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Bay Area Restaurants Shine in 2012 Michelin Guide

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

See following for 2012 MICHELIN Guide listing of starred establishments and Bib Gourmand restaurants.

San Francisco MICHELIN guide 2012

Summary

                        Selected establishments
                        -----------------------
    Hotels
              Particularly pleasant establishments                    19
    Restaurants
              Particularly pleasant establishments                    43
              Bib Gourmands = (Good food at moderate price)           77
              Small plates 5 (unique menu, ambience and service)      13
              Offering a meal under $25                              113
              Notable cocktail program                                65
              Notable wine list                                       73
              Notable sake list                                       15
              Restaurants serving breakfast                           40
              3 Star: (Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey)   2
              2 Star: (Excellent cuisine, worth a detour)              6
              1 Star: (A very good restaurant in its category)        39
              Cuisine types starred restaurants                       12
              Cuisine types reflected in selection                    46
              ------------------------------------                   ---

San Francisco MICHELIN guide 2012

Starred establishments

3 Star

Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey

    Area              District     Establishment        Chef
    ----              --------     -------------        ----
    Wine Country -                  French Laundry
     Napa Valley                    (The)               Thomas Keller
    Wine Country -                  Restaurant at        Christopher
     Napa Valley                    Meadowood            Kostow
    --------------                  -------------        -----------

2 Star

Excellent cuisine, worth a detour

    Area              District          Establishment
    ----              --------          -------------
    South Bay                           Baume
    San Francisco     SoMa              Benu
    San Francisco     North Beach       Coi
    Wine Country -
     Sonoma County                      Cyrus
    South Bay                           Manresa
    San Francisco     Mission           Saison
    -------------     -------           ------

1 Star

A very good restaurant in its category

    Area              District          Establishment
    San Francisco     Nob Hill          Acquerello
    South Bay                           Alexander's Steakhouse
    San Francisco     SoMa              Ame
    Wine Country -
     Sonoma County                      Applewood
    San Francisco     Marina            Atelier Crenn
    Wine Country -
     Napa Valley                        Auberge du Soleil
                       Richmond &
    San Francisco      Sunset           Aziza
    Wine Country -
     Napa Valley                        Bouchon
    San Francisco     SoMa              Boulevard
                       Financial
    San Francisco      District         Campton Place
    South Bay                           Chez TJ
    East Bay                            Commis
    South Bay                           Dio Deka
    Wine Country -
     Napa Valley                        etoile
    Wine Country -
     Sonoma County                      Farmhouse Inn & Rest.
                       Financial
    San Francisco      District         Fleur de Lys
    San Francisco     Castro            Frances
    San Francisco     North Beach       Gary Danko
    Peninsula                           La Costanera
    San Francisco     Nob Hill          La Folie
    Wine Country -
     Napa Valley                        La Toque
    San Francisco     SoMa              Luce
    Peninsula                           Madera
    Wine Country -
     Sonoma County                      Madrona Manor
    San Francisco     Nob Hill          Masa's
                       Financial
    San Francisco      District         Michael Mina
    San Francisco     SoMa              One Market
    South Bay                           Plumed Horse
    San Francisco     North Beach       Quince
    Wine Country -
     Napa Valley                        Redd
    Wine Country -
     Sonoma County                      Sante
    Wine Country -
     Napa Valley                        Solbar
    San Francisco     Nob Hill          Sons & Daughters
    San Francisco     Marina            Spruce
    Wine Country -
     Napa Valley                        Terra
    Wine Country -
     Sonoma County                      Terrapin Creek
    Wine Country -
     Napa Valley                        Ubuntu
    Peninsula                           Village Pub (The)
    Peninsula                           Wakuriya

San Francisco MICHELIN guide 2012

Bib Gourmands

    Area                         District          Establishment
    ----                         --------          -------------
    San Francisco                Marina            A 16
    East Bay                                       Artisan Bistro
    San Francisco                Mission           Bar Bambino
    San Francisco                Mission           Bar Tartine
    Wine Country-Napa Valley                       BarBersQ
    East Bay                                       Bay Wolf
    East Bay                                       Bellanico
    San Francisco                Marina            Betelnut
    Wine Country-Sonoma County                     Bistro 29
    San Francisco                Marina            Bistro Aix
    Wine Country-Napa Valley                       Bistro Jeanty
    Wine Country-Sonoma County                     Boon Eat + Drink
    Wine Country-Napa Valley                       Bottega
                                  Richmond &
    San Francisco                 Sunset           Burma Superstar
    Wine Country-Napa Valley                       C Casa
                                  Richmond &
    San Francisco                 Sunset           Chapeau!
    East Bay                                       Chevalier
    East Bay                                       Chu
                                  Financial
    San Francisco                 District         Colibri
    San Francisco                Castro            Contigo
    Wine Country-Napa Valley                       Cook St. Helena
    East Bay                                       Corso
    San Francisco                North Beach       Cotogna
    Peninsula                                      Crouching Tiger
    Wine Country-Sonoma County                     Cucina Paradiso
    San Francisco                Marina            Delarosa
    San Francisco                Mission           Delfina
    San Francisco                Civic Center      Domo
    San Francisco                Marina            Dosa
    East Bay                                       eVe
    Wine Country-Napa Valley                       Fish Story
    East Bay                                       FIVE
    San Francisco                Mission           flour + water
    San Francisco                SoMa              Fringale
    East Bay                                       Gather
    South Bay                                      Hachi Ju Hachi
    East Bay                                       Hibiscus
    Wine Country-Sonoma County                     Hot Box Grill
    San Francisco                Castro            Incanto
    Marin                                          Insalata's
    East Bay                                       Ippuku
    Wine Country-Sonoma County                     K & L Bistro
    South Bay                                      Kabab & Curry's
                                  Richmond &
    San Francisco                 Sunset           Kappou Gomi
    Peninsula                                      Kitchen (The)
    San Francisco                North Beach       Kokkari Estiatorio
    Wine Country-Sonoma County                     LaSalette
    East Bay                                       Laurus
    San Francisco                SoMa              Le Charm
    Marin                                          Le Garage
    San Francisco                Marina            Mamacita
    Marin                                          Marinitas
    Wine Country-Sonoma County                     Monti's Rotisserie
                                  Richmond &
    San Francisco                 Sunset           Namu
    Wine Country-Napa Valley                       Oenotri
    Peninsula                                      Osteria Coppa
                                  Financial
    San Francisco                 District         Perbacco
    East Bay                                       Pican
    East Bay                                       Plum
    Wine Country-Sonoma County                     Risibisi
    East Bay                                       Rivoli
    Wine Country-Sonoma County                     Sazon
    Wine Country-Sonoma County                     Scopa
                                  Financial
    San Francisco                 District         Slanted Door (The)
    San Francisco                Mission           Slow Club
    San Francisco                Marina            Sociale
    San Francisco                Marina            SPQR
    San Francisco                Castro            Starbelly
    South Bay                                      Sumika
    Marin                                          Sushi Ran
    East Bay                                       Thai House
    Wine Country-Sonoma County                     the girl & the fig
                                  Richmond &
    San Francisco                 Sunset           Troya
    Wine Country-Sonoma County                     Willi's Wine Bar
    East Bay                                       Wood Tavern
    San Francisco                SoMa              Yank Sing
    San Francisco                SoMa              Zero Zero
    -------------                ----              ---------

SOURCE Michelin