April 6, 2006
Gastronomique: Bibendum to the Rescue.
The Michelin Guide will release its first San Francisco edition next fall. This follows in the footsteps of the New-York guide, whose first edition they released late last year. We can't hardly wait to put our hands on this. Which places will have the 3 stars rating, the one which means a restaurant is a trip destination on its own? The French reviewers are fussy, so the down-to-earth Chez Panisse might be out of favor. The French Laundry definitely checks in, especially since its little sibling, Thomas Keller's New-York restaurant, Per Se, got its *** already.
If obnoxious and smelly French people show up in your restaurant and make a scene, just accommodate them kindly. It might not be the Michelin reviewer, but it might be us all the same. If the Michelin list proves too selective, as only a handful will get the highest rating, you can always refer yourself to the more inclusive San Francisco Chronicle Top 100 restaurant list for 2006, unveiled last week-end. We were absolutely shocked --flabbergasted!-- to see that our favorite, Winterland, did not make the cut. We cannot name three better restaurants in the Bay Area. Other shocker: the inclusion of Dosa as one of the token ethnic places, while it is far from being the best South Indian restaurant in the bay. And Little Star got robbed! It's the best darn pizza in this city, for Chrissake, it belongs there. Anyhow, your mileage will vary, but you can take a peek at the San Francisco restaurants below the jump.
Aziza
Ton Kiang
Clementine
A16
Bistro Aix
Isa
Betelnut
Greens
Quince
Jardiniere
Gary Danko
Zarzuela
Antica Trattoria
La Folie
Matterhorn
Pesce
1550 Hyde Cafe and Wine Bar
House of Prime Rib
Acquerello
Swan Oyster Depot
Jai Yun
Citizen Thai and the Monkey
El Raigon
Piperade
Myth
Bix
Bocadillos
Kokkari
Hog Island Oyster Company
Slanted Door
Rubicon
Plouf
Medicine
Canteen
Fleur de Lys
Farallon
Bar Crudo
Michael Mina
Boulevard
Ozumo
Yank Sing (dim sum)
Town Hall
Ame
Lulu
Coco 500
Bacar
Tres Agaves
Zuni Cafe
Pauline's Pizza
Chow
Limon
Delfina
Tartine
Slow Club
Range
Dosa
Foreign Cinema
La Taqueria
Incanto
Firefly
|
100 restaurants don't look much when you see them in a list like that, do they. Now you are making mw want to go to Winterland.
Crimes: Of course I agreee with you about Little Star, personal relationship notwithstanding (Bauer probably couldn't get a table); also am surprised to see no Harris'.
Would suggest that Betelnut is over-rated and inconsistent. Pesce -- good, but not top 100. There's better cioppino in the city, notably at Tadich.
Good call on 1550 Hyde, El Raigon and Kokkari; I don't think these three fine restaurants get much press (then again, I only read SFist, so what do I know?).
Sam: your mileage will vary with my recommendation as well. And be aware your companion won't find much to his liking there. No burger available as a back up.
Jer: if Little Star was on chestnut, it would be headlining the list, that's all I'm saying.
Is LuLu any good? I went there when it first opened, felt totally & completely underwhelmed and never went back. And there it is, still going. Same thign with Slow Club.
And I think La Taqueria is either a case of inertia or the emperor's new clothes. It got put on the list so long ago, back when there weren't many other safe-for-whitey taquerias in the Mission, and now they don't want to take it off. Nothing at La Taqueria is better than the same thing at any of the other good tacqueria. And some of the other taquerias are marginally cheaper, and have much better seating.
And Chow... I mean, sure, I like Chow. But is it really one of the best restaurants in San Francisco? It's not that good.
I haven't been to Lulu. I think Sam has been to the Slow Club, but I haven't either. I live in a parallel world with Michael Bauer. First time at Chow, I loved it, but it was years ago. My last visit, somewhat recent, I was disappointed. It looked like everything on the plate had shrunk. Yeah, my fav taqueria (el castillito) is better than La Taq. Mike should take a look at burritoeater.com (best: san francisco taquerio, 8.72; el castillito gets a solid 8.50 and La Taqueria a 5.88) or burritophile.com. La Taq has been on the list like 16 years in a row!