Here they are, all the Michelin-starred restaurants in the greater Bay Area for 2012.
Get all the deets, after the jump.
Three Stars
French Laundry
Restaurant at Meadowood
Two Stars
Baumé
Benu
Coi
Cyrus
Manresa
Saison
One Star
Acquerello
Alexander’s Steakhouse
Ame
Applewood
Atelier Crenn
Auberge du Soleil
Aziza
Bouchon
Boulevard
Campton Place
Chez TJ
Commis
Dio Deka
étoile
Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant
Fleur de Lys
Frances
Gary Danko
La Costanera
La Folie
La Toque
Luce
Madera
Madrona Manor
Masa’s
Michael Mina
One Market
Plumed Horse
Quince
Redd
Santé
Solbar
Sons & Daughters
Spruce
Terra
Terrapin Creek
Ubuntu
Village Pub
Wakuriya
Bay Area Restaurants Shine in 2012 Michelin Guide
Inspectors Offer Three New 2-Star Options
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2011 – While three-star restaurants The French Laundry and Meadowood retain the highest distinction in the MICHELIN Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2012, the newest edition offers three new two-star restaurants, Benu, Saison and Baume. In addition, 39 restaurants earned a single star with five new entries in that category. The MICHELIN Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2012 goes on sale Wed., Oct. 26, at $18.99.
The MICHELIN Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2012 covers San Francisco proper, and a comprehensive spread of the Bay Area stretching from Los Gatos in the south to Geyserville in the north. Being included in the MICHELIN Guide is a sign of excellence and quality in each category and a total of 541 restaurants have been included this year. Of those, 77 are designated “Bib Gourmands,” which serve two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less (excluding tax and gratuity). A full listing of star recipients and Bib Gourmand restaurants may be found below.
The MICHELIN Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2012 offers a wide assortment of categories for discerning diners. Among them is a new symbol created for the 2012 edition indicating restaurants serving breakfast, which includes 40 establishments. Of equal importance is the “Under $25″ category, defined as restaurants serving a meal for less than $25 per person. This list includes 113 restaurants.
Michelin divides the guide into six sections: San Francisco City, East Bay, Marin, Peninsula, South Bay and Wine Country. Forty-six distinct cuisines are represented in the MICHELIN Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2012, which showcases the spectacular culinary diversity of the region. Three new cuisines were added for 2012 as the inspectors continue to dine at every possible type of establishment to compile the best selection for our readers.
San Francisco is one of three U.S. cities where Michelin publishes a guide annually. The other two are New York City and Chicago. The MICHELIN Guide New York 2012, the city’s seventh edition, was introduced Oct. 5. And Michelin plans to introduce its second Chicago guide, MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2012, on Nov. 15.
Michelin has done as much to enhance mobility as any company in the world. The company patented the pneumatic, or air-filled, automobile tire in the late 1800s. This was a milestone moment in mobility; it permitted automobile owners to travel at great length in a single journey. Then, in an effort to prompt travelers to enjoy their newfound mobility, the company created guides – and detailed maps – to steer travelers on their way. More than 1 million copies are sold each year.
Thanks to the rigorous MICHELIN Guide selection process that is applied independently and consistently worldwide, the MICHELIN Guide has become an international benchmark in gourmet dining. Twenty-seven MICHELIN Guides cover 23 countries and three continents, and feature more than 45,000 addresses. The selection is made by anonymous, professional inspectors who are Michelin employees. Inspectors pay all their bills in full. To find out more about the MICHELIN guide inspectors and the history of the MICHELIN Guide, visit www.michelinguide.com.
Michelin’s San Francisco Michelin inspectors also share insights from their many meals on Twitter at @MichelinGuideSF.