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Sure, San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf is thronged with out-of-towners. But in the midst of all that hustle and bustle, the “I escaped from Alcatraz” T-shirt shops and tourist tchotchkes, are local treasures. Among them, four casual eateries that boast both history and tasty fare.
1 Buena Vista
San Franciscans have flocked to this historic saloon near the Powell-Hyde cable car’s last stop since 1916. They serve food here, too, of course — and the omelets are huge — but the Buena Vista is famous for its Irish coffee. Owner Jack Koeppler and San Francisco Chronicle columnist Stanton Delaplane created the recipe here in 1952. Today, the bar serves some 2,000 Irish coffees per day. Yours could make it 2,001.
Details: Open from 9 a.m to 2 a.m. daily and 8 a.m. on weekends, at 2765 Hyde St., San Francisco; www.thebuenavista.com.
2 Capurro’s
All the big Fisherman’s Wharf names are tied to this winsome Sicilian restaurant, tucked inside a bright red building near Hyde Street Pier. The F. Alioto Lazio Fish Co., which Frank Alioto opened with his cousin Tom Lazio in 1941, is two doors down. And Frank’s son Mario began serving fresh seafood and tasty Italian fare at Capurro’s right after World War II. Today, it’s still one of only a few wharf restaurants allowed to buy fish right off the boats. (Psst, be sure to check out the historical photographs on the walls.)
Details: Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 498 Jefferson St.; http://capurros.com
3 Boudin Bistro
Yes, chowder bread bowls are a bit touristy — and there are now Boudins scattered across the Bay Area. But this is the flagship, built in 2005 with a production bakery and Boudin history museum on the lower level and a full-service restaurant with bay views upstairs. Boudin’s bakers have been making their signature sourdough bread in San Francisco since 1849, each loaf infused with some of the original Mother Lode mother dough from those Gold Rush days. This is the place to order that bowl.
Details: Open daily 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and until 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday at 160 Jefferson St.; www.bistroboudin.com.
4 Blue Mermaid
This recently renovated restaurant’s nautical decor — rough-hewn timbers, exposed brick and mermaid artwork — and historical setting are irresistible. It’s part of the boutique Argonaut Hotel, housed in the 1909 Haslett Warehouse and now part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Service can be a bit hit or miss, but the seafood is fresh, and there are three kinds of chowder.
Details: Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., until 10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, at 495 Jefferson St.; bluemermaidsf.com.
