We were able to slip in without a reservation (which seems like a rare thing to pull off.) The food was very well executed (especially the poutine!) If we lived closer we'd end up as regulars here, but we'll definitely return on random weekends (and making reservations next time.) The feel of the place has a grotto and barn type of vibe. We'll check out the outdoor seating next time. There was nothing on the menu that disappoints so far. We look forward to exploring more (the duck wings will make a repeat appears for us.) This is a fun balance of higher end dining and multi regional creativity that we really enjoyed. The mix of high and low is something we explore a lot in our own kitchen, so we welcome that energy when dining out. read more

Service: Everyone from the host to our server Skye was super kind and welcoming. Skye had great recommendations and good pacing of the meal even though it was a busy Saturday. Food: The food was delectable. We did two raw bar items, a starter and our mains. We were very hungry, so it was the perfect amount. They have a super curated wine list, and we got a Pinot Noir from Santa Maria Valley that was excellent. The short rib poutine was SO amazing and I loved my duck. Ambiance: Great, cozy vibe with lot of brick. Bustling but not too loud. We were kind of tucked at a table without a ton of room around it, so that was a little awkward to wiggle into. But overall, if you're in Nevada City, this is definitely where you want to go for a special dinner! read more

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I returned to Dakan after four months to experience a non-holiday dinner and was, unfortunately, underwhelmed. The food was acceptable, but, with the exception of the squash ravioli filling, not notable. The service was friendly, the wine recommendation was appreciated, but my friend's birthday--the reason for our visit--went unrecognized despite my prior request. And they presented him with the check! All in all an average but expensive evening. read more

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Hot damn! This place is fancy and mouth-wateringly delicious! LOCATION & DECOR: Right on the corner in the location one two kitchen used to be. Down the street from the Crystal Shop and Elixart and up the street from Soulcraft, and Heartwood FOOD & DRINK: -burger and fries -duck wings -venison -assortments of wine -mocktails PRICE: $$-$$$ This is definitely not the cheapest place in town so if you're looking to have a good meal on a budget, this ain't the spot. This is the trying to impress my date spot. -Burger and fries - $20 -venison dinner - $40+ -duck wings appetizer -$20 SWAG/AMENITIES: -bar seating -outdoor patio -reservations, but not necessary -table service -patio heaters -large windows for natural light -In the heart of downtown Nevada City STAFF & EXPERIENCE: The staff at this place are the best in town! Friendly, personable, knowledgeable and just hilarious. Each person is quite the character and they make the whole dining experience better. I came here a couple times, one afternoon friend date and one evening date with a lover and both times was and experience on its own. I sat inside with my friend near the door and pretty much ordered what we saw being delivered to the tables next to us because the smells were intoxicating and the moans from those eating them were delightful. My lover and I had so much fun with the words and descriptions of menu items. We ordered some things just for the names alone and playing around with the words with our waiter was such a blast. I highly recommend visiting this place at least once a month. It's worth the good eats and happening atmosphere. read more

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What a fabulous experience! While visiting my friend, she kept raving about this restaurant so I had to try it. It did not disappoint! Everything was so fresh, you could tell it was farm to table. The flavor combinations were incredible and well balanced showing real skill from the chef. Literally every single thing I tasted was absolutely delicious! The ambiance was upscale yet still laid back in a very comfortable way with beautiful decor and lighting. The waiter was also so knowledgeable and described every little detail of every dish which was really impressive! I felt like nibbles so we shared the truffle fries, I got the ceasar salad and duck wings. OMG I will be dreaming about this whole meal until I have the pleasure of going back again! read more

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This place was amazing! We had the snack bowl to start, the olives were so good. We got the roasted duck and it was cooked to perfection. We also got the brick chicken, delicious. We would definitely try this place again if we are in the area. read more

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Had an amazing experience and dinner tonight! The Burrata and summer salad, Bomb! Sarah was great!

Our first time eating here. I was impressed by the dedicated service. We asked the waitress for her food recommendations. We loved everything we ordered. Drinks were great. You have to try this place! read more

We arrived at Dakan early on a Friday evening without a reservation and were able to score a patio table. I highly recommend the outdoor seating, the patio is beautiful and cool even with the oppressive heat. We tried several of the seasonal, local menu items and all of our dishes were incredible and the service was excellent without being overwhelming or pushy. Such a great spot for a romantic date. It's on the pricier side for Nevada City, but the quality and experience are well worth the price. Great spot for a special occasion or date night. read more

Wonderful! Everything we ordered was fabulous! The venison was as tender as it could have been. I went with my mother and she's a tough critic and she loved it. I had the pumpkin gnocchi with clams and truffle and though I must admit that this combine is a quite strange, it worked! The best dish though, had to be the chicken. Lovely flavor and even better texture, nice and juicy. Highly recommend! read more

We came here for dinner and it was phenomenal!! Loved every dish we had. The bread, oysters, ravioli, caviar, skewers, and multiple desserts. Amazing food and service. Such an upscale and elegant restaurant, and the prices are not exorbitant. I would eat here every week if I could! read more

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Food was amazing. 2 in our party are plant-based and 2 not. We ALL loved our meals. Garret is so creative without overdoing it Service was on point. A bit loud, but we adjusted. Our new go-to for special occasions!! read more

The food was excellent with a good variety. Service was a little slow. Ambience was relaxing.

Had a truly phenomenal experience here at Dakan. We had to shift our reservation and the host was gracious and accommodating. Our server was extremely knowledgeable and provided great recommendations and suggestions. The Venison was to die for!! Literally every single item we tried was delicious. I cannot wait to come back. read more

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Fifth time going this summer, we tried the burgers.... Outstanding!!!! The flavors and texture of the Wagyu beef were amazing caramelized onions, aioli, melted cheese was mouth watering! Also tried the summer salad. We loved the outdoor patio setting, so pleasant and relaxing!!! read more

We had dinner here on Thanksgiving and they took traditional Thanksgiving foods and elevated to the next level! Returned on Christmas Eve, amazing! The perfect portions, presentation and flavor. You will not be disappointed. read more

Excellent quality food-first cuisine and friendly service in a sleek ambiance. Highly recommend. read more

Dakan - Pommes croquette. - New American Near Me - Nevada City, California

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Amazing food and the best ribeye in Grass Valley and Nevada City area. Chill vibe and always excellent service. The other dishes are all delicious. Highly recommend read more

Dakan - Pork, lobster, and amazing fries - New American Near Me - Nevada City, California

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WORST experience ever! My husband and I were born and raised in Nevada City and we have NEVER been treated with such disrespect! We went to Dakan for Valentine's day and had their pre fixed dinner. It was a 5 course meal costing $330 and apart from the desert it was absolutely repulsive. We arrived right at our reservation time and my husband waited inside for 20 minutes before anyone even acknowledged his existence. The staff helped and seated 4 other parties before us and they had arrived after us. They eventually seated us at the bar before our table was ready. We realized that our table was the one right next to their extremely small waiting area by the door and it was at that time, my husband decided to complain to the manager because the table really wasn't fit to seat patrons. The manager was not kind, dismissed our concerns and stated that it was that crappy table or the bar. One solution is they could have moved us once another table became available, but this was never even offered. After the extremely unpleasant encounter, my husband and I decided to sit at the table because who wants to experience fine dining at the bar when we had made our reservation weeks before? During dinner, it was freezing because our table was right next to the door and because there really was not an area to wait, other diners were standing right next to us waiting to be seated. At one point, there was a party of 4 waiting and a gentleman in a bright red blazer was standing a couple inches away from my face. So, I am trying to eat awful food with a big guy's butt in my face! My husband had to tap him to step back. After they were seated, another party of 3 was waiting next to us. An elderly couple in wheelchairs were waiting and the woman's leg was literally touching mine. Of course I didn't want them to wait outside, it was cold, but again, our location should not have even had a table! The food was horrible and the management was even worse. The only nice part was our waitress, Sarah. We did end up leaving a tip because it wasn't Sarah's fault her boss was rude and the food was gross. My husband and I are in our mid 40s and we've dined at many amazing restaurants, but Dakan is a complete regret. read more

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Historic Nevada City's newest restaurant is Restaurant DaKan. It opened recently and created a positive local buzz about its culinary creativity. We wanted to see for ourselves. We reserved a table for a Thursday night which turned out to be a good idea since the place was packed. Our hostess, Sari (sar-RYE) greeted us at the door and served us attentively for the two hours we were there. The menu had a variety of starters, featured dishes from land and sea, and sides. We started by sharing the Broken Caesar, a nicely-assembled selection of baby romaine, anchovies, croutons and shaved parmesan. Sari recommended the Butternut Squash Ravioli as a second course. Iti is sold by the piece so we ordered 2 of them to share. I am a fan of Butternut Squash Ravioli and this was a first-class rendering of this dish. Our third course was the Hokkaido Scallop, also delicious. We accompanied our meal with a bottle of the 2022 Domaine Vignerau-Chevreau, Vuvray, from the Loire Valley, France. It was spot-on. The prices are in accordance with the quality of the food. The Broken Anchovy Caesar, 2 Squash Raviolis, and 2 dishes of Seared Scallops came to $100 before taxes, tip, and wine. The restaurant was busy and, consequently, moderately noisy. They also have outdoor patio dining available during the warmer months. I would recommend Restaurant DaKan to anyone what enjoys creative fine dining. read more

Dakan - Located in historic Nevada City near the art-deco County Courthouse. - New American Near Me - Nevada City, California

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Went there to celebrate our son and his new fiancé, wish I could give more stars!! The food, service, ambiance everything was perfect. Made it a very special night, from rack of lamb, scallops, steak, chicken everything was taken to the next level. Thank you for an amazing dinner and evening!! read more

It's a gem! Best food in Nevada County. Super fresh and delicious from the oysters to the ravioli and the Caesar salad. Killer service. Just a wonderful experience. Loved it. read more

The food was great... hats off to the chef. The server was fantastic. So, why 3 stars and not 5? Because I was treated with complete disrespect by a fangirl who grabbed my arm and assumed I was homeless. I was in jeans and a nice shirt, short hair and clean and am generous with tips. She did this all the while telling me that this is a great restaurant. What kills restaurants faster than anything is arrogance to customers. You can consider this a one-off - and certainly I want, DaKan to be successful. read more

The best place to eat in Nevada City. The best in the gold country. The best east of the Bay Area. Full stop. It manages to be both stylish and cozy. Meghan squeezed us in during a recent trip out that way and we loved our experience. She's a total peach for working that magic. The servers are warm and professional. The menu is delicious and thoughtful. The kitchen crew pour so much love and imagination into their craft. Every bite was a full body experience and pleasure. Thank you. Will be back. read more

Fantastic menu, epic staff, intimate ambiance - this is the perfect spot for your next visit

Dakan was hopping on a Sunday night and did not disappoint. Our food was outstanding - pea raviolis, cacao lamb and black cod with forbidden rice. The service was warm and informative and the vibe is fun and social. They could use a spot to wait inside - maybe sacrifice one table for a bench? Otherwise, we had a great experience and will be back! read more

Dakan - Black Cod with Forbidden Rice and Trumpet Mushrooms / delicious! - New American Near Me - Nevada City, California

Excellent dishes that are made with love and true craftsmanship. The service is top notch along with the ambience of the restaurant. Best restaurant in 20 mile radius hands down. Harbors to the staff and chef highly recommended.! read more

Wow, blown away! Super nice staff, great (small & lively) atmosphere inside, and the food was insanely good. My wife and I tried a number of things- starting with the kumamato oysters, then on to the crushed burrata, broken ceaser salad, scallop crudo, yakinuku skewers, and the butternut squash ravioli. All so good!! The burrata could have maybe used a sprinkle of maldon salt or a drizzle of balsamic glaze, but other than that everything was a delicious flavor bomb. Can't wait to go back and try the other things we didn't! read more

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We just had a lovely dinner at this new restaurant. I had a really good glass of Spanish wine with my meal too. Oops. I started this review in March. It's now July and I can't remember what I ordered! Oh no! . To finish this review all I can say is that I remember 2 things: Excellent service with a pricey bill at the end. I remember thinking at the time that the cost was a little steep but so worth it. Haven't been back yet, but definitely will. read more

We found everyone to be friendly, helpful and enthusiastic about the restaurant. The place was packed on our midweek visit on a warm July evening. I had the burger and fries along with the vegetables on offer as an additional side. The burger was not a patty, but rather a hand formed burger "with personality". I would describe the burger as excellent....cooked just right and full of flavor. The fries were a let down....dry and somewhat thin. Portion on main entree was fine. But the portion on the vegetables was very small for the (8.00!) price -- encompassing about a third of a long white plate. The vegetables were delicious however. Beer selection was excellent. Love the ambience and the setting but definitely some areas need improvement especially for the relatively high cost. read more

Dakan was hopping on the 4th of July. We waited 25 minutes past our reservation time to get a table. Then, another 10-15 mins before we saw our waiter. The food (miso beets and sea bass for me and corn soup and brick chicken for my companion) was delicious and beautifully presented, but it took very long to get our orders--every step seemed to take extra long. I'm guessing it was due to the holiday. But otherwise, we enjoyed the restaurant and the food--and came back the following night for the crème brûlée (with a hint of cinnamon that I haven't had before on them--prefer without). Four stars for the food, one star off for the slow speed. The staff was friendly and pleasant even with the busy night. read more

Dakan - California sea bass with Bintje potatoes - New American Near Me - Nevada City, California

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I can't recommend this place enough! Our server, Sarah, was amazing the whole night. We had a bigger party and she did an amazing job with us. The food was amazing, there was not anything we didn't finish. Thank you for being so accommodating and helping us out, I know it can get hectic with a big party! We had such an amazing time, Dakan really helped make the day special. Thank you thank you! read more

3rd time here, reservation 7:45pm and this dinner experience was very poor. Mary, our server brought a glass of wine and bread. She then went missing for over 40 minutes, left our wine, waters and plates empty. We contemplated leaving and should have. Finally shows back up after flirting with some people behind the bar, leaving all her tables without service, and asks if we are done.... Regrettably, we placed dinner orders and it was soo bad. Cold scallops, burnt french fries and the wine was loaded with sediment. The restaurant closed 10 minutes after getting our food and we passed on desert to get out! Terrible 3rd experience, really changed our minds about this place. We enjoyed the first times maybe because it was the weekend or just opened. read more

Our first time -- but not the last Food - our party of 4 tried a variety of starters and entrees then shared to taste a range of flavors. We loved everything! Ambiance - we were seated on the back outside patio. This is a lovely space. Need to install something to abate the flies. Service - our server was engaging without being disruptive, a great balance. read more

My girlfriend took me to Dakan for my 75th birthday and what a stunning experience it was! Everything we ordered was creative and absolutely delicious and the presentations were beautiful. Our waiter was knowledgeable and helpful and the other servers or food runners who came by were enthusiastic about the food. We'd been warned, even by our waiter, that service could be leisurely. We had a reservation for 5:00 when they opened and the service seemed just about perfect. It got pretty busy later so perhaps things slowed down. The only negative were the yellow jackets that buzzed us on the patio. One of them drowned in my partner's mocktail and the waiter gladly replaced it. My partner is allergic to bee stings and hadn't brought her epi-pen so I was a little nervous. I didn't expect to find such a ritzy place in Nevada City. We're definitely going back the next time we feel like a splurge. read more

The food was delicious! Portions are a bit small for the price. The ambiance was really nice. They've got 3 options- the bar area, the indoor area, and the outdoor area. The servers were readily available, knowledgeable, and friendly. We'll definitely be back! read more

Fine dining comes to Nevada City! A group of us went here for dinner, and the food was excellent and so was the service! We sat outside, with the exception of the noise from the exhaust fan from the kitchen. It was in fantastic, dining experience, great food, great ambience, etc.. read more

The kitchen at Dakan cannot pace a meal. It's a lovely space with a nice atmosphere and wait staff. Unfortunately, we have been several times and the pacing has not improved. We went to their fall menu debut which was a set meal of 5 courses. It took over 3 hours for the kitchen to deliver 4 courses. We took the desert to go. A leisurely pace is fine but there's nothing nice about receiving some courses quickly and then having the meal grind to a 45 minute wait between courses. It's a shame because Dakan has potential. read more

Delicious food and great vibes. Service was very friendly. Patio is dog friendly. We had the squash soup and Fall salad and then both the steak skewers and mushroom skewers. All were delicious. Then we had the Ribeye entree which was also amazing. There are excise options for all pallets. Highly recommend. read more

Food is great (burger and ESPECIALLY the mushroom ravioli) but the service and friendliness by all the workers you come across is better! Marie behind the bar made our night but definitely coming back. read more