Seal the Deal Meals: The Haute 5 Places to Power Lunch in San Francisco

Nothing good can come out of doing business on an empty stomach, so for the power players of San Francisco, here are some of our suggestions for the city’s most affluent places to close the deal.

Le Central

If the governor of your state is dining at a booth with the former mayor of your city, it is probably a safe bet that the host restaurant is a must on the agenda of places to power lunch. Such is the case with Le Central. When Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sat down to dine with former mayor Willie Brown and Wilkes Bashford last fall, they stole the city’s headlines for the day. Haute Living San Francisco’s first cover profile, Willie Brown, hasn’t kept it a secret that his favorite spot in the restaurant is table No. 2 in the bar area and as he detailed in his column, Willie’s World, which appears in the San Francisco Chronicle, at least on that day Le Central was not business-only, as Brown determined that the governor was more more relaxed than he had seen him in quite sometime and in addition to greeting strangers, he also joked about his own personal stimulus package of the day—a Brioni jacket he purchased at the Wilkes Bashford boutique in Union Square.

Le Central is located at 453 Bush St.; 415.391.2233

LarkCreek Steak at Westfield San Francisco Centre

Shortly after opening in 2006, LarkCreek Steak was named one of the Best New Restaurants by Esquire magazine in 2007. And while the menu choices are divine, the décor is superb as well, leading one to question whether it is the menu or the ambiance that makes this San Francisco steakhouse restaurant a favorite with the power players. (It could also be the 250-bottle wine list, not that we’re endorsing drinking on the job, wink wink.) Mark Stevens of Architect & Light designed the space while the chef’s menu incorporates everything we love about red meat with the fresh food philosophy that San Franciscans embrace so well. Favorite menu selections amongst the movers and shakers include the mushroom steakburger and the cowboy burger with bacon, cheddar, and crispy grilled onions. Insider reports indicate that the steakburger is so tantalizing due to the fact that it is trimmed from the brand’s own filet mignons, strips, and sirloins and then double-ground. From there the red meat patties make their way to a wood-fire grill, all the while, warm toasty buns await their arrival.

LarkCreek Steak is located at 845 Market (at Fourth St.) at Westfield San Francisco Centre on the 4th Floor; 415.593-4100

Bix

Another Willie favorite to make the cut is Bix, and though it is more commonly thought of us a supper club, the Jackson Square restaurant is open for lunch on Fridays, and as such, is a preferred spot to end the week of work. Besides, who decided that deals could only be brokered during lunchtime hours? Anyone worth the weight of their bonus package knows that the clock doesn’t stop ticking at five and that the real deals are often done under the cover of darkness. Enjoying recognition as one of the Chronicle’s Top 100 Restaurants, the ambiance at Bix is defined by the prewar décor. A curved mahogany bar, fluted columns, and nighttime jazz in the two-story dining room are some of the features which lead reviewers to describe Bix as a classic, anti-trendy place to power lunch, not to mention on of the best places in the city for steak tartare.

Bix is located at 56 Gold St.; 415.433.6300

The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus

Just because you may be a lady who lunches, doesn’t mean that those lunches don’t involve high-powered wheelings and dealings. And when elite fashionistas need a place to strategize in San Francisco, they do it at The Rotunda at our favorite luxury department store. In addition to the world famous Neiman Marcus chicken salad, chocolate chip cookies, and afternoon teas, executive chef Barney Brown pleases discerning palates with lobster selections in bisque and spring rolls. And while the cuisine is divine, there is no question that it is the architectural details of this restaurant that draws in the influential crowds. The glass dome of the three-story rotunda hails from our favorite French city of lights and the expansive windows showcase envied views of Union Square. It is the ultimate dining venue to see and be seen.

The Rotunda is located on the fourth floor of Neiman Marcus Union Square at 150 Stockton St.; 415.249.2720

Waterbar

If you plan to dine here for a power lunch, don’t get your hopes set on either of the two booths facing the bridge (Nos. 12 and 13 to be precise) because, again, those belong to one of our favorite former public officials, Willie Brown. Those in the know describe Waterbar as a place that screams power lunch, often confessing that just the mere mention of closing the deal at here adds instant credibility to any high-powered wranglings. From restaurateur Pat Kuletto, it makes perfect sense why most reviews of this San Franciscan seafood eatery start out with descriptions of the décor.

Waterbar is located at 399 The Embarcadero (Folsom St.); 415.284.9922