Special Occasion Restaurants

Commis’ cuisine strives to combine the classic and traditional with the modern and refreshing. The restaurant’s seasonally changing menu achieves this goal by infusing balance and ambition into each of its dishes. Located in Oakland, Commis sits central to most areas of San Francisco, allowing a variety of clientele to experience this chef’s new avant-garde vision. Commis creates this distinctive perspective by combining ingredients that come together in an almost unexpected harmony.

Charleston She-Crab Soup, Buttermilk Southern Fried Chicken, “Low & Slow” Barbequed Ribs, Carolina Plantation Hoppin’ John and Low Country Shrimp and Grits, all served with complimentary golden corn bread and whipped honey butter. Couple this extraordinary menu with a comprehensive Bourbon selection and you have Oakland’s Picán restaurant. Situated in Oakland’s “Uptown” cultural district, this culinary gem brings the traditions of the Deep South to California. Classic standards are served with a sophisticated twist, allowing diners to experience truly tantalizing dishes with rich and hearty flavors. The restaurant offers both small and large plates that celebrate and accentuate customary Southern …

Take a peek inside San Francisco’s historic Hotel Whitcomb and you will find a true gem: Florinda’s Market Street Grill. This restaurant serves modern cuisine that flows with the seasons. Each dish is prepared fresh with locally grown ingredients and completed with a Euro-Asian accent. The juxtaposition of this modern cuisine against the building’s history and class is part of what generates this restaurant’s yesteryear ambiance complete with Tiffany glass, vaulted ceilings, and wood paneling. Market Street Grill offers menus with variety, serving everything from breakfast, lunch, and dinner to dessert and wine. This restaurant also makes for a great …

Located only a short distance from San Francisco’s Union Square, Santorini is known for its Mediterranean cuisine showcasing dishes from the area’s various regions. The restaurant’s warm ambiance permeates every aspect of the dining experience. Santorini’s specialties include classic Mediterranean dishes that are created fresh daily. Whether the diner is looking for a quick appetizer of pita and hummus for a midday snack or a traditional Greek specialty like Mousaka, they will surely enjoy their trip around the world. Santorini also offers breakfast along with their regular lunch and dinner hours, catering services, and can be reserved for private events.

For almost 30 years, Taste Catering has been the leading source for San Francisco’s event planning needs. This Bay Area institution actively supports local growers and purveyors, engaging in the use of organic and sustainable agricultural practices. Beyond backing the region’s independent agriculture community, Taste is fully committed to representing their clients’ unique style and vision. From a dramatic and romantic wedding to a lively yet professional corporate event, Taste will execute every detail with a flair for creativity and a standard of professionalism. Leave your next catering needs to Taste and savor the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ that come from …

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 …

Fans of Thai food living in San Francisco probably already know the name Osha Thai, and those who don't are missing out on a fun and delicious dining experience. While the restaurant may have locations all around town, the Osha Thai in Cow's Hollow represents everything that customers love about the eateries. It begins with a chic and modern design that is both comfortable and aesthetically intriguing, treating diners to exceptional sights as well as tastes. The accommodating bar area is a popular first stop for customers, as it serves a large list of beer, liquor, wine, and specialty cocktails …

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 …

Manned by a staff devoted to quality, authenticity, and hospitality, Flour + Water embodies Old World expertise carried out in a casual and contemporary setting. Truly thoughtful design is not only behind the restaurant’s urban eclectic décor, but it’s also present in every ingredient that goes into each dish on the fine-tuned menu. The meats are cured in-house and the pizzas are served exclusively Neapolitan style. And as memorable as the pizza is, the in-house made pasta is another prize. Flour + Water also works hard to make wine accessible and inviting, pouring glasses of quality drink for all to …

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, …

Located in Haight-Asbury, San Francisco’s most colorful Historic district, lies a Tapas restaurant and bar that revolutionizes the marriage of healthy dining and intense flavor. Caribbean and Cajun flavors are staple of importance at Cha Cha Cha, a restaurant that can prove that eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to eat bland. Serving up spicy, hot dishes such as Lechon Asado (roast leg of pork), and Arroz Con Pollo (roasted chicken with spicy vegetables), guests can be introduced to new flavors as well as dine on classic flavors. With options for lunch and dinner as well as drinks and dessert, …

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 …

Exclusively located at the Fairmount Hotel in San Francisco, The Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar is sure to let you get your tiki on island style. All platters from their extensive menu are served “family style” so they can be enjoyed by all in attendance. Specialty concoctions served in coconut glasses combined with their tropical décor and Pacific Rim cuisine amount to a unique experience as you are whisked away on a short tropical vacation right in the middle of San Francisco. Come join in the concept of ohana as you become a part of The Tonga Room and Hurricane …

Considered by patrons to be the best prime rib in Fog City, House of Prime Rib is perhaps the most popular place for a truly hearty meal. Serving well-marbled Prime Rib in the English Tradition, the premium, choice cuts are carved right at your table. In fact, most of the dishes are prepared right before your eyes, creating a unique and memorable dining experience for any occasion. Serving only the top 2% of all beef marketed, House of Prime Rib has a simple menu of meats and accompanied salads, plus cocktails and desserts, but this menu has elevated it to …

Prospect is the more casual concept in SoMa from the team behind San Francisco's acclaimed Boulevard. Partners Nancy Oakes, Pam Mazzola, and Kathy King, together with Executive Chef Ravi Kapur, have created a lively, seasonal menu that pays tribute to contemporary American cuisine. Whether it's a cocktail and a bite at the bar, a casual meal at the communal table, or a relaxed dinner in the main dining room, guests can enjoy the full menu and exceptional service. The loft-like space is warmed by earth tones, natural fibers, and reclaimed wood creating an open, inviting environment to enjoy your meal.

Embracing the term “Local” and running with it, the folks at Gather excel in sourcing locally grown and raised ingredients for their menu that boasts it’s 50% vegetarian. Located in the David Brower center, the greenest building in the East Bay-- Gather possesses a casual yet elegant atmosphere to cater to just about anyone. The interior consists of mostly reclaimed materials from the surrounding area, accenting their open kitchen. Boasting an ever-changing seasonal menu, Gather offers everything from vegan “charcuterie” to a grilled half chicken. Open for brunch on the weekends and lunch and dinner nightly, Gather sources up good …

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 …

Four Seas Restaurant in Chinatown has been serving celebrities, politicians, tourists, and locals since 1960. While the ambience offers traditional Chinese art and pottery as well as “white tablecloth” service, the menu offers diners an affordable and diverse selection of authentic Cantonese cuisine. Lunchtime presents the ever popular dim sum, which allows patrons to sample a choice of any number of an impressive 35 menu items. A full bar with lounge is a nice place to grab a drink and relax. Four Seas can also accommodate private groups from 50 to 500, with group dining menus offering a wide range …

With a great atmosphere and local favorite Happy Hour, Wine Jar in Japan Town offers the neighborhood a wine bar experience like no other. The intimate décor invites guests to enjoy any glass or bottle from their extensive wine list while catching up with an old friend, enjoying the company of that special someone, or just unwinding after a day at work. Food is limited to a cheese plate, but patrons are encouraged to enjoy take out from local restaurants at the Wine Jar, a few suggestions are even listed on the menu. For a good time in an inviting …

Dive-y, casual, and technically but not exclusively a gay bar, Trax is the only gay bar on Haight. The signature drink is the “Bitchin’ Bloody Mary” which has a spicy cocktail mix garnished with pickled green beans, pickled asparagus, pickled mini onion, and celery. Cheap drinks and a festive atmosphere is what keeps people coming back to Trax, and legend has it, this bar is haunted! The famously friendly bartenders will be sure drinks are always full, and the music selection is second to none. For strong drinks at a great price and an all around good time, check out …