When it comes to the culinary scene, nothing comes close to the dining experience that only the Bay Area can offer. You’d even find it difficult to name the best food in San Francisco because each and every restaurant in the city offers an entirely different variety of cuisines that cater to different palates.
It’s for this reason that San Francisco is one of the most Michelin-starred cities in the world. No trip to San Francisco would be complete without a visit to at least one or two Michelin-starred restaurants in the city. These dining destinations can even be seen as must-visit attractions in San Francisco in a way.
If you happen to be in the city, you must check out these amazing restaurants that perfectly capture the variety of the San Francisco culinary scene.
Acquerello
1722 Sacramento Street
When it comes to Michelin-starred restaurants, Acquerello has been on the list for as long as they began releasing the Bay Area Michelin guide back in 2007. It’s a testament to their unique dining experience that this restaurant managed to keep their two Michelin star rating until today. As the premier spot for Italian fine-dining, Acquerello is dedicated to refined luxury by keeping an elegant dining atmosphere. Such an atmosphere is adequately accompanied with a range of classic Italian flavors with a modern twist, such as Stracciatella and Berbere-spiced lamb.
Saison
178 Townsend Street
Come for the open wood fire, stay for the incredible wine selection. This three-Michelin-starred restaurant creates a unique dining experience with an open space that serves as both the kitchen and the dining room. Saison sources its ingredients from local fishermen, farmers, hunters, and more, and you can see them preparing your meal on its open wood fire. With the experience comes a mouth-watering menu selection, ranging from buckwheat greens to wild thistle with bullion.
Quince
Pacific Avenue
This French- and Italian-inspired restaurant sources its ingredients from their own farm, which grows more than 40 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. You’ll be delighted to know that this farm is one of the first organic-certified farms on the West Coast, so you can rest easy knowing that your dishes are prepared with certified organic ingredients. There’s no chance you’ll get bored with their food selection because this three-Michelin-starred restaurant varies their menu often depending on what’s in season. Who knows, you might be served a plate of tortellini filled with pork and parmesan one day, then be treated with venison coated with vegetable crumbs the next.
Coi
373 Broadway
At this restaurant, you’ll find yourself mesmerized by the many ways food can be elevated. With culinary masterpieces such as cherry tomatoes in strawberry juice with fennel pollen and smoked black cod in scallop mousse, Chef Daniel Patterson’s creations dare each visitor to reimagine what can be done with seemingly simple ingredients. Their nightly selections, along with their variety of wine options, are sure to appease fans of the fine American palette.
Benu
22 Hawthorne St.
If you’re after an Asian kick, this three-Michelin-starred restaurant is not to be missed. Chef Corey Lee, who originated from South Korea, mixes a little bit of Korean and a pinch of French on his dishes, which include frog legs with sweet and sour vegetables and thousand-year-old quail eggs with potage and ginger. Even the traditional Korean beef barbeque served in Benu has a hint of more contemporary influences, elevating the Korean cuisine into new heights.
Lazy Bear
3416 19th St
Who could’ve imagined that you can recreate the experience of dining in the wilderness here in the middle of the city? That’s exactly the vibe that this two-Michelin-starred restaurant is after, and it’s a distinct experience compared to its fine-dining neighbors. Here, guests are seated around a long table and share the sumptuous food while also sharing stories from their daily lives. Seating arrangements may be a little distanced right now, but the experience remains the same. The menu selection here is distinctly American, like its grilled lamb and King Salmon, though its flavors are mostly inspired by the wild.
For those looking for things to do in San Francisco, you should definitely pay a visit to one of these amazing restaurants and see (and taste) for yourself what earned them their well-deserved Michelin star ratings.
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