Cyrus (restaurant)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | March 4, 2005 in Healdsburg, California, United States |
| Founder | Douglas Keane, Nick Peyton |
| Headquarters | Geyserville , United States |
Key people | Douglas Keane (chef and co-manager) |
| Products | Contemporary California cuisine |
| Website | www |
Cyrus is an upscale dining establishment situated in Geyserville, California, co-managed by chef Douglas Keane and specializing in contemporary California cuisine. Originally located in Healdsburg, California from 2005 until 2012, the restaurant earned two Michelin stars in the first edition of the Michelin Red Guide for San Francisco and the Bay Area. After relocating to Geyserville in 2022, Cyrus was awarded one Michelin star.
History
On March 4, 2005, Chef Douglas Keane launched Cyrus alongside partner Nick Peyton, who served as maitre d’, at Hotel Les Mars in Healdsburg, California. The restaurant’s name pays homage to Cyrus Alexander. By September 2006, Cyrus had achieved third place in the Zagat Survey rankings for San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants for 2007. The next month, it was one of four establishments honored with two stars in the debut regional Michelin Guide to San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country. Following a disagreement with new hotel proprietors, Keane sold the business back to the property owners but retained rights to the Cyrus name; the venue closed its doors in November 2012.
Keane initially intended to revive Cyrus within the Alexander Valley AVA by 2019; however, these plans were abandoned due to unsuccessful negotiations. In 2020, he secured a ground-level location inside a former prune-packing facility in Geyserville, located roughly from Healdsburg. After delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, permits were granted in 2021 for remodeling that included installing a new kitchen. Cyrus officially reopened on September 9, 2022, regaining one Michelin star by December—a distinction it continues to hold. Additionally, the restaurant earned the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award in 2023.
A landlord conflict concerning contractors and shared-use matters such as employee parking was settled through mediation in May 2024 and further supported by a judicial decision in October 2024 that awarded Keane most of his legal expenses. In June 2024, private investors acquired the restaurant property along with neighboring land; together with Keane, they plan to transform existing apartments into a six-room hotel complemented by a herb garden, orchard, and an outdoor live-fire grill area designated for the restaurant.
Restaurant
The Michelin Guide categorizes Cyrus’ offerings as modern Californian cuisine infused with international influences. Reviews from the San Francisco Chronicle emphasize Asian inspirations stemming from Keane’s training at the Japanese Culinary Academy in Kyoto. The dining experience is designed as a progressive journey: patrons move through several seating environments during an extensive 20-course tasting menu, which includes a kitchen-view room encouraging interaction with staff and a secluded dessert room showcasing a chocolate waterfall. The sequence begins at the Bubbles Lounge, where guests can enjoy cocktails and small bites without reservations; this area features a Champagne cart carried over from the original Healdsburg site. Previously, Cyrus’ Healdsburg location included a caviar cart inspired by a three-star Parisian restaurant and operated with up to 18 front-of-house staff delivering service described as "military precision." At the Geyserville venue, Keane optimized staff structure by cross-training employees to enhance wages, provide health benefits, and offer paid time off.