When it comes to world-class food, the San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most influential foodie spots in the country. Gorgeous produce is just a stone's throw away, and creative chefs love flocking to this food mecca. 
Taking advantage of its abundant agricultural resources, restaurants like Chez Panisse and Ubuntu present their simply prepared dishes like they're edible jewels. There's no need to mask the taste since each locally-sourced ingredient is so delicious in the first place.
Offal is now a popular menu selection, thanks to Chris Cosentino of Incanto. He made items like tripe and sweetbread cool to eat again, along with pig trotters and lamb necks.
Artisanal skills are emphasized with the utmost care and passion, as evidenced in Perbacco and Farina. Both Italian eateries make each of their sublime pasta dishes by hand, and Perbacco house cures an impressive selection of salumi. The food is so authentic it feels like you're dining in Italy.
For truly innovative cuisine, Michelin-starred restaurants like COI & Cyrus take fine dining to the next level. Marrying molecular gastronomy and seemingly simple flavors, each bite explodes in your mouth. And, if you want the ultimate gastronomic adventure, The French Laundry's finely detailed French-Californian menu will thrill you - it changes daily and the chef doesn't use the same ingredient twice within the menu.
