MICHELIN Guide San Francisco 2019 Selection

“The dining scene in San Francisco is booming at the moment and our inspectors were especially impressed with the choice of cuisine styles, the levels of consistency and the overall high quality of the food they found in the city,” says Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the MICHELIN Guides. “In particular, the teams at Atelier Crenn and SingleThread should be extremely proud, as our inspectors were very impressed by the quality of the produce used in the preparation of the dishes. This, along with their meticulous attention to detail, creativity and dedication to delighting their customers means they always offer diners a memorable and very pleasurable gastronomic experience. Without a doubt, they are definitely worth a special journey!”

Benu, The French Laundry, Quince, The Restaurant at Meadowood, Saison and Manresa—which shuttered briefly by a fire in mid-July—all retained three stars.

Daniel Patterson’s Coi receives two stars this year. After Matthew Kirkley’s departure last year to train for the Bocus d’Or, chef Erik Anderson stepped in and shifted the focus away from seafood. Considering this high-level conceptual change, our inspectors approached this decision with careful consideration, and after a number of meals—and much deliberation—it was decided that the new menu fell short of three stars. (Michelin inspectors will be watching the kitchen closely as it continues to settle in.)

There are five new one-star distinctions in the 2019 guide:

Bar Crenn, the charming wine bar with a focus on classic French cuisine—and adjacent to Atelier Crenn—has been designated with a Michelin star. Here, quality and technique are the backbone of the beautiful dining room where dishes from renowned French chefs, as well as original creations, are expertly presented.

Chef Chris Bleidorn’s unique approach to total utilization of product at his first solo debut, Birdsong, is both admirable and creative.

Madcap offers high-quality contemporary Californian fare made with fresh, seasonal ingredients and a skillful touch. Led by chef/owner Ron Siegel, a fine-dining veteran of Northern California’s dining scene since the 1990s, the chef has stepped out on his own with this new Marin stunner.

Nicolas Delaroque’s Nico originally opened in Laurel Heights and was removed from the guide after it closed in 2017. After the restaurant reopened in nearby Jackson Square, inspectors found that the cooking is as good as ever.

Chef Anthony Secviar and Master Sommelier Dennis Kelly’s Protégé in Palo Alto displays a level of finesse to prepare consistently excellent meals, while the dining experience remains casual and approachable.

There are 315 restaurants in the MICHELIN Guide San Francisco 2019 selection, including eight with three stars, six with two stars, 43 with one star, 68 Bib Gourmand establishments and 191 restaurants designated with a Michelin Plate.

Congratulations to all restaurants. View the full list of Michelin-starred restaurants in the MICHELIN Guide San Francisco 2019 below.