San Rafael Restaurant Guide

Pier 15 in San Rafael's historic wharf district has been home to a succession of notable eateries throughout the past 50 years and has attracted a considerable local following. In 1956, Pier 15 and the boat repair shop that occupied it were converted by Pete Lind into Pete's Pier 15, a bar and restaurant that opened in 1957. Lind owned the establishment through the 1960s and into the 1970s.

After several changes of ownership, in the 1990s the restaurant became known as Art's Pier 15 and served simple American barroom fare, although it was better known among locals for its libations. Pier 15 has not only survived the changes of ownership through the years - it also survived a tidal wave set off by an Alaskan earthquake in the early 1960s.Presently, Pier 15 is run by Bay Area restaurateur ADRIANO ORSI, from historic 'RISTORANTE ORSI' of San Francisco and Novato and owned by invested friends.

The ORSI FAMILY has been residents of San Rafael's Dominican neighborhood for 23 years. Purchasing Pier 15 in September of 2006, Adriano brings his Italian flair to the menu with several pasta dishes offering an array of sauces and the history behind them. Also featured is his father Oreste's 'Signature Dish' Seafood Cannelloni. Breakfasts, brunches and lunches appeal to the regulars from the surrounding area, as well as the experimental diner from out of town, with beautiful views. Adriano Orsi has succeeded in keeping Pier 15 a San Rafael landmark while serving the finest food the restaurant has known in its 50-year history!