House of Prime Rib

A San Francisco landmark devoted to one dish: prime rib roasted in rock salt and carved at the table from gleaming steel carts.

House of Prime Rib has been a fixture of Van Ness Avenue since 1949, and its ritual is part of the appeal. Beef aged for 21 days is roasted under a blanket of coarse rock salt, then wheeled to the table on stainless steel carts and carved to order in the English tradition, alongside a salad prepared tableside, Yorkshire pudding, creamed spinach and horseradish. The rooms are traditional and warmly lit, with fireplaces, a cocktail lounge and a dessert cart to finish. It is a dinner-only institution and one of the city's most requested tables.