San Francisco's acclaimed eatery, Fog City, permanently closed its doors last Friday, after a storied 40-year tenure as a significant player in the city's dining scene. A staple along the Embarcadero, the restaurant, formerly Fog City Diner, was esteemed for its inventive menu and iconic architecture. The closure was announced in a somber Instagram post from Fog City, which read: "With a Heavy Heart I share some difficult news. Fog City has closed Permanently with the last day of Service being May 30, 2025. Thank You for the 40 years of patronage!" The restaurant's social media reflected gratitude towards its patrons for their decades of support.
Established in 1985, the brainchild of restaurateurs Bill Higgins and Bill Upson, along with chef and co-owner Cindy Pawlcyn, Fog City introduced San Franciscans to a new wave of dining with its small plates movement. Offering dishes like stuffed pasilla peppers, garlic custard with sautéed shiitake mushrooms, and golden-crispy crab cakes at the modest price of no more than $6.50 each, the restaurant garnered critical acclaim. SFGATE recalls, the San Francisco Examiner lauded the diner shortly after opening, saying: "From the moment this glossy diner opened its doors, the booths have been full, the bar stacked and the reservation books complete." Amidst surging popularity and customer demand, the establishment's initial stage was met with operational finesse.
The popularity of Fog City's upscale diner concept saw its replication in various cities from Chicago to Dallas, Las Vegas, and even Japan. The restaurant's cultural influence extended beyond its culinary offerings. It was featured in national media campaigns, including a Visa commercial in 1990, and it even appeared in Farley comic strips. This magnet for tourists grew stronger after Fog City was featured in the 1993 comedy film "So I Married an Axe Murderer."
