Ranked Top 5 Most Popular Restaurants in SF by Yelp. Award winning view of the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz! First restaurant on Fisherman's Wharf with 100% sustainable seafood. Fresh fish delivered and hand cut daily. Fresh sourdough bread baked every 30 minutes. New England Clam Chowder made from scratch daily. Vast California wine list and full bar with premium liquor
Located in the Ferry Building Marketplace, a visit to Hog Island Oyster Bar is a great way to start off a San Francisco adventure. The restaurant is owned by the Hog Island Oyster Farm, who farms oysters in Tomales Bay. Established in 1983, today the company raises over three million oysters per year. The casual surroundings of the restaurant, located opposite a retail fish store, provide a gorgeous view of the Bay Bridge. Stop in and grab a glass of wine and down as many oysters as you can. The menu also offers clams and salad, but the main attraction here is the oyster stew, the chowder and the grilled cheese sandwich! Check for the daily specials before ordering. The restaurant also offers a small quantity of live, unshucked oysters to take away, but will have to be ordered three days prior.
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This tiny diner in Civic Center serves up Chef-Owner Brenda Buenviaje's idea of soul food, which is a combination of French cooking styles and Creole soul. The wait gets very long, so come at opening time to be seated right away. For brunch, try the much-loved stuffed beignets (sweet, with chocolate or apples, or savory, with crawfish, scallions, and cheddar), the Grillades & Grits, the French Toast, or one of many egg dishes. Lunch options include tempting salads and sandwiches, all at an affordable price. Wash it all down with a refreshing glass of Brenda's special Sweet Watermelon Tea.
To enter this iconic San Francisco restaurant, you need a healthy appetite for meat! The interior boasts several dining rooms, a bar and cocktail lounge, and a fireplace, making it feel like an exclusive clubhouse. The owner, Joe Betz, is known for redecorating the establishment every so often. Chunks of aged and perfectly seasoned prime rib are sliced table-side and served with a variety of side dishes (the most popular being creamed spinach and potatoes). A daily fish special is also offered at House of Prime Rib for those who want something light.
Visit Gigi's Sotto Mare Oysteria and Seafood if you wish to sample excellent Italian seafood on a budget. This restaurant is a North Beach favorite for oyster, crab, cod and shrimp dishes. Their specialty is the Crab Chowder served with a choice of buttered bread or with the main course. Savor dishes such as Bay Shrimp Louis, Linguine with Manila Clams, Mussel Steamers and Crab Cioppino. Try side dishes such as Blue Cheese Wedge with Mimosa Cocktail, as well as Cranberry juice. This restaurant has a family-friendly ambiance and offers a banquet room for hosting small-scale parties. You can also purchase fresh fish here for home cooking.
Breakfast is undeniably the most important meal of the day, and no one does it better than Sweet Maple. With a menu composed of fluffy scrambled eggs and omelets, steaks, pizzas, sandwiches and more, breakfast at this restaurant is sure to leave you feeling happy and content all day long. Their lunch menu is just as impressive, with salads, panini, burgers and cheesesteaks that are sure to satisfy your appetite and comfort your soul. No matter what you choose to eat, be sure to try some of their Millionaire's Bacon, and you will surely not be disappointed. A favorite amongst locals, Sweet Maple is the perfect place to grab a hearty meal before a long day, or enjoy a leisurely brunch with family and friends.
Zazie
Named after the Louis Malle film Zazie dans le Metro, this charming French bistro that was voted "Best Brunch" in 2007 boasts delectable French and Basque cuisine with a decidedly California accent. Owner and chef Jennifer Piallat uses many of her French husband's family recipes, often adding a touch of fresh herbs or native Cali veggies. The plates are on the simple side, but with a complexity of flavor that would please any gourmand. The brunch menu, however, Piallat has left unchanged since she took over for former owner Catherine Opoix, but why alter tradition when the sidewalks overflow week-end after week-end with those eager to try their favorite of the varieties of egg dishes offered? Show up early to snag a table on their garden patio, sample one of their tasty wines and get a taste of French leisure on California shores.
Nopa
Nopa is a great place to get together and try out some of the finest wines from around the globe while enjoying an array of organic cuisine prepared in a wood-fire stove. The extensive wine list offers bottles from Italy, Spain, France, and Germany. The atmosphere is laid back and entertaining - you can eat at the bar and watch the chefs in action as they prepare food in the open kitchen. Be sure to try their famed grilled country pork chop!
