Best Restaurants for People Watching in Kensington

10 restaurants available nearby

1. Boulevard

4.7

Exceptional(9088)

Price: Very Expensive

• Californian • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 52 times today

Chefs Nancy Oakes, Chef Dana Younkin and our entire team, look forward to welcoming you to a refreshed and reimagined Boulevard! The dining room features a 3 course prix fixe menu with a multitude of choices. For the more spontaneous sorts; our bar, lounge and chef's counter is available on a walk-in basis and limited reservations. An a la carte menu is offered in these areas. For private events and larger groups, please check our our website.

2. Bon Delire

new

4.7

Exceptional(105)

Price: Expensive

• French • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 44 times today

Bon Délire’s chic yet approachable atmosphere draws inspiration from the cafés, lounges, and bistros of Paris. The interior boasts a sculpted horseshoe-shaped wooden bar, plush banquettes, and vibrant, European-imported furnishings that invite intimate dining and lounging. Guests can enjoy indoor seating with views of the Bay Bridge, or relax at the outdoor cafe-style seating, framed by planter boxes and umbrellas, perfect for people-watching along the Embarcadero.At night, the space comes alive with flickering projections of vintage French films and a relaxed, nostalgic soundtrack of throwback French and American tunes, making Bon Délire a sophisticated yet cozy setting for private and semi-private events.

A photo of Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt restaurant

3. Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt

4.7

Exceptional(661)

Price: Moderate

• American • Oakland

Booked 45 times today

May and David Wasem's flagship location Grand Lake Kitchen location offers American classics and warm hospitality. An all-day cafe specializing in brunch and dinner! Maximum party size for regular reservations is 8 at Lake Merritt and 15at the Dimond location.Grand Lake Kitchen at Lake Merritt has a full bar, bustling dining room, outdoor patio, take-out counter, and The Bubble Room (private dining)

A photo of STK - San Francisco restaurant

4. STK - San Francisco

4.0

Excellent(1275)

Price: Very Expensive

• Steakhouse • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 106 times today

STK Steakhouse is “not your daddy’s steakhouse,” offering a high-energy dining experience that artfully combines the superior quality of a traditional steakhouse with a Vibe Dining atmosphere unlike any other. Delectable cuisine, upscale cocktails and an elevated Happy Hour, along with an in-house DJ and chic décor, all come together to offer a memorable fine dining experience that keeps guests enjoying their evening from drinks to dinner to late night. STK’s menu features reimagined classic American cuisine for lunch, brunch and dinner with unique local flair infused into each location’s menu. The brand’s beef program focuses on the highest quality, delicious and craveable steaks while emphasizing transparency and traceable sourcing practices.

A photo of COQUETA - San Francisco restaurant

5. COQUETA - San Francisco

4.7

Exceptional(3366)

Price: Very Expensive

• Spanish • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 33 times today

Brought to you by Award Winning Chef Michael Chiarello and located at Pier 5 on the bustling San Francisco Waterfront, Coqueta is inspired by the cuisines of Spain. Chef Chiarello feels that Spain’s signature ‘small plates’ coupled with the social vibrancy of their dining scene is the perfect combination for San Francisco, which has its own deep-rooted history with the country. Focusing on regional dishes from Madrid, Catalonia, the Basque Country and beyond, the menu will feature Chiarello's interpretation of traditional Spanish cuisine and, as has always been his tradition, will highlight the bounty of fresh, local ingredients from land and sea.Coqueta means “flirt” or “infatuation” in Spanish, and represents Michael Chiarello and his team’s exploration and interpretation of Spanish Cuisine, wine and inspired cocktails, while highlighting the bounty of Northern California.

6. Tosca Café

4.7

Exceptional(152)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • North Beach

Booked 24 times today

A legendary hangout in North Beach since it opened in 1919, and even more so from the 1980's onward when Jeanette Etheredge took over Tosca. Locals including Willie Brown, Lars Ulrich and Francis Ford Coppola were regular fixtures, Hunter S Thompson wrote his column for the SF Examiner in the corner booth, Bono, Lauren Hutton, and Mikhail Baryshnikov played pool in the back room, singing Opera and drinking Tosca House Cappuccinos. When Restaurateur Anna Weinberg and Interior Designer Ken Fulk heard Tosca Cafe was closing they joined forces to save it. As the new owners and passionate fans of the original establishment their goal was to return Tosca to its rightful place as a San Francisco institution. As Mikey Rapin wrote in Bon Appétit magazine: “It’s the kind of joint Beats got bounced, Bono belted opera, and a bullet hole memoralizes the night an A-LIST actor disagreed with a rockstar's choice of music"

7. Acquolina

4.6

Exceptional(478)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • North Beach

Booked 15 times today

In Italian, Acquolina means “mouthwatering” – illustrating what happens when you see a delicious, inviting dish. This phenomenon can only happen when food is made with passion and love. For us, food “is a social matter. ” In turn, Acquolina weds a passion for food with a real respect for the community in which it stands – welcoming a mix of locals and visitors, singles and families, welcoming guests of all ages and lifestyles.At Acquolina, we endeavor to create a vibrant and lively atmosphere where our patrons can revel in the experience of an authentic and “regional” Italian meal. The Tuscan-infused menu is meant to pair with an assortment of wines, with samplings from Italy and California. In the spirit of the Tuscan Trattoria, everything is meant to be authentic – the pasta boiler and the pizza oven came direct from Italy, brought here to guarantee a perfect plate of “al dente” pasta and a perfect slice of thin crust pizza.

A photo of Mona Lisa Mare e Monti restaurant

8. Mona Lisa Mare e Monti

4.7

Exceptional(154)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • North Beach

Booked 12 times today

Mona Lisa Mare e Monti , in San Francisco, serves classic Italian dishes crafted with top-quality local and seasonal produce in its charming and welcoming eatery. Mare e Monti is located in the Heart of North Beach's Little Italy. Our Restaurant specializes in Authentic Italian Seafood and Steaks. We also offer a variety of different cuts of Pasta's, which are created in house everyday! We are best known for our Bistecca Fiorentina, which is a 24oz porterhouse steak. Our Seafood is brought to use daily by our local Fishermen. Some of our most popular seafood dishes are our Zuppa Di Pesce or our Whole Dungeness Crab plate. We Look forward to seeing you soon, Ciao!

9. Barbara Pinseria

4.5

Awesome(176)

Price: Moderate

• Pizzeria • North Beach

Booked 11 times today

Barbara is a lively Italian restaurant inspired by the rustic tradition of Roman pizzerie, opening in San Francisco’s historic Italian district of North Beach in September 2018 to serve as the neighborhood destination for casual dinning. We feature an energetic open kitchen, creating fresh takes on classics as well as original inventions showcasing seasonal and local ingredients, transporting taste of the eternal city to San Francisco. We offer craft cocktails, Italian and Californian wines, indoor and outdoor seating, and Barbara's fun, warm, style pairs well with the restaurant’s classic Italian comfort and friendly spirit.

A photo of California Fish Market Restaurant restaurant

10. California Fish Market Restaurant

4.6

Exceptional(216)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • North Beach

Booked 5 times today

We are a sustainable water to table seafood restaurant, we believe eating eating seafood is a great way to boost your immune system while supporting many of fisherman and seafood farmers during this challenging time. California Fish Market only uses sustainable seafood that is either caught or farmed in a way that has less impact on the environment

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

C
Cherene
San Francisco Bay Area •2 reviews
5.0
Dined today
Great experience and accommodations were easily made. The atmosphere was fun, definitely good vibes. We celebrated my husband’s birthday and their staff was very accommodating with our few needs as we had our 3 month with us along with her stroller. Portions were generous and food was delicious.
More info
STK - San FranciscoPrice: Very Expensive• Steakhouse• Financial District / Embarcadero
•
4
A
Amy
San Francisco Bay Area •9 reviews
5.0
Dined today
A wonderful dinner, as always. It is very impressive that it has maintained its quality for so long, especially after Michael Chiarello's tragic death.
More info
COQUETA - San FranciscoPrice: Very Expensive• Spanish• Financial District / Embarcadero
•
4.7
T
Tura
San Francisco Bay Area •6 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
We appreciate the happy birthday card for Michael
More info
Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake MerrittPrice: Moderate• American• Oakland
•
4.7
A
Audrey
San Francisco Bay Area •17 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Loved it! Service was very attentive and they had wonderful suggestions from their menu. The steak tartare was delicious served on homemade potato chips. The deviled eggs were a wonderful surprise served upside down with a sauce and caviar on top. The Caesar salad was amazing…I shared this but won’t next time I return…it was delicious with the crunchy topping. We shared the roast chicken, which was so tender and had the most delicious pan gravy. And don’t leave without trying the Soft Serve dessert. It checks all the boxes…caramel, toasted hazelnuts, poached pears and ice cream.
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Bon DelirePrice: Expensive• French• Financial District / Embarcadero
•
4.7
S
Sandra
San Francisco Bay Area •44 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
One of the prettiest places to eat in San Francisco or anywhere for that matter especially at Christmas. Lovely dining experience. Dining room is pre fixe but lots of offerings make it a great deal before you add wine/cocktails but it’s a great bar list so splurge! Service is excellent although watch they don’t rush you through your courses. A great place to take friends or visitors in town or for any celebration. The bar and kitchen view seats are great for people watching.
More info
BoulevardPrice: Very Expensive• Californian• Financial District / Embarcadero
•
4.7

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Kensington

Best Restaurants for People Watching in Kensington

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10 restaurants available nearby

1. Boulevard

2. Bon Delire

3. Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt

4. STK - San Francisco

5. COQUETA - San Francisco

6. Tosca Café

7. Acquolina

8. Mona Lisa Mare e Monti

9. Barbara Pinseria

10. California Fish Market Restaurant

See what locals rave about

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