Perry's, for nearly 40 years an institution in San Francisco, is known for its classic American food, its warm personable service and its bustling bar. Perry's menu includes a wide variety of sandwiches, creative salads, pastas, steaks, and grilled fresh fish, in addition to the renowned Perry’s hamburger.

In 1969, Perry Butler, a 26-year-old Dartmouth College graduate, was working as an advertising executive, when he set out to follow his dream of opening his own restaurant. Freshly relocated to San Francisco, and compelled to recreate the hustle and bustle of the New York neighborhood saloons that he missed, Butler opened Perry’s on Union Street.

Perry’s opened amidst the heyday of San Francisco’s hippie scene, Berkeley’s People’s Park protests, the first man to walk on the moon, Richard Nixon’s presidency, and the Vietnam War. The restaurant was an instant success and soon became one of the city’s most popular gathering spots. Little did Butler know that in a relatively short period of time, Perry’s would become a San Francisco classic. Since then, amongst great political and social change, Perry’s has thrived while maintaining its fresh, personable approach to the service of excellent food and drink. “The reasons for our initial and current success are completely different, but their foundation has remained unchanged: an insistence on integrity, quality and consistency,” said Butler.

Speaking on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Perry’s, Butler said: “In the most competitive of industries, in a very demanding restaurant town, I am extremely proud of Perry’s staying power and the people who have contributed to its quality, character and longevity all these years. It is the many talented and committed individuals who have been part of Perry’s past and its present that have kept Perry’s true to its purpose – the commitment to good food, good drinks and serving people with warmth and friendship. Though it is not rocket science as such, it takes a remarkable amount of dedication – especially in this day and age – to make it day in and day out. I am humbled to take credit for what several generations of employees and customers have done to put Perry’s where it is on the list of San Francisco landmarks.”

Perry’s trademark touches include mahogany-paneled walls adorned with memorabilia, tile ceilings evocative of stamped tin, white tile floor, blue-and-white checkered tablecloths, and, above all, high quality food served with warmth and friendship.

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