Bix

"Bix is an old-school restaurant where you wouldn’t bat an eye if you saw Francis Ford Coppola talking through movie scripts with his team, and a couple in mink coats signing divorce papers. There’s live jazz every night. Ordering a martini is a requirement. And even though the food at Bix can only very loosely be described as “good,” we love this classic institution dearly. What the swanky two-story American spot in Jackson Square lacks in mind-blowing food it makes up for a hundred times over in character. The Art Deco-style dining room is like time-traveling to a 1930s supper club, even though Bix only opened in 1988. Waitstaff in buttoned-up vests will drop off free bread rolls with the flourish of John Turturro in Mr. Deeds, and sneak you an order of succotash on the house. The piano and cello duo is set up under a large painting of a lovestruck butler (the very same one that inspired this David Arquette short film). And there’s a mural of a lively dance floor that spans the length of the bar, which is more stocked than a fraternity house basement. Slide into a seat to admire the martini glasses chilling atop a huge mound of shaved ice, or mysteriously sip on a negroni like a disgraced heir plotting an elaborate jewelry heist. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Like we said, the decidedly OK food is not the reason you eat at Bix. The caesar comes out soggy, and the shrimp cocktail is more or less forgettable. Heartier mains, like a grilled pork chop and seared duck breast with summer squash, are decent, although nothing to write home about. But somehow, we don’t mind. We don’t come to Bix for a perfectly cooked burger or the best steak tartare in the city. We come to soak in the white tablecloth vibes, drink boulevardiers in a ridiculous and lovable space, and romanticize life while a cellist in a tie serenades us. On all those fronts, Bix delivers. Food Rundown Caesar We’re sorry to report that this caesar is soggy. But enough jazz and strong martinis will make anything taste better. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Classic Shrimp Cocktail Exactly what you’d expect from a shrimp cocktail. Nothing more, nothing less. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Black Truffle Cheese Burger We’re not sure exactly what compelled Bix to serve this burger open-faced, with only one side of crustless seeded wheat bread and a slab of grilled onion on top. But the confusing dish at least makes for pretty good table conversation as you try to figure it out. The patty has a weirdly gummy consistency. You can skip this. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Grilled Duroc Pork Chop The slightest bit dry, but one of the better entrée options on the menu. What tops it changes seasonally, so you might get nectarine chunks one night and slow-roasted tomatoes the next." - Julia Chen

"Wander through picturesque Jackson Square and down Gold Street, and step into the time machine that is Bix. The two-story restaurant immerses diners into a sleek, speakeasy, jazz club-type space, where the city outside melts away with a classic martini or Manhattan. The “modern American” food is excellent here; don’t skip the steak tartare or the “Potato Pillows”: puffed, fried squares of potato topped with caviar. It’s hard to go wrong from there, but a word to the wise: If Bix’s summer tomato cart option is available, go for it and watch as the tomatoes are dressed tableside in mozzarella, basil, and olive oil. It’s pure summer magic." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff

"It’s impossible to miss the live music set-up at Bix. The old-school American restaurant in Jackson Square is centered around a grand piano, with a nightly schedule of solo pianists and jazz duos or trios. Whether you’re upstairs, downstairs, or perched on a bar stool next to the martini glasses chilling on a mound of ice, there’s no bad seat in the house. Just sit back, enjoy a middling burger or a slightly too-wet caesar, and let a tie-wearing cellist serenade you." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong

"This American restaurant in the Financial District reminds us of a 1930s supper club, with nightly live jazz, martini glasses chilling on huge mounds of shaved ice, and a grand staircase you’d find on a cruise ship. It’s also where to go when you want to order an appetizer, entrée, and dessert, all for you. Because grilled pork chops and shrimp cocktails are what you should be eating when a pianist in a tie serenades you." - julia chen 1

"Wander down Gold Alley and step into Bix, a San Francisco restaurant that’s been stirring and shaking up classic cocktails in a transportive Art Deco setting since 1988. Splash out on decadent lobster spaghetti or a veal pot pie, but if it’s summertime, you’ll want to order Bix’s heirloom tomato cart, where sizable slices of heirloom tomatoes are dressed tableside with burrata, basil, and extra virgin olive oil. Bix also features live jazz music during the dinner hour, perfect for blissing out during the meal." - Dianne de Guzman, Paolo Bicchieri