Michelin-starred chef Chris Barnum-Dann faces shocking claims

A Sacramento-based Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur is facing a wave of accusations from former employees as he prepares to expand his restaurant empire in California’s capital.

Chris Barnum-Dann, owner of the acclaimed Localis and Betty Wine Bar + Bistro, has been accused in a string of social media posts of misbehaviors including sexual harassment, belittlement, verbally abusing and belittling staff, paranoid behavior and wage theft spanning more than a decade.

The claims first surfaced in March on Reddit forums before spreading to Instagram, with many former workers reportedly leaving due to “sexual harassment,” as reported by The Sacramento Bee.

“Former employee here. All have to say is that I’ve been waiting to see this man get what he deserves for years,” one poster wrote on the Reddit thread.

“It’s been excruciating to watch him get so many accolades and awards while knowing what a fraud and a complete POS he truly is.

“Chris is abusive, hateful, narcissistic, probably a drug addict – but definitely a complete creep. He sexually harassed me and others every day while I worked there,” they added.

Another person claiming to be a former employee responded in the thread with their own accusations of workplace misconduct, writing, “Wage Theft & Labor Violations -Denied legally required breaks -Manipulated or reduced overtime pay – Withheld tips or misrepresented them as gratuity – Cash tips were routinely taken and not distributed to staff.”

The allegations gained traction after Barnum-Dann announced plans to open four new spots in Sacramento.

Localis, which launched in 2015, has held a Michelin star since 2022, and Barnum-Dann was named Michelin’s California 2025 Sommelier Award winner.

In a public Instagram statement, with comments disabled, Barnum-Dann expressed regret for any harm he may have caused although he did not explicitly address the allegations leveled at him.

“I am aware of concerns and claims that have been raised and please know I take them seriously,” he posted in a series of slides, adding, “Out of respect for everyone involved, I am taking time to listen, pray, and seek appropriate guidance so that I can respond thoughtfully and responsibly.”

Barnum-Dann has denied the sexual harassment allegations. “These accusations are simply not true,” he wrote in a statement to local Sacramento outlet Abridged.

“The individuals who are accusing me of sexual harassment have been spreading these things and worse since our employer-employee relationships soured for various reasons years ago,” he added.

This latest Sacramento controversy adds to ongoing scrutiny of fine-dining workplace culture in California and beyond.

In a similarly high-profile case earlier this year, world-renowned chef René Redzepi resigned from his landmark Copenhagen restaurant Noma after dozens of former staff accused him of physical and verbal abuse, including punching employees, jabbing them with kitchen tools, and fostering a toxic culture of long hours and mistreatment.

The scandal erupted amid Noma’s lavish Los Angeles pop-up, sparking protests, sponsor pullouts, and a broader industry conversation about abusive kitchen environments.

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