"There are multiple fireplaces in this Nob Hill spot, so odds are high you’ll end up sitting next to some warming flames during dinner. The legendary castle of beef has “cozy” written all over it. Velvet booths are plush and worn in, and the dishes are the food equivalents of a heated, weighted blanket. Prepare to devour baked potatoes the size of your head, meat carved tableside from a silver cart, and warm Yorkshire pudding. Reservations open one year in advance (yes, you read that right). So if you’re a Type A organizer with an impressively stable lifestyle, reserve your ideal date 365 days ahead of time. If not, don’t worry, they take walk-ins nightly for the dining room and bar—you just might have to wait a few hours to get seated. Another move is to call ahead to ask if there are any day-of cancellations." - julia chen 1, lani conway