First came Picco, then came the pizzeria; both have become the go-to places in Marin County thanks to the vision and cooking of Bruce Hill. To keep the quality of the risotto high, Hill makes it on the half hour and then rushes it immediately to the table. Other standouts include mini crab sandwiches and grass-fed mini burgers. Larger plates include farro-dusted skate wing. At the pizzeria next door, Hill serves wood-fired pizza named after famous bikes, fresh salads and soft-serve ice cream. Wine is also available for takeout, and you can get flash-frozen pizzas to cook at home.
Specialties: Risotto; mini burgers; tuna tartare with sticky rice cakes.
Dinner 5-10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., until 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.
From four-star spots to cozy neighborhood joints, these are Michael Bauer's picks for the best in Bay Area dining.