McCormick and Kuleto’s (Fireworks?) Table for 10

Fireworks
Independence Day, not the movie. One year from a historic 250 year anniversary of The United States of America. (echoing fanfare).. We'll hold that event next year.

Fireworks in San Francisco are a humors joke, a promise, a once a year local government Sysphian project, or as I like to say, Hope.

When I first moved here, in 2001, my first United States Independence Day (July 4th) in San Francisco; I took my son and boyfriend to Fisherman's Grotto No. 9. There we had an amazing dinner, they sat us at a window overlooking the bay and eventually the fireworks were there clear and perfectly framed, it was a perfect ending to our touristy exploration of Fisherman's Wharf and the surrounding establishments. Sadly, Fisherman's Grotto No 9 is no longer in San Francisco, and always a beloved destination.

Sadder still is that it is rare to see actual July 4th fireworks in San Francisco, fog, smoke, wind. Nature's Mother conjures new tortures for those locals who want to see the night sky light up. Even San Francisco's Symphony seek refuge fifty miles south in Mountain View.

No promise of fireworks, but join us as we make an attempt.

Here.. if the fireworks fail, the architecture and fish will not.

McCormick and Kuleto’s Seafood and Steaks
Part of M&S - McCormick and Schmick's and Landry's

Opening in 1994 as a part of McCormick and Schmick's but now a jewel in the Landry Restaurant Family crown; (you know them, they own the second best prime rib restaurant in the world); seriously Landry's has an amazing chain of unique restaurants that maintain high standards, and maintain traditions that wrote the histories of their current holdings.

McCormick and Kuleto's features fresh seafood and mouth watering steaks. Located in the much traveled and must see Ghirardelli Square (weren't we there in April for 175?, I was). They replaced a similar restaurant, Maxwell's Plum brought in from Manhattan New York by the son of Mervyn LerRoy producer of The Wizard of Oz.

Co-Founder Pat Kuleto is a San Francisco Architect who created the niche of restaurant architecture. From the interior photos you can see his iconic organic wavy lines similar to the recently closed Farallon. If you attend our Boulevard event you can be awed by a different style which preserves a 1889 brick building that survived the 1906 earthquake.

Other restaurants Pat Kuleto designed include Epic and Waterbar, both works of art, and San Francisco Foodies will soon announce outings there.

Some of his lost masterpieces include Napa's Martini House, Jardiniere, and Mr. Kuleto's first installment Fog City Diner is still serving amazing fare in a setting that transform classic diner fixtures through a funhouse mirror into works of modern art, while remaining comfortable and functional.

A note from our destination
At McCormick & Kuleto's, our goal is to provide a dining experience where culinary artistry and breathtaking views come together to create lasting memories for our cherished guests.
McCormick and Kuleto's is a collaboration by visionary restaurateurs Bill McCormick and Pat Kuleto, nestled in historic Ghirardelli Square. Ghirardelli Square offers Half-Price Parking with $25+ Purchase at Shops & Restaurants every day of the week. Our restaurant skillfully blends classic flavors with innovative twists, creating a remarkable dining experience.
Our floor-to-ceiling windows provide captivating views of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz Island. Our Executive Chef Brian Castillo leads our culinary journey, infusing each bite with a touch of artistry. Our menu showcases the region's bountiful flavors, sourced locally from farms, artisans, and ranches. Additionally, we are dedicated to sustainability by ensuring responsible sourcing of the finest species.
from restaurant website

Professional Review
About the restaurant: Acclaimed restaurant designer Pat Kuleto created this restaurant in Ghirardelli Square to offer panoramic views of the waterfront and San Francisco Bay.
Food & Drinks: The menu is as expansive as the venue --- maybe too expansive, as the best dishes tend to be the simplest. For starters, choose from six varieties of briny and impeccably fresh oysters, one of the menu's highlights. The fish selection changes daily depending on what's in season. Most of the sauces are inexplicably heavy and overwhelm the delicate flavor of the very fresh fish, so anything that's grilled and minimally sauced like the trout with blood orange vinaigrette are good choices, as are shellfish options like steamed Maine lobster, Dungeness crab served with drawn butter, and fried yearling oysters. Steaks range from porterhouse to filet mignon. The wine list is both extensive and expensive, with an emphasis on California Chardonnays as well as a fine reserve list and a number of half bottles.
from Gayot

Menus and Reviews
McCormick and Kuleto's Seafood and Steaks
McCormick and Kuleto's Seafood and Steak (Private Dining Venues)
McCormick and Kuleto's Seafood and Steaks (Insta)
Pat Kuleto

Administrivia
McCormick and Kuleto's Seafood and Steaks menu shows dinner pricing for three courses is about $90 per person, excluding tax and tip. Alcoholic drinks can easily increase this average. Dress is smart casual.

Each diner is responsible for their own orders and costs. If we cannot get separate checks we will have to consolidate and divvy up the final bill accordingly.

Please bring cash or have Zelle or Apple Cash available.

Taxes and Fees
Dining in San Francisco has a sales tax (8.625%) and probably an employee health mandate (3-10%), a tip (20%) may be automatically added, even on individual bills. I calculate each diner's orders separately unless they allow separate orders, separate checks, the meal is shared or family style, and round up.

Adding these fees brings this meal's cost to about $125 per person.

Parking and Transportation
July 4th is a nightmare for driving, and traffic in the city. Please make arrangements and arrive early. Some busses may not be running, so check the sfmuni site.

MUNI:
Powell St Cable Car
Bus: 30, 49, 19, 28

Finding street parking on July 4th is nearly impossible.
Restaurant validates $25 of onsite parking.
Parking garage can be found at Ghirardelli Square

Use event comments for Car Pooling and Ride Sharing.

Photos from San Francisco Private Dining Venue's site; history from restaurant webite and wikipedia