This weekend I am going to do Sunday brunch at Bacar. Instead of waxing poetic about what it might be like, I thought I'd spread this bit of joy around:
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/04/fug_girls_slideshow.html#
Showing posts with label Soma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soma. Show all posts
Friday, April 9, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Brunch Etiquette: To Drink or Not to Drink
I think the question of daytime intoxication is a big one. Monday-Friday, it's a no-no (I don't care how poplar the liquid lunch is in movies), but on Saturday and Sunday... well why else does the Bloody Mary exist? If you google the term "drunk brunch" there are 12,000 results. TWELVE THOUSAND references to (in quotes) the term "drunk brunch." Based on my fifteen minutes of in-depth researching, I am left to conclude that internet consensus is that brunch is a socially sanctioned time to get drunk. I don't disagree. Which is why I won't dig too much deeper in case I uncover that some people actually don't think brunch is an excuse to indulge in a good old fashion daytime drunk. Given yesterday's look into the history of brunch, I think I am going to adopt the motto: Go for the food, stay for the cocktails.
The only disappointment in my search results was the abundance of New York drunk brunches. New York City seems to be the drunken brunch capital of America according to Google. While New York is home to a lot of restaurants and tons of reason to drink like the fact that every day you wake up and you're still living in New York [ed. note: I'm from Boston and baseball season just started, couldn't refrain] San Francisco has more than a few reasons to show up in a google search for "drunken brunch." In fact, here are 10 reasons. Presented to you in no particular order:
[Warning! This list is out of date, leave a comment with your favorite bottomless mimosa (or bloody mary!) in the comments since I'll be posting an updated list soon]
10 Places to get Bottomless Brunch Cocktails in San Francisco
Mercury Lounge (SOMA)
http://mercurysf.com/?page_id=45
Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm
Bottomless Delights: $11 Mimosas, $11 Bloody Marys
Lime (Castro)
http://www.lime-sf.com/brunch-menu.php
Saturday & Sunday Brunch, 10:30am-3pm
Bottomless Delights: $7 Mimosas, $10 Pomegranate Mimosas, $12 Bloody Marys
Barracuda (Castro)
http://www.barracudasushi.com/location.php?id=5
Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm
Bottomless Delights: $7 Mimosas
Circa (Marina)
http://www.circasf.com
Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm
Bottomless Delights: $9 Mimosas
Darla's (Inner Sunset)
http://www.darlas-sf.com/
Breakfast All Day! (Saturday & Sunday Bottomless)
Bottomless Delights: $8 Mimosas
Paul K (Hayes Valley)
http://www.paulkrestaurant.com/menu-brunch.htm
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 10:30am-2:30pm
Bottomless Delights: $12 Mimosas, $12 Bloody Marys
Panam (Castro)
http://panamsf.com/
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm
Bottomless Delights: $10 Mimosas, $10 Bloody Marys
Luna Park (Mission)
http://www.lunaparksf.com/index.asp?page=brunch#link829
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm
Bottomless Delights: $9 Mimosas (2 for 1 Bloody Marys isn't too shabby either)
Moussys (Nob Hill)
http://www.moussys.com/menu.php?which=brunch
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 10am-2pm
Bottomless Delights: $15 Mimosas
Fresca (Noe Valley)
http://www.frescasf.com/movies/noe_menus/brunch.html
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 11am-4pm
Bottomless Delights: $12 Mimosas
And as an added bonus, I'll throw in the Hotel Utah Saloon, which I wrote up this past weekend, as reason #11 for San Francisco to be proclaimed Drunk Brunch capital of America (or at least the west coast.)
Hotel Utah Saloon (SOMA)
http://www.thehotelutahsaloon.com/menu.html#weekend%20brunch
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 11am until whenever they decide to stop serving you, I guess?
Bottomless Delights: $9 Mimosas
The only disappointment in my search results was the abundance of New York drunk brunches. New York City seems to be the drunken brunch capital of America according to Google. While New York is home to a lot of restaurants and tons of reason to drink like the fact that every day you wake up and you're still living in New York [ed. note: I'm from Boston and baseball season just started, couldn't refrain] San Francisco has more than a few reasons to show up in a google search for "drunken brunch." In fact, here are 10 reasons. Presented to you in no particular order:
[Warning! This list is out of date, leave a comment with your favorite bottomless mimosa (or bloody mary!) in the comments since I'll be posting an updated list soon]
10 Places to get Bottomless Brunch Cocktails in San Francisco
Mercury Lounge (SOMA)
http://mercurysf.com/?page_id=45
Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm
Bottomless Delights: $11 Mimosas, $11 Bloody Marys
Lime (Castro)
http://www.lime-sf.com/brunch-menu.php
Saturday & Sunday Brunch, 10:30am-3pm
Bottomless Delights: $7 Mimosas, $10 Pomegranate Mimosas, $12 Bloody Marys
Barracuda (Castro)
http://www.barracudasushi.com/location.php?id=5
Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm
Bottomless Delights: $7 Mimosas
Circa (Marina)
http://www.circasf.com
Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm
Bottomless Delights: $9 Mimosas
Darla's (Inner Sunset)
http://www.darlas-sf.com/
Breakfast All Day! (Saturday & Sunday Bottomless)
Bottomless Delights: $8 Mimosas
Paul K (Hayes Valley)
http://www.paulkrestaurant.com/menu-brunch.htm
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 10:30am-2:30pm
Bottomless Delights: $12 Mimosas, $12 Bloody Marys
Panam (Castro)
http://panamsf.com/
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm
Bottomless Delights: $10 Mimosas, $10 Bloody Marys
Luna Park (Mission)
http://www.lunaparksf.com/index.asp?page=brunch#link829
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm
Bottomless Delights: $9 Mimosas (2 for 1 Bloody Marys isn't too shabby either)
Moussys (Nob Hill)
http://www.moussys.com/menu.php?which=brunch
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 10am-2pm
Bottomless Delights: $15 Mimosas
Fresca (Noe Valley)
http://www.frescasf.com/movies/noe_menus/brunch.html
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 11am-4pm
Bottomless Delights: $12 Mimosas
And as an added bonus, I'll throw in the Hotel Utah Saloon, which I wrote up this past weekend, as reason #11 for San Francisco to be proclaimed Drunk Brunch capital of America (or at least the west coast.)
Hotel Utah Saloon (SOMA)
http://www.thehotelutahsaloon.com/menu.html#weekend%20brunch
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 11am until whenever they decide to stop serving you, I guess?
Bottomless Delights: $9 Mimosas
Monday, April 5, 2010
The Butler & the Chef: Worth the Trip
I've now had the salmon Benedict at Butler & the Chef twice. Why? It's worth coming back for.
The food at Butler &The Chef is worth venturing to the small Soma neighborhood of South Park. Some people, including myself, have had a few hiccups with the service (an entire meal without water? Not okay) and the physical space of the restaurant -- cramped does not equate to "Parisian" quaint for me -- but the food, oh my, the food.
The first time I found myself at tB&tC, the line was so long that my friend and I wound up taking a table in the cold (~40F, not really outdoor seating weather) because there was a 40 minute wait for a table. I had the vegetarian soup of the day to start, which was delightful while it was warm, but unfortunately didn't stay hot for long in the cold. I also ordered a latte, which is served in a huge glass, so I wound up exchanging it for a cup of coffee (I tried to ask the milk/espresso ratio was in the latte and if I could have a small and the waitress just said "ok" and brought out what was basically just lightly flavored steamed milk).
Once my salmon Benedict on olive loaf came, I didn't care that I was outside or that I didn't have a latte. The eggs were poached perfectly. The hollandaise, slightly tart, was balanced perfectly by the olive loaf and the salmon (not sure how well it would go on the other Benedict options).
On my second visit with another friend, he got the quiche of the day. Definitely the best quiche I've had. So fluffy. So light. The salmon perfect. I had stuck with what I know (awful pun time) since I'm a "Ben-addict" (ha, sorry), and his quiche almost had me ordering a second entree.
The vegetarian split pea soup was even better than the vegetarian soup option the week before. The soup was so delicious, that I was able to overlook the waitress forgetting my soup. And my water. And mistaking my hot chocolate for a mocha.
This place is worth visiting for the food; everything is mouthwatering and nothing edible has disappointed. Just don't have the highest of hopes for the service and you'll be sure to get your money's worth. Speaking of money, it's not terribly expensive, but it's not cheap either. It's a nicer than middle of the road place that you could definitely impress a date with... just try and grab a less than cramped table :)
All the Info:
155A South Park St
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 896-2075
The food at Butler &The Chef is worth venturing to the small Soma neighborhood of South Park. Some people, including myself, have had a few hiccups with the service (an entire meal without water? Not okay) and the physical space of the restaurant -- cramped does not equate to "Parisian" quaint for me -- but the food, oh my, the food.
The first time I found myself at tB&tC, the line was so long that my friend and I wound up taking a table in the cold (~40F, not really outdoor seating weather) because there was a 40 minute wait for a table. I had the vegetarian soup of the day to start, which was delightful while it was warm, but unfortunately didn't stay hot for long in the cold. I also ordered a latte, which is served in a huge glass, so I wound up exchanging it for a cup of coffee (I tried to ask the milk/espresso ratio was in the latte and if I could have a small and the waitress just said "ok" and brought out what was basically just lightly flavored steamed milk).
Once my salmon Benedict on olive loaf came, I didn't care that I was outside or that I didn't have a latte. The eggs were poached perfectly. The hollandaise, slightly tart, was balanced perfectly by the olive loaf and the salmon (not sure how well it would go on the other Benedict options).
On my second visit with another friend, he got the quiche of the day. Definitely the best quiche I've had. So fluffy. So light. The salmon perfect. I had stuck with what I know (awful pun time) since I'm a "Ben-addict" (ha, sorry), and his quiche almost had me ordering a second entree.
The vegetarian split pea soup was even better than the vegetarian soup option the week before. The soup was so delicious, that I was able to overlook the waitress forgetting my soup. And my water. And mistaking my hot chocolate for a mocha.
This place is worth visiting for the food; everything is mouthwatering and nothing edible has disappointed. Just don't have the highest of hopes for the service and you'll be sure to get your money's worth. Speaking of money, it's not terribly expensive, but it's not cheap either. It's a nicer than middle of the road place that you could definitely impress a date with... just try and grab a less than cramped table :)
All the Info:
155A South Park St
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 896-2075
Find it on Yelp:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-butler-and-the-chef-bistro-san-francisco
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Hotel Utah Saloon: Deliciously Cheap
For my first brunch post, I decided I wanted to go somewhere new. What calls to me when looking for a great brunch restaurant isn't necessarily... anything. I try not to judge a book by its cover. The Hotel Utah is the type of place you usually judge by its cover. It's a total dive, and true to the name it's an actual saloon. Built in 1908, the Hotel Utah has been standing in the same South of Market spot for a long time, so it's accumulated more than a few bumps and bruises over the years -- but if you look closely enough you can see it was once a beautiful building. The wood work of the bar is gorgeously detailed, which you wouldn't expect given you're sitting in a dive bar. Don't get me wrong, the place is a pit, but it's got some charm beneath the grime.
I was meeting a friend and settled on Hotel Utah because it was close to the Caltrain and while scanning Yelp, it showed up around the end of the results list (which is long when you're searching "brunch, soma). When I went to the website and saw the brunch menu, I knew I was in for a divish treat. And it was. The place is covered in 102 years worth of "personality."
When I walked in, even for all my brunch bravery, I almost turned around and walked out. My friend was at the bar drinking a $9 bottomless mimosa, which had me sold. A no-fuss bottomless mimosa is not easy to find in San Francisco! And it wasn't a bad mimosa either, not the best I've ever had, but I had 5 of them for $9 so no complaints. The bar tender, Robert (possibly Roger, I may have misheard), was incredibly friendly, and when I asked if there were any tables he giggled a little let me know there were tables behind me and upstairs... it's a seat yourself kind of place and we were the only ones there to boot. We settled on a table in front of the bar for ease of access to more mimosas and to enjoy the view... of the highway on ramp. Beautiful! [ed. note: sarcasm]
The menu is short and to the point: eggs, more eggs, another plate of eggs, home fries and a Monte Crisco sandwich (which has eggs in the batter). If you don't like eggs, this is not your "I'll have the french toast" kind of place. Alternatives are not on the table. But when they do, they do well -- and it's surprisingly vegetarian friendly. Just don't be afraid of the "trash heap scramble" -- a concoction of spinach, potatoes, zucchinni, and cheese. It's creamy and delicious in a way that a lot of places that charge way more than $4 aspire to achieve. I was in shock at how genuinely pleased I was with the trash heap (I had the "Baby breakfast burrito" which is the trash heap scramble inside of a flour tortilla and cost $2 less than the straight trash heap). It was $4 of delicious. Since the menu items were cheap and labeled as "small plates" (implying one should order a lot and share) I also got two crab cake benedicts, which were $4 each or two for $7. Usually I expect to pay $12-$16 for a crab cake or smoked salmon benedict, so for $7, I just had to opt for two. The food prices made me feel a bit gluttonous.
The crab cake benedict came out and it wasn't the most visually stunning presentation, but it more then adequate for $3.50 a pop.
not too shabby for $7!
The eggs were really well poached -- perfectly soft on with amazingly runny yolk. The crab cakes were slightly charred on the outside, which some people like, but the important thing was that they were hot all the way through. I won't claim to be a crab cake expert, but it's a bummer when you go into a place and get excited for crab cakes and they aren't cook thoroughly -- no disappointment at Hotel Utah, the crab cakes were hot and had some flavorful spices that went well with the nondescript hollandaise sauce. The english muffin wasn't homemade, but paying three times as much for the same dish won't guarantee you fresh english muffins. My friend opted for lunch and had a turkey club, which he said had delicious bacon, for the meat eaters out there, and he noted that the bread was perfectly toasted.
We stayed having mimosas from 11am until 2:30pm, and enjoyed every minute of conversation and food. The Hotel Utah is not the type of place you bring your mother on Mothers Day or your significant other on a brunch date. No, it's the type of place you are more likely to wind up when you're hung over and non-discerning. But I'm going to advocate that people try this place out when some friends when they're in Soma. When they're feeling brave and they're with people they know won't judge them for brining them to a grungy saloon at 11am on a Saturday (that takes some trust!). I wouldn't make the trek from your own neighborhood dive, but if it's not out of your way, hit it up for a surprisingly & deliciously cheap alternative to a higher end brunch.
All the Info:
500 4th Street
(between Harrison St & Bryant St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 546-6300
I was meeting a friend and settled on Hotel Utah because it was close to the Caltrain and while scanning Yelp, it showed up around the end of the results list (which is long when you're searching "brunch, soma). When I went to the website and saw the brunch menu, I knew I was in for a divish treat. And it was. The place is covered in 102 years worth of "personality."
When I walked in, even for all my brunch bravery, I almost turned around and walked out. My friend was at the bar drinking a $9 bottomless mimosa, which had me sold. A no-fuss bottomless mimosa is not easy to find in San Francisco! And it wasn't a bad mimosa either, not the best I've ever had, but I had 5 of them for $9 so no complaints. The bar tender, Robert (possibly Roger, I may have misheard), was incredibly friendly, and when I asked if there were any tables he giggled a little let me know there were tables behind me and upstairs... it's a seat yourself kind of place and we were the only ones there to boot. We settled on a table in front of the bar for ease of access to more mimosas and to enjoy the view... of the highway on ramp. Beautiful! [ed. note: sarcasm]
The menu is short and to the point: eggs, more eggs, another plate of eggs, home fries and a Monte Crisco sandwich (which has eggs in the batter). If you don't like eggs, this is not your "I'll have the french toast" kind of place. Alternatives are not on the table. But when they do, they do well -- and it's surprisingly vegetarian friendly. Just don't be afraid of the "trash heap scramble" -- a concoction of spinach, potatoes, zucchinni, and cheese. It's creamy and delicious in a way that a lot of places that charge way more than $4 aspire to achieve. I was in shock at how genuinely pleased I was with the trash heap (I had the "Baby breakfast burrito" which is the trash heap scramble inside of a flour tortilla and cost $2 less than the straight trash heap). It was $4 of delicious. Since the menu items were cheap and labeled as "small plates" (implying one should order a lot and share) I also got two crab cake benedicts, which were $4 each or two for $7. Usually I expect to pay $12-$16 for a crab cake or smoked salmon benedict, so for $7, I just had to opt for two. The food prices made me feel a bit gluttonous.
The crab cake benedict came out and it wasn't the most visually stunning presentation, but it more then adequate for $3.50 a pop.
The eggs were really well poached -- perfectly soft on with amazingly runny yolk. The crab cakes were slightly charred on the outside, which some people like, but the important thing was that they were hot all the way through. I won't claim to be a crab cake expert, but it's a bummer when you go into a place and get excited for crab cakes and they aren't cook thoroughly -- no disappointment at Hotel Utah, the crab cakes were hot and had some flavorful spices that went well with the nondescript hollandaise sauce. The english muffin wasn't homemade, but paying three times as much for the same dish won't guarantee you fresh english muffins. My friend opted for lunch and had a turkey club, which he said had delicious bacon, for the meat eaters out there, and he noted that the bread was perfectly toasted.
We stayed having mimosas from 11am until 2:30pm, and enjoyed every minute of conversation and food. The Hotel Utah is not the type of place you bring your mother on Mothers Day or your significant other on a brunch date. No, it's the type of place you are more likely to wind up when you're hung over and non-discerning. But I'm going to advocate that people try this place out when some friends when they're in Soma. When they're feeling brave and they're with people they know won't judge them for brining them to a grungy saloon at 11am on a Saturday (that takes some trust!). I wouldn't make the trek from your own neighborhood dive, but if it's not out of your way, hit it up for a surprisingly & deliciously cheap alternative to a higher end brunch.
All the Info:
500 4th Street
(between Harrison St & Bryant St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 546-6300
www.thehotelutahsaloon.com
Find it on Yelp:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hotel-utah-saloon-san-francisco
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