Best Pre-Theater Restaurants in Japantown

John’s Grill is one of my most favorite restaurants in SF. The staff are efficient and friendly. The ambiance is great, and I enjoy taking first-timers to this gem. The food is great, and my favorite is Jack LaLanne seafood salad with a glass of Chardonnay. Steaks and pasta dishes are great too! Make a toast or two to Hammett, Bogart, Astor, Greenstreet etc. Save a bit of time to check out The Maltese Falcon and other film noir items upstairs. Enjoy the day!

What a gem of a family restaurant! My husband and I went here before going to a play at the SF Playhouse. The owner served us at the bar. He was so gracious, friendly and attentive. His family members were equally welcoming and lovely. I consider myself to be a bit of a Greek food snob. My mom was from Greece originally and I travel there often. I am always looking for good Greek food in the States. The Parthenon exceeded my expectations. Every dish was outstanding. It’s rare to find a kebab that is not too dry. The lamb kebab was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The Pastitsio was delicious and fresh. The tzatziki was great and their own house dipping sauce for pita was even better. If you go, best to go on the early side or make a reservation as this place has been discovered and gets packed. We were there when they opened at 5 because of the timing of our play. By a little after 6 they were already busy. We will definitely be returning!

I have eaten many meals at Zuni over decades and the quality has been amazingly consistent over that time. It’s often just what I want to eat. I had a baguette steak that reminded me of France in the 1970s. The prices have definitely increased. It’s not out of line with similar places, but it used to seem cheaper than other places of equivalent quality. No longer. It’s every bit as expensive as other fine dining places if more relaxed than some.

Wonderful service and good enough food. The room is cozy with a fire.

Three of us dined here before our show at the Curran, just one block away. Started with the large sized Cesar to share. I had 2 appetizers- I eat pasta and pizza at home. So the Kampachi crudo was great as were the meatballs. Plenty of food and a chance to try more things. One friend had the chicken leg confit over polenta and she loved it. The other had the spaghetti with clams and loved hers. A very good meal, excellent service and lively atmosphere. We will definitely be back.