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CREDITS

Written by Haipei Chen & Lea Hidaka. Advised by Karen Cheng.


Special thanks to the following data sources and assets, which served as a backbone for this project:


Datasets:

Jerry Ng: https://www.kaggle.com/datasets/ngshiheng/michelin-guide-restaurants-2021

Michelin Guide: https://guide.michelin.com/en


Crown Shy Media & Photography:

Crown Shy: https://www.crownshy.nyc

Bon Appetit “Every Single Job In A Michelin Starred Kitchen”: https://www.bonappetit.com/video/watch/every-single-job-in-a-michelin-starred-kitchen

Bon Appetit “We Put 19 Cameras In A Michelin Starred Restaurant”: https://www.bonappetit.com/video/watch/the-pass-we-put-19-cameras-in-a-michelin-starred-restaurant

Crown Shy Photographer, Natalie Black: https://www.thenatalieblack.com


Review Platforms:

Travel for Stars, by Matthia Ruhl: https://www.travelsforstars.com/blog/2023/07/17/eleven-madison-park-new-york

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/crown-shy-new-york-2

TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d17413865-Reviews-Crown_Shy-New_York_City_New_York.html

NYT Food Review, by Pete Wells: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/11/dining/crown-shy-review.html

Google Reviews

Quiet

Formal

Lively

Approachable

Service

Expensive

Affordable

Pricing

Hidden

Open

Location

Sophisticated

Hearty

Cuisine

Ambiance

Quiet

Formal

Lively

Approachable

Service

Expensive

Affordable

Pricing

Hidden

Open

Location

Sophisticated

Hearty

Cuisine

Ambiance

Crown Shy offers an ambiance that’s second to none. The 90s hip-hop and R&B added energy and nostalgia to the experience , while the sleek yet inviting decor made the space feel luxurious but comfortable.

8/24/2024

Yelp Review

Chris E.

Seattle, WA

Quiet

Formal

Lively

Approachable

Service

Expensive

Affordable

Pricing

Hidden

Open

Location

Hearty

Sophisticated

Cuisine

Ambiance

Easy to find, a huge space on the ground floor of the Art Deco landmark building. Staff is nice and the kitchen is open so it is quite enjoyable to watch the chefs’ work.

5/12/2024

Yelp Review

Karine M.

Paris, France

Quiet

Formal

Lively

Approachable

Service

Expensive

Affordable

Pricing

Hidden

Open

Location

Sophisticated

Hearty

Cuisine

Ambiance

The food was outstanding. Each plate had distinct flavors and was innovatively prepared, from the carrots to octopus to the half chicken. Portions were generous and easy to share , which was great because the prices (like all restaurants these days it seems) were steep.

7/21/2024

Tripadvisor Review

Cliff G.

Washington DC

Quiet

Formal

Lively

Approachable

Service

Expensive

Affordable

Pricing

Hidden

Open

Location

Sophisticated

Hearty

Cuisine

Ambiance

The price varies by time slots and we did the first seating with lower price $85 per person. The courses were served in family-style and they used text messages to confirm customers’ choices of entree & any special needs before we arrived.

1/16/2024

Tripadvisor Review

Hsin-Yi W.

Queens, NY

Quiet

Formal

Lively

Approachable

Service

Expensive

Affordable

Pricing

Hidden

Open

Location

Cuisine

Hearty

Sophisticated

Ambiance

The very friendly and chill staff was the best thing of the evening. I went there 2 weeks ago and I still think about that evening out every day. If you go there and you like Gin, you must try the "Resinate" cocktail.

4/24/2024

Google Reviews

Simon J.

New York, NY

Achieving and maintaining a Michelin star is not an easy feat. It requires dedication, precision, and attention to detail in every aspect of the dining experience. Crown Shy’s Michelin-star recognition is a testament to the hard work and expertise of its entire team.

90s hip hop. A La Carte menu. Open Kitchen.


These might not be what you’d expect from a typical One-Star Michelin restaurant, but each element is crafted with great attention to detail before being presented to the Crown Shy customers.


Together, these pieces come together to create the memorable experience that you can only get at Crown Shy— its unique recipe for earning its Michelin Star.

Fin.

From the Customers

Crown Shy’s Michelin-Star Recipe

When it comes to Michelin-starred dining, certain expectations often come to mind: white tablecloths, a quiet ambiance, and dishes that feel more like art than food. But Crown Shy challenges this notion by combining tradition with individuality. In this section, we’ll explore customer perspectives on how Crown Shy fits or defies the typical Michelin star mold, and how these elements come together to form a cohesive experience that redefines what it means to earn a star.

03

What are the hours like for each role?


With such a huge crew, it is important to make sure the kitchen is fully staffed at all times. Let’s take a look at a master timeline of all the roles an their hours:

4

10

Pastry

9

12

Beverage

11

25

Dining Room

7

12

Commis

5

Management

2

7

Porter

Savory Kitchen

11

15

Crown Shy Staffing

Standard Staffing

Staffing During Peak

During peak hours, the restaurant might even be overstaffed. Combined, all the roles work an average total of 512 hours every day.

8:00

7:00

10:00

12:00

14:00

16:00

18:00

20:00

22:00

0:00

Butcher

Commis Chef

COMMIS

Receiver

KITCHEN

Line Cook

Chef Entremetier

Pasta Cook

Fry Cook

Prep Cook

Chef Tournant

Grill Cook

Sous Chef

Extern

PASTRY

Chocolatier

Pastry Sous Chef

Pastry Cook

BEVERAGE

Bar Prep

Barback

Head Sommelier

Sommelier

Bartender

Drinking Consultant

DINING ROOM

Floor Manager

Maître D'

SERVICE

Trainee

Kitchen Server

Server

MANAGEMENT

Chef/Owner

Assistant General Manager

Culinary Director

Chef de Cuisine

Executive Sous Chef

PORTER

Dishwasher

Porter

KITCHEN

Line Cook

Chef Entremetier

Pasta Cook

Fry Cook

Prep Cook

Chef Tournant

Grill Cook

Sous Chef

Extern

PASTRY

Chocolatier

Pastry Sous Chef

Pastry Cook

BEVERAGE

Bar Prep

Barback

Head Sommelier

Sommelier

Bartender

Drinking Consultant

DINING ROOM

Floor Manager

Maître D'

SERVICE

Trainee

Kitchen Server

Server

MANAGEMENT

Chef/Owner

Assistant General Manager

Culinary Director

Chef de Cuisine

Executive Sous Chef

Though the restaurant opens at 5pm for service, the Commis and the Kitchen team start as early as 8am to prep ingredients.

Chef Jamal James Kent, the owner of Crown Shy, puts in the longest hours and even lives in the apartment right above the restaurant.

Clean up after service can go all the way until midnight, two hours after they close.

Jamal James Kent

Owner, Head Chef

Jassimran

Daysy

Culinary Director

Assistant General Manager

Alfred

Max

Chef de Cuisine

Savory Food Components

Bread & Desserts

Kitchen Preparation

Customer Experience

drinks & pairing curation

Executive Sous Chef

MANAGEMENT

KITCHEN

PASTRY

COMMIS

SERVICE

BAR

Jamal James Kent

Owner, Head Chef

Jassimran

Daysy

Culinary Director

Assistant General Manager

Alfred

Max

Chef de Cuisine

Savory Food Components

Bread & Desserts

Kitchen Preparation

Customer Experience

drinks & pairing curation

Executive Sous Chef

MANAGEMENT

KITCHEN

PASTRY

COMMIS

SERVICE

BAR

Jamal James Kent

Owner, Head Chef

Jassimran

Daysy

Culinary Director

Assistant General Manager

Alfred

Max

Savory Food Components

Bread & Desserts

Kitchen Preparation

Customer Experience

drinks & pairing curation

MANAGEMENT

KITCHEN

PASTRY

COMMIS

SERVICE

BAR

There are 48 crew members at Crown Shy. Under management, they are divided into 5 teams, each with an average of 9 people.

3 teams (kitchen, pastry, and commis) are in the back of the kitchen, while 2 teams (service and bar) are in the front of house.

At the top, 3 key individuals form the backbone of the restaurant: Owner Jamal, Culinary Director Jassimran, and Assistant General Manager Daysy.

Behind The Scenes

It Takes A Village

02

While a Michelin-Starred restaurant is often famous for its head chef or the owner, a large team works behind the scenes to keep it running smoothly. From the kitchen to the front-of-house, every role is essential to the overall operation. Let’s take a closer look at the team members behind Crown Shy’s Michelin Star:



Above all, a well-operated Michelin-starred restaurant has a clear, well-organized flow and hierarchy, where teams have individual roles but also cross-function and support one another. Every role has their own duty, and the restaurant cannot operate without any of them. They operate with the highest time efficiency to maintain the quality of each dish and deliver the most seamless and flawless customer experience possible.

What's on the Menu

Dishes Worth One Michelin-Star

01

Unlike most Michelin-starred restaurants that offer multi-course tasting menus, Crown Shy takes a different approach with its à la carte menu. While its dishes are offered in a more casual and shareable format, each dish is still thoughtfully curated. Chef Jamal James Kent challenges familiar ingredients in being reimagined and presented in innovative ways, showcasing the restaurant’s to creativity and attention to detail behind each flavor combination.

What sets Crown Shy apart further is its relatively accessible price point for a Michelin-starred establishment:

APPETIZER

$19.75

$36.00

$18.80

ENTRÉE

DESSERT

Fall 2024 Menu

Gruyere Fritters, Chili, Lime

White Bean Hummus, Puff Bread, ‘Ndugja

Crispy Cauliflower, Sherry, Parmesan

Oysters, Grapes, Elderberry Kombucha

Hamachi, Citrus, Curry Dashi

Romaine, Green Goddess, Breadcrumbs

Tuna Toast, Pineapple, Chorizo

Grilled Pears, Endive, Meredith Feta, Pistachio

APPETIZERS

Crown Shy

Fall 2024 Menu

Gruyere Fritters, Chili, Lime

White Bean Hummus, Puff Bread, ‘Ndugja

Crispy Cauliflower, Sherry, Parmesan

Oysters, Grapes, Elderberry Kombucha

Hamachi, Citrus, Curry Dashi

Romaine, Green Goddess, Breadcrumbs

Tuna Toast, Pineapple, Chorizo

Grilled Pears, Endive, Meredith Feta, Pistachio

APPETIZERS

Crown Shy

Horchata Ice Cream, Chocolate, Churros

Fall 2024 Menu

Gruyere Fritters, Chili, Lime

White Bean Hummus, Puff Bread, ‘Ndugja

Crispy Cauliflower, Sherry, Parmesan

Oysters, Grapes, Elderberry Kombucha

Hamachi, Citrus, Curry Dashi

Romaine, Green Goddess, Breadcrumbs

Tuna Toast, Pineapple, Chorizo

Grilled Pears, Endive, Meredith Feta, Pistachio

APPETIZERS

Crown Shy

Beef Carpaccio, Lavash, Bagna Cauda

Charred Carrots, Razor Clams, Coconut Curry

Gemelli, Chicken Liver Ragout, Horseradish

Ricotta Gnocchi, Matsutake, Vin Jaune

Jerk Octopus, Red Rice, Morcilla

Honeynut Squash, Fried Rice, Mushrooms

Branzino, Squash Mole, Brussel Sprouts

Grilled Citrus Marinated Chicken

Jang Glazed Pork Katsu, Bok Choy, Pear

Roasted Short Rib, Chimichurri Sauce

ENTRÉE

Vanilla Flan, Candied Hazelnuts, Quince

Chocolate Cake, Praline, Crème Fraîche

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Satsuma Orange Ice Cream, Marshmallow

DESSERTS

Sticky toffee pudding with medjool dates, rich toffee sauce, and served with tart apple sorbet and garnished with smoked pecans. Decadent flavor comes from the use of dark muscovado sugar.

Dessert for Two

Known for being one of the best sticky toffee puddings served in all of New York.

TOFFEE PUDDING

$26

Roasted short rib braised ends with sunchokes, and a chimichurri sauce served on a lightened bone. Short Ribs are seasoned and left in sous-vide for 48 hours before being seared & served.

Most Expensive Dish

Multiple components need to be prepped for the dish, from the sauces to the trim of the meat.

ROASTED SHORT RIB

$105

Roasted short rib braised ends with sunchokes, and a chimichurri sauce served on a lightened bone. Short Ribs are seasoned and left in sous-vide for 48 hours before being seared & served.

Most Expensive Dish

Multiple components need to be prepped for the dish, from the sauces to the trim of the meat.

ROASTED SHORT RIB

$105

Roasted short rib braised ends with sunchokes, and a chimichurri sauce served on a lightened bone. Short Ribs are seasoned and left in sous-vide for 48 hours before being seared & served.

Most Expensive Dish

Multiple components need to be prepped for the dish, from the sauces to the trim of the meat.

ROASTED SHORT RIB

$105

The most popular dish at Crown Shy. Savory churro sprinkled with chili cheese powder. The Pastry Team infuses Gruyère into the churro batter and filling. Churros are made-to-order.

Most Popular Dish

Powder creates layers of spice & zestiness to balance out the richness of the filling.

GRUYERE FRITTERS

$17

Fall 2024 Menu

Gruyere Fritters, Chili, Lime

White Bean Hummus, Puff Bread, ‘Ndugja

Crispy Cauliflower, Sherry, Parmesan

Oysters, Grapes, Elderberry Kombucha

Hamachi, Citrus, Curry Dashi

Romaine, Green Goddess, Breadcrumbs

Tuna Toast, Pineapple, Chorizo

Grilled Pears, Endive, Meredith Feta, Pistachio

APPETIZERS

Crown Shy

Fall 2024 Menu

Gruyere Fritters, Chili, Lime

White Bean Hummus, Puff Bread, ‘Ndugja

Crispy Cauliflower, Sherry, Parmesan

Oysters, Grapes, Elderberry Kombucha

Hamachi, Citrus, Curry Dashi

Romaine, Green Goddess, Breadcrumbs

Tuna Toast, Pineapple, Chorizo

Grilled Pears, Endive, Meredith Feta, Pistachio

APPETIZERS

Crown Shy

Fall 2024 Menu

Gruyere Fritters, Chili, Lime

White Bean Hummus, Puff Bread, ‘Ndugja

Crispy Cauliflower, Sherry, Parmesan

Oysters, Grapes, Elderberry Kombucha

Hamachi, Citrus, Curry Dashi

Romaine, Green Goddess, Breadcrumbs

Tuna Toast, Pineapple, Chorizo

Grilled Pears, Endive, Meredith Feta, Pistachio

APPETIZERS

Crown Shy

Beef Carpaccio, Lavash, Bagna Cauda

Charred Carrots, Razor Clams, Coconut Curry

Gemelli, Chicken Liver Ragout, Horseradish

Ricotta Gnocchi, Matsutake, Vin Jaune

Jerk Octopus, Red Rice, Morcilla

Honeynut Squash, Fried Rice, Mushrooms

Branzino, Squash Mole, Brussel Sprouts

Grilled Citrus Marinated Chicken

Jang Glazed Pork Katsu, Bok Choy, Pear

Roasted Short Rib, Chimichurri Sauce

ENTRÉE

Vanilla Flan, Candied Hazelnuts, Quince

Chocolate Cake, Praline, Crème Fraîche

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Satsuma Orange Ice Cream, Marshmallow

Horchata Ice Cream, Chocolate, Churros

DESSERTS

The most popular dish at Crown Shy. Savory churro sprinkled with chili cheese powder. The Pastry Team infuses Gruyère into the churro batter and filling. Churros are made-to-order.

Most Popular Dish

Powder creates layers of spice & zestiness to balance out the richness of the filling.

GRUYERE FRITTERS

$17

About Crown Shy

“Neighborhood Seasonal Restaurant”, “Polished, New American”

No matter the number of stars, Michelin-Starred Restaurants have always been known to hold themselves to the highest of standards within the restaurant industry. Down to the tiniest of details from the service to the food, the staff is dedicated to ensuring that the customer has an enjoyable experience. The New York restaurant, Crown Shy stands as a testament to the artistry, discipline, and commitment of the staff that goes behind maintaining the prestigious one-star distinction within the Michelin Guide.


Located in Manhattan’s Financial District, Crown Shy is a neighborhood restaurant elevated by fine dining cooking technique and purposeful friendly service. Its name is inspired by “crown shyness,” a natural phenomenon where treetops form gaps instead of touching, echoing the Manhattan skyline and the restaurant’s philosophy of working together in harmony. It blends a familiar menu with fine dining techniques, served in a plating style meant to be shared. The food at Crown Shy is rooted in European technique but draws inspiration from around the world, primarily the flavors from our childhoods, traveling, and the diverse cuisine in New York City.


In this story, we’ll take a closer look at Crown Shy the food, the front and back of the house, and the reviews. What truly makes a 1-Star Michelin Star restaurant? Let's find out.

00

Est. 2019

One Star: 2019 - Present (6 years)

Worth A Stop

Manhattan

NYC, NY

“Crown Shy Opens, With an Eleven Madison Park Chef in the Kitchen” - The New York Times

What truly makes a Michelin Star restaurant?

A Deep Dive into Crown Shy: the 1-Star Michelin Restaurant in NYC

7 min read

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