Living along the Pacific Coast has its perks – and this includes having an array of places to get your seafood fix.
Don’t know where to start? Here are three appetizing ideas:
- The iconic cioppino
This tomato and wine- based stew with a mix of fish, shellfish, Dungeness crab, shrimp, and squid is widely considered San Francisco’s signature dish. Legend has it that the dish dates back to the late 1800s when Italian fishermen that settled in the North Beach neighborhood put together their daily catch into a communal pot.
Where to find San Francisco’s best cioppino:
– Sotto Mare Oysteria& Seafood(552 Green Street)
– Tadich Grill(240 California Street)
– Cioppino’s(400 Jefferson Street)
– ATwater Tavern(295 Terry A Francois Boulevard)
- Crudo, the best fish in season, served raw
Another notable contribution by San Francisco’s early Italian settlers, crudo is basically thin slices of fresh, raw fish. Whereas Japan’s sashimi uses soy sauce and wasabi to add flavor, traditional servings of crudo only use olive oil, salt, and lemon juice to enhance the inherent flavor of the fish.
Where to find San Francisco’s best crudo:
– Bar Crudo (655 Divisadero Street)
– Petit Marlowe (234 Townsend Street)
– Sorrel Restaurant (3228 Sacramento Street)
– Credo Restaurant (360 Pine Street)
- Dungeness crab, the hometown darling
Abundant along the West Coast, the Dungeness crab is a staple in seafood menus in San Francisco. Meat from this leggy, heart-shaped crab is sweet and succulent, perfect for use in a wide variety of dishes. From being stars in their own right steamed, roasted, or over ice, to being the heart of juicy crab cakes and creamy chowders, the Dungeness crab will have you snapping for a plate of your own.
Where to find San Francisco’s best Dungeness crab dishes:
– PPQ Dungeness Island (2332 Clement Street)
– Sabella & La Torre (2809 Taylor Street)
– Crustacean Euro-Vietnamese Restaurant (1475 Polk Street)
– The Franciscan Crab Restaurant (Pier 43 1/2, Fisherman’s Wharf)
5 iconic SF seafood joints that you have to visit
If our list of seafood favorites has your mouth watering, here’s a bonus: five must-visit destinations to get your seafood fix in the City by the Bay!
- Tadich Grill
- Swan Oyster Depot(1517 Polk Street)
- Anchor & Hope(83 Minna Street)
Any discussion about San Francisco’s culinary culture is incomplete without mentioning this icon. Built in 1849, Tadich Grill is the city’s oldest restaurant, and truly one that sets the bar for seafood.
A local institution since 1912, this seemingly unassuming 18-seat seafood counter is remarkable enough to make a huge fan out of the late, great Anthony Bourdain. There’s always a line here, but its impressive menus – there’s a “secret menu” worth asking about – are surely worth the wait.
Located in the trendy SOMA (South of Market) neighborhood, this restaurant is perfect for the modern, urban San Franciscan. Perfect for either a date or a business meeting, this place is designed to impress after planning for a romantic trip to San Francisco.
Exceptional dining options are just one of the many things that make the San Francisco lifestyle inviting. Learn how to make this city your home. Contact Bernie and Mike Homes today by calling 415.906.6000 or 415.308.4281.