10 Best Restaurants in The Bay Area, California

The lines can get long at this hole-in-the-wall, no-frills kitchen, where Indian curries are served burrito-style while you wait. Punjabi burritos or rice plates come with savory lamb, chicken, fish, vegetarian, and vegan ingredients flavored with seasonal fruit chutneys, tamarind sauce, and aromatic blends. A few tables allow for inside dining, but most people take their burritos to go.

House-smoked meats and fish, grilled steaks, classic salads, and decadent desserts bring locals and visitors back again and again to this 1937 lodge–style roadhouse. Enjoy a Marin martini at the cozy bar or sip local wine beside the river-rock fireplace. Outdoor dining now extends to a heated garden patio. The Buckeye Joe coffee kiosk offers drive-by java and pastries on weekday mornings.

An open, well-lit space with booths and countertop seating from which diners can watch the cooks in action sets the scene at this lively eatery, which serves contemporary California cuisine and inventive cocktails. The menu focuses on locally sourced veggies and seafood. Diners can enjoy meals in the enclosed patio, alive with hanging plants and a crackling fireplace, or take their drinks and apps outdoors among the palms and firepits.

This is the prime spot for a pick-me-up over a picturesque view of downtown Mill Valley and Mt. Tam. The owners are as serious about coffee as they are about social responsibility, from their fair-chain single-origin beans and organic loose teas down to the locally recycled wood and metal decor. With all this plus the made-to-order waffles, shakeratos (a cold espresso drink), wine, and beer, it's easy to see why locals go out of their way to make this a regular part of the day.

A colorful, quirky lounge loaded with Latino tchotchkes, chatty patrons, agave margaritas, and bottles of hot sauce, Joe's is a fun place to go for cheap Mexican eats and a dive-bar-meets-living-room feel. A sizable street-food-influenced menu includes tacos, burritos, Mexican pizzas, and selections for kids of all ages.

In business since 1964, La Ginestra—named for the flowers that grow on Mt. Vesuvius, in the owners' homeland—is a Mill Valley institution renowned for its no-pretense, family-style Italian meals and impressive wine list. The Sorrento Bar, off the dining room, serves up a delectable array of bar bites, pizzas, and sweets to enjoy while sipping wines and cocktails.

In a cozy setting down a quiet alley with a beautiful brick-walled courtyard, peak seasonal produce and Northern California farms and artisans are highlighted on chef Brandon Breazeale. Start with one of the beautifully fresh salads before continuing on to a rustic yet refined main like duck breast with yellow mole and squash blossom tamale.

Busy D'Angelo's is known for its authentic and fresh pastas; there are even gluten-free options. Another draw is the scene, especially in the lounge area, which hosts a lively cocktail hour in a traditional trattoria setting. The sprawling space encompasses a bright front room, romantic booths, and a warm patio.

In an ivy-covered, redbrick building, the creative crew at Picco's serves fantastically original food comprised of local seasonal ingredients. Dramatic lighting and modernist decor set the stage for these artful dishes and tasty cocktails. if there's a long wait, start with small dishes at the bar or try Pizzeria Picco next door.

Modern Mexican farm-to-table creations and inspired cocktails are the focus of this festive indoor-outdoor space that's popular for its firepit, made-to-order masa station, and happy hour. An open kitchen serves up locally sourced, organic, and sustainable dishes like ceviche and flautas, grilled fresh fish tacos, and braised pork tortas. Specialty drinks come with a kick of house-made chili tinctures and flavored ices.