you’re being reviewed,” he says. Bartolomei concedes the local hospitality industry is currently facing challenges. “Overall visitation is down, the wine industry is struggling and business is far from usual,” says Bartolomei. “We rely heavily on both outside visitors and locals, especially those staying at appellation hotels, to keep things going.” Regardless of the dips in business and the challenges faced, the North Bay food scene’s star power shines on. A culinary delight As the debate continues over whether a Michelin star is more a glory or a grind, one thing remains certain: The inspectors behind the elusive veil are pleased at where the North Bay food scene is today, and where it’s headed. “Northern California continues to take pride in its cuisine and products,” the chief inspector of the Michelin Guide North America told NBb, requesting their name be withheld for review-secrecy purposes. “The Inspectors were so happy to add two great new examples of restaurants to the 2025 selection: Enclos [in Sonoma] and Sons & Daughters [in San Francisco]. Both are at the top of their game in terms of strong initiatives towards eco-conscious cuisine and kitchen management. Furthermore, the new Star selection for 2025 proves even further that California is rich in local culinary talent across the entire state.” g “The system is very secretive—you never really know when you’re being reviewed” —Joe Bartolomei, co-owner, Farmhouse Inn
The Star System, Explained According to the Michelin Guide, restaurants may receive one to three Michelin Stars for the quality of their food based on five criteria: “Quality of ingredients used, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in the cuisine, harmony of flavors and consistency between visits.” Note: Restaurant inspectors do not look at the interior decor, table setting or service quality when awarding stars. One Star ★ High quality cooking, worth a stop. Two Star ★ ★ Excellent cooking, worth a detour. Three star ★ ★ ★ Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.
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42 NorthBaybiz
October 2025
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