Restaurants

I have a confession to make:  I’m hungover this morning.

I guess I had a little too much to drink last night.  Friends were over – we ate some dinner, played some Trivial Pursuit and talked the night away.  And through the entire course of the night, the wine was flowing.  Freely.  Maybe a little too freely.

A hangover shouldn’t have been unexpected.  And given the amount of fun had last night, this headache and moody stomach seem a fair exchange.  But, boy, am I jonesing for a great hangover breakfast this morning.  You know what I’m talking about.  A big plate of greasy eggs, bacon and toast.  With coffee – or my preference, with a soda fountain Coca-Cola.  For some reason, it just tastes so good after a night of overindulgence.  And it tastes even better when served on a cracked formica counter from a surly waitress in a dimly lit diner or greasy spoon.  Just the thing to settle the stomach and soothe a pounding head.

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Cafe Madeleine San Francisco - Oh La La!

Haven’t we all had those days when we can’t decide what to eat? We are in an unfamiliar city or an area that we don’t normally spend much of our time, so we stand around and hope that we don’t just grab the first familiar fast food we see.

For anyone who has been in that predicament, you are in luck. Cafe Madeleine is a fabulous cafe and bakery in San Francisco with three locations in the heart of the city.

I’ve used to work across the street from one location, and to be honest, would have weeks where I would get the grilled sandwich for lunch every other day. One of my favorites is the Niman Ranch ham, cheddar cheese, sliced apples and honey mustard on ciabbata bread for $8. It is hot and tasty and oh la la good! Read More »

Sweet Crepes @ Savor San Francisco

One of the most consistent restaurants in my ‘hood is Savor, on 24th Street in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco.  Savor is also an apt description of our recent dining experience. We savored every bite!  We stopped in for brunch recently and were cheered to see that the food and service is still outstanding.

As I mentioned before, Chloe’s Cafe around the block on Church Street is a very popular brunch spot, with a line present most weekends. However popular it might be, one of my favorite lunch or brunch destinations is Savor. They offer homemade corn beef hash to start with. Real homemade. Not many places do that anymore and the difference in flavor is immediately noticeable. Read More »

$7.50 for 2 pieces Chicken + Waffle @ Little Skillet in SOMA

After the gym today I was looking for a place to grab some food. My criteria was simple. I wanted good food and it needed to be somewhere close. My problem? I was south of market (SOMA), surrounded by a lot of downtown high-rises, industrial businesses and lofts.

Using my trusty iPhone, I found that I had “an app for that” problem and soon was on my way to Farmerbrown’s Little Skillet.  It turned out to be a cool “to go” outlet of Farmerbrown’s Restaurant located in the Tenderloin district.

The Little Skillet, as it was cutely referred to by a hipster in front of me to their friend (yes, I’m a known eavesdropper) wasn’t that hard to find once I saw it on my map.  If I was new to the city or visiting, finding Ritch Alley might be difficult.  However it’s worth the hunt, if you want some really tasty southern comfort food. Read More »

Curlys Coffee Chop in North Beach

Say what you will about this place but Curly’s Coffee Shop in North Beach holds a special place in my heart. First of all, I have always loved their classic American breakfasts with a Japanese twist. I used to walk over from Sunday services at Sts. Peter and Paul Church at Washington Square Park, often getting their french toast almost every week.

Secondly, I appreciate any cafe that can stick around this long in San Francisco without going under financially or being closed by the Health Department. And thirdly, I think they also kind of kick *ss for being such a long time North Beach “non-pasta related” merchant in a sea of excellent Italian cafes and restaurants. I mean, I think I have followed them around to at least three different addresses in a two-block radius of Columbus Avenue.

Today was a nice reminder that though I can’t walk here for breakfast anymore, I can still drive over and enjoy classic menu items like the french toast or one of their delicious omelettes!

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Chloe's Cafe - a Noe Valley Destination

There are lots of places to have weekend brunches in San Francisco. You can choose a posh brunch at the luxurious Campton Place Restaurant at Union Square, or instead try a neighborhood hot spot like Chloe’s Cafe in Noe Valley.

Recently I tried Chloe’s Cafe for the first time, to see what all the fuss was about.  I met a friend there mid-week because there always seemed to be lines for their weekend brunches.  Given the persistence of the lines every time I drove by, it was my mistake to think that the food was going to be that great. Everyone I spoke to in the neighborhood, shoot even the lady waiting in line when I arrived raved about the menu and how the wait was worth it!

Maybe it was an off day, or maybe I should have ordered the breakfast items rather than the sandwich – but both my friend and I had a so-so experience. Read More »

Organic spirits, organic garnish, delicious drink!

Brunch at The Plant Cafe Organic in one sentence: The kind of organic, sustainable, local, foodie-centric, waterfront place everyone imagines they will find in San Francisco, but hardly ever exists, in a surprisingly touristy neighborhood.

Who you’ll see there: A mix of adventurous tourists and in-the know locals who’ve wandered up from the Ferry Building trying to get away from crowds, or down from Pier 39, in search of a non-chain restaurant.

Make sure to try: Baguette French Toast in an orange vanilla batter served with seasonal fruit, blackberry sauce & whipped cream or the Italian Grilled Cheese  with basil oil, fresh mozzarella & diced tomato, especially during tomato season. Also check out the unique cocktail menu with organic spirits and juices.

It’s okay to skip: Vegan sausage. Just have the side of fruit or vegetables and stop playing make believe.

So delicious you forget it's raw and vegan!

Best dessert: Raspberry Cashew-Cheesecake with blackberry black pepper sauce — it’s raw, vegan and gluten-free but somehow manages to be delicious!

Service: Three hostesses clustered at the entrance made up for their cluelessness by being sweet. The waitress was very helpful, offering to make off-menu changes.

Average meal price: Surprisingly affordable. Breakfast plates run from $5-12, sandwiches $8.50-12, dessert $4-6.

The Plant Logistics: Sheltered seating is available right on the water, which is nice during the five hot days during the year. The rest of the time, bring a sweater. And try to sit under the heat lamp. Also, you have to walk across a kind of alley, and go down a hallway to get to the bathroom, which is sort of public, although not that busy.

Parking: In theory you can find metered parking across the street, around Maritime Plaza with surprisingly better chances on the weekend. Definitely easier to walk from your hotel, and Muni back to Union Square.

Location:

Pier 3, The Embarcadero

Mailing Address
Suite 108, Pier 3, The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94111

Cafe & Take Out 415 984 0437
Restaurant (& reservations) 415 984 1973
Fax 415 984 1962
Email contactpier3@theplantcafe.com

Hours:

Cafe Hours of Operation
Mon – Sun 7:30am – 10:00pm

Restaurant Hours of Operation
Mon – Thur 11am – 10pm
Fri 11am – 11pm
Sat 10am – 11pm
Sun 10am – 10pm

Photos: Cat Lincoln

Millie's Kitchen is THE place for breakfast in the East Bay

We are out of our element, driving in Lafayette, California. This sleepy, suburban town across the Bay Bridge is a world away from San Francisco but only about 30 minutes driving time.

However we discovered that Lafayette might be sleepy but it has one of the most happening places for breakfast called Millie’s Kitchen. They are close to the Highway 24 but you won’t see them unless you are already on Oak Road.

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Are you planning a trip to LAX? I know just the place to stop for breakfast on your way back home. More Than Waffles in Encino is just that, More than Waffles.

I hate omelettes, yet I found myself wanting to try the Mediterranean, because it has so many things I like. Basil, mushrooms, garlic, tomatoes, mozzarella & feta, what’s not to like? The omelette was light and fluffy, a first for me. I ate every bite.

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We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  And when you can get a delicious, hot, made-to-order breakfast at a great little restaurant, so much the better.

(What can I say?  I’m a Mom.  I’m not sure why having a uterus means I’m also in charge of elaborate breakfast making but so it goes.  I’m going to write a letter to someone about this one day).

I’m a big fan of breakfast joints.  Especially the little hole-in-the-wall variety.  When traveling, I’m always happy when a local points me to the place where the locals break their fast.

And one such place you can get a fabulous breakfast is Rick’s All Seasons Restaurant in York, Maine.  Mornings at Rick’s bring together lobstermen, locals, post-party teens and the beach’s tourists for their coffee and sustenance.  While you won’t find grits, that Southern staple that those south of the Mason-Dixon line insist are an integral part of a morning meal, just about everything else breakfast-y you can think of is on the menu.  Eggs of all varieties.  Pancakes.  Waffles.  Bagels.  Toast.  Bacon.  All the food is slightly greasy, a little salty and oh-so-good.  I’m starting to drool just writing about it.

My favorite?  The grilled muffins.  Sure, you could just get a regular blueberry or banana muffin and make do.  But where’s the fun in that?  At Rick’s they’ll cut it in half, slap some butter on it and throw it on the grill.  This creates a slightly crunchy, buttery breakfast dream come true.  Any guilt you feel after consuming it is miniscule in comparison to the pleasure.  Throw it next to some corned beef hash and eggs and you’ll have a meal that can power you for the rest of the day.

Like most local joints, Rick’s isn’t much on ambiance.  The chairs don’t match, the tables are scratched and you may find a little crusty something-or-other on your fork.  But the mix of customers and their incredible breakfasts will make it a place you’ll return to again and again.

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Rick’s All Seasons Restaurant
240 York St, #R
York, ME 03909

(207) 363-5584