Michelin Guide Elevates San Francisco's Coi to 3-Star Status
The Michelin Guide has upgraded San Francisco's Coi restaurant in North Beach to three-star status, the guide's highest ranking, giving the city and the surrounding region a total of seven. Two other restaurants also achieved two-star status — Californios in the Mission district and SingleThread in Sonoma County — bringing it up to seven restaurants in that category as well. The one-star category now has 41 honorees, including first-time winners In Situ, Kenzo and Kinjo, making it a total of 55 stars awarded.
The awards, originally scheduled for announcement on October 12, were postponed until today due to the area's deadly wildfires. Michael Ellis, international director of Michelin Guide, said his inspectors had been following the career of Coi's chef, Matthew Kirkley, since his days at L20 restaurant in Chicago. Kirkley was cited for his "personal culinary expression, masterfully leading the kitchen at his modern seafood restaurant."
Holdovers in the three-star category are Benu, The French Laundry, Manresa, Quince, The Restaurant at Meadowood and Saison. Repeating with two stars are Acquerello, Atelier Crenn, Baume, Commis and Lazy Bear. The Michelin inspectors also gave 67 restaurants — four new to the list — its popular Bib Gourmand award for providing quality food at reasonable prices. In the Michelin hierarchy, three stars represent "exceptional cuisine," worth a special journey, while two stars denote "excellent cuisine, worth a detour" and one star means "high quality, worth a stop."
Michelin has three American guides in addition to this one for San Francisco. The new stars for Washington, D.C. and Chicago were recently announced, while the New York winners will be revealed Oct. 30. The San Francisco Michelin Guide goes on sale October 27, for $18.99.