There’s no excuse for not eating exciting food when you go out. The Bay area dining scene is exploding with great flavors for any budget.
My goal with this roundup, alphabetically categorized by restaurants at the top of the food chain, followed by their tasty bargain counterparts, is for you to branch out — try a cuisine that’s outside your normal wheelhouse. And though we live in a competitive culture that loves to rank everything under the sun, remember: I’m just naming some of my favorite places for you to explore, with one list for each side of the region.
There’s no need to complain, “How can Maison de Bonne Merde not be included?” There are many successful, notable, acclaimed establishments not mentioned here. If you love a chef or restaurant, tell your friends. Word of mouth is the best advertising.
Rankings of outstanding restaurants in newspapers, magazines, blogs and foodie apps abound. Some lists overlap, while others are completely fresh. The point is that it doesn’t matter. Any list that has you exploring is fine with me. If you like a place, trust your own taste and be happy. My selection isn’t meant to be compared with yours or any other critic’s, professional or amateur. I simply want you to sample something new as often as you can. Play with the whole deck.
Hillsborough's 10 best restaurants
Pinellas's 10 best restaurants
Hillsborough's 10 best bargain restaurants
Pinellas's 10 best bargain restaurants
This article appears in Jun 16-23, 2016.