San Francisco - Zagat's Top Ten Bay Area Restaurants

Based on voting of Zagat readers -

http://blog.zagat.com/2012/02/bay-areas-10-best-restaurants-vote-for.html?zagatbuzzid=feb12week3&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=blog20120215

1. Gary Danko
2. French Laundry
3. Cyrus
4. Manresa
5. Aubergine
6. Meadowood
7. Acquerello
8. Sushi Ran
9. Kiss Seafood
10. Chez Panisse

Check the link for location and details

The fact that Benu is not on there is demonstrative of how out of date Zagat can be.

The fact that Benu is not on there is demonstrative of how out of date Zagat can be.

Seems to be the top 10 "expensive" restaurants, not necessarily the to 10 best restaurants.

The fact that Benu is not on there is demonstrative of how out of date Zagat can be.

What part of the Bay are the French Laundry, Aubergine, Cyrus and Meadowood on?

There are many top places missing and while I like Gary Danko, the best in San Francisco it ain't, let alone the Bay Area.

What part of the Bay are the French Laundry, Aubergine, Cyrus and Meadowood on?

There are many top places missing and while I like Gary Danko, the best in San Francisco it ain't, let alone the Bay Area.

I've never been to Gary Danko. I keep meaning to go, but then I read the menu and think it looks too basic for the money. Maybe if someone else is paying . . .

Benu is by far the best restaurant in the Bay Area these days. TFL seems to be well past its prime.

I've never been to Gary Danko. I keep meaning to go, but then I read the menu and think it looks too basic for the money. Maybe if someone else is paying . . .

Benu is by far the best restaurant in the Bay Area these days. TFL seems to be well past its prime.

I think you'd get an argument from fans of Saison, Atlier Crenn and maybe even Baume plus a dozen other places. I like Benu, even better than Atlier Crenn, but I think I am a minority at than. I do like Commis better than Benu and probably Bix too.

I think you'd get an argument from fans of Saison, Atlier Crenn and maybe even Baume plus a dozen other places. I like Benu, even better than Atlier Crenn, but I think I am a minority at than. I do like Commis better than Benu and probably Bix too.

I've never been to Gary Danko. I keep meaning to go, but then I read the menu and think it looks too basic for the money. Maybe if someone else is paying . . .

Benu is by far the best restaurant in the Bay Area these days. TFL seems to be well past its prime.

I went to Atelier Crenn and was very disappointed. Yes, she's an "iron chef", but the food was okay. Nothing terribly great. I thought Commonwealth was much better, and very much in similar presentation & style. And Commonwealth was way cheaper.

Benu is very good, no question about it. I probably wouldn't say that it's that it is better than Gary D's, but it certainly is very good. Benu is $180. Gary D's 3 course is $72. Saison is $160. Personally, I'd choose Gary D's over the other two.

I went to Atelier Crenn and was very disappointed. Yes, she's an "iron chef", but the food was okay. Nothing terribly great. I thought Commonwealth was much better, and very much in similar presentation & style. And Commonwealth was way cheaper.

Benu is very good, no question about it. I probably wouldn't say that it's that it is better than Gary D's, but it certainly is very good. Benu is $180. Gary D's 3 course is $72. Saison is $160. Personally, I'd choose Gary D's over the other two.

My main expectation for restaurants at this price range is that the restaurant serve a series of delicious courses that I have never eaten or even considered before. My biggest disappointment in these places tends to be in more traditional courses - usually the fish and meat courses of the meal. Meat and fish courses are usually failures at these places, no matter how well they are done, because I've had so many different lobster, pork loin and fillet dinners that nothing ever seems truly innovative when using those ingredients. What I love about Benu is that there are so many non-traditional courses, and there is not a focus on any big meat course at the end. I loved Coi and Saison (and to some extent, Sons & Daughters) for that reason, as well. Outside of SF, Manresa, Momofuku Ko and the El Bulli menu at Next all lived up to this expectation. TFL was a big failure.

The menu at GD looks to be very focused on the traditional coursed menu, with the protein as the star of the show at the end of the meal. Granted, GD is cheaper than most these other places, but I just can't bring myself to spend more than $20-30 an entree for a place that serves "lobster risotto" and "roast pork belly and tenderloin" as main courses. Maybe it will blow me away when I actually visit, but it's hard to justify to myself unless I can do it on a company expense account.

I'm partial to JoAnne's in South San Francisco, at least for breakfast.

I went to Atelier Crenn and was very disappointed. Yes, she's an "iron chef", but the food was okay. Nothing terribly great. I thought Commonwealth was much better, and very much in similar presentation & style. And Commonwealth was way cheaper.

Benu is very good, no question about it. I probably wouldn't say that it's that it is better than Gary D's, but it certainly is very good. Benu is $180. Gary D's 3 course is $72. Saison is $160. Personally, I'd choose Gary D's over the other two.

My complaint about Atelier Crenn wasn't the quality of the food, which I thought was great, but that after the cost I left the place hungry. Thank goodness I found an open restaurant near my hotel.

My main expectation for restaurants at this price range is that the restaurant serve a series of delicious courses that I have never eaten or even considered before. My biggest disappointment in these places tends to be in more traditional courses - usually the fish and meat courses of the meal. Meat and fish courses are usually failures at these places, no matter how well they are done, because I've had so many different lobster, pork loin and fillet dinners that nothing ever seems truly innovative when using those ingredients. .

I agree completely. In fact, my wife and I often create a meal by ordering several appetizers and skip the main course entree entirely. The appetizers at many "fine dining" restaurants are often much more interesting and creative than the main courses.

A top ten listing begs as many questions as it answers. Already from the posts in this thread, we see that many people want asian style, others want non-traditional preparations, others focus more on quantity.

Personally, I like the best ingredients prepared in such a way that the flavors shine through and the combinations work seamlessly together. This is something Bay Area chefs are good at and there is a reasonable supply of places which achieve this. I agree, though, that they are not necessarily these restaurants. I do miss Ubuntu, however (even if it could be said it's not in the Bay Area, but very close).

A top ten listing begs as many questions as it answers. Already from the posts in this thread, we see that many people want asian style, others want non-traditional preparations, others focus more on quantity.

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Yes, but as you yourself said, it is the stimulus for an interesting discussion, and isn't that one of the values of this board?

how come alexander's isn't on there? they seem to be doing well enough to have jacked up their tasting menu price 100+ percent...

how come alexander's isn't on there? they seem to be doing well enough to have jacked up their tasting menu price 100+ percent...

Because as someone else noted Zagat is hopelessly outdated. I think the people who fill out Zagat surveys trend older which is how they miss Alexander's, Baume, Crenn, etc. They stick to the same spots year in year out.

Glad to have found this thread. Heading to SFO for first time in July and needed restaurant suggestions. Was considering Gary Danko before, but seems like there are far more options that are as good or better...

Glad to have found this thread. Heading to SFO for first time in July and needed restaurant suggestions. Was considering Gary Danko before, but seems like there are far more options that are as good or better...

New American or adventurous?

Glad to have found this thread. Heading to SFO for first time in July and needed restaurant suggestions. Was considering Gary Danko before, but seems like there are far more options that are as good or better...

Yeah, I was in that same place last month. I had Danko on my list and then I kind of felt I was playing it safe as the menu had offerings that I knew I'd like. Did a lot of research on Chowhound and started following SF blogs and coverage. Stayed in the Mission district, which is a nice location for many foodie haunts. Didn't have time to fit in any Mexican or central Amer food. I also considered Saison & La Ciccia, but my itin eventually looked like this:

Day 1
Mr & Mrs Misc
Atelier Crenn (I really liked the desserts)

Day 2
Roli Roti & Scream Sorbet @ Ferry
State Bird Provisions (last min change from Benu because I didn't think I could make it through their tasting menu, figured a la carte wouldn't do them justice & more casual places would break up all the fine dining experiences)

Day 3
Bi Rite Creamery
Tartine Bakery (wasn't planned but, a few other sandwiches I wanted to try weren't available)
Commis & Lush Gelato in Oakland

Day 4
Ritual Roasters
Humphry Slocumbe
Black Jet Baking Co @ Ferry (also wandered around the bustling Sat mkt)
Commonwealth

I had a red eye after Commonwealth and I'm kicking myself for not getting takeout from Mission Chinese. I love ice cream and had about 3 or 4 other shops I didn't get to. I can't wait to get back. Anyway, if you have any questions, I've got a notes/a mini trip report so I can elaborate.

Tip on Bi Rite Creamery: most of the ice creams sold at the creamery are available in containers across the street at the Bi Rite store, which can help you avoid the long line of hipsters.

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Tip on Bi Rite Creamery: most of the ice creams sold at the creamery are available in containers across the street at the Bi Rite store, which can help you avoid the long line of hipsters.

That's a good tip. I just hate wasting & I like to try everything so I'd end up stuffing myself and spending way too much on ice cream. :-)

When I saw all the stanchions I couldn't believe that the line could extend that far around the corner. Absolutely crazy. I went on a Friday around lunch time and there wasn't one.

Besides Gary Danko, the top rated places to look at are Ame, Coi, Benu, Saison, Atlier Crenn, La Folie, Commis, Bix, Piperade, Fleur de Lys, Quince, Michael Mina, Farallon, Acquerello, Masa’s, Spruce and Aziza.

Good local seafood places include Tadich Grill, Sotto Mare, Sam's Grill, Hog Island Oyster Co, Swan Oyster Depot, Hyde Street Seafood House And Raw Bar, Anchor Oyster Bar and Hayes Street Grill. Some of these are just oyster bars, some are sit down restaurants.

For Chinese food look at spots like R&G Lounge, Z&Y Restaurant, Hunan Homes Restaurant and Hong Kong Clay Pot Restaurant. The best Chinese food is out in Inner and Outter Richmond now. Look at places like Good Luck, Shanghai Dumpling King, Hakka Restaurant, San Tung Chinese Restaurant, Taishan Cafe, Sichuan Home and Ton Kiang.

For Italian there a lot of good places in North Beach, check out Tony's Pizza Napoletana, Vicoletto, Trattoria Contadina, E' Tutto Qua, Franchino, Firenze by Night, Ristorante Ideale and Sodini's Green Valley.

My favorite Italian is Allegro Romanos.