Historic John's Grill

Name: Historic John's Grill
Address: 63 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA, United States, 94102
Telephone: (415) 986-0069
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.6

4.6

6340 Reviews

$31 to $50

American

Top Tags:

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.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Feb 8, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 67 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(415) 986-0069

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
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
Catering
Cancellation policy: A party of six or more must be confirmed with a valid credit card. Any cancellations must be made prior to 24 hour of reservation to avoid a $30 charge per person. This policy also applies if you need to reduce the number of guests in your party.
Private party facilities
Historic John's Grill 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
John Konstin: (877) 298-5397

Location
63 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
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, Delivery, 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

100 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Experiences

Valentine's Day at John's Grill
Feb 14, 2023 only
All guests dining at John's Grill on Valentine's Day will receive a complimentary treat from our Chef. Select from the a la carte menu including our holiday special Roast Prime Rib of Beef or enjoy the holiday 3-course menu including, Lobster Bisque, Filet Mignon and Lobster Tail, and your Choice of Dessert.

Popular dishes

New England Clam Chowder$8.95
Lobster Bisque$9.95
Lunch Salad$6.95
Seasonal greens, with vinaigrette dressing
- With Bleu Cheese Dressing$7.95
Caesar a La John's$14.95
Bay Shrimp Louie$17.95
Roquefort Salad$17.95
bay shrimp, avocado
Roasted Beet Salad$15.95
Candied walnuts, feta cheese, lemon aioli topped with micro greens
Jack LaLanne's Favorite Salad$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 Snapper$17.95
Sauce Piquante (spiced tomato sauce)
Jumbo Prawns Dijonnaise$19.95
Sautéed with mushrooms, wine, garlic and Dijon cream
Broiled Salmon$22.95
Served with Hollandaise Sauce and mashed potatoes
Petrale Amandine$18.95
Sliced almonds, Lemon butter sauce
Fried Jumbo Prawns$19.95
Fried Sea Scallops$19.95
Fried Oysters$16.95
Fried Combination Seafood$19.95
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 Cornfed 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 Steak$31.95
Ribeye Steak$36.95
Filet Mignon$38.95
Surf and Turf$43.95
New York Steak & 3 Fried Jumbo Prawns

Sam Spade's Lamb Chops

Sam Spade's Lamb Chops$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 Burger$19.95
Broiled New York Steak Sandwich$24.95
All Accompanied by French Fries
Tortellone$15.95
Filled with sundried tomato, romano, parmigiano and ricotta cheese in a basil cream sauce topped with shredded Grana Padano cheese
Maine Lobster Ravioli$18.95
Herbed tomato cream
Chicken Linguine Alfredo$18.95
Fisherman's Pasta$25.95
Linguine, jumbo prawns, salmon, snapper, mushrooms in basil cream

On the Side

Baked Idaho Potato$5.95
French Fries$6.95
Sautéed Mushrooms$7.95
Fresh Creamed Spinach$7.95

Chef's Weekly Special

Fish & Chips$17.95
Anchor Steam beer batter, wild caught Pollock with caper tartar sauce
Crispy Chicken Sandwich on Brioche$17.95
Roasted garlic-sundried tomato aioli
Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Cheese$16.95
Aged balsamic, extra virgin olive oil and basil
Medallions of Beef$32.95
Medallions of Filet mignon, béarnaise sauce served with Parmesan mashed potato and seasonal vegetables

What 6,340 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.6Service
4.5Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Francisco
American

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BO
BrandonO
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Outstanding steak house in the heart of San Francisco!
t
trw171717
San Francisco
19 reviews
vip
5.0
19 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent dinner as usual........and Pablo is an outstanding waiter.........this time wifey had the halibut for dinner. I had a bite and I will order it next time we are there, Glad to be part of John's Grill Family.......:-)
B
Barry
Orange County
10 reviews
4.0
10 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall4food5service4ambience3
Experience was great, tables are small and dining room is tight. Service and food was great though
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall4food4service5ambience5
Nice Restaurant, friendly service, good food - but: they were out of RibEye and Filet Mignon, a no-go for a steakhouse
F
Fredzoomer23
San Francisco
9 reviews
3.0
9 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall3food3service4ambience4
The fillet's were excellent. The snapper with a spicy tomato sauce was extremely marginal. Such a simple light fish did not need such a heavy sauce. The prices are a bit high for the food quality.
A
Anamandaris
San Francisco
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on February 1, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience2
Wonderful service from the moment we walked in until the moment we left. We will be back, again!
VL
VincentL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food and service are always great, glad to visit again after three years.
B
Betsy
Richmond
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on February 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Outstanding food and service. Can’t wait to return.
CT
CarolTsa
Miami
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 31, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food, excellent service! Will definitely be back!
C
Christiane
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 30, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Excellent Margaritas and Clam Chowder. Good Offering of meat and seafood. Everyone will find an apropriate dish. Always a good choice in SF.
D
Daniel
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Lots of history, great value, tasty food, and friendly service.
MT
MichaelT
New Mexico
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 29, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
My wife and I had a fine lunch of steak and fish with great service. The environment was exceptional. Highly enjoyed it.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tahoe
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
The food and service were great.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 29, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Birthday! Service was great? Atmosphere wonderful. Steaks were awesome. Will always come back.
BS
BonnieS
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 29, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Excellent service. Great chowder & sourdough bread. Had the halibut, but will get steak next time.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 28, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience2
The steak was perfectly cooked and delicious, but the ambiance made this feel more like a cafeteria than a quality steakhouse. I’ve eaten here several times in a larger group and never been disappointed. But know that when you book a table for 2 for a special occasion, you’re likely to be seated in a room which has row upon row of tables for 2, without much space between rows and zero privacy. Given this was a date I wished we’d gone to Morton’s or somewhere with a little more ambiance
J
Jenjo
San Diego
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on January 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
John’s Grill is amazing! Like stepping back in time. The “Bogie” Manhatten and filet mignon were perfect. An all around great evening!
V
Vivalasvegas
Las Vegas
34 reviews
vip
5.0
34 reviews
Dined on January 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The lamb chops were amazing. So was the escargot.
P
Pinecone
Nashville
6 reviews
vip
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on January 28, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience5
Food was great and a good value. Nice place.
n
neener
Los Angeles
51 reviews
vip
5.0
51 reviews
Dined on January 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This iconic restaurant is all you would expect and more. The space is just as you would picture it. The food is excellent and the service was. Rey attentive but not overwhelming.
JB
JamesB
New York Area
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on January 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
John's food and service are always dependable. It was the perfect spot for our lunch yesterday.
MF
ManhattanFan
Exclusive
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fun, historic restaurant with fantastic food, great staff, and reasonable prices. My friends and I had a great time.
KG
KatherineG
San Francisco
20 reviews
vip
3.0
20 reviews
Dined on January 26, 2023
overall3food2service4ambience3
Burger was completely over cooked and over seasoned and not worth the $25 price tag . Ambience is nice with old world feel. My partner’s filet mignon was great, though, and perfectly cooked. Wine tasted old but spritz was refreshing.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Minneapolis
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 26, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
The food was great and everyone was real nice. Service was a bit slow on checking in on us, we would have ordered more wine if they had been more prompt.
j
jkf64
Las Vegas
23 reviews
vip
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on January 24, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Old school steak house with excellent seafood. I would definitely return.
t
tcbfast
San Francisco
46 reviews
vip
4.0
46 reviews
Dined on January 24, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
John's Grill is one San Francisco's storied restaurants with a history dating back to 1908. That alone makes it unique, but the consistency in food and service keep us coming back time and again. I've probably run through most of the menu over the years and never been disappointed. Beef? The steak sandwich or medallions are a great meal! Fish? The sole almondine is a wonderful dish with lots of sole and veggies. The Jack LaLanne salad will fill you to the brim. If you want a nice Noir meal to match the Sam Spade vibe, go for the lamb chops which has been served there since writer Dashiell Hammet was a regular, and had the dish make an appearance in The Maltese Falcon.
HG
HenryG
Los Angeles
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on January 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
A venerable San Francisco eatery.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Loved the food and atmosphere. It was like stepping back in time.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was great and ambiance unique. Really enjoyed my meal here. Food was very good. Would definitely go back!
F
Fletch
San Francisco
4 reviews
2.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 22, 2023
overall2food5service1ambience2
One of each ? Waiter Server Busser Kinda crazy numbers given a fully booked seating room Service a snail can compete with, never came back to ask if we wanted drinks, water glass sat empty, how’s the food tasting ??? Nope 👎 can I bring you anything else? Nope 👎 oh, so you’re celebrating a birthday? 👎 noise level through the roof btw. Only saving grace was the food which was absolutely amazing.
DS
DannyS
San Francisco
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on January 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
So classic! Awesome old school waiters. Exquisite Roquefort salad. Best halibut in history. A flan straight from heaven. The only decent place in union square.
S
Shortstop
Washington DC
27 reviews
vip
4.0
27 reviews
Dined on January 19, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience3
Noise level considerable. Service inconsistent.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
23 reviews
vip
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on January 19, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Excellent historic dining venue. Took my in-laws there and they enjoyed it very much. The food is very good. We ordered lamb chops which was cooked to perfection. Petrale sole was excellent although m the snapper was just so so. Overall, we really enjoy the experience and go back again.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service, great steak! Priced about what you’d expect from a nice steak house
t
trw171717
San Francisco
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on January 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great steaks as usual...............we ate outside and in spite of the rain, we were kept warm, comfortable and dry......
RS
RamseyS
Phoenix
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on January 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent service! Thank you
Historic John's GrillResponded on January 16, 2023Hello! Thank you for visiting John's Grill. We're so glad you had a great experience and appreciate the 5-star review. Please come back and visit us soon.
D
Dublinresident
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Beautiful old school restaurant. Pleasant waiters, great food and fabulous cocktails
KK
KatherineK
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I went to John's Grill with two friends prior to a performance at ACT. The food was fantastic and the service was exceptional. I had the filet mignon and it was perfectly cooked. I will go back again to order it. My friends had halibut and sole and they said it was delicious. The French martini's were also really good.
Historic John's GrillResponded on January 16, 2023Hello! Thank you for visiting John's Grill. We're glad you enjoyed your Filet Mignon and appreciate the 5-star review. We look forward to your next visit.
JS
JerryS
Denver
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 11, 2023
overall4food3service5ambience4
Good experience. Crowded, loud and hot. Food was good not special. Great location.
Historic John's GrillResponded on January 16, 2023Hello! Thank you for visiting John's Grill. We're so glad you had a good experience and appreciate the feedback. Please come back and visit us soon.
A
Angry
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on January 10, 2023
overall1food4service1ambience2
Food was good, but there was a $50 per person minimum charge that was mentioned nowhere on OpenTable (other restaurants I booked for this week in San Francisco were upfront about minimums, which are common during JP Morgan). Gratuity was also included in the bill, which was a surprise to me. The reservation was for 5 (we had one late cancellation, and again, had I known about the per person minimum before sitting down, I would've amended the reservation to avoid paying the extra $50). The $250 "minimum" ended up becoming $340 after tax and "service charge" Food was good, but our server was rude, bordering on nasty. I get that it's JPM week, and understand the need for minimum per-person charges, but at least let people know before they book.
Historic John's GrillResponded on January 16, 2023Thank you so much for your honest review. Our lunch and dinner minimums are posted on our website however based on your feedback we will review them to ensure this is clearly noted for future guests. We take great pride in providing our guests with timely and attentive service, and truly apologize your experience fell short during your recent visit. We have shared your feedback and hope you will give us another opportunity to impress you.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Staff is vaccinated

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 4.6 stars by 6340 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Feb 8, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 67 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(415) 986-0069

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–9:30 pm
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, Delivery, 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
Catering
Cancellation policy: A party of six or more must be confirmed with a valid credit card. Any cancellations must be made prior to 24 hour of reservation to avoid a $30 charge per person. This policy also applies if you need to reduce the number of guests in your party.
Private party facilities
Historic John's Grill 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
John Konstin: (877) 298-5397

Featured in

100 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Historic John's Grill

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Private dining

Dining areas

Additional information

100 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day at John's Grill

Ribeye Steak

Filet Mignon

Sam Spade's Lamb Chops

Appetizers

Escargots$11.95

Jumbo Prawn Cocktail$17.95

Soup & Salads

New England Clam Chowder$8.95

Lobster Bisque$9.95

Lunch Salad$6.95

Caesar a La John's$14.95

Bay Shrimp Louie$17.95

Roquefort Salad$17.95

Roasted Beet Salad$15.95

Jack LaLanne's Favorite Salad$29.95

Seafood & Shellfish

Grilled Pacific Snapper$17.95

Jumbo Prawns Dijonnaise$19.95

Broiled Salmon$22.95

Petrale Amandine$18.95

Fried Jumbo Prawns$19.95

Fried Sea Scallops$19.95

Fried Oysters$16.95

Fried Combination Seafood$19.95

John's Featured Steaks

New York Steak$31.95

Ribeye Steak$36.95

Filet Mignon$38.95

Surf and Turf$43.95

Sam Spade's Lamb Chops

Sam Spade's Lamb Chops$35.95

Sandwiches & Pasta

Broiled 1/2 Lb. Deluxe Burger$19.95

Broiled New York Steak Sandwich$24.95

Tortellone$15.95

Maine Lobster Ravioli$18.95

Chicken Linguine Alfredo$18.95

Fisherman's Pasta$25.95

On the Side

Baked Idaho Potato$5.95

French Fries$6.95

Sautéed Mushrooms$7.95

Fresh Creamed Spinach$7.95

Chef's Weekly Special

Fish & Chips$17.95

Crispy Chicken Sandwich on Brioche$17.95

Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Cheese$16.95

Medallions of Beef$32.95

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

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Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Screening

FAQs

Does Historic John's Grill offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Historic John's Grill restaurant rated?

Is Historic John's Grill currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Featured in

100 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day