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    Franciscan Crab Restaurant

    3.5 (2.3k reviews)
    PriceySeafood, American
    Open 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    Franciscan Crab Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    FRANCISCAN CRAB RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Touristy
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Franciscan Crab Restaurant

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    Nancy F.

    The view is phenomenal! The service staff all worked together to serve our table of 7. They even made suggestions to our group! The crab dishes were so delicious ! My shrimp dish was served so hot I had to wait a few minutes to eat! The desserts were amazing!

    At the top of the stairs, this was the display from the hostess desk.
    Kay O.

    This was our first time ever going to this restaurant and in all honesty, we just wanted a crabcake or something like to eat before we had something for dinner. Their menu showed they had an all Dungeness crab, crabcake $30 and calamari as an appetizer. We decided to share it since it was just a snack before dinner. Our server was very attentive and quickly got us our hot water and lemon with our ice water, and the food came out rather quickly. To my surprise, the calamari didn't have much flavor, and honestly tasted overdone, it was quite chewy which some people might like their calamari with extra chew to it, but it just grossed me out. Sorry.... On the other hand, the crab cake was freaking amazing!! The lemon sauce that came with it had a good zinc and complemented the crabcake perfectly!! The ambience of the Restaurant was a cute 1950s style with a bunch of black-and-white pictures and reminded me of a retro's diner. There was glass windows all around so you could see the beautiful ocean as well as the sun setting and boats coming in. On the windowsill, there were binoculars at every other booth so someone next to you could share and look and gaze out to the waterways! I'm not too sure if I would ever come back here again maybe for their crabcake but it was a little overpriced but delicious. At the same time I know how expensive and meats and fish are right now due to the war and everything else with inflation.

    Good drink, but the beer was a bit warm
    Jay P.

    Stopped by for a drink and decided to grab a bite while we rested. Got a couple of Moscow Mules, which were refreshing and a beer that was warm, unfortunately. We got the whole mixed trio plate that came with a whole crab, 25 mussels and shrimp and some amazing butter. Crab and mussels were excellent. The shrimp was a bit over done, but they weren't terrible. The customer service was what put this from 3 to 4 stars. They really looked out for us! If you're in the area pop by for a quick snack and a drink if you need to rest your feet!

    Crab enchiladas
    Long D.

    Nice view, clean big venue, reservation for big group. Host is polite and professional. Main male Server is pushy and has attitude. Menu is good variety including kids menu. All cocktails are same price with extensive menu. Charging $4 for bread and butter is not a big deal but dime and nickel tactic, doesn't fit the venue status. Served good white wine, though. Ordered variety of dishes. Calamari and fondue appetizer, crab enchiladas, salmon, sea bass, chowder, soft shell crabs .... Foods are served ok. Taste is generally bland (American style) except the enchiladas are really salty. They tried to clear the table before we finishing dish. Not professional service. Too bad, sunset dinner at the famous Fisherman's Wharf bay, but the venue is quite empty. So at least we did it once.

    I loved the pizza!! Lots of choices
    Tricia R.

    Fast service! Lots of choices on the menu. I had a mini cheese pizza. It was crispy with just the right amount of sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. My husband enjoyed his fish sandwich with fries. Healthy portions, good food.

    Calamari app
    Mark H.

    First let me tell you about the restaurant. Prime location in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. Centrally located, great views of the bay and Alcatraz. Hard to beat for a wonderful view. The service staff was attentive and took great care of us. Now the reason for only three stars. Most of the food was ok, a couple of dishes were really good. I think the problem might be their primary customer base of tourist trade, so they depend on people just wanting food which makes the restaurant complacent in their approach to menu items. Just my opinion. We had calamari which actually was very good and a huge portion. A crab salad sandwich that was just mediocre but the "Kriskrispy" (I think that's the name) fries were great! I was expecting something closer to a lobster roll but with crab.......not so much. They couldn't decide whether to go with butter or mayo so it felt like they just added both. This is an either/or proposition if you are at all familiar with lobster rolls. I would not order this again. But they redeemed themselves with their crab/shrimp hot iron skillet entree. THAT was worth the price of admission. And a delicious mixed green salad with vinaigrette dressing (I added anchovies. Not for everyone but IYKYK). I did not try anything with alcohol so you'll have to let me know if the drinks are tasty. Overall, a decent experience but if they concentrated on the other menu items as much as the crab and shrimp skillets, they'd have a real winner. I'm sure with such a great location, they still do just fine. Overall, I'd go again but i'd stick with the hot skillet items and the apps/salads.

    Fish fillet sandwich and fries - the best honestly!
    Vivian H.

    I came in here last evening about 1 hour before they closed and the place was almost empty, which was nice in its own way. I think this is probably a very popular spot during the day and when weather is nice. I got the more dark, quiet and romantic experience honestly. I loved every minute being in here. My waitress was excellent. Initially, I was going to sit at the bar, but then she suggested the cutest booth seat for 2 that faces the water and I couldnt resist and it was cozy. They even have a pair of binoculars for you to look out into the water. I'll have to come back in the daytime to get that experience. For dinner, I had a Blue Moon draft and also the white fish fillet sandwich with fries. The fish fillet sandwich was one of the best I have ever had. I dont normally like coleslaw or have it on my sandwich or sauces on my sandwich, but this one worked out very nicely. The sauce also had a nice kick to it. Service was spot on, no awkward moments and my waitress was a pro. This was an elegant dinner out experience. Its kind of nice to get the entire place to yourself, in a beautiful nautical themed place. I'll definitely be back again.

    ramos gin fizz, a vintage hard to find cocktail
    Amy D.

    After walking by this vintage restaurant so much I finally stopped in for an early dinner. It's located on the second floor above Pier 43 1/2, and as you climb the stairwell you'll see the walls are covered with glossy black-and-white portraits of mid-century Hollywood celebrities. Seating is nicely terraced so that every table, from the window banquettes to the booths tucked farther in, gets views of the waterfront. Just in case, there's complimentary binoculars at some of the tables. We ordered the cioppino, an essential litmus test for any seafood spot in Fisherman's Wharf. I also ordered a strawberry ramos gin fizzcocktail, dessert, and bread for dipping in the cioppino. This vintage seafood restaurant remains an unwavering classic dinner spot on the water since 1957.

    Sea bass
    Stephen L.

    This restaurant has both great decor and location with great view of the bay. Menu items are pricey and expect to pay $40 to $90 per person. Waiters give great service. Iced tea is some of the best I've ever had. Portions could be a bit larger. I had the sea bass and loved it. Also had a salad which had decent dressing but was a bit basic and could have been a bit larger. Fish and chips are good, but as one would expect, a more basic taste. Very good size portion for the fish and chips. Quality seemed good. I wanted to try their Dungeness crab but couldn't bring myself to spend that much on a single entre. Overall, good meal, good service but could be a bit better value for the salad and sea bass.

    Hot iron skillet with shrimp and crab.
    Gina R.

    This place was amazing!!! I was a little skeptical thinking it was a tourist trap, because it was so close to all the action. I could not have been more wrong! The clam chowder in the bread bowl was the best I've ever had! We had the iron skillet roasted shrimp and crab - WOW! The puttanesca pasta with crab was incredible! If you are in the mood for a great meal in the Bay area - this is it!

    Chowder bowl
    Syd G.

    We stopped in here for a light lunch while visiting the city. The decor is upscale and the staff is awesome. They were attentive and friendly. We had two margaritas and about loved them. Blended perfectly. My wife and I split her calamari and a chowder bowl. They were perfect! Some of the best calamari I've had in a while too! Our next trip will include a dinner here!

    Junior S.

    Tried this restaurant for the first time, and the food was delicious! We got seated fast and the staff was very friendly. I would 100% recommend eating here and this will be our go to restaurant whenever we visit SF now.

    View of the bay from inside the restaurant.

    We eat here every few years and I come for the cioppino, every time it is the best I have ever had, times have changed. The view and location is wonderful, prices are pretty high, but you pay for the tourist location and the location, but usually you get great portions and great (or traditional) flavors. $35 crab cakes a little high, but when we got them(2), they where standard and tasted more like the breading, and frankly the price was too high for the small portion. $45 for the cioppino was expected, but it has always been sort of a stew or soup. This seemed more like a splash of red sauce you would find in a pasta dish than a soup. The sauce was spicy like a salsa and over powered the dish. $4 for bread that you normally get with the soup. $26 The pepper sell pasta was good, portion OK. Sorry to say it has fallen off our list of places we go to and recommend to our visitors. Ambiance is showing its age, and service was good.

    Picture of half of my fishwich.

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    Page 1 of 58

    Franciscan Crab Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Franciscan Crab Restaurant

    We have reservations for lunch on Thurs. is it indoor dining?

    The main dining room is indoor, on the 2nd floor. I didn't notice any outside seating, when I was there.

    I'm visiting from Texas next week. Is it too cold for outside seating if I make dinner reservations for 8pm?

    Yes it is!!!

    Is this restaurant open now? I missed their food

    Hi Jessy, San Francisco is still in the purple tier which does not allow indoor dining. The Franciscan Crab Restaurant only has a couple tables on the patio. Unfortunately, we are unsure when we will be able to reopen. Please check our website for… 

    Do you have a happy hour?

    No, we do not have a happy hour.

    Is there a corkage fee?

    Yes it's $9.

    View All 7 Questions

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    Totally sold on them after a 4 week trial. * Seafood is SOOO…read morefresh. You can taste it. * I get to learn about how fish is caught, who caught it and how to cook it. I feel like I'm learning about the sea and the food, which is awesome. * Bonus that it's family run, they're super friendly and well meaning, give you great flexibility and they're funny too and down to earth * Super easy to order and trial, lots of pick up locations. Summary: can't go back to eating WF/Molly Stones/Costco fish no more. Uh uh.

    Photos
    Seared tuna confetti, over rice, cooked in the wok.
    Seared tuna confetti, over rice, cooked in the wok.
    Kirk Lombard loves his fish
    Kirk Lombard loves his fish
    Nico and Damián rocking the albacore rolls!

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    Nico and Damián rocking the albacore rolls!

    Franciscan Crab Restaurant - seafood - Updated August 2026

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