Angler SF is a Michelin-starred, seafood focused restaurant specializing in “live-fire” cooking. It’s also the more approachable sibling of Saison, one of the most well-known fine dining spots in San Francisco. My husband and I visited it this past weekend to celebrate his birthday, and here is my review of our experience.
Getting a Seat
Reservations open a month in advance on OpenTable, and most of the slots were still available when I booked about a month out. We were seated near the windows, which gave us an amazing view of the Bay Bridge.
Drinks
Angler has an extensive drinks menu (especially for wine), plus several non-alcoholic options. Here’s what we ordered:
- Hibiscus Cinnamon Mocktail ($14): refreshing and not too sweet.
- Clear Colada ($21): light, clarified version of piña colada.
- Partida Creus VN 2019 ($18): interesting orange wine but not my husband’s favorite.
Food
The menu is à la carte, and the waiter recommended ordering across different sections. Here’s what we tried:
- Hot Fried Frog Legs & Cardamom Creme Fraiche ($26): This was my husband’s favorite dish. It tasted similar to fried chicken except more tender and way more flavorful than typical hot chicken wings.
- Angler Potato with Sauce of Taleggio ($22): A fun and unique dish. The potato is fried whole but thinly sliced, so you can pull apart crispy layers like chips while still getting a soft, baked interior.
- Caledonian Blue Prawns with Lemon Oil & Aged Madeira ($38): Juicy and deeply savory. My husband loved the sauce so much he used it on the potato too.
- Whole Sea Bream with Coconut & Swarnadwipa ($68): My favorite dish. The skin was perfectly crispy, while the inside stayed delicate and flaky. I usually don’t eat fish skin, but I finished all of it here.
Dessert
Dessert options were limited, and we shared the Chocolate Bar. It had dark and milk chocolate shell with caramel inside and nuts at the bottom. It was a bit too sweet for me, but my husband enjoyed it.
Verdict
Overall, we had a wonderful meal at Angler. The drinks and dessert were good, but the food was the absolute highlight — so delicious and memorable. The total came to ~$300 (including a 20% tip) which is expensive, but it’s worth it if you’re celebrating a special occasion. Also, if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can get a $150 dining credit!
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