For anyone living in San Francisco or traveling to the Bay Area for business or leisure, the 2008 Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants guide by Michael Bauer and his team at the San Francisco Chronicle which just came out is a big help.
His main problem was that he had 107 of them so the difficult part was which 7 would be taken off the list.
Michael tells us about new picks and changes in Who’s out of the Top 100 — and why.
There are 19 additions including Ubuntu which is not related to the software company of the same name as far as I know.
Ubuntu is a combination Vegetarian Restaurant and Yoga Studio in Napa.
They got a Rave Review by one of the Chowhound members that details nicely items on the menu and draws a parallel with Chez Panisse…
Some of its produce comes from their own biodynamic garden created by Jeff Dawson whose work for Fetzer Vineyards is highlighted in Seeing a Garden as a Chalkboard (NY Times, September 1995).
If atmosphere and a retro touch is what you crave, Shanghai 1930 in San Francisco might do the trick.
Not just Chinese food is on the menu.
It offers the Guanxi Lounge, a members only Cigar Lounge and Live Jazz from Monday through Saturday.
To conclude, whatever brings you to Silicon Valley, forget about business deals or tech for a couple hours, turn off the blackberry or the I Phone and treat yourself to dinner at Plumed Horse in Saratoga.
There is even a Chef Table where you can view chef-owner Peter Armellino at work…
Bon appetit!
Any personal favorites?
Related: Corkage Free at Select Russian River Valley Restaurants: Buy Wine at Sophie’s Cellars
and Cyrus vs French Laundry: Jackie and Ben Excellent Napa/Sonoma Vacation