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Down the Road: The Best S.F. Restaurants Not in S.F.

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Down The Road is sponsored by Lexus, makers of the new seven-passenger 2014 GX. With a sleek combination of utility, capability and connectivity, the GX is the perfect vehicle for your next great adventure outside of the city.
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Surrounded by some of the country's most renowned restaurants, San Franciscans might forget that some of the area's finest culinary destinations lie on the outskirts of the city—or, dare we say, in the suburbs. Eater and the new 2014 Lexus GX have collected eight of the best San Francisco-area restaurants that aren't, well, in San Francisco. From the dazzling ocean view at Big Sur's Sierra Mar at the Post Ranch Inn to the convivial Bull Valley Roadhouse in once-forgotten Port Costa, find the perfect destination for your next culinary adventure.

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Manresa

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Thanks to an exclusive relationship with gardener Cynthia Sandberg, Silicon Valley's best restaurant is able to source the freshest ingredients. James Beard Award-winner David Kinch prepares hyper-seasonal tasting menus that emphasize the local produce.

Meadowood

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Christopher Kostow's Napa Valley blockbuster recently took home three coveted Michelin stars and the chef himself was named Best Chef: West by the James Beard Foundation. The nightly ten-course tasting menu is far from cheap, but it's also one of California's finest meals.

Sir And Star at the Olema

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Set inside the former Olema Inn—and, by the way, practically atop the San Andreas Fault—this locavore heaven sources its produce from within a ten-mile radius of the restaurant, drawing on the agricultural bounty of Point Reyes. Best of all, the prices are reasonable, with no entree priced at more than $20 and a hearty tasting menu for $75.

Pacific's Edge Restaurant

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As the name suggests, Pacific's Edge enjoys an enviable position overlooking the stunning Carmel coastline. Despite views that would excuse mediocrity, the food remains a priority, with specialties like Maine dayboat scallops and a Niman Ranch ribeye.

Aubergine

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A former professional figure skater with Disney on Ice, chef Justin Cogley made a smooth transition to the culinary world, working under Chicago legend Charlie Trotter before opening 12-table Aubergine and winning the title of Food & Wine's Best New Chef 2013.

Bull Valley Roadhouse

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Located in the beyond-quaint bayside village of Port Costa, the Bull Valley Roadhouse cooks up crowd pleasing American classics using the produce of local farms. Restaurateurs Earl Flewellen and Samuel Spurrier are also behind the restoration of the Burlington Hotel, just next door.

Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn

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A 2.5-hour drive from downtown San Francisco, Sierra Mar rewards commitment with some of the most spectacular vistas on the West Coast. Thankfully, this well-regarded dining room is attached to the Post Ranch Inn, saving satisfied diners from having to brave the return trek.

Madrona Manor

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Inside a 17-room Victorian mansion in the rolling countryside of Healdsburg, Madrona Manor is a luxurious step back in time. The menu combines the best local produce with ingredients sourced from as far away as Japan and Bulgaria.

Manresa

Thanks to an exclusive relationship with gardener Cynthia Sandberg, Silicon Valley's best restaurant is able to source the freshest ingredients. James Beard Award-winner David Kinch prepares hyper-seasonal tasting menus that emphasize the local produce.

Meadowood

Christopher Kostow's Napa Valley blockbuster recently took home three coveted Michelin stars and the chef himself was named Best Chef: West by the James Beard Foundation. The nightly ten-course tasting menu is far from cheap, but it's also one of California's finest meals.

Sir And Star at the Olema

Set inside the former Olema Inn—and, by the way, practically atop the San Andreas Fault—this locavore heaven sources its produce from within a ten-mile radius of the restaurant, drawing on the agricultural bounty of Point Reyes. Best of all, the prices are reasonable, with no entree priced at more than $20 and a hearty tasting menu for $75.

Pacific's Edge Restaurant

As the name suggests, Pacific's Edge enjoys an enviable position overlooking the stunning Carmel coastline. Despite views that would excuse mediocrity, the food remains a priority, with specialties like Maine dayboat scallops and a Niman Ranch ribeye.

Aubergine

A former professional figure skater with Disney on Ice, chef Justin Cogley made a smooth transition to the culinary world, working under Chicago legend Charlie Trotter before opening 12-table Aubergine and winning the title of Food & Wine's Best New Chef 2013.

Bull Valley Roadhouse

Located in the beyond-quaint bayside village of Port Costa, the Bull Valley Roadhouse cooks up crowd pleasing American classics using the produce of local farms. Restaurateurs Earl Flewellen and Samuel Spurrier are also behind the restoration of the Burlington Hotel, just next door.

Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn

A 2.5-hour drive from downtown San Francisco, Sierra Mar rewards commitment with some of the most spectacular vistas on the West Coast. Thankfully, this well-regarded dining room is attached to the Post Ranch Inn, saving satisfied diners from having to brave the return trek.

Madrona Manor

Inside a 17-room Victorian mansion in the rolling countryside of Healdsburg, Madrona Manor is a luxurious step back in time. The menu combines the best local produce with ingredients sourced from as far away as Japan and Bulgaria.

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