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To listen to Michelin and James Beard reps discuss, it typically looks like the Bay Space consists solely of San Francisco, with the occasional daring foray into Oakland — or wherever David Kinch hangs out. We suspect tunnel worry — or Freeway 101-ophobia.
However the East and South Bay restaurant scene provides tons of of unbelievable eating experiences, and our restaurant critics and meals writers have sampled all of them, from swanky spots to holes-in-the-wall. Now we’re able to proclaim the Bay Space’s high 50 non-SF spots, an inventory topped by — OK, Manresa. (We, too, are Kinch followers.) Contemplate it not a lot a rating, as an inventory for all events and cravings.
Immediately, we’re diving into the highest 10, which is Oakland, Kinch and Michelin-heavy — however the remaining just isn’t. You’ll discover these right here: Bay Space Greatest: No. 11-20 // No. 21-30 // No. 31-40 // Nos. 41-50. (Ship your nominations for No. 51 to us at [email protected])
Now let’s get began, as a result of once you’re craving over-the-top culinary creativity — or Arab road meals, Cambodian fare or farm-to-fork lushness — you don’t need to wait.
Manresa, Los Gatos: While you need not a 1-star or 2-star however a 3-star Michelin expertise

Three Michelin stars is pretty much as good because it will get, and chef-owner David Kinch has achieved that rarefied standing within the South Bay. He’s legendary for sensible transformations of California produce and coastal seafood; his signature “Into the Backyard” course is all the time a shocking seasonal presentation. Regardless of the popularity, Kinch has by no means been one to relaxation on his laurels. He’s cultivated new concepts — and new expertise — by opening his paean to New Orleans, The Bywater, in addition to the Manresa Bread cafe and bakeries. Subsequent up? An Italian-French idea in Aptos known as Mentone.
Order: Put together for surprises. It’s a prix-fixe tasting menu.
Particulars: 320 Village Lane, Los Gatos; www.manresarestaurant.com. $$$$
Nyum Bai, Oakland: While you lengthy for the Golden Age of Cambodia — and Phnom Penh road meals

You don’t go to Nyum Bai in case you occur to be in Fruitvale. You get in your automotive wherever you’re, drive to Fruitvale and seem in James Beard-nominated chef-owner Nite Yun’s poppy, pastel-hued restaurant as a result of the yearning for lemongrass-glazed pork chops, jasmine rice cooked in hen fats and fermented fish paste-everything is simply too fierce. Wash down the stir-fried pea tendrils and salted beans with a crisp native brew, like Ale Industries’ Golden State of Thoughts, an natural tea beer. Like pho? You’ll love Kuy Teav, a rice noodle soup in pork broth with sliced brisket, minced pork, shrimp, crispy garlic, lime and herbs.
Order: Kuy teav phnom penh, Lok lac, fried hen, cha mee sor glass noodles
Particulars: 3340 E. twelfth St.; www.nyumbai.com; $
Chez TJ, Mountain View: While you’d like a facet of Victoriana along with your dinner

For 37 years, George Aviet’s Michelin-starred restaurant, housed in an enthralling Eighteen Nineties Victorian, has provided a soothing respite from Silicon Valley’s more and more fast-paced world. It’s a menu-free expertise, “leaving you free to benefit from the marvel of your meal with none prior notion or expectations.” That mentioned, some current dishes from government chef Jarad Gallagher — who likes to “preserve one foot previously, one sooner or later” — have included Antelope Tartare, Sous Vide Eggplant with Kaluga Caviar, A-5 Wagyu Beef — and a contemporary cobbler that pays tribute to the Valley of Coronary heart’s Delight with native Andy’s Orchard peaches.
What to order: Though every course is introduced as a shock, you’ll obtain a commemorative copy of the tasting menu on the finish of your dinner.
Particulars: 938 Villa St., Mountain View; www.cheztj.com; $$$$
Commis, Oakland: While you need homegrown expertise — and a tasting menu you’ll always remember

There’s one thing magical — and deeply scrumptious — about sitting at Commis chef-owner James Syhabout’s counter or at one of many slender, elegant eating room’s tables and remembering, course after titillating course, this Oakland native’s journey from California Culinary Academy to Manresa, The Fats Duck, Coi and at last, his personal two-Michelin starred restaurant. Syhabout’s dishes, culled from thoughtfully-sourced substances and exact strategies, will enchant and cling to your reminiscence, whether or not dinner reveals the signature gradual poached egg yolk with smoked dates, alliums and malt, or carrot tartare with lime, shaved younger coconut and mint. You’ll have the meals giggles all evening.
Order: An eight-course menu that begins with that well-known slow-poached egg.
Particulars: 3859 Piedmont Ave., Oakland; https://commisrestaurant.com; $$$$
Protégé, Palo Alto: When an upscale meal on the bar is simply the factor

What number of locations supply a Michelin-caliber meal on the bar — with wine recommendation from a grasp sommelier? That’s Protégé, a classy restaurant from alumni of the French Laundry. Wine professional Dennis Kelly and government chef Anthony Secviar created a two-tier method — a tasting menu within the eating room, an a la carte menu within the lounge — with the informal diner the clear beneficiary. Even the dessert course is essentially the most upscale one you’ll discover in a lounge: A pastry cart will roll round to your perusal. Heads up: Assume reservations a month prematurely.
Order: Ricotta Dumplings and Brick Hen within the bar, prix fixe menu within the eating room
Particulars: 250 S. California Ave., Palo Alto; www.protegepaloalto.com; lounge $$, eating room $$$$
Reem’s California, Oakland: When you might want to show that Oakland’s meals scene is best than San Francisco’s

Cross the bridge, mates, and fall in love with sumac-braised hen, chocolate halawa and Damascus lemonade at this one-of-a-kind Arabic road meals bakery and cafe. Tucked beneath the BART platform on the Fruitvale Transit Village, Reem’s California makes a speciality of contemporary, inexpensive, flavorful oven-baked flatbreads, wraps, salads and distinctive sweets past baklava — suppose ghraybe, orange blossom shortbread cookies, and fatayer jibneh, an akkawi cheese turnover with nigella seeds — in a heat, vivid, colourful store lined with Center Jap cookbooks. Put together to turn into obsessed.
Order: Za’atar man’oushe, muhamarra, pali cali wrap, fattoush salad, each pastry
Particulars: 3301 E. twelfth St., Oakland; www.reemscalifornia.com; $
The Plumed Horse, Saratoga: While you’re a vegetarian however need the total Michelin expertise
Michelin-star eating is usually a problem for vegetarians, what with many eating places requiring advance discover of dietary wants. Not so on the Plumed Horse. Chef Peter Armellino has created a full Vegetarian Tasting Menu and it’s brimming with elegant variations of peak-of season produce: Brentwood Corn Pudding with house-made ricotta, purslane and fava beans; Summer season Melon with shishito peppers and finger lime French dressing, the restaurant’s common Parmesan-Black Pepper Souffle; and 5 different programs.
Order: Meat- and seafood-eaters will discover upscale shows of native lamb loin, dayboat scallops, California sturgeon and extra on the Chef’s Tasting Menu.
Particulars: 14555 Huge Basin Approach, Saratoga; www.plumedhorse.com; $$-$$$$
Ramen Store, Oakland: While you’re keen to pay $18 for ramen
We don’t like paying near $20 for noodle soup any greater than you do. However we’re helpless within the palms of Rockridge’s Ramen Home and their artfully-crafted bowls. We sit on the bar, the very best seat in the home, forking over Andrews as we watch bandana-ed cooks simmering pork bones and sauteing corn (for the butter corn shio ramen, our fave). To make issues worse, the appetizers are equally contemporary and artfully ready with the very best substances doable. So it’s not a case of “Hey guys, wanna seize some ramen tonight?” It’s “I’m craving a bowl of chic, natural noodle soup with non-greasy pork chashu, the proper salt-cured egg and Jimmy Nardello peppers. Wanna?”
Order: Veggie meyer lemon shoyu ramen, butter corn shio ramen, hen karaage
Particulars: 5822 School Ave., Oakland; www.ramenshop.com; $-$$
Taverna, Palo Alto: While you lengthy for the very best crispy hen salad in what seems like Mykonos

Present us a Bay Space restaurant that has a memorable hen salad on its lunch menu and we’ll be your finest pal, particularly when it’s as distinctive and habit-forming as Taverna’s. Right here, hen breast is breaded and fried in shredded phyllo dough and black sesame (yielding an audible crunch) and served atop a salad of gem lettuces, calmly pickled beets and cubes of feta which were tossed in honey mustard dressing. Kokkari and Evvia alums are behind this stylish, stunning farm-to-table spot, the place Greek pop music performs and the wine record has a Hellenic focus.
Order: Crispy hen salad, grilled octopus, complete Pacific kampachi
Particulars: 800 Emerson St., https://tavernarestaurant.squarespace.com; $$-$$$
Juanita and Maude, Albany: While you need neighborhood really feel with flawless meals

Positive, generally you need swanky environment. However our preferrred restaurant is an upscale neighborhood spot, all muted colours and easy really feel, craft cocktails and totally sensational meals — served with out an oz of pretension. This farm-to-fork restaurant will get its identify from chef Scott Eastman’s grandmother and mom, and its chic pastas because of the near-decade the chef spent at Berkeley’s Corso. The remainder of the New American menu is all types of scrumptious cross-cultural enjoyable, from grilled swordfish with inexperienced papaya to grilled portobellos with goat cheese and herb salsa.
Order: Ricotta gnudi with basil pesto and mint, seared New York steak with chimichurri
Particulars: 825 San Pablo Ave., www.juanitaandmaude.com; $$
However wait, there’s extra!
These are Nos. 1-10 on our greatest 50 record. Discover the Greatest 50: Eating places 11-20,
Eating places 21-30, Eating places 31-40 and Eating places 41-50 right here.