Recently, we had the pleasure of enjoying a great meal at Sam’s Grill. It is a ‘must-do’ San Francisco Classic that was founded in 1867. It is also the 5th oldest restaurant in the United States. It was founded by Michael Bolan Moraghan, a native of Ireland. Moraghan was an oyster man who raised oysters in southern San Francisco Bay. His oyster beds produced over 2.5 million pounds of oyster meat a year and have always been on Sam’s menu.
Sam Zenovich bought the restaurant in 1922. Frank Sepur bought Sam’s in 1937, after Sam died. Sam’s moved to its current location in 1946 and was run by the Sepur family for three generations. In 2014, Peter Quataroli and a group of Sam’s patrons bought the restaurant.
There is a variety of wine, beer, and mixed drinks served by knowledgeable waiters dressed in black tuxedos.
We especially enjoyed perfect Manhattans, oysters, sour dough bread, baked French onion soup, and mesquite-grilled petrale.
It is open Monday through Friday from 11 to 8 and closed on weekends. For more information and to make a reservation, go to: https://samsgrill-sf.com/
By Mike L. McColgan, Resident since 1990