8 New NorCal Michelin Restaurants To Try For Spring

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — Easter’s a holy day, but if you want to feel like you’ve truly ascended to heaven, consider eating at a new Carmel-by-the-Sea restaurant that was recently added to the prestigious Michelin Guide.

Stationæry, an unpretentious brunch spot in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea’s storybook downtown, is the only one of the eight NorCal restaurants recently added to the Michelin Guide that is confirmed open on Easter Sunday. That means that you’ll be able to enjoy a delightfully reimagined brunch at a homey place styling itself “your favorite neighborhood restaurant.” This cozy neighborhood hangout offers upscale versions of brunch favorites, like French toast with mascarpone cheese and cinnamon apples on milk bread; a burger with cheddar cheese, french dressing, and caramelized onions on a brioche bun; and avocado toast on sourdough with radish, sprouts, pepper, and Monterey Bay seaweed.

It also includes innovative Californian, Mexican and Asian entries like crispy rice salad with candied bacon, shiso, cucumbers, peanuts, and pickled chili; chilaques with chorizo, avocado, eggs, salsa verde and cheese; and a potato pancake with wild mushrooms, Stepladder fromage blanc, and arugula. They also offer a farm-fresh salad, a Caesar salad, a hearty serving of steak and eggs, and even a lobster roll. In short, whatever kind of mood you’re in, and wherever you want to travel in the world, you’ll find it at Stationæry.

The restaurant is open for brunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 20. To learn more and book a table, visit thestationaery.com.

Most upscale restaurants aren’t open on Sundays, but perhaps with the right amount of prayer, one of these might make an exception for Easter. Consider calling the numbers below at the hours indicated. If not, there’s no better way to usher in a season of renewal than by dining at these local restaurants that the world’s most notoriously picky judges have said are among the best on the planet.

1. Sun Moon Studio, Oakland

This quiet Oakland spot seamlessly blends California ingredients with a fresh take on Chinese cuisine in its “pared down and technically precise menu.”

1940 Union Street, Ste. 21, Oakland. 510-947-4178. Hours: 5-9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 5-8 p.m. Sunday (confirmed closed on Easter.)

2. Table Culture Provisions, Petaluma

Luxuriate in Wine Country splendor with a seasonal menu of four to seven-course meals that effortlessly combine California and French influences.

312 Petaluma Boulevard South, Petaluma. 707-559-5739. Hours: Wednesday through Saturday from 5-9 p.m.

3. Four Kings, San Francisco

One of Chinatown’s hottest new restaurants offers a “breezy, contemporary” take on Cantonese cuisine.

710 Commercial Street, San Francisco. 415-688-1500. Hours: Sunday-Monday 6-10:30 p.m. (Sunday reservations not available on OpenTable), Thursday through Saturday 6-11 p.m.

4. Prelude, San Francisco

Why not enjoy some soul food around Easter? Prelude Chef Celtin Hendrickson-Jones created a menu inspired by his Alabama grandmothers, full of fried chicken wings and dirty rice.

333 Battery Street, San Francisco. 415-375-8041. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 5 - 9 p.m.

5. The Wild, San Francisco

Sit around a cozy central hearth and watch chefs prepare delicious Californian-Japanese fusion meat, seafood and vegetable dishes over coals.

201 Spear Street #120, San Francisco. 415-523-9745. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 5-9 p.m.

6. Verjus, San Francisco

Enjoy elegant, seasonal French food like duck pâté and an incomparable wine list at this cozy bistro tucked directly under the Transamerica Pyramid.

550 Washington Street, San Francisco. 415-944-4600. Hours: Tuesday through Thursday 4-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4-11 p.m.

7. Enclos, Sonoma

Enjoy delicious New England-style seafood inside a house on a winery tucked deep in the heart of Wine Country. Gaze out onto rolling vineyards from their outdoor patio.

139 East Napa Street, Sonoma. 707-387-1724. Hours: Wednesday through Saturday 5-9 p.m.

8. Carmel-by-the-Sea: Stationæry

This cheerful restaurant is a “local brunch favorite” thanks to its California take on American classics. With ingredients like swordfish, local seaweed, and Meyer lemon, you're in for a unique experience.

RELATED:

• 15 Restaurants Added To CA Michelin Guide 2025: See List
• This CA Restaurant Is The Best Place To Eat In America: Yelp
• This SoCal Restaurant Among 10 Best New Hot Spots In US
• 13 Restaurants Added To CA Michelin Guide