John's Grill

The experience here was not so pleasant as sounded by locals. We were first sat a small small small table near the kitchen where the waiters frequently pass and patrons going to the second floor which we never saw but am sure would have been a more of a better experience. My wife and I both ordered steaks my wife the filet myself the ribeye both cooked as ordered but we found nothing special here. Our waiter seemed to careless of our time being spent here and at the end no dessert offered only coffee we were not pleased and wanted to leave right away. Our entire dining stay here from entrance to exit was a suprising 45 min. However we could not let that sour taste and waste of time ruin the night we left right away to Morton's (two blocks away) for their sigature hot lava cake that quickly turned the night back around to a pleasant night thank you Morton's for saving the day or night.

Pros: a landmark

Cons: does not live up to a great steakhouse

Posted 03/08/09

We visit The City from our home on the central coast whenever possible. A dinner at John's is always included. I lived in Burlingame as a child, so this resturant is part of my childhood. One can find a great steak in many newer places, but the service, great food and atmosphere all make the prices here acceptable. If you want to take in the charm of the City then John's is an important destination. For those who live in SF it is familiar and welcoming. Perhaps not the greatest place for economy minded tourists.

Pros: classic city atmosphere and ambiance

Cons: not recommended for "economy" seekers

Posted 08/02/08

My wife and I dinned there in June 2008. The seafood and the service was outstanding. My wife had the Seafood Cannelloni and I had the Seafood Cioppino A La Marinara. The first floor dining is compact and semi-private. Wine list was very adequate with good choices. All and all a great place.

Pros: Great place!

Cons: None

Posted 07/25/08

Dined here while taking in the new Westfield Mall. Having lived here in the past and just returned from the east coast this is the next best find without going to NY for a clubby restaurant. Our reservation was honored the moment we walked in and the service was professional. Our steaks were big enough for 2. The lobster ravioli was to die for and they make big old fashion martini's. I notice other reviewers find the prices high; they really were not for the quality. It is still probably 30% less than Mortons or Ruth Chris and let's not forget we are dining in a place full of rich history.

Pros: Excellent service and atmosphere

Cons: Very popular and busy

Posted 10/03/06

I do not understand the popularity of this restaurant. Yes, they have the historical charm of having been mentioned in The Maltese Falcon. However, as a dining establishment, John's Grill falls terribly short. I suppose that if 25%-35% were shaved from the bill I'd feel that the menu prices fit the value, but this is not the case. Do yourself a favour, if the John's Grill of the Maltese Falcon is an experience which you must have, have a drink at the bar but avoid the "tourist trap" menu at all costs.

Posted 07/27/06

John's Grill is one of a few genuine historical restaurants in San Francisco. By stepping inside the well-reserved decor, you felt like you went back in the 1950's. The food was yet simple but scrumptious. The staffs were very attentive and friendly which was perfect for the casually dinner with my group of friends. Highly recommmended for people who looking for authentic food in the distinctive place.

Posted 07/25/06

Avoid at all costs! TIGHT seating. Bad service. The people at the tables next to me were closer than my wife across my table. The staff never asked how the meal tasted. They never refilled the water glasses. They never brought more drinks. They were fast at getting us seated and getting us out the door when we were done.

Pros: food was OK

Cons: tables crammed together

Posted 07/03/06

Oh well. I will move on to other venues. There are other well known steak houses in San Francisco - will try them all "one-by-one".

Posted 05/22/06

I have never had a bad meal at John's grill. the best steaks, chops, and wine. With the old picture's on the wall and the white linen tablecloth's this is the grace kelly of restaurants. If your looking for the "old" san francisco when Herb Caen referred to it as "baghdad by the bay" this is where it starts and ends. John's grill is as good as "the stinking rose" is bad. Bravo for John's grill! Avoid north beach, go to John's grill, have the sam spade special, and ambience you will feel.

Pros: Great food, Great service, Romantic

Cons: None, None, None

Posted 12/02/05

I just had my boyfriend's surprise birthday party at John's Grill yesterday and we all had a fantastic time. Everyone enjoyed their meal and the staff did a good job even with 16 of us! I had the cioppino and it was very tasty. The red snapper chef's special got good reviews from our table as did the escargot appetizer and the huge jack lalane salad. The live jazz was a nice touch and the location was perfect as we had quite a few choices for after dinner drinks in the area. Definitely worth a visit!

Pros: tasty menu, ambience, live jazz

Cons: very busy, felt a bit rushed

Posted 11/12/05

Not the first place to dine in S.F but everybody should come here once. The atmosphere is perfect, and that's worth the trip even though the food and drink is barely average. It's a shame - if the owners and head chef would kick the food up several notches, that and the ambiance would make this place a one-in-a-million. Instead, come here once, but a second visit's a disappointment.

Posted 09/19/05

A co-worker and I had a great Friday evening here. Without reservations, we were seated upstairs near the jazz music and a window. The service was prompt, the Shrimp Dijonnaise was wonderful, so was my co-workers Sole. We would have liked the bread to come to the table warm, so we did not try it. Also the Cesear Salad had a little too much dressing, but overall OK. We would go back. The main meals were filling and tasty.

Pros: Jazz, Good Food

Cons: Tables too close

Posted 09/12/05

Went to John's Grill specifically for 2nd anniversary. Steaks (had to send the first one back as it was way to tough) were not that good. My second steak was bland and tasteless. On the other hand, my wife had the lamb chops and they were wonderful. Overall, we are from Las Vegas, and the food there did not come close to the food here.

Posted 04/19/05

Went here to celebrate by birthday this week and had a blast. The dinner jazz added a special touch to the professional service and above all the clubby atmosphere. The lamb chops were perfectly done and the Chilean seabass was moist . Everyone at our table enjoyed the California only wines that were priced fairly. The place was crowded with diners that included media types that I recognized from nightly news . The Chalone chardonnay was to die for.

Pros: atmosphere A, Sevice A

Cons: Busy

Posted 01/15/04

Mediocre would be kind. We were seated at a tiny table next to the bar with barely enough light to read the menus. The clam chowder was straight from a can. Salad was garden-variety (lol). The Chilean sea bass was barely defrosted. John's Steak appeared to be a mediocre bone-in NY strip, but it was difficult to tell. The service was actually decent, but the server appeared quite harried. Don't fall into this tourist trap like we did. The advertised nightly live jazz was nonexistent as well. We would have gotten a better and cheaper meal at Outback.

Pros: Easy reservations, Historical

Cons: Expensive, Mediocre food

Posted 07/08/03

We really enjoyed the atmosphere. The food is classic for a restaurant of this quality. The one great thing is that younger , middle aged and older people feel right at home. The Oystsers Wellington were fabulous. The martini's are big and staff vert attentive.

Pros: Great atmosphere, live jazz, location

Cons: busy

Posted 03/13/03

I was exciting about checking this place out because of the history. Very disappointed.

Took a group of friends here for a small birthday celebration. Servers were stuck up and rude, food was boring, plain and badly cooked. We had to return the steak because it was too well done. The seafood combinations looked like they were came out of a freezer.

Place looked great. 1940's detective story ambiance. I'd probably enjoy having a drink at the bar here at the end of a work day... but not expecting a nice dining experience.

Posted 03/09/03

Did anyone notice that most of the reviews for this restaurant were submitted by "Anonymous"? I never pay attention to the anonymous reviews and automatically attribute to the restaurant owners or employees or other "hired guns." Johns' Grill rests on its mention in The Maltese Falcon. People who like really good food do not go here. It's right near the Powell/Market cable car turnaround so it grabs all the tourists. Add bad service to food that is mediocre at best and you get the picture.

Pros: None

Cons: Dismal service, Below average food

Posted 10/01/02

The priveous reviewer must have gone to a different restaurant. We read a review of the restaurant in Maxim and loved it. The staff was young and the diners all in there 20's - 40's. The martini's were superb and our lamb chops were done perfectly as well as the seabass in a garlic wine sauce. The ambiance is so New York we will be back on our next visit.

Pros: great classic menu, live jazz, professional service

Posted 07/15/02

Of all the places we ate in San Fran on my last trip this was by far the most unimpressive. The food was overpriced and completely unimaginative. I think they got the fish from the market, cooked it with some butter and then serverd it. At about $22 per plate I expected something more. It has to be the worst bang for your buck in the entire Bay area.

I'm sure older people with boring tastes will think this place is fine. If you are young and like to try many different types of food, this is DEFINITELY NOT the place to go.

Cons: expensive, unimaginative, dull food

Posted 07/10/02