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John's Grill - Steakhouse in San Francisco, California

John's Grill

4.4 (4115 reviews)

63 Ellis St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Restaurant
Bar & grill
Event venue
Steak house

About John's Grill - steak house in San Francisco, California

Old-school, wood-paneled space with photos of famous past patrons, offering steaks and seafood.

Customer Review Summary

John's Grill offers an old-school vibe with a mix of live jazz music. Many diners praise the delicious drinks like the old fashioned and manhattan. The lamb chops are highlighted as a must-try. However, the quality of steaks can be inconsistent, with some guests noting lower quality than expected for the price. While the atmosphere and friendly service receive positive remarks, some diners found the wait long and the tables cramped. Overall, the food is often described as amazing, but there are mixed experiences regarding portion timings and seasoning. Despite some drawbacks, many recommend returning for the unique ambiance and live music.

Key Features

Service options

  • Delivery
  • Takeout
  • Dine-in

Highlights

  • Fast service
  • Great beer selection
  • Great cocktails
  • Great coffee
  • Great dessert
  • Great wine list

Popular for

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Solo dining

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings

  • Alcohol
  • Beer
  • Cocktails
  • Coffee
  • Comfort food
  • Hard liquor
  • Late-night food
  • Wine

Dining options

  • Brunch
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Catering
  • Dessert
  • Seating

Amenities

  • Bar onsite
  • Gender-neutral restroom
  • Restroom
  • Wi-Fi

Atmosphere

  • Casual
  • Cozy
  • Historic
  • Romantic
  • Trendy
  • Upscale

Crowd

  • Family-friendly
  • Groups
  • LGBTQ+ friendly
  • Tourists
  • Transgender safespace

Planning

  • Lunch reservations recommended
  • Dinner reservations recommended
  • Accepts reservations
  • Usually a wait

Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments

Children

  • Good for kids
  • High chairs

Parking

  • Paid parking garage
  • Paid parking lot
  • Paid street parking

Customer Reviews

Rating Distribution

4.4 out of 5
5
2551
4
1005
3
350
2
110
1
99
Based on 4115 reviews

Brian L. Frye

2 months ago

Amazing place. Very cool old school vibe. I went with my wife & had an old fashioned. She had a manhattan. Both were delicious. She tells me the Sam Spade lamb chops are delicious. Gives me a reason to return. Highly recommended.

Michael McKenna

4 weeks ago

Old school steakhouse. We sat upstairs with the Jazz musicians but it was loud. Steak wasn’t a true bone in ribeye and was a lower quality than what we were used to at a steakhouse. The price definitely said alot about the quality. Was suprised. Old fashioned was great and so was the dessert.

Shannon Faith Ramirez

2 months ago

LONG wait even with a reservation...BUT...worth it. Incredibly friendly staff paired with delicious food. They sat us upstairs and there was live music which was a real treat! Thank you! We will be sure to return!

Debbie Bowman

1 month ago

This classic American diner is a must do when in SF. It was very busy on our last visit but despite the rushed service I highly recommend - live jazz, historic memorabilia, great food, and overall ambiance

Theresa York

2 months ago

Food was amazing, the atmosphere is beautiful. The service was friendly and good. The only con is coursing. I got my soup before my prawn 🦐 cocktail, I had to ask for the appetizer...then had to eat them together.

Melissa Hillary

2 months ago

Just meh. We spent a long weekend in San Francisco mostly to bar and restaurant hop. This ended up on the bottom of our list while being the most expensive place we went to. I'd pass if you're in the area. Tables were cramped, staff wasn't personable, food was fine, but nothing really memorable.

Marina Geller

3 weeks ago

Great place with amazing food, service, and wine selection. They also have live music.

Ja De

4 months ago

I’m searching for a grilled restaurant and I found this Restaurant at google.. when I check out I’ve ordered NY steak with side of baked potatoes, steam broccolini and carrots. It’s great they cooked how I wanted, it’s very well seasoned, I finished my food. The second time I visit the This place I ordered the same one, but instead of giving me medium rare I’ve got medium well. I sent back the plate after a minute I’ve got my plate back, it’s medium rare but it’s not hot enough, need to be seasoned as well and outside of the steak is dry. Bottom line I don’t enjoy my food. I just eat half of my plate. Service and atmosphere is good aside from my food.

Location

Contact Information

Hours of Operation

Friday 11:45 AM–9:30 PM
Monday 11:45 AM–9:30 PM
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday 11:45 AM–9:30 PM
Thursday 11:45 AM–9:30 PM
Tuesday 11:45 AM–9:30 PM
Wednesday 11:45 AM–9:30 PM

Price Range

$50–100