My plan for our first date was simple, we were just going to walk around Pier 39 and hang out at fisherman's wharf. If it went well, we'd sit down somewhere and eat, if not, we'd simply grab a quick snack and call it a day. After a quick strut around the stores in Pier 39, a visit with the sea lions and an unexpected jump scare from the famed "bush man", she agreed to a sit down dinner. The date was going really well and the vibes are immaculate. It was late May and the City by the bay was showing her beauty that afternoon. Before choosing a place to eat, we decided to peruse the menus of a few restaurants before deciding on a spot. We were both pretty happy with what Boudin had to offer, and the space looked pretty decent. However, I asked if we could look at one more place, right across the street because it looked like it had better views; best decision I could have made. A quick glance at the menu had us convinced that we found our place. As soon as we walked in, we were seated right away and we got a booth with a stunning panoramic view of the bay. Our server was extremely knowledgeable and gave us suggestions based on what we were looking for (crab, shrimp and wine etc,). The service was swift and they were flexible with substituting elements of our selections. Food is very good, and arrived fairly quickly given the items we ordered. We were both impressed with the service and satisfied with our respective meals. We left the place happy knowing that that (The Franciscan, the views, the vibes) was possibly the beginning of a relationship. At any rate, The Franciscan is always a great place for folks visiting the City, and it's an excellent place for larger groups on last minute reservations. For an experience that competes with Waterbar and Epic (in terms of scale and operation), the Franciscan is a viable alternative for the cost. ** sooo we did end up dating for a couple of years after our date at The Franciscan, but our relationship did not last. However my love for this place is still going strong!!! read more

Nice view, clean big venue, reservation for big group. Host is polite and professional. Main male Server is pushy and has attitude. Menu is good variety including kids menu. All cocktails are same price with extensive menu. Charging $4 for bread and butter is not a big deal but dime and nickel tactic, doesn't fit the venue status. Served good white wine, though. Ordered variety of dishes. Calamari and fondue appetizer, crab enchiladas, salmon, sea bass, chowder, soft shell crabs .... Foods are served ok. Taste is generally bland (American style) except the enchiladas are really salty. They tried to clear the table before we finishing dish. Not professional service. Too bad, sunset dinner at the famous Fisherman's Wharf bay, but the venue is quite empty. So at least we did it once. read more

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Seated promptly. Nice view . Exorbitant prices for: Watered down tasteless drinks. Had to pay $ 4.00 for bread that comes with your entree almost any time you order this seafood stew elsewhere. That being said the bread was warmed but stale. That happens to sourdough that's more than a day or two old. Portions were abysmally small for half the price. Ribeye steak is not a ribeye. Maybe a NY strip, or a Denver, no marbling at all. Frozen and slammed down on a over heated grill, I know steaks and how to cook them. You will need that knife we had to ask for and wait until the steak was cold until it arrived just to cut it let alone chew it. Pretty much flavorless, like most frozen, non thawed, non rested steaks before and after cooking. The vegetables were charred and crunchy what could still be recognized as vegetables. Our server did check back one time and I will say they were somewhat busy but really this is not an order from the window and wait for your plate to arrive dining establishment. Having to ask multiple times for the other wait staff to track the clown down and send him to our table was ridiculous. We wined and dined for 3 days in San Francisco and this was absolutely the worst meal and drinks we have survived in our last 2 years, which included 4 overseas trips to Europe and multiple out if town weekend getaways in the US. We felt like we were highway robbed with intent at this place. Complain to a server ? This is a cook and management issue, and when you represent a ribeye on the menu and you get " something " else management is either clueless or partners in crime to the robbery. As a former manager, waiter, cook, hospitality worker, this place is clean but pathetic. Just think if it toppled into the bay Bordin next door would have a better view. We tried them another day. Has better food, prices and service and double the portions for the money. Even the little Japanese tapa place, hole in the wall we enjoyed on our last night had double the portions, actually had 2 lobster tails in the same seafood stew the wife ordered here, and the drinks were exceptional, and didn't just taste like cheap rum. Their ribeye was actually ribeye, The ticket with an additional desert we didn't order at the Franciscan was $ 80.00 less or actually less than half of the extortion at Franciscan ( That was for a couple not a group. ) Its been almost a week and I still can't get the bitter taste of this experience out of my mouth, nor overcome the sting in my wallet. We actually got Taco Bell later that night. ( I have not eaten at Taco Bell in 40 years ) It was the only place open close to our hotel to finish filling the gap left by such small tasteless portions. read more

After walking by this vintage restaurant so much I finally stopped in for an early dinner. It's located on the second floor above Pier 43 1/2, and as you climb the stairwell you'll see the walls are covered with glossy black-and-white portraits of mid-century Hollywood celebrities. Seating is nicely terraced so that every table, from the window banquettes to the booths tucked farther in, gets views of the waterfront. Just in case, there's complimentary binoculars at some of the tables. We ordered the cioppino, an essential litmus test for any seafood spot in Fisherman's Wharf. I also ordered a strawberry ramos gin fizzcocktail, dessert, and bread for dipping in the cioppino. This vintage seafood restaurant remains an unwavering classic dinner spot on the water since 1957. read more

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I came in here last evening about 1 hour before they closed and the place was almost empty, which was nice in its own way. I think this is probably a very popular spot during the day and when weather is nice. I got the more dark, quiet and romantic experience honestly. I loved every minute being in here. My waitress was excellent. Initially, I was going to sit at the bar, but then she suggested the cutest booth seat for 2 that faces the water and I couldnt resist and it was cozy. They even have a pair of binoculars for you to look out into the water. I'll have to come back in the daytime to get that experience. For dinner, I had a Blue Moon draft and also the white fish fillet sandwich with fries. The fish fillet sandwich was one of the best I have ever had. I dont normally like coleslaw or have it on my sandwich or sauces on my sandwich, but this one worked out very nicely. The sauce also had a nice kick to it. Service was spot on, no awkward moments and my waitress was a pro. This was an elegant dinner out experience. Its kind of nice to get the entire place to yourself, in a beautiful nautical themed place. I'll definitely be back again. read more

Franciscan Crab Restaurant - Fish fillet sandwich and fries - the best honestly! - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had a lot of fun eating my Dungeness crab and the presentation and taste were exquisite. We split a side of bread, but it really wasn't enough to fill me up. My husband had a crab sandwich, which stuffed him full. I think I would get something else with my crab next time or find a place with side options. It was a little pricey for no side. The view is amazing, though. We noticed the binoculars on the windowsill afterwards because they were a little behind us. It would have been nice to know they were there sooner, because that's a neat touch. Also, I felt a little judged for not knowing the difference between the crab options. We don't live by an ocean, so we don't know these things like sea dwellers might. read more

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This restaurant has both great decor and location with great view of the bay. Menu items are pricey and expect to pay $40 to $90 per person. Waiters give great service. Iced tea is some of the best I've ever had. Portions could be a bit larger. I had the sea bass and loved it. Also had a salad which had decent dressing but was a bit basic and could have been a bit larger. Fish and chips are good, but as one would expect, a more basic taste. Very good size portion for the fish and chips. Quality seemed good. I wanted to try their Dungeness crab but couldn't bring myself to spend that much on a single entre. Overall, good meal, good service but could be a bit better value for the salad and sea bass. read more

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This place was amazing!!! I was a little skeptical thinking it was a tourist trap, because it was so close to all the action. I could not have been more wrong! The clam chowder in the bread bowl was the best I've ever had! We had the iron skillet roasted shrimp and crab - WOW! The puttanesca pasta with crab was incredible! If you are in the mood for a great meal in the Bay area - this is it! read more

Franciscan Crab Restaurant - Hot iron skillet with shrimp and crab. - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Excellent view, excellent ambiance, great staff, and good food. You can't lose here. From waterfront view to the amazing dining choices, this is a sure fire winner. Perfect spot to take in the scenery and enjoy some SF food fare. Don't miss this while visiting Fisherman's Wharf. read more

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We stopped in here for a light lunch while visiting the city. The decor is upscale and the staff is awesome. They were attentive and friendly. We had two margaritas and about loved them. Blended perfectly. My wife and I split her calamari and a chowder bowl. They were perfect! Some of the best calamari I've had in a while too! Our next trip will include a dinner here! read more

Franciscan Crab Restaurant - Chowder bowl - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Service is AMAZING! Food was good too. We had everything from kid's meals to crab enchiladas and it was all good. Lovely views during the day. Did I mention service was excellent? read more

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My wife and I made last minute NYE reservations. We were extremely happy that they had availability when we booked the day before this momentus occasion. We never been here before so we were very excited to try it. We love Crab House and Fog Harbor, so we were familiar with the type of menu that had here. However, we wanted a fancier feeling and we got it. The restaurant is hugh and beautiful. We loved looking at the pictures as you come up and down the stairs, we love the "old school" feeling that it gave with every intricate detail. Thank you to the male host of the night who ensured that my wife and I got a booth. He was an older gentleman that was very very polite. We appreciated it. We were seated under 10 mins from our reservation time. Our server greeted us immediately, but he seemed a little impatient. We decided to be understanding towards him at that time because it was a busy night. We ordered our drinks from the drink menu (Blueberry lemon drop and a mojito) appetizers (Bread and cesear salad to share) and entree (Whole crab, mussels and shrimp platter) all at the same time. Our appetizer came out and honestly I was disappointed because we paid $17.99 for the large and it did not even cover the entire plate. I felt we were a little ripped off. Our entrees literally came out like 5 mins after the appetizer. The problem with that is that it came out like less than 10 mins of ordering it. Honestly, i don't think it was made at the time of ordering. I think it was already sitting. Neither the person that brought it nor our waiter poured the special garlic sauce over it like we saw other tables receive. That was disappointing. Our food was a little cold, but we didn't bother to say anything because it was a busy night. So we just ate it. Our drinks did not come until we were already halfway into our entrees. It took over 20 mins for them to come. My wife's drink was messed up and unfortunately the waiter did not return immediately for us to let him know. However, when he finally did, she let him know that it was missing the Blueberries and the red liquid at the bottom. She showed him the picture because it looked nothing like it. He went to get it remade. However, we do not believe that it was remade because the red liquid was sitting at the top of the drink. He informed her that it was bitters, but honesty.. that did not look like what was in the picture. It looked horrible and it tasted horrible. However, she could not immediately tell him that because he left out table and took a little minute to return. She ordered a blue drink instead. We completed just about all of our meal and she still did not get her drink. He finally returned to ask her if she so wanted it. That was crazy...of course she did. It then came and he apologized like twice. I was a bit annoyed because I felt like we were rushed out food and then lack of care for our drinks afterwards. I even said something to him about her drink and his excuse was the bartender is busy. That's not good enough though. I do not believe or waiter took the time out to ensure that we received our drinks in a timely fashion. My wife had the mango sundae for dessert and she said it was pretty decent. However, it looked a hot mess when it was brought. Cream was all down the side of the glass and the whip cream looked flat at the top. It looked lik it was already melting. Also, it did not even have much mango (Although the picture looks like it did, it was seriously not worth $12.99). Overall, I feel that we were somewhat robbed of top notch service and hot food. The restaurant is not super expensive, but i did expect so much more attentiveness, hot food, timeliness of drinks and a waiter that just acted like he cared. I feel that he lacked customer service.. maybe because he was overwhelmed.. but I still need to put what I felt in my review. read more

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I have been dining at The Franciscan regularly since the 70s. The last time I stopped for lunch, the house music was that simpering, whining stuff that young girls adore. Not me. There was also an increase in the price for cocktails : $15 for a well drink ! How depressing. read more

Came here with a group of 14 and had a great overall experience. I ordered the fish and chips along with the combo crab platter. The shrimp was the standout for me, i really enjoyed it. Next time I'd probably just order the shrimp. The crab was fine, but for me it's a lot of work for a small payoff. Still, everything tasted good. My wife got the bass with capers and lemon and she really liked it. It came with seasoned vegetables and was cooked well. The location is a big plus. The place overlooks the bay and we were seated in a corner with a nice view. Service was excellent, especially considering the size of our group. Overall, a solid spot and a good experience. read more

Franciscan is one of the last restaurants of the original Fisherman's Wharf dining landmarks to still be standing. Places like Alioto's and Fisherman's Grotto are all gone now. What I love about this place is the view of the Bay and its 2-hour validated parking. Great date night place and service. My party definitely liked their signature seafood dishes there but I probably made a mistake to get the burger which was just ordinary. Next time I'll try the garlic noodles which I heard was delicious with the grilled shrimp. read more

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We have been coming here for years. The food is consistently good, and the views are breathtaking. Today's service was not typical. The wait staff was running around feverishly and yet we were left unattended for long stretches. It appeared that they were understaffed. I would have appreciated knowing this rather than not having the service I've come to depend on. read more

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Best meal I've ever had. Muscles were steeling garlicky and tasty. Amazing dish with the. Pasta. read more

Franciscan Crab Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What a great location and a beautiful view! Nice, quiet ambiance on a Thursday. We had to try the banana drink! It was yummy! I had the sea bass and veggies. It was good. The fish was tender and I chose the sun dried tomato and olive oil topping. There were several choices of how it could be prepared. There were eight of us and our waiter was patient and attentive - we were high maintenance because some at our table were a bit tipsy. Ugh. There is a good wine selection. And great drinks! Although we wanted peppermint schnapps as a holiday toast and they didn't have it. Darn. But we all had a great time and would definitely come back! read more

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Charming, vintage, seafood restaurant is located on the pier side of the street. Located on the second floor, the restaurant provides a breathtaking vantage point. The stairwell is dark and the walls are covered with black and white photos of Hollywood stars from back in the day. It was fun guessing who was who The set up is well designed because there is no bad seed in the place. Those seated closest to the windows are lower than the booths in the middle, which are lower than the booths furthest away from the windows. The food was divine. The menu is patently fish, but they also have at least one vegetarian and beef dish. We all had a fillet of fish that was generously sized served on a skillet shaped like a fish alongside a medley of perfectly charred vegetables. The service was exquisite. We wanted for nothing. I'm looking forward to returning here. read more

Was actually on the wharf because I had a hankering for in n out but didn't feel right leaving without eating some shrimps. Which is exactly what I ordered..... just a plate full of shrimps and a table full of views. Wonderful :3 read more

Franciscan Crab Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We came to Franciscan Crab for dinner. We made reservations and we were glad we did. The view was amazing during our meal. We truly enjoyed our evening. Thank you all for allowing us to enjoy ourselves. The food was phenomenal. Kudos to the chefs, servers, and hostesses. Great experience. Thank you! Enjoy! :) read more

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Nice place to get some seafood at Fishermans Warf in san Fran Its a 2 story large, dining room restaurant with cool views of the ocean, looking out towards Alcatraz. At first it seems like an impressive upscale place to eat when you walk in but then you realize its more casual and family friendly eatery...good for out of town visitors Reservation are encouraged but not neccessary. They have a full bar with plenty of drinks on their menu to enjoy. As for the food, the selections on the menu sound great and when the food comes out to you, you will be impressed as you enjoy the flavor. Wait staff is welcoming and efficient Parking is located on the streetor street garage. Our story: we booked this place to celebrate our wedding anniversary and it was definitely worth it. Reservations got us in and seated on time. There was plenty food for our family to choose from and enjoy. The atmosphere was fun and chill at the same time esp with our kids dining with us. The food presentation all around us just made the meals we ordered even more enjoyable. The crab was cooked to perfection, the mussels very flavorfull, the shrimp was succulent ...teust me, you will really enjoy eating here See photos read more

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I Came here with my friends and family. We ordered around of Cappuccinos for the table and bread bowls of clam chowder! I'm making this statement now... the BEST clam chowder that I have personally had yet. The service was great constantly checking on us and the views of Alcatraz was fantastic read more

We had an amazing dining experience! There 13 of us plus two babies. The waiter patiently accommodated our group without any reservations. We started with the calamari which was so good! It was nice and crispy and the seasoning was spot on! Our main entree was the grilled shrimp and mussels paired with a butter garlic sauce. It was finger licking good! This place has been around for some time and I can see why. It certainly did not disappoint. read more

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I enjoyed my dinner. I got the crab was really fresh tasty the garlic sauce was good at the time and the taste of the garlic noodles and the type of noodle was preferred. I did think the wait time for service was pretty long. The restaurant was not very full at all lotta empty tables, but once the server got to us, the food came pretty quickly after we ordered. I really enjoy the view of the bay and the Ferris wheel. The ambience inside the restaurant is more of a diner feel. And I didn't know that this restaurant is more likely closely related to the dead fish that's nearby my house. The food has a little different though like I don't like the garlic noodles at dead fish, but this one was OK. read more

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I'm a big ol' amateur when it comes to seafood like this, but on my San Francisco trip I had to try a full crab. It was exactly the painful experience I expected it might be, but I admit it was very tasty. The restaurant is in a great spot along the water with plenty of seating and good views. The service was fantastic - I recall our server coming in clutch multiple times with napkins/towelettes and new butter. While crab isn't for me, this seems like a good place to get it. read more

The host left us waiting for 20 minutes. We had a reservation. They ignored my telling them. Then finally seated us. The server billed us for two clam chowder bread bowls. We didn't order one! We had ordered a cup of clam chowder. When we pointed the error out to him he offered to give us more soup. We agreed that would be ok. He gave us a SMALL container that was only HALF full. The ladies restroom was deplorable! I was shocked at how dirty it was. The floor was filthy. The tp was non existent. The sinks were dirty. It looked uninhabitable! I would not recommend this place read more

We booked our Valentine's Day reservation more than two weeks in advance through OpenTable -- because we all know how ridiculously hectic prime dinner hours can be, especially at Fisherman's Wharf on a holiday like that. And I was very glad we did. When we arrived, the check-in line was about eight tables deep. It looked intimidating, but it actually moved quickly. We showed up about 20 minutes early for our 7PM reservation and were told they were running slightly behind -- totally expected given the night and location. But surprisingly, we were seated in less than five minutes. We were placed in a cozy sweetheart booth facing both the window and the dining room. The restaurant was buzzing, but we didn't mind the lively atmosphere at all. Our server, Juan Carlos, came by promptly for drinks, but we were ready to order: bread and butter, clam chowder, calamari, whole crab, and a ribeye, plus a diet soda and iced tea. It may have been a lot for a small table because we definitely had to play a little food Tetris -- but no complaints here. Let's start with the bread. I'm weak for good bread, and I appreciated that they serve ACME bread, which I actually prefer over the kettle bread at their sister restaurant. My only personal gripe was the butter being cold and hard to spread -- but not something worth derailing dinner over. The clam chowder was rich and flavorful, though lighter on the clam pieces than I'd hoped -- and the ones I did find were more minced than chunky. Still tasty. The calamari was excellent -- light batter, well seasoned, not overcooked, and the addition of sweet peppers and onions was a great touch. We were glad we ordered the large. The ribeye was prepared chef's choice (likely to streamline service on a fully booked night), and it came out exactly how we like it -- medium rare. It could've used a touch more seasoning, but that's easily adjusted with table salt if you prefer. The roasted potatoes and vegetables, however, felt like an afterthought -- under-seasoned and not particularly memorable. The whole crab was delightful and well seasoned overall. Some of the body meat was slightly dry and rubbery near the outer sections, but once we got closer to the center, it was tender and sweet. We thoroughly enjoyed it. By the end, we were too full to even consider dessert. Service on Valentine's Day is always a balancing act, and Juan Carlos did his best to check in with us when he could. He apologized for any delays, but honestly, we were enjoying our meal and each other's company and didn't feel neglected. Despite the packed house, we also never felt rushed. All things considered, it was a festive, satisfying Valentine's dinner -- and we'd absolutely return on a less hectic evening. read more

Came here for dinner during sunset. I ordered the clam chowder, ciopinno, and whole crab. I thought everything tasted great! The clam chowder was warm and had plenty of meat. The portions of the other dishes were also big. I only wish the ciopinno came with bread, it feels like a big part of the dish and having to pay extra for it seems silly. We sat outside on the nice balcony with a pretty view of the Ferris wheel. Our server was very attentive, filling waters, bringing new butter when ours got too cold and solid, and even opening our wet napkins for us. Their outdoor heaters were not working very well so it got colder than I was hoping. Overall this was a great option for dinner on the water! read more

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This place is a staple of mine . Never a disappointment. You have the best view in the bay and the best crab Staff has always been attentive a,and helpful. read more

The food was delicious! The service was attentive and friendly. The views are gorgeous! read more

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Ask for Yuri's section! He has an incredible team. Professional and friendly service that is 2nd nature to him. The food was wonderful and served quickly. Wonderful meal, huge portion which made the price less of an ouch. read more

The Franciscan Crab House is one of those San Francisco icons where the food, the view, and the experience come together in the best way. Located right on Fisherman's Wharf, it offers sweeping views of the bay--Alcatraz, the Golden Gate, and a bustling waterfront atmosphere that feels quintessentially San Francisco. Seafood is, of course, the star of the show. The Dungeness crab is served fresh, tender, and sweet, with just the right touch of seasoning. Their signature "Crab Feast" is worth every bite, especially if you're a true seafood lover. The garlic roasted crab and crab cakes are standouts, both perfectly balanced in flavor without overpowering the natural sweetness of the crab. The menu goes beyond crab, too--garlic pasta, oysters on the half, clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl, and even non-seafood dishes are well executed. . Portion sizes are generous, and everything comes out hot and well-prepared. Service is attentive and friendly, even with the high volume of tourists the restaurant sees daily. The staff keeps the pace smooth without rushing you, allowing you to fully enjoy the view and the meal. Yes, prices are on the higher side, but you're paying for both quality seafood and one of the best dining views in the city. For visitors and locals alike, the Franciscan Crab House is a memorable spot that delivers the flavor of San Francisco in every sense. read more

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Perfectly fried fish with a light breading, served with fresh garlic fries. Can't beat the view! Definitely a delicious and comfortable spot to take out of towners for a Fisherman's wharf bite. read more

Franciscan Crab Restaurant - Fish and chips with a view! - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very good service & food, great view. Parking is a little challenging in that area but it's worth it.

Service was great. The dungeoness crab was fabulous. The crab cakes had lots of crab in them. I think they were small for over $30. It was Thursday in December, so very quiet. read more

The stars are due to the worn out ambience. It's a shame that this idyllic spot facing the bay has not been cared for better. It really needs a facelift indoors. That being said, the food was very good. In fact, my son really enjoyed Experiencing crab for the first time. Our server did a very good job. I felt sorry for him because we were one of just a handful of tables. Despite it being early December, I feel like there is a bit of a ghost town feeling. I hope they don't close down and I would like to see them put a little bit more effort into the decor read more

Service was great and crab dish was best we've had by the very touristy Wharf. It is worth the price. Nothing better than eating crab outside overlooking the bay. read more

Franciscan Crab Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious drinks and crab! I do feel it is a little pricey for the portion sizes you receive. Overall the feel and ambiance is really welcoming. Our server was incredibly nice! read more

Franciscan Crab Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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this is an amazing place, right by the pier with beautiful scenery of the waters. definitely romantic, the rib eye, cioppino and calamari is amazing!!! pls try it! service is also excellent! read more

Franciscan Crab Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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