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The Bay Area is home to popular, innovative restaurants such as Chez Panisse in Berkeley and Commis in Oakland—for which reservations must be made well in advance. Expect an emphasis on locally grown produce, hormone-free meats, and California wines. Many Marin cafés don't serve dinner, and dinner service ends on the early side. (No 10 pm reservations in that neck of the woods.)
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.
