FILE: Patrons dine at Shuggie’s, which features $2 wine shots and “trash pizza” made from repurposed food waste, in San Francisco July 7, 2022. The city’s neighborhoods, from the Mission to Russian Hill and the Outer Sunset, are vibrant with packed restaurants and bars, and many are home to new parks and the return of in-person events. (Jason Henry/The New York Times)
Jason Henry/NYT
Shuggie’s Trash Pie & Natural Wine and Noodle in a Haystack were among the 24 restaurants across the U.S. recognized Thursday for their exemplary food and service. They were the only Bay Area spots that made the cut.
“The restaurant world is packed with creativity right now, and these 24 spots represent the very best of dining,” wrote Bon Appetit restaurant editor Elazar Sontag, who penned an opinion piece earlier this year about San Francisco’s lackluster dining scene.
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Shuggie’s, known for turning upcycled produce into delicious works of pizza art, gushed thanks via Instagram, saying they are “so freakin thrilled” to join the coveted annual list.
“Absolutely overflowing with gratitude to have our lil mom n pop food waste restaurant on this prestigious list among so many stunner restaurants,” Shuggie’s wrote on Instagram. “…Thank you for recognizing that reducing food waste isn’t a weirdo gimmick but a real necessity for the future of food.”
The magazine called out the happy yellow interior at Shuggie’s and the menu’s beef heart meatballs and Sexy Shroomy Hot Pockets. “It’s unlikely fuel for one of the most delicious and exciting parties we’ve had the good fortune of attending,” the editors wrote.
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Owners David Murphy and Kayla Abe opened the Mission District restaurant in April 2022 to a quick and massive following among those seeking grandma-style, environmentally friendly pies, psychedelic dining rooms and low-intervention wines.
Noodle in a Haystack, the high-end ramen-inspired restaurant that opened in the Richmond District in September 2022, was praised for its eight-course tasting menu highlighting Clint and Yoko Tan’s “rapturous focus” and ability to elevate chicken breast with green chile oil and dashi. The chefs quickly took to Instagram to share the news.
“Daaaaamn — might be the craziest thing yet for our little shop?!? We’re absolutely floored right now in between shopping and cleaning chickens for soup,” they wrote.
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In 2022, Bon Appetit named two Bay Area restaurants — Oakland’s Daytrip and San Francisco’s Good Good Culture Club — to the 50 Best New Restaurants list.