This place steals the show. Every dish is so satisfying and well put together. Great brunch menu, oyster bar, generous selection of wines and apperitifs. Perfect for a catch up with family or friends. Menu highlights are the Zuni salad, the chicken to share, pasta dishes are great for vegetarians, pizzas for sharing and lastly the pavlova is amazing for dessert

+2

Zuni Café serves up fresh and inventive dishes in a lofty, chic space. Ordering the shoestring potatoes will reward a diner with a nest of thin and crispy frites piled high and accompanied by a homemade tomato ketchup. The Caesar salad is also excellent, full leaves of romaine tossed with a flavorful dressing that clearly communicates the freshness of its ingredients. The burger was the highlight here, a flawlessly cooked beef patty served on homemade focaccia with aioli and house-made pickles. The beef flavor was so rich and the various elements of the sandwich integrated into a seamless whole. San Francisco locals are lucky to have access to such a long-standing restaurant that truly lives up to the hype.

OMG! The roast chicken really like everyone described- incredible and worth to wait for an hour! So tender and juice and flavorful! The decor was very unique and interesting too!

+2

Love the atmosphere, love the attentive service, and love knowing that this place has such a history of good food and influence. I was surprised in the best way by the citrus salad and the cocktail I ordered!

A splendid Californian spot right on Market. It is great for catching up with people cause it doesn’t have loud music playing. Food selection was limited but everything we ordered was spectacular. We had oysters, risotto, stack of fries, white sea bass, chocolate cake and white wine. Oysters were really fresh, would definitely recommend. Risotto was creamy and cooked just right. The wine selection was pretty good, lot of options for all. Service was great too.

Their famous Roasted Chicken and Bread Salad did not disappoint! Just order it. Service was attentive but not smothering. Overall a great dining experience.

Glad we made a reservation! Great service. Menu constantly changes so we didn't know what to expect, but everything was delicious, delightfully inventive with thoughtful pairings of flavors. Michelin, just give them a Star already!

Fantastic restaurant, the cocktails were amazing and the chicken lived up to its reputation. Loved it and the service was great. The bartender and the ladies at the front were lovely and worked hard to get us a table despite the fact that we didn’t have a reservation on Saturday night

+1

Zuni Café is the kind of neighborhood bistro that feels effortlessly welcoming — cozy, bustling, and full of energy, with an open kitchen that makes you feel part of the action. The Grilled Stemple Creek Ranch Bavette Steak was absolutely outstanding — rich, flavorful, and perfectly cooked — paired with shoestring potatoes that were crisp and golden. And delicious cocktails made for the perfect cozy dinner on a cool San Francisco night. The service was friendly and attentive, and the lively atmosphere added to the charm. A classic SF spot that delivers on both comfort and sophistication — a must for anyone who appreciates great food in a warm, inviting setting.

Good flavors in an airy ambiance. Service is good and the menu is quite varied and has some European cuisine mixed in with a California twist. Good for small groups or 2. They serve Brunch and Dinner. Easily accessible by public transport. Reservations are recommended at peak hours. Street parking can be difficult. Area is improved as i saw sidewalk clean and safe.

I found Zuni to be relaxed, upscale yet casual. The menu is different every day which makes every experience unique. Locally and ethically sourced ingredients to boot! Wonderful dishes and desserts as well. I had an AMAZING dining experience here and would recommend it to anyone, will come back again and again. Make reservations in advance.

Lovely experience, higher prices but really great atmosphere and quality of food. The fries were so thin and crispy, and the house ketchup was tangy and not sweet which is rare. The leeks and clams were one of our favorites, perfectly balanced and leeks so flavorful. The lamb ragu was like a shakshuka, my friend would only wish there was more bread served with it. The halibut cheeks were a bit like a scallop in texture, very well cooked with a sear.

With reservation on a sunday. These folks know what they are doing. Great service, drinks well executed and food that was just worth the wait.

This iconic eatery really lived up to its hype. The team are really friendly and very attentive, I felt well looked after and valued throughout. The food from start to finish was amazing. I wouldn’t normally order fried figs to start or roast chicken for main but both were recommended and neither disappointed. The chicken was the best I’d ever eaten. I finished with a beautifully light berry sorbet for dessert which was the perfect palette cleanser and sweet treat to end on. The cocktails were all outstanding. I can’t wait to go back.

+1

I have never been a roast chicken fan. How exciting can it be? Zuni Cafe has converted me. It must be their wood fired oven. The home made bread and deserts are nothing to sneeze at either. Sorry for showing my doggy bag.

Food is always incredible. Best to get a martini, salad, fries, and chicken. The most NY restaurant in SF!

Such a great place. The food is exquisite quality. It's a menu focused on local fresh fare that has inspired and whimsical touches. I've only been for brunch but will absolutely remedy that the next time I'm in San Francisco! The French toast was so delightful real butter and a passion fruit cream that was just delicious and the beef carpaccio is so fresh and intensely flavored with just the right amount of really peppery olive oil and rocket.

Really wholesome and delicious food at good portions. The chicken and bread salad is a must try. You have to wait for almost an hour but it’s worth it. The service was quite good. Ambiance could be improved a little though - we sat upstairs at a corner and the acoustics wasn’t ideal.

Lovely as always. Didnt get the chicken this time but a table nearby did, so I snagged that photo. Place is legendary and continues to not disappoint.

Zuni Cafe is one of the best places to eat in San Francisco. Traditional, but yet very thoughtful on everything they serve. Spot on and perfect dishes and service. They are most famous for their chicken for two which is delicious but it’s more like a chicken for 3 and that’s a must try in SF, and the Cesar salad that feels lemony and is to die for, but they also have so many other delicious dishes!! The service is fantastic and fast although the restaurant is always packed. The vibe is fantastic and the restaurant is packed with art. I would recommend anyone to come here for any type of occasion! From dates to family dinner or birthday celebrations.

The food is delicious and the service wonderful, the historic building feels fresh and alive, cared for. Yo, the pricing is ridiculous and borderline illegal, at an effective rate of a 35% plus amortization in the 15% (the morality of tipping on tax needs to be justified by ownership as there is no ethical norm that says this is standard) - this approach to pricing should include lower meal costs. The place gets 5 Stars for delivering food that feels cared for and tastes delicious; and ownership should know that the feeling in leaving is I don’t need to go back and feel that way looking at a bill. Eating a meal at a place like Zuni should leave you floating all day, rather than checking a box and saying never again.

+3

The location of Zuni within is an absolute gem, wedged on a shear corner lot on Market, the building has authentic bones that gives nearly a 360° perch on this spot in the city. We ordered the fig popover, lamb chickpea soup of the day, and polenta, all fantastic with unique stand-alone flavor profiles. I loved the soup so much, I will probably go back to buy the cookbook. For a Sunday brunch, the place wasn’t too busy, so the environment was very relaxed. Lived in the city for five years and always seen the spot while passing through, but finally glad it took a friend visiting to discover this great spot.

Great food, cocktails and service. I wish they had more dairy-free options, though.

Chicken for two was worth the wait. Definitely glad I made reservations weeks in advance to finally get to try this iconic SF restaurant for dinner! Cocktails were great as well as the pasta with clams. Really looking forward to coming back again to try their brunch and lunch menus.

An absolute San Francisco gem! From the moment we walked in, the warm, bustling atmosphere made us feel like we were part of something special. The space has that perfect balance of sophisticated and comfortable. The soup was outstanding – flavorful and perfectly seasoned. But the real star was the steak with mashed potatoes. The steak was cooked to perfection, with a beautiful sear and tender, juicy meat. And those mashed potatoes? Creamy, buttery heaven. You can tell they source quality ingredients and know exactly what to do with them. Zuni Café isn’t just a restaurant – it’s an institution, and for good reason. The food quality is consistently excellent, and the lively yet intimate atmosphere makes every meal feel like an occasion. Whether you’re a local or visiting San Francisco, this place is a must. Can’t wait to return!

We loved our long lunch at Zuni Cafe during a recent SF trip. We sat upstairs next to the window. The chicken & bread salad is amazing. The NA cocktails and NA wine are delicious, as were the alcoholic options. Service was lovely. Highly recommend if you have time to linger over a meal.

Nicole Toro

I drove out from Sac to see a show at SFJazz and had a craving for oysters. I realized recently I had never had pacific oysters, and my server graciously helped me choose a mix for half dozen. Lovely glass of resiling and my server was attentive and kind. I was a solo walk-in on a Friday night but highly recommend reservations, it was busy even for just starting dinner service. The atmosphere is owed to everyone working diligently but not hurried or rushed. I sat next to the oyster bar and full view of the kitchen, and still very busy but calm. It's an enjoyable space. This might be a new birthday tradition!

Celeste Minick

It is everything positive you’ve heard about this place and more. The service is amazing and everything is delicious, but in my opinion, you have to get the roasted chicken. It’s too much food for two people. It would be better for four people to share an appetizer, salad and share the chicken.

sadaqat ali

A San Francisco institution known for its rustic Mediterranean cuisine and iconic brick oven. The roast chicken for two with bread salad is a two-hour wait but a rite of passage. The oyster bar is excellent. The atmosphere in the multi-level, sun-filled space is uniquely vibrant and California-casual.

Ty Richchouyrod

Love Zuni cafe, we will be back. Big thanks to Edward, Karina and Adrian for taking such good care of our table. We will be back.

Michael Fisher

The fig popover, lamb chickpea soup of the day, and polenta were all exceptional, each offering a unique and delightful taste. The soup was so good that I am tempted to get the cookbook. Sunday brunch was wonderfully peaceful, creating a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere throughout the meal.

Stefano DellaVigna

It has been nearly a half century since Zuni opened. And yet, it is outstanding as ever. It is not just that it has the greatest roast chicken ever. It has one of the best Caeser salads anywhere, a great fritto and a selection of wines with a veey reasonable price given the top quality. No wonder it is hard to get a reservation!

Susan Runowicz-Smith

visited pre theatre and enjoyed oysters which were impeccable. Not a shell fragment in sight. The Caesar is probably the best in the city. Hubby ordered lamb ragu and it was vey tasty. i had the duck leg which could have been overly rich but it was served in a broth with veg which made it a lovely dish. Pavlova was a nice light ending to the meal.

+4

Rhett Burden

Walking into Zuni Cafe feels like stepping into the heart of San Francisco itself. This beloved institution has been serving the city for decades, and you can feel that deep connection to community the moment you settle into their warm, bustling space. The soaring windows flood the restaurant with natural light, while the open kitchen and multi-level dining room create an energy that’s distinctly San Francisco sophisticated yet approachable, polished yet genuine. The menu is a love letter to California cuisine, showcasing the kind of seasonal, locally sourced cooking that made the city famous. Every dish reflects a commitment to quality ingredients prepared with skill and care. The famous roasted chicken, cooked in their wood-fired brick oven, is nothing short of extraordinary crispy-skinned perfection. But what makes Zuni truly special goes beyond the exceptional food. Their partnership with Compass Family Services through the chicken dinner program shows how a restaurant can be a force for good in its community. Knowing that every chicken dinner sold contributes $1 to supporting families in need adds a layer of meaning to an already perfect meal. It’s the kind of thoughtful community engagement that makes you proud to dine here.

+10

Vivien L

We arrived at our reservation about 20 min early and they were able to seat us right away. The staff is attentive without being overbearing; they refilled water without being intrusive, timed the courses perfectly, and even split our dishes onto 2 plates because we were a party of 2 couples. They were constantly present (working around the floor) without us feeling pressured to order or finish our food faster. I believe we were there for about 2 hours. Every single dish we ordered was exceptional. All the ingredients for the salad and appetizers tasted so fresh and had so much flavor, especially all the various dipping sauces, dressings and toppings that were served with each of the dishes. We ordered the melons & prosciutto salad, tomato herb and crispy polenta salad, fritto misto (calamari & fried fish), polenta, roasted chicken and salted caramel ice cream with peach galette. Pro tip we observed from a neighboring table - order an extra side of the bread salad to go with the chicken! That one also comes soaked in chicken juices with the currants and pine nuts mixed it with additional spring mix on top. Parking - it looks like mostly street parking but we took a rideshare in to avoid dealing with the traffic and parking situation.

+1

Sydney

Wow. My mind is blown by everything I tasted. The Summer melon salad with shishito peppers, ricotta WAS amazing. I took one bite and had to snap a picture so I can remember this dish. The rest of the meal fell right in line with that same hype. Just wish they had a 1/2 portion of their famous chicken, but the side of bread salad made up for it.

This was more for the ambience and service since my son and I only tried two dishes. He had a kids meal pasta with Parmesan and I had mushroom polenta (it was delicious).\n\nWe arrive Friday night wi…

This was more for the ambience and service since my son and I only tried two dishes. He had a kids meal pasta with Parmesan and I had mushroom polenta (it was delicious).\n\nWe arrive Friday night …

This was more for the ambience and service since my son and I only tried two dishes. He had a kids meal pasta with Parmesan and I had mushroom polenta (it was delicious).\n\nWe arrive Friday night …

This was more for the ambience and service since my son and I only tried two dishes. He had a kids meal pasta with Parmesan and I had mushroom polenta (it was delicious).\n\nWe arrive Friday night …

Terrific meal last night! Fish and chips were pricey, but so amazing. Cod was tender and the crust was probably the finest I've ever had. Started with artichokes, prosciutto, burrata and raisin dish.…

Terrific meal last night! Fish and chips were pricey, but so amazing. Cod was tender and the crust was probably the finest I've ever had. Started with artichokes, prosciutto, burrata and raisin dis…

We arrived a little bit early and the hostess asked us to wait at the bar. We had just enough time to order a glass of wine from the friendly bartender. It was so great to see the restaurant full o…

We arrived a little bit early and the hostess asked us to wait at the bar. We had just enough time to order a glass of wine from the friendly bartender. It was so great to see the restaurant full o…

Great food, great drinks, the service was fantastic, especially Leah. Thanks for a great dinner Leah.

Great food, great drinks, the service was fantastic, especially Leah. Thanks for a great dinner Leah.

Great food, great drinks, the service was fantastic, especially Leah. Thanks for a great dinner Leah.

Went to the Zuni for a birthday and had a wonderful time! Wilmer was our server and he was amazing! Can't wait to go back :)

Came for the chicken and bread salad and it did not disappoint! We loved the building and ambience. Such a cool, classic style that doesn't try too hard. The chicken is phenomenal, and the crispy…

Incredible food and service from start to finish. We got a roasted vegetable appetizer, the famous chicken (worth the wait) and the chocolate cake for dessert paired with a Lillet. The building is …

How does one describe ZUNI CAFE? Iconic. An institution. Classic. Teddy is the best of the best. Here's how I do it. wine/champagne with oysters. Split the Caesar salad because it's humongous a…

How does one describe ZUNI cafe? Iconic. An institution. Classic. Teddy is the best of the best. Here's how I do it. Wine/champagne with oysters. Split the Caesar salad because it's humongous a…

How does one describe ZUNI CAFE? Iconic. An institution. Classic. Teddy is the best of the best. Here's how I do it. Wine/champagne with oysters. Split the Caesar salad because it's humongous a…

Zuni cafe is a French restaurant, and that is almost all you need to know. French cuisine almost never misses. It is uncanny. I have been fortunate enough to visit Paris twice as a young tourist on…

Great dinner! We loved the interesting food choices, the gnocchi was the best. The service was very very good, and the light and airy restaurant was very relaxing. A real gem.

We shared the famous chicken dish, and really enjoyed it. The service was attentive and moved our appetizers and drinks along at a good pace before our chicken was ready, as it does take an hou…

Really fun time! Good spot for a special meal. The service was excellent! Food options were good and had a nice price scale. The tender flavorful chicken for two was enough for the four of us. Potato strings were a fun challenge to take down. The dessert cobbler was gigantic and mouth watering. The overall ambiance was very cool-old-school fancy mixed with a lil modern city vibe. Honestly the only thing I wasn't crazy about was our table. Kind of weird booth seats where my back was 4 inches from the person sitting on the same area behind me.

Zuni was beautiful vibes, like 8.5/10 food but 10/10 ambience. The tagliatelle had figs, they won me over

+1

Slow paced restaurant perfect for our party and those who don't like to be rushed. Great food if a little bland. For appetizers we had, bread and butter, Tuscan melon and figs, anchovies with celery and cheese, all delicious appetizer choices. For entrees we had a duck sugo and skirt steak, served luke warm and a little too bland. The duck easily could have worked better as pulled pork or lamb. The wine bottle didn't make its way until after the appetizers had been served. The service and staff were tops but our waiter was a novice or a little inexperienced. The ambience was excellent and it more then made up for these small trifles. We will definitely come back with friends for a birthday celebration or such.

+1

Zuni Cafe in San Francisco is one of my favorite restaurants to dine whenever I’m in the city. Always consistent in food and service.

Enjoyed dessert better than I did with the entree. The dinning room exudes a warm wood fire feel; twas cozy, and invites intimate conversations. Service overall was great. Food here is good, but technique was rather sloppy. The sea bream needed less time. The potato was slushy and needed more cream. Spinach over done. Unsure of the intention, the steak was served as pieces. It also seems that there was very little thought for presentation. Overall not impressed by the flavor. Thankfully,, the Eton Mess and Gateau Victoire turned the experience around. Creamy with delicious fruit, every bite had good balance of sweet and tart. The Gateau was not moist enough but the whipped cream was its redeeming quality. TLDR: Dinner missed the mark but, dessert, service, and atmosphere was well enjoyed.

Had high hopes coming here and it was good, but came short of all the hype in my opinion. The dishes were good and service was good, however it’s trying to mimic Michelin starred restaurants in the atmosphere, setting, and service, but came short of that on the food. Desserts were Definetly the weakest link, but they had an excellent wine selection

I had the famous roast chicken, which was fantastic. For those who want to eat healthier, you may want to ask them to go easy on the salad dressing and seasoning. My only complaint was that the bread salad was soaked in olive oil, and the greens were a little too salty for me. But that’s probably a personal preference. Service can be a little patchy. It was generally very good, except when I made a request regarding my seating, the server never got back to me. Kinda odd.

Decided to do a Friday work lunch and it was such a treat! Got the roast chicken for two + bread salad which was well worth the wait (I loved the chicken but I think the underrated star is the oil-soaked bread). The coffee was a bit disappointing (too bitter for my taste) but I’ll definitely be going back for lunch on a sunny day.

Shoestring fries are great. Lots of fun to dig into a heaping plate of fries. I split the fries with my partner, which filled us both up. We also split this asparagus and burrata dish, which was very tasting but not filling at all. Server was very nice and the atmosphere is great. They had a live piano player when we came. Good place for a date. Reservations can be hard to get on short notice, but they always keep some tables free for walk-in.

My 2024 lunch review: My lunch mate and I got lucky by being seated upstairs in a nook where we could actually converse. The food and drink are still amazing. Stuffed dates were available the day we ate there. Indescribably delicious. My 2022 dinner review: The food and service at Zuni Café are wonderful. The ambient noise is too loud. Next time I'll take noise cancelling headphones to converse with my table mates by video.

+6

Not sure why everything is about the chicken. It's ok, nice presentation, but I can get better flavors and value elsewhere. Could also be there during holiday and they were precooked. Anyhow, I had pork chop, accompanied with brussel sprouts. Tasty

I don’t get the hype around their 60 minute chicken. It’s well seasoned and has crispy skin but it was DRY. The bread croutons were soggy and greasy. We did not like their new baked oyster dish (the oyster was way too big). The shoestring potatoes were awesome but they’re fries so how hard is that?

Great experience overall and the food was amazing. However, the dishes were very small. The cod had only a little piece of cod and the gnocchi had about 10 pieces only. I’d prefer to pay a higher price and get a bigger portion. Also, automatic 25% tip seems like a lot

Haven’t been here for years. Now, I’m asking myself, “Why?” Food is great. Everything we ordered was delicious. The only complaint is that the automatically add 20% gratuity even though we were a party of two. Plus the city mandate of 5% and then tax of 8.6%.

The food was good but definitely overpriced, the drinks were good, the Caesar salad was Okay, the chicken was good but not worth coming a 2nd time for. The atmosphere was nice and the service was great. For 2 cocktails, a salad and a chicken for two we paid close to $200. They do include a 25% gratuity to all bills.

This could be a situation where I came in with too high expectations. I had read Tom Sietsema's review, and he gave high praise for the chicken for 2 and the fries. I was with a vegetarian, however, so went with the fritata, my companion got the scrambled eggs, and we also got the fries. My fritata was good, and the scrambled eggs excellent. The fries: tasty, but served in an enormous pile on a small plate (this was the half order) which resulted in fries all over the table and even a few on the floor. Service could have been more attentive. Took a while to get the order taken, water went low, and not much checking in. It was 11:30am on a Sunday and quite a few tables were still empty, so busyness didnt seem to be the problem.

Went here for a brunch. Still many empty seat if you go slightly earlier. Didn’t try the chicken because of an hour waiting time. But the burger and pizza is good. Burger is juicy and flavorful. Pizza is thin, and chewy. The fries is very crispy but maybe it’s thin so soak more oil? The cafe and cocktail is good for a brunch. The cafe itself is nice. Large glass storefront allows sun bathing the table.

While I’ve been here twice in the last 3 years, this time it was with my wife and a “splurge” late lunch early dining experience. Food was good. Space is wonderful. We ordered the chicken as neither of us had ever had it here before. It was good, but a tad dry (wings and legs) and salty (either from being brined or rubbed on and under the skin. You have to order an entire chicken and we brought almost 1/2 home. (FYI, the chicken is for 2 and is $72 and takes an hour to cook). We started with a dozen oysters (mixed varieties), a cara cara navel orange appetizer (while good was drenched in oil), followed by the chicken and finished with two desserts: a cookie plate and a tangelo sorbet paired with a latte and cappuccino. Mandatory gratuity of 20% and a SF restaurant service fee of 5%. Service was a little slow but as we’re waited an hour for the chicken we obviously weren’t in a hurry. Meal was 2 + hours. It’s a wonderful space. We would go back but just have a burger and a bottle of wine. The space is intimate and special.

+2

Raving reviews online so expectations were extremely high. Oven roasted chicken was very good but portion was too much for two pax. Pretty much one chicken, some oysters and we are done. Nonetheless still a great restaurant

Of course the chicken was great but the star really is the bread salad (which you can order on its own!) The caesar salad felt a bit too heavily dressed but it certainly is a style and seemed intentional. Definitely better for groups. Also, amazing Bloody Mary!

+4

This place was really cute and pretty, the food was good, not life changing but good. I liked the sorbet and the chicken the most (although the chicken was a little dry in some parts) I would go here again. My one complaint is we got the fried calamari and they gave us a fried thing with ferns and other stuff and it was a little pricey. Still good though.

The chicken is excellent. It truly lives up to the hype, and there is quite a bit of hype. Each seasonal offering tantalizes the senses giving you the best that California has to offer. Lovely interior, very clean and bright. The service isn’t really the star here, although, I did appreciate the warmth and capability of some of the waitstaff. I know I’ll have a hankering for that succulent chicken very soon! Can’t wait!

We ordered what they are known for, the roast chicken, and it was very tasty. Probably one of the best roast chicken I’ve had. I think the thighs were the best part since the breast can be dry, so the bread that was filled in the chicken with balsamic meshed really well with. The chicken has tree nuts! We ordered Caesar salad, the cheese and crackers dessert, bread + butter, and eton mess. The salad was good since the dressing was much lighter and the croutons crispy but not hard. The cheese and cracker with apricot was heavy and strong on the cheese, the preserves balanced it out very well. The bread and butter was ok. Not warm, could have more butter. Eton mess was also decent, filled with cream, rhubarb. I thought it was interesting and probably part of their service that the wait staff remember all your orders without pen or paper. Service was friendly and we enjoyed our dinner here. We lucked out on parking, didnt see many spots.

+6

Melissa Eisner

Everyone raves about Zuni Cafe, and while it hit many high notes for me, there were one or two niggles that kept me from giving 5 stars. Obviously the star of the show was the roast chicken and salad, and it’s way more than two of us could eat. Great flavor and crispy skin, hit loads of high notes. We also got the little gems salad and the dressing was tangy and creamy, with the hazelnuts it was super balanced. Nice selection of wines by the glass. The cons? Our table was right on the window which meant we were super cold as there isn’t much insulation. And then because of being right on the window we were also directly facing another table that was almost on top of us. No real privacy. All around a great meal but would definitely find different seats next time.

Jenna Hall

Excellent martinis. You must go, and you must get the chicken for two. It has bread inside that has soaked up all of the chicken juices it’s amazing. The fries are also so teeny matchbook stick size! You can skip the anchovies and the bread the butter comes out pretty hard.

+4

Jenny Xu

Came here with a friend without a reservation and we got seated immediately at 1pm when it was super busy. Good: - The portions are small and expensive but the food quality is great - I liked the spaghetti dish a lot - the noodles had a chewy texture and was super tasty - The flourless chocolate cake was good! Wasn't super sweet and the whipped cream was so good - The mint tea was a nice touch after the meal - The servers were very nice! Bad: - The wait time for each dish was very long - we were here for 1h30 min and waiting for most of the time for each dish - Expensive overall! Overall this was a nice find and I enjoyed getting to spend a lazy lunch afternoon here catching up with a friend.

Richard Salgado

The main reason I visited was for the chicken bread salad, but I learned that it’s made to order and takes 75 minutes. I did not want to wait that long. The menu felt both limited and all over the place. Nothing really stood out and I wanted a salad but the only protein option was shrimp or anchovies. That said, everything else I had was really good, just think it’s a little overpriced. Service was good, worth checking out but lower your expectations.

Bill Tang

Really fresh vegetable appetizers (Caesar salad and burrata with heirloom tomatoes), chicken had great smoky flavor but many pieces were quite dry (thigh and leg were juicy). Was it worth the price? I’m not sure if it is so much better than cheaper rotisserie chickens

Amina Ahsan Haque

6/15/2025 - Dinner - Table for 2 We came for the roast chicken. It did not disappoint. Although I wish it came with some gravy. Service could be better. Wonder if it was due to the fact that they have a mandatory service surcharge built in ?

Will Martin

Had heard good things about this restaurant and finally gave it a try. The best part in my opinion was the atmosphere. We got the corner seat surrounded by large glass windows, so it was quite bright even though it was cloudy outside. The service was also very good, they split our dishes into two so we could share them. Also FYI, there is a 25% gratuity charge automatically included in the bill. The food was good, we had the burger and the vegetable spaghetti, along with the fries. The burger was pretty good and definitely on the fancier side being served on focaccia, however it was slightly overcooked and not particularly interesting. The pasta was very good. The fries were decent, however they could have been crispier and were not as delicious as I expected.

Had a fun dinner with the wife. I really liked the use of space. ambiance was smart casual and service was attentive. The broccoli appetizer was outstanding. Wife had the duck and I had the steak b…

Had a fun dinner with the wife. I really liked the use of space. Ambiance was smart casual and service was attentive. The broccoli appetizer was outstanding. Wife had the duck and I had the steak b…

Zuni is a staple to the restaurant scene in SF. We went for lunch on a Sunday without a reservation and was sat right away. We both ordered the burger with a side of fries. The fries are the true s…

Came to at 7 Zuni Cafe on a Sunday evening with a 7:30 reservation and got seated right away. We got seated in the very corner of the upstairs section which I didn't mind at all. \n\nAs a fry conno…

Mot as good as our previous dinners. My wife and I both had a cod fish dish with some vegetables and a little sauce. Mine was a little fishy, surprising for $46. I probably should have sent mine back…

Mot as good as our previous dinners. My wife and I both had a cod fish dish with some vegetables and a little sauce. Mine was a little fishy, surprising for $46. I probably should have sent mine …

Recommend by Neil Perry (one of our most respected aussie chefs) and while it was good, it wasn’t great. Staff good. Wine list adequate. Food delicious. Interesting that the chefs etc didn’t use glov…

Recommend by Neil Perry (one of our most respected aussie chefs) and while it was good, it wasn’t great. Staff good. Wine list adequate. food delicious. Interesting that the chefs etc didn’t use gl…

Recommend by Neil Perry (one of our most respected aussie chefs) and while it was good, it wasn’t great. staff good. Wine list adequate. Food delicious. Interesting that the chefs etc didn’t use gl…

Recommend by Neil Perry (one of our most respected aussie chefs) and while it was good, it wasn’t great. Staff good. wine list adequate. Food delicious. Interesting that the chefs etc didn’t use gl…

Very mixed bag with the food, inexperienced service, noisy and overpriced. What else could be wrong. We live in the bay area and visited for a special dinner for a party of 5. We ordered the fam…

Very mixed bag with the food, inexperienced service, noisy and overpriced. What else could be wrong. We live in the bay area and visited for a special dinner for a party of 5. We ordered the fam…

Zuni has lots of eating spaces on multiple levels, which gives a large restaurant an intimate feel. The service, food, and wine were all excellent, and the staff was very accommodating finding spa…

We had the famous roast chicken with bread salad for lunch. It did not disappoint, but there is so much of it that it could be better shared with 3 people instead of 2. An order of the shoestring p…

We had the famous roast chicken with bread salad for lunch. It did not disappoint, but there is so much of it that it could be better shared with 3 people instead of 2. An order of the shoestring…

Amazing burger and super friendly service. Personally, wasn't too impressed with the roasted chicken but everyone else on the table seemed to love it. Overall we had a great time here :)

+1

Waiter was friendly and good until he wasn’t. The food was hit or miss. The tuna entree was bad - 3 pieces of tuna and 1 was grizzle, and the flavors were off. We told the waiter and he didn’t respond and then he ghosted us. And no, we didn’t ask to have it removed from the check and it wasn’t.

Great place, really liked the atmosphere and food, but we waited a long time for our table, even though there were plenty of seats available. In the end, we were seated at a table that had been empty for 15 minutes. Also, the girl at the bar was rude to me. I asked for a glass of water while we were waiting for our table, but she just gave me the menu. I waited for my water for 5 minutes, she did everything except give me water. It turned out that she didn't understand me, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was that she was rude, and I felt very uncomfortable at the bar. Later, when we were seated at a table, the waiter was wonderful and everything went great.

The food was great — we ordered their famous chicken and loved it. Unfortunately, the service was very disappointing. There is an automatic 20% gratuity added to all orders, and it felt like that may have impacted the level of service. We waited about 10 minutes at the bar before anyone acknowledged us. When I said hello to one of the staff members, he didn’t even turn around and walked away. We then had to wait another five minutes to get someone’s attention. Coincidentally, the same person ended up being our server. It took him about 10 minutes to come to our table, and he did not seem friendly or welcoming. Throughout the meal, service was slow and inattentive. At one point, I tried to get another staff member’s attention to ask for ketchup, but he looked at me and walked away. Our glasses were empty for some time before we were able to ask for more water, and the check also took a long time to arrive. Overall, the food was excellent, but the service did not meet expectations. If the gratuity had not already been included, I would not have left a tip. I wont go back.

The oysters, roasted chicken, and the wine were excellent. The service was terrible. Everyone else around us seemed to have been attended to so wasn't sure what that was all about. It was my birthday dinner and I expected excellence service based on the price, quality of food and reviews. I'm tempted to try this place again, but rather spend my $ elsewhere.

Here's an honest review for Zuni, which had been on my list for over a year, but I tried my best not to get myself hyped up after reading some reviews beforehand. Loved the vibe of the restaurant, and it was more spacious than we had expected. We were taken upstairs and around to a room that was tucked in, which we didn't even know existed. The interior is beautiful & inviting! Service was highly attentive with just the right amount of politeness and formality. They refilled our glasses with water frequently and was quick to cater to our needs. Now, these definitely matter, but I've mainly come to enjoy a good meal. A great meal if I'm splurging. Based on the reviews, we ordered: • Shoestring potatoes: I personally didn't understand the hype. It's good, but it's really just thin fries at the end of the day, nothing mind-blowing. • 18oz Ribeye: mid rare steak cooked to perfection, very creamy mashed potatoes, & roasted veggies were absolutely delicious. We were really glad to have tried this dish, which they had split it for us without having to ask. • The famous roasted chicken: we ordered it pretty much as soon as we sat down, considering the 75min wait the menu & all reviews mentioned. Not sure if it's because we were already a bit full from other dishes we had while waiting, but it was quite underwhelming and disappointing to have waited so long and spend $75 on a dish that unfortunately did not seem anything special. The salad on top is fine (can't mess that up), but the chicken was actually little dry and the bread hadn't soaked up all the chicken flavor as expected. The value seemed questionable. • Pavlova w/ citrus + pistachio dessert: my favorite order of the night! It was light, not too sweet, and loved the citrus + nutty pistachio combo. Absolutely recommend. Overall, I appreciate the vibes, services, & even the dishes, although personally, I did find it a tad too salty (for all the dishes except for the dessert) for my tastebuds, but that could be subjective. Fyi, 20% gratuity & 5% mandate is already included in the bill. I recommend trying the place, but you can skip the chicken. RT Rotisserie or Bosque or Costco nearby can help satisfy that craving for better execution & cheaper value.

Lavendrous

Everyone knows already how delicious is the Chicken! But please let me talk about the Zuni Bloody Mary!!! It was one of a kind! Lastly, to the Zuni’s owner! Please take care of your employees and pay for your employees’ healthcare, instead of charging your customers. Next time, I am not going to pay for what is your responsibility! Took two stars off for this!

Viktoria Weizel

Before anything else, visitors should know that Zuni automatically adds 25% on top of your bill — 20% tip plus an extra 5% for “healthcare.” As a European, I find this quite extreme. While a 20% tip can still be tolerated, being forced to pay an additional 5% to cover employee healthcare is something that should clearly be the employer’s responsibility, not the customer’s. This alone is a definite reason for a star deduction. The restaurant itself is stylish, with attentive staff and a good atmosphere. The whole roasted chicken with salad is delicious and definitely the highlight. Just keep in mind that it takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to prepare, so it’s best to order it right away. We also ordered the olives as an appetizer, but the portion consisted of extremely tiny olives — so small that they were difficult to pick up and felt more like leftover bits than a proper starter. We then tried the Shoestring fries. Yes, they are labeled as “Shoestring fries,” but I genuinely didn’t expect them to be that thin. They were hard to pick up with a fork, awkward to eat with your hands, and overall not very satisfying. The cocktails we had were fine, but nothing particularly memorable. Overall: a nice restaurant with very good chicken and solid service, but the mandatory 25% surcharge and some disappointing sides — definitely impact the overall value and are the main reason I’m giving it 3 stars instead of 4.

+2

Tom Klaber

Great service. Nice atmosphere. Ok food. Not sure the chicken is worth the wait. If you like chicken, then you will like the chicken, but it is only chicken, so do not expect some transcendent take on chicken -just chicken with a salad and soggy bread. The tomatoes starter with pesto was the best thing we had.

+16

Zuni Café was recommended to us by a friend who works in a Michelin starred kitchen here in San Francisco. The restaurant speaks both casual and class, a place where you can come after an afternoon s…

Super cute restaurant that gives NYC vibes, especially on a cold weekend. \n\nOur first stop was the bar and the bartenders were all fabulous. They knew their drinks and mixology. We would definite…

This is a very popular restaurant. It was tough to get in\n\nFood was excellent. Chicken was perfect. \n\nGood ambiance. \n\nService (waitress) was actually rude

This is a very popular restaurant. It was tough to get in\n\nFood was excellent. chicken was perfect. \n\nGood ambiance. \n\nService (waitress) was actually rude

I came without a reservation, and they were still able to seat the two of us later in the evening, so we were fortunate not to have a long wait. You can grab a drink at the bar while you wait, …

I came without a reservation, and they were still able to seat the two of us later in the evening, so we were fortunate not to have a long wait. You can grab a drink at the bar while you wait, whic…

I haven’t been to the Zuni cafe in many years. It remains a comfortable, friendly place with a good SF vibe. The food, with a few exceptions, however is very ordinary which is disappointing. The pr…

3.5 Zuni Café San Francisco Wide open spaced seating Friendly staff Cheeseburger was okay Lamb stew was uninspiring Place is overpriced, especially with San Francisco taxes Lost some of its …

The food at Zuni was really nice. We had the famous roast chicken with bread salad. It was good. 15 years ago, I would have been amazed but this kind and quality of food is far more prevalent. I…

I’ve been dining at Zuni Café for over 20 years and have always considered it one of San Francisco’s finest restaurants, both for the food and the impeccable service. Unfortunately, my recent visit on Sunday, November 30 was a major letdown. Our server, Rachel, had a noticeably bad attitude from the moment she approached our table. She didn’t smile once, seemed annoyed when taking our order, and made us feel like she was doing us a favor just by attending to us. I was entertaining important clients for business, and even they commented on how uncomfortable her demeanor made the experience. It’s disappointing to have such a negative encounter at a place that’s consistently been one of my favorites for decades. I hope management takes this seriously that Zuni Café’s reputation has always been built on warmth and hospitality, and this fell far short of that standard. This is a prime example of why there should not be a minimum tip. There is no longer any incentives to provide good service.

We dined at Zuni Cafe last night and unfortunately had a disappointing experience. Our waitress Katia, although a lovely woman, did not provide the level of service we expected. She forgot our main order, the lamb, and by the time she realized her mistake, it was too late. Given our time constraints, we had no choice but to cancel the order (immediately after she told us) and settled for a quick dessert instead, but to our surprise, we were still charged for the lamb. The overall ambiance and food was pleasant but we will not be returning again. Charging customers for a dish that was not served reflects poorly on the establishment’s integrity. This shows a clear lack of professionalism and disregard for customer service. We hope our feedback prompts the management to reassess their approach to ensure a more positive experience for future customers.

I had a bad experience at Zuni cafe. Will not be going back. I went to Zuni cafe last month with some family and friends after a pre-wedding celebration. We inadvertently booked as three separate groups a few weeks prior to coming as this was one of the recommended dining venues on the newlywed's event website and did not originally coordinate on coming together. A few days prior one of my cousins called the restaurant to see if they could accommodate us all sitting together. They said that they would see what they could do. That night our three groups came to the restaurant at slightly staggered times. Each of the groups asked the hostess about sitting together but they did not seat us together. I was a part of the last group to arrive and the hostess just sat us down and never came back to us to tell us that they would not be able to seat us together nor gave an explanation. There were moments before our orders were taken that tables next to us opened for two of our three groups. We asked the waiter if they could seat one of fellow parties next to us since they hadn't ordered yet either. The waiter went to ask the hostess and came back with no explanation and very rudely told us that "This is your table". No apologies, and no effort to try to accommodate. I could have understood if those tables were "reserved" but absolutely no explanation was given. This level of customer service and interaction really ruined our experience. The only silver lining was that the food was good and the roast chicken was delicious as expected. I've had good experiences coming to this restaurant prior to this experience, but certainly will not be going back after this. Service should be better especially since they have high prices and charge a 20% mandatory service charge.

HOLD THE SALT for 6 years now my client has treated a few of us to a holiday lunch at Zuni, and it has always been a great experience. however, this year we had to schedule a weekend with a brunch menu ( which is fine) so l thought. l ordered their “steak fritte” but it was so salty l could barely finish it.

I recently visited this restaurant to celebrate my son's 21st birthday, inspired by Dominique Crenn’s praise of it as one of her favorite places to eat. Unfortunately, the experience fell far short of expectations. Our server seemed disengaged from the start, dropping menus, offering the briefest possible answers to questions, and showing little interest in guiding us through what should have been a memorable evening. For a dinner that totaled over $400, the lack of hospitality and salesmanship was especially disappointing. As for the food, the flavor profile felt more conceptual than satisfying—like an attempt to evoke some primal, hunter-gatherer connection. In reality, it just translated to dishes with very little flavor or nuance. The restaurant also adds a mandatory 20% gratuity, which, in this case, felt unearned. When the service hovers just above indifferent, it’s frustrating to have no say in acknowledging that through your tip. For the price and the hype, I expected a much higher level of engagement, flavor, and care. I will not return.

The overall experience was not that great. To get started we get sat down upstairs where its extremely hot but bearable, our waiter is sweating. We place an order for drinks and that was a big let down the martini's and old fashions were sub par at best. We decide to order the salad, the chicken (takes an hour), the shoe string fries, and bread. The bread arrives first and is old, its not crisp on the outside, the inside is just ehhh, the butter was good though. The salad comes next and is good. Then the fries come, in the middle of eating them.... I pull a hair out of my mouth (like long almost a half a foot long) out of my mouth still connected to the fries. They send it back and get us a fresh one but, they weren't like crisp. They were just soggy, not what I expect for a shoe string fry. The chicken comes and it is as good as people say but honestly it was like a rotissare chicken from Costco but better but not some amazing stand out. Between the bad drinks, average bread/salad, the terrible fries, and the good chicken, the heat.... I would never come back. I actualy wanted to walk up to the bar manager and watch him make these drinks because they clearly don't know. Even after one of us orders a gin and tonic because the old fashioned was done terribly, even then its more ice then it is tonic/gin so it waters down so fast. Not sure if it was an off night but not worth the time. ALSO a auto added 20% gratuity, I didn't know for a party of 3 that was normal. Just auto tipping their workers regardless of service?? The last thing that really was annoying thinking about the experience were the menus. Yes they have a normal menu front for food/back drinks. Then a oyster menu, then a cocktail menu, then a wine menu. The amount wasn't the problem. They had them laid out so weird they would indent and not label areas, the menu looked like you had to solve a problem to understand what you were getting or what it was and what it was priced. It was as if they took a menu then scrambled it, put it on a paper and said good luck.

Great service and atmosphere. Excellent staff. Decent appetizers. But entrees dull, bland and overly-reliant on salt. The chicken is apparently a big deal. It was over cooked and unimaginative. In the most progressive city in the world, I do not want to be eating what people were eating back in the 1940s.

I have coming to Zuni fir over 20 years and tonight it was memorable for the lack of quality/attentive service that I have come to expect. Water glasses were not refilled until asking, items ordered were forgotten, I had to ask to get the wine I ordered. Not sure if it was just an off day, but not sure if I will be back anytime soon.

I ordered olive ($7), San Francisco Cocktail ($15.5) and steak the one that has a price of ($46). The bill arrived with $93.02. As a tourist I was not able to argue or discuss it. I am overcharged. Btw waiter was nice and friendly but welcoming lady was trying to get rid of me. She put me next to the bar although there were empty places I asked but she said no which was not nice.

The worst dining experience of my life, including fast food establishments. We were seated in a store window. The only way to get to my seat was to place my body into the stranger next to me. When I …

The worst dining experience of my life, including fast food establishments. We were seated in a store window. The only way to get to my seat was to place my body into the stranger next to me. Whe…

Sorry, but the famous chicken was dry and flavorless. I am not joking when I say that the $5 chicken at Costco is significantly better. The waiter was pleasant and a joy. However, the food is hig…

The mains were really bad! Super surprised and let down by this place. Bill or Bili or something was honestly quite rude. The burger and sausage came out 30 mins after our neighbors who ordered 30 mins after us. Completely absurd. Also they have no idea how to make a burger... Totally unseasoned and the meat was overworked so it had a rubbery texture like a bad sausage. On the other hand the sausage had no spring to it and was totally underwhelming. Overall the service was atrocious and the quality and preparation of the meat was sub par. I could have gone to the kitchen and made better food faster. As a waiter you can just talk to the customer and let them know there's a problem in the back. I was so late to my meeting due to the service. Thankfully the food tasted so bad that I couldn't stomach more than a bite so we could be off to our next location. Oysters were fresh. Salad was fine.

The food was mediocre, and the service was equally disappointing. On top of that, a 20% gratuity was added automatically without any prior notice. Given the overall experience and the high prices, I don’t feel a tip at that level is justified. I believe this is something the owner should seriously reconsider.

Over rated! Chick for two was burned and covered in so much 'salad' that I'm not sure I got a whole chicken. Service was HORRIBLE but forced to pay a 25%tip!?!?. The attitude of the host was completely off putting. NEVER AGAIN.

I don’t know what I was expecting from a $75 chicken 😅 But I guess is at least something much more flavorfull, is impossible to not think about the $4.99 Chicken from Costco 🤣. The Chicken is not bad at all, don’t get me wrong. We also had Anchovies, you can make it at home, for much less! If you want to eat anchovies, go to Anchovie Bar. I think this place is cute at a beautiful location, but don’t go if you don’t want to feel scammed by rich people that probably want to pay $75 for a chicken to feel better with themselves.

Let’s start with this: you’re automatically charged 25% on your bill for tip and employees’ healthcare (????). Since when is it the customer’s responsibility to pay for that? About the food: $75 for a chicken dish?! I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I definitely wasn’t expecting to feel scammed by a restaurant. I truly don’t understand the hype around this place. The potatoes were just okay—we can get much better potatoes at a fast-food chain. The anchovy dish was an insult, starting with the presentation. As for the chicken dish: soggy commercial bread, a very basic green salad, and chicken that tastes fine but is absolutely not worth $75. We shouldn’t normalize things like this!

Extremely small portions relative to the price + mandatory 25% in gratuity and fees. I do not recommend this restaurant overall for these reasons. We were interested in ordering the roasted chicken which seems well reviewed, but unfortunately we did not have enough time so we ordered the risotto, bucatini clam pasta and a shrimp appetizer. The appetizer was $22 and came with two shrimps. Such a small portion! My bucatini clam pasta was pretty bland, and it was also the smallest portion of pasta I’ve had at a restaurant before . My girlfriend got the risotto, which I didn't try. The mandatory 20% gratuity and 5% health care fee left a sour note. The total came to $112 for 1 pastas and an appetizer, and I left the restaurant still very hungry.