Restaurant
Zuni Café
Zuni Café is a Market Street institution open since 1979, known for its roast chicken for two with warm bread salad, oysters and a daily-changing menu.
Tadich Grill
Tadich Grill traces its roots to an 1849 coffee stand and serves mesquite-grilled fish, seafood louies and classic cocktails in the Financial District.
At a glance
- Type
- Seafood grill
- Area
- Financial District, San Francisco, United States
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Sunday)
- Official site
- tadichgrillsf.com
Good to know
- Counter seating
- Walk-ins welcome
- Valet parking after 5pm
- Bar
Why we recommend it
Tadich Grill describes itself as the oldest continuously run restaurant in California and the third oldest in the United States. Its story begins in 1849, when three Croatian immigrants, Nikola Budrovich, Frano Kosta and Antonio Gasparich, opened a coffee stand on Long Wharf during the Gold Rush. The business has moved several times since, and it has been at its present address on California Street since 1967.
The restaurant has both a dining room and a counter. The kitchen is best known for fish grilled over mesquite charcoal, a practice it revived in 1934, and grilled salmon and sea bass are dependable choices. Seafood louies and seafood cocktails are classic San Francisco dishes worth trying here, the Tadich Salad is a house favourite, and there are creamy casseroles, stews and a lamb shank for those who want something heartier. The bar mixes old-school drinks such as martinis, Manhattans, Negronis, Old Fashioneds and Sidecars.
Tadich suits anyone interested in the city's history, and it is a good choice for a business lunch, a solo meal at the counter or dinner with older relatives. Dress is casual to smart casual, though plenty of diners arrive in business clothes from nearby offices.
The restaurant is open from 11am to 9pm Monday to Friday and from 4pm to 9pm on Saturday. On Sundays it is closed except for private buyouts of the whole restaurant. The dining room was closed for 55 weeks during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the business kept going with take-out, delivery and online merchandise, and it now runs a full service again. Reservations are available online, and walk-ins are welcome, with seats given on a first-come, first-served basis; if there is a wait, you can order a drink or a starter at the bar. If you have not booked, arriving early or late in a service gives you the best chance of a quick seat.
The restaurant is in the Financial District and is reachable by BART, cable car, ferry and bus, and valet parking is offered after 5pm, with public car parks nearby. The California Street cable car line runs along the same street, so you can ride up to Nob Hill after your meal.
Tadich Grill FAQs
How old is Tadich Grill?
It traces its history to 1849 and calls itself the oldest continuously run restaurant in California.
What should you order?
Mesquite-grilled fish such as salmon or sea bass, a seafood louie, a seafood cocktail or the Tadich Salad.
Do you need a reservation?
Reservations are available online, and walk-ins are seated first come, first served.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Friday 11am to 9pm and Saturday 4pm to 9pm; closed Sundays except for private buyouts.
Is there a dress code?
Casual to smart casual is the norm, although many diners wear business clothes.
Is there parking?
Valet parking is available after 5pm, and there are public car parks nearby.
How do you get there?
It is reachable by BART, cable car, ferry and bus; the California Street cable car runs along the same street.
Can you eat at the counter?
Yes. The dining room and counter are both open during service hours.