Zuni Café

Zuni Café opened on 15 February 1979 and has been cooking on Market Street ever since, with a menu that changes every day. It has won James Beard Foundation awards for Outstanding Restaurant, in 2003, and for Outstanding Service, in 2018. Today it is led by chef and owner Gilbert Pilgram, with separate lunch and dinner chefs, pastry chef Daniel Saravia and wine director Thierry Lovato, so save room for dessert and ask for help with the wine.

The dish everyone talks about is the roast chicken for two, served with a warm bread salad. It is a dish to plan the meal around, and the raw bar is the natural place to start, with fresh oysters and, when available, Dungeness crab. The Zuni Caesar salad is another long-standing favourite, and house-cured anchovies appear on the menu. At weekend lunch you may find the grass-fed hamburger from Stemple Creek Ranch, and Gâteau Victoire is a classic way to finish. The menu changes every day, so treat any list of dishes as a guide rather than a promise.

Zuni works for a long lunch with friends, a celebratory dinner or a meal on your own at the bar with oysters and a glass of wine. The roast chicken is designed for sharing, which makes it a natural choice for couples and pairs. The restaurant has a wine director, so ask for a recommendation to match the day's menu.

Opening hours are dinner only from Tuesday to Thursday, 5pm to 9.30pm, and lunch from 11am to 3pm plus dinner from 5pm to 9.30pm from Friday to Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Mondays and on several holidays, including Thanksgiving and around Christmas and New Year. Reservations are taken up to 60 days in advance through OpenTable or by phone, and groups of seven or more should call.

The restaurant sits on the north side of Market Street between Franklin and Gough streets, on the edge of Hayes Valley. Several Muni lines run along Market Street, and the address is easy to reach by taxi from downtown hotels. If you need help with menus or bookings, the restaurant asks guests to call.