Park Tavern on Washington Square

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Classic San Francisco Institution

Park Tavern on Washington Square occupied a singular place in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood for nearly two decades. Sitting at 1652 Stockton Street, directly on Washington Square Park, it was the kind of restaurant a city builds its dining identity around — a well-loved staple that drew locals and visitors alike to one of the most storied corners of San Francisco.

The People Behind the Table

The restaurant was the work of two longtime friends: James Nicholas III and Chef Jonathan Waxman. Nicholas, a fifth-generation San Franciscan and co-founder of acclaimed local spots including Marlowe, The Cavalier, and Leo's Oyster Bar, brought the vision of revival and restoration to the project. His partner, Jonathan Waxman, brought the pedigree.

Waxman's path through American cooking is a defining one. A native Californian, he trained at La Varenne Cooking School in Paris before returning to work at Domaine Chandon and then alongside Alice Waters at Chez Panisse. He went on to shape California cuisine as executive chef of Michael's in Santa Monica, then made his mark on New York in 1984 with the iconic Jams. A 2016 James Beard Award for Best Chef: New York City, multiple cookbook publications — including Italian, My Way — and a string of television appearances on Top Chef Masters and MasterChef cemented his reputation as one of America's most influential cooks.

At Park Tavern, Waxman brought that same sensibility to San Francisco: an approach rooted in California's produce and the honest, ingredient-forward spirit of American and Italian cooking. The restaurant earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2025, recognition that reflected the seriousness with which the wine program was curated alongside the kitchen's output.

The End of an Era

In a candid note to its guests, the restaurant announced its closure after nearly two decades on Washington Square — a final service held on June 21, framed not as a farewell but as a celebration: "Join us to raise a glass, share a meal, and celebrate the memories we've created together." It was the kind of send-off that only a genuinely beloved place earns.