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Historic John's Grill, San Francisco, CA

Historic John's Grill

4.7 (7553)
$31 to $50
American
63 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Make a reservation

2 people
11:00 PM
Booked 57 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for business meals
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.

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–9:15 pm
  • Phone number
  • 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.
  • Private party contact
    Events Team: (415) 986-0069
  • Neighborhood
    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

Private dining

What 7,553 people are saying

Historic John's Grill reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Francisco

    American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Historic John's Grill is a delightful blend of San Francisco charm and culinary excellence. Guests rave about the "excellent food and service," with standout dishes like the Petrale Sole and ribeye steak. Enjoy live jazz in the historic ambiance, making it a "special place" for memorable dining experiences.

7,553 Reviews
  1. Cuauhtemoc

    San Francisco10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First time and we have a great time and extraordinary service from the personal. We recommend pery much.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Sophia

    Sacramento6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great date night. Food was delish and jazz was on point.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Cynthia VIP

    Central Coast133 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our meal was fantastic. Service was wonderful and the ambiance was super. This is a historic restaurant dating back to 1908. If you want an authentic San Francisco restaurant, give this one a try

    Is this helpful?

  4. Carol

    San Francisco10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Good location and place to meet friends for lunch. Petrale Sole was excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Jacqui

    Melbourne1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 14, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Thank you for a wonderful evening. The food was amazing, the service exceptional and the music was fabulous. An experience that these two Aussies will treasure and remember as a highlight of our visit to San Francisco.

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  6. Drew VIP

    San Francisco15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful old San Francisco charm, with great food and service to boot. We really enjoyed our evening there. We are both native San Franciscans and had never eaten there. We will definitely return to this gem.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Lisa

    San Francisco4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had a lunch reservation and arrived 20 minutes early, they seated us right away. The service was very good. The noise level was not too loud. Drinks were good and reasonably priced. We both had the Shrimp Louie and it was great. The french bread was delicious. We have eaten here 5 or 6 times and it has always been enjoyable. Love the feel of this historic SF gem!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Agnes VIP

    Sacramento38 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I had the Petrale Sole and it was excellent. And the creamed spinach is to die for!

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  9. Gustavo VIP

    Sacramento473 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent meal and service. I was here over 20 years ago. Glad I came back while in the City! Highly recommend!

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  10. Carolyne VIP

    San Francisco3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Three former San Francisco journalists get together quarterly for lunch at a spot where tourists, locals, and political power players come for lunch. John's is not far from City Hall and accessible for visitors and everyday people alike. We like John's Grill for the great value, consistency of the food, which is always delicious, and prompt service. This is not the spot for precious bites, so if it's lunch or dinner prepared with tweezers and microgreens, this is not fore you. It's a spot for unpretentious, hearty fare at market prices. I've never been disappointed in 25 years. What more can I say? John's is on my list of favorites in San Francisco.

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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 7553 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. San Francisco
  5. Downtown / Union Square

Make a reservation

2 people
11:00 PM
Booked 57 times today
Google Map for Historic John's Grill

63 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Powell Street
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown / Union Square
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Daily 11:45 am–3:30 pm Dinner Daily 3:30 pm–9:15 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
  • Phone number
  • 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.
  • Private party contact
    Events Team: (415) 986-0069
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