Michelin Adds 12 NorCal Restaurants To California Guide

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Michelin's Guide guide for California restaurants just added 12 more restaurants throughout Northern California to help foodies indulge the palate.

This Michelin distinction marks restaurants that are a worthy destination or detour on any road trip.

“By revealing some of the new additions made by our inspectors throughout the year, we enhance our digital tools to further strengthen the ties that bind us to food lovers,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the MICHELIN Guides. “We hope that these regular revelations and updates to the selection throughout the year will provide opportunities to highlight the profession and invite everyone to discover and support the restaurants around them.”

From Geyserville to Arroyo Grande, Michelin inspectors said these 12 restaurants are worth a visit.

Sonoma County

Just one restaurant in the county was added to the California Michelin Guide, Cyrus in Geyserville. The restaurant opened after a 10-year hiatus and several false starts just two months ago at the beginning of September.

"Celebrated wine country chef Douglas Keane has returned to the fore with his re-launch of Cyrus in Geyserville," a Michelin inspector said. "Dinner is an ebullient experience that progresses from canapes and Champagne in the lounge, to small bites in the kitchen, and concludes with substantial compositions in the dining room."

San Franciso

Four restaurants in San Francisco received Michelin ratings, including Itria in the Mission District. The handmade pasta, lively crowd and modern Italian cooking bring a light touch to classic flavors and show decadence in simplicity.

Ken, a six-seat omakase counter in the Lower Haight, offers an intimate and cozy experience.

Also in the Mission District, Osito is a community-driven live fire restaurant.

"Chef Seth Stowaway puts his heart, soul, and even his nickname (osito means "little bear") into this rustic, lodge-like spot where live fire cooking takes center stage," a Michelin inspector said. "Warmth radiates from the central hearth and from the supremely hospitable staff."

Rounding out the list of San Francisco restaurants is Yuji, which just opened in Japantown in April. The 12-course menu specializing in kappo cuisine reflects the seasons featuring a progression of dishes.

Oakland

Two restaurants in Oakland impressed Michelin inspectors.

Bird & Buffalo's casual rustic ambiance offers delicious selections of Thai soul food.

"Picnic tables gift-wrapped with colorful plastic tablecloths and unhurried, nonchalant service readily evoke the casual roadside restaurants scattered throughout Thailand — and happily, so do the multifaceted, punchy flavors," a Michelin inspector said.

What started as a pandemic pop-up for fine dining, transformed into a restaurant space perfect for a family-style format with Oakland's Hi Felicia.

"The transformation of a popular underground supper club into a fully formed brick and mortar may sound like a familiar tale, but rest assured that there’s nothing formulaic about this East Bay iconoclast, whose name is a clue to the kind of exuberant irreverence diners should expect," a Michelin inspector said.

Wine Country

Michelin honored five restaurants on the Central Coast with ratings for any wine-country day trips.

The Hatch in downtown Paso Robles was added for its delicious rotisserie and roasted chicken, which the Michelin inspector said is a must-order. Also in Paso Robles, Les Petites Canailles has several entrées, but the inspector was most impressed by the "perfectly cooked" steaks.

Known for new American cuisine, the Paso Robles restaurant in bloom also made the list.

"Executive Chef Kenny Seliger and Executive Sous Chef Ron Frazier take the now-classic Californian menu and give it a clever update (sweet parsnip cannoli, anyone?) at in bloom," a Michelin inspector said. "Their cooking is confident, and their dishes really come alive."

Just a short drive further south will bring you to Nate's on Marsh in downtown San Luis Obispo. The inspector especially loved the service on top of classic dishes and riffs on favorites that any food lover would enjoy.

The last restaurant honored on the Central Coast was Ember in Arroyo Grande. Matched with the industrial-rustic interior, the heartfelt and down-to-earth cooking was comforting, the inspector said.

The entire selection of the 37 added restaurants will be fêted on Dec.5 at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Restaurant teams will find out their Michelin Guide distinctions at the ceremony, which will be streamed live, the company said.