Every once in awhile you will stumble upon a restaurant that will create such a dining experience that you will never forget and will venture back to as often as possible. The Dorian is a restaurant as such. Located in San Francisco’s Marina District, it is known for their shared-plate classic American fare served during dinner Tuesday through Sunday with offers like Seafood Tower, Steak Tartare and Mussel Fries, and brunch on Saturday and Sunday with Huckleberry Scones, Grilled Shrimp Chop and Steak and Eggs Flatbread. The Dorian has an extensive beverage program that features a mix of classic, contemporary and original cocktails including hand-crafted martinis and a large array of whiskeys.
Last year, the restaurant debuted a Whiskey Society membership program for an annual fee of $199, in which members receive a one-year subscription to Whiskey Advocate magazine, access to all monthly The Dorian whiskey tastings/lectures, a Whiskey Society membership card, a custom engraved whiskey tumbler, a 20% discount on premium whiskey and whiskey flights, as well as access to The Dorian’s owner dinners. A great deal for that price too!
The beverage program also includes fifty or so wine bottles of domestic and imported vintages and locally sourced craft beers. The Dorian offers seasonal cocktails menus just in time for the present weather. Don’t miss the restaurant’s Happy Hour, Tuesday through Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., which features $1.00 oysters and half-off bottles of rosé and champagne. And speaking of champagne, The Dorian offers a Mimosa Experience during the weekend brunch service where guests can order a bottle of Varichon sparkling crémant and three of five available juices (dragon fruit, orange, grapefruit, cherry and passion fruit) all for $40. Through the choices, guests are enabled to custom mix their preferred version of this popular libation. Subsequently purchased bottles go down in price: 2nd is $30, the 3rd is $25 and the 4th is $20, after which the price resets.
The Dorian evokes a Victorian home at the turn of the last century with rich colors and textural wallpapers, mixed with brass and concrete surfaces accentuated by antique artifacts and art and a chandelier that bring a sense of charm and fun to the restaurant’s three distinct spaces: the restaurant, main bar and the study. If you live in the area or ever find yourself there, it would be worth it to check it out and experience an outing at The Dorian.
