in 2009, perello opened her first restaurant, frances, named after her greatest culinary influence, her grandmother. located in san francisco, frances quickly gained a michelin star. perello raised $400,000 for the restaurant through investors and had repaid them in full within eighteen months. offering modern california cuisine in a relaxed neighborhood setting, frances garnered glowing reviews and earned a james beard foundation award nomination for best new restaurant in 2010. additionally, frances was named an esquire magazine best new restaurant by john mariani and one of bon appétit magazine’s “ten best new restaurants in america” in 2010.