Diners' Choice: Californian restaurants in San Francisco

OpenTable

Updated 05 October 2026

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Californian cuisine in San Francisco? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Boulevard

4.9

4.9 (9410)

$50 and over

Californian

Financial District / Embarcadero

About the restaurant

Chef Nancy Oakes, Chef Dana Younkin and our entire team, look forward to welcoming you to one of San Francisco's most beloved restaurants, Boulevard. The dining room features a 3 course menu with a multitude of choices for each course. For the more spontaneous sorts; our bar, lounge and chef's counter is available on a walk-in basis and limited reservations for the lounge. An a la carte menu is offered in these areas. For private events and larger groups, please check out our website.

Top review

Vincent

Dined today

A beautiful dinner in a beautiful room coupled with excellent service. A perfect evening.

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4.8

4.8 (971)

$50 and over

Californian

Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness

About the restaurant

Nightbird is a boutique fine dining restaurant in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley, offering a seasonal 12-course tasting menu from chef and James Beard Award nominee Kim Alter. Focused on local California ingredients with global influence. Vegan diets and allium/onion allergies cannot be accommodated.
With just 10 tables, our dining room is warm, romantic and calm. Reservations are essential. We happily accommodate pre-theatre dining please note this in you reservation.
The $225/person experience includes a 18% service charge, 6% Healthy SF surcharge, and tax
Cancellation Policy:
1–4 guests: Cancel 48+ hrs in advance to avoid $225/person fee.
5+ guests: Cancel 7 days (5 business days) in advance.

Advisory: Consuming raw/undercooked items may increase food borne illness risk.

Top review

JonathanGold

Dined today

I’ve been putting off coming here for so long, but I am glad I finally went. Thr journey menu was amazing and unknowingly to us chef was having a “day of the dead” inspired menu (10/2026).

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Experience

Private Dining in The Nightingale Room

Experience

Bar Bites at Linden Room

Experience

Fall Discovery Menu in the Dining Room

Rich Table

4.8

4.8 (2043)

$31 to $50

Californian

Western Addition

About the restaurant

Modern creativity and traditional technique combine seamlessly at Rich Table, a Northern Californian neighborhood restaurant. Chefs and Owners Evan and Sarah Rich have created a dressed-down interpretation of a fine dining restaurant, based on their extensive backgrounds in San Francisco's best restaurants. At Rich Table, they deliver an expert approach in a casual setting. Rich Table's menu, wine list and cocktail program all showcase a seasonal San Francisco style. The team looks forward to having you join them at their table.

Top review

Ben

Dined 5 days ago

Great food, great service, and great cocktails. It's a reliable and exciting place to eat and we were treated so well.

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Experience

Family Style Menu

Ernest

4.7

4.7 (237)

$31 to $50

Californian

Mission District

About the restaurant

Ernest is an exciting restaurant offering an ever-changing menu from Chef Brandon Rice. Gathering the best from the farmers market, the menu pairs familiar flavors with travel-inspired ingredients to create intense global flavors in a relaxed, fun environment.

Top review

Lyja

Dined 3 days ago

Wow what a great experience, cannot recommend the tasting menu here enough! You get to try almost everything on the menu, great value for the price.

RT Bistro

4.8

4.8 (218)

$31 to $50

Californian

Western Addition

About the restaurant

From the Team at RICH TABLE, RT BISTRO is the next vision for Chef's Evan and Sarah Rich. Inspired by all the beautiful ingredients that the Bay has to offer. This California Bistro will be open nightly from 5pm - 10pm featuring an A la Carte Menu.

Looking forward to having you join us at RT BISTRO soon!

Top review

DanaGold

Dined 5 days ago

We love RT! Best service in town and every bite is delicious.

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Experience

$89 Per Person, Family Style Menu (Large Party)

Rose's Cafe

4.9

4.9 (613)

$30 and under

Californian

Marina / Cow Hollow / Presidio

About the restaurant

A favorite in the Cow Hollow neighborhood, Rose's Café is a hangout for locals who bask in the sun at sidewalk tables, duck inside for a cappuccino, or stay for a leisurely meal. Many customers are regulars who frequent the pretty bistro-café that offers table service and some of the most deliciously affordable food in San Francisco - Italian fare created using organic local produce, fresh seafood, humanely raised meats, and free-range poultry. Rose's artisan bakers bake a daily selection of pastries, desserts and breads. Menu highlights include: pizzas, daily soups and house made pasta. Accepting Reservations for Dinner Only!

Top review

KayGold

Dined on 10 Oct 2026

If you live on the East Coast, ignore everything else on the menu and order the Steelhead trout. It’s divine, like a more delicate version of of salmon. Rose’s version is magnificent!

Wolfsbane

4.8

4.8 (75)

$50 and over

Californian

Potrero Hill / Dogpatch

About the restaurant

We welcome you to dine with us at Wolfsbane, a relaxed fine dining restaurant set in a historic building, rooted in abundance, creativity and connection. We serve a seasonal tasting menu by Chef Rupert Blease featuring modern, elegant dishes highlighting technique but stripped back to their essential elements, placing a great emphasis on sourcing the best produce California has to offer, inspired by our culinary memories and travels.

To accompany our tasting menu, we offer an extensive natural wine list that highlights some of the most exciting contemporary winemakers, a curated cocktail selection and fine spirits, as well as our non-alcoholic beverage program.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Top review

MichaelGold

Dined on 27 Sept 2026

Warm, personable, professional service. Beautiful room in what was originally a cannery. Great, imaginative food. Excellent wine list. This is a winner!

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Experience

Tasting Menu

Experience

Balkan wine Dinner w/ Eric Danch of D&G Selections

Experience

Whiskey & Wild- Augusta Distillery & Barrel Shoppe

The Cavalier

4.7

4.7 (1887)

$31 to $50

Californian

Financial District / Embarcadero

About the restaurant

The Cavalier is a London-inspired brasserie, located adjacent to Hotel Zetta in San Francisco's SoMA neighborhood. The upscale British influenced restaurant is brought to you by Executive Chef Jennifer Puccio, managing partner James Nicholas, and award winning San Francisco designer, Ken Fulk. The 135-seat restaurant is divided into four unique, intimate spaces: the Blue Bar, Main Dining Room, Wine Stables, and Rail Car. The interior is designed with deep leather banquettes, polished brass, zinc and white marble, lending a posh and sultry feel.

Top review

SteveGold

Dined 7 days ago

Ten years ago I came for dinner the night before going on a big music tour in Spain. I remember how wonderful the vibe, food and drinks were then like it was yesterday. Yesternight, I dined again and it’s so wonderful to see The Cavalier stand the test of time. Deviled eggs with martinis, scotch egg, burger and bread pudding for good measure. We had a memorable night. Congratulations on your continued success 🙏🏻 Steve Kuzmic General Manager Sea Ranch Golf Links

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Popular dish

Sticky Toffee Bread Pudding

Popular dish

Marinated Skirt Steak

Popular dish

Steak Tartare

Frances

4.7

4.7 (3787)

$50 and over

Californian

The Castro

About the restaurant

At Frances, chef Melissa Perello’s seasonal menu reflects modern California sensibilities and focuses on ingredients from local markets, farms and producers in a casual, neighborhood setting. Named after Chef Perello’s grandmother, Frances is an ode to refined but comfortable sensibilities in both food and decor. Whether it’s the technique-rich, yet simple approach to food, or the open, familiar atmosphere and stellar service, Frances' honest, focused approach has resonated with customers and critics alike.

Top review

LeslieGold

Dined 4 days ago

Every moment was wonderful. Holly? greeted us so warmly. The servers were all top notch and we liked how they worked seamlessly as a team. We had the tasting menu and it was outstanding. Wonderful pacing and well thought out size of dishes. Unique preparations. A wonderful evening with delicious food; a perfect date night.

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Experience

Large Party Reservation (6-8 people)

Foreign Cinema

4.7

4.7 (9238)

$31 to $50

Californian

Mission District

About the restaurant

Foreign Cinema is a one-of-a-kind, nationally acclaimed restaurant blending independent films with California-Mediterranean cuisine. Enjoy a stylish indoor dining room with a full bar and fireplace, or relax in our heated and covered outdoor courtyard where 35mm film screenings begin at dusk.

For those seeking a more intimate experience, our private dining options include the mezzanine, amate terrace, and gallery, thoughtfully curated by Modernism West. Our vibrant DJ/live music bar, Laszlo, serves craft cocktails, zero-proof options, a full dinner menu, and lively tunes to end your night.

We are currently accepting reservations for both the outdoor courtyard and indoor dining up to 60 days in advance. Standard seating refers to the indoor dining room. For groups of 11 or more, please reach out to our private dining department at janine@foreigncinema.com for booking details.

Top review

Alisa

Dined 1 day ago

You simply cannot go wrong with Foreign Cinema. Food os always delicious, service impeccable and the vibe is outstanding 💜💜💜

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Baguette French toast

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