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    The Anchovy Bar

    4.3 (362 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    The Anchovy Bar Photos

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    THE ANCHOVY BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - The Anchovy Bar

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    Burrata and Beets
    Joyce Z.

    This place has been in my bookmarks for far too long that I finally got to check it off after the holidays. Anchovy toast with edamame hummus is a must if you like anchovies which I absolutely do. It was followed by cantabrian anchovies with burrata, beetroot and focaccia, and a chicken leg schnitzel to share which was the perfect amount to have room for that sundae with tamarind caramel and candied anchovy coconut cashew crumble. Yes, anchovies are even in the dessert but yet they make it work. However, I could not help myself and added at the last minute post dessert, the NYE caviar dip special with Tsar Nicoulai trout roe and sturgeon caviar which put me over the top. But to be honest, I probably should've stopped as planned as it didn't quite live up to the rest of the meal since it was more roe and less caviar. But overall, we loved it and plan on coming back.

    Souffle cheesecake
    Mila J.

    I highly recommend making a reservation when visiting on a weekend. I was only able to snag a spot on their heated patio (which was still very very nice). The servers are extremely attentive and parse out the food courses perfectly. The standout was the tomato and anchovy toast, which I would come back to order again and again and again!

    Cherry stones
    Kevin C.

    Overall pretty good experience, but seating was a challenge for our group of 5. We had reservations and were hoping to sit inside, but ended up outside. Not a huge deal, though we did feel a little forgotten at times, especially during shift changes when there were noticeable gaps between food and wine service. The standouts for me were the Hokkaido scallop toast and the chicken leg schnitzel. Both were packed with flavor, had solid portion sizes, and were the dishes I would come back for. My group and I liked them enough that we convinced a couple of neighboring tables to order them too, and they seemed to agree! The steak tartare, cherry stones, anchovies with burrata, squid salad, McFarland spring trout tartare, and smoked fish "chip & dip" were all decent too, but felt more like supporting players and didn't quite have the balance of flavor/texture we hope for. They also have a nice wine list. We especially enjoyed the Gorrondona, which was recommended by one of the managers and ended up being one of my favorite parts of the meal.

    Raw clams
    Erika C.

    Really friendly and fast service, from entering the restaurant to leaving. They're just so on top of it. Sat in the heated parklet outside. It was nice, warm enough just to wear a tshirt in evening but not hot or stuffy. Started with raw oysters, $4 ea.; nice selection and good mignonette. Got the raw clams later too which I thought was good. I love a raw shellfish. Chip and dip came in covered with what looked like everything bagel seeds. It was like bird feed on top. So good and addictive. cantabrian anchovies, summer squash, burrata, basil, focaccia. I liked this more than the anchovy toast. It was like the lighter cousin to that dish. Anchovy dish was good too though and probably right for if you want a heavier snack. The trout tartare was most disappointing. I think I wanted it to be...more trouty? It tasted mostly of the fruit it was topped with. Not bad just not as great as all the other tasty dishes we got. spring pea riccioli, cauliflower mushroom, pine nuts, mint, bottarga. Pasta was Al dente and I love the shape and texture of the riccioli. I saw some older photos of this dish topped with ikura and hope they bring it back. Too full for dessert but hope to come back!

    Schnitzel
    Cindy C.

    Solid restaurant, this was probably my third time here, and each visit has featured a different menu. My favorites were the boiled oysters, which were bursting with roasted garlic and red wine butter flavors. Another standout was the anchovy toast, a well-balanced appetizer. Don't forget to order the warm focaccia bread. The smoked fish, chips, and dip were also addictive. I would skip the shrimp and squid meatball. The sesame seed coating wasn't quite to my taste, the flavors weren't particularly memorable. The chicken leg schnitzel had a beautiful presentation, deliciously crispy texture but thought it was lacking in seasoning. Next time, I'll probably stick to ordering a bunch of apps. The service was attentive and personable. A major plus is the covered outdoor seating, which made it easy for us to bring our small dog.

    Dartise J.

    I just live how original this restaurant is! Having everything made with anchovies is cool and I'm not even a big anchovy person. The food was good and the service was even better.

    Megan C.

    so good.. favorites: foccacia, anchovy toast (must get), halibut ceviche, cucumbers liked: clams, tomatoes, anchovy frites, sundae wouldn't reorder (were all still good just didn't stand out compared to everything else!): catatelli, pintxos our server was so nice as well and gave us good recommendations!

    Suzi Z.

    Had this place bookmarked for literally years, and I finally convinced a group to come with me after repeatedly promising everyone there was more on the menu than just anchovies. It also felt super serendipitous that they had just brought back the anchovy toast -- it's only available during certain months, so I've basically been waiting for my moment. We were able to do walk in with a party of 6 on a Wednesday night with no wait, though I definitely think we just got lucky. We sat out on the patio, which was quite warm and cozy thanks to the enclosed setup and heaters. Most of the dishes are tapas-style - smaller plates meant for sharing. The anchovy toast absolutely lived up to the hype for me and was the perfect way to start the meal. The squid appetizer was also excellent. I was a little sad to see that the return of the anchovy toast meant the scallop toast was no longer on the menu. Why can't there be multiple toasts at once?? The wine list is extensive, but definitely on the pricier side. Between the food and drinks, the bill adds up fast, so this feels more like a special occasion spot than an everyday dinner place.

    Toast!  Order this!!!
    Cindy S.

    Amazing seafood focused menu with so many dishes to recommend. Our favorite was definitely the scallop toast and a sure reason to return. The squid salad was a great contrast of textures and the trout chips and dip was a delicious take on this trend. Every dish was well composed made with the freshest high quality ingredients. Sat outside on the sidewalk in a fully enclosed patio which kept us warm but was a little tight. Service was warm and friendly. Excellent date night spot!

    Clams with sweet potatoes
    Mandy L.

    Fabulous meal! I felt like we had the best seat in the house at the counter to watch all the action. Servers were super fun and friendly. Lovely and engaging interaction but left us to our own devices too. We sat at the end of the counter where they stage and run plates - felt in the thick of the action. And it helped to see dishes. We ordered the potatoes, the chips and dip, Monterey squid salad, trout tartar, and the clam entree with sweet potatoes. I like that for some of the dishes you can get a small or large size dish which is nice if you have many diners in the party, Everything was delicious. We started with the potatoes and dip dishes first. Both good, I'd order again. As I always say, who doesn't love a good smear?! Flavors were good, balanced, not too fishy on the dip. For the potatoes I liked the creamy sauce with hot sauce, nice mix of creamy and heat. I loved the trout and squid dishes! The squid dish has only been on the menu for about 3 days due to seasonal ingredients like the squid and pea pods. I loved the flavors in both dishes. A little Asian flair with some ginger, coconut, herbs, peanuts, etc, we had the trout before the squid and I was thinking the trout was my favorite dish then the squid came and that become my favorite dish. Then the clams and I realized it was all just so good! Bustling spot, delicious, pricey but not terrible. 100% worth it.

    Squid salad with guava viniagrette
    Christian C.

    Fantastic place that I am surprised took me so long to discover. It's been on my list for a while and it actually exceeded my expectations. Expect a lively seen in a cool and hip environment with friendly and approachable service, fresh and bright seafood dishes and a great wine list. We purchased a bottle of one of their cheaper whites and it was very delicious and went well with all of the food we ordered. Smoked "fish and chips" - 4/5. Smoked fish dip with potato chips. Not the best version of this I have had, but solid none the less Patatas bravas with artichoke ricotta dip - 4/5. Potatoes were more pave style. Liked the dish, but I didn't think it was better than your more typical patatas bravas you get at most Spanish restaurants, but I appreciated the fresh take. Trout tartar w/ kumquats, aji amarillo and crispy crunchies - 5/5. This was fantastic. Loved all the play of flavors and textures going on in here. At first I thought it was weird that there wasn't any kind of cracker, or crisp and vessel to put it on, but the dish was strong enough on it's own. Squid salad w/ guava viniagrette - 6/5. Wow, I could have eaten a vat of this stuff. So many delicious flavors and textures going on. Get this. Steamed clams with lemongrass, makrut lime and sweet potatoes - 5/5. Tomato-based broth with really bright flavors from the lemongrass and lime leaf and clams were cooked perfectly. Another unique dish. Peanut shots - 5/5. Tasted like liquid butterfinger. Black sesame and chocolate cake w/ jasmine cloud - 4/5. Wished the sponge was either denser or fluffier, but otherwise, the flavors were great. Another standout restaurant from the State Bird/Progress folks. I definitely recommend this place if you are a fan of seafood and appreciate unique flavor profiles.

    Cherrystone clam.
    Zicheng Z.

    Really great experience overall, lots of diversity in flavors and textures! Would rate somewhere in between a 4 and 5, but rounding up because there was a lot of interesting stuff on the menu and I'd want to come back to try more. Full on a Saturday evening, but it wasn't crowded or too loud; it was nice to sit in front of the bar, where you could see the chefs preparing everything through glass windows. Service was perfect, no complaints. Anchovy pintxos were a really nice start to the meal; bit smaller than the ones in San Sebastián, but deep anchovy flavor, nice acid. Cherrystone clams from the raw bar were the highlight, fantastic mix of textures; sort of like an aguachile served in the shell, really liked the contrast between the clam and the roasted pepitos. Hokkaido scallop toast was good - really sweet scallops, nicely accented by the citrus. I did think the bread, while tasty, was a bit thick and the texture made it a bit harder to appreciate the delicate flesh of the scallop. Smoked fish dip was great! Very reminiscent of the one at their sister restaurant State Bird, loved the texture. The cantabrian anchovies were okay, but it felt like there weren't enough anchovies and the flavors got overpowered by the beets; for the price ($23), I would not get it again (and would rather just go for some more pintxos for the anchovy). Dungeness crab cavatelli was delicious, but I honestly feel like the highlight was the fermented turnip (or radish?), which added a lot of complexity and acidity. At times the sauce overpowered the crab, but overall a very cohesive dish. Ended the night with the sundae; I personally really liked it, but I can imagine it's somewhat divisive since there's a lot of anchovy - like, a LOT, like, every bite will have several. I appreciated the contrasting flavors and the overall dish reminded me of delicious buttered popcorn, but I can imagine it's not everyone's cup of tea. Also a pretty generous portion. Spent a bit under $200 for two, but we ordered a ton and were stuffed by the end of the meal.

    Vermouth
    Linda C.

    Perfect dinner. We started with the mixed platter for 2 and it set the bar high right away. Everything on it was fresh and flavorful but the shrimp and cherrystone clams really stood out. Super clean, perfectly prepared. Then we saw another table get the Hokkaido scallop toast and immediately changed our plans. Crispy, rich, and just indulgent enough without going overboard. The Japanese cucumber salad was bright and refreshing, and those pickled mushrooms? So good. They added this tangy, earthy bite that made the whole dish way more interesting than your standard cucumber salad. We finished with the Dungeness crab cavatelli and wow. Just wow. Perfectly cooked pasta, tasty crab, everything balanced and satisfying without feeling heavy. Not a single miss all night.

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    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - The Anchovy Bar

    How many days in advance do I have to make reservations for a Saturday dinner?

    We usually make it about a month in advance for a table for two outside, just to be safe.

    Is there counter seating for walk-in single diners,If I came solo would I need a reservation?

    There is counter seating available for solo walk-ins, but I would HIGHLY recommend you try to get a reservation for parties of one. You would most likely be getting that counter seat if you were to book a reservation through their website.

    Is there dog-friendly seating?

    There is seating outside. I would give them a call.

    What is the dress code?

    Casual!

    Do you take reservations?

    Yes! Reservations are taken up to seven days in advance and can be made via our website, www.theanchovybar.com.

    View All 6 Questions

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    Betty Lou's Seafood and Grill

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    Heard great things about this place from a co-worker that knows I love seafood! I spent my birthday…read morethis year being a tourist in San Francisco and added Betty Lou's on the itinerary for lunch. We started off the meal with some clam chowder and the fried calamari appetizer. The chowder was creamy, silky smooth and with a good balance of potatoes and clams. YUM! The calamari was perfectly crispy and not too salty. The pasta with seafood was so good!! The mussels, clams, scallops and shrimps were cooked perfectly. All that seafood mixed in with that linguine in a light tomato sauce was perfection! Our server was the nicest and he checked in on our party throughout our visit. Thanks Betty Lou for a great birthday meal 2026!

    July 2026 We came by…read morehere because Sotto Mare was a 4 hour wait. We ordered: clam chowder, cioppino and the clam linguini (garlic and olive oil). The food was so bland. We had to add salt to everything we ate. The cioppino was flat and had no acidity or salt. Claw chowder had lots of clam but was too thick. Clam linguini was nothing special. Service was stellar though. There was a group of obnoxious and intoxicated people in the main dining area that scared away many potential diners. If the servers didn't reseat us, we would have left too. Don't think I'll be coming back here ever again.

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    One of our favorite stops every time we are on Fillmore. Portions are good, food is tasty, and I…read morefeel like the service is always nice. It's not cheap but at least there's ample food. I feel like it gets a bit loud with music playing over the speakers but I do love to go at off hours.

    Went for dinner this past Friday and it was the most disappointing part of my San Francisco trip…read more My friend picked this place mainly because of all the good reviews, which makes it even more disappointing. The hostess seemed like everyone was bothering her. We had to wait for a table (expected) so we had a couple different interactions with her and she said the absolute bare minimum in an irritated tone and both times I said "thank you" she just stared at me. Our waitress took a considerable amount of time to even come greet us. At greeting she already wanted us to order our food along with our beverages. It felt rushed after not being acknowledged. Once our main courses came we were never checked on until she brought the check. No water refills or anything until the check came and I had to ask. My friend started with the Hartford style clam chowder and it was the blandest chowder either of us had ever had. It honestly tasted like it came from a can. We did get this comped off, which was appreciated. The lobster roll my friend had was mostly all bread and mediocre tasting. Not worth the money at all. I had the squid ink spaghetti and it was completely flavorless other than the occasional burst of spice. It was spice without actual flavor though. I've never had a squid ink pasta dish that tasted like nothing. This was the most bland meal I've ever had at any restaurant.

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    New England Lobster Market & Eatery

    New England Lobster Market & Eatery

    4.3
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    Great vibe, lots of seating, and solid execution on simple seafood fare. The potato chips are a…read morenice touch; I can't be sure, but I think they're homemade. Thick and crunchy. Need to extend our thanks to the staff who were happy to let us keep a birthday cake in their fridge until we were ready to eat it. 5 stars for service!

    New England Lobster. Deliciousness in ever way. If you have a chance to go during Happy Hour during…read morethe week or just coming on a weekday alone you can get some good deals! My most recent visit for lunch on a Saturday was very busy! The line was out the door but they move fast and the food comes out even quicker. There are plenty of outdoor and indoor tables where you sit wherever you. There is self service water with and without lemon throughout the location. Pros: Quick and friendly service Tasty lobster rolls, lobster chowder, and crab sandwiches Con: Parking is VERY limited. They have a small lot in the back and you can park against their fence but over the weekend it's almost impossible. There is street parking but also a little hard if you want to park directly nearby. I parked about 1.5 blocks away on the next street parallel to the restaurant. The naked lobster roll is one of my favorites because you can really taste the meatiness of the lobster. You can tell it is fresh in every way with the buttery brioche bread. The tray comes loaded with chips and a side of Cole slaw. If you come with friends, I recommend getting a bowl of the lobster soup to share. Dipping the chips into the soup is chef's kiss! If you are a smaller party, you can always get the 1/2 lobster roll and cup of soup. But the better deal is to get the soup to share on the side since the lobster roll is $39 vs the 1/2 lobster roll and cup of soup is $37. If choosing between the which lobster roll to get, I opt for the naked roll because of the freshness and it is not as heavy. The dressed lobster roll has a good amount of flavor and pairs well with the bread, it's a little heavier because of the mayo and butter brioche bread. They don't use a ton of mayo in it so it's not as bad as you may think. I've had the twin tails in the past and I can definitely say it was very easy to get the lobster out. Sometimes some places make it more difficult and people don't want to really dig in with their hands. Safe to say it was very easy to eat. Over the years, I've seen the price go up with inflation unfortunately. So I definitely still come but as a little treat to myself or if I were to come celebrate a special occasion.

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    Eatery opening October 23rd, 2012
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    1.25lb Whole Lobster Platter for Catering - 5 x 1.25lb Whole Lobsters with side of lemon and butter. Serves 5-10 people
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    Hook Fish

    Hook Fish

    4.3
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    When I went, there was a long line that was WELL WORTH THE WAIT if you are looking for fried fish…read moreand chips! I recommend everything honestly. They cook the fish right in front of you, you get your choice of fish, they have fresh fish you can buy and take home raw. They also have POKÉ!? I had no clue about this, but the person sitting next to me who ordered this thoroughly enjoyed theirs. The FISH TACOS were incredible as well as the FISH N CHIPS, I got ROCKFISH my favorite for both. I love their homemade carrot habanero spicy salsa sauce. I think it's carrot? I feel like someone told me it was carrot? Their pico was standard and fresh, they also had that stinky vinegar on the table next to their carrot habanero sauce that's perfect to mix with tartar sauce and ketchup for fries. The outdoor space for seating is lovely in good weather and can get a bit packed if you come during a rush. I would absolutely come back to this place. Delicious!!!!

    I was around Ocean Beach and had done quite a bit of walking that day, so naturally, I started…read moregetting hungry. I was craving some seafood and searched Yelp for something nearby. That's how I ended up at Hook Fish Co. When I arrived, there was already a line, and I quickly understood why. I saw people enjoying their meals, and when I asked a few of them about the food, they all said it was worth the wait. When it was finally my turn to order, the cashier was incredibly kind and helpful. Since it was my first time, I had a few questions about the menu and drinks, and she was happy to explain everything. Even the chefs were fun and energetic. At one point I yelled out, "Frijoles!" and they yelled it right back with the same energy. It definitely made the experience more memorable. The wait was around 15-20 minutes, and once I saw my platter come out, I was excited and honestly drooling. The three big pieces of fish were beautifully seasoned, and even the seasoning on the chips was something different that I really enjoyed. Every bite was hot, flavorful, and delicious. The fish tasted incredibly fresh, and the fries were crispy and satisfying. I definitely understood why this place had such a crowd. My only small issue was that one of my pieces of fish was pretty thick, and when I bit into it, I noticed the batter in the center wasn't completely cooked through. It probably could have used a little more time in the fryer, but it wasn't enough to ruin the overall experience. Overall, I had a great time at Hook Fish Co. Great food, friendly staff, and a fun atmosphere. I'd definitely come back again!

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    Poke Plate ($21) + Fish & Chips (4 piece - $28)
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    The Anchovy Bar - seafood - Updated August 2026

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