SF's Big Four Restaurant Reopens

The Big Four's name is a nod to the four powerful railroad tycoons of the 19th century: Collis P. Huntington, Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker, and Mark Hopkins. These men, who were instrumental in building the Central Pacific Railroad, all had mansions on Nob Hill, where the restaurant is located. The restaurant itself is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, having first opened in 1976. It is situated inside the historic Huntington Hotel, which originally opened as an apartment building in 1922 before being converted into a hotel in 1924. After closing in 2020, both the restaurant and the hotel have undergone extensive renovations. Noted interior designer Ken Fulk was tasked with reviving the 72-seat dining room, preserving its classic wood-paneled, club-like atmosphere while giving it a modern touch. The new menu, crafted by Executive Chef David Intonato, will feature updated versions of beloved classics. The famous chicken pot pie will return, and new additions include tableside preparations of steak tartare and a "San Francisco seafood stew," a nod to an old menu item. The reopening of The Big Four on March 17 follows the reopening of the Huntington Hotel on March 1. The hotel was purchased out of foreclosure in 2023 by Flynn Properties and Highgate. The return of this iconic restaurant is seen as a positive sign for the city's rebound.