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Swan Oyster Depot
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Food Specialty Food Seafood Markets Seafood, Seafood Markets [Edit]
1517 Polk St(between California St & Sacramento St)
San Francisco, CA 94109
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
(415) 673-1101
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 8 am - 5:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Foodie D. said: "The remodel turned out spectacular! This is a great place to come have a beer, sit at the bar and daydream out of the window.. I seem to always get the Dungeness Crab Melt! Amazing. The best way for locals to get here... take the…" read more »
977 reviews for Swan Oyster Depot
Review Highlights
"the clam chowder was perfect and loaded with clams."
(in 429 reviews)
"Hands down best crab and combination seafood salad."
(in 73 reviews)
"tried the smoked salmon and it melted onto my tongue."
(in 117 reviews)
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977 reviews in English
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Review from Don T.
Seattle, WA
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I visited san francisco and saw so many wonderful things, but this place was numero uno on the list.
8am.
1.5 dozen oysters (blue points, miyagi, shigoku, kumamoto)
Crab salad.
A glass of stella artois.
1.5 year old daughter.
Wife.
Heaven.
Food is the freshest of fresh freshness!
Service is hectic but this team of burly dudes somehow gets it done. They are as attentive as they can be, and surprisingly kid-friendly! The guy helping us was nice enough to bring my daughter several rubber ducky toys to occupy her time while we ate. A really nice gesture by someone who was doing double duty shucking oysters and serving customers.
Note: Get there early because even at 8am there was a little bit of a line. -
Review from Jay D.
2/8/2012
Dressed in black, we passed through the doorway and sat among the locals at the bar. Unlike the smell of SFO that we just left, we walked somet hing comforting being wharfy and clean. We stared at the board: oysters, crabs, shrimp, smoked salmon, etc. Wowed by the history of it all and how small and simple the joint was from the counter tops to the cash register (cash only) to the long row of seats at the bar and the guys schucking oysters. A few bad jokes. Smiles. The traffic past the strorefront. We were in SF.
This joint has been around since the turn of the other century, not 2000, to be specific. It's got over a gazillion reviews, so we'd been warned that there are at times a line down the street. Lady luck's oyster opened up and would have us walk right in on that Tuesday afternoon.
The crew that works there is friendly and hilarious. Among the noise, some strong voices yelled about how the 49ers could've done this or that or how they're gonna rebuild for 2012. I can relate; we Boltheads. They noticed that weren't local, by the way we stared at the board. HA
Later, a dozen mixed oysters later of kumamotos and miyagis and another that I don't remember. A bowl of clam chowder to share, which wasn't as creamy as one always see it, but still tasty. I think this is how its supposed to be made? I'm not arguing. Some smoked salmon sliced, on french bread, with capers and olive oil to close. Mind you, beers and wine to boot.
We had two crabbacks since they were lined up on the counter. We were told Bourdain's recent visit had catalyzed patrons to ask for them?? How so?? We explained we grew up with crab backs. Apparently, ordering crab meant being served just the legs and claws. The body was used elsewhere. Crabs were not just limited to their claws and legs; you ate the whole thing. Nothing goes to waste. My biggest childhood memory was eating crab fat mixed with fried rice or dropping rice into the shell and using the shell as a bowl. How funny..
Seafood isn't cheap. You get what you pay for. Good times and fat bellies.Listed in: CASH ONLY! CASH ONLY! CASH…
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Review from Denise T.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
BF took me here for lunch on my birthday last week and IT WAS AMAZING!
The crab salad with Louie sauce is to die for. So good I had to ask for extra sauce. The blue point oysters are soooooo fresh. The only oysters I've ever had fresher were straight from the oyster farm. Ordered a dozen of those bad boys and they disappeared in less than 5 minutes. The clam chowder tastes soooo fresh, not like that rich and creamy stuff from Boudin and Soup Company.
We came right during lunch time so we had to wait 45 minutes before getting seated. I must say it was definitely worth the wait. The workers all look like veterans of the place, and are all super friendly.
Oh yessss, it's cash only! Be prepared to bring some big bucks cause the food definitely adds up. Worth the splurge once in awhile!
CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK AGAIN! -
Review from Alison A.
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came alone. I had heard tales about how glorious this place was and I have to say that my hype bubble was not destroyed. I heard about this place first from friends and again from Anthony Bourdain's The Layover. I was ready.
Arrived here as part of my first trip ever to San Francisco. Look for a small storefront, most distinguishable not by its blue sign, but the line out the door. On this particular Friday at about 1:45pm, the line was about 20 people long. My wait? 1 hour 15 minutes. Worth it?
YES.
No frills, no glitz, no glamour, besides the very funny, entertaining and friendly dialogue and banter of the guys behind the counter. As a teaser, the one solitary window you see is filled with the freshest looking crabs, shrimp, clams, oysters in the window. When you walk in, it's one long narrow hall, pretty much, of barstools and the most satisfied and happy looking people chowin' down. All of the guys behind the counter were very patient and informative about all the seafood they had to offer and mixing up special sauce concoctions to go along with your treasures.
Armed with my Anchor Steam beer (go San Francisco!), here's what I ordered on this day. And in this particular order:
+ Clam chowder - there was no skimping on the bits of clam in my chowder cup. It wasn't overly watery and not too creamy, and extremely flavorful and warm. This went along lovely with my fresh sourdough bread and butter!
+ Half dozen oysters - these are NOT your oysters from the Gulf of Mexico people, thank goodness! These went far and beyond expectations! I can't remember where they were all from, but included Blue Bay Oysters, some from Japan, Washington...very fresh, creamy, and flavorful with some lemon squeezed on. Deeeeeelicious!
+ Crab cocktail - for $12, I got a very good portion of the meatiest, tastiest crab meat. Eating it alone or with some lemon, cocktail sauce, or mayo, you'll be golden.
Some pointers:
*Cash only
*get there EARLY like when they open. Otherwise, count on an hour or longer wait
*the wait is substantially shorter if even a wait at all if you order to go. But I can imagine if you want the whole experience, you'll have to wait in line.
I would have been equipped to anhiliate this place if I had my significant other and foodie partner in crime to help me out! It'll cost you a pretty penny, but it's worth it!
I'll come better equipped next time. It's hard to try more when you don't have your eating partner.Listed in: I Left My Heart in San…
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Review from Kevin C.
Pasadena, CA
2/2/2012
All I can say is their crab salad was so fresh and so sweet it totally lived up to the hype.
Having arrived in SF for a 4 day vacation the wife was set on going here first and I would recommend against going in the middle of the day on a Sat since the line was seriously 50 people deep with only about 22 seats on the bar available but like any husband with a prego wife, I wanted her to have what she craved. I think we could have ordered to go and been plenty happy.
Service was super friendly, very fun listening to the crew banter back and forth to each other while they prepare your food. We also had the clam chowder which was just amazingly fresh. When you get a clam chowder that is super fresh and all you can taste is the light freshness and it is not just buried in cream then you are at Swan Oyster Depot.
I had just 3 oysters and I am not a super big fan of oysters in general so I can't give my opinion on them without bias.
Highlights for me the chowder and crab salad (I bet the crab cocktail would be great too).
Skip the line if it is more than 10 people deep, try a weekday or off hour if you can. -
Review from Grace T.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2012
Every time Vicky comes into town I feel like we are on a Mission to eat as much seafood as possible :) Anthony Bourdain thank you for the local layover, I should be more fluent in a local hot spot.
After reading a couple of reviews I was more aware to expect, the old school San Francisco dining setting, long bar that probably fits maybe 14, a happy family of probably ten guys ranging from wise to college bound. They were each very attentive, friendly and we felt like it was a family party serving delicious seafood.
We ordered the half cracked crab w/the head (cold), a dozen oysters Kimomotos and locals, sashimi (halibut, tuna, and salmon) over olive oil and onion mmmmm, and a cup of the chowder.
I stayed away from the salads felt like it would have been a waste of stomach space, and I could eat a head of lettuce at home if i desired which i didn't.
I'm probably going to crave their sashimi plate for a long time. Definitely will revisit as much as possible. -
Review from B. Y.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2012
5 stars for the food: creamy clam chowder, fresh-as-can-be oysters on the half shell and the best crab cocktail I've ever had.
Minus one star for the 75 minute wait and the cursory service. -
Review from Eli G.
Just okay and not worth the wait.
Had the line been not there or less than 15 minutes AND had the oysters been a notch up in taste, this would have been the best seafood I've had in the states. But those were just broken dreams.
I can't really complain about the wait, but I can safely say that the oysters I had at Hog Island were a better bang for the buck. Here, nothing had that magical creaminess that I want in my oysters. However, there were some items at Swan that bested any other oyster joint; 1) the olive oil drenched sashimi and 2) the seafood cocktail.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I guess I could just go to any LA sushi spot and bring some quality olive oil and get the same effect, but I won't. Regardless of what I will or will not do, this was a great eat.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
For the seafood cocktail, they let us pick exactly which creatures we wanted to be shredded into our cup. The thing that got me off the most about this one was the portions, HUGE! You get a fair amount of crab and other goodies for a good price. This is something that I would get again.
But for a place that has oyster in their name, I was let down. I would only ever go back if I happened to be driving by and there was no line. Else, Hog Island will be my SF go-to spot for oysters. -
Review from Chris T.
Riverside, CA
OMG, this place is amazing! While on a mini-vacation to San Francisco with my sister, we agreed that while there we had to dedicate a day to eating just seafood. We were researching different places on Yelp and the nearest to our hotel was Swan Oyster Depot. The reviews seem to be a hit or miss, so we continued to research, but seem to come back to Swan Oyster Depot. Yes, we read that the wait can be really long, but we wanted to know what the fuss was about. I mean, they have a long wait for a reason, right? Why would you wait in line for so long if the food isn`t good?
We woke up kind of early because we wanted to try to beat the rush. Luckily, there were some stools available by the time we got there. It was about 10 o`clock in the morning, and there were already people inside. The place is really small. Only enough room behind the counter for the guys to walk back and forth from one end of the bar to the other and only enough room at the bar for you to find a seat. There are only 18 stools in the place, no tables. If you happen to find a seat open, snag it as fast as you can because people are always coming in and out of the place. Not recommended for large parties.
We sat down, got some waters, and looked over their small menu, which is up on the wall. My sister also got a beer (yup, at 10 o`clock in the morning). The two things we really wanted to get were the dozen Mixed Oysters and the Combination Salad, which were highly talked about on Yelp. I can`t remember where all the oysters came from, but there was one from Washington that was really good. Briny, tons of oceanic flavor, with just a squeeze of lemon, and it`s the best bite you could ever put in your mouth. So fresh! The Combination Salad alone, is something that I would come back again and again. Shredded lettuce, fresh crab, prawns, baby shrimp, and a side of Louis Dressing. Sounds pretty plain, right? Trust me, simple done right is the best. The seafood is sweet, flavorful, and generous.
When you come here, be prepared to make a dent in your wallet. It may be expensive, but it`s fresh, high-quality seafood. Worth every penny. Make sure you bring cash. These guys do it old school.
While eating, it started to get a little busy. A lot of people came in to do take out, which seems like a good idea, especially since finding a seat can be a hardship. -
Review from Ben C.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012
Came around noon for lunch, and waited in line about 20 minutes. The guys working here knew about half the customers by name. Lots of regulars. That could sound a little intimidating but they're pretty darn friendly to everyone.
I had a cup of clam chowder to start off. The soup was separated (not emulsified, I don't know what to call it), which makes it look weird, but the flavor was good. I also had a combination seafood salad, which was pretty huge. The crab is the highlight and they give you plenty. You can choose louie sauce or oil and vinegar. I went with the louie and it was delicious.
As I ate and watched, the special thing about this place started to sink in. Each of the guys serving you from behind the bar does it all: Shuck oysters, crack crabs, put together salads, make dressings one bowl at a time, and serve it up to you. They do it so naturally and easily that it feels like you're just hanging out with a bunch of guys who love seafood. Which, you are.
Lunch was $25 with tax and felt like a good value. -
Review from Spencer C.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2012
To begin I would like to thank Anthony Bourdain and Swan Oyster Depot. If it were not for Sir Anthony I may not have heard of Swan unless I was lucky enough to have a local or seafoodie inform me about this place.
Given I took Mr. Bourdains advice, I went closer to the end of their hours around 4 and didn't have to wait to sit. Thank god though, I got there when I did because they were beginning to run out of everything. That is a good sign.
To start I indulged in a cup of their chowder. Unfortunately, I have to say it was a bit too watery for my standards. Beyond that, it had a decent helping of seafood awaiting inside not masked by too many potatoes like most chowders can.
After that, I salvaged someones Crab skull they chose not to have accompany the legs they ordered. For just about 7 dollars, I sopped up and spread all that medula obla crabba on some nice crusty sourdough. I highly recommend, if you want to try something different.
Given I was by myself, I only finished my day off with a Anchor Stream draft and a tray of 6 Blue Bay Oysters on the half shell. Pardon my language but D-Fuckinglicious. So fresh, so perfect, and so local. Those Oysters saved my visit. I had originally planned on just getting chowder and some crab brain. If I had, my review may not have been so in depth and positive.
The staff feel like that uncle that taught you how to throw a football and drink whiskey the right way. Straight up and out of the bottle to stay warm near the bay. I can't wait to go back and get a bit more acquainted with these fellas.
Great place. -
Review from Jenny W.
1/24/2012
After seeing this place featured on Anthony Bourdain's The Layover a week before my trip, I KNEW I had to add it to my list of places to stop and try. Knowing full well that there would be a line, my boyfriend, best friend and I made it the first stop of the day at 10am on a Saturday morning. We waited about 20 minutes, so it wasn't too bad. We maybe just had to wait a few more minutes before we could get a seat of 3 together at the end of the counter.
The menu on the wall is a little overwhelming for the first visit, but I knew I wanted oysters! We ordered a dozen oysters to share between myself and my boyfriend. He also got the half cracked crab, and I ordered a crab salad to share. My best friend had a half dozen oysters and some new england clam chowder.
Everything was delicious but a little on the pricier side for what it was. Overall, however, the service was great, the guys working behind the counter are all so friendly and nice! I enjoyed my experience there and would recommend people to try it at least once :) -
Review from Randy S.
Honolulu, HI
1/30/2012
You can't be serious.
I ordered the shrimp salad. What I got was a bed of lettuce with some baby shrimp on it and some thousand island dressing. $16. There you go.
There is no way this place passes any health inspections legally. Their food handling technique is atrocious. I'm waiting for the food poisoning to kick in as I type this.
Will never return.
I have on idea what is nostalgic about this place. It should be condemned. -
Review from Christina G.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/24/2012
Very disappointed. My friend and I had been looking forward to Swan for weeks prior to us going there the day before Christmas. I know. "Day before Christmas." Maybe we should have had a plan B prepared, but we did not see anything on their website warning us that there would be *no counter service* on that particular day. This was only noted by a sign outside the shop.
Of course, we were looking forward to eating at the counter; after all, that is a major part of the Swan experience. We would have settled for take-out. Unfortunately, they didn't even offer that, or any real niceties. When I asked if there was anything available to purchase, I was shocked to be responded to so curtly by one of the men, stating only that they were not selling anything and to try back after 2 p.m. What a kind invitation, to come begging for scraps. Sign me up!
Perhaps on a normal day, we would have had the amazing experience everyone raves about: the friendly counter workers who love their job, the fresh seafood, a pint of Anchor Steam and elbow-rubbing with fellow seafood-lovers. It was not to be the day before Christmas, and I'm pretty much turned off to the idea of ever going back there now after the way my friend and I were pretty much dismissed by the staff. Sad to have missed out. -
Review from C J.
San Francisco, CA
2/4/2012
dirty, gritty, no parking, small portions, slow service, long line to get in, cramped counter to eat at, expensive menu. and great food!
We can't wait to go there again! -
Review from Christine S.
San Jose, CA
WOW! Over an hour wait to sit at an oyster bar. I must say though, it was worth trying. They do NOT take names or numbers so expect to literally wait in line (Standing) for that long. As you get closer to the front of the line the staff offers drinks while you wait.
Once we were seated we were greeted with friendly staff. We got the sashimi platter, crab salad and oysters. I could've gone without the crab salad because I felt like I could make that at home (lettuce, crab and thousand island dressing) but the oysters and sashimi were definitely worth the wait!
Next time I go back I'll probably to-go since I know what I want. BRING CASH! -
Review from Sammy C.
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here on a Saturday, waited for a good an hour and a half to be seated.
Customer service was the best, all of them seemed very friendly and nice; we were going to order one whole lobster, but they were sold out. So we ordered some oysters and clams; it was my very first time trying the raw big clams and OMG they were super fresh juicy and sweet! The oysters were great too but now I prefer to have the raw clams instead.
Two stars off because they don't wash their hands before putting their hands into the seafood that placed in the front, they put their fingers into the food and put them into customer's place, then wiped their hands with their shirts or a towel that has been sitting on the table for so long, can't imagine how much dirt's the towel has! That's why we didn't order the seafood salad, don't want to get stomach ache.
I won't come back here for this long line again, maybe ordering to-go or if there isn't a long line. -
Review from Bob K.
San Francisco, CA
1/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
An iconic tradition and institution - check.
A fun atmosphere - check. Even the line wait wasn't bad.
Fresh seafood - almost a check. wife had oyster sampler, as good as they get. her crab was good but not great. my smoked salmon was inspirational, and the shrimp salad was very good but no revelation.
Service - depends who's helping you. some of the guys are more on it than others. but overally, very good.
Long wait - check. Hour and a half for us at 10:30am Saturday
Ambience - OUCH. Dirty, no, filthy, actually pretty disgusting. Flies on the seafood. No gloves on the preparers hands. The "dishwasher" just rinses stuff and puts it back. Someone else also noted no handwashing even after handling cash. Uck. Some of the seafood not refrigerated... scary. Seating - beyond uncomfortable... I actually would have preferred to just stand up and scarf it down... but that would be a pricey scarf.
If you're not queasy about unsanitary conditions, go once. I'm glad I went but I won't be going back. You might. That's the beauty of a free market. -
Review from Mutro T.
Silicon Valley, CA
Updated - 2/3/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Every once in a while, you have to come back to this place to recalibrate your taste-buds on oyster excellence. The only down thing I can claim about this place is the potential long wait even at mid to late afternoons, and the lack of convenient parking. Today, the wait was short and street parking just outside the restaurant. Sweet! Just like their oysters.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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4/2/2011
I used to live and work just a few block from this venerable establishment many years back. Coming… Read more »
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Review from Scotty I.
Chicago, IL
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Is it worth the long wait? YES!
Prices are on the expensive side, but is it worth it? YES!
Fresh seafood, great atmosphere, friendly servers. Can't ask for anything more. -
Review from Derrick L.
PECK SLIP, NY
1/18/2012
10 Stars for EXCELLENT Seafood.
Tourists, Locals, everyone should come here once a week. I would if I could.
for 2 people, stuffed w/ Oysters and Salad, can't ever go wrong w/ this place.
10 Stars for EXCELLENT Seafood.
10 Stars for EXCELLENT Seafood.
10 Stars for EXCELLENT Seafood. -
Review from Brenda L.
Oysters- 5 stars
Clam Chowder-2 stars
Crab Cocktail- 5 stars
The wait can be incredibly long even when you get there at 10 am. I believe we had to wait about a hour and some. I think the smartest thing to do is get it to go and go somewhere else to eat it. Swan Oyster Depot is definitely a very busy place! Don't expect this place to be spotless when you go in...we were seated and there was still cocktail sauce on the bar from the previous customers. The horseradish is a communal thing so I couldn't use it.
We decided to order the variety of oysters, blue point, kunimoto and the best miyagi oysters! The oysters were delicious and after waiting for so long I thought to myself this might have been worth it to wait for. The crab cocktail has tons of crab and big pieces of it too. The clam chowder was a huge disappointment for me. I am a huge lover of clam chowder and when you are in SF that is what you are supposed to get. The chowder was very watery with not very much flavor and not too many clams or anything really.
Service was attentive when we sat down. CASH only like everyone else has said. Is it worth it to spend over $60 bucks on lunch that doesn't really fill you up? Probably not, but I say go for the oysters, the seafood cocktails and salads and just try it once in your life or order to go! -
Review from James L.
San Jose, CA
1/17/2012
If this place is good enough for Anthony Bourdain, its certainly good enough for me. i recently saw it on his new show the " the layover"
seafood is super fresh, you can see from the outside window. the customer service is really amazing, they are very helpful for first timers like myself. i got the seafood salad which was OK, lots of crab plus small and large shrimp covered in thousand island sauce. But once i got to the oysters and sea urchin that's what earns this place the 4 stars. i got the sample platter of oysters just to try everything. they say the smaller ones are better because they are more sweet. Once you try the platter you can tell which one is your favorite mine is the "kumamoto" small and sweet. the sea urchin was HUGE! fresh and great tasting. A must visit if you're in San Francisco
cons: lost a star
- came here at 11am waited 2 hours to get seated. very small place. so don't come hungry. they should really expand
- they don't really wash their hands here they just grab the food with their bare hands and wipe it on their shirts -
Review from Michelle L.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2012 1 photo
I love this place!
Granted my boyfriend and I waited approx. 2 hours to get in here, but once in a while I'll test out when are the best times to go here so I don't have to wait that long...someone mentioned try when its raining haha
Anyway I love its feeling of a very traditional local fresh seafood place *cough* not touristy feel... I definitely wasn't expecting anything trendy but I loved the feeling of being in there and thinking wow, there is definitely history in this place.
I thought the servers were friendly and it looked like they loved their job and the people they are working with and I LOVED the fresh oysters and combination seafood salad.
My boyfriend loved the dressing that was made for the seafood salad, it was some olive oil vinaigrette with horse radish, salt, pepper and lemon type thing...haha
Overall love it, but I'll probably consider ordering the food to go and shucking my oysters at home. But definitely wouldn't mind coming here for breakfast every now and then =) -
Review from Colleen W.
Decatur, GA
1/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Utterly disgusted by Swan. Folks behind the counter serve you with their bare hands. Yes, the same hands they use to collect cash with. The place is filthy. Filth. Grime. Crusty furniture... Ugh. I don't even want to imagine where else the waiters' hands have been.
Seafood salad was extremely salty. Didn't even taste that fresh. Lots of meat, but really nothing special.
Clam chowder was an absolute disappointment. Watery. Layer of grease floating and glistening on the top. No clams. No flavor. Hell, I'd take Campbell's over this crap on any day.
Didn't get to try the oysters after a whole one hour of waiting because my companions didn't want any. Maybe I'll give Swan another shot in the future. But then again, do I really want submit myself to shit-laden, bacteria-infested food? -
Review from Misha T.
1/12/2012
line is long, prices are high, but boy is that mixed seafood salad somehow actually a $20 portion of food. It doesn't seem like it'll be that much food when you get it but finishing it is a challenge and it's not just filler, it's really a ton of seafood.
The chowder is pretty solid too, I'd get a cup of that as well. I mean you already waited in line for an hour, you might as well spend an extra two bucks. I must say though, the raw bar stuff is too rich for my blood and i feel like when I can afford it I'll be too lazy to wait in line again. -
Review from Ashley J.
1/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Believe it or not, I came here for breakfast, yes breakfast. I knew this place gets packed close to lunch time and I didn't want to be caught in a long line waiting to get in. So my friend and I decided to get there around 10:30am and share some oysters. It was already pretty packed in the place, but we found 2 seats right near the door at the bar so we snatched 'em up.
We ordered a dozen oysters and told them to just mix it up a bit and give us a bunch of different types. I was pretty disappointed when 2 of the oysters he gave us were super tiny (they are supposed to be like that, but we were hoping for 12 good sized oysters). It was totally fine though, we could have always ordered more if we wanted, and I understand he was just allowing us to try something we may have never had before. The guy gave us a bunch of different sauce options to try with our oysters. My favorite was the cocktail sauce. Just enough spiciness and super delicious with the oysters. We ordered a bowl of clam chowder after finishing our oysters and that was also really good. VERY buttery and creamy, and full of clams and potatoes. It was excellent. The total meal cost $40 plus tip.
The guys behind the counter were lively, enthusiastic, and you could tell they very much enjoyed what they did. They also sell fresh seafood to take home with you, and I'd definitely recommend these guys. They know their stuff and can help you out big time. -
Review from Susan D.
Yes we waited 45 minutes at 3pm on a Friday, but we've been talking about going here for at least 4 years. My husband saw the line and started with "we can come back some other time...." So impatient, but I tell him "we are here lets just wait".
So was it worth the wait? Absolutely! The guys behind the counter are cheery when you sit down (not like they've been doing this all day) they get your drinks going and some nice crunchy crusted bread to start. They are chatty and seem to love carving up the fish and designing beautiful plates of food. I went for a crab salad which to some may seem a bit plain, but the chunks of crab are so fresh. I was a happy camper. My husband had first a bowl of chowder (should have tried it, looked creamy but light not super heavy) Then he ordered the Italian Sashimi, a mixture of thinly sliced scallop, salmon, and hamachi drizzled with olive oil, chopped red onions, capers and some cracked pepper. A work of art. My husband actually works with two of the guys working cousin. So of course this got them telling us stories, and as you sit at the long bar you end up chatting with customers next to you. It's old school and only accepts cash (remember that stuff? So bring a good amount so you can have a lot)
It's definitely an institution and I can't wait to go back. Next time we have to try one of those fatty crabs that you dip your bread in....oooooh ahhhhhh.
Oh yeah my husband was glad "I" made him wait. -
Review from Anri T.
San Diego, CA
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
There're almost 1000 revies so I don't have much thing to say about their food.
So I was here on a Tuesday afternoon about 3:30. There was no line. Lucky! But there was no dungeness crab left. Unlucky! So I recommend you to get here as early as possible. But in case they're out of dungeness crab, their crab salad is delish.
And I have to mention that they have local beer on the tap. I forgot what it was called but that was one of the best beers I've ever tasted!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
Review from Walter M.
1/10/2012
If you a lucky enough to snag one of the twenty or so bar stools you absolutely won't forget it. A half dozen to full dozen different oysters flown in daily. Yes they are that fresh, but they have to order them that way, they have been known to sell out certain kinds. Shrimp and crab cocktails are very popular, but if your going to Swan for their clam chowder your out of your mind. Simply put SF has some of th best chowder around and honestly Swan doesn't make the best, it's good, but not great. It's not called Swan chowder company so stick with what they've been known for the past 100 years "Oysters"
The chefs are great, Eager and honestly they are more fish mongers than the usual chef's you actually get a chance to meet at most restaurants. Not the prep cooks, sous chefs or line cooks. I'm talking about the executives, the head chef, the one's who make the menu is who I'm comparing them to. My usual fish monger gets food just as fresh, but not so much on the variety of oysters and slightly bigger fresh uni.
Come early and come hungry. I promise you'll leave satisfied. Don't linger, the city has so much more to offer than Swan, the other reason I say that is because there are 100 other people waiting outside by the time you finished reading this. Take pictures, you might not remember how good this place is, but you sure will remember. -
Review from Kanaki K.
Los Angeles, CA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Make sure you come here when you're 75% hungry, then prepare to wait until you're 100% hungry, because there is a very looong line. I don't like waiting for food, but I will let people know what's worth waiting, THIS PLACE is worth waiting for!!
Ambiance- this is not a date place unless you know your date won't mind gettin down and dirty. It's bar style with stools and you're sitting very close to everyone else. So dont' bring expensive purses, heels or anything that you're afraid of getting dirty- the restaurant is not dirty, but it's not like you have half a booth to hold your belongings.
I don't mind standing in the SF chill staring at the crab meat sitting out on the window, because I know I will get to chow down once its my turn :D The oysters here are so fresh and delicious, the crabmeat salad- no words except for DELICIOUS. This is not a salad where you have hunt for crab meat, it's just a big handful sitting on top of the salad- to clarify- "handful" = ALOT. Clam chowder- no matter how full you are, you HAVE to get a bowl. Well you'll probably have to, something warm finally after standing out in the cold.
I love this place, the guys are all so friendly and cool. Its worth the wait and its a must go everytime I visit up North! -
Review from Casey T.
1/23/2012
Hand-made vinaigrette sauce (on request), and fresh horse radish (on the bar) for shellfish is the way to go. Come early so as not to wait. I come here straight from the airport with my bags in the rental every time....
p.s. Anchor Steam on draught (like Luger's Brooklyn Lager, it tastes better here...) -
Review from Cari W.
Mansfield, TX
1/24/2012 3 photos
Just fresh, clean, straight up seafood. Right off the boat and delish!
The customer serivce is excellent & loved the counter service. We'll def be back!
**Get there early! -
Review from Diana O.
San Francisco, CA
1/8/2012
I've lived nearby for years but only recently started going. Seemingly every time I've walked past this place there's been a line. That's got to be well over a hundred times by this point. Part of that I think is that there isn't a lot of seating--just a counter--but the other part is that the place is good.
They've been around for about 100 years with much of the furnishings being from around that time as well. Not many places can say they've been around that long, especially in this city. Once upon a time, they used to own their own boats and fish themselves. They're a knowledgeable and nice crew with many of them doing this for a very long time. They have regulars with whom they've got a great rapport. Family business? I don't recall, but I wouldn't be surprised.
That's fine and all, but what about the food? I wasn't sure what to get the first time I went. The guy helping me insisted on a mixed half-dozen oysters, bowl of clam chowder, and seafood cocktail. All good suggestions. I love that they've got olive oil out on the counter--I like putting it on oysters rather than hot sauce. I've also gotten the crab Louis on another occasion. It's a healthy portion of crab and filling when paired with their bread and butter and a beer.
NB: bring a gangster wad of cash! They don't take cards. I sat next to a group of tourists that kept ordering rounds of oysters. They were eating before I got there and still there after I left. They must have spent several hundred dollars and most people don't carry around that kind of cash. There are three major banks within two blocks you can hit up on your way there, but I just wish they would take cards and make things easier for their guests. I also wish their menu was posted on their website.
Don't feel like waiting? Skip the line and get your food to go. -
Review from Angela K.
Los Angeles, CA
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you're visiting San Fran and you happen to be on a diet, the seafood diet that is, this is the place you need to come to. It's an informal bar with stools and with the freshest seafood in town. We got two dozen oysters, the mixed seafood cocktail and of course the clam chowder. Did I mention we were two girls?
And yes the service is impeccable. Fast, friendly and you really feel like they pulled it out of the sea 5 minutes ago. -
Review from Phillip B.
Santa Monica, CA
2/7/2012
We got there at 10 AM. Reading a review from last Saturday, it said a 20 min wait. We waited over an hour. Nice people, good atmosphere, and they will serve you drinks while you wait in line. The cold beer, fresh bread, and variety of condiments at your fingertips were all great. Clam chowder was light on the clams. Combo salad was OK. The oysters rocked. All in all, I probably wouldn't go back unless there wasn't a line.
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Review from Kelly K.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The smoked salmon is so silky and delicious. With rye bread it's low cal and full of flavor. I noticed flowers on the counter and a cleaner ambiance today. Still, the money and fish handling should not coexist. That's my only gripe.
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Review from Jennie K.
Los Angeles, CA
This place is amazing!
Just like everyone else said the wait is really really long. I waited close to two hours before being seated. What makes this probably one of the worst waits ever is the fact that you have to stay in line as opposed to putting your name down and coming back in 30 or so minutes.
It's bar seating only and it can get pretty cramped in there. But the staff is super friendly and when one of the guys noticed I didn't have a place to hang my coat or purse he found some space for my stuff on the side.
When you sit down you'll notice a variety of sauces on top that's more or less a free for all. I saw Tobasco, horseradish, etc.
We had the infamous clam chowder. I see how some people really like it and others don't. I personally didn't. I wouldn't even really consider it a chowder since chowders are usually a stew or thickened soup often made with cream or milk. This is more of a clam broth. It definitely has a strong clam taste to it but none of the heartiness that is usually associated with a chowder.
Ordered a half dozen raw oysters. They didn't have my favorite kumamoto but they did have some kind of mix kumamoto and something else and I still really liked it. The oysters were super fresh and briny. They give you the standard cocktail sauce. They also give you this dual sauce tray where one bottle holds their own mignonette sauce while the other side has some kind of green thai chili and habanero sauce. That sauce is freaking awesome and I ended up putting it on my salad. I wish I could bottle that sauce and bring it home with me.
We also ordered the combination seafood salad. I was worried at first because I don't like heavy mayo based dressing, and it seemed from everyone's review the dressing for the salad was some kind of remoulade. But you can have the dressing on the side and a little bit of the dressing with the divine green chile sauce and it was just deliciousness for my tastebuds. The salad is a pretty hefty portion and if I was a moderate eater I probably could have been satisfied with just the salad.
Next we got the combination sashimi sicilian style. It was basically some tuna, salmon, and scallop sashimi drizzled with olive oil (it's actually more than a drizzle it's a generous hand with the olive oil) and topped with fresh cracked black pepper, diced red onions, and some capers. This was something interesting to the tastebuds but I probably won't order it again the next time (and yes there will be a next time) I come to Swan Oyster Depot.
And for dessert we ordered another half dozen oysters. I couldn't leave without having one last taste of briny smooth deliciousness. -
Review from Phat T.
12/20/2011
I have to preface this review by saying that we ate here early in the morning. So, I'm not sure if my stomach was ready.
What we had:
- Clam Chowder - I would probably not order this again. It tasted almost water down and lack very little substance. I was expecting a chowder chalk full of clams, but this was not the case.
-Seafood cocktail - This I enjoy. A bit on the pricey side, but it had a good amount of shrimp and crab. The seafood was fresh and sweet, just the way that it should be.
-Oysters - Also, very fresh and full of flavor.
It is a very small shop, so I would not suggest coming here with a big group of people. Overall, a good experience. -
Review from James L.
12/12/2011
WOW- 1.5 hour wait, must be good right? RIGHT!
Because of the limited seating up in this joint, you'll have to wait a considerable amount of time before getting started on your food. With a party of 5, there is a good chance you won't be seated together but that day, everything worked out and a party of 3 and 2 left (and they were right next to each other). Man, having all of their fresh seafood displayed in the window is simply torture!
Between three HUNGRY guys, we shared a combination cocktail (oyster, shrimp, crab, clam) with their amazing cocktail sauce. Someone commented there was probably crack in it. We also got a medly of oysters (one of the waiters joked, please do not ask how many oysters in a dozen like a previous customer). The oysters were good but still doesn't top my best oyster eating experience.
Really, what blindsided me about this place is the crab salad. Sounds simple, it's made up of 3 measly ingredients: bed of cabbage, dungeness crab (loads of it) and a secret sauce that looks like In-N-Out's house sauce but not. WOW. Every bite gave me that tingle in the sides of my cheek from being absolutely tasty.
Service is chaotic here, but in a good way. Everyone there looks like they are having fun and making sure their customers are too.
I think what I would do next time is to just to go my crab salad and continue my food trek through SF.
Remember to bring cash, they only accept cash!
