Bauer’s Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants

Looking for a restaurant that will tickle your taste buds? The San Francisco Bay area has plenty to offer. Restaurants are flourishing throughout the region, making it difficult for the area’s leading food critic, Michael Bauer, to choose his top 100 for the San Francisco Chronicle.

With new dining venues popping up all around the area, it wasn’t easy for Bauer to choose between old favorites and new hot spots. RN74, Frances, and Flour + Water were a big hit, naturally, considering that they were three of the five that have been nominated for the James Beard Best New Restaurant award.

Other newbies to grace his pages: Adesso in Oakland, Baker and Banker, Chapeau, Etoile in Yountville, Frascati, Limon, Neela’s in Napa, Nombe, Osteria Stellina in Point Reyes Station, Press in St. Helena, Sante in Sonoma, Scopa in Healdsburg, Solbar in Calistoga, Tipsy Pig and Wexler’s.

Unable to make cuts, Bauer’s complete list peaked at an overdraft of 103 restaurants after being trimmed down from 105. Restaurants that continue to provide superior food quality and retain their spot on the coveted catalog include Matterhorn, Gitane, the Moss Room, and Nettie’s. However, there were many others that got out-cooked and cut from the list. Only two from last year’s list were closed, Cortez and Jack Falstaff, and another, Bistro Aix, is undergoing an extensive remodeling and is scheduled for an anticipated reopening later this year.

Reservations for two please.

Check SF Gate to read more of Bauer’s picks.