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Zuni Café

New American Restaurant$$$$

Civic Center, San Francisco

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Zuni Café

8.6^/10

1,141

ratings

On the list: #BabysFirstTime: SF Edition
Ranked #1 for seafood in Civic Center
The folks at SFGate and The Wall Street Journal like this place. Would you agree?
"Roast chicken and bread salad at Zuni"(10 Tips)
"roast chicken, oysters, shoestring fries, cocktails and wine"(13 Tips)
"Judy Rodgers book for Zuni Cafe is on sale at Amazon for $26 right"(6 Tips)
"Have a bloody Mary, oysters and crab when it's in season (aka now)."(34 Tips)

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312 Tips and reviews

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SFistJuly 22, 2016
One of the staple, classic dessert items at Zuni Cafe is the espresso granita, which will come as a parfait with whipped cream if you don't ask for it without, but stands excellently well on its own. Read more
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EaterJuly 28, 2016
The brick-oven-roasted chicken, with its crisp skin, is fantastic, but it's the chunks of bread, arugula, and currants in chicken jus that makes it special. Share it with someone you love. Read more
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EaterNovember 19, 2014
Grab a burger at Zuni Cafe tonight (it comes with their legendary Zuni pickles). If you're not in the mood for a burger, their roast chicken is almost just as good. Read more
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MariJune 1, 2019
Even if you don’t have time to wait for the famous chicken, rest assured, everything else on the menu is A+
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Wilson Favre-DelerueJune 20, 2016
Been here 5+ times
Two words: ROAST CHICKEN!!! Heavenly, ridiculously flavourful, tender, superb. Also loved the long bar and nooks and crannies this restaurant is built around. Top marks all round.
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EaterJanuary 19, 2017
Menus evolve daily with the season, but there’s no escaping the Zuni classics: the iconic roast chicken for two, the trend-igniting burger, and the bowl of polenta that is surely more dairy than corn. Read more
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Laurea de OcampoMarch 18, 2018
The roast chicken is classic and is like Thanksgiving on one plate. Beautiful dining room and great service. I love the sweetheart tables by the kitchen and the windows.
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David RSeptember 17, 2018
Classic SF brunch and dinner spot. Get the chicken and bread salad along with the egg, pasta, and French toast for brunch (Sundays only).
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Kenneth BergerApril 27, 2013
Been here 5+ times
I always forget how killer their wine list is, and not at all badly priced. Try the Thierry Allemand Cornas with the Zuni chicken, worth the price. Or Domaine Huet chenin blanc with oysters.
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JS1August 1, 2017
Been here 10+ times
Order the chicken as soon as you get sat and enjoy some wine and small bites while you wait. Absolutely worth it. Also, recently they have gone with small batch spirits so try some.
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BuzzFeedAugust 23, 2016
Chef Rodgers’ now-famous combination of roasted chicken paired with a warm bread salad with scallions, garlic, mustard greens, dried currants, and pine nuts is a must-try at this Hayes Valley outpost. Read more
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Elizabeth BarelliJuly 29, 2013
Great warm atmosphere with view on the kitchen. The chicken was delicious indeed. I had high expectations as a big fan of Poulet Roti, and it was delicious. And the stuffing inside was even better. O
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PureWowFebruary 23, 2017
The only thing you need to know about this food star is what to order: the roast chicken for two with bread salad and a good bottle of wine. It’s perfect for every occasion. Read more
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EaterApril 12, 2016
It's the utility belt of restaurants: good for brunch, for late-night dining, for oysters and a cocktail at the bar, or for a lovely sit-down meal with a date. Read more
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Rachel EisenMay 14, 2015
The burger and roasted chicken are both good but I would branch out beyond these Zuni staples. Possibly the best part about the restaurant is the decor. Beautiful space.
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VernaOctober 30, 2013
Everyone says get the roast chicken and you definitely should! It takes 1hr so order it ASAP. It feeds 3-4 so order the house Pinot Noir, Caesar Salad + gnocchi as you wait if you've got a group.
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SFistAugust 3, 2014
After Judy Rodgers took over in 1989, her roast chicken and bread salad became a classic and iconic dish; one that, once revealed to the world, sent home cooks' ovens up to ungodly temperatures. Read more
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Kyle MinorNovember 23, 2024
Been here 10+ times
Like San Francisco itself, this absolute charmer is constantly revealing new nooks. The food is always perfect and the vibe is even better.
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static_signalAugust 7, 2014
Order the roast chicken for 2 the moment you sit; it takes an hour. Then get a few light dishes to savor before chicken time. Truly the BEST roast chicken you will probably ever eat in your life.
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SFistJanuary 25, 2017
Judy Rodgers, who passed away in 2013, knew how to fix a Bloody Mary, and her Market Street restaurant carries on that legacy. The not-so-secret ingredient: balsamic vinegar. Read more
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SFistAugust 3, 2014
We don't have a lot of fond hangover memories, but one of the fondest is sitting down to brunch at Zuni (Sundays only) and through bleary eyes seeing the Zuni burger arrive in front of us. Read more
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Julie GauthierNovember 24, 2013
Decent bread with butter! Great polenta, clams, and amazing spagetti! Don't forget to take the panna cotta (Italian desert they to with buttermilk instead of mascarpone), it's worth it!
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TripExpertMay 19, 2015
Fodors, one of our expert reviewers, says, "After one bite of chef Judy Rodgers' succulent brick-oven-roasted whole chicken with Tuscan bread salad, you'll understand why she's a national star." Read more
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EpicuriousAugust 3, 2014
While Bay Area residents can't agree on politics—or the best burrito, for that matter—the general consensus is that this is the best burger. Read more
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Tania MartinezNovember 17, 2019
This an old neighborhood gem. Great food and excellent customer service. The whole roasted chicken is a classic.
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Condé Nast TravelerOctober 19, 2016
“One of the most beautiful spaces ever, with the most delicious food—especially if you go there straight from the airport.” - Ignacio Mattos, chef/co-owner of Estela and Café Altro Paradiso Read more
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Paul FarrellJuly 8, 2015
Yep that chicken is worth waiting for and if dining alone go ahead and order anyway as you can take it home and relive it all again.
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Benjy WeinbergerAugust 3, 2018
If you're not hungry but still want to eat more than an appetizer, the trout is a good choice, and delicious.
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La CjargneleJune 1, 2013
Drake's bay oysters are the best in menu!Cesar salad is great as everybody says..Our waiter is the kindest you can find in town,his name is Ruben and he's from Mexico,treat him well, he deserves that!
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SFGateAugust 2, 2014
Signature drink: The classic Bloody Mary ($11.25) from a freshly made house mix is in order, though the sweet-tinged balsamic version ($11.50) has its partisans. Read more
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Rory ParnessDecember 1, 2017
The second the host/hostess brings you to your table, ask them to put the chicken up. In the meantime, order a few apps from your server to prime you for the main event
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Serious EatsApril 21, 2014
Zuni's famed roast chicken for two is a sensuous experience: succulent, rich, and good enough that you'll be eating with your hands.
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Tasting TableAugust 19, 2014
The lunchtime-only burger: grass-fed beef served on rosemary foccacia with aioli and house-made pickles. Topping choices include heirloom tomatoes, Beecher's flagship cheese and grilled onions. Read more
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Lindsay BrookeApril 5, 2017
What an incredible restaurant. Roasted chicken, duck, and Caesar salad are amazing. Worth every penny!
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Jordan MJune 17, 2017
Get the roast chicken if you can handle the hour wait - otherwise go for the burger on a fluffy focaccia bun.
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SFGate ManagerJuly 16, 2012
The copper-topped bar up front is the perfect spot to have a stellar Bloody Mary to begin brunch, or to polish off a dozen oysters and sip a glass of Champagne as the sun streams down Market Street.
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Island BruinApril 30, 2017
The brick oven chicken is fantastic, but it is too big for 2 people. Bring some friends and add some appetizers. Make reservations way in advance.
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NicoleDecember 11, 2016
Roasted chicken and bread salad is out of this world and more then enough food for two people. The polenta was Devine and worth having over desert.
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SFistAugust 4, 2016
The roast chicken is a dish that never gets old, and once you've tried it you'll never want a chicken roasted in anything but a wood oven Read more
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Garry TanJanuary 6, 2019
Make sure you order the chicken the second you sit down! Always great. Also good: the spaghetti.
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Ting SNovember 6, 2015
It's like the living room for SF, somebody said before. It's a historical restaurant, worth to go. Get the roast chicken, have some wine, nice oyster too.
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BommyAugust 15, 2014
Roast chicken is good but the bread salad that soaks up all the chicken juices is epic. Roast chicken takes about an hour to prepare and will easily feed 3 people.
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Brian TranSeptember 24, 2017
The wood oven chicken with bread salad is amazing. Make sure to order it first thing because it takes an hour
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PureWowAugust 16, 2016
The espresso granita is icy and caffeinated with just the right amount of sweetness from a light whipped cream. Read more
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VandnaOctober 13, 2012
Chicken was amazing of course. We were able to get a table without reservations after hanging in the bar for about an hour. Great way to fit in both hh and dinner!
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Genesis F.February 2, 2013
Been here 5+ times
Perfect spot for a cocktail or late night snack after your performance at the ballet, opera, symphony, or City Arts lecture. Don't skip out on the oyster bar!
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Natalie BurdickNovember 19, 2021
Been here 5+ times
There shoestring fries never disappoint…so addictive
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Markus SpieringFebruary 20, 2016
So gooood! Get the chicken for 2 and put your order in even before you order drinks. It takes about an hour but it's so worth the wait.
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Christina ChiesaFebruary 9, 2013
Great place to stand up at the copper bar and have a martini before dinner. See and be seen! The food classic rustic Italian. Beautifully done year after year.
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Bryan PowellFebruary 28, 2020
Great wine list, and they have their signature red and white. Have the lemon tart. They are famous for the roast chicken.
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