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Historic John's Grill, San Francisco, CA

Historic John's Grill

4.7
4.7
7325 Reviews
$31 to $50
American
A photo of Historic John's Grill restaurant

Historic John's Grill

4.7
$31 to $50
American
Downtown / Union Square

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 113 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood gem
John's Grill has been a San Francisco tradition since 1908. This historic restaurant is one of the city's oldest and most famous and is a favorite of celebrities who enjoy great steaks, expertly prepared fresh seafood with excellent service and a one of a kind atmosphere. John's Grill was a setting in author Dashiell Hammett, The Maltese Falcon.

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Private dining

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Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Steak, Seafood
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Daily 11:45 am–3:30 pm Dinner Daily 3:30 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 986-0069
  • Website
    http://johnsgrill.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Mauricio Sibrian
  • Private party facilities
    Historic John's Grill is a landmark restaurant established in 1908 offers private dining rooms for 20 - 300 guests. Classic San Francisco atmosphere offering local seafood and fine cuts of steaks and chops. Chosen as top 10 by Esquire and featured in Gourmet.
  • Location
    63 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
  • Neighbourhood
    Downtown / Union Square
  • Cross Street
    Powell Street
  • Parking details
    There is a parking garage directly across the street, Ellis - O'Farrell Garage.https://www.sfmta.com/garages-lots/ellis-ofarrell-garageParking near John's Grill:https://www.parkinsf.com/sanfrancisco/parking-near/John%27s+Grill
  • Public transit
    BART / MUNI at Powell Street Station
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

  • Christmas

    US$95.00 per person

    Dec 24, 2024 - Dec 25, 2024
    Celebrate the holiday season with a special Pre-Fix Menu at John's Grill! For just $95 per person, enjoy a delicious three-course meal featuring: Lobster Bisque – rich and creamy, a holiday favorite Filet Mignon & Maine Lobster Tail – perfectly cooked to your liking Bread Pudding – a warm, indulgent treat to finish your meal Don't miss out on this exclusive festive offering. Come celebrate with us at John's Grill and make this season unforgettable! ✨🍽️

  • New Year's

    US$95.00 per person

    Dec 31, 2024 - Jan 1, 2025
    Celebrate The New Year in style with a special Pre-Fix Menu at John's Grill! For just $95 per person, enjoy a delicious three-course meal featuring: Lobster Bisque – rich and creamy, a holiday favorite Filet Mignon & Maine Lobster Tail – perfectly cooked to your liking Bread Pudding – a warm, indulgent treat to finish your meal Don't miss out on this exclusive festive offering. Come celebrate with us at John's Grill and make this season unforgettable! We will also be offering complimentary designer party favors for New Year's Eve ✨🍽️

Menu

Appetizers

  • EscargotsUS$11.95

    Garlic cream

    • Jumbo Prawn CocktailUS$17.95

      Soup & Salads

      • New England Clam ChowderUS$8.95

        • Lobster BisqueUS$9.95

          • Lunch SaladUS$6.95

            Seasonal greens, with vinaigrette dressing

            • With Bleu Cheese DressingUS$7.95

          • Caesar a la John'sUS$14.95

            • Bay Shrimp LouieUS$17.95

              • Roquefort SaladUS$17.95

                bay shrimp, avocado

                • Roasted Beet SaladUS$15.95

                  Candied walnuts, feta cheese, lemon aioli topped with micro greens

                  • Jack LaLanne's Favorite SaladUS$29.95

                    Seasonal greens, crab, shrimp, avocado, mushrooms, tomato tossed in our famous creamy bleu cheese vinaigrette dressing

                    Seafood & Shellfish

                    All the below entrees served with seasonal vegetables

                    • Grilled Pacific SnapperUS$17.95

                      Sauce Piquante (spiced tomato sauce)

                      • Jumbo Prawns DijonnaiseUS$19.95

                        Sautéed with mushrooms, wine, garlic and Dijon cream

                        • Broiled SalmonUS$22.95

                          Served with Hollandaise Sauce and mashed potatoes

                          • Petrale AmandineUS$18.95

                            Sliced almonds, Lemon butter sauce

                            • Fried Jumbo PrawnsUS$19.95

                              • Fried Sea ScallopsUS$28.95

                                • Fried OystersUS$16.95

                                  • Fried Combination SeafoodUS$25.95

                                    Coated with herbed breadcrumbs and accompanied by tartar sauce

                                    John's Featured Steaks

                                    Served with seasonal vegetables & baked Idaho potato. All of our steaks are sourced from Black Angus Midwest Corn-fed beef, the finest available. They are naturally aged in order to ensure maximum flavor and tenderness. Each steak is hand selected and hand cut in California to meet our exact specification. Add 3 Fried Jumbo Prawns to any steak $12, Add 4 Oz Maine Lobster Tail to any steak $19.95, Side Peppercorn or Bearnaise Sauce $3

                                    • New York SteakUS$31.95

                                      • Ribeye SteakUS$36.95

                                        • Filet MignonUS$38.95

                                          • Surf and TurfUS$43.95

                                            New York Steak & 3 Fried Jumbo Prawns

                                            Sam Spade's Lamb Chops

                                            • Sam Spade's Lamb ChopsUS$35.95

                                              Served with baked potato and sliced tomatoes [Sam Spade went to John's Grill, asked the waiter to hurry his order of chops, baked potato, sliced tomatoes...and was smoking a cigarette with his coffee when... The Maltese Falcon]

                                              Sandwiches & Pasta

                                              • Broiled 1/2 Lb. Deluxe BurgerUS$19.95

                                                • Broiled New York Steak SandwichUS$24.95

                                                  All Accompanied by French Fries

                                                  • TortelloneUS$15.95

                                                    Filled with sundried tomato, romano, parmigiano and ricotta cheese in a basil cream sauce topped with shredded Grana Padano cheese

                                                    • Maine Lobster RavioliUS$18.95

                                                      Herbed tomato cream

                                                      • Chicken Linguine AlfredoUS$18.95

                                                        • Fisherman's PastaUS$25.95

                                                          Linguine, jumbo prawns, salmon, snapper, mushrooms in basil cream

                                                          On the Side

                                                          • Baked Idaho PotatoUS$5.95

                                                            • French FriesUS$6.95

                                                              • Sautéed MushroomsUS$7.95

                                                                • Fresh Creamed SpinachUS$7.95

                                                                  • Caramelized OnionsUS$7.95

                                                                    Chef's Weekly Special

                                                                    • Fish & ChipsUS$17.95

                                                                      Anchor Steam beer batter, wild caught Pollock with caper tartar sauce

                                                                      • Crispy Chicken Sandwich on BriocheUS$17.95

                                                                        Roasted garlic-sundried tomato aioli

                                                                        • Heirloom Tomato & Burrata CheeseUS$16.95

                                                                          Aged balsamic, extra virgin olive oil and basil

                                                                          • Medallions of BeefUS$32.95

                                                                            Medallions of Filet mignon, béarnaise sauce served with Parmesan mashed potato and seasonal vegetables

                                                                            Last updated: June 18, 2023

                                                                            What 7,325 people are saying

                                                                            Overall ratings and reviews

                                                                            Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

                                                                            4.7
                                                                            4.7 based on recent ratings
                                                                            • 4.6Food
                                                                            • 4.7Service
                                                                            • 4.6Ambience
                                                                            • 4.4Value

                                                                            Noise • Moderate

                                                                            Loved For

                                                                            • San Francisco

                                                                              American

                                                                            Review summary

                                                                            AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                                                                            Historic John's Grill is a San Francisco treasure, celebrated for its "wonderful food" and "excellent service." With its "old world charm" and "classic SF vibes," the restaurant offers a memorable dining experience. Guests appreciate the "live jazz" and "energetic atmosphere." It's a "must-visit" for both locals and visitors.

                                                                            7,325 Reviews

                                                                            1. Marnie

                                                                              San Francisco

                                                                              21 reviews

                                                                              vip
                                                                              5.0

                                                                              21 reviews

                                                                              Dined today

                                                                              1. Overall 5
                                                                              2. Food 5
                                                                              3. Service 5
                                                                              4. Ambience 5
                                                                              Me and a friend have our annual holiday dinner here..we always go home with great momories and full stomach. They have a jazz performer which is a good touch in the holiday spirit.. food is always good and service is always superb. Highly recommended for special occasions.

                                                                              Is this helpful?

                                                                            2. Clifton

                                                                              San Francisco

                                                                              5 reviews

                                                                              vip
                                                                              5.0

                                                                              5 reviews

                                                                              Dined 1 day ago

                                                                              1. Overall 5
                                                                              2. Food 5
                                                                              3. Service 5
                                                                              4. Ambience 5
                                                                              Always the best restaurant in SF. Great food, service and ambiance.

                                                                              Is this helpful?

                                                                            3. Mario

                                                                              San Francisco

                                                                              1 review

                                                                              5.0

                                                                              1 review

                                                                              Dined 2 days ago

                                                                              1. Overall 5
                                                                              2. Food 5
                                                                              3. Service 5
                                                                              4. Ambience 5
                                                                              I enjoy John's Grill because it is an authentic San Francisco tradition. Many of the dishes like my favorite, the Petrale Sole, are prepared in the old fashioned way with butter and mushrooms...Yumm!

                                                                              Is this helpful?

                                                                            4. Anika

                                                                              Las Vegas

                                                                              10 reviews

                                                                              5.0

                                                                              10 reviews

                                                                              Dined 2 days ago

                                                                              1. Overall 5
                                                                              2. Food 5
                                                                              3. Service 5
                                                                              4. Ambience 5
                                                                              The food was really good. The Pre-Fixe meal was ideal.

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                                                                            5. Kerry

                                                                              San Francisco

                                                                              92 reviews

                                                                              vip
                                                                              5.0

                                                                              92 reviews

                                                                              Dined 4 days ago

                                                                              1. Overall 5
                                                                              2. Food 5
                                                                              3. Service 5
                                                                              4. Ambience 5
                                                                              Excellent food and service . Fun atmosphere . A great spot for lunch or dinner Full bar

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                                                                            6. Frederick

                                                                              Tampa

                                                                              6 reviews

                                                                              3.0

                                                                              6 reviews

                                                                              Dined 4 days ago

                                                                              1. Overall 3
                                                                              2. Food 3
                                                                              3. Service 4
                                                                              4. Ambience 2
                                                                              This was the first time at this establishment. We actually changed our reservation and went there for our 38th anniversary and weren't even acknowledged which was listed on the reservation occasion. The staff was not very attentive or as friendly as expected which could be because it was like an assembly line. The tables are too close together, whereas you can touch the people next to you and hear everything they were saying. Finally, the food was ok but not great for the cost. I personally would not let them in for a special occasion like ours.

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                                                                            7. Michael

                                                                              Dallas

                                                                              17 reviews

                                                                              vip
                                                                              5.0

                                                                              17 reviews

                                                                              Dined 4 days ago

                                                                              1. Overall 5
                                                                              2. Food 4
                                                                              3. Service 4
                                                                              4. Ambience 4
                                                                              John’s Grill is great. Don’t go expecting a 48 oz. Tomahawk Ribeye, but go looking to have a fun time with really good food at a reasonable price in a boisterous environment. Both the Caesar and true Roquefort dressing salads were outstanding and clearly house made. The steaks were good sized for the price and extremely flavorful and tender. Add in two cocktails with the two salads and two ribeyes for a tab of $175 in late 2024. They even had some live light jazz playing as we ate. As an indication of our collective feelings toward John’s, my wife was a skeptic going in but as we waited for the Uber home she thanked me for finding the place and announced we will be back. Highly recommended for a somewhat crazy and raucous night out.

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                                                                            8. Francis

                                                                              San Francisco

                                                                              4 reviews

                                                                              vip
                                                                              5.0

                                                                              4 reviews

                                                                              Dined 5 days ago

                                                                              1. Overall 5
                                                                              2. Food 5
                                                                              3. Service 5
                                                                              4. Ambience 5
                                                                              It was great ambiance, service and food. Amazing and historic. I recommend for locals and tourists.

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                                                                            9. Jeff

                                                                              San Francisco

                                                                              112 reviews

                                                                              vip
                                                                              5.0

                                                                              112 reviews

                                                                              Dined 5 days ago

                                                                              1. Overall 5
                                                                              2. Food 5
                                                                              3. Service 5
                                                                              4. Ambience 5
                                                                              Terrific service, great food & ambiance. We had the signature lamb chops, best lobster bisque ever, beet salad & spinach side. Wonderful meal!

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                                                                            10. Melissa

                                                                              Sacramento

                                                                              5 reviews

                                                                              5.0

                                                                              5 reviews

                                                                              Dined on December 1, 2024

                                                                              1. Overall 5
                                                                              2. Food 5
                                                                              3. Service 3
                                                                              4. Ambience 5
                                                                              Great experience as always. This year the service wasn’t the best.

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                                                                            FAQs

                                                                            Historic John's Grill offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (415) 986-0069.

                                                                            Historic John's Grill is rated 4.7 stars by 7325 OpenTable diners.

                                                                            Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

                                                                            A photo of Historic John's Grill restaurant

                                                                            Historic John's Grill

                                                                            4.7
                                                                            $31 to $50
                                                                            American
                                                                            Downtown / Union Square

                                                                            Make a reservation

                                                                            2 people
                                                                            7:00 p.m.
                                                                            Booked 113 times today
                                                                            Experiences are available.

                                                                            Order delivery or takeout

                                                                            Google Map for Historic John's Grill

                                                                            63 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

                                                                            Dining areas

                                                                            Additional information

                                                                            • Cross Street
                                                                              Powell Street
                                                                            • Neighbourhood
                                                                              Downtown / Union Square
                                                                            • Hours of Operation
                                                                              Lunch Daily 11:45 am–3:30 pm Dinner Daily 3:30 pm–9:30 pm
                                                                            • Price
                                                                              $31 to $50
                                                                            • Cuisines
                                                                              American, Steak, Seafood
                                                                            • Dining style
                                                                              Casual Elegant
                                                                            • Dress code
                                                                              Casual Dress
                                                                            • Parking details
                                                                              There is a parking garage directly across the street, Ellis - O'Farrell Garage.https://www.sfmta.com/garages-lots/ellis-ofarrell-garageParking near John's Grill:https://www.parkinsf.com/sanfrancisco/parking-near/John%27s+Grill
                                                                            • Public transit
                                                                              BART / MUNI at Powell Street Station
                                                                            • Payment Options
                                                                              AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
                                                                            • Executive Chef
                                                                              Mauricio Sibrian
                                                                            • Additional
                                                                              Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
                                                                            • Website
                                                                              http://johnsgrill.com/
                                                                            • Phone number
                                                                              (415) 986-0069
                                                                            • Private party facilities
                                                                              Historic John's Grill is a landmark restaurant established in 1908 offers private dining rooms for 20 - 300 guests. Classic San Francisco atmosphere offering local seafood and fine cuts of steaks and chops. Chosen as top 10 by Esquire and featured in Gourmet.

                                                                            Featured in

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