Yes, Hillstone/Houston’s is a chain, but areliably good one——你可以依靠的地方executed steaks and dependable burgers and salads. This San Francisco location is supremely scenic, right across from Pier 33, and frequent live jazz performances set the scene for memorable meals.

Seafood lovers will rejoice in La Mar and its Peruvian take on fresh catch from the ocean. The vibe is festive, the setting is breezy, and the flavors are big and bright. In addition to a slate of fruity — surprise! — pisco cocktails, it serves plates with punchy flavors, like tiraditos (described as "Japanese sashimi Peruvian style"), empanadas, and big portions of seafood or meat.

Tacked onto the back of the Ferry Building, Cholita Linda serves a solid menu of Mexican favorites to diners looking for a sit-down meal at the bustling transit center and marketplace. The Baja fish tacos topped with shredded cabbage and crema make a reliable choice, but feel free to explore other options including sandwiches, salads, and plates of chicken tights served with rice and beans. Snag a table on the patio and enjoy your meal with a view of the bridge and bay.

Run by members of the R&G Lounge crew, Harborview is more than just a swanky banquet space with nice views of the water. It also serves some of the city’s favorite dim sum, turning out consistently solid versions of all the standards, from har gow to siu mai to baked barbecue pork buns.

The Le Marais team, known for bringing incredibly flaky croissants to Mill Valley and the Castro, put down roots at the Ferry Building earlier this year, taking over a narrow space on the back of the building. It’s a walk-up and order at the counter situation, but you can step out onto the small patio for a view of the team spinning sweet and savory crepes on one side, and on the other, of the water. Owner Patrick Ascaso channels hischildhood memoriesinto a menu of Brittany-style buckwheat crepes layered with good ham and gooey cheese or smoked salmon and creme fraiche, all served along with fresh pastries and hot coffee for breakfast and lunch.

Following anuber glamorous refreshfrom star designer Ken Fulk, Boulevard returned from its pandemic closure more gorgeous than ever. But it’s not just the stunning decor that makes this longstanding restaurant a worthy dinner option; chefs Nancy Oakes and Dana Younkin continue to impress with multi-course tasting menus that showcase seasonal ingredients like Brentwood corn and soft shell crab in elegant and still-approachable preparations. Plus service is reliability warm and professional, an impressive feat in these times.

Chef Joshua Skenes’ sequel to three-Michelin-starred Saison is a stunner, with views of the Bay Bridge and a gorgeous open kitchen. The menu is served a la carte by suited servers, though it’s a casual atmosphere. An ever-changing selection of fresh seafood has included dishes like live scallop crudo, baby abalone, and hot fried rabbit that have garnered critical acclaim. Though it's now open six days a week, from Tuesday to Sunday, reservations are recommended.

This classic after-work haunt is packed with happy hour drinkers and diners chowing down on Perry’s burgers. Expect basic but pleasing pub food like potato skins and fried calamari, with hearty dinners like pot roast and spaghetti with meatballs. It’s also a pleasant destination for brunch on the patio overlooking the Bay Bridge.

Among the city's contenders forbest cut, Epic Steak puts itself in the game with its romantic Bay Bridge views and surf and turf. Steakhouse favorites like Caesar salad, filet mignon, ribeye, and wagyu are all on the menu, plus other options such as oven-roasted halibut and lobster.

Though Hog Island down the street is the more popular destination for oyster diehards, Waterbar provides an even classier setting — your choice of a patio, modern dining room, or bar seat with a bay view. As is the case for most Embarcadero hot spots, the tall bridge-facing windows open up to impressive views of the bay.

A solid example of San Francisco cuisine, Prospect serves well-executed plates of what are now modern American classics: beef tartare, tuna crudo, pork chop, and strip steak. The quiet dining room is upscale but comfortable, filled with modern chandeliers and a large concrete fireplace that divides the room, which makes it perfect for business meetings and intimate dates alike.

Since 1991, Delancey Street Restaurant has served well-priced food that also supports a good cause — the Delancey Street Foundation, which offers jobs and training to those who need to rebuild their lives. Program participants learn to make some classics, like pizzas, rack of lamb, ribeye, grilled salmon, and a classic PB&J, which is served in a comfortable and classy white-tablecloth dining room.