By 1925 Nunzio began his fresh fish stall. Stall
#8 sold lunchtime provisions to Italian laborers. Far from the attraction the
Wharf is today, it was then surrounded by an sprawling lumber yard, train
tracks, a union hall, and bustling wholesale fisheries.
1930s: Business grew steadily and by 1932,
Nunzio Alioto constructed the first building on Fisherman’s Wharf by combining
the fish stand with a seafood bar specializing in crab and shrimp cocktails and
fresh cracked crab.
Nunzio
Alioto’s plans came to an abrupt halt in 1933 when he passed away. He was
survived by his wife Rose and three children: Mario, Antoinette, and Frank.
Left with no other means of support, Rose took over the business becoming the
first woman to work on the Wharf. By 1938, she installed a kitchen and
officially opened Alioto’s Restaurant. It was here that Rose created a
shellfish stew called Cioppino which became a San Francisco culinary legend and
is still on Alioto’s menu today.
A
number of historical events contributed to Alioto’s phenomenal growth and the
transformation of Fisherman’s Wharf into San Francisco’s most popular
destination. With the completion of both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges in
1937, San Francisco was quickly becoming the urban center of Northern
California. In 1939 The SF Exposition and World’s Fair brought tourists from
around the world to the City.
World
War II: The
business flourished, yet it was not until the onset of WW II that its
reputation became firmly established. Fisherman’s Wharf became one of the Ports
of Embarkation for sailors. Alioto’s kept busy serving fresh seafood and hearty
clam chowder to servicemen and women. Word about Alioto’s delicious food began
to spread.
The
50’s: The
business continued to expand as public demand grew for Alioto’s seafood dishes.
Rose enlarged her business by purchasing her neighbor’s fish stall. Alioto’s
became a full service restaurant. And in 1957 Rose added a second story, making
Alioto’s the tallest building on the Wharf.
Menu: Alioto’s unique menu offers distinctive Sicilian recipes handed down through the Alioto family. You’ll find traditional seafood specialties of the Wharf, clam chowder, fresh local seafood and Dungeness Crab prepared to order.
Freshest Seafood in San Francisco: Alioto’s has a full-time seafood buyer who purchases only the freshest and choicest cuts of fish. We feature petrale sole, halibut, salmon and swordfish, when available. See the Family History: The Alioto family’s contribution to San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf is commemorated with historical photos and news articles along the interior stairway and the Calamari Room – enjoy!
Oh, and the view is absolutely spectacular.
Approximate dimensions are as follows: 5" x 10" Unopened
Please take a look at the provided photographs, for a better view of the description.