Michelin Stars Light Up Bay Area in 10th Edition of Famed Restaurant Guide

Manresa earns three stars, Commis and Campton Place move up to two stars

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 21, 2015 – Michelin today announced its highly regarded star selections for the 10th edition of the MICHELIN Guide San Francisco Bay Area & Wine Country.

In the latest and 10^th anniversary edition of the storied restaurant Guide, another restaurant joins the elite group of three-star designations; two restaurants move up to two stars; and 15 new restaurants earn one star.

At the top, Manresa becomes the first three-starred restaurant in East Bay where Chef David Kinch is a master of farm-driven seasonal cooking. Manresa joins fellow three stars The French Laundry and The Restaurant at Meadowood, which have held the honor perennially.  Additionally, Benu and Saison retain their distinction of three stars, having earned them in the previous year’s guide. Worldwide, only about 100 restaurants hold three stars.

In the two-star category, seven restaurants across the region offer “excellent cuisine, worth a detour.”  Moving up in the ranks are Campton Place and Commis. At Campton Place, Chef Srijith Gopinathan is serving a menu that highlights the Indian and South Asian flavors of his heritage. Chef James Syhabout’s contemporary establishment, Commis, is the first two-star restaurant in the East Bay and continues to impress Michelin inspectors with his flavors and technique.

With more one stars than ever, 38 Bay area restaurants offer diverse yet quality cuisine.  Standouts include new hotspots from distinguished Michelin chefs: Chef Mourad Lahlou’s eponymous Mourad joins Aziza in offering delicious Moroccan cuisine worthy of a star and Chef Melissa Perello (Frances) is impressing diners with bold and fun flavors at her new spot, Octavia. Also new and noteworthy is The Lazy Bear, a popular former pop-up, and Kin Khao, a Thai Bib Gourmand that is being promoted to one star. The list also welcomes newly located All-Spice, as well as Al’s Place, Aster, Californios, Commonwealth, Lord Stanley, Nico, Omakase, Rasa, Sushi Yoshizumi and Wako.

“The number of new restaurants in all categories, including Bib Gourmands, demonstrates the growth and fortitude of the level of cuisine found on the West Coast,” says Michael Ellis, international director of the MICHELIN Guide.  “Over the last 10 years, our inspectors continue to be more impressed with the level of cooking that can be found across the entire region.”

The MICHELIN Guide San Francisco Bay Area & Wine Country 2016 goes on sale Wednesday, Oct. 27, for $18.99. A total of 505 restaurants representing 53 different cuisines are listed.

San Francisco MICHELIN Guide 2016 Starred Establishments

Three Stars

Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey

Two Stars

Excellent cuisine, worth a detour

One Star

A very good restaurant in its category