Coqueta
Spanish restaurant · North Waterfront ·
Spanish tapas & family-style plates with waterfront views
Spanish tapas & family-style plates with waterfront views
"The waterfront outpost is described as remaining "a San Francisco staple" but is also tied to earlier controversies: Eater reported in 2016 that two former employees sued over an alleged "sexually charged, hostile, and abusive environment." The same reporting notes that Gruppo Chiarello was sued that year over late pay and "manipulated clocks and timesheets." - Dianne de Guzman
"If there’s one thing that lasting restaurants on the Embarcadero understand, it’s hospitality — and Coqueta ranks among the best in that department. These days, it’s Sevilla native chef Marco Paz leading the kitchen and the vision of star chef Michael Chiarello’s ode to Spain. (Chiarello passed away in 2023.) Coqueta has ultimate versions of Spanish classics like creamy jamón ibérico croquetas, smoky charred octopus, pintxos for days, and maybe the greatest Basque-style manchego cheesecake you’ll ever devour. An intriguing array of gin and tonics and a very thorough wine list from all over Spain make for both a gorgeous waterfront happy hour or a dinner in the plush dining room." - Adrian Spinelli
"I note that Coqueta at Pier 5 in San Francisco remains open, though two former employees of Coqueta in San Francisco filed lawsuits accusing Chiarello and other management-level employees of creating an allegedly “sexually charged, hostile, and abusive environment,” including claims that he regularly made sexual comments about female customers, and alleging that the restaurant group failed to pay wages and overtime, manipulated clocks and timesheets, and forced front-of-house employees to pool their tips with the kitchen staff." - Lauren Saria
"Chef Michael Chiarello does traditional tapas in a totally new way. For one thing, the portions are hearty and filling, not the miniscule bites you might be used to; the ingredients lean heavily on what's in season rather than what's expected. For dessert, get the churros—served with drinking chocolate and a sci-fi-looking berry powder. While you wait for a table (call ahead for reservations), the outdoor bar is a fun scene to grab a drink."
"A tasty little morsel of a space serving up mouthwatering tapas, Michael Chiarello’s Pier 5 destination offers shimmering views of the bay from its rustic dining room, equipped with rough-hewn wooden tables, cowhide rugs, and a big, theatrical open kitchen and bar. There’s a bit more space on the tented outdoor patio, but if your heart is set on a table, book early. Its name is Spanish for "flirt," and Coqueta's alluring menu has caused more than one enraptured diner to over-order. Some fine options: crunchy-creamy chicken and pea croquetas , mini sandwiches of smoked salmon with queso fresco and truffle honey, and wood-grilled octopus with tender fingerling potatoes. Complete the experience with the Asturian apple pie with Cabrales blue cheese ice cream." - The MICHELIN Guide