San Francisco Chronicle restaurant critic Michael Bauer’s annual Top 100 Restaurants list came out today. While it has long been the most important single restaurant listicle in the Bay Area, this year’s edition is interesting for another reason: it includes a few local restaurants whose owners have been accused of sexual harassment.
The owners of previous Top 100 list-makers Pizzaiolo, Boot & Shoe Service (though it was recently sold), Tosca Cafe, Coqueta, and Bottega have been widely accused of inappropriate behavior and fostering unsafe workplace environments. While Bauer decided to eliminate Oakland’s Pizzaiolo and Boot & Shoe Service, he kept the remaining San Francisco and Napa establishments.
Earlier this month, the Chronicle released a series of essays from writers on staff, including Bauer, on that very topic. While three writers firmly stated the newspaper shouldn’t reward said restaurants when there are plenty of other worthy options, Bauer wasn’t so sure. Now we know where he landed.
While the list is always heavy on San Francisco fine dining, it also includes several Oakland and Berkeley restaurants this year. Camino, Chez Panisse, Commis, Ippuku, Iyasare, Nido, Ramen Shop, and Vik’s Chaat returned. Comal and Tastee Steam Kitchen were removed. And The Temple Club, the East Oakland Vietnamese restaurant, was one of this year’s new additions.
See the full list here.
