Restaurants USA West

On Main Street in posh St. Helena, pull over at Cook where a Carrara marble wine bar awaits with local temptations. This spot reflects its wine country locale with taste and whimsy: antique tin-framed mirrors and black-and-white vegetable prints ador..

There is no culinary destination quite like Yountville, where boldface names like Thomas Keller and Michael Chiarello rule a notable restaurant row. Chef Philippe Jeanty may be less recognizable to the Food Network set, but his Bistro Jeanty is still..

Husband-wife duo Karen and Lucas Martin steer the stoves at K & L, a quintessential bistro that takes great pride in its craft. The intimate neighborhood gem typically bursts with Sebastopol locals rubbing elbows at close-knit tables topped with butc..

Housed in a cheery yellow building on SoMa's restaurant-lined Fourth Street, unassuming Fringale is just the sort of intimate bistro this neighborhood needs: petite, hospitable, utterly charming, and delicious every time. The menu satisfies with auth..

In a wood-shingled house on Piedmont Avenue, Bay Wolf has been an Oakland icon since the 1970s. Even then, this quaint little haunt was at the forefront of the Slow Food movement and today still serves the kind of seasonal Californian fare that warms..

In Italy, cooking is a family affair. And so it is at Insalata's, the charming Sausalito favorite named for Chef/owner Heidi Krahling's late father, Italo Insalata. Today, Krahling pays homage to her beloved "babbo" by mixing tender loving ..

These twin wood bungalows nestled on a picturesque main drag might appear to be pure Sausalito; but inside, the two houses (one open daily, the other reserved for dinner and private parties) echo loudly of Japan. A blonde wood sushi bar dominates the..

The quintessential neighborhood spot in the Noe Valley, Incanto is enchanting and inviting. Evoking nostalgic notions are classic street cars that rumble by; and an interior lined with agricultural prints and a trippy Animal Farm-meets-Timothy Leary ..

With wrought-iron chandeliers and lanterns casting a glow on massive mirrors, this warm Spanish, colonial-style dining room feels a world away from the sleek Italian suits and chic French fashions adorning Union Square's boutiques. But when the shopp..

With a wood-burning oven, house-cured meats, and swags of chili hanging out to dry, A 16 feels more Campania than Marina despite its local hipster crowd. Pour in a list of seductive Southern Italian wines, curated by owner Shelley Lindgren, and A16 c..

This bustling open kitchen cranks out great Far Eastern street-food delicacies, with a focus on small plates designed for sharing and pairing with perhaps a Tsing Tao or Elephant beer. Sample grilled pancakes with hand-pulled Mongolian hoisin pork;bi..

The name is Mexican and, despite major Californian influence, so is the cuisine's inspiration. Still, Mamacita is a bona fide gringo hangout for affluent Marina youngsters, hipsters, players, and cougars who pose among them. Upbeat, loud, and festive..

Burrowed behind a wisteria corridor fringed with flowers and shops, Sociale isthedestination for family feasts and frolicking with friends. A dandy dining room pleases patrons with peach banquettes and walls warmed with black-and-white photos. Augmen..

Some things, like the popularity of Delfina, never change. This Italian joint is as busy as ever. Delfina relies heavily on Californian ingredients and sensibilities, but the menu is strictly Italian from start to finish. The casual space and warm st..

With a somewhat obscure address and an urban-warehouse air, Slow Club is a bona fide hipster hangout. Chicly underdressed with polished concrete floors, exposed metal eye beams, and unremarkable wood furnishings, the Potrero Hill joint would border o..

Bar Tartine may be one of the most recognizable of San Francisco's foodie mainstays, but even regulars to this Mission favorite are likely to find a surprise in store. Sure, there's still a line out the door to snag a seat at the long counter in the ..

Easily one of San Francisco's most sensuous dining destinations, Kokkari lures guests back again and again with a roar in the cavernous wood-burning fireplace, plush mismatched armchairs, and an exhibition kitchen in the taverna-style back room. Ambi..

Faraway from the heat of Vietnam, Charles Phan's forever sacred Slanted Door embodies a fortuitous marriage of local bounty kissed with Californian flair and faithful Vietnamese flavors. A virtual emperor of a Bay Area empire, his branches ooze verve..

Upon arriving at Chapeau!, stylish women are welcomed with a kiss-kiss from Monsieur and Madame Gardelle, the husband-wife team that runs a strictly French ship. A long banquette and close-knit tables span the boisterous dining room that, with an amb..

Any foodie worth their cilantro in San Francisco has made the trek to Clement Street to jot their name on a clipboard and wait it out at Burma Superstar, the now cult classic with everything going for it. Seriously, Chinatown restaurants wish they we..