Sam’s Anchor Cafe, A Tiburon Classic, Remodels and Reopens | Eater SF

"Reopening tomorrow, April 18, after a six-week remodel and menu update, I learned that Sam’s Anchor Cafe—purchased last year by James Tate and Tiburon native Conor Flaherty—is a nearly 100‑year‑old waterfront institution locals identify with, and they were adamant the team “don’t screw this up” and that free popcorn remain. With about 25 percent of the restaurant built over the water, the deck still fills on sunny afternoons, but designers at ROY activated underused dining rooms by adding vintage pendant lighting, exposing the original redwood ceiling, installing a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door to the deck, and laying period-appropriate blue terrazzo; for cooler days they added an 80‑foot heated bench by Galanter & Jones. Historic advertisements and menus informed the updated food and drink program—Robert van Horne revived a champagne-and-burger special—and the cocktail list includes shareable bowl drinks such as a communal Aperol Spritz with a Prosecco bottle tipped into the bowl; as GM Michelle Pfeifer put it, the goal is to convey “it’s a party here... We want you to come here and relax.” Staff continue to wear Hawaiian shirts in homage to founder Sam Vella, and Sam’s remains a favorite waterfront American/seafood restaurant on San Francisco Bay in Tiburon." - Caleb Pershan