"Caviar is tinned poetry." This adage from Sony Mordechai truly captures the elegance of dining on this luscious undersea delicacy. Whether on crisp tater tots, atop blinis, or with crème fraiche, San Francisco takes the fine art of serving caviar seriously.
Here are the most posh restaurants in our seafaring city to receive the highest quality of caviar, all of which enhance the experience even further by our culinary innovation to deliver it on the most inventively lavish dishes.
See also: New And Recently Opened San Francisco Restaurants To Try In 2023
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25 Lusk St / Website
25 Lusk near Mission Bay is the perfect getaway from the Giants stadium. Ascend to their magnificently picturesque rooftop for caviar served three ways with delectable blinis. These irresistable plates arrive with generous red onion, dill, and crème fraiche, with the sweeping view and elevated ambience further adding to their uniquely San Francisco delight.
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2700 Jones St / (415) 486-0788 / Website
Abaca within the seaside Kimpton Alton Hotel showcases Filipino comfort classics and elevates traditional favorites through ingeniously creative utilizations of familiar tastes and fresh ingredients. With an ever-changing menu that emphasizes seasonality with its nostalgic cultural homages, their newest must-try invention is their small plate of Kaluga Caviar on a delightfully crisp Beef Tendon Chicharron topped with a creamy smoked ube mousse- a vibrantly complex combination of flavors, textures, and Filipino heritage all in one bite.
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680 Folsom St / (415) 537-1111 / Website
AFICI is intimate, upscale, and gorgeously convivial- all of the perfect conditions to best enjoy caviar! Renowned for their resourceful utilization of whole-animal tasting menus, this hands-on ingenuity shines through into their caviar craft, as seen with this indulgent Uni Spaghetti. This sultry downtown escape also features an unbeatable 1 ounce offering of delicately premier white sturgeon caviar as personally handpicked and processed by Executive Chef Eric Upper.
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557 Valencia St / (415) 757-0825 / Website
Newly opened in the Mission, Ancora is our premiere pick in this eclectic neighborhood for their incredibly fresh seafood and exclusively comprehensive Caviar Service. This highly coveted experience is a must-try for their included Dutch baby, offered any day of the week. Also don't miss out on Chef Nick Anichini's deluxe Prix Fixe seven-course seafood menu, all for only $125 a person.
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3127 Fillmore St / (415) 440-0460 / Website
No caviar list would be complete without the globally renowned, three-Michelin Star Atelier Crenn. This resplendent Cow Hollow masterpiece by current Iron Chef Dominique Crenn is devoted to utilizing the freshest ingredients, especially when it comes to her caviar. Definitely do not miss out on their single bite with banana, pecans, and of course, gold leaf.
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1320 Castro St / (415) 796-2265 / Website
Head over to Castro for this responsibly-sourced hotspot, which boasts the refined delicacies of malossol-style caviar, as well as exclusive selections of kaluga, Siberian sturgeon, and golden oscietra. The highlight here is also their Caviar Trio to sample all three, made deluxe with a serving of marble potatoes and house-cultured smetana, all for under $100.
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138 Mason St / (415) 655-9341 / Website
For caviar Vietnamese-style, definitely try Bodega SF's sophisticated reimagining of the traditional Bahn Khot. These light bites pack extraordinary flavor and textures with their crispy savory pancakes contrasting the both the soft caviar and shrimp. These cute but complex morsels are all served with perilla leaves to create the perfect bite-sized flavor gifts.
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838 Grant Ave / (415) 757-0728 / Website
Traditional opulence and high-flying views are what Empress by Boon effortlessly serve up in their Chinatown loft, featuring wide sunny windows and an authentic historic pagoda for naturally-lit resplendence. What could shine brighter than this radiant beacon are their Scallop and Caviar Rolls, perfectly light and savory to pair with any of their many refreshing and creative libations.
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1890 Bryant St Suite 100 / (415) 829-2961 / Website
Potrero Hill's Ernest is another ultimate caviar wonderland, generously offering it in many distinctly delicious variations! You can truly taste the artisty of Chef Brandon Rice in either his comforting caviar and crème fraiche with tater tots, or in the enticingly interactive handrolls with seaweed, plump ikaura, beef tartare, and sushi rice. Experience his ingenuity within this sleek interior, along with the inventive cocktails and desserts.
See also: Ernest Elevates Familiar And Fresh Ingredients Through Inventive Global Combinations
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800 North Point St / (415) 749-2060 / Website
Near Fisherman's Wharf is the highly acclaimed Gary Danko. This New American restaurant excels in both comforting classics and more sumptuous fare. You will feel right at home in their contemporary interior, cozily feasting upon their caviar served atop either buckwheat blinis with smoked salmon, or on their phenomenal glazed oysters.
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598 Guerrero St / Website
There may consistently be a line out of this long-awaited Mission hotspot, but you know it's for great, delicious, reason! This luminous cornerstone is serene, minimalist, and visually sleek- both in their interior aesthetics and with their neatly portioned handrolls. Definitely sample this traditional delicacy with their caviar, salmon roe, and other superbly fresh seafood like uni. This is a cute and chic neighborhood favorite that's Instagrammable from any angle, especially with caviar in the picture!
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568 Sacramento St / (209) 459-8335 / Website
Leo's Oyster bar is a community classic in the Financial District for the freshest seafood next to the Embarcadero's serene waterfront. Take a break from the hustle and bustle outside in their swanky oasis with some caviar served alongside a truffled beet pancake and creamy creme fraiche for a true island resort feel.
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2875 18th St / (415) 817-1585 / Website
With an idyllic reverence towards nature and live fire, Osito in the Mission pays tribute to the earth's elements and organic delicacies within its cozy and communal lodge-like interior. Caviar is definitely appreciated to the highest degree here as well, available in their rotating seasonal tasting menus, such as this caviar course pictured that's replete with sweet potato miso, apple butter and sweet potato latkes.
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590 20th St / (415) 865-0407 / Website
Have your caviar within the most perfectly-fitting interior! Glamorous and golden, the Palm Court nestled within the extravagantly opulent RH home decor boutique is the perfect Dogpatch getaway for fabulous shopping and a snack. Replenish after your haul with their Caviar by Petrossian of Imperial Siberian, Kaluga, or Ossetra options, all with their distinct flavors and classic accoutrements. With a variety of available sizes, nothing is more luxurious than this scenic retail oasis.
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970 Market St / (415) 523-9797 / Website
Located within the stunning new LINE Hotel, this serenely sophisticated choice nestled in the heart of downtown's lively Theatre District will truly make you feel at home and snug. With an expansive menu all precisely curated to reflect Californian seasonality and Executive Chef Joe Hou’s Chinese-American heritage, expect comfort food warmly elevated, such as their pictured rich Kaluga caviar on an English muffin with whipped chive cream and salted egg yolks.
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1 Ferry Plaza Building 16 / (415) 800-9282 / Website
Just when you thought the Ferry Building couldn't get any better, now you can enjoy the freshest caviar right by the sea after a long day of exploring the Embarcadero! Here you can have a leisurely tasting of this award-winning company's small handcrafted and antibiotic-free American caviar, complete with weekend special mimosas and hand-selected charcuterie boards.
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1100 Market St / (628) 895-2040 / Website
Villon within the Proper Hotel properly executes caviar, along with their air of classic elegance through shimmery aesthetics and enthralling art pieces. The true masterpiece here is their by caviar on steamed buns with chives by Chef Jason Fox, as available on their irresistible Chef's Menu.
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399 The Embarcadero / (415) 284-9922 / Website
When it comes to waterfront freshness, caviar can't get anymore lavishly seaside than with Waterbar! Here at this legendary Embarcadero favorite, the only thing that could rival their exclusive sweeping view of Treasure Island and the Bay Bridge would be their gleaming caviar. Enjoy either Siberian Sturgeon or Kaluga variations, both s erved with æbleskiver pancakes and other classic accompaniments.
Caviar truly are treasured jewels of the sea, rightfully served in our own spectacular gems all around San Francisco!
See also: The Ultimate San Francisco Neighborhood Guide
Photography by: Courtesy of Tyler Nix/Unsplash
