More than 20 Bay Area and NorCal restaurants, chefs, bakers and wine/cocktail specialists have been named semifinalists in the 2025 James Beard Awards competition.
“It is an honor to recognize your distinctive talents that enrich America’s culinary landscape,” the awards committee said to the semifinalists in Wednesday’s announcement.
The finalists will be announced online April 2 and the winners June 16 at a live Chicago ceremony.
For the national awards, the Bay Area and NorCal are represented by nominees from a diverse array of culinary specialties. Ten 10 NorCal chefs (or chef couples) and 10 SoCal chefs will compete for the Best Chef: California title. Last year’s winner was chef Lord Maynard Llera of the Los Angeles restaurant Kuya Lord. Find the full list of semifinalists here.
Here are the semifinalists from this region:
Outstanding Restaurateur
Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski of State Bird Provisions, The Progress and The Anchovy Bar in San Francisco
Outstanding Chef
Suzette Gresham-Tognetti of Acquerello in San Francisco
Outstanding Restaurant
Benu in San Francisco
Emerging Chef
Spencer Horowitz of Hadeem in San Francisco
Best New Restaurant
Four Kings in San Francisco
Outstanding Bakery
Quail and Condor in Healdsburg
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker
Monique Feybesse of Tarts de Feybesse in Oakland
Outstanding Hospitality
Harbor House Inn in Elk, Mendocino County
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
Kitchen Istanbul in San Francisco
Outstanding Bar
True Laurel in San Francisco
Best New Bar (new category)
The Halfway Club in San Francisco
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service (new category)
Tonya Pitts at One Market in San Francisco
Jacob Brown at Lazy Bear in San Francisco
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service (new category)
Danny Louie at KAIYŌ in San Francisco
Best Chef: California
Darryl Bell of Stateline Road Smokehouse in Napa
Jonny Black of Chez Noir in Carmel
Val Cantu of Californios in San Francisco
Richard Lee of Saison in San Francisco
Gaby Maeda of Friends & Family in Oakland
Jordan Makableh and Saif Makableh of Mazra in Redwood City
Laura Ozyilmaz and Sayat Ozyilmaz of Dalida in San Francisco
Kosuke Tada of Mijote in San Francisco
Ari Weiswasser of Glen Ellen Star in Glen Ellen
Nite Yun of Lunette in San Francisco
