Franciscan Crab Restaurant

Review summary

1. MP

   MPGC

   VIP

   San Francisco

   14 reviews

   3.0

   14 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 2

   The food was good, no better than that. The “famous” garlic roasted Dungeness crab was not at all distinctive. The crab in the cocktail, however, was incredibly fresh and flavorful. Service was attentive. Ambiance is a bit shabby, and if you have a window table you may find that the wide sill in front of you is used as a sideboard for silverware, napkins, etc. final disappointment was that it was very cold in the restaurant— saving money on heat, I guess….
   

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2. B

   Brandon

   San Francisco

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great experience as usual! The food is good, the views are great, and the ambience makes me want to keep coming.
   

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3. B

   Betty

   VIP

   San Francisco

   38 reviews

   3.0

   38 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 2

   The prices were too high for the portions received. I ordered pasta with crab added. When I received my plate there was no crab added. I had to send it back for the crab to be added. When it came back there was one small piece of crab on top for an extra $17. They charge you for bread, which is ridiculous. When I needed the server it was kinda hard to get his attention. My daughter ordered a whole crab. They must have found the baby crab in the ocean, because it was very small for $50.00. I have ordered whole crab before at other locations and you get a large crab. The choice of desserts was lousy. Ice cream mostly. I compared this restaurant with Fog Harbor and The Crab house behind Fog Harbor. If I had to choose I would pick Fog Harbor and/or The Crab House. I love going out to eat, but I will not go back to Franciscan's Crab Restaurant.
   

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4. S

   Steven

   Las Vegas

   14 reviews

   5.0

   14 reviews

   Dined on 22 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We went before the big rush, so we received amazing service and made it out early for a play.. great spot, classic venue, kept in good shape.
   

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5. T

   Tom

   San Francisco

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on 15 February 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 5

   I’ve been eating here since I was a little kid in the 1960s. I’ve seen it through a change of ownership or two, but it still remains the Franciscan and a place of special memories for me. The food is good enough the views, especially when seated in those curvy booths near the bar, are unparalleled. The food is good enough for the price. It’s especially wonderful to sit there in the late afternoon on a weekday (when the place is usually quiet) and enjoy a dry martini and a few oysters with someone who is fun to talk with. I am sad to say that I booked a dinner reservation for Valentine’s, showed up on time with someone who is fun to talk to, and saw a line of literally 15 couples, all of whom had made reservations, some of which set for an hour prior to ours. Nothing like standing in line for an hour to put you in that Valentines mood! I’m deeply disappointed that management would have such a little regard for patrons as to set up a system that would waste an hour of their time, thereby negating any possible joy they would’ve derived from the actual dining experience. Judging from how quiet things are whenever I drop in, I imagine that business has been difficult lately and management was eager to capitalize on National Mandatory Date Night. I don’t think they made any new friends for themselves and they may well have alienated a few regulars by the way they mismanaged their schedule. Fortunately, my date was game for turning on our heels immediately and crossing the parking lot to Boudin where there was also a line, but one we were able to avoid it by taking a cocktail table and having fresh oysters and martinis in front of us within about 10 minutes of walking in the door. Happy Ending, after a disappointing start.
   

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6. Y

   Yuanhan

   New York City

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on 15 February 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 5

   The food quality is pretty good. Yesterday I end up paying 10 dollars for tips, because the service there is terrible. You need to wait in the line even you already made the reservation. The waiter took away a whole plate of pasta before asking us are we finished or not. We asked for napkins and never got them. It is very disrespectful to take away clients’ food when they are not finished.
   

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7. D

   Deborah

   San Francisco

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on 15 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The Franciscan is a San Francisco treasure that has been around since 1957! Charming, nautical ambience with delicious food! Cioppino is classic with your bib! I thoroughly enjoyed the clam chowder and strawberry cheesecake! Great place for everyday or a special occasion!
   

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8. R

   Rich

   El Paso

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on 15 February 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   The two first at the host stand were amazing and so nice! Yuri our server was attentive and helpful. The restaurant was crazy busy and seemed understaffed for a holiday that is so busy and popular. My only beef is the website says 2 hours of validation. We only got one house and ended up paying $20 to park.
   

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9. j

   jessica

   San Francisco

   15 reviews

   4.0

   15 reviews

   Dined on 3 February 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great hospitality and friendly and attentive staff, very clean, beautiful views. Great presentation and good food. My salad was beautiful, great recommendations to have the tuna carpaccio, my cousin said it was the best she’s had!
   

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10. c

    cinda

    San Francisco

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on 27 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Came here for lunch with a group of friends. Everyone loved their food. The salads had an abundance of fresh, delicious crab, the fish and chips was more like a giant filet cooked to crispy perfection and piping hot, soup great, the warm bread for the table was excellent. Every single person was arguing that they placed the best order. The service was super. Water always full, drinks kept rolling out, they were just the perfect blend of attentive, fun and informative. The exterior and interiors are adorable and you can not beat the views of the bay. Don't hesitate. Go here.
    

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