"Eating at Waterbar feels like dining in an aquarium—not just because the dining room has floor-to-ceiling cylindrical fish tanks, but also because you’re only a few steps from the bay. The Embarcadero seafood restaurant is a great choice for an oyster Happy Hour or lunch with clients who are easily impressed by sweeping Bay Bridge views. If you’re pulling out all the stops, go in on the $185 Seafood Indulgence Platter, which pretty much includes every creature that once called the ocean home. There’s no need to plan ahead for a table at Waterbar unless there’s a conference in the area. Otherwise, day-of reservations are typically easy to get. However, the best seats are on the patio, which do run out when the forecast is good, so if you have your heart set on dining al fresco, you may want to check at least a day or two in advance." - julia chen 1, patrick wong, ricky rodriguez
