2 Best Restaurants in The Bay Area, California

After a terrific tenure as the chef at San Francisco's True Laurel, Geoff Davis crossed the bay and opened his debut restaurant in the Temescal neighborhood in 2023. The result is clear: Burdell isn't just one of the greatest soul food restaurants in the Bay Area—it's one of the most enjoyable dining experiences in any corner of the region. Everything on the nicely organized menu is excellent, from boiled peanuts and magnificent stone-milled yellow-corn corn bread, to the compelling salads and heartier entrées. The chicken liver mousse with a crispy cornmeal waffle is already one of the East Bay's hall of fame dishes.

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.