10 SMC Restaurants Among Wine Spectator's 2023 Award Winners

REDWOOD CITY, CA — When it comes to fine wine and dining, Bay Area residents don't have to travel far to enjoy some of the best the country has to offer. In San Mateo County, 10 restaurants were ranked among the best places to enjoy good wine and good food.

Wine Spectator recently unveiled the 2023 Restaurant Awards winners, which honor the world's best restaurants for wines. This year's awards program recognized 3,500 dining destinations from all 50 states and in more than 70 countries worldwide.

Since 1981, the Restaurant Awards have had three distinct levels: The "Award of Excellence," the "Best of Award of Excellence" and the "Grand Award."

The Village Pub in Woodside nabbed the Grand Award, which it has retained since 2013. Restaurants in Atherton, Woodside, Belmont, Burlingame and Menlo Park were honored for superior wine and cuisine with a Best of Award of Excellence.

This restaurant was named the Grand Award Winner for 2023:

• The Village Pub (Woodside)

These restaurants won the Best Of Award Of Excellence this year:

• The Village Bakery (Woodside)
• Shalizaar Restaurant (Belmont)
• Madera (Menlo Park)
• Velvet 48 (Burlingame)
• Selby's (Atherton)

Restaurants that earned the Award of Excellence are:

• Pausa (San Mateo)
• Cafe Figaro (Burlingame)
• Left Bank Brasserie (Menlo Park)
• Quattro Restaurant and Bar (East Palo Alto)

Then there's the Award of Excellence, given to restaurants that carefully choose their wine lists to have 100 or more selections, containing both quality and diverse wines, according to the magazine. There were 2,001 Award of Excellence winners this year.

The Best of Award of Excellence is given to restaurants that "go the extra mile," with lists of 350 or more selections from top producers, with a wide variety of regions and vintage depths. These restaurants might also carefully design the presentations of the list, train their staff to assist diners with the list and have curated wine dinners, according to Wine Spectator. Worldwide, 1,411 restaurants received the Best of Award of Excellence award.

Find more info on all 2023 Restaurant Award Winners from Wine Spectator.