Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant

Name: Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant
Address: 374 Bush St., San Francisco, CA, United States, 94104
Telephone: (415) 421-0594
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.4

4.4

585 Reviews

$31 to $50

Seafood

Good for business meals
Romantic
Neighborhood gem

Fresh fish grill featuring classic San Francisco dishes from the gold rush to the 1970s, Sam’s Grill is the fifth-oldest restaurant in the US, opened in 1867, shortly after the California gold rush.

Sam’s takes pride in serving exceptionally fresh and local seafood alongside classic San Francisco dishes from the turn of the century. Boasting old-school curtained booths, and superior traditional formal service by waiters in tuxedos, Sam’s has been a cornerstone of the San Francisco restaurant scene for over 150 years.

Come join us, and take a step back in time to a more civilized time where lunches always start with a cocktail.
Sam's Grill and Seafood Restaurant accepts reservations at lunch and dinner.

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Seafood, Continental, Shellfish
Hours of operation
Tue–Fri 11:30 am–8:00 pm
Phone number
(415) 421-0594
Website
http://www.samsgrill-sf.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
David Gingrass

Location
374 Bush St., San Francisco, CA 94104
Neighborhood
Downtown / Union Square
Cross street
Kearny St.
Parking details
Local public garages or street parking after 6:00pm.
Public transit
BART and MUNI: Montgomery St.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Miyagi Oysters on the Half Shell
Champagne mignonette
- 1/2 Dozen$18.00
- Dozen$34.00
- Shellfish Platter$48.00
Littleneck Clams on the Half Shell
Crystal hot sauce
- 1/2 Dozen$18.00
- Dozen$34.00
- Shellfish Platter$48.00
Poached Jumbo Prawns
cocktail sauce
- 1/2 Dozen$18.00
- Dozen$34.00
- Shellfish Platter$48.00
Sam's Shellfish Cocktail
iceberg, classic cocktail sauce
- Oysters$15.00
- Bay Shrimp$8.00
- Prawns$12.00
- Dungeness Crab$19.00
- Dungeness Crab Legs$22.00
Smoked Salmon$16.00
shallots, dill cream, grilled sourdough
Smoked Trout Crostini$9.00
cucumber, radish, dill cream
Crispy-Fried Monterey Calamari$14.00
lemon chipotle sauce
Pan-Fried Dungeness Crab Cakes$18.00
spicy remoulade sauce
Fried Zucchini$7.00
warm marinara sauce

Soup and Starter Salads

Clam Chowder$7.00
white or original Sam's
Classic Baked French Onion Soup$9.00
allow 10 minutes
Sam's Wedge Salad$8.00
toybox tomatoes, crisp bacon, House, ranch, or bleu cheese dressing
Shellfish Salad$16.00
romaine, shrimp, crab, prawn, avocado
Sam's Caesar Salad$12.00
Parmesan, white anchovies

Sam's Classic San Francisco Dishes

Appetizers

Celery Victor$10.00
chilled poached celery, garlic chili marinade White anchovies or bay shrimp
Crispy Fried Smelt$9.00
house-made tartar sauce
Toasted Angels$10.00
oysters wrapped in bacon and fried Crystal hot sauce
Baked Clams Elizabeth$10.00
sherry butter, parmesan breadcrumbs
Shrimp Scampi$12.00
spicy lemon herb butter

Entrees

Green Goddess Salad$28.00
grilled salmon, butter lettuce, tomato, avocado
Nicoise Salad$26.00
grilled ahi tuna, heirloom tomatoes, green beans fingerling potatoes, soft-boiled egg, spicy lemon aioli
Lobster Thermidor$32.00
lobster cream sauce, mushrooms, sherry wine duchess potatoes, tomato arugula salad
Lazy Man's Cioppino$35.00
Dungeness crab meat, clams, mussels calamari, shrimp, spicy tomato broth, garlic bread
Coquille Saint Jacques$28.00
day-boat scallops, mushrooms brandy cream sauce, duchess potatoes
Rainbow Trout Almandine$25.00
lemon parsley butter
Hangtown Fry$18.00
fried oyster, bacon and cheese omelet
Rex Sole a la Sam's$25.00
Half Moon Bay Sand Dabs a la Sam's$28.00
when available
Sautéed Veal$28.00
piccata or Milanese, buttered spaghetti
Calamari Steak$25.00
lemon garlic butter or doré with caper butter

Seafood Salads

House, house with blue cheese, Caesar, creamy bleu cheese, ranch, or Louie

Mixed Greens$10.00
Iceberg$11.00
Hearts of Romaine$12.00
Louie Salad
iceberg, tomatoes, egg, cucumber, avocado
- With Bay Shrimp$24.00
- With Dungeness Crab$39.00

Fresh Fish

Yellowfin (Ahi) Tuna$32.00
Petrale Sole$30.00
King Salmon$33.00
Swordfish$32.00
Day-Boat Sea Scallops$32.00
chem-free
Jumbo Prawns$26.00
Dungeness Crab Legs$42.00
Mixed Shellfish$39.00
scallops, prawns, crab legs

Today's Sides

Quinoa Salad
cucumber, tomatoes, herbs – boiled red potatoes
Summer Ratatouille
local blue lake green beans with butter

Meat and Poultry

New York Steak Frites$49.00
14 oz. dry-aged prime Flannery Beef, roasted marrow bones, tomato arugula salad
Roasted Half Chicken$18.00
chicken jus

Pastas

Linguini with White Clam Sauce$24.00
Penne with Pesto Cream Sauce$15.00

Fried

Fried Pacific Oysters & Chips$22.00
Fish & Chips, Crispy Alaskan Cod$19.00

Sides

Creamed Spinach with Bacon and Parmesan$6.00
Sautéed Spinach$5.00
Golden Dome Hash Brown Potatoes$5.00

Today's Specials

Sam's Fish Crudo$14.00
ahi tuna, diver scallops, king salmon fried capers shallots, Maldon salt, Calabrian chili oil
Grilled Octopus$14.00
lemon anchovy aioli white cap beans, chickpeas, arugula salad
Grilled Whole Branzino$30.00
fried artichokes, lemon aioli tomatoes, grilled lemon, Calabrian chili oil
Grilled Wild King Salmon Steak$37.00
sweet pea tortellini pea sprouts, lemon butter sauce
Pan-Seared Chatham$35.00
MA dayboat sea scallops sweet corn risotto, basil, Parmesan cheese
Grilled Alaskan Halibut Steak$36.00
sweet corn succotash arugula, spicy salsa verde

Sam's Cocktails

Served with house-made pickles

Perfect Martini$14.00
Bummer & Lazarus gin, Lo-Fi vermouth
Old Fashioned$14.00
Bulleit rye, orange bitters
Manhattan$13.00
Basil Hayden's bourbon
Sam's Negroni$13.00
Tanqueray, Cocchi vermouth, Campari

Wine Specials

Chardonnay, Rombauer, Napa '17
- Glass$16.00
- Bottle$65.00
Valpolicella Superiore, Ripasso, Almadi '16
- Glass$13.00
- Bottle$50.00

Wine LIst

Chardonnay

Hess (Monterey County, 2012)$30.00
Columbia (Washington, 2012)$30.00
Acacia (Carneros, 2012)$36.00
Ferrari-Carano (Alexander Valley, 2012)$45.00
Domaine Eden (Santa Cruz, 2011)$46.00
Rombauer Vineyard (Carneros, 2012)$60.00
Sonoma Cutrer `Les Pierres' (Sonoma, 2012)$65.00
Chateau Montelena (Napa Valley, 2011)$78.00

Sauvignon Blanc/Fume Blanc

St. Supery (Napa Valley, 2013)$35.00
Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc (Sonoma County, 2013)$36.00
Honig Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley, 2013)$38.00
St. Denis Sancerre (Loire Valley, 2011)$42.00

Other Whites

Kung Fu Girl Riesling (Washington, 2013)$28.00
Chinon Rosé de Saignee (Loire Valley, 2013)$30.00
Cone Giara Pinot Grigio (Venezia,ltaly2013)$32.00
ianta Albarifio (Rias Baixas, Spain2011)$32.00

By The Glass

House Red$7.00
House White$7.00
Hess Malbec$7.00
Chinon Rosé$8.00
St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc$9.00
Hess Chardonnay$9.00
Corte Giara Pinot Grigio$9.00
Hess Cabernet$9.00
Stephen Vincent Pinot Noir$9.00
Terra D'Oro Zinfandel$9.00
Alexander Valley Merlot$9.00
Vianta Albarifio$9.00
Merryvale Cabernet$10.00

Cabernet Sauvignon

Hess (Monterey County, 2011)$30.00
Merryvale Starmont (Napa, 2006)$35.00
Beringer Knights Valley (Napa, 2012)$42.00
Franciscan (Napa Valley, 2011)$47.00
Mt. Veeder (Napa Valley, 2012)$55.00
Jordan Vineyard (Alexander Valley, 2010)$78.00
Stags' Leap Winery (Napa Valley, 2011)$80.00
Sebastiani Cherryblock (Sonoma. 2007)$85.00
Keenan (Napa Valley, 2010)$90.00
B.V. Georges De Latour (Napa Valley, 2003)$95.00
Opus One (Napa Valley, 2011)$250.00

Other Reds

Terra D' Oro Zinfandel (Amador, 2012)$30.00
Hess Malbec (Argentina, 2011)$30.00
Alexander Valley Merlot (Sonoma, 2011)$32.00
Stephen Vincent Pinot Noir (Sonoma, 2012)$32.00
Saintsbury Pinot Noir (Napa, 2011)$51.00
Fort Ross Pinot Noir (Sonoma, 2010)$52.00
Bedrock Old Vine Zinfandel (Sonoma, 2013)$55.00
Storybook Zinfandel (Napa Valley, 2009)$60.00
Emeritus Pinot Noir (Russian River, 2011)$68.00

Sparkling Wines

Chandon Brut (Yountsville) (Split)$9.00
Villa Sandi Prosecco (Italy) (Split)$9.00
La Marca Prosecco (Italy)$36.00
Laurent-Perrier Brut Champagne (France)$65.00

Beers

Budweiser$5.00
Coors Light$5.00
Anchor Steam$6.00
Stella Artois$6.00
Becks$6.00
Becks Dark$6.00
Heineken$6.00
Haake-Beck (Non-Alcoholic)$6.00
Sierra Nevada$6.00

Beverages

Milk$1.75
Coffee/Tea$2.75
Espresso$3.50
Double Espresso$5.00
Iced Tea$3.00
Cappuccino$5.00
Soft Drinks$3.00

What 585 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.4

4.4 based on all time ratings

4.4Food
4.5Service
4.3Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

585 Reviews

SF
SFgourmand VIP
San Francisco79 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 10, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
I love that Sam's has been rescued, refreshed, and remains a San Francisco gem
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C
Contessa
San Francisco2 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 10, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a great lunch with friends. food was good. Waiter attentive. We'll be back of course. Contessa Claire and Steve Price
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G
Greens
San Francisco19 reviews
1.0
Dined on March 7, 2020
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 3
From the start, it was not a good experience. Our host seated us giving us way too much information about his birthday and his girlfriend's birthday because our birthdays were also this week. Next, our server took our drink orders and was back in a flash. We ordered today' special, Sam's crude which was not available. Side note is that it's not actually "today's special". It's on the menu EVERY DAY. We got to sit in the sweet little private booth with a curtain. The problem was our server gave us zero privacy. Took our order, but kept dropping in. We were celebrating our birthdays - drinks and wine would have been great to order. I would have really loved to order a birthday dessert had we been asked or if there was a chance to have a dessert menu. I paid for my vinegary salad, boyfriend's short ribs, side of soggy spinach, and a couple cocktails. Reservation was at 6:30. We were done and paid at 7:15. No joke. I gave our server slightly less than fifteen percent because he wouldn't leave us alone. I got up to put my jacket on and he came by to take the bill and then turned to me and asked my what the problem was. So, Open Table, you asked for a review. All weekend, I was thinking about this lousy experience. My hope is that this restaurant realizes that people come for good food as well as a good experience when going out on a Friday night. We got neither.
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DL
DavidL
San Francisco15 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 6, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Tradition that is rare and nice to appreciate including private, curtained off booths.
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BU
ByUBennny VIP
San Francisco6 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 6, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
There for birthday celebration. We requested, and were seated in a classic booth. Service was great. Food and drinks too. Checked all boxes, as always.
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SM
SusannaM VIP
San Francisco47 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 3, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We love this restaurant, especially the bartender and waiter----first rate service and food in a wonderful old-fashioned quiet atmosphere. A real jewel! WE plan to return very soon.
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DD
DineorDie
San Francisco27 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 29, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Great SF place for old fashioned service and god food. A stand out even after all these years.
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J
Johnxn
San Francisco2 reviews
4.0
Dined on February 22, 2020
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Salmon was sold out. Surprising for a 7:30 reservation. WE were told to get our order in pronto, lest the kitchen ran out of other items.
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ME
MELK
Los Angeles83 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 22, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Tried a private booth for the first time. Fun! The day boat scallops and mushroom risotto are worth going back for.
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MM
MaryM
San Francisco6 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 22, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
My husband and I enjoy Sam’s. My husband loves seafood, and I don’t. That said, non-seafood entrees are always available, and they are very good.
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FAQs

Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (415) 421-0594.

Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant is rated 4.4 stars by 585 OpenTable diners.

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

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

Google Map for Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant

374 Bush St., San Francisco, CA 94104

Additional information

Cross street
Kearny St.
Neighborhood
Downtown / Union Square
Hours of operation
Tue–Fri 11:30 am–8:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Seafood, Continental, Shellfish
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Local public garages or street parking after 6:00pm.
Public transit
BART and MUNI: Montgomery St.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
David Gingrass
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.samsgrill-sf.com/
Phone number
(415) 421-0594

Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant

Not available on OpenTable

There’s more to explore

Additional information

Appetizers

Miyagi Oysters on the Half Shell

Littleneck Clams on the Half Shell

Poached Jumbo Prawns

Sam's Shellfish Cocktail

Smoked Salmon$16.00

Smoked Trout Crostini$9.00

Crispy-Fried Monterey Calamari$14.00

Pan-Fried Dungeness Crab Cakes$18.00

Fried Zucchini$7.00

Soup and Starter Salads

Clam Chowder$7.00

Classic Baked French Onion Soup$9.00

Sam's Wedge Salad$8.00

Shellfish Salad$16.00

Sam's Caesar Salad$12.00

Sam's Classic San Francisco Dishes

Appetizers

Celery Victor$10.00

Crispy Fried Smelt$9.00

Toasted Angels$10.00

Baked Clams Elizabeth$10.00

Shrimp Scampi$12.00

Entrees

Green Goddess Salad$28.00

Nicoise Salad$26.00

Lobster Thermidor$32.00

Lazy Man's Cioppino$35.00

Coquille Saint Jacques$28.00

Rainbow Trout Almandine$25.00

Hangtown Fry$18.00

Rex Sole a la Sam's$25.00

Half Moon Bay Sand Dabs a la Sam's$28.00

Sautéed Veal$28.00

Calamari Steak$25.00

Seafood Salads

Mixed Greens$10.00

Iceberg$11.00

Hearts of Romaine$12.00

Louie Salad

Fresh Fish

Yellowfin (Ahi) Tuna$32.00

Petrale Sole$30.00

King Salmon$33.00

Swordfish$32.00

Day-Boat Sea Scallops$32.00

Jumbo Prawns$26.00

Dungeness Crab Legs$42.00

Mixed Shellfish$39.00

Today's Sides

Quinoa Salad

Summer Ratatouille

Meat and Poultry

New York Steak Frites$49.00

Roasted Half Chicken$18.00

Pastas

Linguini with White Clam Sauce$24.00

Penne with Pesto Cream Sauce$15.00

Fried

Fried Pacific Oysters & Chips$22.00

Fish & Chips, Crispy Alaskan Cod$19.00

Sides

Creamed Spinach with Bacon and Parmesan$6.00

Sautéed Spinach$5.00

Golden Dome Hash Brown Potatoes$5.00

Today's Specials

Sam's Fish Crudo$14.00

Grilled Octopus$14.00

Grilled Whole Branzino$30.00

Grilled Wild King Salmon Steak$37.00

Pan-Seared Chatham$35.00

Grilled Alaskan Halibut Steak$36.00

Sam's Cocktails

Perfect Martini$14.00

Old Fashioned$14.00

Manhattan$13.00