The Trident, where food and history meet!
We gathered at the Trident to celebrate a good friend's birthday. Even though we had lived in San Francisco for many years, most of us had never been to the Trident before. We sat outside in the back, with a fantastic view of San Francisco Bay and the skyline.
The food was delicious. I had the Seafood Tostada from the special menu, and a friend next to me had the Kale and Quinoa Salad, which I got to taste. Both dishes were excellent.
The service was excellent, and the atmosphere was relaxed and casual. I noticed a few interesting photos hanging on the walls and made a mental note to learn more about the history of the place. The following is a summary of what I read online.
The Trident has a rich history dating back to the 1960s. It was founded in 1966 by a group of investors, including musicians and rock band Jefferson Airplane members*. The restaurant quickly became iconic for its food and connection to the counterculture movement and the era's music scene.
During the 1960s, Sausalito was a hub for artists, musicians, and bohemians, and the Trident quickly became a gathering place for this creative community. It was known for its innovative and eclectic menu, including dishes inspired by global cuisine and an extensive wine list.
One of the most famous features of the Trident was its "Aqua-Bar," an underwater bar with large windows that allowed patrons to view the marine life in the bay while enjoying their drinks. This unique design element added to the restaurant's mystique and charm.
The Trident's connections to the music industry made it a hotspot for rock stars and celebrities of the time. Musicians like Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones, and Frank Zappa were known to frequent the restaurant. It even served as the setting for album cover photoshoots and music videos.
As the counterculture movement evolved, so did the Trident. It became a symbol of the era's free-spirited and unconventional lifestyle. However, like many businesses associated with the 1960s counterculture, the Trident faced financial challenges and changing ownership over the years.
In the late 1970s, the restaurant changed its name to Horizons and underwent several renovations. It continued to operate as a popular waterfront dining spot but lost some of its original counterculture charm.
Today, the restaurant operates as the Trident once again and offers a unique dining experience with its beautiful waterfront location and stunning views. While it may not be as closely tied to the counterculture movement as it was in the 1960s, it remains a historical landmark in Sausalito and a reminder of a bygone era when the town was at the center of cultural revolution and artistic expression.
As we were driving back, I made a mental note to come back here again, preferably with an emptier stomach.
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*Update 9/22/2023
My Yelp buddy, Bob S, dropped me a note recently, gently correcting my historical account of The Trident. It turns out I needed to be more accurate about a particular nugget of The Trident's past.
Back in 1966, this iconic establishment first swung its doors open, sporting a unique blend of bar, restaurant, and music venue vibes, all thanks to the Kingston Trio. Somewhere along the line, I came across a tidbit suggesting that Jefferson Airplane's members had some financial stake in the place. However, with hindsight as my guide, I'm no longer certain of the reliability of my sources. So, thanks to my astute Yelp comrade, who happens to be more in the know, I'm graciously accepting my correction.
But wait, there's more! I stumbled upon another captivating factoid, and this one, my friends, I can stand firmly behind!
Enter the Tequila Sunrise cocktail, now the stuff of legends. It was the brainchild of Trident bartenders Bobby Lozoff and Billy Rice, hatching in the early '70s. Then, in 1972, at an exclusive shindig hosted at The Trident by none other than Bill Graham to kickstart the Rolling Stones' 1972 U.S. tour, Mick Jagger got a taste of the concoction. He liked it so much that he and his posse began downing them with gusto. Soon enough, they were ordering Tequila Sunrises all over America, effectively christening the tour itself as their "cocaine and tequila sunrise tour." Now, that's one piece of history worth raising a glass to! read more