2025 marks the 20th Anniversary of Check, Please! Bay Area, which made its debut on KQED on November 3, 2005. Some of us here at the San Francisco Bay Times fondly remember that day and the first episode, which featured these three restaurants: Old Krakow, Incanto, and Hard Knox Cafe. You can watch it online at https://bit.ly/49rvSYS
Of the three restaurants, Hard Knox Cafe is still open and now has two locations (one in SoMa and the other in the Richmond)! It provides “food for the soul,” while Check, Please! continues to serve up soul-satisfying viewing. We are honored that the series’ longtime host, Leslie Sbrocco, is a San Francisco Bay Times columnist.
She has had her own hard knocks over the years, such as a stage-4 cancer diagnosis in March 2021 during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. But she is now a cancer thriver and going strong, both with the series and her many other projects. Recently, for example, she gave one of the most popular presentations at the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, South Carolina, which was held from November 14–16, 2025. Nationally, she is known for her PBS series 100 Days, Drinks, Dishes, and Destinations, appearances on NBC’s Today Show, her best-selling books, seminars, and much more.
To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Check, Please! Bay Area, here are just some of the reasons why this KQED series remains a favorite:
Leslie Sbrocco – Warm, charismatic, intelligent, and with a sharp and often saucy sense of humor, Sbrocco makes everyone feel welcome at her table.
Queer Friendly – Check, Please! Bay Area was one of the first major series to feature out gay individuals speaking openly about their partners and families.
Positive Impact on Local Businesses – Numerous small businesses have benefited from the exposure provided to them by the series. Some even credit the series for keeping them in the black during very challenging times.
Memorable Guests – From the quirky to the sentimental, guests on the series often make a lasting impression.
Talented Production Team – Series Producer Lori Halloran, Coordinating Producer and Reporter Cecilia Phillips, Associate Producer Candice Yung, Audience Engagement and Content Producer Josh Decolongon, and interns such as Kyla Tan constitute the small yet mighty core team that help make the series such a success.
David Manilow – The brilliant, yet deceptively simple, concept behind the series—locals review and discuss their favorite Bay Area restaurants—was conceived by Producer David Manilow with help from Joel Cohen. The two, with film director Joe Angio, had started a weekly dining club where participants tried to outdo each other in selecting unique places. Check, Please! began in Chicago in 2001 before launching in other regions, including the Bay Area. When Barack Obama was an Illinois state senator, he appeared as a guest on one of the programs. Watch a clip from that here: https://bit.ly/4pmXOSu
Special Episodes – Shows themed around the Golden State Warriors, Hamilton, Harry Potter, and visits to other locations such as the Central Coast add to the fun mix of shows as part of the series.
Reality TV That’s Actually Real – While the bread on the set may be fake—see the episode with BeBe Sweetbriar, Sister Roma, and Chef Ryan Scott; plus the 20th Anniversary Special reunion of BeBe and Sister Roma for more about this—everything else about Check, Please! Bay Area rings true. Watching the series evokes hanging out with friends, and carries over into real life as many viewers are inspired to try out the featured restaurants.
Long before Sbrocco became a San Francisco Bay Times columnist, several members of our team, both past and present, appeared as guests on the series. They include the late great Stu Smith, David Landis, Gypsy Love, Liam Mayclem, and others. Perhaps you have even been on the show? If not, and if you are not already a fan of this now iconic series, we highly recommend that you check it out: https://bit.ly/47Lox56
Cheers to 20 years, Check, Please! Bay Area!
Published on November 20, 2025
Recent Comments