Heritage Happy Hour: The Ramp Restaurant

Heritage Happy Hour: The Ramp Restaurant

Heritage Happy Hour is a convivial “no-host” gathering of heritage professionals, young preservationists, aficionados, friends, and Legacy Business cohorts interested in safeguarding San Francisco’s unique architectural and cultural identity. We get together on the Second Thursday of each month from 5-7 pm at a registered Legacy Business bar in San Francisco.

Originally a public boat ramp and bait shop in the 1960s, the Ramp is situated on the water’s edge in the Dogpatch neighborhood.

Named “Modern Bait & Tackle Shop” and opened by James “Jim” and Donna Elkin, the spot first appeared in the 1962 telephone directory. The business primarily served small boat fishers, selling bait out of a shack. Eventually, more amenities were added— a hot dog machine, a bar, a single slot fryer, and a steel grill to serve food. The business name was changed to “The Ramp” in the 1969-70 telephone directory.

In 2018, Arvind Patel became the sole owner of the business after previous owner and business partner Mike Denman’s passing, and now runs the business with Sergio Camacho, the general manager. Today, the Ramp's extensive outdoor patio is a great place for brunching on weekends, grabbing a bite and a drink before and after ballgames, watching sports on their big screen TVs, enjoying live and DJ music events, and hosting large parties and private get-togethers. The eclectic menu features seafood, as well as Mexican and simple American fare, with one of the city's most well-known Bloody Mary's.

The restaurant continues to anchor the city's southern shores and maintains an active involvement in the local merchants association and other community events—preserving its past as well as its future serving as a lively learning bridge across generations, ready to provide welcoming refuge and offer a unique taste of historic San Francisco flavor to the contemporary crowds now exploring the city's swelling waterfront.

The Ramp was added to the Legacy Business Registry on July 22, 2024.

Your Co-Hosts:

San Francisco’s Legacy Business Program is the first-of-its-kind in the U.S. The program supports and promotes iconic, small businesses over 30 years in operation that are long-standing pillars of our communities and neighborhoods.

San Francisco Heritage (est. 1971), has protected the city in the face of rapid change by advocating for historic resources, hosting educational programming, and interpreting and preserving cultural heritage. The Legacy Business Program (est. 2015) provides marketing, business assistance, and specialized grants for local small businesses included on the Legacy Business Registry.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Ramp Restaurant, 855 Terry A Francois Boulevard, San Francisco, United States