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    Wayfare Tavern

    3.9 (4.8k reviews)
    PriceyAmerican
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    WAYFARE TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Wayfare Tavern

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    Devina D.

    I do understand why people like this restaurant and why it's so popular. We came to celebrate my husband's birthday and were seated outside. Honestly, maybe it was because we were seated outdoors, but the service wasn't great. It took a while just to get someone's attention so we could find our waiter. Our waiter also never introduced himself, so we didn't know who to look for, and he seemed to stay mostly inside the restaurant, which made it harder to flag him down. Luckily, once our order was taken, the food came out pretty quickly. Between my husband and me, we shared the fried chicken, mac and cheese, and burger with fries. Mac and Cheese: 3/5 I love a white cheese sauce, so I was excited to try this since the pictures made it look really good. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The noodles seemed soggy because they kept breaking apart, and there wasn't much cheese sauce. It also kind of felt like the sauce had split, where the oil separated from the cheese. I ended up adding some of the garlic pieces from the chicken for more flavor. Wouldn't get again. Fried Chicken: 4/5 This was juicy and flavorful. The dark meat pieces were my favorite. The skin was super crispy without being too thick or too thin, and overall it was seasoned really well. I understand why so many people order this dish. Now that I've tried it though, I don't know if I'd specifically order it again unless I came with a bigger party. We didn't fully finish the dish bc I felt the white meat was a little dry. Burger w/ Fries: The fries were honestly my favorite thing we ordered. Thin, crispy, and well seasoned. 5/5 would absolutely get again. I can't speak too much about the burger itself since I only had a couple bites, but it was very flavorful, hearty, and smoky. If you go, I'd recommend trying to get an inside table, maybe you'll have better luck with service. The outdoor seat cushions looked a little stained/dirty, and since it was windy outside, dirt was blowing into our cups. Just something to keep in mind. I think I would come back if someone invited me but not a place I would crave/seek out!

    Steven S.

    I had an outstanding dining experience here at the restaurant. The fried chicken was finger licking good . The service was very friendly and my waiter was kind enough to ask about food allergies. The ambiance of the restaurant was excellent for a tavern. I highly enjoyed dining here and highly recommend eating here.

    Michelle H.

    Date of Visit: 5/15/2026 Finally crossed out Wayfare Tavern from my restaurant wish-list in downtown San Francisco. Wayfare Tavern was founded by the celebrity chef Tyler Florence, along with other famous restaurant, such as Miller & Lux, Wayfare Tavern is serving authentic American dishes inspired by San Francisco's golden age of dining. Wayfare Tavern recently moved to the current address on Pine Street near Market Street, which is a great location for lunch and dinner options for people working in FiDi and Soma areas. The marble and wooden floor, with glamorous golden wall paper and red velvet sofas and chairs, also the floor to ceiling bar area all transport customers instantly to the splendor of early 1900s. WT Espresso Martini $16 I ordered one of my favorite cocktail, the Espresso Martini. Made with Meili Vodka, and Meletti Coffee Liqueur Espresso. Pearl Coast $11 My friend got the refreshing mocktail option. The Pearl Coast is made with rice water, cinnamon, and cream of coconut. Tasted like a summer drink in Southeast Asia. Clam Chowder $16 One of our favorite dishes was the clam chowder. The clam chowder was served with clam bellies, smoked bacon-jalapeno hushpuppies, and poured with hot and creamy chowder tableside. It was great to dip the popover into it too! Chef's Selection of West Coast Oysters $56 We got a dozen of the oysters for appetizer, came with charred lemon, giardineira mignonette, and house-made hot sauce. Some of the oysters still has tiny pieces of the shell inside. Yuzu Glazed Salmon $34 The glazed salmon was very good with crispy skin. On the side there were dashi braised cabbage, crispy garlic, and seasoned with okonomi sauce, and some sorrel. Burrata Whipped Potatoes $13 For the side, we got the burrata whipped Yukon gold potatoes, mixed with smoked olive oil. Very creamy and fresh. Churro Brûlée $13 For dessert, we chose the churro filled with rice pudding, strawberry jam, brûléed and topped with caramel gelato! This was super rich and sweet. Three people sharing was well enough.

    Spring 2026 menu
    Carlos S.

    Had reservations to celebrate cousin's birthday. Service was great, waiter friendly , made sure everything was up to par, especially when one of our cocktail glass had a big chip/crack and should not have been served to guests. Seating was cramped as they sat our party of 5 next to 2 tables of 2 (split for more seating) but left little room to get into the benched seating so tables would get bumped. We always like to try seafood towers if they have one and this was good, everything fresh (wished the butter for lobster came warm, but the sauces were on point). I didn't take pics of everyone else's meals, but my bone-in pork chop was dry, the most delicious parts were the sides with it (braised greens and mustard potato salad). The bavette steak frites needed some salt despite the truffle seasoning. Salmon, fried chicken, and cavatelli were delicious (per family's opinion) with large portions needing to be taken home.

    Branzino and Wagyu Bavette Steak
    David K.

    Pricey for what it is but busy nonetheless, Wayfare Tavern offers a menu of standard bistro fare in an elevated pub setting. Coming in for a special event, my favorite bites were the passed appetizers, which included burrata and fig jam tarts, tuna tartare, and steak crostini. For appetizers, the Roasted Button Mushroom Soup was a dark, clear broth poured over chopped vegetables; the Tavern Caesar was a classic salad of chopped romaine with anchovies, Parmesan, and croutons, all tossed in a creamy Caesar dressing; and on the side came an airy baked popover with salted butter. For our main dish, we had a duet of Branzino, a crispy skin-on fillet topped with a fennel gremolata and lemon agrumato (olive oil), and Wagyu Bavette Steak, cooked to a juicy medium rare and served over roasted hen of the woods mushrooms and potato puree. The sides included grilled asparagus and burrata whipped potatoes. Everything we had was simple but tasty and executed nicely. Finally for dessert, the Strawberry Cobbler was a skillet of biscuit batter baked with sliced strawberries, topped with a scoop of ice cream. The dessert wasn't too sweet, and I especially liked the crispy edges of the baked batter. Overall, the food here was good though nothing too outstanding, though the service was attentive and on point!

    Beef carpaccio
    Sophia D.

    Had dinner with a friend here and it was sooo good! It was a weekday night, we sat at the bar, it wasn't too busy, and we ordered A LOT of food but it felt like they were still rushing us to leave towards the end. Would've been five stars if we didn't feel that pressured to leave! The beef carpaccio with homemade chips was sooo good. The chips were the perfect vessel, super light and crispy! I definitely preferred the steak frites over the CA fried chicken, the steak was cooked perfectly and the fries were thin and crispy. The chicken was a tiny bit dry and I wish it came with some sort of dipping sauce. For the desserts, the churro donut was definitely the standout! It was a mix between a churro and a donut, very light and fluffy and I loved the ice cream and drizzle of chocolate on top. The ambiance is moody and they have a really nice private dining area upstairs!

    Fried chicken
    Craig S.

    Go for the fried chicken - stay for everything else. I attended a corporate event at the Wayfare tavern and left very impressed with the food. We had chicken, steak and salmon. All were excellent. The bread is also so soft and airy. I was not a fan of the the chocolate cupcake dessert but tough to fault a nearly flawless meal.

    Vol T.

    Have lived in SF for over a decade and have never been. We missed going at their old location but they're much closer to us now on their new location on Battery St. Fantastic experience! We went during Memorial Day Monday for lunch. Walked in before noon and was seated right away . Love the decor. Very Americana. It did start to fill up soon after so perhaps reservations are wise. I think we ordered everything! Deviled eggs was huge for 2 people, but not complaining because it was delicious. Also had the baked brie i believe with the most delicious pretzels ever. And the complimentary puffed bread was so good. I had Cobb salad and added the super tasty fried chicken. Hubs got the burger. We also ordered assortment of white and red wines. Chef's kiss! Everything was just amazing. Oh and service was top notch. Very classy yet casual, perfect ambiance. We will definitely be back!!

    Clam chowder
    Sandee M.

    This place was busy! We headed over on a Monday and it was packed. We ordered shrimp cocktail & half dozen oysters & deviled eggs. A dozen oysters showed up and we brought it up to our server who profusely apologized and said it was his "bad" and he would cover it but for us to enjoy the dozen. Well, lo and behold, when we got the bill he charged us for the full dozen. I paid for the full since we consumed them but the incident didn't sit well with me at all. Overall, the meal was over-priced for what was pretty basic fare.

    Richard H.

    Service: 5 stars for our Server David and the numerous Server Assistants Food: 3.5 stars as the chicken did not taste as great as previous visits. Felt the pieces were drier than usual including the dark meat. Tavern Burger was not as memorable regarding plating. Prefer that it be plated on the wooden board. Made to order doughnuts were terrific but really miss the raspberry dipping sauce which used to be a standard for this dessert item. Thankfully, the Lemon flavored Cream Fraiche worked as a dip this time.

    Lisa V.

    The food was just okay, and unfortunately I wouldn't return. I ordered the clam chowder and was disappointed by how little clam was actually in it--there were only a few small pieces throughout the soup. The black cod was also extremely salty, to the point that it overpowered the dish. On the positive side, our waiter was very friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was enjoyable. What really frustrated me was the way our leftovers were handled. When we asked for our food to be packed to go, we intentionally combined everything we wanted to keep onto one plate. However, when I got home, I discovered that my steak had been thrown away and only the fish was packed. I don't understand why anyone would discard food without asking first, especially when it was clearly on the plate we wanted boxed. There was a reason we combined everything onto one plate, and a simple question could have avoided the confusion. I am also just review our bill and the menu price for the clam chowder was $17 and they charged us $21 for it..DOUBLE CHECK YOUR BILL! Overall, the service from our waiter and the atmosphere were good, but the food and the mishandling of our leftovers left a negative impression. Unfortunately, those issues outweighed the positives, and I would not return.

    Barbary coast
    Taylor J.

    Just popped in for a quick drinky drink, but had a great time during my short visit here. Walked in around 7:30, and this place was rockin! So many folks were in here and the bar was nearly full. I ended up getting a seat at the side bar facing the street. Not ideal, but sometimes beggars can't be choosers. Was greeted by the super nice waiter and ordered a Barbary Coast. I'm going to stop here to talk about how nice everyone in here was. From the hostess to the waitstaff. Everyone her was so friendly and made sure I was as comfortable as possible. I'm obsessed with great customer service, so I always notice when establishments go above and beyond. Ok Back to the Barbary Coast! It was splendid. Gin based and lemony. Ultra refreshing and best of all, served in a pretty glass. I loved it! By the time I was almost finished with my drink, a fresh popover arrived on my plate with some butter. I couldn't let it be lonely, so of course, I ordered another Barbary coast. Great little 45 minutes at Wayfare Tavern! Next time I'll try visiting earlier in the day or weekend to sit at the main bar. But ill definitely be back again!

    Amy H.

    Food was solid though I didn't think the fried chicken was that much of a stand out. It was good but not the best fried chicken I have ever had. However, the steak exceeded my expectations. Warm popover bread to start was really good. The best part of dinner was the service - the waiter was so nice and checked in on us multiple times. Will be back!

    Summer 2025 dinner menu

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    Wayfare Tavern Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Wayfare Tavern

    Are small dogs allowed in the outside seating area?

    Yes

    What is the corkage fee?

    I believe the fee is $25

    Is there valet parking?

    No. Lot of parking garages nearby. Embarcadero is where I parked last time.

    Why can't I reserve a table indoors for lunch? All reservations are for outdoor seating.

    What are your current Covid requirements? (If any?)

    Is there a dress code?

    No, but it's a nice place 😊 a lot of folks come after work as well.

    Where is the best place to park?

    Are dogs allowed during covid?

    I would think so. It's all service on the street or drive by pick up.

    Hello. I received a generous gift cert to your restaurant. My boyfriend and I are both vegan. I just looked over the menu and don't see many options for us. Any suggestions on how we can still come in and enjoy a nice dinner?

    Ask for the City Salad dressing on the side it is very yummy! No bread because it has dairy and egg. And for dessert our dairy free sorbet which changes often just ask you r server!

    Can you order beers downstairs and take them up to the Sequoia?

    Hello Eddie: Thank you for reaching out to Wayfare Tavern on Yelp. Yes, drinks may be ordered in the main restaurant and consumed upstairs in the Sequoia.… Read more

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    Terrene

    Terrene

    4.1
    (207 reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    The food is very good - we've been here twice and had great food all around…read more Our first visit we had some trouble with the service, feeling rushed thru for what is a pretty expensive dinner, but the team there contacted us after (we had a reservation so they had our email) and they made it right by inviting us back as guest of Rob, the Bev Mgr. The 2nd visit the service was impeccable, everything went exactly as we had hoped. We will be back. We can recommend the scallops and the Salmon, the chicken was very tasty. Also, for the food, I recommend the dips and the fresh pitas, so good. We'll be back just for that. Reminds me of the old Berkeley restaurant years ago, Holy Land (IYKYK). Mmmm. Thanks!

    We each ordered the sunrise sandwich - one with bacon and one with sausage. The sausage was super…read morethin and dry. The bacon was fine. The sandwich comes with a small dressed salad and three tomato halves. It was nice. The potatoes served with the sandwich were roasted but served cold and dry. Like they were left over from the night before. Randy enjoyed his mocha. We shared a very dry, flavorless except for the two small bits of jam in them, "cheese" danish. Definitely skip this $7 item that you could get at a circle k for $1.50 and it would taste fresher. You order when you walk in and someone delivers your order and then you're left to fend for yourself. We were able to locate some ketchup for the potatoes on our own. Nobody ever checked on us. This is the second place on this visit that's charging an extra 5% fee so that their employees can have a living wage and health insurance, which absolutely, every employee should have. With the prices they charge, they should already be able to do that, though. I read an article about this fee with many different names and I would rather pay a bit higher of a price and know the employees were taken care of than be surprised by this fee later. Two sandwich breakfasts, a mocha and a danish on top of tax and their healthy sf fee was $63. Steep for the quality we got. Won't be back.

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    Hillstone

    Hillstone

    4.0
    (2.7k reviews)
    1.0 mi
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    Hillstone is a favorite among Telegraph Hill locals. My go-to's here are their French dip or lamb…read moresandwiches for lunch, and salmon or rotisserie chicken + artichoke for dinner. Good wine and cocktail selection from the bar. I would pass on their burgers though which are mediocre. What makes this place 5-stars is the service and ambiance. Some of their staff have been there for several years, which is a testament to how well the restaurant is run. Since it's along the Embarcadero and close to Fisherman's Wharf, a lot of tourists tend to wander in. And this is probably why their website says there's a strict dress code. But I feel comfortable coming here in shorts and a t-shirt. The staff is always welcoming. I also go to the Los Altos Grill which is the same restaurant as Hillstone. The menu is pretty much the same, but the service at Hillstone is just excellent.

    Skip it. The food…read morewas very good, the attitude of the hostess made us feel like they didn't want us there. They won't seat parties of over 5 together-fine, they've got nice booths. Then they said "please don't move around so we can get the right food to you" which, like fine but that's not the reason they didn't want us to move. You're aiming for a hoity toity atmosphere, we can move plates around. There's an obnoxious but unenforced dress code (no jerseys then someone came in with a jersey and was as seated, no baseball hats...), but the straw that broke the camels back was when the hostess asked me to stay seated while I was seated. My 4 year old needed entertainment as we were paying the bill, we were in our last few minutes there and she told me that I had to stay in my seat. Which I was. They didn't get the order right for said 4 year old: hamburger, no cheese. Showed up with cheese. If you don't want kids in your restaurant, just turn people away. But also you're on the Embarcadero, not in a fancy neighborhood. Overpriced by 20%.

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    Inside
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    Grilled artichokes
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    Knife & fork barbecue ribs

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    Causwells

    Causwells

    4.1
    (1.2k reviews)
    2.4 mi
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    This is such a cute restaurant. I went here with a group of 4 for some pre-dinner drinks and apps…read more We were adventurous with our drink selection: -Succotash: weird but in an expected way. The menu is very clear about what you're in for. - Lavender Sgroppino: basically a fancy alcoholic frozen lemonade, everything I wanted it to be! - Irish Coffee and Parmesan: this was... interesting. The base drink, basically a frozen espresso martini, was good, but the topper cheese was SOOO salty. If that's your vibe, try it! We switched out for a brut, which was lovely. The apps were excellent! We got the smoked salmon sliders and the 100 layer, both of which were well-designed and very tasty. Our waiter was excellent. Super attentive without being invasive, very fast service. And the vibe of the place is so cute. Will DEFINITELY be coming back for the full dinner!

    I'm just not a Marina person. I don't wear designer athletic-leisure outfits or hang out with my…read morefrat bros all these years later. That's why you rarely see me lurking about on Chestnut St. However, here I was looking for a bite to eat before heading home to the tenements. I had heard of this spot because I heard the double smashburger was pretty tasty. There were a lot of people out on the patio but not a single diner inside. Guess where I sat. Not in a burger mood, I first went with an indulgent treat, the $11 Brioche French Toast Bites, five of them dusted with powdered sugar and accompanied by maple syrup (Photo 8). Quite tasty and gone in seconds. I followed this up with a surprisingly healthy choice, the $18 Dirty Girl Castelfranco Salad, an exceptional mix of sugar snap peas, sunchokes, cara cara, and sunflower seeds tossed in citrus vinaigrette (Photo 9). Did I turn into a Marina man? Uh, not quite. FOOD - 4 stars...tasty choices for a light lunch beyond their burgers AMBIANCE - 4 stars...nice when it's empty in the middle of the afternoon SERVICE - 4.5 stars...really attentive server, enthusiastic follow-through TOTAL - 4 stars...Marina outsiders are welcome here RELATED - Exploring the Marina? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/WrzRjort2Q

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    Photo 2: Bar
    Photo 2: Bar
    Deviled Eggs
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    Wayfare Tavern - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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