About us

Al Scoma always believed in working hard, enjoying life and being the best in the business. His restaurant operating experience began in the late 1950s as one of the original six partners in Castagnola's Restaurant on Fisherman's Wharf. Although he loved the restaurant business, he discovered the difficulty of making efficient, expedient decisions with six partners. So, with his purchase of a humble café in 1965, Al found an outlet for all the business and life lessons he had learned. In no time, Al built Scoma's into a landmark restaurant and was always in the front of the house to greet locals, visitors, sports stars, celebrities and anyone who walked through the door. Gracious to all, welcoming guests to his restaurant as he would his home, Al believed that everyone was special and deserved the best food and the best service when they dined at Scoma's. From the beginning, Al forged and nurtured relationships with local fisherman and by 1979, he purchased a 46-foot fishing boat that continues to be used and licensed for the annual salmon and crab seasons. The local fishermen always knew they had Al's support, whether offering a hot cup of coffee at the restaurant after a hard day's work or purchasing their catch directly. In 1993, with the "pier to plate" concept in mind, Al built Scoma's its own fish receiving station. Dedicated to his brother and co-founder Joe, the station permits public viewing of wild salmon and local Dungeness crab as it is off-loaded from boats and prepared for the kitchen