Last week, OpenTable released their list of the Top 100 Restaurants in America, and two Bay Area eateries are sitting pretty within the top 10 spots. The rankings were calculated from over 5 million reviews from verified diners at over 20,000 restaurants. While the list included everything from Chinese to Indian to French, the number one spot went to the Californian cuisine at St. Francis Winery & Vineyards in Santa Rosa California. The seventh spot went to another San Francisco favorite, Acquerello, which serves up traditional Italian dishes.
“Even as diners embrace a wide range of concepts from family-style meals to small plates, it’s clear that fine dining and multi-course tasting menus continue to dazzle,” Caroline Potter, OpenTable Chief Dining Officer, said in a press release. “This year’s winners are the restaurants that transcend fads, consistently put out delicious dishes, provide impeccable service, and pay attention to every detail to orchestrate one-of-a-kind experiences, time and again.”
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards took the number one spot and it’s not hard to see why. The award-winning, family-owned winery has been in business for over 42 years and has been making improvements ever since. In 2012, a two-acre garden was planted to give chefs access to fresh food and enhance the restaurant’s farm-to-table experience. Guests can choose a wine and food pairing, a cheese and charcuterie lunch, or private estate dinners. Favorites include the Chermoula Marinated Sea Bass, the Blue Cheese Burger with Chive Aioli and the Toasted Coconut Panna Cotta with Pineapple Salad.
Located in SF’s Nob Hill neighborhood, Acquerello has won many awards in the past including multiple Wine Spectator Grand Awards and two Michelin stars. The restaurant has been open for over two decades serving up classic pairings of Italian cuisine and wine with prix fixe and seasonal tasting menus. Favorites include cannellini filled cappelletti with grilled lemon, kale pesto and pebble beans; pancetta wrapped venison loin with Butternut squash, pear, Chanterelles and red onion jam; and flambéed apple gelato, brown butter, lemon ricotta, yuzu meringue, and bee pollen.
