? Even the soup comes in a tiny cup that fits a tablespoon, or a couple of tablespoons, of soup, at most. read more

I really enjoyed our visit yesterday evening. George Aviet, the owner of Chez TJ came around the tables and greeted us during the dinner service. The open ambience was relaxing and beautiful. All the staffs were wearing masks and took precautions. There were heating lamps in case the weather gets a bit chilly. Air purifier in the bathroom to help with air conditioning and keep the impurities out. 10/9th, 2020 menu Oyster with fennel, gougere, wagyu "pop" and golden raspberry Pogne with whipped butter Crab salad with sorrel with Mandarin Black cod with corn and fingerlime Tortellini with duxelles and mushroom broth Celery sorbet, apple, puffed barley Pain levain Lobster Squab with plums Frisée with preserved bergamot vinaigrette Whipped fromage blanc with garden peaches Supplemental: cheese dish - get it! Chocolate tarte Berries and cream Mignardise The service was exceptional and the dishes were all tasty. Our sommelier, Thomas, was very knowledgeable with wines and gave us great suggestions. We hope to come back soon -- I'm a fan! read more

See all

Due to the Covid-19 public health emergency, my family and I have not eaten at a restaurant for over six months. After months of home cooking and the occasional takeout meal, we decided that we would return to restaurant dining to celebrate our daughter's 16th birthday. We wanted to make it a memorable experience, and chose Chez TJ for this momentous occasion. We were not disappointed - it was truly a fantastic and perfect evening. Until just very recently, restaurant dining was only permitted outdoors. Many cities shut down streets to allow restaurants to set up tables on the sidewalks and the streets. Because of Chez TJ's location, it really didn't permit for the same kind of arrangement. However, during the first six months of the lockdown, the owner of the restaurant made a dramatic transformation, creating an outdoor dining space that is elegant, beautiful, and comfortable. Even when indoor dining is permitted again, our preference would be to be seated outdoors. Our meal was fabulous. There's no point in discussing each dish in detail since the menu is continually changing. Chez TJ does not provide with a menu in advance, so each course comes as a surprise. Our seven-course tasting menu provided us with a broad variety of finely balanced flavors and contrasts. Highlights of the meal included a black cod that was expertly cooked, with a delicate crisp sear on the surface while staying moist and flaky underneath. The lobster tail was smooth and soft, such that one can cut it easily with a fork. The tortellini was absolutely delicious, with a rich and aromatic mushroom broth. Sauces were used judiciously, and fresh elements were included in most plates that provided a welcome counterpoint. There were no weak spots throughout our entire meal. I opted for the nightly wine pairing. There are two other more premium wine pairing options, and while I'm never opposed to a nice Burgundy or d'Yquem, I'm not a sophisticated enough wine drinker to truly appreciate the finest of wines. The variety of wines served complemented each dish nicely, and the sommelier was knowledgeable and engaging. My favorite of the evening was the restaurant's own "Cuvee TJ" from Big Basin, but the most interesting was the wine for the dessert courses, which was a blueberry cider from Arizona. It was a little like being hit in the face with a pie, but I mean that in a very good way. Service was nothing short of outstanding. Everyone was friendly, professional but not stuffy, and genuinely interested in making my daughter's birthday dinner as perfect as it could be. Very well done all around. read more

Chez TJ - Nightly wine pairing - French Near Me - Mountain View, California

See all

We had our wedding anniversary dinner here. It was a blasting experience and the food and services have been amazing. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Spectacular! It was an honor to have Executive Chef Stan Michalski himself bring out several dishes himself. The food and the juxtaposition of each course and ingredients is just spectacular. No words would do justice to this exquisite experience. Having eaten at French Laundry and other Michelin Star restaurants, I attest Chez TJ, Stan's and his team's creativity and execution are remarkable and worthy of a lifetime experience. Beautiful ambiance, thoughtful selection of wine and spirits to accompany each course, dining at Chez TJ is a life long memory. read more

I haven't eaten here yet, but I had the privilege of dropping off the newest staff member, who is the new assistant pastry chef to Executive Pastry Chef Christine picture within! The restaurant is in a converted downtown Mountain View home that has its herb garden on the premises, immaculate pastry kitchen and I peeked into the dinner kitchen and that too is pristine! Staff was huddled doing their start of prep check in. Anything that comes out of these kitchens will be of quality, you can just tell! Looking forward to adding a review of the menu and food soon! read more

Chez TJ - Left, Executive Pastry Chef Christine Right, new Assistant Pastry Chef Ariana - French Near Me - Mountain View, California

See all

Living on the Peninsula all my life, has jaded me from seeking out Michelin starred restaurants except only on anniversaries and milestone birthdays. So, on my 28th Anniversary (one that is usually forgotten), I made a reservation for my husband and I at Chef TJ's. Here is a case of fine dining on the Peninsula that I have been remiss in experiencing. To atone, I will write a review which I hope will prod others into trying a place that has been around forever, is Michelin starred and is a unique, exquisite, and flavorful without the pretension of trying too hard. Chez TJ's offers one contemporary French, six course tasting menu, and the reasonable price of $125. They also have a weeknight four course menu at a lesser price. After dinner there on Saturday, I am looking forward to trying their weeknight offering. The dinner we had included food so delectable and fresh, I was surprised and delighted. Stan Michalski (an alumni of Quince) is the Executive Chef. His discernment and acumen are perfect for the space and audience. I anticipate only progress of the precision of his palette. From amuse bouche to entrée, Chef Michalski's courses were so flavorful and exquisitely presented that for a moment Iwas not looking out onto a street in Mountain View but transported to a restaurant in Napa or SF. The Australian Wagyu course was luxuriant and flavorful with a broth to meld the meat flavors together. Heavenly! Christine Johansen is the Pastry Chef. At a time when most restaurants are cutting back on even having a Pastry Chef, Ms. Johansen is a well-acknowledged addition. The delightful strawberry cheesecake dessert was so fragrant with fresh strawberries that it really knocked me out when it was set in front of me. And the additional chocolate and ice cream pastry course particularly welcome to my husband--a lover of rich desserts. Go to Chef TJ's and try them on any occasion. You will not be disappointed, and you will also skip a drive to SF or Napa. read more

Oh Chez TJ, how you disappoint me so. Let me just preface this review with a disclaimer that it will come off as snobby and entitled. But I stand by my perspective on our dining experience. The main reason for my 2-star review is the service, which I'll talk about first. The food deserves 4 stars though the wine pairing was extremely over priced and didn't deliver on value, but for a Michelin starred restaurant, I expected a better overall experience. My fiance made a reservation to celebrate our engagement (we literally got engaged earlier that day). He may have forgotten to let them know beforehand, I'm not sure. But we certainly told our server when he asked "are we celebrating a special occasion?" ("yes, we're celebrating our engagement", "oh, how wonderful, congratulations!") So you can imagine my surprise when the meal ended with nothing special from the restaurant. Mind you, the other three tables in our room all got a special dessert and *hand-written* card from the chef for their birthdays/anniversaries. Umm what? It wouldn't have been as jarring if no one else got special treatment. Is an engagement not worthy of celebration? Okay okay, maybe it was because the chef didn't have enough notice to prepare something (which I find hard to believe... how hard is it to write "congratulations" in chocolate on a plate?), but they could've at least comped a glass of champagne or something as a gesture. But nope, there was nothing. Aside from that major oversight, the other weird service error was that we didn't even get napkins until we asked for it during our first course. At first I thought it was because we might not need napkins for the amuse bouche. But when the bread came, I was like, umm we need napkins. Add that to our weird table placement, it really felt like they didn't have room for us for the night and hurriedly squeezed a table for us against a wall. Okay the food. The amuse bouche were all great. Very good flavors and interesting combinations. The brioche with dungeness crab was possibly my favorite course. Who knew frying brioche with butter and cheese would taste so good! The bread was amazing, as well, I think I had like 4 slices. The pasta dish and the risotto were delicious too. Desserts were fine but nothing to write home about. Food deserves a solid 4 stars. Not the best tasting menu I've ever had, but I would go back again. Now the wine pairing. Really the tl;dr is, it is not worth it! For $150, you don't get a lot of wine and they didn't actually pair well with the food. I think I only enjoyed 1 out of 4 or 5. The wine with the dessert pairing was awful. I was not impressed and felt painful when the bill came. read more

See all

Very intimate and romantic. Food was amazing as well. Service was on point as you should expect it to be. Was a 2 hour tasting menu, and it was delicious. The wagyu was the highlight of the meal. Truffles were a little underwhelming but not enough to take off a star. Worth every penny. read more

Be prepared to be wowed. This was memorable evening for a special family celebration. We had a beautiful warm table on the gorgeous immaculate patio. It was absolutely stunning. Everyone is very gracious and all of the service is impeccable. Everyone in suits. I love that. Already prepared with our unique food requirements, all we had to do was relax and enjoy the experience. Vegan dishes arrive seamlessly and without fuss. They are composed and as refined as every other dish. Those who desired wines and drinks were gracefully accommodated. I had two remarkable sparkling soda drinks that I absolutely loved. The gentlemen served my drinks as beautifully as they served the wine and champagne. I found the service perfectly timed allowing for discussions about the food and our special evening. It's relaxing and comfortable. Anything and everything we could possibly desire. I love that everyone is served at exactly the same time. This should set the standard. I especially love trying so many interesting preparations. I never loved caviar until this perfect crispy puff covered in caviar arrived as part of the finger food assortment. Oh my gosh, if I could have a dinner of those puffs...Maybe my favorite bite of the evening. All of these years, I have declined caviar and now... it's all I can think about. Suffice to say, dishes I wouldn't have thought to order turned out to be my favorites. Elk? I never expected this. Crab..of course! Oh, a creamy concoction of tart of soft cheese and pomelo with a light crisp. Almost a semi savory deconstructed cheesecake. Every dish is a composed work of art. Two desserts (a must have at this point) and a plate of perfect candy to end the evening on a very sweet note. A perfect fruity rich espresso to top it off. One dessert is perfectly gelled dome on top of herby blueberry compote with vanilla crisps on top. The second, a glorious chocolate roll with cherry. Almost too beautiful to eat but we found a way. You do what you have to do... The menu comes at the end of the meal and it very fun to discuss while having a little walk around their wonderful whimsical garden. I hope we can return soon. Highly recommend for an event of a life time. Thank you so much. read more

Great service and romantic ambiance. Prep yourself before coming here, especially when doing tasting menu. Wagyu is extra fee on the tasting menu and i was expecting it to be very good but it was on the salty side, rest of the menu were great (from bread /appetizer/dishes of rabbit/elk&dessert).Paid total of $1200+ for 3 person (could have gone to French Laundry lol). From my standpoint the price is way to high for whats being offered. Plenty of Parking spot accross the street though. read more

See all

Chez TJ is an amazing Michelin star restaurant to check out in the Silicon Valley if you like fine dinning and pairings. The restaurant served phenomenal food and the service was excellent. The victorian house makes the ambiance of Chez TJ unique, romantic, and like no other restaurant in the Bay Area. Great Experience! read more

See all

What a wonderful dining experience! I visited Chez TJ for a birthday celebration and was absolutely blown away. The food was absolutely spectacular! The menu is set, but there are supplements to the meal, such as coffee and tea at the end. I asked to have any mushrooms removed (taste preference) and the chef accommodated splendidly. The wine paired so nicely with the food as well. The service was great! The staff is friendly and attentive, with much attention to detail. The staff cleaned the restroom after every visit and would inform our table when it was ready for use (when asked). My only complaint is that the wait between dishes was far too long. I may not visit again only for that reason, but this was definitely worth the one visit! read more

See all

We recently celebrated a family birthday at Chez TJ and had a wonderful experience. Unlike at other Michelin rated restaurants I have eaten at, I found the atmosphere very warm and we felt like part of the Chez TJ family. All the interactions with the wait staff felt authentic and personal instead of the 'scripted' service we have received at other places. And George, the owner, even spent some time with us and shared stories about the founding of his restaurant; we all loved it and made our time special. But now to the food: Simply put, it was delicious. I had heard good things about the new chef Stan before we went, and he and his team really delivered. Every course was a piece of art and firework of tastes. We had so much fun talking about all the flavors each of us tasted. Lastly, a word about the wine pairing, which I definitely recommend. We had a beautiful German Riesling and I texted the label to my dad in Germany, who is a wine aficionado. And even he was impressed about the quality being served: the GG on the label stands for 'Grosses Gewächs', the highest quality of wine made in Germany. In conclusion: Great job team Chez TJ, keep up the good work!! read more

Chez TJ - French Near Me - Mountain View, California

See all

I'm a bit speechless about this place. It was truly a great dining experience. Everyone was hospitable, attentive, and knowledgeable. I loved the quaint feel of this Michelin restaurant. And the food---oh goodness! Major props to the chefs who created this experience. The food definitely hit all the five senses. You don't get the menu until the end, which creates such an anticipation as each dish is brought out. I have nothing negative to say about the food. Something as simple as the bread can taste soooooooo good!!!' And everything tastes so fresh! Hands down my favorite was the duck. It was so tender and flavorful. I look forward to coming back here and trying the other dishes!!!!!! read more

See all

The food, the service, the ambience - all perfect. I've been to a few Michelin starred restaurants, and Chez TJ did not disappoint. The friendly welcome upon arrival, the pre dinner cocktail, the excellent food and wine pairing, and the prompt and endearing service all proved to be above and beyond. It's been 20 years since I was last here - the experience this time like last time was greater than expected. It won't be 20 years for my next visit for sure! read more

Visit Chez TJ the day before Thanksgiving. Nice location and decoration style. Staff are super friendly. Food is pretty good, especially the American wangu and fish. It's a good place to enjoy vacation. Would recommend it to friends. read more

See all

Second time visiting the restaurant. Confirmed the food is mid and the staff is unfriendly.

I've been meaning to try this place out for years, and finally got around to it with several friends. What a wonderful experience. Really nice ambiance, excellent service and the food was amazing. It is everything you would expect from a restaurant with a Michelin star. I do have an issue with the fact that they only have a single bathroom. I understand it's a historical building, but are you telling me you can't put a nice porta potty in the garden? It really detracts from what is otherwise a quite pleasant and elegant experience. I highly highly highly recommend getting a wine pairing. You can even split a wine pairing which is what I do because it's just too much wine for one person. read more

See all

Fantastic. Superb. Just amazing The flavors are so unique that you will likely never taste anything like this again. Each course is a work of art that dances on your tongue. I could not give this restaurant enough praise. In addition to the incredible food, the service is impeccable. Of course, you get what you pay for, and the bill will be astronomical - but you'll leave contempt and perhaps even unbothered. read more

Dessert was phenomenal but did not enjoy the mains. 1) fish course was to fishy tasting; couldn't taste much else 2) tomato water sorbet palet cleanser wasn't edible 3) Quail was flavorful but the texture wasn't great. although the garnishes on the plate were incredible 4) the main was elk that tasted a bit to gamy, i wish it could have done the bordelaise sauce justice On the service side, there no coffee/any drink service offered with dessert although it we heard it was offered to other folks. read more

We had fish, beef, two rounds of dessert, and more. Yummyyy. I was 100% full, food just the perfect amount. Pairing was great too. Seafood going with salt, sweet with sweet. The glass with the steak was full and oaked. The place was quiet with light music, decorated in a European style with abstract paintings. Candles on the table. Compared to the Michelin 1 star french cuisine I had in SF last year, this one in the southbay exceeded my expectation by so much! read more

See all

Chez TJ was wonderful food and a wonderful experience! It's a perfect place to celebrate something special. There's a set menu, but you don't get to see it ahead of time. That's part of the experience, though it's worth noting that you might want to look through some of the Yelp menu photos of, like me, you have a bit of menu anxiety. My partner and I ordered a pescatarian menu. Unlike some places, where the substitutions seemed rush and subpar compared to the planned meals, everything at Chez TJ had consistent quality. It was crazy good too! Service was good. Each dish was brought out together and described by the waitstaff. The meal itself was a pretty slow roll out, about three hours. Sometimes the down time felt a bit long, but probably because we scarfed down everything so quickly! According to the website, there's a dress code, but I actually didn't see any other patrons so I'm not sure if I was over or under dressed! Overall, I was really impressed by the meal and I would 100% love to return for a special occasion! read more

Chez TJ - Menu - French Near Me - Mountain View, California

We so enjoyed this magnificent restaurant some friends recommended to us. We experienced a beautiful time with first-rate meal and fantastic staff and a talented chefs. This restaurant is right at the top on our list and we will definitely come back very soon. Fantastic food with great concoctions of flavors - great for a special occasion! Highly recommended. read more

See all

Two years ago I would've given a five star, but the last three times that I've gone, and I usually go twice a year, it's been noticeably not as good. This last time was significantly less good in both taste and portion size. The outdoor seating was idyllic as usual, but the service has also noticeably gotten worse in the last couple of years, with this last time feeling particularly disjointed. They brought us the wrong course, the explanations were lacking, and at one point, even just for a completely different dish. They did have a large outdoor table that night, but for the caliber of restaurant that they want to be, that shouldn't be an excuse. I wasn't surprised that mere weeks later it was announced that they lost their star. The wine pairing, presentation and sommelier in particular, has consistently been top tier and I would say has been the best wine pairing at any restaurant that I've ever had. The wines always enhance the food and are always new and unexpected wines for me. I was disappointed enough the last time that I looked for somewhere else for my birthday when for years Chez TJ has been my go to. read more

the chefs tasting menu is super expensive but the items are just meh if you want this experience just watch the movie "the menu". it describes this place perfectly oh don't make the mistake of ordering the white truffle risotto. it's porridge dressed up (see attached) came for our anniversary, got a printed note. can't write something on the dessert plate? told them about gluten free & low sugar requirement on the reservation, they completely forgot. FAIL! read more

Chez TJ - white truffle risotto - French Near Me - Mountain View, California

We chose to celebrate our anniversary at Chez TJ after having heard about them from friends and other sources. Having been to similarly graded restaurants in the area (Michelin Star rating & price point), our expectations were high. We were seated right away at the exact time of our reservation and our table was ready for us. We were informed about the blind tasting menu consisting of six courses, drinks and various add ons for the night. We decided not to do the nightly wine pairing and any add ons. The first course was the amuse-bouche and they served three small bites. We thought they were easy eats that tastes good. The second tasting was black fish cod along with orange infused bread and house butter. The fish was cooked really well but the overall taste of the dish and the bread/butter combination was super salty in a way that detracted from the actual flavor. The third course consisted of rabbit and was also on the saltier side. It was served with a truffle sauce that we couldn't taste because of the salt level. The turnip served on the side was the winner here. There was a palate cleaner in between the next course which consisted of a sorbet with basil powder. The basil powder and the sorbet went well together. The fourth course was elk along with fava beans and mushrooms. The main winners here the sides. The elk tasted super gamy and didn't have a lot of flavor. The meats in the above courses disappointed our high expectations. We would be okay if they were served in a non Michelin setting and at a much lower price point. The fifth course consisted of salad and cow's milk cheese with a hazelnut wafer on top. The hazelnut wafer was great and had lot of flavor but the overall dish left us feeling too cheesy, no pun intended. The final course was dessert that was split into two - white chocolate corn and peach pie. The white chocolate was a hands down winner of the night overall for me and my partner loved the peach pie with almond crust. We both felt the desserts were much better than the mains. No coffee/apertifs service was offered. However, they did present us with a personalized card for our celebration and a menu with the items served over dinner. In summary, we are not likely to go back to Chez TJ. Having been to other spots like Plumed Horse, Sorrel etc. the quality of mains and service did not meet our expectations at that price point. read more

Chez TJ has still got it! We hadn't been in years and were not disappointed. They were very thoughtful of my dietary restrictions (just one minor oversight, which is very common, and I didn't specifically mention it, so can't really blame them for not asking). My ratings are always based on the food and price, but I have to say that the service was fantastic and the sommelier was very knowledgeable and entertaining. Love the combination of delicious wines with a sake and a glass of mead for our pairings (we split one pairing between the two of us). And the desserts were exquisite! read more

See all

Great meal, one of the best I've had in the Bay Area. The new chef has clearly revived this restaurant. We enjoyed the seven course tasting as part of a birthday celebration. Hopefully diners aren't deterred by the legacy rating and give this place a shot (or second chance)! read more

1 michelin star takeout. The benefit of Covid is a normal 3 hours meal at michelin places is replaced by takeout, the con of that being the restaurants have to change their normal style of cooking to optimize for takeout. This review is for takeout only and not for dine in. The great thing is the takeout is very organized and thorough, I love the handwritten notes on each box! The instructions for the few things that needed prep were very clear and nice. The food was a solid 3.5 overall with some things like the duck, salad, and cheese being 5/5 stunning and delicious. Some of the other things like pasta and dessert were not as good though again this is for takeout and dine in might be a totally different experience. read more

Chez TJ - Takeout boxes, very elaborate and organized. - French Near Me - Mountain View, California

See all

My wife and I booked Chez TJ's Garden menu for a weeknight splurge on our first anniversary. We were tempted by the lower price point for the 4 course "Garden" menu and the opportunity to dine al fresco on a beautiful night. Food - the food was overall quite good, and my wife and I left satisfied but not stuffed after our courses. They were also kind enough to send out a complimentary slice of cake (nice touch for anniversary), but it tasted like the leftover wedding cake from the prior weekend that the server stated it was. We did not finish the cake. Drink - We didn't partake of wine, but they had a few reasonably priced options on the menu, which we appreciated. They weren't serving cocktails that evening however, which was what I had actually looked forward to given the ability to pour wine readily at home. Service - This was the real let-down given the caliber of restaurant and expectations. My only plausible explanation was that Tuesday was "training day" for junior staff, and that 2nd of the month may have meant a new menu that wasn't yet memorized. 1) This was supposed to be a 1.5hr experience suitable for weeknight or pre-theater, but stretched to 3h. We waited up to 45 minutes between courses with no given explanation. 2) My water glass sat totally empty, during a heat wave, on 3 occasions. Water was Luke warm as well, and un-chilled 3) Service was a rotating cast despite a light night with few other customers, staff didn't coordinate well 4) Explanations of dishes were stumbled over for every dish. We had servers who whispered so we could barely hear, and others who delivered the description like an infomercial, including enthusiasm and volume. Quite awkward. All-in-all I did not feel that this meal met expectations an all-in tab of $360 for two with no beverages. read more