San Francisco MICHELIN guide 2012 - Gourmet Report

BAY AREA RESTAURANTS SHINE IN 2012 MICHELIN GUIDE
Inspectors Offer Three New 2-Star Options

While three-star restaurants The French Laundry and Meadowood retain the highest distinction in
the MICHELIN Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2012, the newest edition offers three
new two-star restaurants, Benu, Saison and Baumé. In addition, 39 restaurants earned a single star
with five new entries in that category. The MICHELIN Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine
Country 2012 goes on sale Wed., Oct. 26, at $18.99.

The MICHELIN Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2012 covers San Francisco proper,
and a comprehensive spread of the Bay Area stretching from Los Gatos in the south to Geyserville
in the north. Being included in the MICHELIN Guide is a sign of excellence and quality in each
category and a total of 541 restaurants have been included this year. Of those, 77 are designated
“Bib Gourmands,” which serve two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less (excluding
tax and gratuity). A full listing of star recipients and Bib Gourmand restaurants may be found below.
The MICHELIN Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2012 offers a wide assortment of
categories for discerning diners. Among them is a new symbol created for the 2012 edition indicating
restaurants serving breakfast, which includes 40 establishments. Of equal importance is the “Under
$25” category, defined as restaurants serving a meal for less than $25 per person. This list includes
113 restaurants.

Michelin divides the guide into six sections: San Francisco City, East Bay, Marin, Peninsula, South
Bay and Wine Country. Forty-six distinct cuisines are represented in the MICHELIN Guide San
Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2012, which showcases the spectacular culinary diversity of
the region. Three new cuisines were added for 2012 as the inspectors continue to dine at every
possible type of establishment to compile the best selection for our readers.
San Francisco is one of three U.S. cities where Michelin publishes a guide annually. The other two
are New York City and Chicago. The MICHELIN Guide New York 2012, the city’s seventh edition,
was introduced Oct. 5. And Michelin plans to introduce its second Chicago guide, MICHELIN Guide

Michelin has done as much to enhance mobility as any company in the world. The company
patented the pneumatic, or air-filled, automobile tire in the late 1800s. This was a milestone moment
in mobility; it permitted automobile owners to travel at great length in a single journey. Then, in an
effort to prompt travelers to enjoy their newfound mobility, the company created guides – and
detailed maps – to steer travelers on their way. More than 1 million copies are sold each year.
Thanks to the rigorous MICHELIN Guide selection process that is applied independently and
consistently worldwide, the MICHELIN Guide has become an international benchmark in gourmet
dining. Twenty-seven MICHELIN Guides cover 23 countries and three continents, and feature more
than 45,000 addresses. The selection is made by anonymous, professional inspectors who are
Michelin employees. Inspectors pay all their bills in full. To find out more about the MICHELIN guide
inspectors and the history of the MICHELIN Guide, visit www.michelinguide.com.
Michelin’s San Francisco Michelin inspectors also share insights from their many meals on Twitter at
@MichelinGuideSF.

San Francisco MICHELIN guide 2012 Summary
Selected establishments

Restaurants
Particularly pleasant establishments 5 Forks to 1 Fork 43
Bib Gourmands = (Good food at moderate price) 77
Small plates 5 (unique menu, ambience and service) 13
Offering a meal under $25| 113
Notable cocktail program4 65
Notable wine list 73
Notable sake list 15
Restaurants serving breakfast 40
3 Stars (Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey) 2
2 stars (Excellent cuisine, worth a detour) 6
1 Star (A very good restaurant in its category) 39
Cuisine types starred restaurants 12
Cuisine types reflected in selection 46
N : New star in 2012

San Francisco MICHELIN guide 2012
Starred establishments
N : New star in 2012

3 Stars
Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey
Area District Establishment Comfort Chef
Wine Country –Napa Valley French Laundry (The) Thomas Keller
Wine Country –Napa Valley Restaurant at Meadowood Christopher Kostow

2 Stars
Excellent cuisine, worth a detour
Area District Establishment Comfort
South Bay Baumé N
San Francisco SoMa Benu N
San Francisco North Beach Coi
Wine Country –Sonoma County Cyrus
South Bay Manresa
San Francisco Mission Saison N

1 Star
A very good restaurant in its category
Area District Establishment Comfort
San Francisco Nob Hill Acquerello
South Bay Alexander’s Steakhouse
San Francisco SoMa Ame
Wine Country – Sonoma
County
Applewood
San Francisco Marina Atelier Crenn N
Wine Country – Napa
Valley
Auberge du Soleil
San Francisco Richmond & Sunset Aziza
Wine Country – Napa Valley Bouchon
San Francisco SoMa Boulevard
San Francisco Financial District Campton Place
South Bay Chez TJ
East Bay Commis
South Bay Dio Deka
Wine Country – Napa Valley étoile
Wine Country – Sonoma County Farmhouse Inn & Rest.
San Francisco Financial District Fleur de Lys
San Francisco Castro Frances
San Francisco North Beach Gary Danko
Peninsula La Costanera N
San Francisco Nob Hill La Folie
Wine Country – Napa Valley La Toque
San Francisco SoMa Luce
Peninsula Madera
Wine Country – Sonoma County Madrona Manor
San Francisco Nob Hill Masa’s
San Francisco Financial District Michael Mina N
San Francisco SoMa One Market
South Bay Plumed Horse
San Francisco North Beach Quince
Wine Country – Napa Valley Redd
Wine Country – Sonoma County Santé
Wine Country – Napa Valley Solbar
San Francisco Nob Hill Sons & Daughters N
San Francisco Marina Spruce
Wine Country – Napa Valley Terra
Wine Country – Sonoma County Terrapin Creek N
Wine Country – Napa Valley Ubuntu
Peninsula Village Pub (The)
Peninsula Wakuriya

San Francisco MICHELIN guide 2012
Bib Gourmand

N : New Bib Gourmands 2012
Region/Town District Establishment
San Francisco Marina A 16
East Bay Artisan Bistro N
San Francisco Mission Bar Bambino N
Wine Country Napa Valley BarBersQ
San Francisco Mission Bar Tartine N
East Bay Bay Wolf
East Bay Bellanico
San Francisco Marina Betelnut
San Francisco Marina Bistro Aix
Wine Country Napa Valley Bistro Jeanty
Wine Country Sonoma County Bistro 29
Wine Country Sonoma County Boon Eat + Drink N
Wine Country Napa Valley Bottega
San Francisco Richmond & Sunset Burma Superstar
Wine Country Napa Valley C Casa
San Francisco Richmond & Sunset Chapeau!
East Bay Chevalier
East Bay Chu
San Francisco Financial District Colibrí
San Francisco Castro Contigo N
Wine Country Napa Valley Cook St. Helena
East Bay Corso
San Francisco North Beach Cotogna N
Peninsula Crouching Tiger
Wine Country Sonoma County Cucina Paradiso
San Francisco Marina Delarosa
San Francisco Mission Delfina
San Francisco Civic Center Domo
San Francisco Marina Dosa
East Bay eVe
Wine Country Napa Valley Fish Story N
East Bay FIVE
San Francisco Mission flour + water
East Bay Gather
South Bay Hachi Ju Hachi
East Bay Hibiscus
Wine Country Sonoma County Hot Box Grill N
San Francisco Castro Incanto
Marin Insalata’s
East Bay Ippuku N
South Bay Kabab & Curry’s
San Francisco Richmond & Sunset Kapou Gomi
Peninsula Kitchen (The)
Wine Country Sonoma County K & L Bistro
San Francisc
o North Beach Kokkari Estiatorio
Wine Country Sonoma County LaSalette N
East Bay Laurus
San Francisco SoMa Le Charm
Marin Le Garage N
San Francisco Marina Mamacita
Marin Marinitas
Wine Country Sonoma County Monti’s Rotisserie
San Francisco Richmond & Sunset Namu N
Wine Country Napa Valley Oenotri
San Francisco Financial District Perbacco
East Bay Picán
Wine Country Sonoma County Risibisi
East Bay Rivoli
Wine Country Sonoma County Sazon N
Wine Country Sonoma County Scopa N
San Francisco Financial District Slanted Door (The)
San Francisco Mission Slow Club
San Francisco Marina Sociale
San Francisco Marina SPQR
San Francisco Castro Starbelly
South Bay Sumika
Marin Sushi Ran
East Bay Thai House
Wine Country Sonoma County the girl & the fig
San Francisco Richmond & Sunset Troya
Wine Country Sonoma County Willi’s Wine Bar
East Bay Wood Tavern
San Francisco SoMa Yank Sing
San Francisco SoMa Zero Zero N