Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2008

The new Michelin Guide for San Francisco is out. Let the critic's critics get to work.

THREE STARS
The French Laundry

TWO STARS
Aqua
Chez TJ (new)
Cyrus
Manresa
Meadowood (new)
Michael Mina

ONE STAR
Acquerello
Ame (new)
Auberge du Soleil
Bistro Jeanty
Boulevard
Chez Panisse
Coi (new)
Cortez (new)
Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton,
Farmhouse Inn
Fifth Floor
Fleur de Lys
Gary Danko
K & L Bistro
La Folie
La Toque
Madrona Manor (new)
Martini House (new)
Masa's San Francisco
One Market (new)
Quince
Range
Redd (new)
Rubicon
Sushi-Ran
Terra

BIB GOURMAND (Under $40)
A 16
Annaliên
Bar Tartine
BarBersQ
Bay Wolf
Betelnut Pejiu Wu
Café Gibraltar
Celadon
Clementine
Cook St. Helena
Cucina Paradiso
Delfina
Gaylord
Hong Kong Flower Lounge
Insalata's
Junnoon
Kokkari Estiatorio
Koo
Le Charm
Mamacita
Mirepoix
Namu
Nopa
Olivia
Osake
Perbacco
Poleng
Pres A Vi
Rin's Thai
Risibisi
rnm
Sauce
Scott Howard
Slanted Door (The)
Slow Club
Sociale
South Park Café
Tablespoon
Tamarindo
Tokyo Go Go
Tommaso's
TWO
2223
Universal Café
Vanessa's Bistro
Venticello
Willi's Seafood & Raw Bar
Willi's Wine Bar
Yank Sing
Zuzu

Comments

[Suebob]

I dunno, but I have heard that Manresa place is pretty decent ;-)

[Loren]

Pim, I think that you missed Bouchon on your list of one star restaurants.

[Ann]

Who ever agrees with the critics? Overall I'm glad Michelin has weighed in.

In NYC, at least, the Michelin ratings act as a counterpoint (in many cases) to the NY Times rating system and Zagats, which does little more than reflect its fickle inconsistent voters.

[veron]

I wonder how they do their ratings? Do they visit anonymously and do a couple of visits. I'm surprised Auberge de Soleil is in the same league as Gary Danko's and Fifth floor. I've been to all three places and although the view in Auberge de Soleil was fantastic, I was not impressed with their food at all!

[Jack]

That Bib Gourmand list has some good choices and some truly mediocre ones.

[Sara]

!

I can't believe they only have Chez Panisse as a one star! Their downstairs is hands down the best food I have ever eaten.

[Sara]

!

I can't believe they only have Chez Panisse as a one star! Their downstairs is hands down the best food I have ever eaten.

[Laurent]

Hi Pim,

I don't know the SF food scene that well so I cannot really comment on the list. In any case, congratulations to David for maintaining his 2 stars. Hope I will be able to have dinner at Manresa in 2008 (it's going to be on my wishlist!).

As far as Michelin judgments are concerned, they have made very surprising calls in New York like that of awarding 2 stars to the overrated Del Posto and only one to the excellent L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon. As Batali has been very vocal about bloggers, I don't want to give him too many reasons to criticize us further. However, is Del Posto in the same league as Daniel in NY, Manresa in Santa Cruz, Les Ambassadeurs in Paris or even one-star (and hopefully soon two)Mirazur in Menton? I doubt it.

On another subject, have you seen that Jean-Luc Rabanel was named "Chef of the Year" by Gault Millau (see link to Le Monde's article below)? Have you dined at his Atelier in Arles? Heard good things but never had a chance to go there. I should give it a try next time I go see my friends in Avignon and Marseille.

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3238,36-970321@51-970326,0.html

[Steve]

I'll be heading to San Fran in early Jan and would love a good feed? Any suggestions from the above list or others?

[Sara]

Pim -- do you know where online I could find the newest guide for Washington DC? Is this possible? I don't want to spend the dollaz...

[zwampen]

How can Cyrus be a 2 star restaurant ?
Very strange !!
And Gary Danko only 1 star ?
Hmm, somethings wrong out there !!

[Ore]

Thanks for the update Pim! Are there any new cities in Michelin USA or is it still NYC and the Bay Area in Cali?

[perec]

guides are always more funny, for me. I work with one of the most famous chef in italy, writing his tv shows, and I can assure the judges seems to be annoyed spectators, more than curious gourmets. their remote controls seem to be connected only with their ego. and a place on the guide is always more a fact of pr, simpathy, personal tastes than reality.

[Andre]

Hi Pim, with your connection, do you know or heard anything about next spot for Michelin guide after NY, SF, Tokyo... maybe singapore? shanghai? or hangkong?

[Aaron]

There are guides for LA & Las Vegas coming out this year. There is no DC guide.

The Robuchon rating must take price into account.

[Glenmal]

There are questions posted on Cyrus and Gary Danko. Our last visit to Gary Danko's was disappointing.Service was poor and food was served cold. Never again.

Cyrus has shown consistent improvement and we find it to be excellent and certainly as well run as any restaurant we attend.