One of San Francisco’s most storied restaurants — a long-dormant destination for influential figures from Alfred Hitchcock to Herb Caen and known for crepes flambéed tableside and ice-cold martinis — is making a comeback.
Jack’s, whose history at 615 Sacramento St. dates back to 1864, will reopen Nov. 18 as a “civic salon,” with French bistro food from an acclaimed fine-dining chef. Skylight, a national venue development firm behind projects including San Francisco’s Ferry Building and New York City’s High Line, is leading the revival of one of the city’s oldest restaurants. The group partnered with Rupert Blease, chef-owner of the now-closed, Michelin-starred Lord Stanley and Wolfsbane in San Francisco, and longtime San Francisco chef Tommy Halvorson to oversee food and drink. The catch? Jack’s will no longer be a fully public restaurant.
Instead, Jack’s will largely function as a private events venue that aims to bring together influential companies and individuals in real estate, politics, tech, arts and beyond. Skylight CEO Stephanie Blake said she hopes to continue Jack’s history as an important civic hub for San Francisco at a time when the city is grappling with its political identity, the influx of AI and other major shifts.
“I think there’s an optimism and an energy and excitement that’s happening right now” in San Francisco, Blake said. “This being a cultural salon and private venue, it is really about civic reimagination and engaging people in dialogue.”…