Swan Oyster Depot, Seafood restaurant in Polk Street, San Francisco, US.
Swan Oyster Depot is a seafood restaurant on Polk Street in San Francisco with a long marble counter. Guests can watch staff shuck oysters and prepare fresh seafood dishes right in front of them.
The restaurant was founded in 1912 and started as a small fish market before becoming a restaurant. The original counter-service format has been kept for over a century.
The restaurant keeps traditional seafood preparation methods that were passed down through generations of San Francisco fishing families. Visitors experience a craft-focused kitchen where each dish follows time-honored techniques.
The place is cash-only and opens on weekday mornings through Saturday. Visitors should expect to wait and prepare for a tight counter area.
Guests can request an off-menu specialty made with crab tissue, butter, and shell portions prepared using a specific technique. This item is not listed on the regular menu and is known mainly to repeat visitors.
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