Restaurants

Waterbar

399 The Embarcadero South,  San Francisco,  California,  CA 94105
415.284.9922  / www.waterbarsf.com / view map

Surveyed 19/03/2010
What does this rating mean?

About this restaurant

Stunning and stylish contemporary restaurant on the waterfront situated below the Bay Bridge offering views of both the skyline and San Francisco Bay. No expense was spared by restaurant designer and owner Pat Kuleto with a reported $20m spent on Waterbar and carnivorous sibling Epic Roasthouse next door. Waterbar features 19-feet-tall five-feet in diameter floor-to-ceiling circular aquarium and fish tanks on the wall containing some of the day's catch. Enormous windows open up incredible vistas of the bridge overhead and the Bay. Be warned, all this comes at a price. One diner said in a review: "high prices, small portions, great service". Two fish courses runs to about $40. There is a three-course prixe fixe dinner for $40. There are bargains, however, including $1 oysters during happy hour. Four stars on Google.

They say...

The menu at Waterbar features the freshest sustainable seafood available. Respecting seasonality and the natural essence of the sea, preparations are unpretentious, soulful, and elegant

We say...

A great pleasure to review this restaurant not just because of its unique position perched below the Bay Bridge and the care and thought that has gone into a stunning design but also because of its philosophy. Waterbar accounts for every fish it serves telling where, how and by whom it was caught. So the too-often ignored striped bass is hook and line caught, the Pacific halibut comes from a named boat and skipper and the Alaskan cod is trap caught. The sea urchin and scallop are hand-harvested. If all seafood restaurants followed Waterbar's example we would be out of a job. An outstanding four Blue Fish restaurant.