Best of the County 2023 Readers’ Choice Dining

Hungry? So are we! Whether you’re craving Italian, Mexican, Chinese or a meal out with a view, here are the Best of the County 2023 readers’ choices for dining.

Our 2023 Dining category sponsor is Rodney Strong.

Best Al Fresco Dining

Sam’s Anchor Cafe, Tiburon

Sail up to the dock (or just walk in the front door) to access the wide deck overlooking the bay, where the popular drink bowls are designed to be paired with a grand fresh seafood tower or a humble smoked lobster roll.

Best Bakery

Rustic Bakery, Larkspur

Everyone knows the story of the crackers requested when Pope Francis visited in 2015, and the fresh salads, sandwiches and patisserie are equally beloved by Marinities and other less godly visitors.

Best Bar Dining

Perry’s, Larkspur

Perry’s Paper Plane and Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned will convince wine drinkers of the beauty of a whiskey cocktail; the wide bar framed by dark wood and high-backed chairs is as classic as it is comfortable.

Best Barbecue

Pig in a Pickle, Corte Madera

Cute aluminum trays piled with brisket, pulled pork and house-made hot links are just part of the appeal; the sides of Parker House rolls, collard greens and kettle tallow chips have their own following.

Best Breakfast

Half Day Café, Kentfield

Breakfast at lunch is definitely a thing and you can have all the eggy goodness — coffee-Kahlua battered French toast or green eggs and ham — weekdays, just like you can on the weekends.

Best Brewery

The Junction, Mill Valley

Owner Dez Fiedler’s devotion to micro-produced and local beer is evident from the 30 taps and a robust can program including Socks and Sandals from Humble Sea in Santa Cruz, and
experimental bottlings, like Barebottle Brewing’s Tangberry Typhoon, all easy to pair with
pizzas from Pizzahacker. Grab your fleece to sip one by a fire pit on the huge backyard patio
where live music is often on offer and a kids play area beckons.

Best Burger

Gott’s Roadside, Greenbrae

That ahi burger. That falafel salad. That peanut butter and chocolate shake. And let us not forget those garlic fries tossed with garlic butter. Oy vay!

Best Chinese

Harmony Restaurant, Mill Valley

The restaurant that nailed the shareable, small plates concept before anyone else is still at it, with dim sum every day and a menu of updated Chinese and American favorites like mushu pork and orange peel chicken.

Best Coffee Shop

Equator Coffees, Mill Valley

The terrific people watching at the downtown café is reason enough to order a matcha shakerato and a berry scone and chill for a stretch before continuing your ride.

Best Dive Bar

Silver Peso, Larkspur

The building that houses the Silver Peso opened in 1905 as a blacksmith shop, and it wasn’t until the 1930s that the space was transformed into a bar.

Best Fine Dining

Madcap, San Anselmo

The sleek aesthetic of this Michelin one-star from chefs Ron and Kimberly Siegel is similarly reflected on the menu of Japanese-inflected dishes and understated, ever-present service.

Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt

Fairfax Scoop, Fairfax

This small, local and socially conscious shop lists purveyors right on its daily chalkboard menu hung from a tree out front and includes flavors like vanilla honey lavender and vegan chocolate. 415.453.3130

Best Indian

Lotus Cuisine of India, San Rafael

Maybe it was the move down the street into spiffy new digs or maybe it is the prix fixe, all-you-can-eat lunch buffet that tipped this long-running San Rafael business into the winner’s circle.

Best Italian

Poggio Trattoria, Sausalito

From their famous Negroni cocktail to pasta primi, vitello, pizze and “alla fiorentina” steak, the consistent, outstanding quality and comfortable digs make Poggio a perennial winner in our readers’ hearts. 

Best Latin American

Sol Food, Mill Valley & San Rafael

This Puerto Rican spot has won the hearts of Marinites serving up everyone’s favorite dishes, including Creole prawns, mofongo maduros, and tostones, and a chuleton sandwich on French bread.

Best Mexican

Playa, Mill Valley

The bar scene is one of the hottest in Marin — we think it’s because of the Kill Bill margarita, Hamachi crudo antojito and carnitas tacos with house-made corn tortillas.

Best Middle Eastern/Mediterranean

Insalata’s, San Anselmo

Award-winning chef Heidi Krahling’s downtown restaurant features soulful Mediterranean fare for 25+ years. Dinner favorites include cataplana with mussels and chorizo, Middle Eastern-inspired vegetarian platter, Moroccan lamb flatbread, house made pastas and of course, the fattoush salad.

Best New Restaurant Marin

Coho, Mill Valley

Owners Felicia Ferguson and Luigi Petrone, whose fathers, Domenico and Paulo, opened Piazza D’Angelo in Mill Valley 41 years ago, built their seafood-forward restaurant from scratch in the town they have called home since they were kids. Where the nearby Piazza is an ode to Southern Italian trattorias, the cousins’ restaurant, with the help of chef partner David Kornell (New York’s Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill), celebrates the California coast with responsibly sourced seafood, meat, and produce.

Best Pizza Marin

Creekside Pizza & Taproom, San Anselmo

The signature pies, build-your-own pizza menu and 40-plus taps are customer favorites. Their dedicated community support also sealed the deal with our voters.

Best Ramen Marin

Uchiwa Ramen, San Rafael

Marin’s OG ramen house is as famous for its tonkatsu with a cloudy, slow-simmered pork bone broth as for its vegetarian hearty miso, all available with regular or gluten-free noodles.

Best Sandwiches Marin

Michael’s Sourdough Sandwiches, Novato

This perennial winner is regularly recognized by our readers, who swoon over the bread made on premises and the huge sandos piled with meat, cheese, and enough shredded lettuce to drip out the sides and onto your lap.

Best Seafood Marin

Fish, Sausalito

The huge patio facing Richardson Bay is a big part of the appeal of this restaurant dedicated to local and sustainable seafood sourcing, but we’re betting it’s also because the fish Reuben and poke with chipotle soy dressing are just a little out of the ordinary.

Best Steakhouse

Buckeye Roadhouse, Mill Valley

There’s something special (and oh-so Marin) about savoring a 12-ounce Brandt rib eye with a classic Manhattan in front of the fireplace in the main dining room that just can’t be repeated anywhere else.

Best Sushi Marin

Sushi Ran, Sausalito

For years, the world has looked to this singular restaurant in Sausalito as the standard for impeccably sourced, seasonal ingredients presented in innovative and classic dishes.

Best Thai

Thep Lela, Mill Valley

At this tucked away spot in the back of Strawberry Village, the kee mao noodles, pad thai, and fresh rolls stuffed with beets and herbs have a dedicated following as does the extensive bar menu (try the Amazing Mai Tai).

Best Vegan/Vegetarian

Café del Soul, San Rafael

Self-care starts with the all-vegetarian, organic menu of wraps, salads, and smoothies that taste just as good after a yoga class or before binge-watching “Bridgerton.”