Wolfsbane snacks/amuse bouche. Photo by Virginia Miller. It’s that time of year again: sifting through the hundreds of new SF Bay Area restaurants and bars I visited this year, among hundreds more internationally and across the U.S. Here are the newcomers that stand out most, opened between November 2024 and December 2025. The previous year’s top openings are here, notably… Read more →
Enclos‘ mignardises served atop honeycomb. Photo by Virginia Miller. It’s that time of year again: sifting through the hundreds of new SF Bay Area restaurants and bars I visited this year — plus a few hundred more internationally and across the U.S. Here are the newcomers that stand out most — 10 restaurants, 8 bars and 10 honorable mention eateries — opened between November 2023 and December… Read more →
Even better than Hawaii non-spam housemade “spam and rice” at Liholiho Yacht Club. Photo by Virginia Miller. Over 13,000 restaurants visited around the world and traveling half of every month for dining and drink research, I know the city that satiates my palate more than any other. Growing up in the suburbs of two of the greatest food cities — New York City… Read more →
Food and drink Aphotic’s local spot prawns and caviar. Photo by Virginia Miller. COME SEE OUR NEW HOME — The Bold Italic has a new home online, and this story has moved! Read it here: https://www.thebolditalic.com/san-franciscos-best-new-bar-and-restaurant-openings-of-the-year It’s that time of year again: sifting through the hundreds of new SF Bay Area restaurants and bars visited this year — plus a few hundred more internationally… Read more →
Osito’s amuse bouche (Photo Credit: Virginia Miller) COME SEE OUR NEW HOME — The Bold Italic has a new home online, and this story has moved! Read it here: https://www.thebolditalic.com/top-14-new-restaurants-10-new-bars-of-2022 It’s that time of year again: I sift through the hundreds of new local restaurants I’ve visited this year (plus a few hundred more national and international restaurants), namely those opened… Read more →
Since Rich Table opened in July 2012, I knew it was “primed for greatness,” as I headlined my initial SF Bay Guardian review back in my Bay Guardian critic days. Rich Table (RT) went on to place on many best-of lists (including my own), earn a Michelin star for years (ridiculously — and I think errantly — dropped in 2021, hopefully rectified this year), James Beard nominations and a wonderful cookbook. This summer, they just turned 10 years old. Another huge feat in the restaurant world, especially when remains packed every night.
But what are they like 10 years in? Read more →
Ernest opened March 2021 in the lofty, two-tiered, industrial space that formerly housed Coffee Bar. One year into the pandemic — which means they were in planning mode well before — was one of the worst times to open a restaurant, especially an ambitious one. Next door to legendary Heath Ceramics, and in a neighborhood lined with nationally lauded restaurants and bars, Ernest entered seamlessly into that tier.
Now, a few visits later and over one year in, my review on Ernest today: Read more →
State Bird Provisions smoked trout chips ‘n dip (Photo: Courtesy of Virginia Miller) COME SEE OUR NEW HOME — The Bold Italic has a new home online, and this story has moved! Read it here: https://www.thebolditalic.com/almost-10-years-old-san-franciscos-state-bird-provisions-is-still-going-strong When Michelin-starred State Bird Provisions opened in December 2011, I reviewed it in my weekly reviews at the SF Bay Guardian early 2012, saying, “Jazz… Read more →
The Bold Italic’s top 12 new restaurant openings of the year + top new bars, best of 2020 (the “lost” year) and honorable mention new openings. Read more →
As with the past decade plus, here are my top 14 new Bay Area restaurant openings of 2019: Read more →