SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Wine Spectator has released its annual list rating the best restaurants for wine across the country and this year, 37 restaurants in San Francisco received nods.
Some 3,169 restaurants made the cut in 2022, receiving recognition at three different levels: Excellence Award, Top Award or Excellence and Grand Award — the most prestigious.
The honored restaurants not only offer interesting and comprehensive lists, but also offer wine selections that complement their menus and appeal to a wide range of drinkers, according to Wine Spectator. A winning restaurant must also have an accurate and complete wine list with descriptions of where the grapes are grown.
“These awards not only guide our readers to dining establishments with impressive wine lists and exceptional service, but also serve to honor restaurants for their achievements and commitment to maintaining immaculate cellars,” the editor and publisher wrote. of Wine Spectator, Marvin Shanken, in a press release.
Only 97 restaurants across the country have received the magazine’s highest honor, the Grand Award. This award is reserved for restaurants with a whopping 1,000 selections including vintage choices, oversized bottles, superior presentation and service, and an assorted menu. A Californian restaurant won first prize for the first time: Press Restaurant in Napa Valley.
Four restaurants in San Francisco have received this prestigious distinction:
- Acquerello, San Francisco, Best wines: California, Piedmont, Tuscany, Italy
- Restaurant Gary Danko, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhône, Italy, Champagne, Germany, Austria
- Season, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, Burgundy, Rhône, Bordeaux
- Spruce, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Italy, Rhône, Germany, Austria
The second-best award covered 1,290 restaurants across the country for their selections of at least 350 wines. These restaurants show “a deep commitment to wine, both in the cellar and through their service team,” according to Wine Spectator. This year, 20 restaurants in San Francisco received the Best of Award designation:
- Angler, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, Burgundy, Bordeaux, France
- Boulevard, San Francisco, Best wines: California, Burgundy, Rhône, France, Bordeaux, Italy, Germany
- Café Tiramisu, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, Italy, Piedmont, Tuscany
- Californios, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, France
- Credo, San Francisco, Best wines: California, France, Italy
- Estiatorio Ornos, San Francisco, Best wines: Burgundy, Bordeaux, France, Italy, Spain
- Foreign cinema, Best wines: Burgundy, California, Rhône, Champagne, Loire, France
- Harris’, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, France, Burgundy, Italy
- Hina Yakitori, San Francisco, Best Wines: Champagne, Burgundy, France
- Lazy Bear, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, Burgundy, Rhône, Bordeaux, Italy, Champagne
- Luce, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, France, Italy
- Mastro’s Steakhouse, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, France
- Morton’s, The Steakhouse, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, Italy
- Mourad, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, France, Burgundy, Italy, Loire, Austria
- Niku Steakhouse, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, France, Burgundy
- O’ by Claude Le Tohic, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhône
- One Market Restaurant, San Francisco, Best Wines: California
- Palette, San Francisco, Best wines: California, Burgundy, France, Bordeaux, Italy
- Quince, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, Champagne, Rhône, France, Piedmont, Italy, Burgundy, Bordeaux
- West Coast Wine • Cheese, San Francisco, Best Wines: California
Some 1,782 restaurants received the Excellence Award, meaning their list includes at least 90 varied and quality selections. These wine lists will satisfy a discerning wine lover, according to Wine Spectator. Here are the San Francisco restaurants that qualified:
- San Francisco, Best Wines: California,
- Crustacean, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, France
- Empress by Boon, San Francisco, Best Wines: France
- Fogo de Chão, San Francisco, Best wines: California, Argentina, Chile
- La Mar Cebicheria Peruana, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, Spain, Argentina
- MKT Restaurant and Bar, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, Champagne
- Omakase, San Francisco, Best Wines: Austria, Champagne, Germany
- Restaurant Nisei, San Francisco, Best Wines: California, France
- San Francisco Wine Society, San Francisco, Best wines: Italy, France
- Scoma’s Restaurant, San Francisco, Best Wine: California
- Scopo Divino, San Francisco, Best wines: California, Italy, France
- SPQR, San Francisco, Best Wines: Italy
- Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, San Francisco, Best Wines: Italy
