Iconic San Francisco Restaurant Big Four Reopens After Renovation

The classic Nob Hill eatery returns with updated menu and decor while preserving its historic charm.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Big Four, a 50-year-old San Francisco restaurant known for its clubhouse atmosphere, classic dishes, and celebrity clientele, is reopening in the Huntington Hotel after a multi-year closure. The restaurant has undergone an extensive renovation led by designer Ken Fulk, while chef David Intonato has updated the menu to honor the establishment's beloved classics like chicken pot pie and crab Louie. The hotel's new owners, Highgate and Flynn Properties, have revived the iconic property and its signature restaurant, which is set to begin accepting reservations on March 17.

Why it matters

The reopening of the Big Four marks the return of a San Francisco institution that has long been a gathering place for the city's cultural and political elite. Its revival also signals the resurgence of the Huntington Hotel, a historic Nob Hill landmark that fell into disrepair during the pandemic. The restaurant's preservation of its classic ambiance and menu items while incorporating thoughtful updates reflects a broader trend of San Francisco establishments honoring their heritage while adapting to modern tastes and expectations.

The details

The Big Four's new menu will feature updated versions of longtime customer favorites, such as the chicken pot pie, which will maintain its pre-pandemic price of $35. Chef David Intonato has also introduced tableside service for dishes like steak tartare and cioppino. Meanwhile, designer Ken Fulk has preserved the restaurant's vintage aesthetic, keeping the dominant dark green and brass color scheme and original details like wall sconces made of rams' horns and carved wooden columns.

  • The Big Four will reopen on March 17, 2026.
  • The Huntington Hotel, which houses the Big Four, reopened on March 1, 2026.

The players

Big Four

A 50-year-old San Francisco restaurant known for its clubhouse atmosphere, classic dishes, and celebrity clientele.

Huntington Hotel

A historic Nob Hill hotel that originally opened in 1922 and has undergone a multi-year renovation and reopening.

Ken Fulk

The interior designer who oversaw the aesthetic revival of the Huntington Hotel and the Big Four restaurant.

David Intonato

The chef who updated the Big Four's menu to honor the establishment's beloved classics while incorporating thoughtful refinements.

Highgate

A hotel management company that, along with Flynn Properties, purchased the Huntington Hotel in 2023 and oversaw its renovation and reopening.

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What they’re saying

“We felt our updates had to follow the same spirit as our enhancements to the dining room itself — thoughtful refinements that honor the restaurant's beloved classics.”

— David Intonato, Chef (San Francisco Chronicle)

“It's a symbol of the resurrection of San Francisco.”

— Greg Flynn, CEO of Flynn Properties (Instagram)

What’s next

The new cocktail bar, Arrabella's Cocktail Salon, is set to open a few weeks after the Big Four restaurant reopens on March 17.

The takeaway

The revival of the Big Four and the Huntington Hotel represents the resilience of San Francisco's historic institutions and their ability to adapt to changing times while preserving their unique character and appeal. This project serves as a model for how classic establishments can be thoughtfully updated to meet modern expectations while still honoring their rich legacies.