(415) 284-9922
399 The Embarcadero South
San Francisco,
CA
94105
37.7985
-122.3973
Neighborhoods: Financial District, Northeast
Waterbar
What People Are Saying About Waterbar
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
An impressive shellfish bar lit by a hand-blown glass chandelier and two 19-foot-tall pillar aquariums teeming with an array of colorful sea life--not to mention unbelievable views of the bay and bridge--greet well-heeled out-of-towners, after-work crowds, special-occasion diners and romantic couples. Unlike the other seafood-themed establishments found on the waterfront, Waterbar is the real, raw deal when it comes to fish: An unmatched selection of fresh oysters (Hog Island kumamotos, Virginia olde salts, British Columbia Fanny Bays, Washington Deer Creeks and Massachusetts wellfleets, to…
02/23/09
Don't waste your money at the Waterbar
by dosin
I have to say that the service was excellent and the scenary/atmosphere was great. My party of six enjoyed a Saturday night at the Waterbar until our food came. 3 of 6 thought the food was terrible. That is because I did not know the other three people to get there opinion. My suggestion is to not try so hard on appearance and work a little harder on taste. I see a for sale sign in the window in the near future.
- Pros: Great service and atmosphere
- Cons: Food was terrible
12/15/08
Near perfect dining experience
by rtoo
We were debating where to go for dinner and at the last minute decided to stroll over to the Waterbar to see if we could get a table. The hostess was very friendly, greeted us and said it would be no problem getting us seated. About 5 minutes later we were sitting next to one of the massive aquariums, such a fantastic seat! I think they must reserve a row of 2 tops nearer to the kitchen for walk-ins, just a guess. Their wine list was amazing, by far one of the best I've ever seen. We had a nice light 2005 pinot, a great recommendation by their wine expert and then we shared the tuna tar-tar and Filet Mignon. Best steak I've had in a long long time, along the lines of Ruth Chris. If you end up going, keep an eye out for the 4-5ft eel in the tank on the left!
Hands down the best restaurant I've been to so far in San Francisco.
- Pros: Service, Food, Wine list
- Cons: None
06/19/08
Spendy seafood with a view
by slygirl12
My favorite parts of the experience were:
1) that gorgeous view at night
2) the vya con dios cocktail that started my night right (Meyers dark rum, raspberry puree, OJ, and some other goodies)
3) the awesome friend I brought along with me
That said, seafood and service weren't on that list.
The Details on Waterbar
Fun Fact:
The critters in those ornamental tanks are exclusively from the Pacific Ocean. The big snake-like one that's so beautiful in its ugliness? That's a wolf eel, which can grow up to more than six feet in length and isn't actually an eel--it's a fish.
What to Drink:
The vya con dios (Myers's dark rum, Vya sweet vermouth, raspberry puree, lime juice, pineapple juice, orange juice), contrary to its name--"go with God"--is a devilishly tasty way to greet the evening to come.
Know Before You Go:
If you don't feel like dealing with traffic or paying to valet, the J and T MUNI lines stop a short distance away from the front door.
The Extras:
A variety of private-dining options are available, from space for outdoor functions to the entire second floor, which boasts its own kitchen, terraces, bar and seating for 50.
Where to Sit:
When the weather plays nice, request a table on the expansive outdoor deck, which overlooks the Bay Bridge and is shared by sister restaurant Epic Roasthouse.
Happy Hour:
Waterbar is known as, and is, a splurge, but it can be had for cheap: selected oysters are $1 all day, and top shelf cocktails like the 4 O'Clock Shadow (Old Overholt Rye, benedictine, Gran Marnier, lemon juice) are $5 from 3-6pm on weekdays.
Join Us on Facebook
Follow Us on Twitter