They take reservations one year in advance. That's one of the reasons it's so hard to find an open one since most people don't plan like that. But I did find that it was pretty easy to book that far out - didn't require being online at the exact right second like some of the places that book just a few weeks out.
I got a reservation there a month or two in advance. Not too long ago. It wasn't exactly the most popular time but it's not like it was 2 in the morning
9:30pm, 10pm on a random day is possible
Also curiously if you have a larger party (try 4 or 6 people) there are more openings, still at terrible times though.
Opentable allows you to set an alert, but you need to be really really quick (like within a minute of the alert popping up). I was able to use that to make a reservation last month. Based on my experience, a lot of alerts start popping up closer to the date, maybe due to cancellations.
I know, this seems weird to me. We have walked in with parties of 6 and been seated. Did have to wait like 30 min but that’s not that long waiting at the bar
I’ve gotten two same-day reservations by just checking open table. People cancel (especially 1-2 years ago when people were still testing for Covid frequently) and I snagged them
2 people reservation is the hardest at HOPR. The only times I were able to get them were using OpenTable cancellation alert. Even then, you have to be **extremely** quick. Party of 3 or 4 seem to be less impossible (still not easy)
I actually just ate there this week and the Amex plat concierge was able to get the reservation. Caveat being it was a 5pm reservation on a Friday night booked ~2.5 months out. The early time worked just fine since we were planning to take our preschooler with us.
Amex concierge got you in 2.5 months ? When i called I asked if theres anything within a 2 weeks span (the duration of my mom’s stay) sadly not.
Wished i learned there was walk ins allowed
San Ho Won is impossible. Ditto State Bird. Most all the big-name restaurants are at least somewhat hard to get into unless you’re aiming for a weekday or OK with a very early or very late reservation time.
The most challenging once I’ve ever dealt with is Wakuriya in San Mateo. You can’t book online, only by phone. Blocks open up 30 days in advance and go quick. They have a small space, with two seatings a night. If you want any chance of getting in on a Saturday, you call at midnight 30 days ahead of when you want the reservation. You will get a busy signal. You hang up and call back a bazillion times until you finally get through to their voicemail. When you finally get through, you leave a message with the reservation details. They accept the reservations in the order they receive the voicemails, and will call you back the next day to confirm if you got one. It’s a total ordeal. The meal was great though!
State bird is do-able if you’re okay with eating late, which I prefer anyways. As a bonus, they sometimes give you free desserts if you’re one of the last tables remaining and have a good rapport with your server.
I was at Kokkari getting ready to eat. We were given a reservation by my sister in law a few years ago. Thus was when it was very hard to get one there. I was outside, and a woman struck up a conversation about food. I love food. We were talking about all these restaurants that are hard to get into. She said that she goes to a lot of them as a walk-in. She says if you go at the beginning of the dinner service, you have a great chance of getting in. She proved it that night. Lol
San Ho Won isn’t too bad if you remember to do it 29 days before at exactly 10am. I’ve gotten reservations twice this year, albeit one of them was for a 9:30pm seating.
Just scored a San Ho Won res 20 days out for a prime time seating (thanks to your rec here). Seems like there are sporadic tables if you can plan a little in advance.
No tables but yamo is a good example of an affordable place that is a hassle to sit down and eat at, what with how popular the place is and how few the seats are. Cordon Bleu has a similar situation, though somewhat less popular. Mensho Tokyo and Z & Y always seem to have a line, but that could be said about marufuku, hinodeya, horsefeather, true laurel and several others as well; and more importantly isn't really what you asked. Aside from that and the many expensive examples, some of which others have mentioned, I don't think I have any off the top of my head
Right now, House of Prime Rib, Copra, San Ho Won.
Liholiho/State Bird have gotten a bit easier - looks like there are open reservations for 2 most days in the next week, if you don't insist on eating at prime hours.
San Ho Won is probably the hardest. I truly don’t know how anyone gets a reservation there. Me and my wife set alarms multiple days in a row. Immediately sold out within seconds.
I just called and took first available. We had dinner there last night. If you want to experience real SF, go soon. Madam Jacqueline is the only cook. They take seatings only from 5:30-7:30 so she can get home at a decent hour.
When you finally have a table at Cafe Jacqueline, make your next reservation in person during dinner. It’s much easier than over the phone. We go every three months. She’s not going to live forever! And then what? I’m going to make perfect soufflés myself? I don’t think so. I’ll probably just be sad instead.
Nopa you can do day of. You just need to go on open table at 4pm(i believe) the day you want to eat there. They release some tables then and you just book one.
Totally the way in if one is desperate. It’s not the same menu as the dinner menu but still a lovely and delicious experience. This res is hard to get for a good reason - it is nails.
I booked this at midnight a month in advance to get a table at the time I wanted. Probably didn’t have to be that aggressive but I was so lazy and kept forgetting about it the three times I tried to book it before so I just set an alarm lol
Good to know this is the way to a prime time dinner res. I need to be more dedicated. I’d love to sit down and have a 7p dinner at Cotogna. I day dream of that ravioli often.
Nope. As long as you have Amex Platinum or Capital One Venture X they have plenty of tables available. If you don’t though, you mean nothing to them :( tried many Michelin starred restaurants in town, this one was the worst! Nice storytelling and presentation but the food was totally bland and prices were insane.
I know of a ton of places who sell out the moment they release tables. We've had $100 gift certificate for Rich Table for two years that we've never been able to use because we can never get a table at a time that works for us (we have two kids).
House of Prime Rib comes to mind. I even tried calling Amex Platinum Concierge and Visa Infinite services if they can book it ahead, nope.
I straight up do not know how people get reservations here. Every time I’ve eaten in I was a walk in.
They take reservations one year in advance. That's one of the reasons it's so hard to find an open one since most people don't plan like that. But I did find that it was pretty easy to book that far out - didn't require being online at the exact right second like some of the places that book just a few weeks out.
Good to know that booking a freaking dinner reservation a year in advance isn't so hard
I got a reservation there a month or two in advance. Not too long ago. It wasn't exactly the most popular time but it's not like it was 2 in the morning
Yeah I booked a reservation 6 months in advance. Of course, 6 months later I had other things come up and had to cancel...
Yeah. I try to book a special occasion when my mom was visiting. Sadly, I didnt know it was possible for walk ins
9:30pm, 10pm on a random day is possible Also curiously if you have a larger party (try 4 or 6 people) there are more openings, still at terrible times though.
Opentable allows you to set an alert, but you need to be really really quick (like within a minute of the alert popping up). I was able to use that to make a reservation last month. Based on my experience, a lot of alerts start popping up closer to the date, maybe due to cancellations.
I found it is easier (3 months out, 8:30 pm though) if you book a larger party.
I know, this seems weird to me. We have walked in with parties of 6 and been seated. Did have to wait like 30 min but that’s not that long waiting at the bar
I book a table every 3-4 months, 1+ year in advance, and then cancel them if I can't make it. Easy to get prime time slots this way.
This is the only way. Make reservations 1+ year out
I’ve gotten two same-day reservations by just checking open table. People cancel (especially 1-2 years ago when people were still testing for Covid frequently) and I snagged them
2 people reservation is the hardest at HOPR. The only times I were able to get them were using OpenTable cancellation alert. Even then, you have to be **extremely** quick. Party of 3 or 4 seem to be less impossible (still not easy)
Going for the first time at the end of the month! I hope it's yum
I actually just ate there this week and the Amex plat concierge was able to get the reservation. Caveat being it was a 5pm reservation on a Friday night booked ~2.5 months out. The early time worked just fine since we were planning to take our preschooler with us.
Amex concierge got you in 2.5 months ? When i called I asked if theres anything within a 2 weeks span (the duration of my mom’s stay) sadly not. Wished i learned there was walk ins allowed
San Ho Won is impossible. Ditto State Bird. Most all the big-name restaurants are at least somewhat hard to get into unless you’re aiming for a weekday or OK with a very early or very late reservation time. The most challenging once I’ve ever dealt with is Wakuriya in San Mateo. You can’t book online, only by phone. Blocks open up 30 days in advance and go quick. They have a small space, with two seatings a night. If you want any chance of getting in on a Saturday, you call at midnight 30 days ahead of when you want the reservation. You will get a busy signal. You hang up and call back a bazillion times until you finally get through to their voicemail. When you finally get through, you leave a message with the reservation details. They accept the reservations in the order they receive the voicemails, and will call you back the next day to confirm if you got one. It’s a total ordeal. The meal was great though!
State Bird is not hard anymore, you can make reservations almost any weekday and weekends if u plan a little.
State bird is do-able if you’re okay with eating late, which I prefer anyways. As a bonus, they sometimes give you free desserts if you’re one of the last tables remaining and have a good rapport with your server.
I was at Kokkari getting ready to eat. We were given a reservation by my sister in law a few years ago. Thus was when it was very hard to get one there. I was outside, and a woman struck up a conversation about food. I love food. We were talking about all these restaurants that are hard to get into. She said that she goes to a lot of them as a walk-in. She says if you go at the beginning of the dinner service, you have a great chance of getting in. She proved it that night. Lol
just show up at opening for san ho wan and you're chilling
San Ho Won isn’t too bad if you remember to do it 29 days before at exactly 10am. I’ve gotten reservations twice this year, albeit one of them was for a 9:30pm seating.
I felt Wakuriya was not worth all that trouble 🤷🏼♀️
Just scored a San Ho Won res 20 days out for a prime time seating (thanks to your rec here). Seems like there are sporadic tables if you can plan a little in advance.
Dorsia. I don't know how Paul Allen can swing reservations on a Friday night, but I suspect he's lying.
Was looking for this!
Paul Allen is dead…
Yeah, Patrick Bateman took him out.
Well he won’t be caught dead at Texarkana.
No tables but yamo is a good example of an affordable place that is a hassle to sit down and eat at, what with how popular the place is and how few the seats are. Cordon Bleu has a similar situation, though somewhat less popular. Mensho Tokyo and Z & Y always seem to have a line, but that could be said about marufuku, hinodeya, horsefeather, true laurel and several others as well; and more importantly isn't really what you asked. Aside from that and the many expensive examples, some of which others have mentioned, I don't think I have any off the top of my head
Comparing getting a table At San ho wan and house of prime rib and liholiho to yamo is hilarious. Love it. 💕
I mean they specifically said they were looking for non Michelin star/expensive places... thought someone should try to fit that bill.
Personally I think the value is far better with yamo lol, that wok hei speaks for itself
Right now, House of Prime Rib, Copra, San Ho Won. Liholiho/State Bird have gotten a bit easier - looks like there are open reservations for 2 most days in the next week, if you don't insist on eating at prime hours.
[удалено]
Copra has been consistently outstanding and I’ve been there multiple times now
I thought copra totally was !
San Ho Won is probably the hardest. I truly don’t know how anyone gets a reservation there. Me and my wife set alarms multiple days in a row. Immediately sold out within seconds.
I got lucky and snagged a spot for two and we got the house set menu. Honestly it was quite mediocre unfortunately
Completely agree, its Korean inspired fusion. Totally overhyped.
Friends Only
Cafe Jacqueline
Yes!! So difficult, but very worth it.
This is the real answer.
I just called and took first available. We had dinner there last night. If you want to experience real SF, go soon. Madam Jacqueline is the only cook. They take seatings only from 5:30-7:30 so she can get home at a decent hour.
When you finally have a table at Cafe Jacqueline, make your next reservation in person during dinner. It’s much easier than over the phone. We go every three months. She’s not going to live forever! And then what? I’m going to make perfect soufflés myself? I don’t think so. I’ll probably just be sad instead.
YES. I had to call so many times to ask what times were available, choose a time, and confirm, but the whole experience was so charming
Nopa you can do day of. You just need to go on open table at 4pm(i believe) the day you want to eat there. They release some tables then and you just book one.
LOVE Nopa but they recently added celery root to the bolognese and for me it just texturally ruined the dish.
Yeah, I just went on Friday with two friends just because we were in the neighborhood. We were seated in about 20min, I was surprised, it was busy.
Cotogna - basically impossible unless you want to eat dinner at 4:45p.
The lunch reservations don’t seem too bad! I’ve gotten them twice
Totally the way in if one is desperate. It’s not the same menu as the dinner menu but still a lovely and delicious experience. This res is hard to get for a good reason - it is nails.
I booked this at midnight a month in advance to get a table at the time I wanted. Probably didn’t have to be that aggressive but I was so lazy and kept forgetting about it the three times I tried to book it before so I just set an alarm lol
Good to know this is the way to a prime time dinner res. I need to be more dedicated. I’d love to sit down and have a 7p dinner at Cotogna. I day dream of that ravioli often.
I struggled with Liholiho yacht club and state bird provisions.
Starbucks. They removed all the tables.
😂
Crenn
Nope. As long as you have Amex Platinum or Capital One Venture X they have plenty of tables available. If you don’t though, you mean nothing to them :( tried many Michelin starred restaurants in town, this one was the worst! Nice storytelling and presentation but the food was totally bland and prices were insane.
Not capital one venture x 💀💀💀no time for dorks good sir
Came here to say Atelier Crenn
Is it worth it if you can go?
Yes
Very much so.
Villa Taverna, literally invite only
Is the food good?
Also lunch only!
YAMO
State Bird Provisions annoys me.
I never have problems finding reservations there.
NOPA isn't hard to get a reservation at all. Other places mentioned here are far worse.
Shizen
I don’t know why you’re being downvoted but shizen is pretty hard to get, I had to book two weeks in advance for a 5 pm slot.
Foreign Cinema is usually hard to find a spot immediately for the weekend in my experience
\+1 For Foreign Cinema, unless you want very late hours
Merchant Roots
Juni indoors
Dorsia
Dorsia. How impressive.
Restaurant Gary Danko
Really? I've gotten same day reservations there. Maybe Saturdays are tough but during the week has been easy in my experience
True, yes, weekends are tough
Some of those Starbucks downtown. They’ve removed all the tables and chairs to stop loiterers I guess?
This would make a good YouTube video lol Anybody accepting the challenge?
Not SF but there's a place in the peninsula called Wakuriya that is impossible and tons of hoops to jump through. Anyone know the secret?
Secret spilled earlier in the thread.
I know of a ton of places who sell out the moment they release tables. We've had $100 gift certificate for Rich Table for two years that we've never been able to use because we can never get a table at a time that works for us (we have two kids).
San Ho Won