Zagat's Top Ten Bay Area Restaurants
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Programs: AA, UA, WN, HH, Marriott
Posts: 7,290
Zagat's Top Ten Bay Area Restaurants
Based on voting of Zagat readers -
http://blog.zagat.com/2012/02/bay-ar...n=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
http://blog.zagat.com/2012/02/bay-ar...n=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
#3
Moderator: Hilton Honors, Practical Travel Safety Issues & San Francisco
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Francisco CA
Programs: UA, Hilton, Priceline, AirBnB
Posts: 11,001
#5
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Laguna Beach, CA
Programs: AA, HA, UA, DL, HH, SPG, Kimpton, Fairmont, New Otani, I Prefer
Posts: 157
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.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,571
Benu is by far the best restaurant in the Bay Area these days. TFL seems to be well past its prime.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Laguna Beach, CA
Programs: AA, HA, UA, DL, HH, SPG, Kimpton, Fairmont, New Otani, I Prefer
Posts: 157
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.
#8
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,449
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.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,571
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.
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.
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.
#11
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Laguna Beach, CA
Programs: AA, HA, UA, DL, HH, SPG, Kimpton, Fairmont, New Otani, I Prefer
Posts: 157
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.
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.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Programs: AA, UA, WN, HH, Marriott
Posts: 7,290
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. .
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,224
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).
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).
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Programs: AA, UA, WN, HH, Marriott
Posts: 7,290
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?