The Chronicle's Michael Bauer said the best dishes include the bay shrimp Louie, the bay shrimp and avocado salad, Jack LaLannes Favorite Salad or the petrale sole. This iconic San Francisco establishment is 150 years old, although there have been many Cliff Houses through the years. In 1916 Joseph returned to a bohemian theme with The Red Paint, a short-lived restaurant on Washington Street that went out of business at the start of Prohibition, stopping the flow of red paint, i.e., wine. What are some of San Francisco's truly classic restaurants? Jessica is a member of the Gate's homepage team and has a nerdy obsession with poring over the site's real-time analytics. For either a power lunch or a romantic night out (make sure to sidle up to the fireplace for the full effect), pair Greek classics like dolmathes and moussaka with a glass of crisp white wine. By the way, La Taq is also the only taqueria to have made The Chronicle's Top 100 Restaurants list - from 1996 to 2008. Oops. Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time. Youll never go wrong with a bowl of clam chowder and a fishwich. Select from premium San Francisco 1970s of the highest quality. And in the late 1950s New Yorks Quo Vadis offered Crepes Quo Vadis, filled with curried seafood and glazed with a white sauce, as hors doeuvres. Many credit him with making House of Prime Rib the SF institution it is today, catering to high-profile regulars as well as a healthy mix of locals and tourists. The long dining rooms are bedecked in warm woods and leather, with low slung ceilings making it feel like youre deep in the belly of a boat. We didn't include this one in this "classics" slideshow when we first ran it, but quite a few readers reminded us it's one that we couldn't omit. And if you really want to pay a tribute to the establishments history, ordering a martini (or three) with your lunch. The San Francisco restaurant Coppas became legendary in the early 20th century as a gathering spot for bohemian artists and writers, especially after they decorated its walls with curious and intriguing murals. Your email address will not be published. fisherman's wharf and restaurants / pier and fishing / fishermans wharf on august 20 . The menus got over 100 items, so savvy diners ask the white-jacketed waiters whats good tonight? to make sure they get the kitchens best and brightest. San Francisco, 1972 Alfonso Cevola/Flickr People have always been passionate about wineand it goes great with a protest. We included tips on what to order as well as fun historical tidbits about many of the establishments, such as the one Janis Joplin lived near or the horrific fate of the original owner of John's Grill. The service these days is decidedly more polite (and they're no longer open until 3am), but not much else has changed. Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission. With Simons death in 1915 and that of his son Jack in the 1930s, the business passed into the hands of Fred Levy who had married Simons daughter. Also, Metallica hangs out here. It was located near the notorious Barbary Coast area of the city. Even though new creperies continued to open here and there Baton Rouge got its first one in 1983 there were signs as early as 1980 that the crepe craze was fading. Ernie's was a restaurant in San Francisco, California. He bounced around Maine, Boston, New York City, Albany NY, San Francisco, Virginia City NV, and finally back to New York City where he died in 1881. He died the next year, but his widow and three children took over the business and opened the restaurant at Fishermans Wharf stall 8 in 1938. 5 classic San Francisco restaurants we wish were still around, Our S.F. Though mostly (and justly) known for its Irish coffees, the Buena Vista Cafe also has a decent breakfast and lunch offering, with views of the Bay. These products developed out of his belief that postwar consumers were unwilling to pay for premium candy. Both were pioneers from a time when San Francisco was gaining footing as a great food town. SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco - 12 Locations (1) Lombard & Steiner (2) Market & 10th St (3) Geary at 18th Ave (4) Ocean & Junipero Serra (5) 19th & Taraval (6) Powell & Geary Please enter a valid email and try again. It appears she continued to run the business of making and selling baked goods and confectionery until 1859. El Faro was reportedly the first to serve the super burrito, with the addition of sour cream, guacamole and rice, in 1961. It has had four owners, but current owner John Konstin and his family have been at the helm for 40 years. This North Beach establishment was recently reincarnated into a restaurant, earningpraise from the Chronicle's Michael Bauer. Pictured:Wild Quinault Steelhead with Lemon Caper Butter and Green Salsa at Hayes Street Grill. As late as 1984 a Blums Restaurant was in operation at the I. Magnin store in Los Angeles, where patrons could indulge themselves with a Giant Banana Bonanza for $3.95. The city was at the forefront of fashion, music, and the counterculture movement. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1970 Press Photo Girls Wade Beneath San Francisco Cliff House Restaurant at the best online prices at eBay! 1906, view east. First, there are the true classics. Bumbling through the cafeteria line Celebrity restaurants: Evelyn Nesbits tea room The artist dines out Reubens: celebrities and sandwiches Good eaters: students From tap room to tea room Whats in a name? It burned in 1940. The Cioppino is supposedly one of the best (ever). You can also e-mail her at jmullins@sfchronicle.com. The North Beach Original Joes interior emulates the first Joe's, complete with big red booths, but it also has a bit of a modern twist. Fred Harvey revisited Street food: tamales Famous in its day: Blums Women chefs before the 1970s Speed eating Top posts in 2020 Holiday greetings from 11th Heaven Dining with Us Mortals Your favorite restaurant? The retro restaurants menu includes a cocktail list from Original Joes circa 1950 and an expansive menu categorized as old-school Cal-Ital food.. San Francisco is relatively new. Together, the story reported, the two places served 3,000 patrons daily, taking in $57,000 a month, and paying out monthly as much as $1,600 for advertising, $8,000 for meat, $4,000 for milk, $3,000 for potatoes, and $2,000 for ice. High on any list of San Francisco classics and SFs oldest restaurant, Tadich was founded in 1849. It may never get built, Hit bean company Rancho Gordo embroiled in discrimination lawsuit, San Francisco citizens once traveled by gondola. The Fountain Head was not fancy. The first Magic Pan, a tiny place on Fillmore Street, was opened in 1965 by Paulette and Laszlo Fono, who came to this country in 1956 after the failed anti-Communist uprising in their native Hungary. She built Zunis reputation with her burgers, Caesar salad, bloody Marys, and of course, the famous roast chicken for two with bread salad. It was unique in heavy-drinking San Francisco for providing no alcoholic beverages. Please like & follow for more interesting content. According to the citys Commercial Advertiser in April, 1854, the Winn enterprises by then comprising the main Fountain Head restaurant and a more elegant Branch welcoming women with fancy desserts had attained the pinnacle of success. Making an appeal to men was also new for Blums, which had customarily located in shopping areas where women abounded. In October 1935 the restaurant reopened as The Music Box, a supper club under the direction of stripper and fan dancer Sally Rand. 1915 postcard were more than merely decorative. Just get a cheeseburger and fries, which were added to the menu in 2001 and were the first significant menu addition in 40 years. Craving carnitas yet? Doggie Diner: When our school bus drove by the Doggie Diner on the way to a field trip at the San Francisco Zoo, I would look down at my sad bologna sandwich with American cheese and swear Id eat at Doggie Diner someday. At The Sale Hunt you will find all the information you need for whatever question comes into your mind. 1853 menu, an order of roast beef, veal, or corned beef and cabbage cost 25c, while most vegetables were 12c. As Quaker opened Magic Pans, they invariably received a warm welcome in newspaper food pages. Quaker sold the Magic Pans in 1982 after years of declining profits. Good eaters: Andy Warhol Birth of the theme restaurant Restaurant-ing with royalty Righting civil wrongs in restaurants Theme restaurants: barns Men only Taste of a decade: restaurants, 1900-1910 Celebrating restaurant cuisine Decor: glass ceilings Between courses: dont sniff the food In the kitchen with Mme Early: black women in restaurants Burger bloat On the menu for 2010 Christmas feasting Todays specials: books on restaurants With haute cuisine for all: Longchamps Restaurant-ing on Thanksgiving High-volume restaurants: Smith & McNells Anatomy of a restaurateur: Dario Toffenetti Between courses: rate this menu You want cheese with that? What are some of San Francisco's truly classic restaurants? Out of the destruction, came one of the city's best outdoor patios, which still exists today. The gold-lettered double doors swung back open in mid 2021 after two years of pandemic-era closures, meaning SF residents and tourists can once again belly up to the bar for a house cappuccino (no coffee involved) and a plate of pasta with a side of house made focaccia. Johns Grill (1908): A relative newcomer compared with the other restaurants on this list, Johns Grill takes the most pains to retain its old-school flavor and noir-ish early 20th century vibe. In 1851 he opened his principal restaurant on Long Wharf, calling it Winns Fountain Head. In 1860 they moved to the boomtown Virginia City, Nevada, where silver had just been discovered. Others have been reincarnated with a nod to the future, but still hold on to a part of San Francisco's fascinating history. Thankfully, some of our classic dining establishments like House of Prime Rib, Swan's Oyster Depot, Tadich Grill and a handful of others survive and thrive. Many of our other favorite eateries have been lumped into two other pillars -- the "new classics" and the "only in SF" eateries. The names of Coppas regulars are interspersed with those of famous writers such as [Johann Wolfgang] Goethe, [Franois] Villon, and [Guillaume] Apollinaire. He had no preference about the style of food, price range or neighborhood. Pictured: Tom Sancimino (left), Steve Sancimino and Darin Samuel work the counter. Pie in the skies revolving restaurants Way out coffeehouses Taste of a decade: 1890s restaurants Sweet treats and teddy bears Its not all glamor, is it Mr. Krinkle? It was a busy street without sidewalks, filled with liquor saloons, gambling dens, and all-night stores. And a florist in Napa CA was still selling boxes of Blums candy for Easter in 1991. Click through this slideshow to find out. A restaurant reviewer in 1986 dismissed crepes as forgotten food served only in conservative restaurant markets. Sal grew up in North Beach, a descendant of Sicilian fisherman. Between courses: mystery food Ode to franchises of yesteryear Chuck wagon-ing Taste of a decade: 1940s restaurants Just cause it looks bad doesnt mean its good The other Delmonicos Between courses: Beard at Lucky Pierres Basic fare: spaghetti Famous in its day: The Maramor Between courses: wheres my butter? Another exotic touch employed by quite a few creperies was to use the French circumflex mark in crpes (which I have not done in this blogpost). Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. The landmark vegetarian restaurant opened in 1979 as part of the SF Zen Center. The artists and illustrators who contributed drawings included some who would become prominent, such as Maynard Dixon, Xavier Martinez, and Gelett Burgess. Early vegetarian restaurants Famous in its day: Blancos Blue plate specials Basic fare: club sandwiches Gossip feeds restaurants Image gallery: business cards Restaurant row At the sign of the . San Francisco, CA 94124 (415) 826-4880 More Information This old school favorite is located in the Bayview District of San Francisco and has been home to the city's best clam back since. A few more San Francisco classics, still serving: The Old Clam House (1861); Sam's Grill & Seafood Restaurant (1867); Fly Trap (1883); Schroeder's (1893); Swan Oyster Depot (1906); Liguria. In 1896, Adolph Sutro, then the Cliff House owner and mayor of SF, built a new Cliff House modeled after a French chateau. Sliced-to-order pastrami sandwiches and buffalo stew (pictured). There's nothing quite like a burger and a beer at this outdoor spot on the Embarcadero (since 1955), preferably consumed before heading over to the ballpark for a Giants game. Pictured: A view of Seal Rock from Sutro's at the Cliff House. You dont have to decide. The restaurant, which was founded in 1861, has now fallen into the same hands that own North Beachs Mona Lisa restaurant and theyve smartly left the classic alone, for the most part, keeping all of the familiar favorites on the menu. Yes, that's a toucan flying around Walnut Creek. Poodle Dog Restaurant, Flood Bldg., Emporium. The grill opened in 1979 drawing inspiration from more established SF classics like Tadich. Some of these places have been around for more than 100 years and are instant portals to the city's past. Tea-less tea rooms Carhops in fact and fiction Finds of the day: two taverns Dining with a disability The history of the restaurant of the future The food gap All the salad you can eat Find of the day, almost Famous in its day: The Bakery Training department store waitresses Chocolate on the menu Restaurant-ing with the Klan Diet plates Christian restaurant-ing Taste of a decade: 1980s restaurants Higbees Silver Grille Bulgarian restaurants Dining with Diamond Jim Restaurant wear 2016, a recap Holiday banquets for the newsies Multitasking eateries Famous in its day: the Blue Parrot Tea Room A hair in the soup When presidents eat out Spooky restaurants The mysterious Singing Kettle Famous in its day: Aunt Fannys Cabin Faces on the wall Dining for a cause Come as you are The Gables Find of the day: Ifflands Hofbrau-Haus Find of the day: Hancock Tavern menu Cooking with gas Ladies restrooms All you can eat Taste of a decade: 1880s restaurants Anatomy of a corporate restaurant executive Surf n turf Odd restaurant buildings: ducks Dining with the Grahamites Deep fried When coffee was king A fantasy drive-in Farm to table Between courses: masticating with Horace Restaurant-ing with Mildred Pierce Greeting the New Year On the 7th day they feasted Find of the day: Wayside Food Shop Cooking up Thanksgiving Automation, part II: the disappearing kitchen Dining alone Coppas famous walls Image gallery: insulting waitresses Famous in its day: Partridges Find of the day: Mrs. Ks Toll House Tavern Automation, part I: the disappearing server Find of the day: Moodys Diner cookbook To go Pepper mills Little things: butter pats The dining room light and dark Dining at sea Reservations 100 years of quotations Restaurant-ing with Soviet humorists Heroism at lunch Caper sauce at Taylors Shared meals High-volume restaurants: Crook & Duff (etc.)