We have been wanting to try The Big Four since it re-opened but the reservations got snapped up quickly. Luckily we were able to get one for last night. Our first impressions were great. They did a beautiful job on the ambiance. Balancing an old school vibe with many nice upgrades to add a touch of luxury. The layout is great with different rooms allowing you to feel that you're dining in a small restaurant within your section. I must say the service was outstanding. From our check in until we left, we were well taken care of. Everyone was very friendly and checked on us at just the right times. We all wound up having their famous pot pie which was delicious. They have a great menu with many things we would like to try on our next visit. Their wine list is amazing and they also have a good selection of cocktails. We will definitely be back as we had a wonderful meal with excellent service and beautiful ambiance! read more

I'm gonna give them a 3 as it was overall just OK, but I'm optimistic they can get it together. Ambience is top-notch. It's almost worth it just for the old school vibe. Service was technically good although the waiter was oddly offputting and mechanical with us. He was busy, so maybe he was just overworked but I don't think so. He was just kind of unpleasant which made our experience feel a little subpar. We have learned from experience to pace our ordering because even in nice restaurants servers have a tendency to bring you everything all at once. This clearly annoyed the server and maybe that's what set him off with us. Hard to say. There was a second guy who checked in on us who appeared to be another waiter who was very personable and friendly and solicitous. You all need more of that kind of talent in this place. The bussers were good at the beginning of the evening, but by the end of the evening I had no water left in my glass and no one noticed. When we got there, there was no one at the host station so that was awkward - we sort of stood around in this space waiting for someone to notice us. She eventually showed up and indicated we could try to chase a seat at the bar while we waited because we were early. We managed to get a seat, and I had to sit next to a very strange patron who was not ordering anything, but asking other people for samples of their food and drinks and asking weird questions. It was very uncomfortable. I'm not sure exactly what they could've done about it but maybe if people aren't ordering food they shouldn't be allowed to sit there taking up space? Hard to handle that stuff but it's sort of set the off tone for the whole evening. The food itself was fine, but unmemorable. Very pricey. The drinks were good. We'll probably give them another try in a few months and see how it's coming together. read more

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I recently dined at Big 4 Restaurant on Nob Hill with family and friends. The meal was an excellent experience from start to finish. The ambiance had that classic, old San Francisco charm--elegant yet comfortable, making it a great spot for a relaxed but special meal. The food was outstanding, with each dish thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor. You can really tell there's attention to detail in both presentation and taste. Just as impressive was the service--attentive without being intrusive, and genuinely welcoming throughout the meal. Overall, it's a wonderful place to enjoy a memorable dining experience. I will absolutely return and highly recommend it to anyone looking for great food and top-notch service in a beautiful classic San Francisco setting. read more

Very anxious to see results of remodel. Very happy to see they kept the luxe look and feel - still feels like Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart may stroll on at any moment. To be fair, we ate weekend lunch. Burger still very good but might want to go back to more classic bun, and not sure about the chopped lettuce, tomato, and onion. Like to get texture on those items. Friend did the prime rib dip - also very good. I feel the surroundings, ambiance, and service all help to bring experience up a notch. Great special spot to bring visitors. read more

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WELCOME BACK BIG 4! For all of you who've been anticipating the reopening of the Big 4 Restaurant (located on the ground floor inside the Huntington Hotel), I'm thrilled to report that the long wait is finally over! The Big 4 closed in March 2020 and has remained closed ever since. Yes, that's 6 YEARS people! 6 years of missing, reminiscing, longing, & wishing! After a multimillion dollar renovation & ownership change, they have reopened their doors at last. Officially reopening to the public on 3/17/26, they have been open to hotel guests for the last several days. Being neighbors, we were honored with a dinner reservation for Monday night, 3/16/26 (soft opening?). So...I can attest that the interior & the ambiance has been lovingly kept in tact. The dark wood, the green leather, the live piano music, the history on the walls, the fireplace...all the majestic elements are gratefully still in play. It even still has that same fantastic & fabulous smell! Like that new car smell I swear my baby (Miata) still has. And after the interior check, the next priority was the menu check. That is, the status of the chicken pot pie. Quick fact; the chicken pot pie was the star of the menu here before the 2020 pandemic closure. So much so in fact, that when it was (unwisely) removed from the menu, people from far & wide spoke their utter dissatisfaction, and you know what happened? They brought it back. Yes. Back by popular demand. Of course the chicken pot pie is still on the menu. Whewww! And of course I ordered it! And for all you non chicken folks, now there's a mushroom pot pie as well. Hubs ordered the pork chop. Comes w parm garlic fries. Oddly, the fries came after our meal had been served, rather than plated with the chop. The chop was impressive looking with the flavor to match. Remember, you can always taste quality. Oy, could it be the pot pie is even better than before? Yes! I'm saying yes it is! It seems larger too! Golden crust. Positively chock full of chicken and veggies, perfectly seasoned. I particularly enjoyed the sprinkling of sea salt on the crust. Really a nice touch. I feel like I'm giving my favorite child some constructive criticism, & I really don't want to upset the kitchen because I do love it here. Always have. But one thing I just have to voice...maybe too many pearl onions...? Ok yes. Too many pearl onions in the pot pie. My husband agreed, so see, it's not just me! Please don't hate us! Ok one more thing; the amount of time it took for our order to arrive was almost a half hour. That seemed excessive on a night that half of the restaurant was empty. But, our server came over & announced that our order would be out shortly, seemingly reading our minds just before we felt the need to inquire. This was also the night before they were officially open to the public, so it's understood that some kinks are inevitable, & will be for a while. REALLY MISSED YOU Big 4. You've been one of my favorite spots in the city since my first visit 20 years ago. Jeffrey was behind the bar then, & gratefully he still is!!! I, along with a million other folks, are thrilled that you're back! 4 & 1/2 stars read more

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I had dinner here years ago before the recent remodel but never sat at the bar. The three of us arrived before five and decided to unwind with some cocktails with Jefferey behind the bar. The patrons at the bar were a combination of hotel guests and locals- all friendly and nice to chat with. Since, the bar is quite small, there's lounge seating with small tables in this elegant, dramatically lit restaurant. The three of us browsed through the menu and decided to order some raw oysters, Caesar salad and their infamous chicken pot pie. We ordered a refreshing bottle Sancerre to go with. Everything was perfect. The oysters were tasty and fresh. -loved the horseradish + cocktail sauce and their champagne mignonette sauce to go with! The Caesar Salad was simple and a good portion to share with the three of us. The chicken pot pie was definitely the best I've ever had and not a heavy dish. There was a perfect mix of ingredient and morsels of shredded chicken inside. As I recall indulging in this pot pie, my mouth gets watery. This was a nice refresher returning to the Big Four. I've always loved the classic interiors and elegance of this restaurant. Their menu looks so enticing. I look forward to taking a seat in the newly remodeled dining room next time after some cocktails at the bar. read more

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The Big Four is BACK, BABY!! Went tonight and it was every bit as great as I remember it. The hotel and restaurant / bar has been restored to its former glory and it's as if nothing ever changed, despite being closed for 5 years and a multi million dollar renovation. Tonight, on a Wednesday nonetheless, the place was packed with well dressed socialites and you know what? I used to feel it was a bit stuffy for me but tonight it was so refreshing to be in a place filled with people who care about how they look and dress and socialize. There's something about the ambience with the piano playing away in the background and such an old school, classy vibe that makes this place one of the best spots in SF. I was sooo happy to see Jeff behind the bar once again. I've known him for a very long time and it was surreal to see him once again holding down an incredibly busy bar with ease. We had a few drinks and couldn't resist getting some food so we shared a wedge salad and the pot pies - one chicken and the other vegetarian. Everything was great. I ended up meeting 2 new great guys, one of whom is famous but I won't blow his cover. Towards the end a former executive of my former employer sat down (also shall remain anonymous) and I had a good long chat with him about the good old days there. I don't consider myself a socialite but it felt like one of the more meaningful, pleasant and downright fun nights I've had in a long time. I'm thrilled HH and Big 4 are back. If you do go I recommend dressing up. The place definitely harkens back to a different era where most people dressed up all the time. Tonight I saw a tuxedo, a few nice suits and lots of pretty dresses. It's a place to go to see and be seen and revel in the delights of every bit of it. read more

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Two visits to Big 4 in April! Really enjoyed the second visit as well - we were able to grab reservations the same day which was very lucky. Got the shrimp cocktail, oysters, cioppino and some cocktails which were excellent. The shrimp in particular was standout and the oysters here are very consistent - remarkably good. read more

The Big Four - Shrimp cocktail, big four martini and oysters - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The Big Four is back and better than ever! The elegant decor, outstanding service and delicious food and cocktails make this easily the best place to dine in the Nob Hill area. Great for date night or an evening with friends. Five stars! read more

I got the crab louie salad which was really tasty, the servings of crab was good and the salad was nice too. I asked for dressing on the side but it wasn't too heavy, so it worked out. The ambiance is lovely and seriously we had such a fun time there, it was really charming and romantic. Ken Fulk is really able to encapsulate a sense of allure and charm to any atmosphere. We were really enthralled by the ambiance. read more

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We live in the neighborhood and we're just so glad that this restaurant is back! The ambiance is beautiful, iconic and very nostalgic. It's very Nob Hill and I love it! We came for late lunch around 2pm to avoid the lunch rush. We ordered the sourdough bread with butter to start. It was delicious- just wish the bread was served hot. We ordered the famous chicken pot pie which was very good. The dough was flaky and flavorful. There was a generous amount of white meat and vegetables which was very filling. We also got the chicken sandwich which tasted fresh and yummy. I just wish they served it with lettuce and tomatoes as well. Staff and server: We noticed that the restaurant staff were not welcoming at all. They didn't even greet us as we walked in. They didn't show any enthusiasm or had the attitude to serve. Which was very disappointing since I had very high standards and expectations for this restaurant. The lady serving us was nice but was very slow, didn't check on us mid lunch to ask if we needed anything else- nothing, and wasn't very attentive. My husband even had to get up and look and ask for a drink refill from another server. The service we received was very disappointing because we expected a lot considering this restaurant was on the high end and the restaurant was not busy at all (we came in for late lunch at 2pm). Our server and the rest of the staff need a lot of improvement and training. It reflects poorly on this iconic place. read more

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Gorgeous restaurant with a live piano player by the front entrance. Did not make a reservation in advance but we were still able to get sat quickly as a party of 3. Stand out appetizer was the steak tar tar which came with bone marrow and was mixed table side. Would definitely recommend that with the chicken pot pie, which were both 5/5. The burger, mac and cheese, and fries were tasty as well read more

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the big four is finally reopen in the huntington hotel after 6 years. it's currently impossible to book for dinner but breakfast and lunch on weekdays are very doable. old school american interior - dark wood and emerald green. filet mignon and their signature chicken pot pie were both well done. truffle fries just tasted like normal fries. chicken breast in the pot pie was a little bland though sauce, veggies, and puff pastry were all tasty. service was lacking as the dining area filled up and our waitress was spread thin. good spot if you're looking for a nice environment to spend a few hours in read more

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last night stop by at the bar before the show , arrival at 5:30 bar is busy and the restaurant already 1/2 full. At the bar all the bar tables is full and any people standing waiting to order drinks, sadly only one lady working behind the bar, while I was waiting to order my drink. One of the cocktail table open ( I only wait about 15 min ) , mac/ cheese nothing special and side veg over cooked, the most ridiculous thing is , I order some bread and come out stale the bread from the supermarket , it cost $12 for two slices . Nothing screaming at m make me wanna come back again read more

The Big Four - Mac/ cheese - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Big Four is back. We have dined at Big Four for many years. Deeply saddened to see what the previous ownership did to destroy it. Water under the bridge, they are back - big time. We arrived last night (April 2) to celebrate a birthday. I thought we had a reservation for 6:00, but apparently I screwed up. On a Thursday night, they were slammed. I thought there was no way they would be able to seat us - Well, they found a way! Bless Dawn and Mark - I don't know how you worked your magic, but I'm glad you did. The dining room and bar area look exactly they did 5 years ago (probably 35 years ago). Be that as it may, it is a very good thing. I almost cried when I walked in. We have celebrated so many important occasions here. The menu is scaled back, and that's okay. Do what you do best...OMG, they do! I had the trout, and it was fantastic. Birthday girl had the ribeye, looked perfect. As did the pasta, ciaponio. Everything. I really need to give another shout out to the servers. They were slammed, but service remained perfect. I am so glad to see that Big Four is back. read more

After many years, The Big Four has finally re-opened. The good news: the dining room is lovely, much the same as before, with comfortable seating, refreshed wood paneling, polished brass fittings, all looking comfortingly familiar. The service was fine, the attentive staff was gracious and very present without hovering. Alas, the food itself was very disappointing: poorly and harshly prepared dressings for the salads; tasteless mains; prices more suited to a higher level of taste and quality. Definitely not up to the "4" of yore. On a scale of 0-10, I would call it 5 for food, 4 for value, 8 for service. If the kitchen can catch up to the service staff, it might succeed. This used to be a frequent favorite of mine...lunch, brunch, late night...but no thank you for this now greatly diminished version of a once-classic Nob Hill haunt. I hope this chef can get it together before it's gone once more. Hal Kaufman read more

Welcome back! Old San Francisco elegance, charm, class. Celebrating a special birthday and it could not have been more wonderful. Our server Lela was excellent...fun, unpretentious, attentive. We were warmly greeted upon entering, plus enjoyed visits to our table by Kelsey and Edward, both extending goodwill and hospitality, reminding us of how lovely this beloved institution is. The cocktails were delicious and generous! Our meals were top quality...the wine recommendations from Lela were perfect. The chicken pot pie was decidedly improved from our last visit, years ago before closure, when ingredients were undercooked. The wedge salad was large enough for two, fresh and tasty. The fish entrée was excellent with great accompaniments. The Parker House rolls were outstanding. We had little room for dessert but enjoyed a scoop each of the sorbet and ice cream choices, both lovely. Our cappuccinos were lukewarm, the only slight downside of our entire meal. We look forward to returning many more times, The Big Four is incredibly special. read more

The Big Four - Chicken Pot Pie - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This iconic place is still awesome and one of the very best restaurants in the country. Food, service, ambience -- all excellent.

Came in for a family graduation lunch, the service was so so slow. We had to ask the manager to check on our entrees due to the long wait. Our server never offered to refill our drinks. The sandwiches came out without their sides (fries or salad). Our food came out in different phases. The front of house staff seems disjointed, the server was aloof to us, never offered dessert just dropped the check. Really disappointed given the history of the restaurant and the special occasion. Lots of room for improvement. read more

We've always enjoyed the Big Four. But there is definitely a new excitement in the air. The staff is attentive and the food is delicious. It's great to have them back. Definitely the clubhouse of the neighborhood. read more

Having been frequent diners in years past, we went for a birthday lunch. The restoration is beautiful and attention to detail extends to cute cable car tie bars for servers. The dining room is as sumptuous as before. The top quality center cut filet mignon ($69) was perfectly cooked as ordered and delicious. The fries were thin, perfectly crisp outside, with tasty seasoning. A french dip sandwich ($30 plus $6 for a small side salad) had very lean high quality beef; caesar salad dressing was zesty, not bland. Service was attentive, not obtrusive. Every person we encountered was gracious and welcoming. We were able to see a couple of rooms, very well done with very nicely appointed bathrooms. A highlight is the beautiful and intimate Arabella bar (only open evenings). The designer, Ken Fulk, did a great job (and no, we're not his cousins). One suggestion would be to switch up the wine list, without raising prices. A glass of "Joseph Jewell" Russian River chardonnay (they didn't have the French we asked for) was watery and unremarkable. The Lanson champagne ($29/glass) also is not a favorite. Their are many better French champagnes in a decent price range. A glass of French pinot noir ($30) was served far too warm. We had a lovely lunch and are pleased to have this old favorite back. read more

Portions are very small. Food is delicious though Ambience is lovely. Had breakfast there read more

The Big four was my fiancés choice for our one year engagement dinner and the food did not disappoint, it disappeared! Warmly greeted at the door and sat immediately for our reservation even though we were early. The whole front of house team were all smiles which is so welcoming for the dimly classic San Francisco restaurant. Seated at a booth with comfy soft leather seats our server Jeanessa was the sweetest most polite Gal, she is just a Doll. She coursed our meal perfectly and reassured my every choice and was so attentive. Getting into the menu The Louis salad to start was a no brainer with the added crab and shrimp a must! The creamy hint of horseradish dressing complimented the sweet crustaceans. And like a beautiful spring salad it included crisp snap peas, baby radish's & asparagus! The Parker house rolls butter with salt simple delicious. Mains and sides -Filet mignon the most tender we've ever had with a herbed butter sauce drizzled on top. The spinach came in an adorable mini Le creuset pot. Creamed with Boursin and parmesan cheese it was a great side for the steak. As well as the asparagus. Super sweet , fresh and tender with hollandaise sauce incredibly good -don't skip wiping a bite of steak in the sauce! We also had to order the classic chicken pot pie with a gorgeous, perfectly brown flaky crust presentation and then delicately removed the top and gracefully put to side so the server could drizzle sherry wine inside! Wow, nice elevated touch! Nostalgic notes of a crisp fall day or a festive, savory holiday. Dessert they had the classics done right. Crème brûlée perfectly toasted top. The strawberry rhubarb cobbler a yummy warm treat - definitely ask for a scoop of Staus ice cream on the side. And a cappuccino how could you go wrong. Over and over my fiancé and I kept telling each other how wonderful the service and the food was throughout the night . We can't wait to come back! read more

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The Big Four has retained its elegant, old San Francisco vibe. Martinis are perfect. Put on your good shoes and pretend you're a sophisticated grown-up. read more

Beautiful room, beautiful surroundings and wow, "beautiful " prices. With tax and tip, $25 for a martini? And not even a peanut or potato chip. read more

Us local San Franciscans wanted to revisit this classic establishment. So we took a cable car up the hill and the welcoming hostess seated us at a table complete with a classic starched white tablecloth. Four of us had lemon drops and the other three had decaf espresso martinis. Classic San Francisco drinks. Delicious, not too strong, and very reasonable considering we are in Nob Hill. But to top it all off, our host, Lucas, was the kindest most efficient host ever! He was welcoming, let us take us our time in ordering, and made the evening even more special. The manager was also very warm and friendly. We all said that we will come back in a heartbeat for dinner and the same excellent service. So glad they are open again. A+! read more

So happy to have the big four back looking just like it used too, a SF classic with an amazing staff. Dawn you and your team are doing a first class job. Thank you read more

Wonderful dining experience, lovely staff, great cocktails and our dinner was excellent. The menu is spot on for the ambiance and vibe of The Big Four. We will be dining here often and bringing our friends. read more

Thank goodness the Big Four has re-opened. We had Easter Brunch there. Food was incredible and the service impeccable. The interior is as beautiful as ever. read more

The Big Four is back! We had cocktails (fantastic) and lunch (also excellent) yesterday a loved it. The restoration has been excellent, extremely faithful to the original. I am so pleased and will be coming back often!!! read more

We come here every year for our anniversary and the food is always cooked to perfection. The service is incredibly attentive without ever feeling overbearing. read more

Let me start by saying that the restaurant is beautiful. They kept the old grandeur and added Ken Fulk's great touches. Unfortunately, it went downhill from there. Our waiter was very pleasant. We were seated at 6:15. Table of 4. Our friends had their drinks when we joined. My wife and I ordered two Hendricks up, one with olives, one with onions. We were delivered two gimlets with olives and onions. The waiter took them back and returned with their version of a martini which is a vodka/gin blend. One more return to the bar and he finally got it right. The biggest problem is because the bar was so small and busy, each round trip took at least 10 minutes. The final drinks were fine. We then ordered dinner. Our friends ordered a shrimp cocktail (him) and a Caesar salad (her) and split a ribeye. My wife and I split a shrimp cocktail and Caesar salad, split a ribeye and added some creamed spinach. Our server delivered a split Caesar to our friends and their shrimp cocktail. Instead of taking back the salad , he just left it there asking if she minded having two plates in front of her. The rest of the plates were served correctly. The salads came overdressed, with bland dressing, one small slice of Parmesan and one small stale crouton. The shrimp were fine. The steaks were terrific. The creamed spinach was loaded with cheese. Who does that! The Somm picked a great wine from their tiny wine list. He assured us it will be bigger soon. Overall, very disappointing. Oh, and to top it off, our check arrived with all the wrong drinks on it. We didn't leave until 9:30. Again, our server was very nice. But it seems he either was overwhelmed or undertrained. The place was packed. I hope it stays that way. read more

The restaurant offers a pleasant atmosphere and fairly quick service. The food is consistent, with classic options that usually meet expectations. It's a good place to grab something quick and simple without any hassle. read more

filet mignon was perfect. sat at the bar with a martini and listened to the piano. old school nob hill spot that makes you feel fancy. worth it for a big night out. read more