December 21, 2021 By Becky Duffett SF Eater
Remember last year, when we were all staring at pretty takeout? What a thrill to finally set foot in dining rooms again this year, as restaurants opened and reopened across the city in 2021 and we got to wine and dine in gorgeous interiors once more. Breaking from the neon sign and plant trend (not that there’s anything wrong with that), a few new restaurants set themselves apart as a visual feast for the eyes.
From an illustrious Chinese banquet hall to a mid-century glam steakhouse, a Belle Epoque grande dame to a retro-fabulous diner, step inside the most stunning restaurant designs of the year in San Francisco.
Miller & Lux
Celebrity chef and television personality Tyler Florence opened a glam new steakhouse near Chase Center, and it’s no sports bar and grill. Miller & Lux is a generous 7,000 square feet, all done up in a golden glow from acclaimed designer Ken Fulk. It’s midcentury in style, but with luxurious touches, including big circular booths in channel-backed tan leather and brass railings and light fixtures.
Boulevard
This one’s not a new opening, but a beautiful reopening: Boulevard triumphantly returned this year with a glam refresh courtesy of designer Ken Fulk. The Belle Epoque dining room, with its winding tulip lamps and rich jewel tones, has regained its shine. Fulk didn’t hold back on patterns and textiles, with a peacock motif feathering throughout, including royal blue and dark green velvets, silk patterns with feathers backing chairs, black ostrich leather padding stools, and hand-drawn birds perched on the walls.