If you’ve ever taken the ferry out to Alcatraz, you know the food situation at the pier is pretty rough. But that’s about to change. Il Porto, a new waterfront restaurant and cafe, is opening this June at Pier 31’s Alcatraz Landing, and it’s bringing some serious culinary chops to one of San Francisco’s most-visited tourist destinations.

Behind the project is Eduardo Rallo, a venture capitalist and early investor in tech companies like OpenTable and Zappos. But lately, Rallo has been trading the startup world for the restaurant game, and he’s got a pretty solid track record in the Bay Area. He opened Il Parco, a cafe and pizzeria at the Presidio Tunnel Tops in 2024, and before that, he launched Colibri Mexican Bistro in the Presidio back in 2022. His strategy is straightforward: find high-traffic locations packed with tourists and serve them genuinely good food.

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy has been working on expanding the Alcatraz Landing ferry station for almost a decade. As part of those renovations, they built out a 3,700-square-foot space specifically for a restaurant operator. Il Porto is stepping in to fill that gap.

The setup is pretty solid. Beyond the main indoor restaurant space, Il Porto will have access to a public patio on the north side of the building and a smaller public seating area closer to the Embarcadero. Rallo is also working on getting a Type 47 liquor license, so you’ll be able to grab beer, wine, or spirits with your meal.

There are some logistical requirements that come with the territory. Il Porto has to open at least 45 minutes before the first ferry departs (typically 8:40 a.m.) and stay open until at least 30 minutes after the last ferry returns, which is usually around 10 p.m. when night tours are running. So basically, the restaurant’s hours are tied directly to the ferry schedule.

Rallo isn’t new to the hospitality world, either. Beyond his tech investments and restaurant ventures, he cofounded the local World Wrapps chain and sits on the board of Pacific Catch. His Buen Rallo group also operates El Jardín and Suspiro, a Spanish-Peruvian concept in San Jose’s Santana Row.

Financially, the lease structure includes an annual base rent plus a percentage of sales above a certain break-even point, meaning Rallo’s success is directly tied to how well the restaurant performs.

For Alcatraz visitors, this is genuinely good news. Whether you’re grabbing coffee before your tour or sitting down for a proper meal after exploring the island, you’ll finally have a solid food option that doesn’t feel like a tourist trap.