The Most Unique Restaurants in San Francisco

Guiso Latin Fusion is a family owned bistro-style restaurant in the town of Healdsburg in wine country. For city folk who want a break from the city streets or travelers who are out tasting at the vineyards, this is one of the most unique restaurants in San Francisco to try out. They serve a fusion of Caribbean and Salvadorean dishes in the tiny kitchen here and make all of the food with love. Standout items include the Jamaican jerk chicken with mango and pineapple salsa tacos, a Cubano sandwich and fish sauteed with coconut.

Terrapin Creek Cafe and Restaurant is a casual neighborhood spot that locals adore for its convivial atmosphere and festive energy. Located in Bodega Bay, the interior has ochre walls, bold artwork and a roaring fireplace making it the kind of place where everyone feels at home. The menu is concise, so expect a wide range of bites like in-house pastas with merguez sausage, spinach, feta cheese, mint and English peas, grilled Monterey sardines served over shaved radishes, and more.

Located in the famed roadhouse just west of Santa Rosa, Walter Hansel Bistro is an intimate, cozy restaurant that focuses on quality and customer satisfaction. It’s a French bistro that strips down the pretense and proves that you can have fun at an upscale European eatery. The staff are attentive and friendly and the country-style cuisine is always delicious. Classic menu items include Escargot a La Bourguignonne, Grains of Paradise Liberty Farm Duck Breast, a WHWB Snake River Farm Kobe Burger, Grilled Hanger Steak Au Poivre and Wild Alaskan Halibut.

For a special occasion or big event, it’s great to consider some of the most unique restaurants in San Francisco where you can enjoy even more than the food! St. Francis Winery and Vineyards in Sonoma County has been one of the region’s most popular destinations for celebrations since the 1970s. Guests here can delight in the breathtaking Sonoma Valley scenery with mountain views and sunsets. In the Tasting Room, you can try their award-winning charcuterie and cheese pairing, in which you get to sample artisan wines along with delectable small plates.

Kosho Restaurant at The Barlow is a modern Japanese and sushi restaurant in Sebastopol with a rich, warm interior that is perfect for a romantic date or a dinner with friends. The head chef, Jake Rand, has traveled to many of the famous markets in Japan to select top ingredients and fresh fish to expertly prepare. The restaurant uses local purveyors for produce and meats, as well. Popular menu items include Country Miso Soup, Crispy Sesame Chicken, Sweet Chili Tofu and Maki Sushi pieces.

Albatross is a beautiful modern restaurant with a large dining room, high ceilings and a partially open kitchen to give you a view of the chefs at work. The menu features farm-to-table dishes with both small and large plates and an emphasis on local produce, sustainable proteins and quirky, global touches. Try flavor explosions like the Braised Spanish Octopus with black lime for an appetizer. Large plates include a Flannery Hanger Steak served with crispy Brussels sprouts and a Big Eye Tuna Crudo with bits of sea grapes and trout roe. They also have a world-class wine list and cocktail program.

Juanita & Maude, a neighborhood bar run by Chef Scot Eastman offers a unique spin on American cuisine. Located in Albany, in the East Bay, it’s a great escape from the bustle of downtown and is close to the Albany Twin and Ivy Room. The daily changing menu features refined comfort food as well as seasonal craft cocktails and an international wine list. Indulge in some of the chef’s amazing creations, like Donburi with tempura avocado, eggplant, edamame and king trumpet mushrooms, or the Smoked Rabbit Sausage with white beans and collard greens.

Valette is a contemporary American restaurant located in Sonoma County that locals consider to be one of the most unique restaurants in San Francisco. The kitchen here focuses on regional offerings from the farmers and artisan producers in the area and they strive to offer warm and personable service that will make you feel right at home. Every dish on the menu pays close attention to detail and keeps an eye on seasonal and local produce options. Try the Grilled Warm Asparagus Salad with Jennifer’s Poached Duck Egg or the Coriander Crusted Duck Breast.

Creekwood features a delightful California-Italian menu in a cozy, intimate space with an open kitchen and pizza oven. Located in South Berkeley, it is quickly becoming a favorite of locals in the area. The menu features some straightforward dishes like meatballs in marinara sauce as well as some wilder concoctions like grilled Monterey Bay squid with mustard greens. They have fantastic pizzas as well, including the Neapolitan-style crispy speck with Gaeta olives, artichokes and Pecorino cheese.

A restaurant of international fame, Eight Tables takes inspiration from the Private Chateau Cuisine dining style, which has popped up all across China. The tasting menu uses the finest seasonal ingredients and the restaurant also offers the option to pair it with a wine and beverage menu. In addition to the otherworldly menu, the restaurant gets a lot of acclaim for the atmosphere, which is gorgeous and elegant with private tables for each party. Sit and enjoy dishes like a chicken roulade with egg yolk, beef in aspic, bitter melon and simmered beef tenderloin.

The Hero Ranch Kitchen, located in Saratoga, is the latest restaurant from Angelo Heropoulos. The eatery features eclectic French/California country decor with paneling of reclaimed wood, gorgeous leather sofas and lots of quiet patio seating. The menu focuses on minimalist flavors and textures, and you can find dishes like a simple hamburger to a decadent wagyu steak to a tower of fried zucchini and eggplant chips. Don’t forget to check out the nicely curated wine list and the unique desserts.