Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in San Francisco

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in San Francisco? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Firefly Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (3002)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Noe Valley

About the restaurant

We serve food that, more often than not, accesses that part of our deepest soul where genuine expression can flow forth. We have always tried to give our food and service our best selves, as honest and vulnerable as we can muster. We strive to be a place where you might actually have a real connection; maybe with your server, maybe with your food or maybe with your possibly gracious host who is ACTUALLY glad you’re there.

Oh, you wanted a restaurant description? Sorry. Can’t really help you there. We’re not so big on labels. Our food is hard to nail down as we are constantly evolving and entirely seasonal and personal. We’ve used “Food you eat” as a tag line on occasion and that remains accurate. We could also describe it as “Food we really want you to eat”. When you’re here, tell us what you would call it.

Top review

Bob

Dined on Dec 13, 2024

Great neighborhood place with creative food. Great for gluten-free dining.

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Popular dish

Fried Heritage Chicken

Popular dish

Key Lime Pie

The Progress

4.8

4.8 (2460)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Western Addition

About the restaurant

The Progress is a vehicle for a completely local production. Innovative meals are served with memorable wine & cocktails. The Greatest Dinner Party Ever.

Top review

LarryHVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Outstanding food, particularly the signature duck and the Guinea hen. Kai is a superb waiter. He should own his own restaurant. Price reasonable for San Francisco.

Blue Plate

4.9

4.9 (1524)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Bernal Heights

About the restaurant

The Blue Plate opened in 1999 as a casual spot where friends and neighbors can enjoy the best ingredients our seasons have to offer. Owners Cory Obenour and Jeff Trenam have created a space that feels like a home, with three distinct dining rooms each appointed with the work of local artists. In the back, a lush, night-fragrant garden offers an exotic retreat from the bustle of the city. The kitchen stays committed to using the highest quality local produce and meats in classic American and rustic Mediterranean dishes. Through a working friendship with Bay Area farmers, the Blue Plate is expanding the notion of "the blue plate special" to include dining that is casual, affordable, delicious and responsible.

Top review

Andrew

Dined 6 days ago

Great food and service. Definitely a treat to dine at Blue Plate in San Francisco

Octavia

4.7

4.7 (2621)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Pacific Heights

About the restaurant

Octavia is the sister restaurant of Frances, helmed by award-winning Chef Owner Melissa Perello. Octavia serves dinner five nights a week in an elegant and relaxed neighborhood setting. Beautifully defined flavors and seasonally driven cuisine are the cornerstones of Octavia’s menu. Leveraging longstanding relationships with the region’s top purveyors and farms, Octavia's daily evolving selections spotlight Chef Perello's commitment to sustainability and the Bay Area’s wealth of agricultural resources.

Top review

Serena

Dined 3 days ago

A perfect experience prior to a fantastic show at the Orpheum. We appreciated the chats with an incredibly knowledgeable and inquisitive team as well as the perfectly crafted dishes. Mille Grazie!

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Experience

Christmas Eve at Octavia

Experience

Holiday Prix Fixe Menu

Experience

New Year's Eve at Octavia

Spruce

4.8

4.8 (5391)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Presidio Heights

About the restaurant

Open for lunch (two courses/$65), brunch (three courses/$98), and dinner (three courses/$125), Spruce offers seasonal prix-fixe menus crafted by Chef Mark Sullivan. Each menu offers a wide range of options, as well as luxurious additions (examples: caviar, truffles) for supplemental prices. Our cuisines is complemented by an extensive wine list which holds "Wine Spectator" magazine's highest honor, a Grand Award. The bar/lounge is available for walk-ins on a first-come, first-serve basis. We look forward to welcoming you to Spruce soon!

Top review

MelissaVIP

Dined 3 days ago

We have been many times and Ryan is the absolute best! We enjoyed every one of his suggestions on food and wine :) He is the definition of customer service; someone consistently goes above and beyond to help customers, demonstrating genuine care, empathy, and a commitment to resolving issues effectively, creating a positive experience that builds strong customer loyalty :)

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Maine Lobster Spaghetti

The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus - San Francisco

4.8

4.8 (6077)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown / Union Square

About the restaurant

The Rotunda serves afternoon tea seven days a week beginning at 2:30 p.m. (1:30p.m. Sundays). A tea experience reservation is necessary to enjoy our daily tea service. Any dietary restrictions must be noted at least 24 hours in advance of your reservation.

Please use link below to reserve your tea experience.

https://www.opentable.com/booking/experiences-availability?rid=889&restref=889&experienceId=35326

Let THE ROTUNDA® host your next Baby or Bridal Shower. We pride ourselves on creating the perfect menu and ambience for your event in our chic and inviting atmosphere. Pamper the glowing bride- or mother-to-be in your life with the shower of her dreams or a lavish luncheon.

*February 22, the outside elevator is under construction. Enter through any of the outside NM entrances, take any elevator to the 4th floor.

Top review

Nancy

Dined 5 days ago

We had a lovely time and enjoyed the high tea very much. The food was delicious except the curry chicken salad on croissant had no flavor and was dry. Everything else was wonderful. The service was excellent. It was a fun splurge.

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4.6

4.6 (2708)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

SOMA

About the restaurant

Prospect is from the team behind San Francisco's acclaimed Boulevard. Partners Nancy Oakes (James Beard award-winning chef/owner of Boulevard), Pam Mazzola and Kathy King, have created a restaurant that pays tribute to contemporary American cuisine. Whether it's a cocktail and a bite at the bar, a casual meal at the communal table, guests will receive exceptional hospitable service. A warm modern space in the heart of SOMA, Prospect has become an anchor for the community.
A separate dining room is available for private events.

Top review

Robert

Dined 7 days ago

Always a wonderful experience at the bar and dining table.

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Experience

New Year's Eve Dec 31, 2024

Experience

Prime Rib Fridays!

Experience

Oyster Fest - Every Wednesday in the Bar 4-6pm

One Market Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (4364)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Financial District / Embarcadero

About the restaurant

One Market Restaurant is open for indoor (and outdoor!) dining. Lunch (including pickup & delivery) Monday-thru-Friday 11:30am-2pm feauturing Mark ‘n Mike’s NY Style Delicatessen and One Market Restaurant Favorites
Dinner: Monday-thru-Friday 5-8pm (pickup & delivery available 4-8pm) featuring our One Market Restaurant dinner menu plus Signature Sandwiches from Mark ‘n Mike’s NY Style Deli! PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT ACCEPT DINING ROOM RESERVATION FOR HAPPY HOUR. GUESTS WHO RESERVE IN THE DINING ROOM FOR HAPPY HOUR WILL BE MOVED TO LOUNGE, BAR or OUTDOOR PATIO.

http://omr-mnm2go.square.site for more info. and current online menus.

One Market Restaurant To-Go & Delivery Sanitation Protocols
• Trained all employees on how to limit the spread of COVID‐19.
• Regular, and consistent, sanitation of all preparation surfaces, kitchen equipment, utensils and other surfaces.

Please note we no longer accept Lark Creek Restaurant Group Gift Cards

Top review

ZEYDYVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Thank you for a great meal! We enjoyed all the appetizers and the NY steak ordered was very flavorful and tender. We had a great time.

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Experience

New Year's Eve 1ST SEATING 5:30-7pm

Experience

New Year's Eve 2ND SEATING 8:30pm-10:30pm

The Patio

4.7

4.7 (277)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Marina / Cow Hollow / Presidio

About the restaurant

Although we try to accommodate every request for the back patio, we are experiencing high demand and have limited seating in order to observe social distancing. We also offer outdoor seating on the sidewalk and new parklet, as well as limited indoor seating. Thank you for understanding and we look forward to seeing you soon!

We are following the health guidelines to keep our guests and staff safe. Due to these circumstances, we kindly ask that you do not show up early or late, and honor a 1.5 hour maximum duration to your reservation.

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Top review

MargaretVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Good restaurant good food Will go back again Good service

The Fly Trap

4.7

4.7 (1428)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

SOMA

About the restaurant

A word from The Fly Trap
At The Fly Trap, guests can enjoy a bustling restaurant, dine casually at the communal tables, or delight in the elegant main dining area. An artisan cocktail list, innovative desserts, eclectic wine list and a warm, genuine sense of hospitality appeal to the neighborhood and out-of-town guests. The Fly Trap is located in the South of Market area, just 2 blocks from the Moscone Center.

Top review

JeanneVIP

Dined on Dec 13, 2024

Amazing as always!!! I’ve never had a bad meal there! I have so many favorites on their menu that it’s difficult to decide to go with sharing appetizers or ordering an entree. My favorite appetizers include the mixed green salad, chicken skewers, baked goat cheese, arancini and the cheese plate. For an entree, the rigatoni is my main go to and my boyfriend’s is the burger, which is one of my favorites in the city.

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