My Favorite Bay Area Restaurants

1. Vanessa's Bistro

7.8

1715 Solano Ave (btwn Ensenada & Tulare), Berkeley, CA

Vietnamese Restaurant · Thousand Oaks · 6 tips and reviews

Mike Brinkman: The Shaking Filet is AMAZING!!! You HAVE to try it!!!

2. Vanessa's Bistro

7.5

1512 Locust St (Bonanza St), Walnut Creek, CA

Vietnamese Restaurant · Downtown Walnut Creek · 29 tips and reviews

Mike Brinkman: The Shaking Filet is AMAZING!!! You HAVE to try it!!!

Acquerello is one of My Favorite Bay Area Restaurants.

3. Acquerello

8.4

1722 Sacramento St (btwn Polk & Van Ness Ave), San Francisco, CA

Italian Restaurant · Polk Gulch · 45 tips and reviews

Mike Brinkman: GREAT place for a romantic date! The service is over the top! If you ever want to see what it feels like to be pampered, eat at Acquarello!!

Absinthe Brasserie & Bar is one of My Favorite Bay Area Restaurants.

4. Absinthe Brasserie & Bar

8.5

398 Hayes St (at Gough St), San Francisco, CA

French Restaurant · Civic Center · 252 tips and reviews

Samurai Sushi Boat is one of My Favorite Bay Area Restaurants.

5. Samurai Sushi Boat

7.4

3336 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA

Japanese Restaurant · Lakeshore · 17 tips and reviews

Mike Brinkman: Sit at the sushi bar on the weekends. Under some of the plates, are stickers that can be traded for drinks and desserts. The Masamune Roll is awesome!

Jong Ga House is one of My Favorite Bay Area Restaurants.

6. Jong Ga House

7.6

372 Grand Ave (btw Ellita Ave & Staten Ave), Oakland, CA

Korean Restaurant · Adams Point · 57 tips and reviews

Mike Brinkman: SO much food for an unbelievably reasonable price! We've never had a single dish we didn't like. The food is incredibly flavorful!

Shaan Indian Cuisine is one of My Favorite Bay Area Restaurants.

7. Shaan Indian Cuisine

6.8

3434 Fruitvale Ave (near Macarthur Blvd), Oakland, CA

Indian Restaurant · Lower Dimond · 10 tips and reviews

Mike Brinkman: The food is incredible! The prices are low! Try the Aloo Tikki and the Papadi Chat appetizers.

Encuentro is one of My Favorite Bay Area Restaurants.

8. Encuentro

550 2nd St, Oakland, CA

Wine Bar · Produce and Waterfront · 36 tips and reviews

Mike Brinkman: GREAT food! Lots of vegan options as well!

Kokkari Estiatorio is one of My Favorite Bay Area Restaurants.

9. Kokkari Estiatorio

9.3

200 Jackson St (at Front St), San Francisco, CA

Greek Restaurant · Northern Waterfront · 263 tips and reviews

Mike Brinkman: Reservations!!!!! This place is packed every night of the week.

Slanted Door is one of My Favorite Bay Area Restaurants.

10. Slanted Door

1 Ferry Building #3 (at The Embarcadero), San Francisco, CA

Vietnamese Restaurant · Financial District · 451 tips and reviews

Prima Restaurant is one of My Favorite Bay Area Restaurants.

11. Prima Restaurant

1522 North Main St (Bonanza), Walnut Creek, CA

Restaurant · Downtown Walnut Creek · 13 tips and reviews

Phở 84 is one of My Favorite Bay Area Restaurants.

12. Phở 84

7.5

354 17th St (at Webster St), Oakland, CA

Vietnamese Restaurant · Oaksterdam · 22 tips and reviews

Grand Tavern is one of My Favorite Bay Area Restaurants.

13. Grand Tavern

7.4

3601 Grand Ave (Mandana Blvd), Oakland, CA

Gastropub · Grand Lake · 35 tips and reviews

The Melt is one of My Favorite Bay Area Restaurants.

14. The Melt

115 New Montgomery St (at Mission St), San Francisco, CA

Sandwich Spot · SoMa · 53 tips and reviews

Mike Brinkman: "The Mission" is my favorite. Pepperjack Grilled Cheese, corn soup, potato chips. The chocolate chip cookies are awesome. They'll even keep them warm for you until you finish your meal, if you want.