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The Brazen Head - Steakhouse in San Francisco, California

The Brazen Head

4.6 (721 reviews)

3166 Buchanan St, San Francisco, CA 94123

Restaurant
Bar
Steak house

About The Brazen Head - steak house in San Francisco, California

Pub serving an American menu in a retro space with wood paneling & stained glass.

Customer Review Summary

The Brazen Head has a mix of reviews ranging from strong praise to severe criticism. Some customers rave about the excellent food, cozy atmosphere, and attentive service. Dishes like escargot, lobster ravioli, and New England clam chowder receive high marks. The ambiance is considered perfect for dates or casual gatherings, with vintage decor adding to the charm. However, there are notable complaints about food quality and portion sizes, especially from one Valentine's Day reviewer, who found it overpriced and unromantic. Some patrons appreciate the friendly staff and suggest making reservations, as the restaurant tends to be busy. Overall, while many love the food and vibe, some have had disappointing experiences.

Key Features

Service options

  • Curbside pickup
  • No-contact delivery
  • Delivery
  • Takeout
  • Dine-in

Highlights

  • Fast service
  • Great beer selection
  • Great cocktails
  • Great wine list
  • Sports

Popular for

  • 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
  • Organic dishes
  • Small plates
  • Wine

Dining options

  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Seating

Amenities

  • Bar onsite
  • Restroom
  • Wi-Fi

Atmosphere

  • Casual
  • Cozy
  • Historic
  • Romantic
  • Trendy

Crowd

  • Family-friendly
  • LGBTQ+ friendly
  • Transgender safespace

Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments

Children

  • High chairs

Parking

  • Free street parking
  • Paid street parking

Customer Reviews

Rating Distribution

4.6 out of 5
5
540
4
122
3
33
2
15
1
11
Based on 721 reviews

Julian R

1 month ago

The servers are phenomenally nice but the food was truly awful. The portions are far too tiny to justify the price point— you’d be better off buying frozen food at your local Costco. My girlfriend and I waited an hour for our table, given it was Valentine’s Day, but the food made me feel anything but romantic. The servers were delightful, so it’s a shame the food wasn’t worth the wait.

A.C. Antonelli

5 months ago

The Brazen Head is just one of those places that I instantly fell in love with. The food is excellent (there’s nothing on the menu that isn’t exactly what you’re hoping it’ll be - try the escargot!), the atmosphere is cozy and dimly lit so I feel like I look cooler than I do / am normally, they make a killer martini, and the staff is great.

Catie Case

7 months ago

The Brazen Head is a hidden gem in Cow Hollow that’s been serving casual but delicious food and strong drinks for decades. We loved the sliders and martinis! It’s cozy with wood-paneled walls and vintage decor.

mandy turpin

1 month ago

A hidden gem! The food was wonderful. We had a big group so we had to wait a bit. I suggest making a reservation before you head over there.

Joe Low

6 months ago

Came for late dinner with my buddies, everything is well and good but maybe the environment is a little too dark for just dinner. If we drink it would have been a nice setup.

Brian J

11 months ago

Great food with great vibe. First off, Briana our server was amazing. Kind, friendly, welcoming and helpful. Secondly, the food was delicious! Fresh and thought out. New England Clam chowder was tasty Onion soup was tasty Salad was fresh Chicken masala was yummy Fresh pasta raviolis were amazing Affogata was amazing, the espresso was perfectly done. The fallen angel was delicious and I got it with an Ala mode vanilla ice cream! So good. Be there when they open, you may enter an empty restaurant but 30 minutes later you'll be waiting for a table. Its a hot spot. For all the right reasons. My only con is that they don't have French Fries, not really a con, but man, this place just has the vibe that it would make an amazing French fry. Please consider it lol All in all, we definitely recommend giving this place at least one shot so you can give your own review.

Belem Ramos

8 months ago

There are not enough words to describe my experience here. All I can say is AMAZING! The ambiance is so perfect for a date night or to catch up with a friend and just enjoy good food and drinks. Their prices for their food & drinks matches the quality of the food. The lobster ravioli was to die for. I wanted a second plate immediately. I can’t wait to come back to San Francisco to eat here again! There filet mignon was just wonderful you do not need to add any salt or pepper or even A1 sauce it’s perfect the way it is. I’m not much for green beans but the way they cooked there’s I enjoyed them surprisingly. There French onion soup was delicious as well & so was there bread pudding I can’t eat that all day ! The service was amazing so attentive. I love that always making sure if we needed something else or letting us know the food is almost out. My experience here was nothing but espectacular I can’t wait to come back.

Lauren Toms

No reservations but honestly that adds to the charm! We were seated on a Saturday night in about 30-40 minutes and enjoyed a lovely, cozy time by the bar. Our dinner was exceptional and service just as lovely. Perfect cozy spot for a good meal and drinks. Great alternative to house of prime rib!! We ended up ordering French onion soup, Caesar salad, a fillet and prime rib then another soup and salad because they were just so good! Nothing left on the table. Thank you BH!!

Location

Contact Information

Hours of Operation

Friday 5 PM–12 AM
Monday 5–11 PM
Saturday 5 PM–12 AM
Sunday 5–11 PM
Thursday 5 PM–12 AM
Tuesday 5–11 PM
Wednesday 5 PM–12 AM

Price Range

$50–100