The San Franciscan (Torrance, CA)

The San Franciscan Restaurant
2520 Sepulveda Blvd, Torrance, CA 90505
310-325-5231
www.the-sanfranciscan.com
Sat 07/25/2026, 06:55p-10:15p





I recently paid a visit to The San Franciscan, which I imagine has to be one of the longest-standing establishments I've ever reported on. The place was opened in 1963 as a one-room bar by Salvatore "Sam" Failla (1917 – 1998), a first-generation Italian-American from New York who previously ran a nightclub in Buffalo. The spot eventually turned into a full-service restaurant thanks to the efforts of Sam's wife Concetta "Connie" Failla (1918 – 2007), whom he married in 1938. The business was later turned over to the couple's younger son, Merrill Failla (b. September 1951), and both he and his wife June Failla (b. June 1958) are still actively involved in running the operation, as are their sons Christopher "Chris" Failla (b. January 1985) and Michael "Mike" Failla (b. June 1986).


The view from the front door (note: most patrons enter through the rear).


I actually arrived quite early for my reservation, and thus took a seat at the bar to kill some time.


Manhattan [$9.00]
To imbibe, I started with what's become my go-to classic cocktail, a Manhattan. The drink was basically exactly what I expected from a place like this, which is stiff as hell. And when's the last time you saw a $9 cocktail?


Extra Dirty Gin Martini [$9.00]
My martini was indeed extra dirty, perhaps even bordering on filthy. As a bonus, my bartender (also named Kevin) even threw in a reference to Christina Aguilera's 2002 hit "Dirrty."


When it came time to actually be seated, I was led to the main dining room, situated immediately west of the bar. I'll also point out that the restaurant underwent renovations from late June to the middle of July, though I'm not sure what's changed.


Unsurprisingly, The San Franciscan's menu veers old-fashioned, and is centered on the prime rib and steak offerings. Beverage-wise, we see a rather pedestrian wine list and beer selection, so I'd recommended BYOB-ing and paying the $20 corkage fee. Click for larger versions.


Mains come with your choice of soup or salad, and tonight's soup was of the beef barley variety, a homey sort of potage loaded with chewy, nutty bits of the cereal grain.


The salad was fairly ho-hum, but did the job. I'm glad I choose a more assertive dressing in the form of blue cheese.


A loaf of sourdough was prototypical in its presentation, and I quite enjoyed the accompanying butter, though I do wish the bread were served warmer.


Given the retro-y nature of the restaurant, it felt appropriate to choose the 2006 Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon for tonight's twentieth anniversary bottle. Hailing from Napa Valley's Oakville appellation, the wine is a California classic, one that saw its first vintage in 1966 and comes to us from a producer established in 1961. Heitz was a pioneer in the use of French oak-aging and single-vineyard designation, and the '70 Martha's Vineyard was actually part of the infamous "Judgment of Paris" tasting of 1976.

• Initial Impressions: The nose was redolent of black fruit, with supporting herbaceous and woodsy nuances. On the palate, I found soft tannins, what that aforementioned fruit joined by minty eucalyptus.
• After 20 Minutes: With some time, aromas became noticeably earthier, a bit more savory. In the mouth, I found a tad more acidity, a tad more sharpness, but still with plenty of that omnipresent dark fruit.
• After 85 Minutes: At this point, there was this suānméi character that crept in, an almost beguiling sensation that I quite liked. In the end, the wine was surprisingly easy-drinking, and still pretty youthful, so I imagine it'll have more to give in the coming years.

Crispy Calamari Fries [$13.00]
I'm a bit of a sucker for fried calamari, and what we had here was better than I thought it'd be. The squid featured supple interiors and properly crunchy outsides, and actually reminded me of the Gorton's fish sticks of my childhood. Tasty alone, but even better with a dab of the provided cocktail or tartar sauces.


Prime Rib of Beef Au Jus – House Special [$37.00] | Half Pound
Naturally, I had to try the signature hand-carved prime rib, and it did not disappoint. The roast arrived as juicy and tender as I was hoping for, its archetypally gratifying flavors well-matched with a smear of creamed horseradish sauce.



Our choice of side was a competently-done baked potato, which certainly made sense with accompaniments of sour cream and onion.


Spaghetti [$25.00] | with meat sauce and meatballs (2)
The Italian-American staple of spaghetti and meatballs tasted oh-so familiar, and fortunately, the actual pasta wasn't as overcooked as I'd feared.


A serving of toasty garlic bread arrived with the spaghetti, fitting the bill nicely.

I do tend to find old school eateries that've existed for ages a bit endearing, and The San Franciscan certainly scratches that itch. My dinner showcased pretty much exactly what I was anticipating: decent-to-good food, mid-century aesthetics, and a cozy environment filled with regulars and old-timers. It all made for a type of dining experience that's getting increasingly hard to find these days. I guess there's a reason why this place has been around for over 60 years.