San Francisco has a reputation for great eating. It goes back to its heady days as aport when it beckoned immigrants from around the world. The the beat generation and hippies added to the colours and flavours and made local and organic important. Later the rise of silicon valley added money and expense accounts to the mix so that today, San Francisco eats very well. It also probably doesn’t hurt that California is fertile and a world leader in fruits and vegetable growing, there’s a 1350km stretch of Pacific Ocean running along the state’s coast and Sonoma and Napa are a short 90 min drive away.
But Don’t Take Our Word On It
The 2019 Michelin Guide for the San Francisco Bay Area recently reconfirmed the city as the fine dining capital in the United States. The eight three-star restaurants total more than any other American city, including New York. San Francisco and the region has a total of 80 stars among the 58 venues listed in the 2019 Michelin Guide. While the area’s Bib Gourmands, “restaurants that offer high-quality food at pocket-friendly prices,” increased by one this year to 68.
Two restaurants were given three-star rankings for the first time: Atelier Crenn in San Francisco and Single Thread i Healdsburg. They join Benu, Quince and Saison in San Francisco and The French Laundry in Yountville, Manresa of Los Gatos, and The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena in locations surrounding the city.
Dominique Crenn at Atelier Crenn is now the first female chef in the U.S. to achieve three Michelin stars. Her newer restaurant, Bar Crenn, also received its first Michelin star and was named one of the best new restaurants in the U.S. by EsquireMagazine Check out this video with Dominic talking about San Fran’s dinning scene.
“I am so proud of San Francisco’s incredible culinary scene. Best new restaurant in the U.S.: check. More Michelin three-star restaurants than anywhere else in the Americas: check. First female chef in the U.S. to achieve three Michelin stars: check. And it’s only just the beginning,” said Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of the San Francisco Travel Association.
San Francisco is also home to the least expensive Michelin-starred restaurant in the U.S. – the vegetable-centric Al’s Place, where an individual meal costs about $18 USD. Other affordable restaurants with stars in the region include Kin Khao, Commonwealth, State Bird Provisions and Terrapin Creek.
San Francisco also took the top spot on Esquire’s list of “Best New Restaurants in America.” Angler, on the Embarcadero, was named #1 and described as “an Avalon of pleasure and ease.” Other San Franciscans on the list: Bar Crenn (#12) and Che Fico (#17). Taking this all into account you can see why San Francisco eats really, REALLY well.
