Bay Area Foodies Report Spending More Than the National Average While Welcoming Hot Newcomers in 2014 San Francisco Restaurants Survey
Posted:
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
The results of Zagat’s 2014 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants Survey are now live on zagat.com and in local bookstores. The Survey covers 1,495 restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the Wine Country, Silicon Valley and the Monterey Peninsula, as voted on by 17,505 avid diners.
One of the big stories this year is Alice Waters’ historic Chez Panisse, which reopened in June after suffering fire damage in March. But, as Chez Panisse (and its casual upstairs sibling, Chez Panisse Café) continues its fourth decade leading the locavore movement, a new crop of organic, sustainable and locally inspired Mexican restaurants has opened on both sides of the Bay, including El Gusano, Nido and Padrecito.
Looking for hot newcomers across the area? The Mission continues to sizzle with arrivals, including Trick Dog and 20 Spot, while the growing scene in NoPa (North of the Panhandle) welcomed The Mill and Wine Kitchen this year. Elsewhere, top chefs Charles Phan and Michael Chiarello have debuted Hard Water and Coqueta, respectively, and diners have welcomed first-time brick-and-mortar locations of food truck and pop-up restaurants such as Hillside Supper Club, Kronnerburger and B. Patisserie.
Perennial favorite Gary Danko (which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year) won big with surveyors, topping the Food, Service and Popularity lists for the fifth consecutive year, while the “extraordinary architecture” and “best views” at Sierra Mar, located in Big Sur, won for Top Decor.
According to our recent Dining Trends Survey, San Francisco surveyors revealed that they typically eat out 2.0 lunches and 2.2 dinners per week, for a combined average of 4.2 meals out per week, slightly less than the 4.4 national average, but local diners are spending more – $41.87 when eating at a restaurant for dinner, compared to the national average of $40.53.
Italian continues to be the favorite cuisine among San Francisco surveyors, earning 22% of the vote, but when asked which cuisine diners want to see more of in their local area, 15% answered French.
When it comes to making reservations, 68% of the San Francisco voters typically book tables online, well above the national average of 52%. At restaurants that don’t take reservations, 52% of participants say they will wait no more than 30 minutes, while 6% avoid these places altogether.
Looking for local suggestions? Check out our editors’ lists for best restaurants, now on zagat.com and Google Maps. Whether you’re grabbing a bite before the Giants game, planning brunch with friends or even taking a trip to Napa or Sonoma, our curated content will guide you toward exceptional experiences for any occasion.
To access all of this year’s ratings and reviews, check out zagat.com, download the Zagat app for Android and iPhone, or purchase the print guide, available at local bookstores.
Posted by Cynthia Kilian, Zagat Lead Editor
One of the big stories this year is Alice Waters’ historic Chez Panisse, which reopened in June after suffering fire damage in March. But, as Chez Panisse (and its casual upstairs sibling, Chez Panisse Café) continues its fourth decade leading the locavore movement, a new crop of organic, sustainable and locally inspired Mexican restaurants has opened on both sides of the Bay, including El Gusano, Nido and Padrecito.
Looking for hot newcomers across the area? The Mission continues to sizzle with arrivals, including Trick Dog and 20 Spot, while the growing scene in NoPa (North of the Panhandle) welcomed The Mill and Wine Kitchen this year. Elsewhere, top chefs Charles Phan and Michael Chiarello have debuted Hard Water and Coqueta, respectively, and diners have welcomed first-time brick-and-mortar locations of food truck and pop-up restaurants such as Hillside Supper Club, Kronnerburger and B. Patisserie.
Perennial favorite Gary Danko (which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year) won big with surveyors, topping the Food, Service and Popularity lists for the fifth consecutive year, while the “extraordinary architecture” and “best views” at Sierra Mar, located in Big Sur, won for Top Decor.
According to our recent Dining Trends Survey, San Francisco surveyors revealed that they typically eat out 2.0 lunches and 2.2 dinners per week, for a combined average of 4.2 meals out per week, slightly less than the 4.4 national average, but local diners are spending more – $41.87 when eating at a restaurant for dinner, compared to the national average of $40.53.
Italian continues to be the favorite cuisine among San Francisco surveyors, earning 22% of the vote, but when asked which cuisine diners want to see more of in their local area, 15% answered French.
When it comes to making reservations, 68% of the San Francisco voters typically book tables online, well above the national average of 52%. At restaurants that don’t take reservations, 52% of participants say they will wait no more than 30 minutes, while 6% avoid these places altogether.
Looking for local suggestions? Check out our editors’ lists for best restaurants, now on zagat.com and Google Maps. Whether you’re grabbing a bite before the Giants game, planning brunch with friends or even taking a trip to Napa or Sonoma, our curated content will guide you toward exceptional experiences for any occasion.
To access all of this year’s ratings and reviews, check out zagat.com, download the Zagat app for Android and iPhone, or purchase the print guide, available at local bookstores.
Posted by Cynthia Kilian, Zagat Lead Editor
