Founded 76 years ago by a group of San Francisco restaurateurs

• President's List
• 1938-1946 Robert Grison, Grison's Steak House
• 1946-1948 Carl Franz, Townsend's
• 1948-1950 Malcolm Stewart, Manning's
• 1950-1951 Ralph Moody, B/G Foods
• 1951-1953 Gus Cafeals, C & R Coffee Shop
• 1953-1955 George Casten, Thirty Geary Restaurant
• 1955-1956 Louis Rocca, Original Joe's
• 1956-1957 George Olsen, Foster Lunch Systems
• 1957-1959 William Kabeary, The Town House
• 1959-1961 Bob Campbell, Bob's Restaurant
• 1961-1963 Arthur Zimmerman, Zim's Restaurant
• 1963-1965 Williard Houghton, Manning's
• 1965-1966 Richard Bronson, Duchess, Inc.
• 1966-1968 Gary Nachmann, Lyon 's
• 1968-1971 Don Dianda, Doro's
• 1971-1973 Al Pollack, The Main Stem
• 1973-1975 Roland Gotti, Ernie's
• 1975-1977 SJ Monro, Pam Pam East
• 1977-1979 Harry Meharry, Miz. Brown's
• 1979-1981 Haig Mardikian, Omar Khayyam's
• 1981-1983 Rolf Lewis, Rolf's Since 1960
• 1983-1985 Al Petri, Alfred's
• 1985-1986 John Kukulica, The Iron Horse
• 1986-1988 Colleen Meharry, Miz Brown's Inc.
• 1988-1990 Marvin Israel, The Carnelian Room
• 1990-1992 Helen Hobbs, Tia Margarita
• 1992-1994 Al Falchi, The Waterfront
• 1994-1996 Paul Lazzareschi, Bardelli's Restaurant
• 1996-1997 - Gianni Fassio, Palio d'Asti
• 1997-2000 - Kevin Westlye, Franciscan Restaurant
• 2000-2002 - Kathleen Harrington, Harrington's Bar & Grill
• 2002-2004 - Mariann Costello, Scoma's Restaurant
• 2004-2005 - Ken Zankel, The Grove
• 2006-2007 - Glenn Meyers, High Flying Foods, Inc.
• 2008-2009 - Daniel Scherotter, Palio d' Asti

The GGRA was founded in 1936 by a group of San Francisco restaurateurs who recognized the need for an organization to speak on behalf of the local restaurant industry. It was an instant success: by early 1937, the organization grew so large it incorporated, passed by-laws, and elected officers.

Early issues the GGRA addressed included racketeering and collective labor agreements-even the impact of food rationing during World War II. Over time, GGRA moved into marketing, introducing the annual Dining Guide & and Purchasing Guide, and education, by establishing a scholarship foundation. GGRA started making group purchases of insurance and worker's compensation. And of course, the GGRA brought the concerns of its members to legislators while keeping its members abreast of industry-related issues.

The GGRA is still here because we all face many of the same challenges the founders did 76 years ago. In fact, some of San Francisco 's oldest and most successful restaurants are long-standing members of the GGRA-and are still members today! We found photos of four cornerstone members: Fisherman's Grotto in 1948, Alioto's in 1950, the Cliff House in 1950, and Tarantino's in 1951.

In 1968 the Golden Gate Restaurant Association Scholarship Foundation (GGRASF) was founded. Every year the Trustees award tuition scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. We also give special awards in honor of industry role models David Rubenstein, General Counsel for GGRA from 1938-1968, and Robert Grison, co-founder and first President of GGRA.