My favorite Restaurant in San Francisco

I have yet to post about a restaurant and I feel completed to talk about the Cliff House because I find personal connection to the restaurant and it has a strong history. When I was young my late grandpa treated younger cousins and I to a special meal at the Cliff House. It was a magical evening and at my young age I felt like a princess. I'll never forget the when the restaurant staff pulled up the blinds for all the guest to watch the sun set onto the ocean. I always look back on that evening with found memories and dream about revisiting the Cliff House for a nice meal.

The Cliff House restaurant is a very historic in San Francisco, dating back to 1863.The original owners, Senator John Buckley and C.C. Butler Captain Junius Fostor attracted those in America's high society including 3 U.S. Presidents. The success allowed the owners to expand and add on two additional wings. In 1883 the Cliff House received a new owner   when self made millionaire and future San Francisco Mayor, Adolph Sutro purchased the restaurant. 
Sutro struggled to manage the restaurant and reached out from J.W. Wilkins. Despite the help misfortune continued, when a near by dynamite destroyed one of the wings of the Cliff House in 1887. The restaurant remained in operation until renovations took place in 1889. The renovation was soon destroyed after opening when a Christmas fire in 1894 destroyed the entire restaurant. 

Sutro didn't lose hope, he invested $75,000 to rebuild the Cliff House into a French Chateau, standing 200 ft. above sea level and 8 stories high. The Cliff House was well designed and survived the earthquake of 1906 but was lost to a second fire in 1907. This time 
Sutro's daughter stepped in and invest $75,000 to rebuild the Cliff House for a second time. Operation went smoothly until 1918 when the military shut down the cliff house for two years. After re-opening the restaurant struggle through the prohibition until it was shut down all together in 1925.

But the Cliff house wouldn't disappear forever. In 1937 the owners of Playland purchased the Cliff House and extensively remodel the restaurant and reopened it. Finally the Cliff House flourished and was inducted into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1977. In the early 2000's the Cliff House under went an additional renovation and was transformed into its current state. The history of the Cliff House is extensive but really demonstrates the meaning of a San Francisco Historic Landmark. You can read the complete history and learn more information about the Cliff House at its website.

 
I think that the Cliff House is the perfect restaurant for a special occasion. However, the restaurant has a casual wing, Sutro's Wing, which looks out onto the cliffs where Sutro's Bathes were located. There is also the formal Bistro. Both operate different hours. A typical three course dinner at the Cliff House will run you about $35 to $40 not included drinks. For a complete menu and hours of operation visit the Cliff House Website. The price may scare you a bit but I promise bring the right company and it will be an evening you will never forget.