Market Bar

Came here for a late afternoon (3:45−4pm) light appetizer and drinks. We ordered the chicken salad which had grapefruit, toasted almonds, and shaved parmesan upon a bed of crisp lettuce and juicy chicken. The recommended drink was anSpanish rosé which was perfectly crisp and bubbly that suited the salad well. Only complaint would be the service which tended to be a bit slow and understaffed for such a popular place on the pier.

Worst service I have in SF in quite some time. Server getting snippy when he forgets parts of an order is totally unacceptable. Food was actually good, but meal was ruined by someone who should not be in the service industry.

I had actually never been here before. I have probably been to every single place in the Ferry Building, but not this one. it’s always been a little bit too nice so I’ve actually never been. I finally came by with a partner and director from my firm.
I ended up with clam chowder and the risotto with brussel sprouts and shrimp. The clam chowder was decent, but it wasn’t anything better than I could make at home. The risotto though — that was really good. The brussel sprouts was an interesting addition. I do love brussel sprouts so that was a great part. The rice was a bit al dente for me, but still really good.
Also — I was reading some other reviews and we didn’t get bread? Sadness. The partner doesn’t eat carbs, but still! BREAD.
Protip: ferry building has a lot of great things and this is one of them.

My experience was unusual … I went there for drinks/​food hosted by Chase Bank for Chase United Card holders during Superbowl weekend.
I found the wait staff to be very friendly despite the fact that this was a busy/​crowded big event.
The burgers were the best I had tasted in years!!! simply awesome.
The fries were great too.
The Potato Leek soup was very nice too.
Unbeatable location if seated outside …
Bartender made me a very nice Latte.
Ramesh

I’ve had mixed experiences with Market Bar.
The first time that I went was with a super large party, so we only ordered appetizers to share. The appetizers are pricy and are not very large in portion size… some tasted really good while some were very average. I loved the regular french fries and the poutine — super yummy! The rest (cheese plate, mixed nuts, flatbread) were ehhhh.
My largest complaint with this visit was the super slow service. We would order drinks for the table, sometimes an entire bottle of wine, and the waiter would just forget. So we’d continue to pester and pester and on multiple occasions, he’d forget again. Understand that it’s a busy day in the restaurant, but this service was just awful!
My second visit at Market Bar was a much smaller party (only 3 people) and at a much less busy time. Our waiter this time was great and the wait time for our food was much more reasonable. We ordered entrees this time, and the Squid Ink Linguine was great! Really fresh pasta and seafood but needed a bit more salt/​other flavoring to be exceptional.
We also got dessert on this second visit, and the sticky toffee pudding cake was delicious! Not too sticky, but just the right amount of ooey-​gooey-​ness to be an ideal dessert.
So with these mixed reviews, here is my conclusion: come here with a small party and be willing to dish out hella money to enjoy the best experience.

Lunch during Super Bowl week– seemed that the crowds were preoccupied with the football related hoopla taking place across the way — all worked to our advantage for a relaxed dining experience. Nice menu selection, we shared chowder with bruchietta and blue cheese, and a seared tuna niciose salad. Both excellent, flavors jumped off the plate. Service was outstanding, friendly, efficient — overall a very, very good experience

I liked it!
I had the sage butter raviolis.
The service was super nice.
Everyone at our table seemed to enjoy their salads and fish and chips.
The pear tart was tasty.
Lunch was nice today, even thought super bowl city was busy, the restaurant was pleasant.

I was pleasantly surprised by this place! It was a Sunday afternoon and I wanted to checkout all the Super Bowl hoopla. Remembering this place from walking by several times, I figured I’d check it out since it’s right in the middle of all the action (I may have changed my mind after seeing a 3-​star Unilocal review, though — luckily I didn’t check until after I was seated).
I got the burger, and my wife got the salad — both were great! Burger wasn’t the best burger I’ve ever had, but it was cooked to order (medium rare), and I don’t really have any complaints about it. The service was great, too. I suppose it wasn’t anything over-​the-​top, but it was good — very little waiting, water was filled constantly, server was friendly, etc.
I recommend giving this place a shot. I’ll be back for another visit — the real test will be their brunch/​Bloody Mary’s.

Good food, horrific service. Waited forever for food and everyone who came after us got theirs first.

Great location. My service was excellent. The food was amazing. I had the scallops. I am now going to crave that dish! A little on the pricey side but what isn’t in San Francisco. The Anchor Steam brew on tap was excellent as well. The Bailey’s Ice Cream sandwich dessert was very good. I would like to try the brunch next time. Happy hour prices were really good for drinks!

Nice selection of appetizers and a solid «special drinks» menu in the afternoons. Friends and I stopped here while waiting to catch the ferry to Sausalito. Great choice!

I picked this place because the weather was not good and the venue was close to my hotel. Great service with friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable staff. The chicken was outstanding. My cabernet was perfect. The deviled eggs were a little pricey but presented in a lovely way. Some of the potatoes were under done, but the ones that weren’t were very tasty.

Aaron G and I headed to Hog Island Oyster for Sunday brunch. Unfortunately half the city had beaten us there. Staying within the Ferry Building, we ended up at Market Bar which had available indoor and outdoor tables.
The first thing we asked about were the oysters which the waiter responded «Point Reyes.» Being San Franciscans we knew better than that. I’m partial to West Coast oysters, and half of them were nice and plump. Shucking was not the best as a number were mangled and robbed of their natural juices.
My brunch entrée, Crispy Fried Fish-​n-​Chips was good, with lots of battered and decently fried cod. The cold slaw was ok. The wine was ok. Service was also ok. Nothing special to recall as I write this review.
Inside was quiet and great for conversation.

This is one of favorite brunch places!
Love the outdoor seating on a good weather!
Perfect for brunch, lunch and happy hours. Good food selection (though not extensive): healthy and tasty.
Great and enjoyable ambiance. Be in the heart of the embarcadero action, especially on Saturdays during the farmers market hours at the ferry building!

A good spot for lunch in FiDi. We came in for a team lunch from work and thoroughly enjoyed the food. The ambiance is classy and the servers are extremely pleasant.
We had ordered deviled eggs and some flat breads. The deviled eggs are absolutely delish. Definitely recommended to try! They also serve some Acme pull apart breads upon request.
I had the grilled Mahi Mahi with roasted root veggies, onions and lemon sauce. The fish was grilled to perfection and the veggies tasted great. The other dishes ordered by my colleagues were also good.
For dessert, I had the Chocolate soufflé cake which tasted heavenly.
It is definitely on the pricier side. (Paying the price for being in a tourist spot) They also have a good out-​door seating (great for a sunny day).

Pancake tastes good.
I ate yogurt with fresh fruits. Strawberry, rasberry, black berry, plum and apple, they are so fresh. it’s perfect for brunch.

This is the place to go for quick seating (no more than 10 – 15 minutes wait), if you cannot choose a place to eat, and an easy place to meetup with a group. We were lucky and got to sit at the far back corner table away from all the sidewalk traffic so despite eating outside amidst all the people, it felt like a quiet intimate brunch, tough to find in San Fran!
Our waitress was gregarious and attentive, in light of all the other customers she had. The manager was also attentive to our complaints regarding being out of a certain biscuit, this was pretty impressive that he came over to relay this message to us and seemed genuinely concerned and apologetic.
Today’s Quiche 14 seasonal vegetables /​herbs /​market salad /​toast –I’m wondering if they provided this gluten-​free since now I’m looking again at the menu and see it says «gluten-​free» at request. Maybe that’s why I was so tired later that day at the Exploratorium… this quiche was good but no better than a quiche from Costco and the portion was small for $ 14. They should’ve at least served more salad with it…
Fried Egg, Pork & Cheese Sandwich 15 chipotle aioli /​avocado tomatillo salsa /​tortilla chips – It seemed just ok as well since I didn’t hear any praise about it.
Eggs Over Easy, Yucatan Style 15 bell & poblano peppers /​artisinal ham /​roasted tomato sauce/​black bean purée /​queso fresco /​fried plantains /​tostadas – This was an interesting twist on eggs served over tortilla chips. It was tasty, not incredible though!
An average brunch place which people go to moreso for the convenient location and lack of a wait moreso than the delicious-​ness of the food.

Such a delightful spot! We walked around the Saturday morning farmers market and then stopped in for brunch. There’s always availability, staff is extremely nice and the food is solid.
I ordered the daily quiche and my sister ordered the soft eggs. Nothing too crazy-​delicious, but left 100% satisfied.

The tomato salad = DELICIOUS!
The garden greens salad = Solid.
The mini burgers = Good.
The flat bread with sausage and peppers = Good.
Virgin Mojito = Solid.
Great place for appetizers and a drink. Server was not the friendliest… Overall, a good experience.

I get why this place is 3 stars. The location alone grants it a star and half, if not two.
Sit outside on a nice day and you can have a lovely view of the Bay Bridge and some really good people watching seats too.
The menu isn’t that great :/​nor is the food to be honest, so this is a great place to grab a drink and maybe an appetizer.

So we came here cause Hog’s was nuts and crazzzy long lines. And we should have waited the hour for it then just come here.
The waitress was so off!!! Maybe had a bad hanger. I mean we’ve all been there. But it’s call rally up and have a shot of espresso and keep it pushin. She on this Sunday afternoon was lacking in all services that come with eating at a restaurant that charges some big $$$ for anything on the menu. Gave us warm water to drink. Took 20 mins for a Bloody Mary. Then shorty after that both our meals came. And they weren’t all that neither… but my Bloody Mary was good ;) we asked for more water. Never came. Had to wave down a man for water luckily he had a pitcher in his hand… and it was even better cause it had ICE lol never came to check on us until she gave us our bill. The whole experience was off. So don’t go… too pricey and sorry service for sure. Bummer.

Bön resto! Près du Bay Bridge. Bön service. Table d’hôte de fruits de mer délicieuse!

The Ferry Building is certainly a tourist trap (and hey, I’m a tourist) and most of the restaurants are over-​priced due to the location, but when the sun’s out and the weather is actually nice, Market Bar’s patio makes for interesting people watching.
What I appreciated most about the menu was the organic and seasonal food options, especially for breakfast. (It’s hard to find organic eggs, berries and veggies on a menu.)
For breakfast/​brunch, there’s an entire menu dedicated to bloody marys and morning cocktails. Do try the passion fruit bev laced with Tito’s Vodka. I snuck a sip from my colleague and instantly had drink envy.
Since portions are rather large and prices above average, consider sharing an app and entrée and enjoy spending the rest of the day exploring more Ferry Building eats.

I stopped in here the other day after work. It’s a good spot to unwind, especially with an adult beverage, while waiting for the Ferry.
Market Bar boasts a very inviting outdoor patio (especially on a sunny day) for sipping and noshing. And since it’s located in the Ferry Plaza, there’s always fun people-​watching.
This review is only about their happy hour (which is available daily until 8pm). Patrons can enjoy $ 8 cocktail & wine specials + $ 4 select beers. To be honest, these aren’t the best drink deals I’ve ever seen. But I guess you’re really paying for the ambiance — and Market Bar certainly has plenty of that to go around. I was also impressed by how friendly the bartenders were. They immediately made us feel welcome and engaged us in conversation. That, to me, goes a long way. In some cases, it can turn a 3-​star place in to a 4-​star experience.
I perused the lunch/​dinner menus and there is certainly a lot of interesting options, including Dungeness Crab Deviled Eggs, Smoked Salmon Bruschetta, Cornmeal-​Crusted Fried Green Tomatoes, fresh flatbreads, and a variety of seafood entrees. It also looks like they have a delicious weekend brunch.
So while I can only speak to their happy hour, Market Bar certainly was a pleasnt surprise. I would definitely return here for a meal after a day of shopping at the Ferry Building or Farmer’s Market.

The service here is whack. We were seated and about 5 – 10 mins before anyone acknowledged us. It then took several more minutes for our water and coffees to be brought us.
The menu is small. And nothing looks or sounds overly delicious.
We decided on salads. 2 chicken strawberry and a Cesar. I guess the chicken strawberry was good. I didn’t have any. The cesar was blah. Barely any dressing, huge pieces of romaine and a plate not big enough to cut it without losing half my salad. I’m 1000% positive locals don’t eat here. It was way overpriced for sub par food.
2 –chicken strawberry salads $ 17 each
1– Cesar salad $ 11
2– coffees not sure
Our bill was over $ 50 though. Total waste of $.

I met up some friends for happy hour, but really only ended up having a drink. Got one of their HH wine specials: Cava brut rose, gran sarao, Spain ($ 8 per glass). It was a generous pour for the price as I can normally down a glass if bubbly in no time. This lasted the hour or so we spent at Marketbar.
The patio is nice and would be great for people watching on a nice day. It was kind of chilly when we went, so I was a little uncomfy sitting outside since it was so cold and windy.
I’m not sure how much we saved on drinks by ordering off the HH menu, but I thought it was still pricey. I can only imagine how much their normal drinks cost. I guess that’s the price you pay for being on the Embarcadero.
I’d like to come back and try their HH oysters. That was actually the reason for coming to Marketbar in the first place. Bubbly, oysters and a nice day. Sounds like a future plan to me!

They automatically get some star-​age for serving Acme pull-​apart bread. You have to ask for it as their menu suggests but it’s worth it.
The food was so-​so for the price point and location. The ambiance is quaint and professional, the location in the Ferry building is amazing, and the bridge is right around the corner. Outdoor seating makes it festive during the warm months.
The omelet I ordered was OK for a standard meal at any casual diner. The «crab-​stuffed» artichokes were mostly artichoke hearts with a scooping of mayonnaise and onions. I might have seen a few strings of crab meat but would have needed to get a microscope out to see any more. The asparagus tempura was 2 out of 5. The veggie itself was cooked perfectly, very tender and green, but the batter was super thick and soggy – think undercooked waffle batter and served cold. Not what I envision when I think tempura. Redeeming quality was the dessert. Strawberry shortcake made with candied orange peels, sweet berries, and a biscuit-​like cake. The whipped cream was also done well, not too sweet but a refreshing topper and garnish to the plate.
So they have mastered dessert and bread (as an Acme vendor). Based on the overall ambiance, I may give other items on their menu a try to see if I just ordered the wrong things.

Kann mich nur anschliessen: man sitzt sehr schön auf der Terrasse, leckere Snacks zu essen. Nette Bedienung.

In der Sonne vor dem Ferry Building sitzen, mit Blick auf die Bay Bridge, auf die vorbeilaufenden Fußgänger, die Parade der Luxusautos auf dem Embarcadero und die historischen F Market Trambahnen.
Ausgewählte Weinliste, und frisches Anchor Steam und Stiegl (!) Bier vom Faß. Leider waren bei unserem zweiten Besuch wegen des schönen Wetters beide Fässer leer.
Dazu gibts den ganzen Tag kleine Appetizer, wie Bruschetta, Oliven, Schinken– und Käseauswahl, und zu MIttag und Abend wechselnde und recht gut aussehende Gerichte. Sehr angenehme Atmosphäre.