The Trident, where stars gathered for counterculture fun

With the light from inside visible across the San Francisco Bay, the historic Trident restaurant in Sausalito has a long, storied history that includes Robin Williams, Woody Allen, Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia, The Kingston Trio and even a daring heist by the mob!

The building, at 558 Bridgeway, was built in 1898 to house the San Francisco Yacht Club, which later became a jazz club called the Yacht Dock.

In 1960, the folksy group the Kingston Trio purchased the building and turned it into a music venue, natural foods restaurant and all-around counterculture hotspot that would be renamed The Trident.

The Trident soon became a hangout for many of the musical acts who recorded nearby at the Record Plant recording studio, and for countless Hollywood celebrities, too!

During those years, you might have seen Joan Baez, the Rolling Stones, Bill Cosby, the Smothers Brothers, rock promoter Bill Graham, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Groucho Marx or Clint Eastwood seated at one of the tables, or at the bar, where it’s said Garcia spent many a Saturday.

You might have also spotted Jefferson Airplane, Carlos Santana, Van Morrison, Bob Marley or Miles Davis, who had his own personal chess set at his window seat.

David Crosby once called the Trident, “Ground zero for sex, drugs and Rock and Roll!”

From 1974 to ’76, comedian/actor Robin Williams bused tables and washed dishes within its groovy walls. Imagine how entertaining he must have made those long work shifts.

Janis Joplin lived down the street and frequented the restaurant so often that she had her own table, which she accessed through a secret side entrance. It's a funky little alcove that lets you feel Joplin's presence, even today.

And if you love the Tequila Sunrise drink, the modern version of it was created by Trident bartenders Bobby Lozoff and Billy Rice in 1972.

“The (Rolling) Stones were really hard to handle, so Bill (Graham) made arrangements to bring them into The Trident for a secure, intimate party," Lazoff said. "Keith Richards walked up to the bar and asked for a margarita, and I said, 'Hey, have you ever tried this drink?' And he went 'Alcohol? I’ll try it.'"

The band took a liking to the drink, and when the Rolling Stones kicked off their 1972 tour of America, they started ordering the concoction across the country as they traveled for what became known as the "cocaine and tequila sunrise tour.”

With all the Hollywood stars visiting, it's no surprise The Trident eventually made its way onto the big screen. In 1972, moviegoers got to see the beautiful restaurant in the Woody Allen film, Play it Again, Sam.

What was a surprise, however, was that The Trident garnered the attention of some brazen criminals. In October 1971, several armed men wearing “scuba gear” entered The Trident from the waterside, restrained two employees, and robbed the safe of $30,000 in cash. The mafia was said to be tied to the crime, which became known as the Frogman Heist.

In so many ways, The Trident has a special history. Peter Otis, who stars in the local Marin County cult favorite Abandoned Creatures and was a customer of The Trident during the early '70s, said he always enjoyed stepping into the unique experience of the restaurant.

"It was the opposite of going to Howard Johnson's (restaurant)," he said, adding it was fun "to take your uncle from Omaha to a really hippie place."

Walking into the 1960s-groovy interior of The Trident today, you’re immediately transported back to a time when this building at the edge of the San Francisco Bay, with the exquisite views of the city, hosted the best parties in town and attracted the biggest stars of music and screen.

Its expansive ceiling hosts an artful mural straight out of its counterculture days. The interior feels cozy and nostalgic. The outside patio offers a perfect view of San Francisco, complete with some seagulls stopping by, or even some appearances by sea lions or dolphins out in the Bay.

Many elements of the historic restaurant remain the same, but some have changed with the times. Back in the day, The Trident was known for its scantily clad waitresses, whose laid-back vibe matched the devil-may-care attitude of the day.

Today, the restaurant is classy and upscale, while maintaining that unique, psychedelic feel. You can order seafood and look out at San Francisco, a city with its own counterculture history mixed with an opulent vibe.