Capurro's Restaurant — Restaurant in San Francisco

My overall dining experience at the restaurant was a mix of highs and lows, though I must say the lows were particularly disappointing when it came to the crab dish. Unfortunately, the crab was a huge letdown and left a lasting negative impression on an otherwise enjoyable meal. From the moment it arrived at the table, something seemed off. The smell wasn’t as fresh as one would expect from a seafood dish, and upon tasting it, the crab had a distinctly unpleasant flavor. It was clear that it wasn’t as fresh as it should have been, leaving me with a strong sense that it had been sitting for far too long or hadn’t been properly stored. The texture, too, was mushy and lacked the tender, delicate quality I typically associate with fresh crab. It’s a shame because I had high hopes for the dish, and given that seafood is often the highlight of a meal for me, this was especially disappointing.

However, despite the setback with the crab, I must commend the rest of the meal, which was truly a delight. The pasta, in particular, was exceptional. Cooked to perfection, it had that perfect al dente texture that is so often difficult to achieve. The sauce was rich and flavorful, clearly made with fresh ingredients and balanced just right. Every bite of the pasta was comforting and flavorful, making it easily one of the best pasta dishes I’ve had in a long time. The portion size was generous, and it was clear that great care had been taken in preparing it.

In addition to the food, the service was outstanding. From the moment we walked in, the staff was welcoming and attentive, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu, offering helpful suggestions and ensuring that our glasses were never empty. They were always available without being overbearing, striking the perfect balance of attentiveness and giving us space to enjoy our meal. It’s rare to find service that feels this genuine and accommodating, and it truly enhanced the overall experience.

The ambiance of the restaurant also deserves a mention. The décor was tasteful, and the seating was comfortable, making it easy to relax and enjoy the evening. The lighting was warm and inviting, creating a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere. It felt like the kind of place where you could enjoy a casual meal or celebrate a special occasion. The music was at a perfect volume—audible but not overpowering—and added to the pleasant dining environment.

If it weren’t for the disappointing crab, I would have easily given this restaurant a 5-star rating. Everything else—from the incredible pasta to the excellent service and ambiance—deserves high praise. The attention to detail in so many aspects of the dining experience was evident, and it’s clear that the restaurant takes pride in delivering quality food and service to its guests. However, the poor quality of the crab dish is something I simply can’t overlook. Seafood is a delicate ingredient that requires the highest level of freshness, and in this case, the crab fell far short of those expectations. It left a lingering sense of dissatisfaction that colored the rest of the meal, despite how much I enjoyed everything else.

I do hope this was an isolated issue with the crab, as the rest of the experience was so positive. I would still recommend the restaurant to others, particularly for their pasta and service.

In conclusion, while the crab was a major disappointment, the restaurant has a lot going for it, and it’s easy to see why it has such a strong reputation. The pasta was one of the best I’ve had, the service was impeccable, and the overall ambiance made for a very pleasant evening. I would love to return and try more from their menu, but I will certainly be cautious when it comes to ordering seafood again. With just a bit more attention to the freshness of their seafood, this restaurant could easily be a 5-star...

IG: eatgosee This was somewhat of an astonishing experience. But before we get to that let’s set the scene. This is a large restaurants positions firmly on the waterfront with a view looking out into the bay. It has a very vibrant decor with a clear Fishermans, nautical theme. It is placed on a very busy thoroughfare in a touristy and popular area of San Francisco. Needless to say it is the type of area where you would expect to see a lot of people milling around, walking by and therefore for traffic coming into this restaurant. We came here once for lunch but I walked past it several times in the days following.

HIGHLIGHTS: Location as there is plenty of good atmosphere if you’re sitting outside. The inside is very bright and something closer to a Disney meets theme restaurant.

DIVIDED: Half of the group had the red snapper dish which I understand was quite good but admittedly did not try myself. The house rose that we drank was also perfectly drinkable and if you came here to only have a bottle of rosé while sitting outside and watching the world go by, you would probably have quite a good experience.

LOWLIGHTS: SERVICE. This is where the tipping culture in the United States really drives the wrong behaviour. I’ll wait I got the order wrong, the food arrived five minutes before the wind it (which is in excusable given one thing requires cooking and the other thing requires simply picking up on pouring), it took forever to get waiters to come see us. Not with standing the fact that this is a large restaurant it is also at the time that we were here only about 20% full during lunch in the middle of the week. i’m not entirely sure why as paying guests we need to pay even the minimum culturally acceptable amount of service charge for an experience that frankly was inferior to whether I got up and went to the bar and into the kitchen to retrieve the things that I ordered.

Clam chowder bowl: Admittedly this is not the kind of food that I particularly enjoy but, when in Rome, we decided to have the Klamm chowder because it felt like the right thing to do and also because it was recommended someone strongly from the waiter. The soup was floury, it arrived in a bread bowl which I know is customary but borders on pointless given that nobody eats the bread bowl (three of the tables around us did the same thing and I noticed that they did not eat at either - it seems like a waste of bread). It arrived with a side salad which is not presented in any particularly attractive way and looking through the leaves some of them appear to be old and not picked through by the kitchen.

Should I come here again? Hopefully not. And then here I suspect lies the issue. As this restaurant is positioned on a popular thoroughfare, I question how many returning guests actually come back to this place. It does not seem fair to call this a tourist trap but it is not far away from that. There are a lot of very basic and elementary mistakes systematically made here that requires thoughtful attention. If there is as much effort was put into the food and service as it has into the decor then this could be a very good place with lines around the corner. After all this is a city where people do lineup around the corner to get into a good restaurant but, as mentioned, this place was only 20% full during lunchtime on a sunny day in a touristy area which makes me...

My wife and I had just spent time on the Hyde St. Pier and were ready for an early dinner. We were attracted by the vibrant colors of the building and the wooden sailor out front. The interior is just as striking with the walls covered with photos and memorabilia of the history of the fishing industry in San Francisco. Our waitress was sweet and very attentive. Got us started on drinks and delicious sourdough bread right away. We decided to go with some small plates and chowder. We ordered Bruschetta, crab cakes, crab cocktail and clam chowder. The Bruschetta was very good! The tomatoes had the perfect balance of sweetness and acid, the bread toasted perfectly. The crab cakes were great. Tons of very fresh Dungeness crab, seasoned perfectly. Slightly crispy on the outside. Really good. The crab cocktail was a standout. They serve the crab separately on a bed of lettuce with the sauce on the side. I was surprised at how generous they are with the very fresh Dungeness crab. Big chunks of succulent lump crab. The sauce was the perfect compliment. Zingy but not overly spicy. The New England Clam Chowder was hearty and very well seasoned. Very generous with the clams. Not quite as good as Alioto's #8 but quite good. One highlight of the meal was meeting the owner. He visited several tables, including ours and he was very charming. Obviously very proud of his restaurant. I love to see a really engaged owner and his commitment shows...