Anchor Oyster Bar
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San Francisco Seafood Delight š¦Cioppinoš¦ļø
Ralph
160
It took me years to try this place because the wait is always LONG. Now that I've eaten here, I understand why people wait so long. First, it is teeny-tiny. Thank goodness they've been able to add parklets to increase capacity slightly. When you arrive (and I recommend you do so EARLY), you put your name on the list and then you wait, often more than 90 minutes. I suggest you cross the street to Swirl, buy a bottle of wine, and enjoy it at Swirl while you wait. Anchor also offers a $15 corkage fee, so you can bring in any bottle of your choice. We started with crab cakes and oysters. I tend to avoid crab cakes outside of the Eastern Seaboard, but these were sublime: lightly crispy on the outside and full of real crab on the inside. The oysters were fantastic. I tried one of several types. Most of the food is served in large plates, so it is shareable, as was the Caesar Salad. One serving was more than enough for the three of us. We ordered the large Cioppino, and it was HUGE. In retrospect, the small, which is also huge, would have probably served all three of us, as we ended up taking some of the Cioppino home. The Cioppino might be the best I've had in San Francisco, which is saying something since San Francisco is the birthplace of Cioppino, and many restaurants brag about theirs. To accompany the Cioppino, I highly recommend the garlic bread, which perfectly soaks up the tomato base. This was a birthday dinner, and it couldn't have been a better meal!
B. MIchael McFarland
00
We looked for a seafood place on maps and had a few options and luckily we chose the right one! š They don't take reservations and it's a popular place so you may have to wait a bit to be seated. We had fresh oysters, steamed clams/mussels, crab cocktail, crab cakes, the shrimp platter and of course the clam chowder. We all had the oysters which were very tasty and fresh. My son got the crab cakes which comes with tarter sauce, roasted potatoes and a side of chowder. They looked good and he said it was excellent š. My mom got the wild prawn platter and she loved them! My wife and I shared the steamed shellfish combo and the crab cocktail. The crab meat cocktail was fresh and went well with the cocktail sauce that had a dab of horseradish in it. It's a very nice starter but not a whole meal. The steamed shellfish was exactly what I was hoping for. The sauce was so good that I ordered more bread to keep eating it. š The clam chowder was good but there are other places in the city that I'd rather go to for better clam chowder. The staff/service was great! We got to sit outside with the heaters on which was perfect for a cool evening. Overall a great experience with really good seafood and a welcoming staff. I recommend it for a date or even a family dinner š
Pedro A
00
What a pleasure to try out this place - an absolute must. The 1 hour wait in the chilly weather was more than worth it because everything here was beyond delicious. It is run by a delightful group of folks and it was one of the highlights of my SF trip. Their Cioppino is a must try - you canāt go wrong with any size and we loved loved the black mussels. The clam chowder was creamy and delicious. I still vividly remember the taste of the tomatoes from the cioppino, there is a reason why this is their speciality. Definitely will recommend the garlic bread to go with it along side the ciabatta that they already provide. Limited seating inside and outside so prepare to wait. No advanced reservations, get there early and put your name on the whiteboard. I canāt recommend this place enough, if you love seafood, heck if you love oysters, you will love this place too - though we didnāt try them. I usually donāt rave this much about a place but this place exceeded my expectations - best seafood I ever tried.
Sam Pattnaik
00
We arrived during the peak weekend dinner time and waited over an hour, but it was worth it. We had a small cioppino, mussels, garlic bread, and clam chowder. It was enough food for two adults and a small child. The mussels and the broth were delicious, which the yummy bread soaked up beautifully. Cioppino was well-spiced with a hint of grassy herbaceousness. The crab in it was large and full of juicy meat, which was super fun to crack and eat. Because of how strongly it was seasoned though, other smaller seafood ingredients like mussels, shrimp, and clams were a bit buried in the rich flavors of the sauce. Wouldnāt strongly recommend the chowder. It was okay but nothing remarkable. Iād rather have more of their scrumptious garlic bread. The service was also attentive, and the staff members were lovely! Would definitely return.
Y W
00
I have been going to Anchor Oyster Bar for more than a decade and it is simply one of my most favorite restaurants in the Bay Area. The wait is as simple as putting your name on the white board outside the door and the wait, at the height of dinner, is usually about 30-minutes. I usually aim to be there near the start of dinner so that I can sit for dinner quickly. There are several outdoor dining booths with heaters (dress warmly), tables lining the wall, and generous bar seating. The place is styled in a New England feel, is always clean, and well staffed. The staff are wonderfully friendly and provide excellent service. The food is stellar! I absolutely love the caesar salad with a bowl of the clam chowder. The salad is simply delicious. In addition, the Cioppino is a dish that cannot be missed! Please stop off and enjoy!
Justin W. Vang-Moore
00
Nearby Attractions Of Anchor Oyster Bar
Dolores Park
Wela Thai Massage and Spa
The Castro Theatre
Corona Heights Park
Mission San Francisco de Asis
Cliff's Variety
Helen Diller Playground
Randall Museum
GLBT Historical Society Museum
Seward Mini Park
Dolores Park
4.7
(6.2K)
Click for details
Wela Thai Massage and Spa
5.0
(1.1K)
Click for details
The Castro Theatre
4.7
(1.3K)
Click for details
Corona Heights Park
4.8
(742)
Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Anchor Oyster Bar
Tartine Bakery
Kitchen Story
Orphan Andy's Restaurant
Starbelly
U:Dessert Story
Pizzeria Delfina - Mission
The Detour
Fable
Le Marais Bakery
Super Duper Burgers
Tartine Bakery
4.5
(2.6K)
Click for details
Kitchen Story
4.4
(1.3K)
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Orphan Andy's Restaurant
4.5
(1.2K)
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Starbelly
4.3
(997)
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
579 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114
Map
Phone
(415) 431-3990
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Website
anchoroysterbar.com
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Reviews
Overview
4.7
(600 reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Since 1977, diners have been coming to this nautical-themed eatery for fresh fish & shellfish.
attractions: Dolores Park, Wela Thai Massage and Spa, The Castro Theatre, Corona Heights Park, Mission San Francisco de Asis, Cliff's Variety, Helen Diller Playground, Randall Museum, GLBT Historical Society Museum, Seward Mini Park, restaurants: Tartine Bakery, Kitchen Story, Orphan Andy's Restaurant, Starbelly, U:Dessert Story, Pizzeria Delfina - Mission, The Detour, Fable, Le Marais Bakery, Super Duper Burgers
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