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Twenty-six years after opening its doors in San Francisco’s iconic Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood, Restaurant Gary Danko continues to refine its award-winning combination of classic French cooking, thoughtful and inventive use of local ingredients and personable yet impeccable service. “You don’t just open a great restaurant,” says Chef Gary Danko, “it’s a constant work in progress.” This commitment to excellence and innovation has earned Restaurant Gary Danko a Grand Award from Wine Spectator, its Five Diamond rating from AAA as well as a coveted Relais & Châteaux designation. The restaurant has also earned several James Beard Awards, including Best New Restaurant, Best Service and Best Chef – California.
Renowned chef Gary Danko’s fixed-price menus of American cuisine in an elegant but unstuffy setting.
Hours
| Friday | 5–10 PM |
| Saturday | 5–10 PM |
| Sunday | 5–10 PM |
| Monday | 5–10 PM |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 5–10 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 800 North Point St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (415) 749-2060
Website: http://www.garydanko.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.comresy.com
Photo Gallery
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Reviews
Hanna
One of my favorite restaurants now ✨
Thanks to Vincent for outstanding service!
Oh we loved the food! We tried six different dishes and all were tasty and well-presented.
Love the menu customization possibility.
It makes me happy to visit a fine dining restaurant where you get to choose dishes you eat, and the size of the menu (I usually have to leave half otherwise).
Cozy, intimate atmosphere. Perfect for a date ❤️ revisit? Yes!
… moreThanks to Vincent for outstanding service!
Oh we loved the food! We tried six different dishes and all were tasty and well-presented.
Love the menu customization possibility.
It makes me happy to visit a fine dining restaurant where you get to choose dishes you eat, and the size of the menu (I usually have to leave half otherwise).
Cozy, intimate atmosphere. Perfect for a date ❤️ revisit? Yes!
Aswin Prasad
Recently, I had a dinner with my spouse at Gar Danko. The appointment was at 10. I thought they would be closing down as their shop closing time is 10. They said we are okay to eat until 12 a.m. But we had to place all our courses upfront, which is kind of not convenient.
Service-wise, it was great. All the servers were competent, helpful, and charming. They explained all the dishes and were constantly checking on us. There were multiple gift desserts to charm us.
Coming to food, the menu looked great. But beware, vegetarians, there are literally three dishes you can choose from. I would say that the place is not vegetarian-friendly. We had like 1/10 options of vegetarian and non-veg options. They offered us coffee before dessert. The latte tasted really good, and I enjoyed it a lot. To us its not worth the price we paid as its over $150 a person and its not acceptable to have poor menu options for vegetarians.
… moreService-wise, it was great. All the servers were competent, helpful, and charming. They explained all the dishes and were constantly checking on us. There were multiple gift desserts to charm us.
Coming to food, the menu looked great. But beware, vegetarians, there are literally three dishes you can choose from. I would say that the place is not vegetarian-friendly. We had like 1/10 options of vegetarian and non-veg options. They offered us coffee before dessert. The latte tasted really good, and I enjoyed it a lot. To us its not worth the price we paid as its over $150 a person and its not acceptable to have poor menu options for vegetarians.
Clarin Houle
Our recent dinner at Gary Danko was unfortunately not at the level one would expect from a restaurant with such a long-standing reputation. While service began warmly and certain dishes were well prepared, the overall experience fell short in several key areas.
Food:
• The amuse bouche tasted stale, and the sourdough was underwhelming.
• The scallops were well-seared and enjoyable, and the duck was the strongest dish of the evening.
• My mom had the lobster risotto, which was pretty good, but the branzino felt dry to me (though she enjoyed it).
• The biggest disappointment was the soufflé. Mine was slightly undercooked and my mom’s was noticeably more raw in the center. When she mentioned it, our server didn’t acknowledge anything was wrong and just kept asking if she wanted something else, which felt a bit off for a restaurant of this level.
• She switched to a crème brûlée, which was fine but nothing memorable.
After-effects:
Unfortunately, both my mom and I had stomach cramps later that night (hers started first, mine around 2am). The next day we could barely eat anything except some chicken soup with ramen noodles, which completely ruined our day.
Overall:
There were bright spots, but the inconsistency in execution, combined with the dessert mishandling and the stomach issues afterward, made the experience hard to justify at this price point. For us, it’s not a restaurant we would return to, especially with so many strong alternatives in San Francisco.
… moreFood:
• The amuse bouche tasted stale, and the sourdough was underwhelming.
• The scallops were well-seared and enjoyable, and the duck was the strongest dish of the evening.
• My mom had the lobster risotto, which was pretty good, but the branzino felt dry to me (though she enjoyed it).
• The biggest disappointment was the soufflé. Mine was slightly undercooked and my mom’s was noticeably more raw in the center. When she mentioned it, our server didn’t acknowledge anything was wrong and just kept asking if she wanted something else, which felt a bit off for a restaurant of this level.
• She switched to a crème brûlée, which was fine but nothing memorable.
After-effects:
Unfortunately, both my mom and I had stomach cramps later that night (hers started first, mine around 2am). The next day we could barely eat anything except some chicken soup with ramen noodles, which completely ruined our day.
Overall:
There were bright spots, but the inconsistency in execution, combined with the dessert mishandling and the stomach issues afterward, made the experience hard to justify at this price point. For us, it’s not a restaurant we would return to, especially with so many strong alternatives in San Francisco.
Pete Smells
We had a lovely anniversary dinner at Gary Danko. The service was wonderful and the team brought us some complimentary bites with happy anniversary spelled out on them. Some of the dishes such as the scallops were outstanding. Others were good but not fantastic. It seems as if they’ve made the decision to try to move more people through the restaurant on a nightly basis, which is probably why they can afford to serve top quality food at reasonable prices, but also probably the reason they do not have a Michelin star. The tables are very close together, in some cases requiring you to sit next to your partner instead of across the table from them. When the cheese cart is out, it is impossible to pass through the aisles near it. At our table, this resulted in many people squeezing up between our table and the cheese cart and rubbing their butt over our table as they passed. Not what you would expect in a first class restaurant. The decor also seemed a bit dark and dated to us. So not perfect, but a good experience, especially if you’re a new new to fine dining and want to see what a near-Michelin experience looks like at a not-crazy expensive price. Seems like a good balance for trying to build a viable business in a tourist-heavy location.
The 7% health care mandate hidden in the bill is way out of line. The whole idea is ridiculous, but most restaurants in SF, with far lower average tickets, seem to get by with 3% (and plenty don’t charge anything).
… moreThe 7% health care mandate hidden in the bill is way out of line. The whole idea is ridiculous, but most restaurants in SF, with far lower average tickets, seem to get by with 3% (and plenty don’t charge anything).
Lesa Lacey
We snagged a last minute reservation at Gary Danko and we were so happy with our experience. Friendly and top notch professional service with beautiful food. I loved the format of being able to choose from any section for the courses – very cool and made it simple for my husband as he likes fish and I do not.
… morePriscilla Tang
Gary Danko saved our anniversary dinner.
On December 21st, San Francisco experienced a major power outage. We originally had a reservation at a different (Michelin two-star) restaurant, but they canceled on us just 40 minutes before our scheduled time due to having no power. We had traveled to SF specifically for the evening and booked a babysitter.
I called around and managed to get a 5:30 pm reservation at Gary Danko. We had heard good things but had never been, and at that point, we were simply grateful to have a table anywhere.
Despite traffic light outages causing us to arrive about 15 minutes late, the staff was incredibly accommodating. We were seated in a cozy loveseat booth, which turned out to be perfect. I don’t mind not sitting across from my spouse—especially since the five-course menu is very much a “choose your own adventure,” and we love sharing dishes. Sitting side by side made that easy and enjoyable, and the booth itself was very comfortable.
The food is classic French cooking done well. I especially loved the lobster dish offered as the second course. The oyster dish in the first course reminded me of The French Laundry’s Oysters and Pearls—not at the same level in terms of ingredients or presentation, but it reminded me of that classic dish and it was delightful.
My stuffed quail was a technically demanding dish, and it was executed beautifully. The quail was cooked just right—juicy, tender, and absolutely satisfying.
Our favorite course of the night ended up being the cheese course. If we were to do it again, we would opt for four courses and skip dessert altogether. The desserts were fine, but nothing particularly memorable or worth writing home about.
The wine pairing was reasonable and thoughtfully selected. At $170 for the tasting menu and $140 for the wine pairing, we felt the pricing was fair—especially for a restaurant that previously held a Michelin star.
That said, I can also see why Gary Danko eventually lost its star. The menu is very polished and technically sound, but it isn’t especially innovative. The service is excellent and delivers a classic, old-world level of refinement, though it may not resonate as strongly with a younger crowd. During our meal, most of the diners around us appeared to be 50+.
Overall, we still had a wonderful evening and were genuinely grateful to have such a solid meal to salvage our anniversary after our original restaurant canceled on us at the last minute.
… moreOn December 21st, San Francisco experienced a major power outage. We originally had a reservation at a different (Michelin two-star) restaurant, but they canceled on us just 40 minutes before our scheduled time due to having no power. We had traveled to SF specifically for the evening and booked a babysitter.
I called around and managed to get a 5:30 pm reservation at Gary Danko. We had heard good things but had never been, and at that point, we were simply grateful to have a table anywhere.
Despite traffic light outages causing us to arrive about 15 minutes late, the staff was incredibly accommodating. We were seated in a cozy loveseat booth, which turned out to be perfect. I don’t mind not sitting across from my spouse—especially since the five-course menu is very much a “choose your own adventure,” and we love sharing dishes. Sitting side by side made that easy and enjoyable, and the booth itself was very comfortable.
The food is classic French cooking done well. I especially loved the lobster dish offered as the second course. The oyster dish in the first course reminded me of The French Laundry’s Oysters and Pearls—not at the same level in terms of ingredients or presentation, but it reminded me of that classic dish and it was delightful.
My stuffed quail was a technically demanding dish, and it was executed beautifully. The quail was cooked just right—juicy, tender, and absolutely satisfying.
Our favorite course of the night ended up being the cheese course. If we were to do it again, we would opt for four courses and skip dessert altogether. The desserts were fine, but nothing particularly memorable or worth writing home about.
The wine pairing was reasonable and thoughtfully selected. At $170 for the tasting menu and $140 for the wine pairing, we felt the pricing was fair—especially for a restaurant that previously held a Michelin star.
That said, I can also see why Gary Danko eventually lost its star. The menu is very polished and technically sound, but it isn’t especially innovative. The service is excellent and delivers a classic, old-world level of refinement, though it may not resonate as strongly with a younger crowd. During our meal, most of the diners around us appeared to be 50+.
Overall, we still had a wonderful evening and were genuinely grateful to have such a solid meal to salvage our anniversary after our original restaurant canceled on us at the last minute.
Fawn Nivalen
Had a fantastic dinner here. Diners, order less than you think you need, because the portions are quite large AND the servers will hand out multiple free bites throughout dinner!
My only complaint was that the risotto was too cluttered. The rice soaked up so much delicious goodness, but there were so many ingredients on the plate, it was impossible to enjoy. I recommend removing the peas and shrimp.
But overall, food was lovely and definitely wanting to come back!
… moreMy only complaint was that the risotto was too cluttered. The rice soaked up so much delicious goodness, but there were so many ingredients on the plate, it was impossible to enjoy. I recommend removing the peas and shrimp.
But overall, food was lovely and definitely wanting to come back!
Wei-Ai Tai
Fine-dining venue that has been an institution in San Francisco for over 25 years. The quality of the food and efficiency of the service staff has remained consistently excellent, and it is always a solid choice for a special occasion meal. The cheese cart is a must-try if you like cheese! Only downside is parking could be hard to find (no valet option), so the best option is the garage under Ghirardelli Square, but parking spaces are small and turns are tight.
… moreZach Morrissey
Foods really lacking. Nothing stood out. We recently spent the same amount at Angler and had a much nicer meal. Still love the ambiance and service here. Old SF energy.
I recommend it but you’re not coming here for good food. The only stand out was the cheese but whole food’s got a similar collection so it doesn’t say much. I got the 5 course but I’d recommend the 3 given it’s more about the ambiance not the food.
And heads up there is a 7% sf mandate, I still give 20% out of guilt but I wish the restaurant wouldn’t charge hidden fees. It makes me uncomfortable and I don’t want to return to hidden fee restaurants.
… moreI recommend it but you’re not coming here for good food. The only stand out was the cheese but whole food’s got a similar collection so it doesn’t say much. I got the 5 course but I’d recommend the 3 given it’s more about the ambiance not the food.
And heads up there is a 7% sf mandate, I still give 20% out of guilt but I wish the restaurant wouldn’t charge hidden fees. It makes me uncomfortable and I don’t want to return to hidden fee restaurants.
LN
Food was delicious and staff were all very polite and friendly. Restaurant was nice, just really dark. I got the 4 course which was more than enough. Sure some items were small but once you get to the main, you’re pretty stuffed. I was barely able to finish the dessert.
… more