Pacific Cafe

Likely doesn’t need my review based on how popular it already is, but I had a great dinner. We arrived at 4:50 and were the last guests seated for the first round. If I went again, I’d arrive earlier.

This really is a friendly neighborhood restaurant. An old time establishment that is usually always crowded with long standing customers sharing the experience with friends and family. They always offer everyone a glass of wine while waiting for a table and if you know how the customers flow you can predict the time to go and get a table without much wait. We came on a Saturday night and waited less than 10 minutes for a table. Love the Shrimp Louie salad that came with my entree but thought the chowder was a little salty for my taste. We had the rainbow trout, petrale sole dore, snapper and petrale sole newburg. It’s a simple menu but with decent food. The amount of food you get could be improved a little for some of the fish dishes as it can arrive looking a little sparse. Also, the post-pandemic menu is slimmed down so they have less items offered. Overall the food is still good but I like coming here for the friendly, attentive and efficient service!

Loved our experience at Pacific Cafe. We were a group of 7 with 3 kids and everyone at the restaurant was super accommodating. They gave kids paper and crayons. A glass of wine for adults while waiting for the table is much appreciated! Our favorite dishes were crab cakes, calamari steak, stuffed sea bass. The sourdough bread was amazing. We were not big fans of the clam chowder.

This unpretentious family restaurant is a hidden gem known only to locals and not frequented by tourists. They offer a delicious array of fresh seafood and excellent, friendly service. One thing that sets this restaurant apart is their complimentary wine service while you wait for your table. They keep your glass full until you are seated. It's a great place to take out-of-town friends. I highly recommend this restaurant.

I ate here based on a colleague's recommendation. Restaurant was packed and I was lucky to get a seat shortly after 5pm (when they opened). Food is simple, hearty, American-style seafood. The sole Newburg was good, fish was fresh and flaky, but the cream was very rich and I was stuffed by the end (had to take some home). Great fine-dining ambiance, yet surprisingly good value for money, as main courses come with soup and bread, and there's complimentary wine (but I don't drink so I can't attest to its quality)

A wonderful place that lives up to the hype. How much nicer can you get to have a beautiful glass of wine in your hand gratisse while you're waiting for your table while smelling the delicious aromas of superb seafood being prepared. The wait staff feels like family, and everything we tasted surpassed our expectations. And if you are going to splurge on bread, know that even this is a treat to be savored. Definitely looking forward to our next visit! 🥰

Phenomenal fresh seafood, as usual -- visit Pacific Cafe for 15 years (even during pandemic shutdown!) & every meals has been spectacular!! Limited wine list with very affordable prices point -- Sadly, not serving salmon bisque since COVID -- However, they serve complimentary glass of wine while you wait to be seated for dinner!!

This might very well me favorite neighborhood restaurant of all time. We moved to the Richmond back in November, but even back then I knew this is one place I really wanted to try. I’m a huge seafood fan and I love local spots. This is one of those Neighborhood institutions that everyone knows and loves and I love it here so much. We came on a Thursday and there was a little bit of a line but the wait wasn’t long at all. I think we waited all of 10 minutes before we were sat. Bread, water and wine came to the table shortly after. The menu is simple and the specials are already written on the chalkboard. My girlfriend had the scallops and I had the snapper in the pouch. Both were absolutely delicious but the scallops were perfection. Love that west coast clam chowder is served here. The service is warm and attentive. You can tell that the people who live here come all the time and the owners take time to know their patrons. This is one of those spots in San Francisco that are slowly disappearing. I hope pacific cafe stays around forever. I absolutely will be making an effort to become a regular here.

Came to Pacific Cafe for the first time tonight, based on all the positive Yelp reviews. Gotta say, those reviews did not steer us wrong. We arrived shortly after opening and the place was completely filled. So, we were the first ones on the wait list. The wait couldn't have been more than 20 minutes and during that time we were given a complimentary glass of white wine... Nice way to wait. Once seated, we were served by Joe, who, along with associate staff members made sure we were well taken care of. I was very pleased with the service. And waiting for us on our table was a big portion of very fresh sourdough bread along with a decent supply of butter! On to the food... I had the Caesar salad, which I quite enjoyed. The dressing had a good balance of garlic, lemon and anchovy. There was a healthy portion of Parmesan cheese and the croutons were wonderfully crunchy and garlicky! My partner had the clam chowder, which definitely tasted house-made and was thick and filled with clams. She enjoyed it. For entrees, I had the petrale sole dore, which was pan fried and served with capers and the freshest mushrooms. Really well prepared and delicious. It came with a side of rice pilaf which was also very tasty. My partner had the combo of grilled salmon & fried prawns. The fish was perfectly cooked and she loved the prawns, which she said were crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. She also enjoyed the rice pilaf as her side dish. The house-made condiments of cocktail sauce and tartar sauce were two of the best I've tasted. To end our meal, we chose to go with the raspberry swirl cheesecake, which did not disappoint. The cheesecake was creamy and not overly sweet, and was served on a bed of raspberry sauce. Sharing a single order was more than enough to satisfy us. I did notice some reviews complained of the pricing, but I felt for the quality, portion-size and service that we received, that the pricing was more than fair. Would I come back again? Most definitely!

One of the best restaurants in the Richmond and the city! Cozy, non-pertinacious neighborhood joint. With a simple yet incredibly fresh seafood menu. The whole team at Pac Caf is amazing. If you haven't been, you're missing out!

Came to the cozy and charming Pacific Cafe on a date night and we were delighted. The atmosphere is unfussy, the staff is absolutely wonderful (right down to offering to loan us an umbrella when it started pouring as we began to leave), service is fast and the food is delicious and fresh. We shared a cup of creamy clam chowder and the crab cakes to start. Both were terrific and the crab cakes are very rich. Following that, I had the filet of sole newburg which was piping hot and full of flavor, while my SO had the grilled snapper... also fantastic. Parking is not too difficult and just know that there is always a line right when they open. Get there early, enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and have fun! It's now a favorite spot, and I look forward to returning.

Not a single thing on the menu for people who don't eat seafood. Chicken. Pasta. Beef. Vegetarian entree. No. None of those options. In decades I haven't run into this problem. Every single restaurant has an option for patrons who don't eat seafood. Grumpy snarky server. After waiting an hour to be seated, not up for the indifferent and reactive tone. Never again. For those prices? Why?! So many better choices in SF.

Our go to seafood restaurant in San Francisco! Been coming here a long time and the food quality has always been fantastic! Pro Tip: COMPLEMENTARY white wine while you are waiting for your table, so make sure there's a line when you arrive.. although we have never been there all these years where there was no line .....

Happy 50th anniversary, opened 7/4/74, for this iconic legacy SF restaurant. One of my favorites over the decades. When I found out they were celebrating their 50th, I called up my BFFs and headed over for dinner. The men loved their sole newburg and ate every last bite with rice pilaf. I jumped at the fried oysters with rice. The breading on the 6 oysters didn't hold up as well compared to the past but they were fresh and delicious. BFF loved her baked scallops with fries. I was a tad disappointed with the chowder. It was more starchy-potato-y tasting than seafood but still decent amount of clams. They gave everyone a tiny complementary bit of their celebration cake. They now have a raspberry drizzled cheesecake and no longer carry Zanze's. Mr. Z deservingly retired a couple years ago and the recipe was sold to the owners of Little Joe's where you can find boxes of the cake in the freezer but it no longer tastes the same. But glad to know local Mitchell's ice cream still served here. We're big fans so we had to purchase their 50th anniversary t shirt. 100% cotton, $25. Can't wait to come back for dinner again. Happy to see the staff and Frank, the mgr, who has been there 49 years!

The pacific cafe has been in operation since 1974; they are approaching their 50th anniversary and celebrating this coming week. I was a little disappointed because the effects of Covid -19 and the economic impacts they've had to make some menu changes including fish options due to the cost of products today. As a result the fish option have been scaled back. However this is a group of employees that own, and work this business and have worked together as a family side-by-side all this time. You see the same familiar faces in the kitchen and dining room. It's a secret place no one likes to talk about because it's so popular for locals who know about this spot. I only gave them 4 out of 5 because of the menu limitations. The food is always great.

The best thing I can say about the Pacific Café is that after a 15 year absence I could detect no change to their timeless mixture of neighborhood charm and simple delicious seafood. Don't come expecting trendy menus and presentation, after 50 years they know what works: fresh seafood, served in a variety of classic forms. Salads, soups, bread service, just like your parents (or grandparents) would have ordered in the mid 70s. There's a good reason for the ever present wait (and free glass of wine for your trouble): it's a San Francisco gem.

Though I've lived in the Bay Area most of my life, and SF proper for 7, I'd never been here until a family dinner last night with 2 adults and a 7 year old. We were all so pleased with the experience, nevermind the 45min wait. Free wine (and we got refill!), quality chowder and fish, the best shrimp scampi I've ever had, and a complimentary ice cream for our kiddo. I loved that most patrons were 65+ and you could sense that they've been going there for generations. It was a slice of SF history and I'm so glad that they made it through the rough Covid years. We'll be back!

I visited San Francisco on a solo trip a few years ago and rented an Airbnb in Outer Richmond. I mainly chose my location for proximity to the beach, the rental prices and the quiet at night. I did not expect to be a few blocks from a San Francisco institution. Anyway, I was in California and I wanted seafood. So on my second evening there, I walked over after having spent the day walking and exploring other neighborhoods. I was told to expect a wait by others in the know and I did wait a bit, but not an excessive amount of time. The wait was even enjoyable, as a waiter came out and poured a glass of their house white wine for everyone. He even refilled me once after I downed the first (I have an old habit of drinking cold drinks quickly). So with a couple glasses of wine in my otherwise empty stomach, I finally was brought inside to my table. I had a cup of clam chowder and dungeness crab cakes. Which were delicious. And yet another glass of wine. I also had a piece of chocolate cake for dessert. And more wine. By the time I left I was stuffed to the gills and very happy. I was really happy the walk back to my Airbnb was all downhill, let's put it that way.

We were back! Fabulous Freshest Seafood! We started with the Caesar Salad and a cup of Clam Chowder. I enjoy this chowder in particular because no cornstarch or flour is used to thicken (or at least you do not taste it)...just long simmering with potatoes. The salad is simple and studded with very tasted croutons...definitely NOT manufactured. We ordered a combo of the freshest Scallops in Garlic Butter Sauce and the freshest Halibut grilled...with a side of Rice. Here is a hack...we poured some of the garlic butter sauce on the rice...which was marvelous! We also ordered our fave Crab Cakes...with no fillers! It was so good that we ordered another onr to take out. We were so full and satisfied that we took our dessert to go as well. This institution (since 1974) is on our rotation. Kudos to Frank!

I grew up on Pacific Cafe in San Francisco. The Marin location when I was back home had closed. But this place was my date night, Restaurant. They never let us down. I live now in San Diego and it sucks compared to the Bay Area. I miss home, but I'll be back to visit next month. I will go to the Pacific Cafe. Thank you for still being open..

My friend took me here and told me that he grew up eating here. I tried their clam chowder which was pretty good, and for main course I got the crab cakes which were way too oily and I normally don't mind oily food but this was way too much. I ended up didn't finish them and even my friend couldn't eat the rest for me cuz of how oily they were. The staffs are nice tho and the restaurant's environment was pretty cozy with all the wooden decor and low lights. I don't know if I'll ever come back again due to the quality of the crab cakes I don't know if I will give them another chance and try other items but I hope my friend enjoyed his food.

Delicious food and great service. This place is 50 years old and has a lot of historic photography. Complimentary glass of wine is served as you wait on a table to open. Truly a gem in SF!

Excellent fish dishes. Long wait for a small cozy place so arrive early. Not too kid friendly but they accommodated us well

I can't believe this is the first time I've been here. Small, fun seafood restaurant that continues to ply you with complementary and complimentary wine while you wait for a table. And if you arrive after 5 pm on a Saturday, you will wait. The entrees are filling and include pacific clam chowder, or salad with either caesar or shrimp Louie dressing, and fries, rice pilaf or mixed veggies. There are many fish choices prepared fairly traditionally but they do not skimp on the fish. Dining here is leisurely, friendly, and you never feel rushed. Highly recommended. Everybody seemed to have a good time, including wait staff. When I inadvertently left my leftover container on the table, they came looking for me outside. No wonder they have such a dedicated following.

This is a great place for a family dinner. We have been going here for over 30 years. We went for a birthday dinner for my husband recently. There were 5 of us including a 16 month old. The staff were so helpful to bring us a cooked carrot for the baby when we had our appetizers. That was appreciated. Our food was delicious and we will continue to make it a place to go! Thanks for the glasses of wine as we wait for our table.

My favorite SF Cafe since the 1970s... Our go to place for birthday celebrations. Very consistent, great service, friendly staff and visitors. Large portions, free glass of wine, choice of soup or salad with entree. Entree comes with vegetables or choice of boiled red potatoes or fries. Dana All the French bread and butter you can eat... My favorite French bread! When you consider the wine, large salad or soup, bread and entree with a side, this is a good deal for a seafood restaurant. Our Favs... Fried oysters (in season... Fall,winter) and fried calamari. Their appetizer squid vinegret is awesome as is the chocolate cake. And I love that they have fabric tablecloths and napkins. This makes it even more special!

Always wanted to come here but usually see a crowd waiting outside. Finally came by and it's now one of my local favorite. Great service: was attended to in the waiting area and offered complimentary wine. Table had complimentary bread. The servers during dining were attentive and kind and gave us complimentary ice cream. Food: had the crab cake was good well seasoned and good amount of real Dungeness crab. Entrees: comes with side options (clam chowder or salad, fries or pilaf) entrees are good. Had the halibut with Parmesan crust and fried oysters . Enjoyed both.

The old redhead waitress with short hair and glasses is incredibly rude. All I did was ask if I could get salmon with mashed potatoes instead of rice. She rolled her eyes and said that if that's something I saw on yelp, then it's old. I understand the frustration but there was no need to be rude like that, especially if that was my first time asking. She's the reason for the entire review. Learn some manners. UPDATE: Why do we ALWAYS have to get that one! Why can't we ever get the young nice waitress!!! Went there today for the LAST time, this time she decided to make fun of my elderly father's language barriers because he's an immigrant. He asked about "dry" beer instead of "dark" beer because English is not his second but is his third language. She was not sensitive at all, very impatient and was getting irritable and rude, making us feel uncomfortable. I didn't even leave a tip this time, and would love to have a word with the manager.

The food is ok, baked or fried fish with a lot of butter AND oil. All dishes come with a choice of salad or a cup of chowder, and with the entree french fries, or steamed veggies. The place feels more like a family diner, or a Pub, starting with the cheap (and undrinkable) free glass of wine, lame sides (our veggies were just plain steamed carrots), main entrees that seem just a step up from fish and chips you could get a Fisherman Wharf, to end with a choice of desserts that, despite being more than $10 a pop, resemble the quality level of the Safeway bakery a few blocks away. And in addition it is expensive.

This is a legacy business here in SF. They give a complimentary glass of wine, and the portions are enormous. There are many solid reasons why this place is celebrating 50 years. Definitely worth a try. Paula was a wonderful waitress!

We love this place. Was our return after more than a decade. Used to be a go to spot when we lived in the city. The fish is always outstanding and super fresh. The service is friendly and timely and the vibe is great with the free wine while you wait for a table. Having grown up in New England always excited to find a place that does simple fish right. Plenty of places to get inventive fish but this is one of the best if you just want simple.

probably the best in the richmond for a nice seafood dinner imo! if you can do better than Pacific Cafe i would love to know where!

If you are looking for high-end fancy, this is not it. But if you are looking for cozy, neighborhood friendly and a feel of San Francisco out in the Avenues, then welcome! Unless you start your dinner early, there's always a wait here. But, it's okay. They give you wine as you wait. It's not too bad really and it's quite romantic. You sip your glass and watch the fog rolling in and out in the distance. You start to get a bit philosophical in thought, too. It's normal, at least that's what I tell myself. I really enjoyed our dinners here. It could be the wait, but I'm famished by the time we get our table. I love the scampi prawns. And this place serves Zanze cheesecake for their cheesecake fans out there. Cheers.

I was here for a business dinner. It can be quite a wait to be seated, but they give you a complimentary glass of wine while you wait, which helps pass the time. Once seated, the service is excellent and quick. I had Halibut Parmesan. It was well prepared and tasted fresh. I'm not much of a seafood person, but I did like this meal, and I have already suggested Pacific Cafe to a couple of friends.

Come have a bite of history as well as a delicious meal! During COVID they celebrated their 45th yr!! It's in our area and at this point it's more a matter of what haven't we had from the menu. Service is always great. Free wine while you wait. Prices are SF normal. Fish rocks the boat! (pun intended) Seriously, everything has been hot and tasty. Love the Parmesan Crusted Halibut, love the crab cakes, love the daily special. The only dish we didn't enjoy was the clam chowder - don't understand why it isn't better. And we've had it several times, it's just too bland and gooey. Starter salads are nice sized though and you have a choice of ceasar or shrimp louie dressing. This place is popular - you will wait for a table - outside seating has helped with that.

Pacific Cafe at 34th Ave & Geary is a long time staple in the neighborhood that serves consistently fresh, well-prepared seafood in the outer Richmond district. The decor is a warm rust toned room full of cozy & comfy touches here and there. There are long wait times occasionally but that's the way it is for a consistently good and simple eatery. Sign in for a table and you'll be blessed with a complimentary glass of their house Chardonnay. You can chat with your party or other guests waiting for a table while enjoying your wine. Look over the specials of the day on the black chalkboard and you'll get a good idea of what might whet your appetite before you're seated. We were lucky to be seated within 10 minutes! CHOICES Their entrees come w/ Boudin sourdough bread, a cup of clam chowder or salad, hand cut fries, steamed vegetable, or rice pilaf, and their homemade tartar sauce. Can upgrade to a bowl of chowder for $3.00 STARTERS * Simple green salad w/choice of dressings, you can upgrade to add bay shrimp. Pair that w/Thousand Island dressing! Salad looks deceptively small but just the right serving leading to a delicious entree. You can opt for clam chowder instead but I'll save that for a cold foggy night. Today was a nice warm, balmy night! ENTREES: * Petrale Sole Dore - filet, lightly floured, sautéed in butter, wine & lemon sauce w/capers & mushrooms. A Dore is simple entree that's wonderfully prepared w/a generous serving of mushrooms. Great to order any time! * Halibut Parmesan - baked halibut crusted halibut. The crispy and salty crust is great and would order again! * Grilled salmon w/broccolini is topped w/savory herb butter, perfectly grilled and moist inside. Loved the slight char on the sides, further brightened with fresh squeezed lemon. Any of the grilled fishes are a fav for me! * Fried Oysters are also a fav, nicely fried and topped with their house-made Tartar sauce. The broccolini was a nice contrast to the fried oysters. DESSERT * Black Magic Chocolate Cake - moist and total yum w/a bit of fresh whipped cream topped w/a few fresh raspberries on the side. * Raspberry-swirled cheesecake, similarly paired w/whipped cream and fresh raspberries. I liked that the cakes were NOT drowning in whipped cream so you knew the chocolate cake and cheesecake was the main focus. * Pear Sorbet was light and refreshing, a great way to round out a meal here. Pacific Cafe's simple but well prepared menu has stood the test of time as a very welcoming seafood spot in the neighborhood. Add in the warm, cordial staff and you understand why. They're open for dinner from Wednesday to Sunday 5:00PM to 9:00PM, closed Monday & Tuesdays. P.S. Forgot pictures of our meal. That's what happens when you enjoy a meal w/friends, over a well prepared seafood meal In a comfy setting!

The seafood here was wonderful, and the ambience was really sweet. Free glass of wine while we waited. The staff were all very thoughtful, and we very much enjoyed ourselves. We'll be back!

Not many places have been around since 1974. They have been consistent, serving many of those dishes. I overheard that the cook who has been there since the beginning. Dang. I guess that's how you get the consistency! You can go casual, I like that like you're going home. I will be coming as long as they will be there .

I am giving this place an extra star for being a real hidden gem..and NOT to bury the lead here - they serve Zanze's cheesecake (Their storefront closed pre-covid, and they were maybe going to sell the cheesecakes in Mollie Stone's, but I haven't seen it, anywhere)...THIS has got to be one of only a few places that serves it...I thought it was gone forever, WHEW! Anyway - This place is really old school - the inside reminded me of the OLD Elite cafe before it was fancied up 20 years ago...Old school horseshoe booths, 1970's lighting...Just loved the inside. Our waitress Maureen was a doll. I am not a big seafood eater, but I DO like scallops, and WHAT?? - they had east coast style fried scallops as a special (though I bet it is ALWAYS a special). Served with a home-made tarter sauce. Entrees come with a salad - I had the caesar and the dressing was really good. The sourdough bread is also good. Wine is dirt cheap ($20/bottle for house) - and they tend to give you a glass for free when you get there. Anyway - a fun throw back out by the ocean! Treat yourself! it was about $55/per person pre-tip - which I thought was a pretty decent deal. I will be back.

This darling restaurant is an absolute don't-miss. I went with friends on a Sunday. We got there at about 5:20 and all the tables were already taken! We could see that it's definitely a neighborhood favorite. I didn't realize it has been in business since 1974 -- now that's saying something. We were given glasses of white wine while we waited -- a nice touch. The bread is sourdough from Boudin (YUM). The freshest I've ever tasted. I had the salmon and shrimp scampi which was cooked to perfection. Dessert was a dense chocolate cake, a great ending to the meal. Waitstaff was friendly, quick and efficient. Put this restaurant on your rotation list!

Still just as yummy as 7 years ago with delicious seafood and fish specialties and large portions. There was no line on a Wednesday night at 5:30 and we enjoyed the complimentary glass of white wine. We started with the clam chowder soup, which has generous portion of clams and potato. My dining companions had the shrimp Louie salad, served with complimentary Boudin bread. Three of us had the Parmesan crusted halibut, which was fresh and firm. We ended the meal with Zanze's light cheesecake with whipped cream topping, which is only available in 3 City locations after Mr. Zanze retired last year. It was just as good as it used to be at his Ocean Avenue Bakery. A 45 year old restaurant still holds true in San Francisco.

We tried this restaurant while staying in the Richmond neighborhood for a few days, based on reviews and proximity to our accommodation. We were fortunate to get seated right away soon after opening in a cozy window seat. The restaurant has a cozy orange-hue warmth. I took a star off for feeling rushed. We ordered a bottle of wine, but felt rushed to drink it as service was swift, there were people waiting for tables and it was obvious they were wanting to turn tables. One member of staff walked up our aisle a couple of times, seemingly checking on people's eating status. It's a very small (and popular!) restaurant. On reflection, we should have only ordered a glass each instead of a bottle. We ordered a salmon and fries and salmon and veg. It comes just like that, nothing else on the plate. The bread and butter was really good and they brought us more when we were finished. The meal also came with a cup of soup. The dessert we ordered was like an oversized chocolate cupcake which was very good, although the frosting tasted like the store-bought stuff in a tub. (Still yummy!) One other note, the wait staff were wearing masks (Sept '22) which was great to see.

The food is amazing and always a wonderful meal. The service is good and the atmosphere is inviting. They always have a good crowd, but if you have to wait for a table, they kindly provide a complimentary glass of wine. I highly recommend this neighborhood gem.

A couple on Pier 39 stopped and asked to take a photo of myself and (my now) boyfriend... They were local to San Francisco and asked if we had dinner plans. "You have to go to Pacific Café." The couple gave us the time of the restaurant, where to park and their faves on the menu. I wish I had a thank you card to send this couple for making our night so romantic. This small local spot is a must on your foodie bucket list. Parking is limited, tables are limited but taste and service is overflowing. Everyone from our host to any server we passed has hospitality in their blood. The ticket price is higher than average but the fresh seafood and memorable experience is worth every cent. Ps. If you have to wait for a table... you get free wine That was the biggest tip we received from the SF couple. Can't wait to go back ... anniversary dinner??

This place is a not-so-hidden gem. Really great food and experience. On price; for where it is, this was an affordable meal. $30 Entrees w/ fixins, $24 bottle of (not great) Pinot Noir... On ambience; this place goes for understated elegance without pretension and nails it. Staff is attentive and nice. Free glass of wine while you wait for your table. On food; everything was delicious but simple. Grilled salmon, swordfish, baked shrimp scampi, shrimp cocktail, Caesar salad, clam chowder, rice pilaf, hand-cut steak fries, half loaf of bread... but the one issue I had was that I told our server that we would be sharing food and that I had an allergy to peppers. I even asked if the swordfish could be prepared not Cajun style. However, the pilaf had bell peppers (much to my surprise on bite one) and the shrimp were covered in a paprika/Cajun seasoning. For me this is a mistake a server at "one of the best places in SF" shouldn't make. He was nice enough in offering to replace the rice, but it was more an issue of inattentiveness to details. And it really could have ruined my trip. SO... I highly recommend this place. I can see why it would be ranked so well. It's not Michelin star good. But it was really good seafood. We arrived 20 minutes before opening and by 5 all the tables were full and there was a healthy sign-up list.

Sometimes there is a wait, but you don't have to worry because Frank has you covered with a nice big pour of red or white while you enjoy the crisp SF evening weather. The food is always consistently good. Fried oysters, grilled salmon, grilled scallops with the veg of the day, for instance the nonna approved broccolini, all delicious. They put a yummy giant hunk of sour dough on the table with gobs of butter! The feel of the restaurant is very family friendly. Staff is very welcoming and accommodating. Frank is a gem. Go get some Pacific Cafe!

Always loved this place but... last night the food was off. More expensive for one, the prawns on the combo plate looked like shrimp. Place was not busy. Makes me wonder

Been here many times food and service are great. Easy to reach walk west one block after taking MUNI Bus 38.

I've been to this place numerous times over 20 years and I have never had any issues with food or service. I recommend them highly. They are always excellent.

Love, love, love Pacific Cafe!! Frank is the best server ever, hands down! The food is fresh and rotates daily. The soup and salad are amazing as well!!

We went for the first seating at 5pm Wednesday. Surprised to see that no one was waiting outside unlike before when both the small waiting area inside and outside were packed; perhaps, it's mid-week? The clam chowder did not have the taste of clams, although there were bits of clam meat; more potatoes (and potato powder?), very spicy. The French salad dressing with tiny shrimp was skimpy, I could count the shrimp - used to have more shrimp. The crab cakes were so soft though meaty, tasted like there was dough mixed in it. Service was good, but somewhat disappointed with our food quality. Ambiance was ok, though we like this place for we've gone here for years. All this with increased prices. The pandemic must have lessened the foot traffic and the seafood sourcing must have been affected too.

The food here is amazing. The best crab cakes & Parmesan halibut ever! We have been coming here for years & they never disappoint. Everything here is great, the staff, the atmosphere & the free glass of wine is a plus. We love this place!!!

Dinner was delicious! The service was great! I've lived in the neighborhood over 20 years, always walked by this restaurant but never stopped in. This gem has a unique atmosphere and love the hand written order! I have found my go to restaurant for dinner with friends and family. Thank you for being in the Richmond! See you again soon!

The best seafood fresh and the red wine isn't that bad either. Close by and great wait staff.

Between the quality of the food, the efficiency of the service, and especially the free wine that just keeps flowing, I'd say this seafood restaurant is worth the weekend wait. We were a table of 3 arriving around 6:30pm on a Saturday night and waited about an hour, receiving a couple of free wine refills during that time so that we actually had full glasses again by the time we were seated. No need to order more drinks! With that in consideration, the prices seemed much less steep than they could have been. The entrees were all delicious. I loved that I could order a mini version of the Shrimp Louie salad as my appetizer, and I found my calamari steak entree to be absolutely tender and buttery. I tasted the other 2 entrees of Spicy Snapper and Parmesan Halibut which were also great, but I was so glad I went with the calamari since that is a dish that really proves cooking chops to me. It can easily go from "tender" to "rubberband," so the perfection of this dish at Pacific Cafe really impressed me and nailed the five star rating.

Wow I came here randomly and this place way exceeds my expectation! To begin with, they give you a drink while you wait to be seated (though too bad I can't tolerate much alcohol and thought it was a soft drink at first). Then the food was also way beyond my expectation - the scampi prawn was the best I had so far, so I finished it even after I stuffed myself with the sourdough bread and side soup and felt that I was already kind of full! Finally the price is really reasonable compared to many other places in SF. I really enjoyed my visit and will come back again if I get the chance!

I've passed this place many times, wanting to try it. I finally did. And I can see why it has been in business for so long. They take hospitality seriously. Friendly, efficient service. Right away when you sit down, there is something for you to sink your teeth into. Boudin Sourdough bread with butter. I tried the trout, Stuffed with crab and baked. It was superb. Another time I had the Petrale sole mushrooms and capers. It was delicious. For dessert, I've tried both Zanze cheese cake (light and fluffy, not dense like a NY cheesecake). And Mitchell's ice cream. Delicious. I noticed with Boudin, Zanze, and Mitchell's they like to use local businesses. Good for them. This is a place I'd happily recommend. I look forward to going back. They also had a few outdoor tables.