Greens Restaurant
San Francisco
At a glance
Greens Restaurant offers an engaging dining experience, presenting an ever-evolving menu that highlights the bounty of seasonal produce. Situated at Building A, 2 Marina Blvd, it overlooks the picturesque scenes of the San Francisco Bay, with mesmerizing views that include the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands. The restaurant is located within a spacious warehouse setting, where its elegant design features floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the vibrant Pacific Ocean sunsets indoors.
Greens is renowned for its dedication to vegetarian cuisine, with dishes that emphasize the fresh flavors of ingredients sourced from local farmers and its garden at Green Gulch. The menus, which are regularly updated to reflect available produce, cater to various dietary preferences with clear labeling for vegan and gluten-free options.
The dining atmosphere is both serene and lively, making it a perfect venue for social gatherings. Whether visitors are seeking a quiet meal or hosting an event, Greens provides a versatile space, accommodating intimate meals or larger gatherings with a private dining room and a heated outdoor pavilion.
Reviews
I first visited Greens in the early 2000s and was just back tonight for a second meal. While it is very expensive, the food was fantastic. My friend and I started with a bread basket, which, for $9, should’ve included at least two pieces of everything, not one, but was tasty. We skipped a “first course” and went straight to the main course. I had the Mesquite Grilled Jerk Tofu (which, while it did not include the sides described on the menu, was nonetheless delicious. My friend had the Wild Mushroom Wellington, which also had at least one subbed side but which she says was quite good. We skipped dessert as we were so full from our dinner. We each enjoyed glasses of wine (from a surprisingly short list of wines by the glass). Is Greens worth $50+ per person? From the perspective of a long-time vegetarian, it’s unusual to find such imaginative, delicious plant-based dishes, so while Greens is too expensive to make it a regular go-to, it’s a top-of-list special occasion restaurant. I hope it isn’t 20-odd years before I return. Be sure to ask for a table next to the water, especially if you’re there near sunset.
This has been my go-to place in San Francisco for a great vegetarian or vegan meal in a beautiful, upscale setting. Reservations are definitely recommended, especially for dinner and special occasions. The high ceilings, the wooden sculptures at the entrance, and the views of the Golden Gate Bridge make the dining experience truly unique. The appetizers, entrées, and specialty cocktails are all excellent. The restaurant is entirely vegetarian, and the menu clearly marks dishes that can be made vegan with a **VP (Vegan Possible)** designation. The prices are on the higher side, but for vegetarians and vegans celebrating a special occasion, the extra cost is well worth it.
The food here is outstanding - even for non-vegetarians. We had 4 appetizers and 4 mains. The burrata/beet starter was unexpectedly delicious. The mushroom Wellington -- I could have that on a regular basis. Asparagus pizza good, jerk tofu good (if you're into tofu), artichoke pasta delicious. And the view of the bridge -- worth it. Everything is California local and really savory. Plus you get that view of the GGB. Highly recommend.
Greens is a truly awesome place that we have been visiting for a long time. The location at Fort Mason is unbeatable, and the food is consistently high-quality and flavorful. It remains a staple for us in San Francisco. Our only minor critique is that the wine selection could be a bit more robust (though it’s possible we’ve just had some unlucky timing with the list). Still, it's a must-visit for the views and the excellent vegetarian cuisine.
My husband and I came here thanks to a gift card that I got for my birthday, so we came to splurge. The Food: delicious and fresh. Can't recommend the Falafel Platter enough - a very generous platter. The bread plate was tasty but definitely a smaller shareable portion. Our mains were quite tasty, and for dessert, the Lemon Creme Brulee and Matcha Almond Cake were the perfect ends to the meal. While individually some of the portions were on the smaller end, when enjoying in a multi-course meal, everything was perfect. I left fully sated. One of the best meals I've had in years. The Service: Unpretentious yet elevated. I always felt a server was available when I needed one, without feeling like they were hovering. I had clean plates for shareables throughout the meal, and our server noticed that a plate and spoon he initially set down were not perfectly clean, and swapped them out on the spot. Just much nicer service than I am used to. Would highly recommend Greens to everyone.
