Perhaps you’re right. Chez Panisse is, as you probably know, responsible almost singularly for the new American cuisine that started in the 70s and 80s and is still flourishing. One time I was there and I asked our waiter if he had any recommendations for a restaurant in the Napa area since we were going there after we left SFO. He said there was a new place up there he had been to and it was pretty good, it was called the French Laundry. Although my favorite story about them was that a guy named Bill Clinton showed up without a reservation one night. They seated him in the upstairs cafe, no room in the main dining room, POTUS or not. I still remember a dish I had there in the mid 80s, it was a salad including eggs poached in Zinfandel.

Usually to get a reservation there, they only take them 30 days in advance, I literally call the minute they open 30 days in advance. The only comparable place I’ve seen as far as difficulty getting in is Alinea.

I was in SFO a few weeks ago. I didn’t even try getting in Chez Panisse. I had dinner at Greens and Zuni. I have been to one or two of at least the one star places in SFO and frankly wouldn’t even look at the Michelin Guide in SFO.