A server tosses salad tableside in a spinning bowl beside red tufted booths

San Francisco · Est. 1949

House of
Prime Rib


One thing, done for seventy-five years: 21-day aged prime rib, roasted in rock salt and carved to order from gleaming steel carts wheeled to your table.

4.6 ★7,407 Google reviews
Est. 1949on Van Ness Avenue
21 daysaged, top 2% of beef
Tablesidecarved from the cart

Dinner, nightly

The Carte


Every dinner includes the famous salad tossed tableside in a spinning bowl, mashed or baked potato, Yorkshire pudding, creamed spinach and horseradish cream.

The City Cut

A generous carving of 21-day aged prime rib — the classic first-timer's order.

The House of Prime Rib Cut

The signature of the house. A more generous cut for the properly hungry.

The English Cut

Thin slices, layered in the traditional English style.

The King Henry VIII Cut

The largest cut in the house. Named accordingly.

Fresh Fish of the Day

Prepared daily for guests who prefer the sea. Children's dinner also served.

Seconds of prime rib are a house tradition — just ask your carver.

A thick city cut of prime rib with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach
Guest photo — Candy N., Yelp

The ritual

Dinner as theater, since 1949


The salad arrives first, tossed high in a spinning silver bowl. Then the cart rolls up — stainless steel, gleaming, holding the evening's roasts — and your cut is carved in front of you, exactly as it has been since Harry Truman was president.

English half-timbered walls, firelight, red tufted booths and martinis with proper dividends. Some restaurants chase trends. This one outlasted them all.

Word of mouth

What Guests Say


“Getting into this place is almost impossible — and now we understand why.”

★★★★★  SP, Google

“An absolute must-visit!”

★★★★★  Manny, Google

“A San Francisco institution — the tableside carving and the spinning salad bowl make the night.”

★★★★★  Matt, Google

Visit

Hours & Location


Dinner Hours

Monday5 – 10 pm
Tuesday5 – 10 pm
Wednesday5 – 10 pm
Thursday5 – 10 pm
Friday5 – 10 pm
Saturday4 – 10 pm
Sunday4 – 10 pm

Find Us

1906 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 885-4605
houseofprimerib@aol.com

Good to know

Questions, Answered


Do I need a reservation?

Strongly recommended — tables book out well ahead. Reserve by phone at (415) 885-4605 or through OpenTable. A bar seat is the classic walk-in gamble.

What comes with the prime rib?

Every dinner includes the famous salad tossed tableside in a spinning bowl, mashed or baked potato, Yorkshire pudding, creamed spinach and horseradish cream.

What makes the beef special?

The house serves the top 2% of American beef, aged 21 days and roasted in rock salt, then carved to order from stainless steel carts wheeled to your table.

What are the hours?

Dinner only: Monday through Friday 5–10 PM, Saturday and Sunday 4–10 PM.

Since 1949

The Cart Awaits


Call (415) 885-4605