California Restaurants

Step inside Farallon and feel yourself being whisked away to a mermaid’s paradise. Designer Pat Kuleto’s interior design is so stunning it looks like an art nouveau underwater palace, and may very well be a destination in its own right. Taking cues from the natural beauty of the underwater world, Kuleto fills the space with artful details like jellyfish lamps with graceful trailing tails, and conch-shaped rooms with booths that follow a natural spiral. While the décor is quintessential whimsy, the cuisine is very much rooted in reality, with the elegant, multifaceted creations of Chef and Owner Mark Franz. Franz’s …

Vampires beware! The Stinking Rose is known throughout San Francisco as being the number one restaurant for fans of garlic and excellent food. Located in North Beach, the restaurant goes through over 3,000 pounds of the garlic each month, and diners visit again and again to indulge in the Californian-Italian cuisine. The Stinking Rose is best known for its Dungeness Killer Crab: a fresh crab weighing over two pounds and roasted in a secret garlic sauce until succulent and juicy. The garlicky goodness extends to the rest of the restaurant’s menu, which includes seafood skillets, tureens, surf and turf, pastas, …

Gourmet French cuisine can often come with many rules of decorum that don't always make for a straightforward dining experience. At Isa in the Marina district, diners can experience a variety of expertly prepared Cal French dishes that are as simple and to the point as the restaurant itself. Founded by prodigious Chef Luke Sung, Isa displays the cook's knowledge of traditional French cuisine by utilizing fresh and simple ingredients to create meals that don't struggle to impress. Whether it is seafood, poultry, vegetables, or even broth, Isa creates culinary masterpieces that will tantalize the taste buds without incorporating outlandish …

For a taste of authentic French cuisine plated with a healthy side of Old World opulence and charm, the Grand Café Brasserie and Bar is the place to visit. The restaurant dining space draws the eyes up to the 30-foot high ceilings with regal architectural elements and impressive columns that hearken back to the days of Art Deco luxury. To complement the space and offer a welcomed balance of inviting fare, the Grand Café menu presents guests with a plush selection of classic French brasserie cuisine dishes firmly rooted in seasonal freshness and flavor. Linger over a delightful drink at …

Acclaimed Food Network Chef Tyler Florence recently opened this new hip venue in the heart of San Francisco, where Old World class meets New World style. The restaurant, which recently opened, is already hopping and speeding along with San Francisco’s financial district. Wayfare Tavern showcases a one-of–a-kind menu complete with decadent desserts, daily specials, and succulent entrees that pay homage to American classics as well as the Barbary Coast. The décor is chic and upscale, almost bachelor pad-like with its wood floors, dark leather booths, and pool table in the parlor on the upper level. The Tavern also serves crafty …

Counting such diverse companies as the American Heart Association and Ghiradelli Chocolate among their extensive list of clients, Miraglia Catering has grown from a butcher’s hobby in 1948 to a hugely successful third-generation catering company. Manned by an on-call staff of over 100 described as “competent, efficient, and professional at all times,” Miraglia’s keeps up with current trends while providing exceptional service and provides fun, imaginative touches. Weddings and corporate functions are among their most popular events , but more affordable menu items, such as bento boxes and barbecue, are also available .

“Food is our passion.” If your passion is food as well, look no further than Betty Zlatchin Catering; their slogan speaks to their creative flair for presentation and commitment to using locally-grown, organic foods. The happy result is delicious, fresh dishes that aim to please every palate. Specializing in weddings, the company tailors each menu to match the needs and style of their clients and have been praised by Food and Wine Magazine. Dedicated to buying from sustainable sources and local vendors, you may find one of Betty Zlatchin’s staff at the farmer’s market looking for produce or collaborating with …

With unique dishes ranging from mini pumpkins filled with fall vegetables to passion fruit and lychee crème brulée, SpringLoaf Catering has already gained footing and exposure in San Francisco’s competitive culinary market. SpringLoaf Catering, operating since 2003, has been featured in prominent magazines such as Martha Stewart Weddings and San Francisco’s 7x7. With menu choices based on fresh, locally-sourced products, the company offers various ethnic food items such as Mediterranean, Latin, and Asian-inspired fare. The staff has a reputation for thoughtful, attentive service and SpringLoaf’s chefs customize each menu to fit their clients’ specific needs to make events special and …

Infused with the flavors and colors of the seasons, San Francisco’s Yield Wine Bar invites guests to come in and try something new. They believe in providing high quality dishes and wines that won’t break the bank. Yield’s cuisine is a contemporary American and Thai fusion. The menu is full of unique combinations and flavors sure to entice any palate and Yield’s knowledgeable staff is more than happy to recommend dishes and wine pairings. The ambiance is tranquil and romantic with a hint of excitement and complete with a chic decor. Yield is a great place to swing by for …

At Palomino, guests can feel like they’re visiting the happiest place on earth. With a menu boasting “The Everyday Happy Hour,” Palomino’s suggests pairing their all day $5 drink specials with a special brand of upscale bar snacks such as Prosciutto Flatbread, Dungeness Crab and Artichoke Dip, and Potatoes Gorgonzola. Who can resist? Palomino serves up California style cuisine with a touch of something special. With selections for both lunch and dinner, patrons can drool over their signature entrée’s, steaks, pastas, and pizzas—more notably their Wild Mushroom, Cured Ham, and Goat Cheese Flatbread, a customer favorite. Located on San Francisco’s …

The talented family behind such restaurants as Pier Market and Fog Harbor have also created a restaurant more casual in nature, but still excellent in taste, atmosphere, and service. Wipeout Bar & Grill brings a little of Southern California up north with a unique surf shack vibe and an eclectic menu of dishes inspired by Californian, Asian, Mexican, and American cuisine. While the variety may seem a little overwhelming, it provides diners with an excellent selection of food ranging from burritos to pizzas, rice bowls, tacos, and much, much more. Wipeout Bar and Grill utilizes some of the freshest local …

Soluna Café and Lounge is located a short walk from the Golden Gate Theater and the Bill Graham Auditorium. Offering a weekday happy hour from 2:30pm until 9pm, there is plenty of bar fare and drinks on special. Lunch is available during the week, and the dinner menu, which expands upon the lunch offerings, is diverse with its selections from Organic Mixed Greens Salad and Mac & Cheese to Creekstone Farms All-Natural Center Cut Rib-Eye with House Steak Sauce. Soluna Café & Lounge utilizes organic, all-natural or sustainable ingredients in all of its dishes. If you are looking for a …

Castagola’s is one of the few establishments that have been open since the Gold Rush. Located on Fisherman’s Wharf, Castagnola’s Restaurant offers diners fine Italian cuisine, seafood, and chops house specialties. Diners can indulge in fine entrees like The Hendrix Hen Chicken Marsala and The Old Blues Eyes Aged New York Strip Steak while viewing boats dock and send off into the horizon. Have Castagola’s pair your dish with one of their finest wines. Castagola’s has a wide selection of premium wines from Napa Valley and Italy. Castagola’s provides guest with a fine dining experience and a incredible view of …

Infusing a taste of California fusion with traditional American comfort food, The Brick Yard Restaurant in Cow Hollow offers patrons a lively environment in which to enjoy a delicious meal. Its menu utilizes ingredients sourced from local sustainable farms and growers, and all of its meats are organically farmed. With a full bar, it’s also a great choice for grabbing a refreshment while catching up with friends. Brick Yard specials include happy hour every weekday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., half-priced bottles of wine all night on Tuesdays, and weekend brunch including bottomless Mimosas starting at 9 a.m. Customers …

Pacific Catch is the place to dine if you are in search for seafood. At Pacific Catch, they combine bold sauces and cooking preparations of Asia, Latin American, and Hawaii to create a style all their own. Mix that with local California ingredients and you have a brand new fish house that no one has ever attempted to create before. Start off your diner with one of the many appetizers Pacific Catch has to offer like their Thai Coconut Shrimp and Korean Sticky Ribs. Pacific Catch entrees have a wide variety of taco choices that utilizes San Francisco’s seafood and …

Chambers Eat + Drink is a restaurant and lounge inside San Francisco’s iconic rock n’ roll hotel, the Phoenix, and provides a menu, décor, and ambiance that is both chic and full of substance. Executive Chef Trevor Ogden—formerly from Mission Beach Café and Umami—has constructed a menu that is laden with seasonal entrees derived from California with influences from Japan, the Mediterranean and France. Examples are the Sizzling Kobe Tri-Tip and the Lamb Saddle—English peas, Israeli couscous, baby white carrots, chard leeks, pea tendrils and lamb jus. The menu complements the aesthetics, providing scenery that is modern with two indoor …