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Swan Oyster Depot Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

1517 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Frommer's ReviewMap It
Cuisine Seafood
Hours Mon-Sat 8am-5:30pm
Location Between California and Sacramento sts, Nob Hill/Russian Hill
Transportation Bus: 1, 19, 47, or 49
Reservations Reservations not accepted
Phone 415/673-1101
Prices Seafood cocktails $7-$15; clams and oysters on the half shell $7.95 per half-dozen

Swan Oyster Depot Review

Turning 98 years old in 2010, Swan Oyster Depot is a classic San Francisco dining experience you shouldn't miss. Opened in 1912, this tiny hole in the wall, run by the city's friendliest servers, is little more than a narrow fish market that decided to slap down some bar stools. There are only 20 or so stools here, jammed cheek-by-jowl along a long marble bar. Most patrons come for a quick cup of chowder or a plate of oysters on the half-shell with an Anchor Steam beer. The menu is limited to fresh Dungeness crab, shrimp, oyster, clam cocktails, a few types of smoked fish, Maine lobster, and Boston-style clam chowder, all of which are exceedingly fresh. Note: Don't let the lunchtime line dissuade you -- it moves fast.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.


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Frommer's ranks every hotel, restaurant, attraction, shop, and nightlife establishment it reviews for quality, value, service, amenities, and special features using a star-rating scale, an expression of the strong compare-and-contrast opinions that are a brand hallmark.

Other ratings provide stars based primarily on price and amenities; the Frommer's star rating is meant to quantify the kind of intangible, experiential elements that help travelers make informed decisions.

The "baseline" recommendation is zero stars--every hotel, restaurant, attraction, shop, and nightlife establishment that Frommer's chooses to review is recommended; otherwise, we simply wouldn't include it.

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