‘Heartbreaking’: Iconic Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant Alioto's to close after 97 years

[drcoastline]

Very sad news. As distant cousins to the SF Alioto family I am saddened to read this news. My Great Grandfather Santo Alioto and his cousin Nunzio Alioto traveled to America together, my Great Grandfather settling in Philadelphia and Nunzio travelling to San Francisco. They both lived the American dream.






At nearly 100 years old, the landmark Sicilian seafood establishment Alioto’s Restaurant will permanently close its doors, the San Francisco Business Times reported.

The institution has a rich, storied history in the famous port of San Francisco — and its closure marks the end of a family legacy.

Founded by Italian immigrant Nunzio Alioto in 1925 — and before it became known as a landmark seafood restaurant — Alioto’s was just a humble fish stand. Eventually, it moved into Stall No. 8 at Fisherman’s Wharf and sold lunch to Italian laborers, hence the illuminated No. 8 on the facade of the building. As business flourished in the 1930s, Alioto combined his fish stand with a seafood bar, selling shrimp and crab cocktails and fresh Dungeness crab. It was the very first building on the wharf.

Even after his death in 1933, his family members carried on the restaurant’s legacy: His surviving wife, Rose, stepped in, becoming the first businesswoman on Fisherman’s Wharf. Once she expanded the restaurant in 1938 and established it as a formal restaurant, it became Alioto’s, the institution that proudly served “the freshest seafood, family Italian recipes, and the finest views” for decades to come. It survived a devastating fire in 1957 and served soldiers in World War II, but it hasn’t been able to reopen its doors since March 2020.

Until the pandemic struck, it prepared traditional Sicilian seafood recipes, serving halibut, salmon and rich clam chowder along with petrale sole and swordfish.

https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/SF-Aliotos-Restaurant-to-close-17069430.php

[Tobra]

That is a GD shame

[VINMAN]

Freaking sad. Same thing happened around here. The covid shutdowns destroyed so many longtime family restaurants and businesses. There was just no way for them to recover.

.

[Seahawk]

That is really sad.

My Great Uncle, who lived in the Sunset District, used to take me there when I was a kid.

It was like going into Cheers: "Leo!!!"

[craigster59]

I used to go there with my Grandparents. They'd rotate between there and Fisherman's Grotto No. 9. That was back when Joseph Alioto was mayor of S.F.

[vash]

my dad told me he was a busboy there. bummer./
i never ate there. it always felt like a tourist spot.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

They had Styrofoam ice chests with dry ice to allow us business commuters to bring home fresh Crab on a Friday night to SoCal.
Mayo, sour cream & squeeze of Lemon was my favorite dip.
Add some sourdough bread and you got a feast.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by vash

my dad told me he was a busboy there. bummer./
i never ate there. it always felt like a tourist spot.

My Great Uncle was an exec for Matson Lines and apparently, in the 60's, he took clients from out of town that wanted the whole SF Waterfront experience there for lunch.

DiMaggio's as well.

There may have been cocktails involved

I met Mr. DiMaggio at his restaurant twice. Once for a few minute chat (he gave me a signed ball) and once for a full lunch with he and my Great Uncle Leo. Leo never married and was a bit of a player.

The only Union I have ever joined was so I could wait tables at a restaurant in Ghirardelli Square near Alioto's, when I was in college. Leo was long gone by then. Pity. Great guy.

[LWJ]

Great story. Tragic loss. I LOVE San Francisco. Never ate there. Feel like I missed out.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

My Great Uncle was an exec for Matson Lines and apparently, in the 60's, he took clients from out of town that wanted the whole SF Waterfront experience there for lunch.

DiMaggio's as well.

There may have been cocktails involved

I met Mr. DiMaggio at his restaurant twice. Once for a few minute chat (he gave me a signed ball) and once for a full lunch with he and my Great Uncle Leo. Leo never married and was a bit of a player.

The only Union I have ever joined was so I could wait tables at a restaurant in Ghirardelli Square near Alioto's, when I was in college. Leo was long gone by then. Pity. Great guy.

Paul, we came back from Hawaii on the Matsonia 1963. The Matson lines cruise ship. Our car was with us as cargo. We have pictures of them unloading it. One of dad's fellow officers that can back on the same trip saw his new Cadillac get dropped in the ocean as it was unloaded. Dad said he had been driving in Hawaii where there were no freeways at all, and max speed of 45 MPH. He picked up the car and had to navigate the LA freeway at 70+ MPH and he said it was a bit of a scary shock to the system.

[McLovin]

“ It survived a devastating fire in 1957 and served soldiers in World War II, but it hasn’t been able to reopen its doors since March 2020.”

I wonder why it still isn’t able to open its doors?

[john70t]

I used to live near Ocean Beach and The Cliff House, which recently closed taking the iconic name with it.

There was a gallery in the basement with all kinds of historic photos and wonky carnival toys from the early 20th century.
With Sutro Baths nearby the place was once an adult playground at one point in time.
It must have been amazing.
Now it's just a place to get your car broken into.


https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/San-Francisco-Cliff-House-2022-reopen-Park-Service-16395137.php
(Never knew the property was owned by the national parks service)

[island911]

Will it become a homeless shelter? A safe injection site?

San Francisco is packed full of despair and sadness.

[rusnak]

Awwww Nooo!! How can San Francisco let that happen?

I have so many fond memories of that place. It's like losing a family member.

[look 171]

We eaten there a couple times when we use to visit SF. Going up there for a bike ride in a week with some friends. We will see how things are? Staying in a very nice hotel near downtown.

Sad that covid had done this to all the business. I have not seen him for over 8-9 years since he made my custom orthotics for my flat feet. Couple weeks ago, I found out he's closed his doors for good due to covid. Pisses me off that the gov had done this to him and many others.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I met Mr. DiMaggio at his restaurant twice. Once for a few minute chat (he gave me a signed ball) and once for a full lunch with he and my Great Uncle Leo. Leo never married and was a bit of a player.

Joe D sat down with you and ate lunch?

Tell me more about Great Uncle Leo

Is Tadich's still there?

[WPOZZZ]

What a shame. Mom and I would eat there when we visited the City.

[rusnak]

We were there 4 months before they closed, in November 2019. Of course I had the escargot and oysters. We were in SF to pick up a Macan S that I bought from the owner of Sam's Pizza and Burgers, on Broadway. They were featured in Bourdain's "No Reservations" show. It looks like they are still open.

Very sad about Aliotto's. I don't think i will ever get over the loss.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Joe D sat down with you and ate lunch?

Tell me more about Great Uncle Leo

Is Tadich's still there?

Tadich is back in business. But they were closed for 2 years and there was talk of them closing down for good. But they've been in business since 1849, so they just couldn't let a little pandemic kill them.

Damn shame about Alioto's. My wife and I had a celebratory dinner there the night I proposed to her way back in 1994. All the workers and customers celebrated with us. I'd like to think Uncle Leo was one of them. Alioto's opened 3 years before my father was born in SF. Of course, he saw Joe D play many games with the Seals before Joe went to the Yankees. Two great SF institutions gone.

[astrochex]

After hearing the stories and relationships to this restaurant, I’m bummed it closed and I did not know about it before this news.