One of the restaurants by water at Tiburon. We arrived during lunchtime, and the seat with water view was full. Since the wait time was 30 min to one hour, we chose to sit inside. Inside seating has two or three sections. From our table we still can see the water. This restaurant is a seafood restaurant. They serve almost the same dishes you find at seafood restaurant. We ordered clam chowder, fried calamari, fresh oyster, and fish&chip. The food is ok. The one which is better is the fish &chip as the batter is not thick. The oystervus fresh but we don't know why they add seaweed. The fried calamari is ok. The clam chowder is a bit too starchy. Overall, it is ok. The view if you get water view will be nice. Pricewise , I think is above average, but you get the view. read more

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Sam's Anchor Café in Tiburon is one of our favorite restaurants in the San Francisco Bay area. On our latest visit (May of 2025), my wife & I had the Caesar Salad with Grilled Prawns for lunch on the outdoor deck. Excellent food! But eating outdoors on a beautiful day was what made this place a special treat for us. After lunch we took a walk along the shoreline with views of San Francisco across the bay with various boats traveling about. A delightful experience! read more

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Excellent service and great food! We stopped here for afternoon drinks and snacks. You can sit right on the water and the prices are reasonable. read more

The atmosphere is of course fantastic with great views and one of the very few places on the bay you can bring your boat. However, the food is suspect at best. There are some dishes that are not bad but there are dishes that are not good. I have been going here for years and it was better. Hopefully they can get their food quality to match their venue, which is second to none. read more

We had our wedding shower at Sam's in the main dining room and it was fantastic. Nica was so responsive and put on an incredible event. The food was delicious and drinks were amazing. Adrianne (our server) was truly incredible. She was friendly and so on top of everything. Any time I needed something she magically happened to already be asking me if I needed anything! She was really great and her attitude and service was talk of the town among our group. 10/10 would recommend having your event here or coming by for lunch/dinner. read more

Sam's Anchor Cafe - Deck seating - Seafood Near Me - Tiburon, California

The service was spot on! The food was amazing. Sitting outside made the ambiance perfect. I must say from the start that the Mai-tai was the best I ever had and the soup & main dishes were 5 star good!! Greatness from start to finish!!! My first visit and can't wait to come back!! Well done!!! read more

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Strike two! Our last two trips to Sam's have been less than stellar. On our second to the most recent trip, I was served mushy fish and chips. Since we were there with a large group, I wrote it off as result of the kitchen trying to time food for a large group. But still, no-one likes fried fish that has gone soggy due to being held under the heat lamps. (Not sure if this was more of a ball than a strike, but for now we'll go with a strike.) Our most recent trip was just a hot mess. We ordered a couple of appetizers. The crab cakes were excellent - however the fried calamari was inexcusable. The calamari was clearly straight from Sysco to the fryer to us. It has so much breading on it that you couldn't even taste the squid. Not really up to normal standards. I did tempt fate and have fish and chip again and I will say for to the kitchen's credit it was uniformly crisp. However, the portion was tiny. I had three pieces of fish that were about the size of fish sticks which was very disappointment. In the past, the portions were larger. While we were ordering, we talked with our waiter and asked him to hold ordering our entrees for about 10 minutes so we could enjoy the appetizers. He confirmed this when he delivered the appetizers. However, not a minute later one of the assistants delivered our entrees. When we mentioned it, he said the kitchen was fast today and walked away. Epic fail! Even in a restaurant with high turnover, you give people time to finish one course before bringing the next. I will say to our waiter's credit, he did offer to take the entrees back. We were more than a little disappointed. I've been coming to Sam's since the beginning of time. My uncle was the manager of the place until he retired in the 70's. Sam's was always a perfect choice to bring out-of-town guests since it has million dollar views and approachable food. However, our most recent experiences have been so disappointing that we are considering dropping Sam's from our personal list of restaurants in the area. Sure, Sam's will survive with a tourist clientele but locals will find other locations unless there are some changes. read more

We love everything about Sam's. It's our go to spot to meet people coming up from the City. The menu is classic, perfect, seaside American. And the bar is perfectly complete. We had calamari, beer and wine to get us rolling on the menu! Then it was fish n chips, linguine with clams and a Dungeness crab Louis for our entrees. Everything was delicious, the service is outstanding and the view on the deck is like you're eating lunch in a postcard! Here's a pro-tip: if if feels a little cool to sit outside, do it anyway...the benches around the patio are heated and they will give you a lap blanket if you need a little extra! I don't want to encourage a barrage of guests, but you can take the ferry up to Tiburon from the City and walk off the boat and ten yards into the restaurant. Have as many cocktails as you want and then take another return ferry right back. It's like you're in a movie set in 1960! Sam's Anchor Cafe should be on everyone's list. read more

Sam's Anchor Cafe - If you want to eat lunch with this view, Sam's is your place. - Seafood Near Me - Tiburon, California

When in Tiburon.... A classic for a perfect day on the Bay- Sam's Cafe!! Perfect place to sit on the back deck and soak up the sun with views of the city. It is always packed. You may have to wait a bit for a table but service is friendly and fast when seated! It's also quite the party scene ( note to self- next time try the "oar" shot or the punch bowl of Aperol spritz) great martini to start. The clam chowder was full of tender clams and had a nice Smokey bacon flavor. The fish and chips had the best fries and loved the vinegar based slaw. I'm not a tartar sauce fan but this was the best I ever had! The fish was fresh- just wish there was one more piece (you get 3). Always a good time here! read more

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Tucked away in cute little corner of town by the water is this cafe. Had trouble finding it at first, but used the photos to lead the way. You have to go past the bar and walk straight to the back area to get to the restaurant. It can be difficult to find parking as there are a lot of good restaurants in the area, but there is a paid parking lot as well. Each time I've come here we've sat outside. This most recent visit the skies were clear and it was during the day, so the view of SF was absolutely beautiful. The servers are very attentive and ensured for a nice meal. They even provide water bowls for your dog, have blankets, and heat lamps. I've had the grilled oysters, crab cake, lobster roll, shrimp tacos, and fish and chips. Tried to get the raw oysters on my last visit but they were sold out, so will try again next time. The food here has been fantastic. Hands down the best fish and chips I've ever had. The fish is crispy on the outside and super juicy inside. The fries have a double fry on them and the tartar sauce has lots of herbs. The lobster roll had a smoked taste to it and went well with their house chips. We loved their grilled oysters, and wish we were able to get more. The shrimp tacos hit all the right notes. As you can see by the photos we got the fish and chips on two separate visits. If you could only get one dish, this would be it. Absolutely recommend this spot. read more

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Sam's is a perennial favorite for taking friends to lunch with an awesome view. Our visit there was on a perfect day in crab season. I had a lovely fresh salad topped with crab. One friend opted for the chowder and Caesar and the third had a crab avocado toast. Everything was fresh and tasty. The IPA was a great complement. Unable to resist, we shared some Old Bay fries. They were just perfect. read more

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I decided to give this place the benefit of the doubt despite the mixed reviews and lower rating. Most of the staff were actually great, the host was fine and our server was attentive and friendly. Unfortunately, there was one older staff member whose attitude really stood out for the wrong reasons. He was noticeably rude and dismissive. At first, I genuinely thought he was just an unfriendly patron because of the way he was interacting with people, but later found out he actually worked there. It was disappointing because the rest of the team seemed to be doing a good job, and his behavior really contrasted with the otherwise positive service we experienced.. read more

Honestly, the only thing that I'm giving this place a star for is the view and the really nice hostess. We came here for a couple drinks and enjoy a nice meal with the view, but unfortunately, our server barely came by our table after dropping off some water and drinks. We had ordered a bowl of clam chowder, and for $15. It was probably the smallest and most blandest clam chowder I have ever had and it didn't even come in a bread bowl lol. After finally getting the servers attention we wanted to order the seafood tower, and then 15 minutes later he comes by and he's like I'm sorry the kitchen is out of oysters, but I can still bring out the other stuff on the tower if you had ordered it a couple minutes ago you could've had it. How would we have ordered it if you never stopped by the table? I would probably try a different restaurant when I'm in the area, this place barely has any options anyways and apparently they run out of their specialties pretty fast during the day. read more

Sam's Anchor Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Tiburon, California

Food - seafood + comfort food with quality ingredients cooked and served with love. Service - amazing hosts, servers, waiters and bartenders. Quickly attend to your needs, don't hover, great conversationalists and knowledgeable about menu and drinks. Ambiance - welcoming wrap around bar, patio with deck chairs overlooking boats and the bay with views of city in background. Smell of the ocean, seafood and seagulls and water birds flying around. read more

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OMG haven't been to Sam's in years well went there this weekend and don't need to go back any time ever. Yes view is fabulous but what happened to the quality of food - think they just go to Costco and buy frozen fish. For $25 we got a BASKET of french fries and little thin fish strips - there are other good choices if I want to throw out my food read more

Sam's has always been one of my favorite spots--my husband and I had our first date here in 1997 after hiking Mt Tam. But thanks to the improved Mai Tai with lilikoi foam (like Monkeypod on Maui) Sam's has a new place in my heart! I drank it so fast, I missed taking a photo! Thanks to Sam's also for the heated bench seating on the patio. Nice touch! We were told the wait on Saturday afternoon would be 1.5 hours so we set up in the bar for a long wait (hellooooo Mai Tai) and we were called in 35 minutes. Lovely surprise. read more

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One of our favorite spots in Marin! Great view, people, food and drinks. The fish n chips and crab toast are our favorites. Mai tai is the best around. read more

TL:Dr. Tiburon institution. Just go Parking - always tough. The lot, which can accessed thru the roundabout, is a good choice Ambiance - second to none. Such a spectacular view. While the dock is always full and boisterous it is an amazing spot. On mild days it makes you appreciate living in the Bay Area. Food - always rock solid. The oysters were briny and sweet. Garlic shrimp was stellar. Crab cakes always a fan favorite. Service - prompt and attentive. NOTE - they do add a 5% living surcharge so don't be surprised Bottom Line - cannot beat the scenery and food is really good. Great spot to hang out with friends read more

Sam's Anchor Cafe - Ferry is next door - Seafood Near Me - Tiburon, California

The hubster and I drove to Tiburon on a while after leaving SF. As we walked around this quaint town we decided to try Sam's Anchor Cafe as they offered outdoor seating on the marina. We were seated immediately, without a reservation at a table with shade. Which was good when it was over 80 degrees. Our server was excellent and friendly. Keeping our beverages filled. We ordered the peach burrata salad, a burger, a lobster roll, Arnold Palmer, and of course a Shirley Temple. The burger was cooked to perfection, the lobster roll was a bit different, because it was served cold, but delicious. Their kettle chips are FANTASTIC and their fries rival any I have had. Arnold Palmer was clearly made with fresh lemonade which made it taste exceptionally fresh and the Shirley Temple had the perfect amount of grenadine...I was a happy happy girl! A public parking lot is close by and the scenery is hard to beat. If you are looking for seafood or American fare, Sam's is the place for you! read more

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This classic place is now my kids favorite go to- how lucky am I? They appreciate it for a lot of the same reasons. The fact that they know they will miss it going off to college, I think I raised them right. They have no idea how great the drink menu will be one day! Came in today after a hike. Shared fish tacos & the burger. So perfect & so delicious. I think the burger is better than 25+years ago, it IS uniquely delicious - like up there with Ahba in Laguna Beach's burger! Love the remodel, still delicious and layout is a better use of space. Evenings have heated seats at the bench and blankets. I could spend all day here catching up with a friend rolling from one meal into another. Such a great vibe if you grew up boating or not it's got the lull you into staying with the ambience and fresh ocean air. Earlier in summer time I brought a friend out here for a Birthday lunch early in the week, not busy at all, ate out on the deck, such a beautiful setting and layout! We shared Calamari and Fries and got mains. There was a lovely guy next to us dining along, who drove his boat in for lunch, we had a great conversation and lunch. Love when things work out like that! read more

Sam's Anchor Cafe - Fish tacos or a butger! - Seafood Near Me - Tiburon, California

Had lunch here ~2:30pm on 7/1. We had their calamari, clam chowder, and seafood platter and both of us had diarrhea on the way back to SF. We had to stop halfway to find a bathroom because our stomach was hurting so bad ~40mins after lunch. Made it through the night with 4 more episodes smh. Pretty sure it was something from the seafood platter that caused this. Guess their seafood wasn't fresh at all and definitely not worth the 115$ for the platter. read more

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Sam's Cafe is wonderful with indoor and outdoor seating. The dinner food was excellent. Usually we have lunch outdoors but the weather encouraged us indoors for dinner. Our service was great, and more importantly, we had a nice comfortable dinner. The remodeled dining and bar sections are roomy with lots of ocean views. We love Sam's Anchor Cafe! read more

Had dinner July 2. Clam chowder lacked taste. Crab Louie not great. Bread not sourdough - tasteless. Calamari just ok. No drinks. $100 including tip. Not at all what this place was. read more

Lovely restaurant in Tiburon California. With waterfront views of San Francisco, this California fusion is a great place if you're visiting the area, or simply hanging out w your local friends. Outdoor & indoor seating w/ a dog friendly space. Recommend the chowder, beet salad - and we'll- everything else on the menu!! Cheers read more

Sam's Anchor Cafe - Dungeness Crab & Beet Salad - Seafood Near Me - Tiburon, California

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Great seating outside on the deck taking in a view of downtown San Francisco when the fog lifts. Food was very good. Fast service. Full bar with plenty of choices. Friendly staff. Always stop when we are in the area. Worth the stop. read more

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Sam's Anchor Cafe first opened in 1920 as watering hole for the workers on the railroad. In 2019 Sam's was remodeled but the charm remains. We walked the Old Rail Trail from Blackie's Pasture to Main Street in Tiburon. A few tables were available on the deck with amazing views of the SF Skyline, Alcatraz and Angel Island. The deck is pet friendly. The waiter was able to accommodate our request for grilled fish in the tacos instead of battered and fried as described on the menu. The Rock Shrimp Louis was generous enough to share, perfectly dressed with a spicy tomato aioli. Sam's has been voted the Bay Area's Best Outdoor Restaurant. "The most non-exclusive yacht club, no yacht necessary." read more

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Overall great food with a really nice view. In generally more on the $$ side, but that being said the fish and chips were delicious, and the lobster roll was nice and juicy. Would recommend adding more chunks of meat to the roll. Recommend if you're looking for a casual atmosphere and decently tasting seafood! read more

Sam's Anchor Cafe - Smoked Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Tiburon, California

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We made a stop in the town of Tiburon and normally go to Sotto Mare on green street for Cioppino but decided to try a new spot and I have to say it was good. The location was great but parking was tricky since the area is pretty popular. We had a great waiter ( Tenby) that tended to us genuinely. She was great. Food came out quickly and tasted perfect. The soup base was not too tomatoii (I know not a word). We had two orders and it was more than enough. We would definitely come back if we're in the area. The place was fairly busy and I'm sure in the daytime it gets more busy with the view. Our waitress informed us that it's more busier in the daytime. Our Sangrias were perfect. Not too sweet or bitter. They play music just not live and not too loud. Great ambiance. But if you do come at night bring a beanie and a jacket. It gets breezy. If you forget a jacket they have loaner panchos. read more

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I came here to rest my feet after taking a scenic walk by the water, and it hit the spot. They had a watermelon slushy as one of their specials that I really liked. It was not too sweet and I liked the balance of flavors. The drink had watermelon, rum, and mint in it. The waiter also recommended the garlic prawns. I loved it! I loved the shrimp and that it came with toast to soak up the sauce. We were outside on the patio to enjoy the sun and views, but it was too sunny. Thankfully, the waiter saw the sun beating down on us and helped us open one of the umbrellas so that we could be more comfortable. Service was excellent! read more

First time trying Sam's cafe what brought us here was the food and reviews broiled oysters and raw oysters were amazing, service was great and the rest of the team members were friendly ambience was good family friendly we got to seat outdoors and what an amazing view we enjoy it very much. read more

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Sam's Anchor Cafe was a really nice spot to relax by the water in Tiburon. We were visiting from Houston and it was a treat to enjoy a bite to eat in such a nice place by the water. I ordered the BBQ Curry Mussels and a cup of clam chowder. Their mussels were good, I just wish there was a bit more of a curry flavor. Other than that they were delicious. The clam chowder was amazing! It was my first time having clam chowder and I throughly enjoyed it. My boyfriend is usually not a big fan of soups and he said it was the best soup he has tasted in a long time. The service was excellent...we had a few different come by our table and check on us to see if we needed anything. They even provide warm towels and lemon to clean your hands after dealing with your seafood. If you are ever in the area you have to check out Sam's Anchor Cafe. **They also have complimentary popcorn!** read more

Sam's Anchor Cafe - BBQ Curry Mussels - Seafood Near Me - Tiburon, California

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I've been here several times and have thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I'm not one to imbibe in much alcohol, but I come here for their outdoor harbor deck and food. Each time I look over the menu I get excited to try one of their many other tasty dishes. All the items I've ordered I would give 5 stars, such as their clam chowder, linguine & clams (twice ordered), and fish and chips. Service has always been prompt and sitting outside on the patio to me is a nice added experience even on chillier days. I look forward to coming again for brunch this time and see how their crab benedict is. read more

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Went sailing with some friends and we pulled up to the docks at Sam's for lunch. Everyone else had been to Sam's before except for me. I ordered the Fish and Chips. It came with 3 pieces of crispy fish and a good portion of fries. Beer was nice and cold. It hit the spot. The patio was packed. The waiter was very friendly and served us (party of 8) promptly. I would definitely come back. read more

A staple of tiburon. A place that has phenomenal views, amazing drinks and delicious food. Def a must when in the area. Tried two of their cocktails - the one with the jalapeño was def amazing then I went with the Negroni. Also ordered the lobster roll which was so good. The buttered bread was def perfection. The clam chowder..bc duh. And also tried the blue cheese garlic bread which was also really good! Sam's def doesn't disappoint. read more

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We love to have breakfast at Sam's when we are in the local area. The food is fantastic and the staff is always friendly, helpful, and provides great recommendations. The views are phenomenal. If you get there and it's a bit chilly, they do have blankets you can use to take to your seats. But as you know, the Bay Area can get a bit chilly so dress appropriately as the blankets can go fast. I love the Eggs Benedict....the hollandaise rocks!!! read more

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Last year I got a Travelzoo email that mentioned Tiburon lodge and I looked up what I could do in Tiburon. Sam's Anchor Cafe stood out and I finished my day trip to Tiburon Marin Co with a blasting lobster roll! The menu is good and this is a really good seafood restaurant with all the classics. Nelson was friendly. It's bar seating with stools. Pace is good and I want to try more items. This lobster roll was a blast. Check out the neon sign. Tiburon is a nook like England in USA. read more

Sam's Anchor Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Tiburon, California

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Well, we gave it a try. And while the view is lovely, the food is absolute garbage. The server was very nice and pleasant. But the food. Man. What an expensive let down. Full disclosure- I came home and threw up. read more

Our fav lunch place husband got Baja fish tacos,definitely recommend adding jalapeño's and avocado! I got the crab smashed sandwhich really good but what saved it was stealing some of husband's jalapeños and avocado lol read more

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The view and seat warmers are lovely. The food isn't bad especially the clam chowder. The waitstaff is friendly enough but the drinks do take a long time to come out. There's also a 4.74% surcharge on one of the drinks?! Not sure what that is about. I know it's dining out but a glass of sparkling rose should not cost $20 when you can get a whole bottle at Target for just $17. If you have the money and time then this place isn't bad but the surcharge and wait times are not worth it for us to be back. read more

Sam's Anchor Cafe - Surcharge?! - Seafood Near Me - Tiburon, California

Sam's anchor Café is the best place to be on a sunny day. In particular, the best place to sit on the back patio which often times has a weight, but it is well worth it. The food is good, nothing incredibly special. But the atmosphere makes it worth it. read more

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