It begins with a boat ride from Fisherman's Wharf. Forbes himself motors over on a pontoon to collect you from the pier. Step aboard, sail past the barking sea lions and step onto shore at Forbes Island--San Francisco's one of a kind dining experience.
This ten year old restaurant and lighthouse was created as a floating home in 1975. Weighing 700 tons, the 50-foot wide by 100-foot long island is actually a self-propelled motor vessel. The island boasts live palm trees, a sand patio, a waterfall and a thatched Tahitian room. Climb atop the 40-foot lighthouse for a new perspective of the San Francisco Bay.
To dine, you descend the stairs, where, beneath the water, a dining salon is decorated with turn of the century nautical artifacts, a full bar, wine cellar and two staterooms. Classic French jazz music colors the dimly lit dining room as portholes clue you in that you are in fact eating under the sea.
Since, for those of us on a staycation budget, the experience can dub as a weekend getaway, go big and order one of the tropical cocktails. Sipping your drink, you can easily begin to imagine yourself on a Tahitian vessel, floating through the archipelago. Yet you are still officially in San Francisco. This you know when your food arrives.
The market-fresh cuisine like organic pan roasted salmon with cilantro rice and pesto delivers where most restaurants in the area crash and burn. Yes, you are in the most touristy area in San Francisco, but the (pricy) dining room offers a classic experience that far surpasses expectation.
Complete your meal with a trip up the lighthouse to view the sun setting over the bay and relish in how (even in this tropical-themed restaurant) delighted you are to be in San Francisco.
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