The Franciscan Crab Restaurant

The Franciscan Crab Restaurant Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: Sometimes change at an old classic is a good thing, and in this case, it’s a very good thing. Situated in one of the Wharf’s most prime locations, The Franciscan restaurant languished for years with an uninspired menu and interior. Now, after a multi-million dollar remodel, swanky red booths, colorful hand-blown Italian glass sconces and photos of old-time movie stars set a modern but warm tone.

Food & Drinks: Start with translucent slices of salumi, but don’t miss the artisanal burrata. Executive chef Andrea Froncillo also brings his whole roasted Dungeness crab to the party. The Crab Feast---six pounds, each individual crab weighing in at a meaty two pounds or more---comes with a messy garlic butter sauce that is chin-dribbling good. Six varieties of fresh fish can be prepared six different ways---try sturgeon with cannellini beans, Italian sausage and escarole, or salmon in a Thai curry broth. For meat-eaters, there are four cuts of slow-roasted prime rib cooked to order. The food here isn’t run-of-the-mill wharf fare and should be a draw for locals.