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Kassie Borreson

45 Michelin-Starred Restaurants Have Returned in the SF Bay Area

Many of the Bay’s most acclaimed fine dining restaurants have returned to shine again for reopening

by Luke Tsai and Becky Duffett Updated
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by Luke Tsai and Becky Duffett Updated
Kassie Borreson

With dining rooms shuttered across the region, restaurants pivoted during the pandemic — even those ritziest, most highly regarded restaurants: the ones with Michelin stars. There were a dazzling 62 restaurants awarded stars in Northern California in 2019, which turned out to be the last time that would happen for quite a while. Once the pandemic hit, the Michelin guide first paused the awards, then decided to cancel them altogether, which means they didn’t give out any stars in 2020, and it remains to be seen when they might resume in 2021.

But for fans of fine dining, many of these starred restaurants remained open, first attempting takeout and delivery, offering a rare chance to see top chefs putting out a humbler, more accessible style of food, and finally now reopening for sit-down dining, bringing back the luxurious tasting menus. Here are 45 Michelin-starred restaurants that are still shining in the San Francisco Bay Area. (Please note, the following list only includes the restaurants that are open at the time of publication — check back as others reopen in coming months.)

The latest CDC guidance for vaccinated diners during the COVID-19 outbreak is here; dining out still carries risks for unvaccinated diners and workers. Please be aware of changing local rules, and check individual restaurant websites for any additional restrictions such as mask requirements. Find a local vaccination site here.

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Harbor House Inn

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For the first half of the coronavirus shutdown, chef Matt Kammerer’s restaurant on the Mendocino coast pivoted to $18-a-person to-go dinners, but the restaurant reopened its back deck in the spring to serve its $220 tasting menu outdoors, and has now resumed the full experience indoors.

5600 CA-1, Elk, CA 95432
(707) 877-3203
(707) 877-3203

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SingleThread Farm - Restaurant - Inn

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The Healdsburg hot reservation offered outdoor dining and farm dinners, but it’s now completely reopened and rolling out its usual tasting menu of ten courses for $375.

131 North St, Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 723-4646
(707) 723-4646
Chicken meatball tan tan nabe at SingleThread SingleThread

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The Kitchen Restaurant

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The only Michelin-starred restaurant in Sacramento has returned with limited indoor reservations for eight courses starring local, seasonal ingredients. Pre-pandemic, they were known for the “intermission” tour of the kitchen, which isn’t possible at the moment, but regardless, diners are thrilled to be back.

2225 Hurley Way, Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 568-7171
(916) 568-7171
Slow Braised Beef Short Rib at the Kitchen Selland Family Restaurants

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Auberge du Soleil

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The one-star restaurant at this five-star hotel is doing outdoor dining on the terrace with a view over wine country, and they claim to have more than 15,000 bottles of wine in the cellar. 

180 Rutherford Hill Rd, Rutherford, CA 94573
(707) 963-1211
(707) 963-1211
Modern dessert at Auberge du Soleil Auberge du Soleil

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Farmhouse Inn

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The Sonoma County hotel restaurant stayed open for dinner during the pandemic, with seating available on its outdoor patio, and has now reopened the dining room, as well.

7871 River Rd, Forestville, CA 95436
(707) 887-3300
(707) 887-3300

The French Laundry

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Thomas Keller’s flagship fine-dining destination in Yountville never jumped into the takeout game, but it is open for service in the outdoor courtyard and indoor dining room, for its $350 tasting menu.

6640 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599
(707) 944-2380
(707) 944-2380

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Bouchon Bistro

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Thomas Keller’s one-star French bistro has retired the takeout, and returned to sit-down dining, with brasserie classics like steak frites and roast chicken, served crisp to the table.

6534 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599
(707) 944-8037
(707) 944-8037

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La Toque

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Chef Ken Frank’s classic French restaurant in Napa has been offering both tasting menus (omnivore and vegetarian versions) as well as a new a la carte menu for customers that don’t want to commit to a three- or four-hour dinner. It’s now seating diners in the dining room and on its outdoor terrace.

1314 McKinstry St, Napa, CA 94559
(707) 257-5157
(707) 257-5157

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Kenzo

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The splashy Napa sushi spot was offering a to-go menu with a selection of bento boxes, rice bowls, and a la carte items like karaage, but has also finally reopened for limited indoor reservations.

1339 Pearl St, Napa, CA 94559
(707) 294-2049
(707) 294-2049

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Madcap

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Ron Siegel’s San Anselmo restaurant was doing curbside pickup of family-style dinners and bottles of wine, but is now back with indoor and outdoor dining, specifically serving the chef’s tasting menu (no a la carte, for now).

198 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960
(415) 453-9898
(415) 453-9898

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Commis

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The East Bay’s only Michelin-starred spot — two-starred, to be exact — was offering a to-go menu for a family-style two-person dinner. But the restaurant has returned to indoor and outdoor dining, with a multi-course menu for $189, with a menu that changes every week, and features Commis classics like the house-baked levain bread and the crowd favorite slow-poached egg yolk with smoked dates and alliums.

3859 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 653-3902
(510) 653-3902

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Gary Danko

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The fine-dining institution near Ghirardelli Square had to fold up the white tablecloths, but it is still in takeout business with a four-course tasting menu to take home, and has opened up the wine cellar.

800 North Point St, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 749-2060
(415) 749-2060
Terrine from Gary Danko Gary Danko

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Atelier Crenn

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The three-star restaurant has gone from take-home “Crenn Kits” to reopening the dining room for the full 14-course pescatarian menu for $365 per person, with desserts by Juan Contreras. 

3127 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 440-0460
(415) 440-0460

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Quince

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While unable to open its three-starred Jackson Square dining room, Quince started doing farm dinners — a $325 to $350 fine-dining tasting menu served out in the fields of local farms in Petaluma and Bolinas. And with the reopening of indoor dining, exclusive club members will get those first reservations for tables back in the city.

470 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 775-8500
(415) 775-8500

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Lord Stanley

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The Nob Hill restaurant offered a multitude of takeout options during the pandemic, from Taco Tuesdays to fish-and-chip Fridays, heat-and-eat dinner kits and lots of seasonal specials. It’s now mostly back to weekday prix-fixe and weekend tasting menus in the double-decker dining room, although it is still possible to snag a Michelin-starred burger from the hot pink takeout window.

2065 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 872-5512
(415) 872-5512
Fish and chips at Lord Stanley Lord Stanley/Facebook

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Mister Jiu's

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SF native Brandon Jew’s gorgeous, Michelin-starred flagship restaurant in Chinatown pivoted to groceries, takeout, and outdoor dining during the pandemic. But as of spring 2021, the chef shut it all down, to give his undivided attention to indoor dining. Step back inside the former Four Seas banquet hall for the tea-smoked duck platter, crunch-topped barbecue pork buns, and uni-decked cheong fun.

28 Waverly Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 857-9688
(415) 857-9688
Kassie Borreson

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Angler

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Angler went from being the splashiest new seafood restaurant in 2019 to swiveling wildly during the pandemic to a takeout barbecue operation called Saison Smokehouse. The pastrami brisket has since left the building, and now Angler is back to serving oysters and tartare, Parker House rolls with nori butter, and woodfire fish.

132 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 872-9442
(415) 872-9442
Patricia Chang

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Acquerello

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The two-star Northern Italian restaurant was offering a variety of coursed meal kits for takeout. But the dining room has reopened, complete with the white table clothes and over-the-top floral arrangements.

1722 Sacramento Street NEAR VAN NESS &, Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 567-5432
(415) 567-5432

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Sons & Daughters

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With its intimate dining room at the base of Nob Hill, Sons & Daughters was forced to shutter for many months during the pandemic, finally cracking open to serve just 12 guests at a time back during 25 percent capacity. Thankfully, the dining room has fully reopened now, so more people can experience the farm-to-table seasonal menu. 

Btw. Powell & Mason Streets, 708 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 994-7933
(415) 994-7933
Sons & Daughters Eater Archives

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Sorrel

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The one-star Pac Heights restaurant stocked pantry items during the pandemic (pasta sauces, dried pastas, heat-and-eat lasagna), but it’s now back to indoor and outdoor dining, and exclusively tasting menus.

3228 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 525-3765
(415) 525-3765

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Spruce

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The white tablecloth spot in Presidio Heights is still offering takeout and delivery, which includes the restaurant’s much-vaunted burger, as well as pricier entrees like a dry-aged ribeye for two. But it’s also back for sit-down brunch, lunch, and dinner.

3640 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 931-5100
(415) 931-5100
The Spruce burger Spruce

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SPQR

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Known for its fresh pastas, this Lower Pac Heights Italian restaurant served up an Italian takeout menu during the pandemic, dubbed Accarrino’s To Go, featuring baked ziti and meatball dinner. That’s still available, but SPQR is also now taking reservations for indoor and outdoor dining.

1911 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 771-7779
(415) 771-7779

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Mourad

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Mourad Lahlou first opened Aziza in the Avenues, then Mourad downtown in SoMa. He’s been cooking out of the former for the better part of the pandemic, serving Cal-Moroccan comfort food. But he finally reopened the latter for the full fine-dining experience downtown, bringing back the duck basteeya bundled like a cigar, lamb in pomegranate and shiso, and hand-rolled couscous.

140 New Montgomery St #1, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 660-2500
(415) 660-2500
The duck confit basteeya at Mourad

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Benu

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Coronavirus closures meant that Benu was serving as a test kitchen for chef Corey Lee’s forthcoming Korean restaurant San Ho Won. They’ve since paused on takeout, as San Ho Won prepares to open in its own space. And now, the three-Michelin-starred Benu is back to serving its full tasting menu in its own home, starting at $325 per person.

22 Hawthorne St, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 685-4860
(415) 685-4860
San Ho Won’s spring bibimbap with ramps, fern, cordyceps, and pea leaves San Ho Won

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State Bird Provisions

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The original restaurant from husband-and-wife team Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski is now open for indoor and outdoor dining, although tables are in demand as always, for fans who missed the namesake crispy fried quail and other small plates. Sister restaurant Progress next door (also starred) promises to make a comeback in August of 2021. In the meantime, also try the Anchovy Bar just around the corner, their latest project starring our local little fish.

1529 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 795-1272
(415) 795-1272

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Wako Japanese Restaurant

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The Clement Street sushi restaurant is still offering takeout chirashi bowls, chicken soboro don, karaage, and assorted sushi rolls — plus a big $100 omakase set — while it prepares to reopen for indoor dining on July 8.

211 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 682-4875
(415) 682-4875

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Saison

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The two-starred tasting menu spot has reopened for indoor dining, with nine to 12 courses focused on woodfire cooking, starting at $248. But parklet dining is a little more streamlined, offering five to eight courses for $178.

178 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 828-7990
(415) 828-7990

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Birdsong

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Birdsong was selling “Birdboxes” during the pandemic, which included fried chicken and blue cornbread, as well as a fried chicken sandwich with the claw intact. The sandwich was so popular that it’s going to be getting its own home, with the anticipated opening of a fast-casual spinoff. Which leaves Birdsong to return to its usual indoor dining and tasting menus of wild West Coast shellfish.

1085 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 369-9161
(415) 369-9161
The “Birdbox” includes fried chicken and purple cornbread Patricia Chang

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Ju-Ni

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The Michelin-starred omakase spot went from selling takeout chirashi bowls, beer, and cookies to opening a creative parklet set up like an outdoor omakase counter, where the sushi chefs are still sliding bites under the plexiglass for now.

1335 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 655-9924
(415) 655-9924
Ju-Ni’s takeout chirashi bowl featuring many colorful pieces of raw fish scattered over rice Patricia Chang

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Rich Table

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After a long hiatus at the beginning of the shelter in place, Evan and Sarah Rich opened up their flagship Hayes Valley restaurant for takeout, including heat-and-eat oxtail bucatini, but reservations are now open for indoor and outdoor dining.

199 Gough St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 355-9085
(415) 355-9085
Caramelized onion dip with spring vegetables Rich Table/Facebook

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Californios

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Chef Val M Cantu is back with his creative, ambitious, and all Mexican tasting menu that won two Michelin stars in 2019. During the pandemic, Californios shuttered its original location in the Mission, and made the move to a much larger space in SoMa. The restaurant reopened for outdoor dining in spring of 2021, and will debut indoor dining later this summer, so stay tuned.

355 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 757-0994
(415) 757-0994

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Omakase

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The Design District sushi spot is still serving takeout chirashi bowls, donburi, and luxe uni and caviar packages, but it’s also reopened for indoor dining.

665 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 865-0633
(415) 865-0633

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Lazy Bear

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While Lazy Bear’s dining room went into hibernation, it launched what it called Camp Commissary, offering breakfast (biscuit sandwiches), lunch (duck banh mi), and cookie dough and cocktails. But done with takeout, the supper club is now back with indoor and outdoor dining.

3416 19th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 874-9921
(415) 874-9921

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AL's Place

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Chef Aaron London’s Michelin-starred, vegetable-focused restaurant is open for dine-in service, offering an $85-per-person family-style feast and a full a la carte menu in the dining room and on the outdoor patio.

1499 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 416-6136
(415) 416-6136

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Rasa Contemporary Indian

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Burlingame’s high-end, one-star Indian restaurant is still offering a full a la carte takeout menu, with options ranging from Bombay sliders to entrees like chicken biryani and Chettinadu lamb curry, as well as sit-down dining.

209 Park Rd, Burlingame, CA 94010
(650) 340-7272
(650) 340-7272

Sushi Yoshizumi

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The legendary sushi restaurant offered chirashi bowls and nigiri sets to go during the pandemic, but now it’s back to being an omakase-only affair — per usual.

325 E 4th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 437-2282
(650) 437-2282

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Wakuriya

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San Mateo’s one-star Japanese restaurant, dedicated to the fine art of kaiseki-style dining, is offered takeout for the first time during the pandemic: a $50 three-course menu — featuring dishes like assorted sashimi and grilled eel over rice.

115 De Anza Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 286-0410
(650) 286-0410

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The Village Pub

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Like its sister restaurant Spruce, the Village Pub offered a full a la carte takeout menu, with an option for “luxury additions” like caviar and dry-aged steaks. But reservations are back for indoor and outdoor dining.

2967 Woodside Rd, Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-9888
(650) 851-9888

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Baumé

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The two-starred Palo Alto fine-dining restaurant is still offering takeout, in the form of a $98 four-course prix fixe, as well as having reopened for sit-down wagyu and pescatarian tasting menus (starting at $398 or $298 per person, respectively).

201 California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 328-8899
(650) 328-8899

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Protégé

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The one-star Cal cuisine tasting menu spot in Palo Alto wound down their takeout offerings, such as short rib pithivier. It’s now open for indoor and outdoor dining, with a full tasting menu in the dining room and a la carte for the lounge.

250 California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306

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Madera

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The swanky, high-ceilinged Silicon Valley New American restaurant is now open for indoor and outdoor dining, with a full a la carte menu. And chef Ravi Kapur from Liholiho Yacht Club is popping up at the bar for summer of 2021, promising his Cal-Hawaiian dishes.

2825 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 561-1540
(650) 561-1540

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Chez TJ

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Mountain View’s starred French tasting menu spot is serving both a four-course and a seven-course tasting menus.

938 Villa St, Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 964-7466
(650) 964-7466

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Plumed Horse

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The Saratoga fine dining restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor service, with tables available on three separate heated outdoor dining areas.

14555 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 867-4711
(408) 867-4711

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Manresa

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David Kinch’s restaurant was serving three-Michelin-starred family meals throughout the pandemic. But fans were thrilled when Manresa reopened the dining room for the full tasting experience in spring of 2021.

320 Village Ln, Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 354-4330
(408) 354-4330

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Aubergine the restaurant at L'Auberge Carmel

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The glitzy Monterey resort restaurant is open for outdoor dining in its flower-filled courtyard. It’s also still offering to-go menus on the weekends.

7th avenue Monte Verde St, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921
(831) 624-8578
(831) 624-8578

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Harbor House Inn

5600 CA-1, Elk, CA 95432

For the first half of the coronavirus shutdown, chef Matt Kammerer’s restaurant on the Mendocino coast pivoted to $18-a-person to-go dinners, but the restaurant reopened its back deck in the spring to serve its $220 tasting menu outdoors, and has now resumed the full experience indoors.

5600 CA-1, Elk, CA 95432
(707) 877-3203
(707) 877-3203

SingleThread Farm - Restaurant - Inn

131 North St, Healdsburg, CA 95448

The Healdsburg hot reservation offered outdoor dining and farm dinners, but it’s now completely reopened and rolling out its usual tasting menu of ten courses for $375.

131 North St, Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 723-4646
(707) 723-4646
Chicken meatball tan tan nabe at SingleThread SingleThread

The Kitchen Restaurant

2225 Hurley Way, Sacramento, CA 95825

The only Michelin-starred restaurant in Sacramento has returned with limited indoor reservations for eight courses starring local, seasonal ingredients. Pre-pandemic, they were known for the “intermission” tour of the kitchen, which isn’t possible at the moment, but regardless, diners are thrilled to be back.

2225 Hurley Way, Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 568-7171
(916) 568-7171