By Mauricio Segura June 15, 2025
Photo: Mauricio Segura / GBT Graphics
On May 30, 2025, the iconic Fog City—formerly Fog City Diner, served its final plates, closing its doors for good after a glorious 40-year run along San Francisco’s Embarcadero. From the moment it opened in 1985, this gleaming, chrome-accented eatery captured the hearts of locals and tourists alike. Founded by Bill Higgins, Bill Upson, and celebrated Napa Valley chef Cindy Pawlcyn, Fog City Diner was born at the crossroads of casual Americana and fine-dining flair, offering a futuristic spin on the classic diner.
The décor, imagined by famed designer Pat Kuleto, echoed a glossy railcar diner, but with dramatic California touches. Meanwhile, Pawlcyn’s early menu was revolutionary, think garlic custard, shiitake mushrooms, stuffed pasilla peppers, and crisp crab cakes for under $7. These inventive small plates predated the national tapas trend, making Fog City a quiet pioneer of the movement.
By the early '90s, Fog City had become a national name. A Visa commercial declared it the place to “leave your troubles behind,” and it earned pop culture immortality with a cameo in the Mike Myers comedy So I Married an Axe Murderer. But it wasn’t just flash and fame, this was a restaurant that genuinely fed San Francisco’s appetite for creativity, comfort, and community.
For me, in 1989, it was the place of my very first "dress up" romantic dinner date. For a 19-year-old kid, the bill was a shock. But it definitely impressed my date, especially having been seated two booths from Billy Crystal!
In 2013, the “Diner” part of its name was dropped, and the space was transformed. Architect Michael Guthrie redesigned the interior with warm wood and natural light, and chef Bruce Hill took the menu in a bold new direction. Dishes like kimchi-butter roast chicken and ahi tuna with soba noodles introduced a globally inspired style that still honored the restaurant’s quirky roots.
But Fog City was more than food. The structure at 1300 Battery Street had its own legacy, standing on a foundation that had once housed a railroad roundhouse, a WWII sailor cafeteria, and even a Gold Rush-era docking hub. The building itself was a piece of San Francisco history, making the restaurant feel like a living part of the city’s past and present.
The announcement of the closure came without warning. A short note posted to social media simply said: “With a heavy heart… closing permanently with the last day of service being May 30, 2025. Thank you for the 40 years of patronage!” No detailed explanation followed. Some speculated that declining foot traffic in the Financial District, rising costs, and changing city dynamics played a role. “That area is dead,” one former staffer noted. “Fog City got forgotten.”
Still, its legacy remains. Chefs, food writers, and longtime patrons continue to recall how Fog City Diner shaped the city’s culinary scene. Its influence can be seen in modern gastropubs and small-plate bistros across the country. And for those who ever sat at its bar, shared a bottle of wine, or ended a late night with a cup of chowder by the Bay, the memories will outlast the final closing shift.
Fog City was never just a place to eat, it was a place to be. A destination that married design, innovation, and warmth. As the lights go out on one of San Francisco’s most beloved restaurants, the echo of clinking glasses and laughter lives on.
