We’re a week away from the big reveal of the 2013 Michelin Guide for the Bay Area, and the French tire concern just released their Bib Gourmand picks for this year. This list would represent the “famously anonymous” inspectors’ picks for high-quality and high-value restaurants that fall just below the one-star level, and where theoretically one could dine on two courses and a glass of wine for $40 or less, after tax and tip (in several cases here that would be akin to a magic trick, but there you have it). Notable additions this year are Marlowe, Comal, and Yountville’s Redd Wood. Meanwhile a couple of spots that have made the cut several years running, namely Delarosa, Incanto, Pican, BarBersQ, and Michael Chiarello’s Bottega, got dropped this year.
Also missing from the list for 2013 is SPQR, however we’re going to go ahead and wager that this is because the restaurant is getting its first Michelin star this year, and not because the quality has somehow faltered. (The only other possibility is that prices have risen, but we’re going to stick to our guns.) And State Bird Provisions, which is a notable omission here, may be lined up to get a star as well.
See the full list below, with new additions getting an asterisk.
A16
Artisan Bistro
Bar Bambino
Bar Tartine
Bellanico
Betelnut
Bistro Aix
Bistro Jeanty
Boon Eat + Drink
Brick + Bottle*
Burma Superstar
C Casa
Chapeau!
Chevalier
Chu
Colibrí
Comal*
Contigo
Cook St. Helena
Corso
Cotogna
Crouching Tiger
Cucina Paradiso
Delfina
Domo
Donato Enoteca*
Dosa
FIVE
flour + water
Fringale
Gajalee*
Gather
Hachi Ju Hachi
Hibiscus
Hot Box Grill
Insalata’s
Ippuku
K & L Bistro
Kabab & Curry’s
Kappou Gomi
Kokkari Estiatorio
LaSalette
Laurus
Le Charm
Le Garage
Mamacita
Marinitas
Marlowe*
Monti’s Rotisserie
Oenotri
Old Mandarin Islamic*
Osteria Coppa
Perbacco
Plum
Redd Wood*
Risibisi
Rivoli
Sazón
Scopa
Sichuan Home*
Slanted Door (The)
Slow Club
Sociale
Starbelly
Sushi Ran
Thai House
the girl & the fig
Troya
Willi’s Wine Bar
Wood Tavern
Yank Sing
Zero Zero
