Pier 23 Cafe Restaurant & Bar

Pier 23 is a popular restaurant in between fisherman wharf and the Ferry Building. The food is good, although, reading the reviews and the recommendation for a reservation, and how hard it is to get a table – I would have expected it to be stellar, which It's not, but it is good. My dining companion and I wanted to try many things, so we over ordered. Highlights: the crab cakes were good, the fish rillette is actually quite tasty, and the chowder was also very good. The calamari was OK, but nothing to write home about. Service was prompt and decent, and the atmosphere is about what one would expect for an establishment in this part of SF, with a rather out of place Chinese god of good fortune statue on the patio. Overall, definitely worth a try if you're in the area, although I do not know that I would go out of my way to go again. My assumption as to why its reviews are so high are probably its proximity to the cruise ship docking area – and I will say it is better than the average tourist trap restaurant that is found in Fisherman's Wharf. Definitely worth a try.

It was a beautiful day in S F and the views from outdoor seating were excellent. Our food was seasoned well and prepared exactly as we ordered. The restaurant was very busy for a Saturday afternoon and could have used a little more staffing. Overall I would highly recommend Pier 23.

Great tacos & oysters. Friendly staff

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I had the pleasure of eating lunch here today. I was caught up in the enjoyment of the moment, with a lovely view and good friends. I did not take pictures of my food, as I usually do or the atmosphere in the restaurant. What I can say, is that I did. Enjoy my apple spritz, and my street tacos were delicious. The friends I was dining with enjoyed the fish and chips, as well as the cheeseburger. The macaroni and cheese, and french fries are excellent. All in all. I would love to come back again, and try something different.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

San Francisco is not the place for fish and chips. This is one of our favorite foods. Third time having it in this area and about the same. Flat fish with greasy batter. They have many redeeming qualities, fish and chips is not one of them.

I had a wonderful time here. Very nice table overlooking the water, excellent Dungeness crab cakes and a most interesting pomegranate draft cider.

Family run, I had a warm conversation with Meighan and Mac. The Brazilian born waitress Jennifer is brilliant.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Went on a beautiful Sunday around 4pm. Quiet and pick of tables. Seafood was excellent. had oysters, Calamari, garlic fries, crab cakes and big salad. Everything was delicious , fresh and perfect. Loved the 12oz IPA draft beer and shot of bourbon special! The entire team worked together and the service was excellent. I dont think I have been here since I visited in the late 1990s, but it was better than I remember! We chose this restaurant bc it was close and lovely walk from our hotel , The Jay . We we re having a staycation as live in the Bay Area.

Food is overpriced and not very good

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 3

We went because of the Guy Fieri episodes and we were not disappointed. Great food, wonderful ambiance, and kind service. Chowder is some of the best in town!

This was a very disappointing and unprofessional experience. When we arrived, several employees were sitting at the bar drinking beer, chatting, and serving themselves. It created an awkward atmosphere and left us with poor service throughout our visit.

We also weren’t informed about daily specials. After seeing dishes leave the kitchen that weren’t listed on the menu we were given, we asked the bartender, who reluctantly handed us another menu but dismissed the items, saying they probably weren’t available that day. Yet another employee sitting at the bar drinking told us those dishes were on the specials menu that day. The lack of communication was frustrating and unprofessional.

As a restaurant manager myself, I found this unacceptable. Not only was service unorganized, but it also cost the business—our table would have easily spent double on food and drinks if we had been properly informed. On top of that, we were denied something as simple as a straw, despite seeing them at the other end of the bar, which again made for an uncomfortable interaction.

To add to the frustration, the bartender serving us didn’t even know what their well tequila was, and had to ask another employee and check a menu.

Overall, this visit was handled poorly from start to finish. It’s not the kind of standard any restaurant owner should tolerate.

Loved this place. Great location and I may visit later.

Terrible service. No one greeted me for 20 minutes. Someone else dropped off my food. No one checked on me or brought me my bill. The fish and chips were way over deep fried and disgusting. Would never come back here.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 1

Took my family there . Atmosphere real nice great views of the BAY..They need get the shade for back area for all tables seems to be some preferential seating shade or no shade . FOOD was overly priced and was BLAH..service employees over worked no real structure about service. Seemed family owned..cutting corners and jacking up price on tourist traffic. Better spots towards pier 39 ...will not be a returning customer

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 2

the pork tacos were amazing! very tasty

i went there for the GF seafood chowder but I couldn't taste / distinguish any seafood - everything was chopped so small, taste was decent

paloma's were great

husband enjoyed the burger

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Pier 23 Cafe has been a waterfront favorite for years, and living nearby, I still enjoy stopping by when the weather is nice. The restaurant sits right on the Embarcadero, with outdoor tables stretching to the pier's edge and a casual, lively atmosphere that always feels welcoming.

On my last visit, we were greeted with a smile and quickly seated out back, where the porch offers a partial but beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay. The vibe is relaxed, the service is friendly, and the food comes out quickly. The cheeseburger stood out as the favorite at our table, though everyone was happy with their meal.

This is a great spot for brunch, lunch, or just drinks and snacks by the water. If you’re walking along the Embarcadero or visiting Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 23 Cafe is an easy choice for good food, good drinks, and a great San Francisco setting.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 4