Cliff House to Remain Open During Historic Renovation

At the groundbreaking ceremony Jan. 23, a new chapter began for the Cliff House as the historic restaurant enters its fourth incarnation.

A sweeping renovation is carefully planned so that the restaurant and gift shop will remain open. The new restaurant space will serve as a bridge between past and present, restoring the character and dignity of the neoclassical structure of 1909 and adding a new wing that draws on architectural elements of the old Sutro Baths.

The project, which is estimated at $14 million, is scheduled for completion in late spring of 2004.

The original Cliff House, a modest structure built in 1863 - and its second, chateau-style incarnation commissioned by San Francisco Mayor Adolph Sutro - were both destroyed by fires. The 1909 structure, built by Sutro's daughter, Dr. Emma Merritt, is what now remains, though it has been obscured by a century of add-ons.

Since the 1850s the area has been used by San Franciscans and visitors in order to experience the scenery and recreational opportunities associated with the shoreline, beach and ocean. Today the area is part of the National Park Service and is administered by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The project's designer is C. David Robinson Architects, in consultation with Preservation Architecture. Debra Lehtone is the project architect.

The renovation will result in two restaurants. The present dining room, in the historic building, will be transformed into a bistro serving shellfish and lighter fare and offering deli takeout, while the new North Sutro Wing will house a dramatic two-story dining room that offers panoramic views of the ocean, entrance to the Sutro Baths, San Francisco Bay and the Marin coastline.

The new main restaurant will offer an expanded menu of American-style cuisine with a seafood emphasis.
The Cliff House Gift Shop will also move to the new wing. In addition, there will be a new grand entry lobby with a sitting lounge that links the two restaurants, three publicly accessible observation decks and improved parking and traffic flow. The contemporary wing will be built with natural materials to blend in with the scenic coastline. The new building will be lower to the ground and less of a view obstruction to passers-by. The Cliff House's old redwood will be salvaged for reuse.

Dan and Mary Hountalas, proprietors of the Cliff House since 1973, see the renovation as long overdue.

"There's so much history in the Cliff House. We have employees whose parents used to work here. We hope to preserve that history but also infuse it with a sense of vitality for the new Cliff House," Dan Hountalas said.

The Cliff House will hold a public auction Feb. 12 featuring Cliff House artifacts, including kitchen equipment, antiques, flatware, china, tables, chairs and pictures. For more information, call the restaurant at (415) 386-3330.