The Plant Cafe Organic: SF’s Ultra Green Restaurant

Considered one of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/habana-outpost-an-eco-restaurant-grows-in-brooklyn/" target="_blank">"greenest" restaurants</a> in San Francisco, <a href="http://www.theplantcafe.com/" target="_blank">The Plant Cafe Organic</a> puts its money where its mouth is and loudly professes its commitment to the green scene. This ultra hip restaurant on Pier 3 sidles up to the Bay offering great views, organic and local food, renewable energy, and environmentally friendly and healthy decor. San Francisco-based <a href="http://www.ccs-architecture.com/v3/" target="_blank">CCS Architecture</a> designed both the original restaurant at the Marina as well as a new one located at Pier 3 that was renovated from 1900s historic warehouses. And to top it all off, they've got a solar system on the roof to power their kitchen!

The Plant Cafe was honored this year with the Best Vegetarian Restaurant Award by SF Weekly, but the accolades don't stop there.

San Francisco Waterfront Partners also named it the greenest restaurant in San Francisco as a tribute to both their organic and primarily locally sourced menu, as well as the many green design features.

The owners of the restaurant wanted a new space to reflect their sustainable ideals in addition to providing a hip, green space for people to enjoy good food.

CCS Architecture, who designed their other restaurant at the Marina, took the lead in designing the new structure at Pier 3. The restaurant was in fact was part of a large revitalization project of the Embarcadero.

Two large historic pier warehouses were renovated to create a 112-seat restaurant and a separate, counter-service cafe.

The tall 18 foot ceilings, exposed timber beams and the casement windows were retained to give the restaurant the feel of the historic pier.

Locally sourced and reclaimed wood were used to create many of the tables and interior spaces, while cold rolled steel, stainless steel, zinc and recycled content tiles round out the mix. The vibrant green flooring is made out of coconut shells. Daylighting, composting, recycled or biodegradable take out containers and energy efficient lighting are also big parts of the restaurant.

On the roof, a 6 kw solar system generates enough electricity to power the restaurant's kitchen, even in foggy San Francisco. An innovative water Electrolyzer system converts tap water into acidic and alkaline cleaning fluids for counters, floors, windows and dishwashing.

The very talented Flora Grubb designed a beautiful living wall installation out of air plants for the back wall of the restaurant.

Flora Grubb's floral designs and living wall installations are a favorite here at Inhabitat.

Outdoor seating areas were built on the side of the bay, which would normally be chilly, but have canopies and heating for year-round comfort.

Eco friendly materials are a main feature of the restaurant with a strong focus towards healthy and natural materials - a reflection of the food.

The Plant Cafe Organic takes up two historic warehouse buildings on Pier 3 and straddles what used to be an old train line.