1. FRENCH LAUNDRY, THE
Yountville, CA
2. PER SE
New York, NY
3. ALINEA
Chicago, IL
4. URASAWA
Los Angeles, CA
5. SAISON
San Francisco, CA
6. MANRESA
Los Gatos, CA
7. JEAN GEORGES
New York, NY
8. MASA
New York, NY
9. MCCRADY’S
Charleston, SC
10. MINI-BAR/É BY JOSÉ ANDRÉS
Wash., DC / Las Vegas, NV
5

Photo Courtesy of: Tasty Bits

Saison
San Francisco, CA

178 TOWNSEND ST
415-828-7990
WWW.SAISONSF.COM

In our review of Saison last year we said the following: “Based on the scuttlebutt that we hear from within the dining community, if you were to ask us to name the chefs who stand a good chance of running the number one restaurant in our survey one day, Joshua Skenes would be among the names on a very short list.” Given that the restaurant shot up our list, all the way from number 24 to the number 5 restaurant in the country, we feel comfortable saying that our prediction is coming true. Intent on “redefining the concept of a fancy meal,” Skenes does things like serving aged fish, and offering a service of ducks that have been dry-aged for 32 and 70 days. Skenes also pushes the envelope in the way he uses the wood-burning grill on the restaurant’s patio. Rather than cook on a grate, Skenes might place ingredients directly in the ash or set them right next to a pile of flaming logs. Editor’s note: Skenes has moved Saison into shiny new quarters in San Francisco’s SoMa district; he also serves a more casual menu in the restaurant’s lounge.