Michelin Guide gives stars to 38 restaurants in Bay Area and Wine Country

"The Michelin Guide for the San Francisco Bay Area & Wine Country 2014" was released Tuesday, with a total of 38 restaurants earning star ratings, down from 42 in the 2013 guide.

Once again, there were only two restaurants, both in Wine Country, that earned a three-star rating: The French Laundry in Yountville and The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena.

A Michelin three-star rating is considered the top honor in the culinary world, with just over 100 restaurants in the world deemed to have "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey."

Seven restaurants earned the two-star rating, meaning they have "excellent cuisine, worth a detour." Quince in San Francisco, which serves rustic, Italian cuisine, was elevated from one to two stars.

There were 29 restaurants earning one star, down from 34 in the 2013 guide. Eight restaurants in Wine Country were awarded one star for "a very good restaurant in its category."

In Sonoma County, the Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant in Forestville, Madrona Manor in Healdsburg and Terrapin Creek in Bodega Bay once again earned one star.

The other five Wine Country restaurants earning one star include Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford, Bouchon in Yountville, La Toque in Napa, Solbar in Calistoga and Terra in St. Helena.

While star ratings were down, the 2014 guide marked a rise in restaurants offering good value for the money, with a record 83 restaurants receiving a Bib Gourmand award, including 19 from Wine Country.

Last year, 70 restaurants garnered the award, including 17 from Wine Country. Wine Country newcomers to the list this year include Backyard in Forestville, Chalkboard in Healdsburg and the Glen Ellen Star in Glen Ellen.

Here are the 2014 Bib Gourmand restaurants from Wine Country, defined as the "inspectors' favorites for good value": Backyard in Forestville; Bistro Jeanty in Yountville; Bistro 29 in Santa Rosa; Boon Eat + Drink in Guerneville; C Casa in Napa; Chalkboard in Healdsburg; Cook St. Helena in St. Helena; Cucina Paradiso in Petaluma; Glen Ellen Star in Glen Ellen; Hot Box Grill in Sonoma; LaSalette in Sonoma; Monti's Rotisserie in Santa Rosa; Oenotri in Napa; Redd Wood in Yountville; Risibisi in Petaluma; Sazon in Santa Rosa; Scopa in Healdsburg; The Girl & the Fig in Sonoma; and Willi's Wine Bar in Santa Rosa.

A total of 518 restaurants are included in the new guide, which covers San Francisco, the East Bay, Wine Country, Marin, the South Bay and the Peninsula.

"The Michelin Guide San Francisco Bay Area & Wine Country 2014" compiles recommendations from anonymous professional inspectors and is available at local bookstores.