By Sean Rinn

“To be honest, I could never imagine in a million years that I’d be sitting here today, talking to you as the owner of Outerlands,” said Riley Bartlett, owner and general manager. “It’s wild. It’s amazing. I just feel really lucky.” 

In 2022 after being the restaurant’s general manager for a year, Bartlett was handed the keys to the kingdom that is Outerlands, an essential restaurant woven into the fabric of the Outer Sunset neighborhood over the last 15 years, built by previous owners Dave Muller and Lana Porcello.

“Taking over for Dave and Lana, I feel like kind of a steward of what they created,” Bartlett said. “They created a magical place. I’m just trying to honor that and what they set up and what they gave me to run with.” 

Bartlett’s goal has been to maintain the restaurant’s laid back beachy charm that he fell in love with as a regular over the years prior. 

“I think the reason why I was attracted to the restaurant is, in full disclosure, I was a regular,” he said. “I would go in frequently; I would get a shift off at another restaurant job and meet my wife over there. We got to know the staff and got to know Dave pretty well, and so I think that informed me and my excitement about the restaurant. Just knowing this little magic spot in this foggy neighborhood, having a great cocktail, a great meal. I think it’s just special, this little oasis that really attracted me.” 

What is behind the delicious dishes and relaxed environment that makes this little spot tucked away in the fog near Ocean Beach so special? The key is in the culture. Established by Muller and Porcello, Bartlett believes that a positive culture leads to an excellent dining experience. 

“We always joke Outerlands is a place for restaurant people to retire, and you feel that the staff is very laid back, very sweet and really does a good job taking care of the customers,” Bartlett said. “It’s not a screaming or yelling place, or people are throwing pots and pans. It’s really just a fun place to work. That’s something I’ve tried to grow and make sure is still there, because if the staff feels good and taken care of, they’re going to take care of the customers.” 

Establishing good habits and a positive culture helped Outerlands get through hard times. Bartlett faced significant adversities from the moment he took over. He inherited the responsibility of owning a restaurant during COVID-19, a time that saw many restaurants close down. 

Following a hiatus to plan for the restaurant’s survival in unprecedented times of isolation, the Outerlands crew decided to just open for brunch until COVID’s impact diminished. However, Bartlett and Outerlands’ problems weren’t solved by just reopening their doors. 

“One of the big issues was staffing. It was really hard to hire people back into a restaurant space, densely populated small rooms. I think that was kind of the reason why dinner was slow to open back up.” 

Another challenge facing the restaurant was re-familiarizing itself with the neighborhood after people moved away during the pandemic. 

“I think that was also one of the changes, just getting to know the neighborhood again, because the restaurant was closed for close to a year and a half, which especially at that time was substantial,” Bartlett said. 

Despite the Sunset evolving over the last five years into something entirely new, Bartlett’s vision for Outerlands is to capture the special atmosphere of its past and reintroduce it to new people who have moved here. 

“We’re trying to create a pretty familiar experience for the guests,” he said. “It’s your neighborhood restaurant that you can feel good about eating at multiple times a week. I think it should feel like the kind of seasonal farm-to-table neighborhood restaurant that you’re used to.” 

Wanting to build meaningful connections brought Bartlett into the restaurant industry to begin with. 

“It was a good way to sustain myself and have a good time and meet people,” he said. “And then one day when I was 26 or 27, I just had this realization that it was something that I really loved and that it’s something I wanted to dedicate myself to.” 

Bartlett doesn’t want to change the culture, or how Outerlands does business because they’ve found something that works. Something Bartlett does hope for in the future is produce more of their house bread, a crowd favorite. 

“Right now, we’re only making 30 loaves a day, and there’s such attention to detail on each loaf and making sure everything is done properly so that it shows up in the flavor in the bread itself,” Bartlett said. “I would like more people to eat our bread because I think it is so sensational.” 

Bartlett is proud that Outerlands can boast Michelin Guide recognized status as a Bib Gourmand restaurant but understands that status is a privilege. 

“We’re 15 years in now, and to go another 10 years, to have a restaurant that’s been open for 25 years is amazing. I think that’s incredible,” he said. “It’s so hard to run a restaurant. To be open for another five or 10 years would just be a blessing, and to be honest, the only way to do that is with the support of the neighborhood, which I really feel like we have. I love the Sunset as a whole and San Francisco. I always want to be recognized as a community place.” 

It’s clear Bartlett has genuine love for his community and the City. He notes that the neighborhood has changed since he moved there in 1996, and that now there’s a lot more energy, that reminds him of old school San Francisco. 

“I have two kids, and it’s just such a fun place to raise kids and there’s so many families and friends that I have just living out here,” he said. “It just feels like a really bright spot for San Francisco right now.” 

Stop by Outerlands for chill atmosphere and great seasonal farm-to-table menu, including dishes recommended by Bartlett himself, like the grilled cheese on their special bread, green onion scones or roast chicken to name a few. Stick around for a cocktail and bar program that Bartlett is proud to grow. 

Outerlands is located at 4001 Judah St, a short walk to Ocean Beach. Learn more at https://outerlandssf.com/.