Fisherman's Wharf is a top tourist destination for San Francisco. Just wander around the waterfront area, and you will probably encounter street performers, food vendors and stalls selling t-shirts, handbags and souvenirs. Although tourism is relatively new to the region, San Francisco's wharf area has long been known as a place to purchase seafood. Dungeness crab and fish have long been available from dockside stalls and restaurants. With the influx of tourism, famous restaurant chains such as the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company and the Hard Rock Café have made their way into the wharf.
Alioto's
Alioto's is one of the oldest restaurants to operate on Fisherman's Wharf. The restaurant began in the 1920s as a crab booth and later expanded into a restaurant. Over the years it has expanded to include a neighboring stall and then rose into a two-story restaurant with a magnificent view of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. The food offerings include seafood with a Sicilian flair, including stuffed fish, crabmeat-filled pasta, oysters on the half shell and seafood-stuffed tortellini. On the street, Aliotos still maintains a stall at #8, Fisherman's Wharf where they sell fresh bay crabs and take-away shrimp cocktails.
Alioto's Restaurant
8 Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 673-0183
aliotos.com
Boudin's Bakery
Boudin's Bakery at Fisherman's Wharf offers bread displayed prominently in glass display cases and baskets that hang from moving tracks in the ceiling of the establishment. Boudin's makes its bread fresh on the premises, and the Fisherman's Wharf location offers daily demonstrations. Every day, a little of the "mother dough," a sourdough starter that has been nurtured since 1849, is mixed into the bread dough. Company legend states that Louise Boudin saved the mother dough from the San Fransisco fire by carrying it in a bucket. In addition to French bread loaves made of sourdough, the bakery at Fisherman's Wharf offers a café and a full-service restaurant.
Boudin at Fisherman's Wharf
160 Jefferson St.
San Fransisco, CA 94133
(415) 928-1849
boudinbakery.com
Castagnola's
Castagnola's is another restaurant that grew from a crab stand on Fisherman's Wharf. Castagnola's began in 1917 and was operated by the family until sold in 1975. Today, although the Castagnola family no longer operates the establishment, Castagnola's still offers seafood from Pier 47. Fare at Castagnola's ranges from steaks and seafood to Italian specialties such as meat lasagna and fisherman's linguini. Attire is casual, but tank tops are frowned upon.
Castagnola's Restaurant
286 Jefferson St.
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 776-5015
castagnolas.com/
About The Author
Tracy S. Morris has been a freelance writer since 2000. She has published two novels and numerous online articles. Her work has appeared in national magazines and newspapers, including "Ferrets," "CatFancy," "Lexington Herald Leader" and "The Tulsa World."
