A Seafood Boil, a Family Block, and a Bowl of Cioppino

How a craving Ramzy couldn’t satisfy in San Francisco became one of Bernal Heights’ favorite neighborhood restaurants

Oct 20, 2026

A Seafood Boil, a Family Block, and a Bowl of Cioppino

Ramzy grew up on Cortland Avenue. His father ran Pay Little Market here for 32 years, and now Ramzy works next door at Seafood Station, the restaurant he opened.

It began with a craving. He loved seafood boils and couldn’t find a good one anywhere in San Francisco, so he and his team made their own version. Picking the neighborhood took no deliberation. “It’s a part of my family history,” he says.

The size of the place

Seafood Station is small, and Ramzy likes it that way. Fewer tables means the kitchen can stay consistent and take its time with each plate. But he cares more about how the room feels. He wants people to walk in and feel like part of the family. “We treat our customers like family,” he says.

Victor Fadayel noticed. In a comment on Bernal Connect, he called it a great family-friendly place:

“They do Seafood right.”
— Victor Fadayel

The food

The mussels, chorizo, and lime came from the restaurant’s chef, who is from San Marco, Guatemala. The broth is heavy cream, Mexican-style chorizo, lime juice, and chicken broth. The cioppino is the San Francisco standard, a stew of clams, mussels, shrimp, and cod that has been around since the 1800s, served with two slices of garlic bread. Ramzy’s own favorite is the cod tacos, which he describes as light, flaky, and fresh.

The seafood comes from local markets and fishermen he trusts. The team inspects it and prepares it fresh each day. Victor called the food “scrumptious and delicious” and said the prices were good and the service great.

The block

Ask Ramzy about running a business on Cortland, and he answers fast. “Being in Cortland is everything to me.”

His uncle opened Pay Little Market and ran it for five years before selling it to Ramzy’s father, who kept it going for the next 32. The market is no longer family-run; it's now SF Tequila Shop, but the family stayed. Seafood Station sits next door, and on the other side, Ramzy’s cousin Paul runs Pizza Express.

After all those years on Cortland, Ramzy and Paul are the next generation on the block. They hope to hand it down to their own children someday.

People come in from all over the world, Ramzy says, and he hears the same thing from most of them: they leave feeling appreciated. Terri Hanagan, a regular, wrote in April 2025 that Seafood Station is now her favorite local restaurant:

“My ‘go to.’ I love the food and [Ramzy] and the others who work there.”
— Terri (Maria) Hanagan

What’s next

Ramzy’s idea of a day off is eating at other seafood restaurants to see what they’re doing. A new menu is coming, and he hopes to add pasta and salads.

Asked what he’d tell someone opening their own place, he doesn’t hedge: never give up.

Halloween on Cortland: Volunteers Needed

📅 Saturday, October 31, 2026
🕔 5:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Cortland Avenue

Halloween on Cortland is one of Bernal’s favorite traditions. Founded and hosted by Greening Projects, it temporarily closes Cortland Avenue to cars. It turns it into a pedestrian-friendly celebration where neighbors of all ages can connect and have fun.

It only works with neighbors pitching in. Traffic and intersection monitors are especially needed. Here’s where you can help:

🚧 The Crypt Keepers of the Gate (Barricade & Signage Team): set up the barricades and signs that close the street.
👻 The Safety Ghouls (Traffic & Intersection Safety Monitors): keep intersections safe and traffic where it belongs.
🎃 Wandering Wranglers & Spirit Guides (Roaming Ambassadors & Crowd Stewards): welcome visitors, help the crowd flow, and keep the mood festive.
🔓 The Curse Breakers & Gate Openers (Barricade Removal & Traffic Reopening Team): clear the street and restore normal traffic.

Sign up to volunteer at halloweenoncortland.com

Warm Hearts, Warm Clothes: Paul Revere Elementary Winter Clothing Drive! 🧥❄️

Hi neighbors and friends,

The Paul Revere Elementary School Winter Clothing Drive is officially underway! They are collecting new or gently used warm clothing to support students (TK through 8th grade) and their families this winter.

What We Need

Sizes: Kids TK–8th grade, plus adult sizes for family members
Items: Jackets, coats, sweaters, hoodies, warm pants, hats, gloves, and scarves
Condition: New or gently used (clean and in good repair)

How to Donate

Drop-off Location: Main office at Paul Revere Elementary School (Folsom St & Tompkins Ave, Bernal Heights)
Deadline: November 30

Need Help with Pickup?

If you can’t make it to the school for drop-off, let me know! I am doing a few local pickup runs before November 30 and am happy to swing by to pick up your donation.

If you have any questions, you can reach out directly to the school contact, Pamela Stein, at SteinP@sfusd.edu, or message me to coordinate a pickup.

Thank you so much for supporting our local kids and families!

Bernal Connect

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