Zuni Cafe
Zuni Cafe showcases San Francisco Mediterranean cooking at its best. Although award-winning chef-owner Judy Rodgers passed away in December of 2013, her partner, Gilbert Pilgram (a Chez Panisse alumnus), continues to run the place, with Rebecca Boice now in the kitchen. Zuni has been an iconic California restaurant for what feels like forever, so it may be easy to forget that when it opened in 1979, it was dedicated to authentic Mexican food. It’s amazing, then, to think that restaurant critic Michael Bauer could recently dine there and write that it feels original, even after 36 years, “Zuni was so ahead of its time that even in 2015 it feels like it could have opened last week.” The seasonal and organic ingredients are always impeccable, and the fish and meats are sustainably raised. The whole, brick-oven-roasted chicken for two with warm bread salad, scallions, garlic, and mustard greens is among the emblematic dishes (keep in mind it takes approximately an hour to prepare) in this food-mad town, and the house-ground grass-fed burger on rosemary focaccia with aïoli and house-made pickles (lunch only) is epic.
— Arthur Bovino, 101 Best Restaurants, April 1, 2015
The Daily Meal Editors and Community Say...
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Around the Web
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pizza roast chicken San Francisco Sancerre worms Zuni Cafe 49 comments Julia December 17, 2013 7:00pm
Foursquare Tips
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Besides "the" chicken, Zuni's burger, Caesar salad and bloody Mary have all been called the best in the city. [Eater 38 Member] -
This is a great place to take an out-of-town visitor to eat. Feels like SF. Tastes like SF. Located on Market street in SF. -
get the oysters and the chicken for two. it's my favorite meal in SF. -
Still the best Caesar Salad and roasted chicken. Always consistent after 30 years. Great Location. - Tim Nugent, Top Chef Just Desserts -
Judy Rodgers iconic San Francisco restaurant has had a significant influence on me as a chef and restaurateur. -Monica Pope, Top Chef
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eat the slow roasted chicken. -
The copper-topped bar up front is the perfect spot to have a stellar Bloody Mary to begin brunch, or to polish off a dozen oysters and sip a glass of Champagne as the sun streams down Market Street. -
The menu at this classic restaurant changes daily but the delicious food remains a constant. The specialties here are the Roast Chicken and the Bread Salad. -
Order the roast chicken and bread salad...it's #1 on 7x7's Big Eat SF 2010 -
Fodors, one of our expert reviewers, says, "After one bite of chef Judy Rodgers' succulent brick-oven-roasted whole chicken with Tuscan bread salad, you'll understand why she's a national star." -
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Don't think twice. Order the Caesar Salad, the Chicken and the Bandol Ros. You're in Ros street. -
Perfect spot for a cocktail or late night snack after your performance at the ballet, opera, symphony, or City Arts lecture. Don't skip out on the oyster bar! -
Instead of traditional cucumber pickles, legendary chef-owner Judy Rodgers accents her burgers with thin-cut zucchini strips pickled in apple cider vinegar, mustard seeds and turmeric. -
i will be the millionth person to tell you that you cannot go wrong with the roast chicken. however, note that it EASILY feeds 3-4, not 2, despite what your waiter will tell you. -
If you have never been here do order the chicken, but make sure to get a few other courses to tide you over while you wait -
Hands-down the best burger in the Bay Area. Artisanal cheeses, rosemary-scented foccacia, and pickled zucchini ribbons help this cafe stand head-and-shoulders above the rest. -
Epic Roasted Chicken -
Am a bit confused about their burger. It tastes like a burger but doesn't feel like one. Rosemary focaccia is delicious -
Zuni's famed roast chicken for two is a sensuous experience: succulent, rich, and good enough that you'll be eating with your hands.