San Francisco’s Michelin-Starred Restaurants
San Francisco's restaurants are known for melding Californian cuisine with a broad spectrum of global culinary influences. And this trick has certainly paid off: The city’s diverse offerings have earned their fair share of celestial acclaim. Some of our favorite hotel restaurants, in particular, are attracting the Michelin Man’s attention. Serving up unique and creative meals — often inspired by the California coastline — these restaurants are sure to leave diners salivating for more. Dig into our some of our faves below!
Campton Place Restaurant at Campton Place Taj Hotel (pictured above)
The Campton Place restaurant is not just another hotel restaurant, but is its own institution with a distinguished reputation. Serving a fascinating mix of Mediterranean and Californian cuisine, with distinct French and Asian influences, Campton Place is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Only a pre-fixe meal is offered for dinner. At Campton Place, you'll find fine dining with all its trappings: white tablecloth and leather booths, poised servers in suits, and a wine cellar containing over 1,500 vintages. A beautiful blown glass bouquet hangs in the middle of the room, aptly signifying the delicacy and exquisiteness of the restaurant's dishes. The staff here is obviously a point of pride: Chef Srijith Gopinathan has worked in the kitchen of a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Oxford, England, and the Master Sommelier, Richard Dean, is one of only 150 people in the world to actively hold that title. Their leadership is top class; servers were extremely knowledgeable and attentive, without being snooty.
Ame opened in 2005 to much critical and popular acclaim, offering a mixture of Japanese and new American cuisine that is still a hit with locals and visitors alike. The chefs Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani, renowned for their Napa Valley debut restaurant Terra, create a menu that mixes fresh Californian ingredients with Japanese and New American cooking techniques. Ame is open only for dinner -- a five course tasting menu is available -- but a few select dishes are also available at the lobby bar for lunch. The sleek and stylish setting of Ame's dining room sets the tone for the delicious meals to come.
Luce was awarded a Michelin star three years consecutively for Chef Dominique Crenn's New American cuisine, including such house specialties as braised short ribs with haricot verts, roasted cipollini, and horseradish and roasted local organic chicken with slow-cooked egg, corn, and bacon bread salad. More recently, the Versailles-born chef was invited to participate in the Food Network series The Next Iron Chef. A comfortable setting appropriate for all three meals, guests are charmed by the simple elegance of Luce's dining area.
Michael Mina opened his fifth Bourbon Steak restaurant in the Westin St. Francis in December 2010. Executive Chef Omri Aflalo, who did an externship with Mina while at the Culinary Institute of America, is at the helm of the San Francisco locale. The broad menu includes some of Mina's greatest hits, including lobster corn dogs, black truffle popcorn, and lobster pot pie. As far as the steak, notable options are a 28-ounce Porterhouse, an 18-ounce bone-in rib-eye, and a 6-ounce Australian Wagyu strip. It's the highlight of the hotel's dining options.
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