American Restaurants

Located just off San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street, Bistro Aix is bursting with new flavors .These organic dishes are created nightly using fresh ingredients from local growers. . Bistro Aix’s Californian twist on French Provencal food traditions present guests with a taste of this Northern region right here in California. The restaurant’s focus on olive oil and fresh organic products allows for unique menu flexibility and variety in which the chef’s versatility shines. Dishes are intriguing and invite diners to try an old favorite with a new age spin. Bistro Aix provides an intimate and simple and comfortable atmosphere in …

Located in the Hotel Majestic at 1500 Sutter Street, the Café Majestic is a romantic establishment that serves Italian-American cuisine. Chef Efrain Garcia creates magical dishes that are both colorful and flavorful. Favorite dishes that guest’s rave over are their Veal Picatta and Scaloppini, Eggplant Parmesan, and Chicken Cacciatore. Their establishment also includes the Butterfly Lounge, a majestic bar environment that serves classic cocktails and signature drinks. The Café Majestic offers great dishes in a magically environment.

Level III is a fresh and inviting space that accommodates many dining preferences. Mingle with friends, strangers, and soon-to-be pals, at the communal dining table, or settle into a booth for a quiet meal and conversation, or snuggle in for an intimate evening at a private table behind a flowing curtain. Vibrant flame-inspired tones invigorate the senses and peak the appetite. The dinner menu is arranged with dishes to share as a group, and with those meant to be individually savored – pass around the Mediterranean Mussels and the Mac and Cheese, but be selfish with the Anchor Steamed Shorts …

When gazing in awe down at the plate before them, many diners at Luce are tempted to ask, “Does art imitate food, or is my meal multitasking as a masterpiece?” The answer to both questions might just be, “yes.” Patrons’ appetites and imaginations are stimulated by Chef Dominique Crenn’s artful constructs that marry the best aspects of local, regional, and international, ingredients to create thoughtful and flavorful dishes. The highly refined and modern décor only contributes to the dining experience, and encourages visitors to make the connection between the orb-like lamps and the Chocolate “Egg,” with hot coco and cookies.

In its new space on Divisadero at Grove, Bar Crudo is a bustling restaurant reminiscent of a hip loft. The focus of the sparse and well-chosen menu is raw fish infused with creative sauces and garnishes with not a grain of sushi rice in sight. There are a few well-executed cooked fish and seafood dishes as well. If you hunger for thick steaks and mounds of buttered carbohydrates, Bar Crudo is not for you. If your dreams, however, are of Butterfish accented with Meyer lemon tapenade or Arctic Char with a drop of horse radish cream, don’t let its overwhelming …

Set in an old transformed warehouse in SoMa, just a mere block from the Moscone Convention Center, Restaurant Lulu evokes the feeling of being in Provence while still staying true to its urban cityscape. Most notably recognized for its wine selection, this French eatery boasts a selection of 500 bottles and over 70 wines by the glass from all around the world, and a slew of awards from Wine Spectator. The seasonal Provençal menu is served family-style on rustic blond wood tables, the bold flavors of the food the ideal complement to the colorful and contemporary space it occupies.

If you’re looking for a night complete with adventure, significance, simplicity, and balance search no further than San Francisco’s 231 Ellsworth. Located in downtown San Mateo and just minutes south of SFO airport, 231 Ellsworth provides an intimate dining experience that resonates throughout the restaurant’s décor, atmosphere, and contemporary American cuisine. Infused with global inspiration, Chef Isaac Miller creates unique menus in which sometimes unexpected ingredients converge in harmony. The restaurant tends to use locally grown produce and offers a prix fixe tasting menu nightly with optional wine pairings and a choice of a 3, 5, or 7-course dining experience. …

Located in Hayes Valley, Absinthe Brasserie & Bar combines elements of fine French dining with the laid back atmosphere of a Parisian café. Absinthe recalls an earlier time when food and spirits were homemade and without preservatives, and when one could dine on a fine meal without worrying about all the etiquette. The name itself brings to mind nostalgia of a time long past, but certainly not forgotten. The pressed tin ceilings and copper table tops shine amidst the traditional French design and are an ideal setting for the restaurant’s American-inspired French and Northern Italian cuisine.

If you’re searching for contemporary American fare, look no further than the Salt House. This tavern is housed in an old printing press warehouse from the 1930’s and is equal parts new and old, merging the best of both. The building stays true to its historic charm with original hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, tall ceilings with massive metal support beams, and 12 foot windows—all the better to look in or out of. Salt House is more than just an impressive space though, and true to its “gastropub” label, serves up hearty yet refined ingredient-driven cuisine in a tavern-like atmosphere.

If you’re looking for new age American style cuisine with a comfortable neighborhood vibe that will transport you to various cities around the world, search no further than San Francisco’s Street. The restaurant takes each diner on a world tour or keeps them in their native town with classic American fare and new daily changing desserts. Street is known for their local fan base and for using ingredients from nearby farmers’ markets. Street offers everything from soup, salad, and pate to seafood, sirloin, and panna cotta. They also have a nightly cocktail hour full of savory and sweet wines and …

Chef George Morrone, best known for his tour-de-force career at Aqua, is now cooking up a new form of success at Sutro’s. Located at the historic Cliff House overlooking Ocean Beach, the setting incorporates breathtaking panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean with venturesome surroundings where you can partake in a multitude of activities like hiking the spectacular Lands End trails, exploring the Sutro Bath vestiges or taking a stroll along the beach. The menu, which integrates seasonal farm-fresh ingredients and the finest seafood, also boasts an award-winning wine list and a rousing presentation.

For a restaurant that offers such unique amenities and menus, Sauce is surprisingly comfortable, relaxed, and uncomplicated. Located on Gough in Hayes Valley, Sauce is unlike many of the restaurants you'll find in San Francisco, but still retains the charm that Hayes Valley restaurants are well known for. The bar space—where many of the patrons gather—is supremely intimate, giving it a social feel without being too cluttered. There are tables available in the bar area, as well as elegantly arranged tables adorned with white table cloths in the spacious dining area. Mirroring the layout of the restaurant, Sauce's menu is …

Everything about Horizon Restaurant & Lounge in North Beach goes straight to the point. Not to say they are a restaurant without frills, because the comfort level, service, and ambience at Horizon are great. What I mean by that is they like to stay out of your way. Distractions are kept to a minimum. They make sure that the object of desire, their food, is your main focus at all times. Executive Chef Christopher Lee’s menu of fresh California cuisine is irresistible; and because of this and a lot of other reasons, an evening at Horizon will surely be a …

Nestled in one of San Francisco’s most distinguished luxury hotels, Big 4 restaurant embodies soft romanticism, rich history, and innovative cuisine. Named after the four top nineteenth century railroad tycoons, this mahogany-accented restaurant will transport you with its historical artifacts, live piano music, and forest green banquettes. Their contemporary American menu is carefully crafted to reflect the seasons by talented Executive Chef Gloria Ciccarone-Nehls, a previous recipient of the “Chef of the Year" award by the National Executive Chefs Association. Menu items include light temptations such as the Vietnamese Maine Lobster and Prawn Spring Rolls for the health-conscious, or Rack …

Just south of San Francisco on the Pacific Ocean lies the city of Half Moon bay where agriculture and big wave surfing are the popular attractions in town. When it comes to food, Cetrella is the areas destination point. With French and Mediterranean undertones, Cetrella draws from local growers and purveyors to seasonally create dishes from land and sea. Freshly harvested Oysters on the Half Shell, Mussels, Grilled Octopus and the Beet Salad are light items that represent its closeness to the ocean and plentiful fields. Entrees like the Lamb Shank, Pork Chop, Duck Confit and Gnocchi Parisienne also allow …

This sophisticated American bistro specializes in California comfort food with a French flair. Chef Ola Fendert uses classic cooking techniques to prepare dishes like All Natural Baby Back Ribs and Lamb Daube. Oola Restaurant and Bar features these hearty bistro favorites while using organic meats and produce, as well as artisan cheeses and wines. Picked by Bon Appetit Magazine as one of the “Top 50 Hot Spots” around the country, this split level space is sleek and mature. Recycled wood, exposed stone, rust-toned light fixtures and plenty of candlelight produce an alluring and sexy atmosphere.

With a breathtaking view, floor-to-ceiling circular aquariums featuring an impressive array of marine life from the Pacific Ocean, an extravagant cascading raw bar, a hand-blown glass “caviar” chandelier, and a lively open kitchen, Waterbar is not merely a restaurant, it is an experience. Located on San Francisco’s scenic Embarcadero, Waterbar offers fresh, seasonal and sustainable whole fish and crustaceans served roasted, grilled, boiled or chilled. Owner and Executive Chef Mark Franz and restaurateur Pat Kuleto, both well-known for their highly successful restaurant Farallon, have created another masterpiece in design while remaining true to the natural essence of the sea.

Renowned Chef Michael Mina’s RN74, is a restaurant where wine plays the starring role. Named for the highway that passes through Burgundy, RN74 boasts a 69 page, 2,000 plus wine list expertly paired with clean and elegant food. The restaurant team and Wine Director Rajat Parr work in conjunction to design a truly intelligent and sophisticated dining experience. The restaurant’s 75-seat dining room, 38-seat lounge and 16-seat hydraulic communal table have been meticulously designed using an old European train station as the inspiration. This more casual Michael Mina restaurant seeks to highlight a simple approach to French cuisine by coupling …

Chef and Owner Wendy Brucker and Owner and General Manager Roscoe Skipper are the dynamic duo behind Rivoli, in Berkeley. They met, wed, and plunged into the world of restaurant success in 1994, with fresh and earthy fare that strikes a balance between unique combinations and traditional techniques. The “secret garden” lures patrons in, and the healthful and satisfying cuisine keeps them coming back. Dishes like the Saffron and Pimenton Risotto and the Pan Roast Chicken are quite memorable, but with a seasonal menu that changes every three weeks there is always something new to try, and love.

The Hotel Shattuck, in downtown Berkeley, is home to a sophisticated restaurant that incorporates all of the senses into the dining experience. Five is an elegantly spacious modern American bistro and bar defined by massive columns that rise up to support the intricately recessed ceiling, grandly lit chandeliers, and beaming floor-to-ceiling windows that cast everything in the glow of luxury. The breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus are similarly well-designed with refined dishes that are both sophisticated and welcoming. Executive Chef Howard Scott melds opulence with familiarity in dishes like the Deviled Surf and Turf Eggs and the Short Rib Pot …