Polk Street's tiny Swan Oyster Depot has been a San Francisco institution since 1912. With only 18 or so tottering barstools along the marble counter top, seats are like thrones for those lucky patrons who've earned – with sometimes hour-long waits – a spot to dine in seafood heaven. (Plenty choose to stand around the counter as well.) Locals say no choice is a bad choice from the hand-written menu on the wall: From indigenously rooted crab Louie to New England clam chowder, this is some of the freshest sea bounty in the area. At least four different kinds of half-shell oysters are available daily, and whole lobsters are cooked to order. Beer and wine available. Serving during breakfast, lunch and early dinner hours Mon–Sat. Closed Sun. One of the San Francisco Chronicle's Top 100 Restaurants of 2008.