Restaurant in San Francisco, United States
Epic Steak
190ptsEasy to book, earns its waterfront price.
About Epic Steak
A well-credentialed waterfront steakhouse on the Embarcadero with a serious wine program and easy availability. OAD has ranked it in the top 400 casual North American restaurants three years running, and a World of Fine Wine 2-Star Accreditation backs up the list. Book for groups, client dinners, or a wine-focused night out — but manage expectations on noise and formality.
Should You Book Epic Steak?
Getting a table at Epic Steak is easy — and that accessibility is part of the calculation. This is a waterfront steakhouse on the Embarcadero with a walk-in-friendly policy and opening hours that lean dinner-focused (Monday through Friday from 4 pm, with Saturday and Sunday lunch service starting at 11:30 am). If you are visiting San Francisco and want a reliable, well-regarded steakhouse with bay views and a serious wine program, Epic Steak is a credible choice. If you want the city's most technically ambitious cooking, look elsewhere — this is not that room.
The Room and the Energy
The Embarcadero setting shapes the atmosphere at Epic Steak in a way that matters to your decision. The room is large and open, designed around the view rather than the quiet. Expect energy, ambient noise, and the feeling of a venue that moves volume without sacrificing quality. This is a better fit for celebratory dinners, client meals, or groups than for a quiet two-leading conversation. If you are after a hushed, intimate setting, Miller & Lux or Alexander's Steakhouse will serve you better.
Recognition and Credentials
Epic Steak holds a 2-Star Accreditation from the World of Fine Wine Awards and has appeared on the Opinionated About Dining Casual North America list three consecutive years: Recommended in 2023, ranked #393 in 2024, and climbing to #358 in 2025. That upward trajectory on OAD matters , it signals that the kitchen under chef Parke Ulrich has been improving, not coasting. A 4.4 Google rating across nearly 2,900 reviews adds a broader-audience data point: this is a venue that performs consistently enough to satisfy a large and varied crowd.
For context within the steakhouse category, OAD casual recognition at this level places Epic Steak in the same conversation as other well-run American steakhouses, though it sits in a different tier than destination tasting-menu restaurants like The French Laundry in Napa or Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg. Within the steakhouse category globally, comparable positioning can be found at venues like Capa in Orlando and A Cut in Taipei , waterfront-adjacent, wine-serious, reliably executing.
Service and Whether It Earns the Price
This is where the editorial angle matters. Epic Steak's service has a reputation for being confident and informed without being stuffy , a tone that fits the casual-upscale positioning. The World of Fine Wine 2-Star Accreditation signals that the wine program is substantive, and wine service at this level requires floor staff who know the list. If you are ordering a serious bottle, the expectation is that the team can guide you. Whether that service depth justifies the price point depends on what you order and what you compare it against. Against a direct mid-range steakhouse, the gap in wine intelligence alone is worth something. Against a full-service fine-dining room, the service will feel less formal , but that is the tradeoff the room is designed to offer.
The recent upward movement on OAD rankings suggests the overall experience, service included, has tightened. This is not a venue that has been standing still.
Know Before You Go
- Address: 369 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105
- Hours: Monday–Thursday 4–9 pm; Friday 4–9:30 pm; Saturday 11:30 am–9:30 pm; Sunday 11:30 am–9 pm
- Cuisine: Steakhouse
- Chef: Parke Ulrich
- Booking difficulty: Easy , walk-ins are realistic, reservations direct
- Awards: OAD Casual North America #358 (2025); World of Fine Wine 2-Star Accreditation
- Google rating: 4.4 (2,824 reviews)
- Leading for: Groups, client dinners, celebrations, wine-focused diners
- Lunch service: Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am
How It Compares
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Compare Epic Steak
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epic Steak | Steakhouse | Opinionated About Dining Casual in North America Ranked #358 (2025); Opinionated About Dining Casual in North America Ranked #393 (2024); Opinionated About Dining Casual in North America Recommended (2023); {"wbwl_source": {"slug": "epic-steak", "page_type": "star_accreditation", "category_slug": "2-star-accreditation", "award_result": "Accredited", "is_global_winner": "False"}, "scraped_details": {"hero_image": "", "page_title": "2-Star Accreditation", "page_url": ""}, "source_row_snapshot": {"raw_name": "Epic Steak"}} | Easy | — | |
| Lazy Bear | Progressive American, Contemporary | $$$$ | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Atelier Crenn | Modern French, Contemporary | $$$$ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Benu | French - Chinese, Asian | $$$$ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Quince | Italian, Contemporary | $$$$ | Michelin 3 Star | Unknown | — |
| Saison | Progressive American, Californian | $$$$ | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Epic Steak accommodate groups?
Epic Steak is a large-format room on the Embarcadero, which makes it more group-friendly than most San Francisco restaurants at this calibre. For parties of 6 or more, check the venue's official channels to discuss seating arrangements. The open, high-volume layout handles groups better than a tighter fine-dining room like Quince or Benu would.
What should a first-timer know about Epic Steak?
Book for dinner on a weekday if you want the most manageable experience — Monday through Thursday runs 4–9 pm with less weekend foot traffic. Epic Steak holds a World of Fine Wine 2-Star Accreditation, so the wine list is worth your attention. Chef Parke Ulrich leads the kitchen, and the OAD Casual North America ranking (up from #393 in 2024 to #358 in 2025) signals consistent improvement.
Is Epic Steak good for a special occasion?
Yes, with the right expectations. The Embarcadero waterfront setting and World of Fine Wine 2-Star Accreditation give it enough credential for a meaningful celebration dinner. It reads as a confident, accessible special occasion choice rather than a formal tasting-menu event — if you want that register, Benu or Quince is the move instead.
Can I eat at the bar at Epic Steak?
Bar seating details are not confirmed in available venue data, but the restaurant's large, open room format typically supports walk-in bar access at this style of Embarcadero steakhouse. Friday and Saturday evenings (open until 9:30 pm) will be the most competitive for any unreserved seats, so arriving early or targeting a weeknight is the practical approach.
Is lunch or dinner better at Epic Steak?
Dinner is the stronger call for a first visit — the full week runs 4–9 pm (4–9:30 pm Friday), giving you the waterfront at dusk. Lunch is only available Saturday (from 11:30 am) and Sunday (from 11:30 am), making it a weekend-specific option. If you want a lower-key, less expensive midday meal with the same Embarcadero views, the Saturday or Sunday lunch window is worth considering.
Hours
- Monday
- 4–9 pm
- Tuesday
- 4–9 pm
- Wednesday
- 4–9 pm
- Thursday
- 4–9 pm
- Friday
- 4–9:30 pm
- Saturday
- 11:30 am–9:30 pm
- Sunday
- 11:30 am–9 pm
Recognized By
More restaurants in San Francisco
- SaisonSaison is the right call for a serious San Francisco celebration dinner: 2 Michelin stars, an OAD #3 North America ranking for 2025, and a personalised open-hearth tasting menu built around your preferences. The wine list — 2,540 selections with deep Burgundy holdings — is among the strongest in the country. Dinner only, Tuesday to Saturday. Book far in advance and contact the team before arrival to shape your menu.
- Atelier CrennAtelier Crenn is San Francisco's most decorated tasting-menu restaurant: three Michelin stars, a World's 50 Best ranking, and a 14-course pescatarian menu built around Dominique Crenn's Poetic Culinaria concept. At $$$$ with near-impossible reservations, it is the right booking for a milestone occasion — but confirm the pescatarian-only format suits your table before you commit.
- QuinceQuince holds 3 Michelin Stars in San Francisco's Jackson Square and earns them with a pasta-forward tasting menu grounded in Northern California produce and Italian technique. The wine list runs to 1,700 selections and the 2023 remodel produced a room worth the $$$$ price point. Book two months out minimum — this is one of the hardest tables in the city to secure.
- BenuThree Michelin stars, a No. 7 ranking in Opinionated About Dining's North America list, and nearly 20 courses of Corey Lee's technically precise Asian-inflected cooking make Benu one of the most credentialed tables in the country. Book at least six to eight weeks out — closer to three months for a weekend date. The quiet, contemplative room suits serious food travellers over groups seeking a convivial night out.
- Lazy BearLazy Bear holds two Michelin stars and a Pearl Recommended designation, and it earns both through a genuinely distinctive dinner-party format — menu booklets, communal energy, and a James Beard-nominated wine program with over 10,500 bottles. Book the upstairs mezzanine, arrive ready to participate, and plan well ahead: reservations run near impossible and the 2024 remodel has only increased demand.
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