Historic John's Grill

“An interesting historic restaurant mentioned in The Maltese Falcon. This is a bit on the upscale side of things, but you can dine there in a t-shirt and blue jeans if you like. We all had the regular ribeye (not the $110 aged version) and it was well prepared. The steaks were slightly tough, but the temperature was spot on for what each of us ordered. Everything we ordered was tasty and properly seasoned. The jumbo prawn cocktails come with a little extra horseradish. This is 100% actual horseradish, not the watered down junk, which is nice. The staff is wonderful and the building has a lot of character. If you are in SF and can afford the check, I highly recommend giving John's a try.”

“Feels like stepping back in time. The historic atmosphere is one of the biggest highlights—full of old-school charm, character, and rich history that makes the experience memorable from the moment you walk in. It’s easy to see why this place has remained a city favorite for so long. The food definitely lived up to expectations. I started with the New England clam chowder, which was rich, flavorful, and comforting—exactly what you hope for in a good bowl of chowder. For the main course, I had the ribeye steak, and it was cooked perfectly. Tender, flavorful, and prepared exactly right, it was easily the highlight of the meal and clearly prepared with care. The staff were friendly, attentive, and professional, helping create a relaxed and welcoming dining experience. The restaurant itself is well-kept and carries a classic, timeless feel that adds to the charm. Between the delicious food, perfectly cooked steak, historic atmosphere, and great service, John’s Grill is absolutely worth a visit when in San Francisco. Whether you’re there for the history, the food, or both, it delivers a memorable experience.”

“Maybe I'm an easy grader, but this was one of the best meals I've had all year. The Ribeye was tender, perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The peppercorn sauce tasted like a red wine based sauce and was also fantastic. We subbed our baked potato for mashed potatoes, and those were silky smooth and very tasty. The seasoned vegetables were crispy green beans and carrots - also very delicious! I paired this with the Cabernet Sauvignon from Justin's vineyards - a must have whenever I see it on the menu! My server, recommended it as well, so she knows what's good! The place was absolutely packed and I could tell why, the food was excellent and great value for money. We had the homemade bread pudding that smooth, creamy and delicious with hints of vanilla and nutmeg. Just a warm and comforting end to one of the best meals I've had this year. Received attentive and enthusiastic service from our server Elana. Even the other diners were friendly because they were enjoying themselves. They also had some pretty good live jazz on as a nice bonus! My only small note would be to have butter that is easier to spread with their sourdough bread.”

“The NY steak was perfectly cooked to medium and it was a large portion. The Parmesan potatoes were wonderful and the green beans fresh and perfectly cooked. The blackberry lemonade … was refreshing and not too sweet. The Chicken Milanese was excellent. It can get pretty crowded and it’s already a tight space. Parking garage across the street and I did not see nor was offered validated parking.”

“Overall is really a 4.5 because of the atmosphere which was crowded and very noisy. But it was a Saturday night with several groups celebrating graduation. Food was great. The 6 large lamps chops were awesome along with a perfectly cooked baked potato and green beans. The blackberry lemonade was tasty. I tried my first and last vodka martini. 😖😖 The only real negative was it being very noisy that it was hard to hear the jazz group. Loved the decorations. We were on the second floor.”