Tadich Grill[1] is a seafood restaurant located at 240 California in the Fiancial District[2]. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic it was the oldest continuously running restaurant in San Francisco.
In 1849 three Croatian immigrants, Nikola Budrovich, Franco Kota and Antonio Gasparich (no relation), set up a coffee stand on the docks. Originally named The Coffee Stand, when it moved downtown as part of a produce market it was renamed New World Coffee Stand. Sixteen-year-old John Tadich was hired as a bartender and in 1887 he purchased the business at 545 Clay Street and renamed it after himself.
In 1928 the Buich family bought the restaurant and has been running it ever since. They introduced the Croatian tradition of mesquite grilling to America.
In 1967 Tadich Grill relocated from Clay Street to its current location on California after Wells Fargo bought up all the businesses on the 500 block of Clay. The decor has not changed: there is a lot of dark wood with brass accents, private booths and stools along the long bar. Waiters continue to wear white jackets and black slacks. The booths still have the old doorbells used to summon the waiters (they regrettably no longer work – no doubt because eager children like myself abused the privilege). The restaurant has never taken reservations.
In 2020, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Tadich Grill tried to survive via takeout orders, gift cards and a Go Fund Me Page, but even with donations and federal assistance it could not remain open. It was closed for eight months, reopening on April 5, 2021. It is one of the few downtown restaurants that were ultimately able to survive[3].
[1] Visit them at www.tadichgrillsf.com
[2] Financial District: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=4109[3] For more about Tadich’s history, and for the recipes for their Hangtown Fry and Fillet of Sole All’Agro, see SFGates’ article “A Grand Old Grill” at www.sfgate.com
