Health & Safety Protocols
August 2021
Our team works tirelessly to reduce the risk of covid-19 transmission in order to create a healthy and safe environment for our staff and guests. Our entire team received the COVID-19 vaccination before returning to work. GUEST PROTOCOLS: Proof of vaccination and Photo I.D. will be required for all guests when dining indoors. Facemasks will be required for all guests regardless of vaccination status when they are indoors and away from their table for any reason (i.e. using the restroom). Facemasks will be required for all guests regardless of vaccination status when dining indoors and not actively eating or drinking.
Concept
Credo is the Latin word for “I believe.” We believe that good food and good company go hand-in-hand. We believe in the time-honored tradition of the dinner table debate and the value of impassioned points of view. We believe in authentic ingredients, creative preparation and gracious hospitality.
Diners seated in the main dining room are surrounded by 15 gigantic, soaring art panels displaying a dizzying array of quotations beginning with the words “I believe.” Each panel is an assemblage of comment and commentary built on found ideas, from the inspired to the absurd, the sacred and profane, on topics ranging from race to sex to war. Nothing is off limits.
In all, they contain more than 42,000 letters, 10,000 words, over 600 quotations, by some 575 people of varying degrees of fame or infamy.
“It celebrates the juxtaposition of disparate viewpoints,” said Frank Holland, who assembled the quotations and directed the design and production of the one-of-a-kind displays. “Through the deliberate use of proximity, dimension, color and irony, we’ve achieved a third layer of meaning found in the space between the ideas.”
In an indirect way, Credo celebrates the time-honored tradition of the dinner table argument – that venerated off-the-cuff verbal slugfest punctuated by interjections of gastronomic delight. Nothing enhances a great meal like an exciting conversation, and our walls will get the discussion rolling.
Our chef, Larry Finn, creates a menu that reflects his deep appreciation of Italian culinary traditions combined with Northern California sensibilities. Distilling robust and complex flavors from simple ingredients—including local produce, sustainable fish and imported Italian specialty items—and classic preparations, our selections are quintessentially Italian...with a distinct point of view. Foraged mushrooms from Connie Green, asparagus from Zuckerman’s Farm, and tomatoes from Ed George all contribute to make our menu unique. By supporting our local farmers and purveyors, Chef Larry can give back to our thriving ecosystem. That’s not to say we won’t travel far for something truly special. Spanish octopus, Kauai blue prawns and French white asparagus all find their way onto our eclectic menu.
The Credo Team
LARRY FINN
CHEF
Chef Larry is constantly inspired by seasonal ingredients and is passionate about supporting our local farmers and purveyors. His star-studded culinary career has included extended stops at legendary establishments such as Campton Place in San Francisco, and Café Gray, Morimoto, The Four Seasons Restaurant and Union Square Café in New York City. After many years on the East Coast, Larry, along with his wife and two children, made the trek out to California where he assumed the helm at Scala’s Bistro at Kimpton’s Sir Francis Drake Hotel, before bringing his considerable talent to Credo. Larry holds a B.S. degree in Food Service Management from Johnson & Wales.
LARRY FINN
CHEF
BRANDON HEIST
GENERAL MANAGER
Brandon started working in restaurants when he was 16, busing tables and washing dishes in the East Bay where he grew up. After spending time in the kitchen at the 3 Michelin-starred Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena and Prima in Walnut Creek, he left the back of house and moved to Southern California to train under Master Sommelier Steven Poe at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach. Once becoming a Certified Sommelier, Brandon was promoted into management and oversaw their three restaurants. After many years in Southern California, he returned to the Bay Area to work at The Olympic Club in San Francisco before joining the team here at Credo. He lives in the East Bay with his wife Emily, daughter Hadley, and yellow labrador Murphy.
BRANDON HEIST
GENERAL MANAGER
ADAM LEWIN
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
ADAM LEWIN
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
ADAM RYON
AMBASSADOR
Adam is a Bay Area native who returned to the inviting climes of San Francisco from a successful career around the globe. He boasts a wealth of experience with companies like Jack Threads and Dwell Studio, and has conquered both New York City and Abu Dhabi in his travels. Adam, formerly the Event Sales Manager for Credo, has now moved on to our sister venue, the chic and stylish Merchant's Exchange Club. He will always be a member of the Credo family and serves as ambassador for all things Credo. Now as the General Manager of the Merchants Exchange Club, Adam focuses on creating an unparalleled atmosphere and a unique experience for each and every guest.
ADAM RYON
AMBASSADOR
IAN SILVA
WINE DIRECTOR
Ian is nothing if not cosmopolitan. Peruvian-Italian by way of the Bay Area and conversant in six languages, Ian is also charging toward his Advanced Sommelier certification, which puts him in rare air. Ian worked hard to build the beverage program and brought home an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator in July of 2019 and a Best of Award of Excellence in 2020. Part of the Credo & Merchants Exchange Productions family since 2010, Ian is a fan of sports, classic cars, his wife Gabriela and their dog Stewie (not in that order).
IAN SILVA
WINE DIRECTOR
Careers
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