110 Best Restaurants in The Bay Area, California

Serving a mix of contemporary Indian and Pakistani fare, this popular fast-casual restaurant started near Google in Mountain View in 2014 and now has two other Silicon Valley locations. Flavors are bold and riveting, whether it’s a handheld lunch like a naan wrap filled with chicken boti (a spice-marinated kebab) or a comforting slow-cooked lamb gosht stew. Thali platters (an entrée, rice, lentils, and a pickled salad) are quite popular in the evening and the various sandwiches tend to be the main choice for hurried daytime diners. Make sure to start with the chicken Memoni samosas, a savory pastry recipe that is supposedly known by only 23 Memoni grandmothers in the world.

Exposed brick walls, maps of Louisiana, ceiling fans, and New Orleans music create a festive atmosphere at Angeline's. Specialties include Voo Doo Shrimp, crawfish étouffée, and buttermilk fried chicken.

"Purveyors of ethnic confusions," this family-run Marin minichain offers California Indian fusion combinations that locals revere. The warmth of service, willingness to cater to dietary needs, creativity of the food, and reasonable prices more than make up for the uninspired space.

Nothing elevates wood-fired food more than beachside tables and a blazing fire pit ... except maybe a game of bocce. Modern Californian cuisine, local beer, and signature sangria are served inside the snazzy bar and out on the patio, which opens to Richardson Bay.

Spanish-inspired small plates and craft cocktails are served late at César, Berkeley's premier tapas spot. Couples spill out from street-level windows on warm nights, or rub shoulders at the polished bar and communal table. Founded by a trio of former Chez Panisse chefs, César is like a first cousin to the stalwart eatery next door.

The coast at its most dressed up, Cetrella is all polished wood and pressed tablecloths, and it hits every mark: adventurous wine list, live jazz on Friday and Saturday night, and a creative menu that pairs regional produce and fish with choice imported ingredients. The resulting dishes are sophisticated but not stuffy. The bar has a smaller and cheaper but no less delectable menu, and Sunday brunch is popular.

The walls and tables are made of reclaimed wood at this small, stylish roadside gathering space whose knowing, tattooed bartenders serve potent cocktails. A great neighborhood joint for every meal of the day (including brunch), Chop Bar implements a farm-to-table concept and serves upmarket gastropub grub. On sunny days when the glass garage door is raised you'll feel like an insider who's stumbled upon an industrial neighborhood's cool secret.

Decked out in a nautical theme with surfboards and buoys, the Coast serves weekend brunch and dependably good American lunch and dinner fare, including local fresh fish, grass-fed steaks, and wonderfully fresh vegetarian and vegan dishes. Find patio seating in the front and back and live music during dinner on Thursday and Sunday.

A neighborhood favorite with bright red walls, authentic Mexican artwork, and a festive outdoor patio, this sunny spot in Oakland's Temescal District serves seasonal Mexican fare to a hip but low-key crowd. Margaritas and horchata abound; brunch is served on weekends.

Though it periodically catches the attention of the national press, this 19th-century family-run roadhouse—say DOO-arts—continues to serve simple American fare with a modest, hometown attitude. The restaurant's bar is a great place to sip a whiskey, but it's also the town's liquor store, which means some locals take their orders to go. The no-frills dining room offers a solid menu based on locally grown vegetables and fresh fish.

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.

Inside a charming flower-covered house, this restaurant serves dishes that reflect the entire Mediterranean region. The menu, constantly changing and unfailingly great, depends on the availability of fresh seasonal ingredients, and the two-level dining room is cheerful and light. Excellent and long-lived but not flashy, the restaurant has a legion of dedicated fans.

This cavernous yet classy restaurant is a lunchtime favorite and a good place to sample pho, a classic Hanoi-style beef noodle soup fragrant with star anise. An extensive menu of sautéed entrées and rice and noodle dishes is complemented by a full bar and selection of regional wines.

A cozy spot with a dose of Scandinavian flair and a long counter bar that abuts an open kitchen, this local diner has been a favorite breakfast (served all day) and brunch destination for decades. Expect a wait, but rest assured it's worth it. You'll thank us when you're digging into eggs and bacon and downing bottomless cups of coffee.

Some of Oakland's finest chefs have come through the ranks of this locally renowned eatery that anchors Market Hall in the Rockridge neighborhood. The elegant upstairs dining room serves a daily menu of high-caliber Italian cuisine, while the downstairs marketplace café and bar offers everything from a morning espresso to pizza or a full-blown Italian meal.

A coastal dining stop between San Francisco and Monterey, this casual upscale restaurant serves farm-to-table Italian dishes in a spacious setting complete with a full bar and lounge. It's a great spot for family dinners and date nights, but the dining room can get noisy on evenings when musicians play live music in the bar.

A barnlike space full of cheerful Mexican tiles and folk-art masks, Picante is a find for anyone seeking good Cal-Mex food for a song. The masa is freshly ground for the tortillas and tamales, the salsas are complex, and the flavor combinations are inventive.

Haute comfort food and childhood favorites are the focus at this charming dining nook across from the Claremont hotel. Mac and cheese and free-range chicken potpie play second fiddle to brunches of cornmeal pancakes and gingerbread waffles, which are best enjoyed on the outdoor patio.

A renovated hay barn off the main drag houses this collection of upscale food shops, which showcase local organic fruits and vegetables, premium packaged foods, and an international selection of exquisite cheeses. Cowgirl Creamery cheese is made on-site. Grab some before you head to Cowgirl Cantina for creative sandwiches, salads, and soups you can enjoy inside the café or in the outdoor picnic area.

Expect a warm welcome and a lively atmosphere at this longtime Rockridge favorite. A neighborhood gem in the truest sense, Wood Tavern serves contemporary American brasserie food with quality wine, well-crafted drinks, and refined service.