Michelin’s 2018 SF Bay Area Bib Gourmand winners have been announced, signaling the start of the awards season for restaurants. Encompassing the North, South and East Bay as well as the Pennisula, 67 total restaurants were tapped, with inspectors looking for high quality food as well as value–menus must allow for two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less. That’s a tall order in the Bay Area, and I’d say a few spots on the list were a stretch, but such is food criticism.
Nine of the 67 restaurants are in Sonoma County: Forestville’s Backyard Restaurant; Bravas Bar de Tapas, SHED Cafe and Chalkboard bistro in Healdsburg, Diavola in Geyserville, Glen Ellen Star in Glen Ellen, Monti’s in Santa Rosa, Ramen Gaijin in Sebastopol, and Risibisi in Petaluma. In Napa, Cook St. Helena, Grace’s Table, Farmstead, Oenotri, Redd Wood and Two Birds/One Stone were tapped. All of the Wine Country restaurants had previously been awarded Bib Gourmand nods in 2016.
Newcomers to the list include Brown Sugar Kitchen in Oakland, Pausa in San Mateo, Playa in Mill Valley and Royal Feast in Millbrae. Michelin stars for the Bay Area will be announced Oct. 12.
Forestville’s Backyard Restaurant in Healdsburg
