Historic John’s Grill: San Francisco’s Legendary Steak House

John’s Grill has been serving classic steak house fare in Union Square since 1908. It was the first restaurant to open in Union Square, following the 1906 earthquake. Over the years it has been a hot spot for celebrities, politicians, journalists, writers and the who’s who of San Francisco Society. The walls are clad with photos of all the people of notoriety who have dined at the restaurant over the years. To this day it remains a popular destination for locals & tourists so reservations are highly recommended. The classically prepared dishes are made from quality ingredients, served in hearty 20th Century sized portions and offered at a fair price. This historic restaurant has become a popular destination for something even more delicious than the food, its’ epic history.

During prohibition, John’s Grill, had a roaring speakeasy in the basement. Those in the know entered the speakeasy by way of a slide, located behind a door, next to the main entrance. They would knock on the door and say a password to gain access. A Hotel, called the Golden West, was located across the Street at the time. A tunnel ran from John’s basement to a second speakeasy in the hotel’s basement. Today that hotel building is still there. It is known as the Hotel Union Square and is considered to be one of the top ten most haunted hotels in America. Room 207 is said to be haunted by the ghost of writer Dashiell Hammett’s mistress, Lillian Hellman. Unfortunately Hotel Union Square is no longer in business.

For those who enjoy the “Hard Boiled Detective Story” genre of novels and film buffs with an affinity for Film Noir, John’s Grill is a must see destination. Dashiell Hammett, the Pinkerton turned writer, lived in San Francisco in the 1920’s. He was a regular at John’s Grill and mentioned the restaurant in his books. Famous Film Noir, “The Maltese Falcon“, was based on a Hammett novel and included scenes at John’s Grill. The walls on the second floor of the restaurant, include movie photos and there is a case with paraphernalia from the Maltese Falcon Film.

A replica of the Maltese Falcon, from the 1941 Humphrey Bogart film, was stolen from John’s in 2007, along with some signed books. The owner had local artist, Peter Schifrin, create a new Maltese Falcon statue out of 150 pounds of lead and bronze, following the disappearance. That same year the green awning, bearing the restaurants name, with pictures of the Maltese Falcon, was added to the outside of the building. Both remain part of the historic restaurant today.

The menu still includes a tip of the cap to Hammett’s writing. Sam Spade, the iconic character from the Maltese Falcon novel, orders “chops, baked potatoes and sliced tomatoes” at John’s Grill. Today the Sam Spade Special remains on the menu. The “Friends of Libraries” named John’s Grill a Literary Landmark because of this. Today a plaque hangs above the door.

Before the Jane Fonda workout, keto diets, Soul Cycle, yoga studios, brand name gyms and social media influencers, there was a man by the name of Jack Lalane. He was the host of the first fitness television program, the founder of a health spa in Oakland that influenced the growth of the gym industry in the US. This earned him the title of “Godfather of Fitness”. He was a regular at John’s Grill and a healthy salad, named after him, remains on the menu, “The Lalane Salad”. It is a hearty salad made with fresh crab, bay shrimp and avocado.

For those who believe in the paranormal, San Francisco is a wonderful destination. The city is said to be one of the most haunted places in America. John’s Grill is considered one of the top seven most haunted places in the city. It is rumored that the ghost of Dashiell Hammett haunts the third floor. A long term employee said he would often make an appearance in the 1980’s right around 11 am, as if he is waiting to be seated for lunch. Hammett was also known to drink at the Speakeasy in John’s basement. He would often use the underground passage to the Golden West Hotel, to discreetly meet up with his mistress.

John’s Grill is a must for Dashiell Hammett fans, film buffs, history lovers, star gazers, ghost hunters or anyone looking for things to do in Union Square.