I took a quick midweek trip to the Bay Area last week to help out my sister and her family by taking them to the city. It was a one way trip, and after exploring options to get myself home, I settled on an afternoon flight the next day. Later, I realized this gave me the opportunity to finally put my Priority Pass membership to use at one of the two restaurants in Terminal 3. I settled on Yankee Pier over the Giant’s Clubhouse, the other SFO Priority Pass restaurant (note: my flight ended up being delayed, then canceled, and I ended up trying Giant’s Clubhouse as well).
The Yankee Pier SFO Priority Pass option is super nice to have. I’ve been through SFO many times, typically flying United through Terminal 3. Until recently there haven’t been any Priority Pass lounge options in this terminal. There is the Centurion, but as I no longer have my American Express Business Platinum card, I can no longer enjoy access. San Francisco International Airport has been lacking in Priority Pass coverage for a while now, as the only participating lounge is in International Terminal A, secluded from everything else.
But that changed with the introduction of Yankee Pier and the Giants Clubhouse as restaurant options.
Yankee Pier SFO Priority Pass Details
To use your Priority Pass membership at Yankee Pier SFO, you should show your card at the beginning. You’ll probably just be seated and the waiter will deal with swiping and entering your membership later, but *not* doing this caused me some hassle later that day at the Giant’s Clubhouse, so I would suggest alerting them to your membership usage up front.
Priority Pass cardholders can get $28 off the final bill, which represents a single lounge visit. For those who have the Priority Pass membership that does not allow complimentary access, visiting Yankee Pier SFO using your Priority Pass card makes no sense, as you will be charged $32 for the visit. But for those who have complimentary access, you can enjoy this $28 credit for free. The credit is applicable toward food and beverage purchase, as well as taxes. It does not include a gratuity (SEE: Enjoy those Priority Pass restaurants, but remember this one tip!).
You can also register up to one guest one the same visit, so if your membership offers free guesting privileges, you can get a total of up to $58 off the final bill. The limit for Yankee Pier SFO Priority Pass usage is the cardholder plus one guest, so even if your membership offers additional free guests, you cannot get additional $28 credits. The family of four in front of me was debating whether they were going to eat there, knowing they only get two credits. I offered to let them put one of them on my bill, since I was traveling alone, but they ended up moving on to take a look at the other restaurant.
Yankee Pier is open from 5:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. daily, which gives coverage of the vast bulk of flights. The restaurant is located just a little ways from security, in concourse F near gate 72.
Food and service at Yankee Pier
I had already eaten an early lunch, so I wasn’t very hungry when I arrived at SFO at around 2:00 p.m. But I decided to give Yankee Pier a try before settling in to work for a couple hours before my flight.
Service was very fast. My order was taken within two minutes of sitting down, and my food and drink were served within another three. They really move! I’m sure not everything is always this quick, but it’s good to know that it may be easy to be in and out quickly if you’re short on time. The restaurant was fairly full, and the servers were doing a great job keeping up with everyone.
I ordered a Caesar salad and a sparkling rosé. It was pretty much the lightest lunch I could find on the menu that sounded good and would ring in under the budget. Yankee Pier’s specialty is seafood, though, so consider option for that if you stop by.
The final bill came to $23.24 after tax. I tipped $4 to the server, which was the only cash cost of my meal.
Conclusion
I’m very excited to have this Priority Pass option when flying United and Star Alliance partners in Terminal 3 at SFO. The food and service at Yankee Pier were very good, and it I’ll certainly be back next time I fly through.
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It’s a great option. I always get a crab or lobster roll to go, tip $6 in cash, and eat it in the Centurion lounge shower room. (Centurion lounge won’t allow me to eat it in the lounge so I have to sneak it.)
Lol. In the shower room. XD
Dropped my Platinum a year ago, otherwise I might be joining you.
We have tried this restaurant several time. The food is mediocre and the service is horrible.
Interesting. I thought the service very fast. Maybe not super attentive, but highly efficient, which is what you need at an airport.
I have never used PP because the Hilton card never sent me any info on it. I called this week and they are sending it out now. So my understanding is you get $28 off your bill since it was just yourself. Why doesn’t your bill say you owe nothing ? Or do you end up getting a refund on your credit card or something like that ?
Hopefully the card will be sent right away. I am travelling out of Boston the first week of April and I believe there is something I can use in Terminal C at Logan.
Thanks in advance !!
This was the bill before they applied Priority Pass. I did owe nothing except a tip to my server. Sometimes restaurants do things differently. The Giants Clubhouse in the same terminal asks you to show and run the card up front.