What is it about (Indian) summer and seafood that go together so well? With San Francisco’s most summery months behind us, when streaks of sunshine even graced parts of the Financial District, we just can’t help but feel a strong craving for some of the finest crustaceans. So skip Sunday’s bottomless mimosas, and go bottomless with your seafood.
Scoma’s
We send you to Fisherman’s Wharf on a mission. Sourcing the good stuff since 1965, this classic restaurant serves up their own version of a platter, aptly named the Shellfish Sauté Sec, which truly celebrates fishermen’s fare. Enjoy a hearty portion of Dungeness leg meat, scallops, baby lobster and shrimp. $45
Monsieur Benjamin
This Hayes Valley nouveau restaurant offers haute cuisine with hefty prices, but don’t be deterred when ordering up a pre-opera aphrodisiac. Displayed in a jaw-dropping, two-tiered tower, the Grand Plateau will make you the envy of any bystanders who opted for the foie gras instead. Fresh sea urchin and a carefully curated selection of delectable oysters make this plate du jour a seaside standout. $130
Bar Crudo
There are beautiful bars, and then there’s Bar Crudo. Its aesthetic appeal makes it an Instagrammer’s best friend, plus the food is pretty darn good to boot. The raw bar is something to be feared at happy hour, when deal-hungry denizens muscle up to the bar. Put your name in the books and order the Large ahead—which features Bar Crudo’s locally sourced selection of oysters, muscles, prawns, plus half a lobster and crab—and you’ll easily be the envy of all the stool-bound savages salivating at the site of your big girl/boy platter. Small: $60 / Large: $120
Cockscomb
A departure from the “land” that circulates Cockscomb’s theme, seafood at this Chris Cosentino / Oliver Wharton restaurant will complement your terrain-heavy meal. With an oyster menu and a raw bar, as well as a rotating list of photographer-friendly ceviche, including an Albacore “Mexican Style” ceviche, the seafood options are endless. Still, the BIG, a platter determined by — as they put it — “whatever great shellfish we find,” speaks for itself and is destined to help you start your evening off right. $148
Chaya Brasserie
There’s something breathtaking about shucking seashells by the seashore, and in the city, Chaya is the closest you’re going to get. Savor your $8 glass of Pino Grigio, and dig into one of the most festive platters this side of the Mississippi. Rolling hills of shaved ice play temporary home to the feast you’re soon to conquer: Maine lobster, oysters, sashimi omakase and scallop ceviche. Be strong, my friend. Kaisen Platter, Market Price / Personal Kaisen Platter, $39
Pushing even more platters:
Anchor Oyster Bar: a full order with oysters, steamed clams and prawns. $44.95
Alfred’s Steakhouse: the Grand Platter with 12 oysters, 8 gulf prawns, lobster claws, crab salad, steak tartare, malt, and potato crisps. $110
Farallon: Fruits de Mer (extravagant platters of iced shellfish) with the addition of gulf draws or half a Dungeness crab. $34–$150
Anchor & Hope: the Seafood Plateaux with lobster, crab remoulade, ceviche, clams, oysters and shrimp. Market Price
Waterbar: a grandiose platter (or a petite one) featuring lobster, oysters and shrimp. Petite Platter: $65 / Grand Platter: $110
Did we miss your favorite? Tell us in the comments!
