Huge Dim Sum Palace From R&G Lounge Founder Opens With Waterfront Views

Harborview Restaurant & Bar has officially replaced Crystal Jade Jiang Nan — a massive $14 million endeavor that closed this summer after four years in its 20,000-square-foot Embarcadero Center space. The new business comes from Kinson Wong, founder of popular Chinatown crab destination R&G Lounge, and it opened this week at 4 Embarcadero Center — just in time for the local Dungeness season.

Harborview’s menu features salt and pepper crab — an R&G staple — plus duck, dumplings, and pork buns. More deluxe dishes — like black truffle xiao long bao — also grace the menu. The Cantonese cuisine comes with a side of panoramic views: The Embarcadero Center space opens up onto a view of the plaza formerly known as Justin Herman Plaza, a short distance from the Ferry Building and within sight of the Bay Bridge.

A representative from the restaurant clarifies that Wong is no longer involved in operations at R&G, and that R&G and Harborview are unrelated in terms of management.

Patricia Chang

On top of a 200-seat dining room, bar, and lounge, Harborview sports a 4,000-square-foot outdoor terrace. The space also includes multiple private banquet rooms and appears to feature much of its predecessor’s furnishings, which were selected by celebrated interior designer Ken Fulk.

Predecessor Crystal Jade Jang Nian couldn’t quite keep its kitchen up to par with its setting, and critics took a harsh view of the restaurant. Harborview’s arrival is good news, then, for R&G’s existing fanbase and FiDi workers looking for dim sum power lunches.

For now, Harborview’s weekday hours are lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with a daily happy hour from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.