The Commissary San Francisco | Dinner Out

Last night we were celebrating a certain top Marin real estate agent’s birthday and decided to try The Commissary San Francisco in The Presidio. I had heard good things about it and it’s an easy drive from Marin county, just off the new Presidio Parkway and next door to the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio. The six of us had a wonderful meal and vowed to return to this hidden gem in the city.

Why am I calling it a hidden gem, you might ask? We were there on a Friday night and there were a few tables available for walk-ins, and lots of parking right out front. How often do you find that in San Francisco? My theory is that most people think of The Mission, NOPA and other neighborhoods in the city when planning a dinner out. The Presidio is just not on their radar. Access from Marin is quick and easy.

The Commissary San Francisco is located in the former mess hall of the Montgomery Street Barracks and is headed up by award-winning chef Traci Des Jardins. It features “Spanish-influenced California cuisine” in high-ceilinged gorgeous rooms furnished with a combination of salvaged historic items and beautiful new furnishings. The smaller dining room in the back features an open kitchen with u-shaped counter seating where diners can watch all the action in the kitchen. We were seated in this room and noticed that most everyone in the kitchen was smiling and engaging with the patrons.

Our wonderful server, “Delis,” was friendly, knowledgeable and efficient, proactively offering to open the bottle of wine we brought with us and always nearby if we needed anything. The entire operation is a well-oiled machine, with water glasses kept full and empty plates promptly removed. Impressive.

The cuisine, which Delis said was from “all over Spain, not just one region” was inventive and delicious. We started with the “bombas de queso” aka “cheese bombs” which were fried and served with black truffle honey. They were so good we ordered more. One of my friends had heard that the “patatas bravas” (“brave potatoes”) are a specialty so we also tried those — grilled potatoes with a buttermilk aioli and olives. We rounded out the starters with a couple of orders of the “sourdough pan de aceite” which was lightly toasted sourdough bread served with olives and a tangy sheeps milk cheese. Delicious.

Main courses were also winners — the roasted chicken (deboned, flavorful and moist, served with a liver paté) took the prize as the most delicious dish at the table, followed closely by the crispy lamb shank (quickly fried in duck fat) and the Passmore Ranch trout. The average price of entrees is about $30.

The wine list, while not as extensive some other restaurants, was well-curated and we enjoyed cocktails and wine by the glass after we finished the Round Pond Estates bottle we brought with us (corkage is $20, very reasonable). They take special care to serve some of the drinks in period glassware – a nice touch.

Easy parking, great food, friendly service, historic setting — all of these combine to make this restaurant a winner in my book. We will be back. If you want to reach them, they are at 415-561-3600 or you can book on Open Table.

I am not a food critic but I do enjoy fine wines and the special dining experiences that Marin and the bay area have to offer. As always, if I can be of any assistance with your Marin County or San Francisco real estate needs, please call or text me at 415-847-5584 or complete the contact form below.

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The Commissary San Francisco: A Fun Night Out