Maria Isabel’s sea urchin tamalito. Photo by Virginia Miller. Talented husband-wife chef duos are a special dynamic and business-life partnership common across the restaurant industry. In San Francisco alone, powerhouse couples run some of the best small restaurant groups in the city, like Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski (State Bird Provisions, The Progress, Anchovy Bar), Michael and Lindsay Tusk (Quince,… Read more →
Mendocino coast by moonlight from Inn at Newport Ranch. Photo by Virginia Miller. The term “thin place” is an ancient one, referring to places where heaven and earth come close or the veil between life now and the afterlife is especially delicate and permeable . On California’s breathtaking Mendocino Coast, easily some of the most dramatic, mystical coastline in the world,… Read more →
Restaurant Naides bread and chicken gizzard liver mousse course. Photo by Virginia Miller. Filipino fine dining is on the rise but is still far from mainstream. Chicago’s Michelin-starred, James Beard-winning Kasama and husband-wife chefs, Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, elevated the cuisine of the Philippines, playing with it in inspired ways (my review). As has chef Francis Ang in San… Read more →
Reviewed in this article:
—Modern Indian Creativity from Veggies to Meat: Tiya
—At Five Years Ernest Remains One of SF’s Unsung Greats
—Two Michelin Magic: Saison
—Delicately Playful Dessert Tasting Menu: Nisei
—The U.S.’ Great Modern Guamanian Restaurant: Prubechu
—North African/Tunisian Treasure Turns 10: Barcha
—91-Year-Old Pizza & Pasta Legend: Tommaso’s
—Two Michelin Heights at 8-Year-Old Birdsong
—Asian Rooftop Delights: Good Good Culture Club
—Upscale Thai Offers a Steal of a Lunch: Hed11 Read more →
RT Bistro crab. Photo by Virginia Miller. Since Rich Table opened in 2012, I named it a top new restaurant and it has remained one of San Francisco — and the nation’s — best ever since. I was baffled as it ridiculously lost its multi-year Michelin star in 2021, though they’ve topped many “best” lists and been James Beard-nominated. At… Read more →
Arquet lobster. Photo by Virginia Miller. Sorrel topped my new restaurants of 2018 and I’ve raved about it since, unsurprised when it garnered — and has maintained — a Michelin star. Chef Alex Hong has a visionary way with creative pastas and just about everything else, including Sorrel’s rightly famed duck. So delighted I was when Hong and team opened… Read more →
Jilli beef tartare. Photo by Virginia Miller. A Vietnamese classic reborn, hip Korean drinking den with food, modern British fare, Japan-worthy takeout-only sushi, healthy delivery and, yes, superb pizza… six standout new eateries plus four new takeout spots. As always, I’ve personally vetted and visited each: Vietnamese Classic Reborn: Crustacean, FiDiOpening in the Financial District in July 2025, Crustacean is… Read more →
Tasting House sungold tomato sorbet and cream. Photo by Virginia Miller. For 24 years, I’ve been exploring and writing about the Bay Area’s Peninsula — including but not minimized to the moniker Silicon Valley. San Mateo County can suffer from suburban malaise and mediocrity when it comes to restaurant standards, especially compared to the dense, world-class glories of nearby San… Read more →
Carmel coast. Photo by Virginia Miller. Despite its chichi, tony edge, the idyllic, walkable town of Carmel-By-The-Sea is a fairytale village set on the windswept sea. Stunning, moody California/Monterey cypress trees and vivid flowers line the rocky coast, while the Hobbit-meets-Alice-in-Wonderland architecture defines Carmel’s unique look. Like much of California, it’s gorgeous, but the coastline around Carmel is vastly enchanting,… Read more →
Wolfsbane snacks/amuse bouche. Photo by Virginia Miller. These two new tasting menu restaurants are already playing for keeps, the kind of places that would fit right in on 50 Best or Michelin lists. They also are my number one and number two new restaurants of 2025, respectively. My full top 12 restaurants and bars here. Wolfsbane Is Immediately Firing On… Read more →