This list was updated in January 2014. See the most recent version.
It's time to update the Eater 38, your answer and ours to any question that begins, "Can you recommend a restaurant?" This highly elite group covers the entire city, spans myriad cuisines and collectively satisfies all of your restaurant needs. Every few months, we add pertinent restaurants that were omitted, have newly become eligible (restaurants must be open at least six months) or have stepped up their game. And keep in mind, this list is presented in no particular order.
As always, this means we have to drop a few great places, and we continue to wish all the best to the very enjoyable Wayfare Tavern, Bar Crudo, and Zare at Fly Trap. Their spaces are filled by knockout newcomers Rich Table, newly eligible for the list; Commonwealth, which has been getting stellar reports from numerous readers and friends of Eater; and Maven, which is turning out killer meals under its new chef. (If you're looking to find our essential bars, the Eater SF cocktail heatmap has what you're seeking.)
Rather than having a stage-four meltdown over our having excluded your favorite restaurant from the list, wouldn't it be more productive to just nominate it for inclusion?
More Eater Maps:
· The Bay Area Heatmap: New Restaurants to Try NOW
· SF's 20 Most Underrated Restaurants
· The Brunch Heatmap: 12 New Places to Try NOW
· 17 New Bay Area Patios For Outdoor Dining & Drinking
· The 20 Dishes Eater Readers Crave the Most
· Where to Score $1 Oysters in SF