



















































































































































Photo: Sarah Rice / Special to The Chronicle Image 1 of / 38 Caption Close Image 2 of 38 THREE STARS: The Restaurant at Meadowood, Napa Valley THREE STARS: The Restaurant at Meadowood, Napa Valley Photo: Creel Films / Handout Image 3 of 38 TWO STARS: Atelier Crenn, San Francisco TWO STARS: Atelier Crenn, San Francisco Photo: Alex Washburn / The Chronicle Image 4 of 38 TWO STARS: Baumé, Palo Alto TWO STARS: Baumé, Palo Alto Photo: Noah Berger / Special to The Chronicle Image 5 of 38 TWO STARS: Benu, San Francisco TWO STARS: Benu, San Francisco Photo: John Storey / John Storey Image 6 of 38 TWO STARS: Coi, San Francisco TWO STARS: Coi, San Francisco Photo: Laura Morton / Special to The Chronicle Image 7 of 38 TWO STARS: Manresa, Los Gatos TWO STARS: Manresa, Los Gatos Photo: Sean Culligan / The Chronicle Image 8 of 38 TWO STARS: Quince, San Francisco TWO STARS: Quince, San Francisco Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle Image 9 of 38 TWO STARS: Saison, San Francisco TWO STARS: Saison, San Francisco Photo: John Storey / Special to the Chronicle Image 10 of 38 ONE STAR: Acquerello, San Francisco ONE STAR: Acquerello, San Francisco Photo: Daniel Morris / Handout Image 11 of 38 ONE STAR: All Spice, San Mateo ONE STAR: All Spice, San Mateo Photo: Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle Image 12 of 38 ONE STAR: Ame, San Francisco ONE STAR: Ame, San Francisco Photo: Laura Morton / Special to The Chronicle Image 13 of 38 ONE STAR: Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley ONE STAR: Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley Photo: Jason Henry / Special To The Chronicle Image 14 of 38 ONE STAR: Aziza, San Francisco ONE STAR: Aziza, San Francisco Photo: Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle Image 15 of 38 ONE STAR: Bouchon, Yountville ONE STAR: Bouchon, Yountville Photo: Jason Henry / Special To The Chronicle Image 16 of 38 ONE STAR: Boulevard, San Francisco ONE STAR: Boulevard, San Francisco Photo: Sarah Rice / Special to The Chronicle Image 17 of 38 ONE STAR: Campton Place, San Francisco ONE STAR: Campton Place, San Francisco Photo: Christina Koci / The Chronicle Image 18 of 38 ONE STAR: Chez TJ, Mountain View ONE STAR: Chez TJ, Mountain View Photo: Chez TJ Image 19 of 38 ONE STAR: Commis, Oakland ONE STAR: Commis, Oakland Photo: Mike Kepka / The Chronicle Image 20 of 38 ONE STAR: The Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant, Sonoma County ONE STAR: The Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant, Sonoma County Photo: Kirk Seward / Courtesy to The Chronicle Image 21 of 38 ONE STAR: Gary Danko, San Francisco ONE STAR: Gary Danko, San Francisco Photo: Michael Macor / The Chronicle Image 22 of 38 ONE STAR: Keiko a Nob Hill, San Francisco ONE STAR: Keiko a Nob Hill, San Francisco Photo: John Storey / John Storey Image 23 of 38 ONE STAR: La Folie, San Francisco. ONE STAR: La Folie, San Francisco. Photo: Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle Image 24 of 38 ONE STAR: La Toque, Napa ONE STAR: La Toque, Napa Photo: Lacy Atkins / The Chronicle Image 25 of 38 ONE STAR: Luce, San Francisco ONE STAR: Luce, San Francisco Photo: Liz Hafalia / SFC Image 26 of 38 ONE STAR: Madera, Menlo Park ONE STAR: Madera, Menlo Park Photo: John Storey / Special to the Chronicle Image 27 of 38 ONE STAR: Madrona Manor, Healdsburg ONE STAR: Madrona Manor, Healdsburg Photo: Michael Bauer / The Chronicle Image 28 of 38 ONE STAR: Michael Mina Restaurant, San Francisco ONE STAR: Michael Mina Restaurant, San Francisco Photo: John Storey / Special to the Chronicle Image 29 of 38 ONE STAR: Plumed Horse, Saratoga ONE STAR: Plumed Horse, Saratoga Photo: Katy Raddatz / The Chronicle Image 30 of 38 ONE STAR: Solbar, Calistoga ONE STAR: Solbar, Calistoga Photo: Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle Image 31 of 38 ONE STAR: Sons & Daughters, San Francisco ONE STAR: Sons & Daughters, San Francisco Photo: Rachel Garrison Image 32 of 38 ONE STAR: SPQR, San Francisco ONE STAR: SPQR, San Francisco Photo: Laura Morton / Special to The Chronicle Image 33 of 38 ONE STAR: Spruce, San Francisco ONE STAR: Spruce, San Francisco Photo: Katy Raddatz / The Chronicle Image 34 of 38 ONE STAR: State Bird Provisions, San Francisco. ONE STAR: State Bird Provisions, San Francisco. Photo: John Storey / The Chronicle Image 35 of 38 ONE STAR: Terra, Napa Valley ONE STAR: Terra, Napa Valley Photo: John Storey / The Chronicle Image 36 of 38 ONE STAR: Terrapin Creek, Sonoma County ONE STAR: Terrapin Creek, Sonoma County Image 37 of 38 ONE STAR: Village Pub, Woodside ONE STAR: Village Pub, Woodside Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Image 38 of 38 ONE STAR: Wakuriya, San Mateo ONE STAR: Wakuriya, San Mateo Photo: Hardy Wilson / The Chronicle Michelin releases 2014 San Francisco Bay Area Guide: Quince, State Bird Provisions shine 1 / 38 Back to Gallery

It’s Michelin Day, and as always, the local restaurant community and their Twitter accounts are abuzz with this year’s crop of star selections.

Compared to years past, the 2014 edition of the French guide is …. relatively static. The biggest news is that Quince — Michael and Lindsay Tusk’s Jackson Square restaurant that already holds a perfect four stars from the Chronicle’s Michael Bauer — has been elevated to the two-star level.

Aside from the Quince promotion, the two top tiers stayed the same, with the French Laundry and the Restaurant at Meadowood remaining alone at the top, renewing their respective perfect three stars. The full list of the 38 starred restaurants is in the gallery above, as well as in list form below.

Other talking points about this year’s list:

Quince promoted from one star to two stars . It’s the third consecutive year that the region has seen a new two-star restaurant, following on the heels of 2013 (Atelier Crenn) and 2012 (Saison, Benu, Baume). Previously, there was a five year drought, dating back to Coi’s 2008 induction. Also, is Quince the only husband-and-wife-owned restaurant in America on the two-star level?

. It’s the third consecutive year that the region has seen a new two-star restaurant, following on the heels of 2013 (Atelier Crenn) and 2012 (Saison, Benu, Baume). Previously, there was a five year drought, dating back to Coi’s 2008 induction. Also, is Quince the only husband-and-wife-owned restaurant in America on the two-star level? Quince’s pricetag. It’s also worth noting that Quince is the most affordable 2-star restaurant on the list, with a $158 tasting menu. This price is lower than its tasting menu counterparts at Atelier Crenn ($180), Baume ($198), Benu ($195), Coi ($175), Manresa ($185) and Saison ($248). [Note: Quince, Crenn and Manresa offer shorter menus for less as well.]

It’s also worth noting that Quince is the most affordable 2-star restaurant on the list, with a $158 tasting menu. This price is lower than its tasting menu counterparts at Atelier Crenn ($180), Baume ($198), Benu ($195), Coi ($175), Manresa ($185) and Saison ($248). [Note: Quince, Crenn and Manresa offer shorter menus for less as well.] Only one addition: State Bird Provisions is the only newcomer to the list, and it comes in on the one-star level. If our research is correct, the one addition is the fewest amount of new additions to the Bay Area list since the list began eight years ago.

State Bird Provisions is the only newcomer to the list, and it comes in on the one-star level. If our research is correct, the one addition is the fewest amount of new additions to the Bay Area list since the list began eight years ago. Saison clocks in at two stars . Given that this is the first edition of the Michelin Guide to opine on Saison’s new multi-million dollar location in SoMa, many were curious as to where the revamped version of the most expensive restaurant in San Francisco would land. For the third consecutive year, it notched two stars.

. Given that this is the first edition of the Michelin Guide to opine on Saison’s new multi-million dollar location in SoMa, many were curious as to where the revamped version of the most expensive restaurant in San Francisco would land. For the third consecutive year, it notched two stars. Five restaurants lost stars. Masa’s, which closed, was a given to lose a star, as was La Costanera down the coast, because it was included in last week’s Bib Gourmand selections. The other restaurants to lose their sole star are Alexander’s Steakhouse (Cupertino), Frances and Redd. Frances has boasted a star since it opened; Yountville destination Redd has held its stars since 2008.

Masa’s, which closed, was a given to lose a star, as was La Costanera down the coast, because it was included in last week’s Bib Gourmand selections. The other restaurants to lose their sole star are Alexander’s Steakhouse (Cupertino), Frances and Redd. Frances has boasted a star since it opened; Yountville destination Redd has held its stars since 2008. Which other local restaurants still deserve a star? Cases can certainly be made for a number of restaurants: Fifth Floor, AQ, Commonwealth, Parallel 37, Rich Table. Also of note: Chez Panisse has not regained its star since losing it in 2011. Share your votes in the comments.

The full list of 2014 Michelin stars for the San Francisco Bay Area:

***

Three Stars (Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey)

The French Laundry, Napa Valley

The Restaurant at Meadowood, Napa Valley

Two Stars (Excellent cuisine, worth a detour)

Atelier Crenn, San Francisco

Baumé, Palo Alto

Benu, San Francisco

Coi, San Francisco

Manresa, Los Gatos

Quince, San Francisco

Saison, San Francisco

One Star (A very good restaurant in its category)

Acquerello, San Francisco

All Spice, San Mateo

Ame, San Francisco

Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley

Aziza, San Francisco

Bouchon, Napa Valley

Boulevard, San Francisco

Campton Place, San Francisco

Chez TJ, Mountain View

Commis, Oakland

Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant, Sonoma County

Gary Danko, San Francisco

Keiko à Nob Hill, San Francisco

La Folie, San Francisco

La Toque, Napa Valley

Luce, San Francisco SoMa Luce

Madera, Menlo Park

Madrona Manor, Sonoma County

Michael Mina, San Francisco

Plumed Horse, Saratoga

Solbar, Napa Valley

Sons & Daughters, San Francisco

SPQR, San Francisco

Spruce, San Francisco

State Bird Provisions, San Francisco

Terra, Napa Valley

Terrapin Creek, Sonoma County

The Village Pub, Woodside

Wakuriya, San Mateo

· Previously: Michelin announces 2014 San Francisco Bay Area Bib Gourmand selections [Inside Scoop]