Anchovy Bar continues to be one of my favorite restaurants in SF. The quality of the product and creativity is always impressive. The sundae with caramelized anchovies is memorable! What made the experience even better this time around was our server, Gabi. She was friendly, attentive, and made some fantastic recommendations to complement our choices. read more

The host was super nice and friendly! Something I really appreciate about San Francisco is the warm, personable service. He was genuine, accommodating, and made check-in a great experience. He was awesome. The server, however, felt very pushy about ordering food and, honestly, anything on the menu. It came across more like upselling than hospitality, and it unfortunately took away from the overall experience. Overall loved the restaurant and the vibe. Thank you! read more

Amazing seafood focused menu with so many dishes to recommend. Our favorite was definitely the scallop toast and a sure reason to return. The squid salad was a great contrast of textures and the trout chips and dip was a delicious take on this trend. Every dish was well composed made with the freshest high quality ingredients. Sat outside on the sidewalk in a fully enclosed patio which kept us warm but was a little tight. Service was warm and friendly. Excellent date night spot! read more

See all

Fabulous meal! I felt like we had the best seat in the house at the counter to watch all the action. Servers were super fun and friendly. Lovely and engaging interaction but left us to our own devices too. We sat at the end of the counter where they stage and run plates - felt in the thick of the action. And it helped to see dishes. We ordered the potatoes, the chips and dip, Monterey squid salad, trout tartar, and the clam entree with sweet potatoes. I like that for some of the dishes you can get a small or large size dish which is nice if you have many diners in the party, Everything was delicious. We started with the potatoes and dip dishes first. Both good, I'd order again. As I always say, who doesn't love a good smear?! Flavors were good, balanced, not too fishy on the dip. For the potatoes I liked the creamy sauce with hot sauce, nice mix of creamy and heat. I loved the trout and squid dishes! The squid dish has only been on the menu for about 3 days due to seasonal ingredients like the squid and pea pods. I loved the flavors in both dishes. A little Asian flair with some ginger, coconut, herbs, peanuts, etc, we had the trout before the squid and I was thinking the trout was my favorite dish then the squid came and that become my favorite dish. Then the clams and I realized it was all just so good! Bustling spot, delicious, pricey but not terrible. 100% worth it. read more

See all

Fantastic place that I am surprised took me so long to discover. It's been on my list for a while and it actually exceeded my expectations. Expect a lively seen in a cool and hip environment with friendly and approachable service, fresh and bright seafood dishes and a great wine list. We purchased a bottle of one of their cheaper whites and it was very delicious and went well with all of the food we ordered. Smoked "fish and chips" - 4/5. Smoked fish dip with potato chips. Not the best version of this I have had, but solid none the less Patatas bravas with artichoke ricotta dip - 4/5. Potatoes were more pave style. Liked the dish, but I didn't think it was better than your more typical patatas bravas you get at most Spanish restaurants, but I appreciated the fresh take. Trout tartar w/ kumquats, aji amarillo and crispy crunchies - 5/5. This was fantastic. Loved all the play of flavors and textures going on in here. At first I thought it was weird that there wasn't any kind of cracker, or crisp and vessel to put it on, but the dish was strong enough on it's own. Squid salad w/ guava viniagrette - 6/5. Wow, I could have eaten a vat of this stuff. So many delicious flavors and textures going on. Get this. Steamed clams with lemongrass, makrut lime and sweet potatoes - 5/5. Tomato-based broth with really bright flavors from the lemongrass and lime leaf and clams were cooked perfectly. Another unique dish. Peanut shots - 5/5. Tasted like liquid butterfinger. Black sesame and chocolate cake w/ jasmine cloud - 4/5. Wished the sponge was either denser or fluffier, but otherwise, the flavors were great. Another standout restaurant from the State Bird/Progress folks. I definitely recommend this place if you are a fan of seafood and appreciate unique flavor profiles. read more

See all

Really great experience overall, lots of diversity in flavors and textures! Would rate somewhere in between a 4 and 5, but rounding up because there was a lot of interesting stuff on the menu and I'd want to come back to try more. Full on a Saturday evening, but it wasn't crowded or too loud; it was nice to sit in front of the bar, where you could see the chefs preparing everything through glass windows. Service was perfect, no complaints. Anchovy pintxos were a really nice start to the meal; bit smaller than the ones in San Sebastián, but deep anchovy flavor, nice acid. Cherrystone clams from the raw bar were the highlight, fantastic mix of textures; sort of like an aguachile served in the shell, really liked the contrast between the clam and the roasted pepitos. Hokkaido scallop toast was good - really sweet scallops, nicely accented by the citrus. I did think the bread, while tasty, was a bit thick and the texture made it a bit harder to appreciate the delicate flesh of the scallop. Smoked fish dip was great! Very reminiscent of the one at their sister restaurant State Bird, loved the texture. The cantabrian anchovies were okay, but it felt like there weren't enough anchovies and the flavors got overpowered by the beets; for the price ($23), I would not get it again (and would rather just go for some more pintxos for the anchovy). Dungeness crab cavatelli was delicious, but I honestly feel like the highlight was the fermented turnip (or radish?), which added a lot of complexity and acidity. At times the sauce overpowered the crab, but overall a very cohesive dish. Ended the night with the sundae; I personally really liked it, but I can imagine it's somewhat divisive since there's a lot of anchovy - like, a LOT, like, every bite will have several. I appreciated the contrasting flavors and the overall dish reminded me of delicious buttered popcorn, but I can imagine it's not everyone's cup of tea. Also a pretty generous portion. Spent a bit under $200 for two, but we ordered a ton and were stuffed by the end of the meal. read more

See all

Such a cute spot for super fresh seafood, perfect for a refreshing bite as summer approaches! The service was super friendly and informative, we were able to get seated without reservations on a Monday around 6:20pm, and the host kindly gave us indoor and outdoor options, as well as a gentle reminder as to when they would need our table by. Highly recommend the mix platter for a little taste of everything, the oysters were SOO GOOD AND FRESH WOW. I'm a saucy girl so I wish they gave more sauce! Would love to come back and try the different wines as well. read more

The Anchovy Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Perfect dinner. We started with the mixed platter for 2 and it set the bar high right away. Everything on it was fresh and flavorful but the shrimp and cherrystone clams really stood out. Super clean, perfectly prepared. Then we saw another table get the Hokkaido scallop toast and immediately changed our plans. Crispy, rich, and just indulgent enough without going overboard. The Japanese cucumber salad was bright and refreshing, and those pickled mushrooms? So good. They added this tangy, earthy bite that made the whole dish way more interesting than your standard cucumber salad. We finished with the Dungeness crab cavatelli and wow. Just wow. Perfectly cooked pasta, tasty crab, everything balanced and satisfying without feeling heavy. Not a single miss all night. read more

See all

We came for our anniversary and it was such a nice place. They gave us a special anniversary menu with hearts and kissing sardines. We ordered a little bit of everything and everything was perfectly timed. When we'd finish a dish the next one was put down. Everything we got was done super well with tons of flavor. Really enjoyed the chip & dip and the bread to start. The broiled oysters were so good and the trout tartare was so fresh. The scallop toast was a perfect bite, great textures and a bright finish. Lastly the peanut milk was the best way to finish. I still think about it weeks later, very cute spot can't wait to come back! read more

See all

I'd been wanting to try this place for a long time, and I finally made it on Sunday with friends before a movie at Kabuki. We decided to share everything, which was the perfect way to taste more of the menu: smoked fish with chips and dips, Dungeness crab toast, Cantabrian anchovies, trout tartare, and focaccia. Everything was really good overall. The only dish I liked a bit less was the Cantabrian anchovies, simply because their flavor didn't stand out to me as much as I expected. We also had some wine, enjoyed the outdoor seating, and the service was genuinely good. A very pleasant pre-movie spot. read more

See all

Being the sister restaurant to State Bird Provisions, we were super excited to try out the dishes. The ambiance was very cute and intimate and the service was friendly though it was busy so a few dishes were either handed to us that were for nearby tables etc. but otherwise it was a nice experience. We ordered the Anchovy Toast, the Wine Braised Clams, the Trout Tartare and the Smoked Fish. The only thing I can say that was the highlight of the night was the Anchovy Toast which was very tasty. The filets were rich and not fishy and the spread and toast went together perfectly. Unfortunately the rest of the dishes were very underwhelming and underseasoned. For the price point, I would only recommend checking it out if only for their Anchovy toast!!! read more

Daughter gave me a choice of restaurants to go to in SF. Being a lover of anchovies, this place stood out and I chose to dine here. I didn't regret choosing this cozy, modern, intimate place - we had an amazing time at the bar and enjoyed every food we ordered. The menu especially made for the birthday celebrant was a thoughtful touch. The anchovy tomato toast did not disappointment. We also got the amazing mixed platter, suitable for 2 people. It included 3 types of oysters, 2 of each, 2 cherry stone clam salsa, 2 salt springs mussels ravigote, a delicious bottarga potato salad, 4 poached shrimps with spicy peanut sambar, and 2 anchovy pintxos. It was a truly satisfying and awesome birthday meal. The anchovy sundae was the highlight of this awesome and delicious experience, we loved it so much. An amazing concoction and combination of tamarind caramel and candied anchovy-coconut-cashew crumble. It was a happy birthday indeed! Kind, friendly and attentive staff. I won't mind coming back here at all; in fact, I would love to go again. read more

See all

Love love love!!! Came to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday and Anchovy Bar was the perfect place to do so. The space is intimate and is perfect for a date night, girls night, etc. I was so blown away by the dishes we ordered that I wish it wasn't small plates. We ordered: - Anchovy Toast: so good, we ordered it twice. The bread is crispy and is the perfect bite to compliment the anchovies and edamame hummus. No notes. - Balsamic Charred Oysters: tastes just like how it sounds - Tartar: this dish was OK, I wish it came with a vessel for the dip instead of eating just the tartar on it's own. We ordered the focaccia to pair it with and it was yummy - Chip & Dip: delicious! The chips are homemade, and the dip tasted like tuna? Not sure, but the fish roe definitely made each bite fun We ended the night with the famous anchovy sundae, I wasn't sure how all the components of the flavor would work together, but it did. The saltiness from the anchovies paired with the caramel and coconut shavings were so good. Service was also great, Dani was wonderful and took the time to explain the menu. read more

See all

A few months back we dined at their sister restaurant State Bird and it was fabulous so we have made it a mission to try all three of these restaurants- Anchovy Bar next. It was AMAZING!! Loved the cool, intimate interior and it also has an outside patio. Service was fabulous throughout the night and the food was superb !! We began with the warm focaccia with garum salt and then the smoked fish chip n dip which is very similar to a State Bird dish and delicious! As this is called 'Anchovy Bar' they highly suggest you try one anchovy dish! We were hesitant as no one in our party likes Anchovies but we went ahead and tried the local anchovy tomato toast and it was delicious and not a hint of any fishiness whatsoever! Then we enjoyed the broiled oysters, albacore, halibut and every dish was out of this world!! Loved everything about this place and Will definitely return!! read more

See all

The anchovy bar has an intimate, cozy, but modern interior perfect for a date night. The menu is quite inventive, and the Dungeness crab toast was so delicious and creamy with citrusy flavor! We also thought the smoked fish dip was amazing and had a bold flavor. Other items we enjoyed were the broiled oysters and wine braised clams. The only item we didn't enjoy so much was the poached shrimp 'spicy peanut sambal' because I feel like you could get something similar at a casual restaurant or make it at home for much cheaper. The rest of the menu felt very innovative! read more

See all

I didn't think I liked anchovies until I ate at Anchovy Bar. We ordered the local anchovy toast with edamame hummus ($26), rice cake kimchi stir-fry with squid and pork belly ($28), winter chicories with fuyu persimmon and ricotta salata ($18), McFarland Springs trout tartare, habanada vinaigrette, pomegranate, nuts & seeds ($14 half size). Every dish was delicious and beautifully balanced. read more

See all

This place just jumped onto my list of top restaurants in SF. I can't believe I'd never been here before. As someone who doesn't particularly like anchovies, I was blown away by how inventive and delicious every dish was. Almost everything features anchovies in some way, yet nothing feels repetitive, each dish shows off how versatile this little fish can be. My favorite was the anchovy tomato toast. the tomatoes are bright and tangy (you can tell they're in season) and the anchovy adds this deep, savory punch that ties everything together. It's perfectly balanced, salty, sweet, acidic, and umami all at once. The clams were another standout, served in a tomato-based broth that's oh so flavorful you'll want to drink it. Pro tip: order an extra focaccia and use it to soak up every drop. It's honestly one of the best bites I've had in a while. The anchovies themselves are locally caught and incredibly delicate, buttery, and not overly fishy at all. I always assumed good anchovies came from Spain, but apparently California has its own secret stash. The vibe is warm and laid back but still feels special. The space reminds me a bit of The Progress (think they're part of the same restaurant group), cozy yet polished atmosphere, soft lighting, and a lively but not overwhelming, very new Californian. Only downside: there's just one bathroom, so be prepared for a wait if it's a busy night. Service was also great. Even though the place was packed, the staff took the time to walk us through the menu and share a bit about the restaurant's story and where the fish comes from. You can tell they genuinely care about what they're serving. Overall, Anchovy Bar completely changed the way I think about anchovies. I'll definitely be back to try their nee menu next season. read more

See all

wow such an amazing anchovy experience. i loved the toast and ice cream the most! i also appreciated them taking me in without a reservation, although i think we were just lucky in timing because it was a full house. read more

See all

I live in the area, so The Anchovy Bar has been on my list of neighborhood to-tries. I finally got around to getting a reservation for an early dinner to catch up with a friend. The restaurant is small, intimate, with a nice view of the chefs preparing the food in front of the bar. The outside seating looked even better - with a glass encasement and outdoor heating. We got a seat at the bar, so it was fun to watch our food come to life. We ordered quite a few things - to start, the smoked fish dip, the trout tartare, beet and anchovy burrata, and Hokkaido scallop toast. For our main, we opted for the Dungeness crab cavatelli. Everything was solid, but the two things we'd come back for were the toast and the cavatelli. We were pretty disappointed that the famous anchovy toast is only available at select times of the year, so we'll have to come back for this one! I think we ordered quite a bit to share between two people and would probably opt for 3 things next time so we have room for the Anchovy sundae. We didn't get the most attentive service and had to flag folks down a couple of times, but overall the experience and the food was solid and it would be worth going back. read more

See all

I've been trying to visit The Anchovy Bar for a while now and was excited to get the anchovy tomato toast which is their classic dish! We also shared the heirloom tomatoes and the squid & shishito 'stir fry' which was a good amount of food between two people. My favorite had to be the anchovy tomato toast which was super yummy and filling with plump anchovies, super ripe tomatoes and a great seeded bread. One of my favorite bites recently for sure! The heirloom tomatoes which came topped with toasted quinoa was great as well and so flavorful. Finally the squid 'stir fry' was really interesting as it came with crispy thin noodles that soaked up the sauce completely which turned the noodles into more of a soft chewy texture. Definitely reminisce read more

The Anchovy Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

For starters I want to say that I was bar hopping, and the anchovy bar was our first stop. The ambiance is very intimate and small. Definitely a date night spot. I do recommend going here early and with a reservation. The service was great, it is fine dinning so as far as price please be prepared. Do your homework before heading out. As the food is experience you're paying for what you're getting. Qualify fresh food. I was disappointed as their most viral dish was unavailable. But, I will return for the sardines and tomato toast. We had both anchovy dishes as well as the crab toast, the 1/2 dozen oysters and the burrata salad with beets and anchovies. Our drinks were delicious and helped our pairing. Over all return during April and October as anchovies are in season. read more

See all

Did part 2 of my mom's birthday celebration here and we had an amazing meal! We had a reservation for 5:30pm on a Saturday at the bar and got to see the chefs in action. Of course, we tried their staple anchovy tomato toast which was really yummy and filling (nice that it comes with 2). We also got the mixed platter (which is suitable to share for 2) to try as much as possible. It included 6 oysters (3 types), 2 cherry stone clam salsa, 2 salt springs mussels ravigote, 1 bottarga potato salad, 4 poached shrimp w spicy peanut sambal, 2 anchovy pintxos all for $75. The star of the show was the sundae - pls pls get this, you won't regret it. It comes with tamarind caramel & candied anchovy-coconut-cashew crumble that was the perfect balance in each bite. My mom, who's usually not a fan of ordering ice cream, absolutely loved it. The staff was kind and attentive. They were so sweet to make my mom's menu special with happy birthday stamps and "best fishes on your birthday." They also gave her a sparkler for her birthday on the side of the sundae we ordered. The space inside was intimate and cool, with black stone and wood where natural meets chic. The bathroom was clean and also a vibe. Would love to come back and try their other dishes! read more

See all

Took a friend visiting from out of town here on a nice dinner. We enjoyed the small, cozy and intimate atmosphere. Yet I will say, it was a bit loud and we listened into a lot of conversation from the table next to us lol. Waitress was super knowledgeable about the menu. Staff were quick to get plates off the table which is nice because we didn't have a whole lot of table space. I love the seafood focus. We ordered 1/2 dozen oysters. Delicious and very clean and fresh. Then we had the smoked fish chip n dip. The potato chips here were unsalted, just pure crisped potato, and that let the dip shine more. Creamy and balanced. Of course, you can't go to Anchovy bar without getting anchovies. We ordered their popular Anchovy toast, and it did not disappoint. I really enjoyed biting down and tasting the buttery anchovies with the lightness of the edamame hummus and the crunch of the toast. The winter chicories were okay. We wanted a veggie dish but found it was mainly cheese. The trout tartare I could skip next time. I liked the pomegranates, they added great texture and flavor, but the trout itself was too light and didn't stand out too much. The clams were okay. We really enjoyed the crispy cod that came with the clams the best. Lastly, dessert was delicious! The cake was decadent and the rosemary cream was so fragrant. 4/7 dishes would get again. This is in January when I went, and they had a whole page on their drink menu dedicated to non-alcoholic drinks (perfect for those doing dry jan) and I thought that was a cool feature. read more

See all

LOVE ANCHOVY BAR! The anchovy toast was such a highlight I still dream about it! If you loved anchovies/fish you will love this place. The anchovies with burrata and focaccia was also delicious. Definitely make a reservation since seating is limited inside. read more

The Anchovy Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had wanted to check out The Anchovy Bar for months, so the opportunity finally came yesterday when I dropped off some family at SFO. I had to wait for about 30 minutes outside where I was lucky to find some parking right out front. The area around Fillmore has gotten quite a bit nicer from when I was growing up, but waiting inside my car that long was not the most comfortable situation. Eventually they opened up and I was seated at the bar. The first thing I ordered was the Local Anchovy Toast. It was a bit smaller than I expected but it is loaded with plump cured anchovies bursting with the flavor of olive oil, salt and tomatoes atop a dense but crunchy slice of rustic bread. People were filing in every minute and it was looking much busier about 20 minutes after opening. Waitresses were friendly but once it started to fill up, it was harder to get their attention. I also ordered fried anchovies which came with a really fantastic tartar sauce made in-house that had some delicious flavors and textures. The anchovies were perfectly breaded and fried. For my final dish, I ordered the Trout Tartare. It was plated cutely with sliced radish and orange swirls. It tasted a bit like an elevated poke. I didn't have much time to try other dishes and wanted to try to get to Bar Crenn before it filled up. Really glad I had a chance to finally try out the epic anchovies. Will definitely be coming back. read more

See all

Wow. Just wow. Gabi was an our assistant through this taste journey. Thank you, dear One. Everything. Absolutely everything. was "take a pause to allow the flavor to open" worthy. From the oysters (their mignonette!!!!! (?!?!!!) & smoked fish + chip dip (duuuuuude. For real, tho. Like.... for real, tho!!!) i can't even!!! I feel like this message will be too long if I continue on, so come and do the things. Order the things. And you're welcome. And thank you Also. Music! Staff as a whole?! Wow. Uuuggghhhhh yall are just SO GOOD: It's so neat to find a place that's easy on the eyes, inspirational on the taste buds and surrounded with kindness of the fellow human running it. Yall are fun. Thank you. read more

i really like this place but kinda spenny. soo cute vibes and i realized anchovy can be yummy! don't know what you'd eat the 4$ anchovy pinxto with but that's one of the best olives i've had read more

The Anchovy Bar - fish and chips, pinxto - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

We walked in at 8:30 and luckily got a seat! We came here while waiting for a table at state bird. They don't have spirits so the Negroni was their take on it and was low ABV. The trout dip and chips were incredible - we loved the flavor bomb and the chips were definitely made in house. We also got the anchovy dish that has focaccia, burrata, and beets and it was incredible!! The focaccia is a must get - perfectly warm, textured on the outside, soft on the inside. Our server was very attentive and cleared our plates immediately so I do wish we could've sat a little longer but otherwise it was a wonderful experience! read more

See all

I've been wanting to try the anchovy bar for months & finally made it! My friends and I had a reservation so we were sat right away. The restaurant is small with dim lighting and intimate seating. I love the look of the bar area. As usual on girls night out we ordered a ton! This restaurant is perfect for tapas style & being able to try a good chunk of the menu without feeling like you over ate. To start we had the western addition oysters, which are broiled oysters with smoky date bacon butter and OMG were these delicious, I still dream about them. The smoked trout fish n dip I enjoyed but it was topped with a ton of seeds of some sort which I felt was excessive, a few for a little texture would have sufficed but otherwise the smoky flavor of the fish with the crunchy, salty chip combo was great. The local anchovy pinxtos were tiny but tasty. The season burrata came with beets, ají amarillo sauce & anchovies, this one didn't do it for me I feel like the flavors didn't really come together well. We also had the crab pasta which was seasonal. The pasta was cooked perfectly aldente, but I felt like the pasta sauce was lacking some flavor or maybe a creamier sauce. To finish we had the Vanilla tamarind ice cream sundae & this was definitely the star of the show, tropical flavors of coconut and tamarind with the sweet salts candied anchovies were delightful! We almost ordered a second ! Would highly recommend & I can't wait to come back during anchovy season to try their famous anchovy toast! read more

See all

From the team behind Michelin-starred legends State Bird Provisions and The Progress, Anchovy Bar is the ultimate date night spot. Moody, intimate, and its seafood heaven. The local anchovy toast is the star, especially during anchovy season: pickled anchovies and heirloom tomatoes on thick sesame focaccia. an absolute umami bomb. I also loved the tender bluefin tuna meatballs, seasonal persimmon salad with winter chicories, and white wine braised manila clams. Only miss for me was the sea bass - a little dry, so I'd skip it. But whatever you do, get the anchovy sundae: Vanilla ice cream, candied anchovies, and other toppings like coconut, cashew, and tamarind. truly one of the wildest and most unforgettable bites in SF. read more

We had the anchovy toast, chip and dip, and the clams. I must say everything was just OK. Nothing super impressive or that you cannot make at home. Anchovy toast- everyone raves about this and we thought it was ok, nothing crazy Service was attentive and ambiance was nice though. read more

The Anchovy Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Intimate beautiful place. I was on my way to another spot but really wanted to try the famous anchovy toast. We got a cozy spot on one of the shareable tables. Server helped us quickly and talked us through the menu. We got the anchovy toast whipped butter and bread and a couple of drinks. Absolutely loved it I've recommended this place to anyone asking me about SF. The Anchovy toast is to die for alone. Cannot wait to return. read more

The Anchovy Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Their anchovy toast is a must try! The other items were also good but I thought it was a little too expensive. The space is small and dark and good for a date night. The staff was friendly with recommendations and the service was fast. read more

See all

The space is small but has a cool design in the ceiling and space. The staff was friendly and fast though it did seem quite busy on a Friday evening, as expected. All the dishes we got were good, and we tried a couple of the anchovy focused dishes since that's the name of the place. The stand out for me was the dessert though - with small dried anchovies over ice cream that added a salty and slightly umami and brine flavor, it was delicious and fun. The wine list was also widely varied and good. read more

See all

Do not let the name deter you, great seafood spot. Came here for date night and sat at the bar. I will admit I was skeptical, but my husband was adamant we had to go. We were early (public transportation was on our side that night) and they were able to seat us right away. Food here is tapas, but you will get full. What stood out to me were the oysters and the anchovy toast. Definitely get the anchovy toast, I normally don't like anchovies but this was very good. Our only regret was we were too full for the anchovy sundae, so we will have to come back for that (seriously we couldn't eat another bite we were so full). read more

Fine food, bread very well done. Actual anchovy dish was a little underwhelming but otherwise good ambience and good selection of wine. read more

The Anchovy Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I was pleasantly surprised by this restaurant. I ended up going because they were available reservations, and it was very cozy and cute inside. The ambience was warm, inviting dimly lit. The staff that was present were very thoughtful and checked in on us frequently, which made the experience all that much more enjoyable. They also were quick with recommendations that did not disappoint and I love when staff has their strong opinions on must try dishes. We tried the nonalcoholic beverages which were really delicious. We got two or three dishes, and the toast with anchovies on top was the most memorable by all means. I would love to go back and can't wait for another opportunity to go !! read more

The Anchovy Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

The Anchovy Bar had been on my list for a while, and since we were staying in the city for the weekend, we decided to try for a last-minute reservation. We managed to get bar seating later in the evening, but I had noted in the reservation request that we'd love to move to a table if one became available--and they kindly accommodated us. Given that this was after 8:30 PM, I wouldn't expect the same flexibility during peak dinner hours. Sofia took care of us, and she was absolutely wonderful--knowledgeable, attentive without being intrusive, and clearly passionate about the menu. Our seafood sampler took a bit longer than expected, but they made up for it by expediting some of the earlier courses. The restaurant officially closes to walk-ins at 9 PM, but we were able to stay until close to 10, taking our time to enjoy everything. The wine selection is extensive, and every dish we had was fantastic. At the end of the night, I couldn't decide between the anchovy ice cream or the turnover--so we had both, and honestly, they were excellent. The flavor combinations here are unique and well-executed, and we especially recommend the anchovy toast, which lives up to the hype. It's a small space with limited seating, so reservations can be tough to get, but that's understandable. As a fan of State Bird Provisions and Progress, I had high expectations, and The Anchovy Bar delivered. The menu is intentionally small, focusing on quality over quantity, which we really appreciate. Overall, the service was excellent, the atmosphere was cozy and relaxed, and we'll definitely be back to try more! read more

See all

Food - I tried fried anchovies, local anchovy tomato toast, Japanese cucumber salad, halibut with passionfruit sauce, and anchovy sandae . I also had a prima pave non-alcoholic rose. All was excellent! What I also loved about my dining there was that I could order everything in half size so I was able to try many dishes! Service- was great. My server Jesse was awesome. He gave me a lot of great recommendation! I had a reservation so I was able to seat when I got there. Ambiance - was beautiful:) They said menue changes seasonally. I'll definitely would go back and try their other dishes:) read more

See all

tldr: inventive, seafood-forward dishes in a busy and intimate space with some menu standouts at above average pricepoints Waited a little less than an hour without a reservation on a Saturday night. Servers seemed overworked and rushed to take our orders and collect payment. Anchovy Toast (5/5) - this should be one of those iconic SF dishes that you have to take out-of-towners to get. Perfectly creamy, salty and crunchy. A must get Sundae (4.5/5) - Salty and sweet taken to the next level. Don't skip on this dessert. Smoked Fish & Chip Dip (4.5/5) - Wonderful starter to share. Tastes exactly like you would imagine with hints of smokiness and fish Scallops (4/5) - Fun but small dish! Citrus was ever present, borderline overpowering. Mixed Platter (3/5) - A skip for me. Given that there were so many other inventive dishes on the menu, this is an easy pass and felt like food you could get at another oyster bar. read more

See all