Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in San Francisco

A world renowned name in the culinary industry, Chez Panisse is known for their innovations in tastes and flavors.Started by Alice Walkers in 1971, it was named after the movie character Honore Panisse. Prepared with fresh, local produce, the restaurant is a spectacular specimen of fine dining. The menu changes daily and is curated keeping the seasonality of ingredients. Through the week, delicacies like Striped bass carpaccio with cardoons and Titone olio nuovo and Huckleberry and Meyer lemon ice creams meringata are served, to name a few. The wine list is extensive, featuring dozens of wines from across the world. With contributions like California style pizza to the ever changing culinary world, the Chez Panisse is no less than a legend.

Intimate and exclusive, Keiko à Nob Hill offers a truly world class dining experience to the true connoisseur of fine food. The restaurant features sophisticated decor and the perfect setting for a romantic meal. This sophistication and focus on every sense through taste, texture and flavor is perfectly reflected in the meticulous preparation of each dish. The concept is a unique one, with one seating per night with a fixed price 13-15 course tasting menu that can be paired with wine or for the more discerning palate, the Magnifique Wine pairing with the chef's hand picked vintage selection. Japanese flavors combine with classic French technique to create a unique fusion of the two with dishes like Hokkaido’ Uni Capellini with Caviar, A5 Wagyu with Yuzu-Soy Foam, Honwasabi and Bluefin Tuna ‘Toro’. Reservations are recommended as seating is limited.

This fine dining restaurant takes pride in structuring their menu around seasonal and locally grown and produced ingredients. An eight course prix fixe menu features seasonal contemporary dishes that change frequently. Wine pairings are also available as well as their good selection of wines by the bottle or by the glass. This modern, contemporary space and dining experience should not be missed for lovers of exquisitely prepared food.

Come here for delicious, freshly made food from Greece, North Africa and the Near East. You will be surrounded with blue tiles, wine bottles and an airy atmosphere. It offers delicious favorites like hummus and pita, dolmas, baba ganoush and tabbouleh all made from scratch. For vegetarians, it offers Armenian potato salad and a vegetarian assortment platter. Carnivores have lamb kebabs, pomegranate chicken and occasional fish dishes. The phyllo pastries (chicken, spinach and cheese, and meat) are perennial favorites, as is the baklava. Find house wines, with an ever-changing variety of vintages and a full bar.

Locals come to Acquerello on special occasions to enjoy meals that combine the best aspects of Italy and California. The incredibly artful dishes, prepared with extra care and tender love, please the palate and sate an empty stomach. The menu is prix fixe only, starting with three courses. If you find it difficult to choose from among the restaurant's 700 bottles of wine, the knowledgeable wait staff is happy to suggest a selection sure to complement your food. Atmosphere is formal, so jackets are suggested for men, and sandals, sneakers and t-shirts should be avoided. This restaurant is a recipient of the coveted Michelin Star award.

Atelier Crenn is located in San Francisco's Cow Hollow neighborhood. Chef and owner Dominique Crenn presents rotating menus of dishes that combine classic flavors and molecular gastronomy for a truly unique experience. Diners have the option to choose between the chef's tasting menu or the vegetarian tasting menu (nine courses) or a more economical four course prix fixe menu. In addition to their Michelin-starred cuisine, Atelier Crenn also provides impeccable service for an unforgettable dining experience.