Restaurants

Feel Glamorous Lunch @ Armani Cafe

Do you have a group of friends that you like to meet up with for a little retail therapy?  I am part of this great group of girlfriends who like to meet regularly downtown.  Besides hitting the stores, we also use this time together to try out cafes and restaurants.

This time after we combed the sale racks at Banana Republic, Loehmann’s and H&M we decided to hit the Armani Cafe, just inside the Armani store on Grant Avenue in San Francisco.

We may live for sales but we also need to feel glamorous.  What better way to gaze at the gorgeous Giorgio Armani clothes without feeling the guilt of not buying them, then to grab a bite at his cafe.  We could have gone for the European feel and sat outside on the sidewalk but decided to up the style quotient and get a table overlooking the beautiful displays inside.

A few of us at the table were disappointed that it wasn’t 3:00 pm yet because the cafe has a happy hour with drink specials that include a $6 Cosmo or Martini.  I was excited to see my favorite summer food, a caprese salad (heirloom tomato, basil and fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese!) on the menu for $9 as well as fried calamari for $10. 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 »

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

Are you a big sports fan? Can’t wait until football season starts? If you live in San Francisco then you can’t miss the Kezar Pub & Restaurant across from Kezar Stadium near Golden Gate Park.

Kezar Stadium is a legend among locals. Originally built in the 1920’s (before being replaced with a smaller version in 1989), the stadium back then still holds the attendance record for a high school football game in Northern California, with over 50,000 showing up for a game between big rivals Lowell High School and San Francisco Polytechnic.

Did you know that both the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers began their professional NFL existence in the original Kezar Stadium? Given this legendary status, it is no wonder that the Kezar Pub and Restaurant opened its doors across the street. Read More »

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.

Read More »

The infamous beignets at Just For You Cafe in San Francisco.

Whenever my boyfriend David and I told people that we were moving into San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood, we usually got three different responses:

“Where’s Dogpatch?”
“Oh! You will be near Just For You Cafe! They have the best beignets.”
“OK, listen to me, this is important. You must go to Just For You Cafe and get the beignets!”

With so many recommendations, expectations were high for Just For You Cafe, which is also known as Mabel’s. It did not disappoint. In fact, our first week in our new place, David and I ate at Just For You Cafe three times, hitting the restaurant for brunch, dinner and a happy hour.

Read More »

A Blue Moon and mimosa with a view at The Ramp in San Francisco.

It was one of those perfect days in San Francisco.

We went out the night before and got a little tipsy with friends. We slept late. The weather was gorgeous. No clouds. No fog. Warm sun. Blue skies. My boyfriend David and I decided to take advantage of this lovely day and walk to The Ramp to check out its brunch menu.

Located near Aqua Vista Park, The Ramp boasts outdoor patio seating right on the water. On a sunny day, The Ramp gets a little crowded, especially on the weekends. A casual restaurant by the water with a nice view is going to attract customers, so we had to wait for 15 minutes to get a table, not that we cared. We discovered The Ramp is an ideal spot for a sipping on a Blue Moon beer and a mimosa in the sun. Who would mind waiting?

Read More »

Bar Seating @ La Terrasse

A relaxing restaurant for a casual weekend or early dinner is La Terrasse Restaurant in San Francisco. They are located opposite the main post in the Presidio, which allows you a nice view of the bay.  Note: if you go on a sunny afternoon, call ahead because it will be crowded.  When we went we sat near dressed up seniors mixed together with dressed down tourists, so you can probably get away with wearing what you feel most comfortable in.  Worst case, they have seating at the bar. Read More »

We were brunched out in the Haight in San Francisco. My boyfriend David and I were feeling like we had exhausted all our brunch options when we happened upon Kate’s Kitchen in the lower Haight.

One Saturday morning we left my apartment and just started walking, ruling out places.

“Too expensive.”
“Oh, that place is just meh.”
“Too crowded.”

We would stop by restaurants and check out the menu and then move on. Eventually, we walked by Kate’s Kitchen.

“I kinda like the look of this place. Let’s try it,” David said.

Now, I must warn you; usually there is a waiting list. On a weekend morning, you might have to wait 15 minutes or longer for a table. On this particular day, we got lucky. We just walked in and were seated immediately.

David fell in love with the place instantly when they served us Chicory coffee.

The French Toast Orgy at Kate's Kitchen.

I ordered the French Toast Orgy, a scandalous name for a delicious breakfast: orange-spiced toast topped with fresh fruit, plain yogurt, granola and honey. It is the most wonderful breakfast. I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s positively scrumptious. I cannot recommend it enough. (Later that same day, I suggested we go back to Kate’s Kitchen for brunch the next day. We didn’t, but we did go back a few weekends later, and I got the orgy again. I absolutely crave it sometimes. In fact, I’m craving it right now!)

David got the Big Guy Breakfast, which, as it turns out, is for big guys. It was a lot of food, including three cornmeal pancakes, eggs, potatoes and bacon and sausage. In other words, it’s perfect for the person who just can’t decide, because you get a little bit of everything.

Not only is the food fantastic, but unlike many other places in San Francisco, it’s not overpriced. Considering how great the food is and the sizable portions, you would expect a larger bill.

This little place that we had never heard of is now one of our favorite places to get brunch in San Francisco. The portions are big, but the price is small. We couldn’t believe our dumb luck finding this restaurant. We consider it one of our great brunch discoveries in San Francisco.

Kate’s Kitchen
471 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Phone: (415) 626-3984
Hours: Monday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.