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Acre Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Delis Restaurants American (New) Delis, American (New) [Edit]
The Presidio1013 Torney Ave, Ste B-120
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 561-2273
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
41 reviews for Acre Cafe
Review Highlights
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"By far my favorites have been the lentil soup and tuna melt." In 4 reviews -
"Grilled Free Range Chicken with Jicama, Orange, & Carrots..." In 2 reviews -
"LOVE,LOVE,LOVE the daily specials." In 3 reviews
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Virginia D.
El Cerrito, CA
1/4/2012
soooooooooooooo much better than Dish Cafe! as a Presidio dweller, lunch options are limited, I am glad I FINALLY got off my duff to try this place out!
#1, love the vibe. it's in the Theaurou (or however you spell it) Sustainibility Ctr, so use your imagination. the staff is very friendly & helpful (polar opposite of Dish)
food is pretty good. sadly, they are limited on the vegan options (but they ARE willing to find out what is vegan & what is not, unlike Dish), but the veggie burger & salad was tasty.
I'll be back! -
Review from uri d.
Oakland, CA
3/18/2012
I had a watermellon and feta salad. Not one bite of the watermelon was ripe, in fact it had that "petrol" taste non organic watermellons have when they've been oiled down to sell at regular chain grocery stores or by the side of the road. I didn't find the tables very clean or attended to. It's too bad, the place has the potential to be special with several vegetarian choices.
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Review from Ashley I.
San Francisco, CA
7/6/2011
I work downstairs from this place and I feel lucky. The portion sizes are decent and the food is organic goodness. I've had the chicken quesadilla, tuna melt, lentil soup, creamy potato soup (just today!), and salad although there is a sizable menu for such a small place. By far my favorites have been the lentil soup and tuna melt.
The melt is met with curry infused into the tuna. It was a delightful surprise the first time-mainly due to me not reading the description all the way through.
The best part about working downstairs...you can say that you are eating there, go back to work, and return the plates later. You can help save the planet one dish at a time although I've heard that the cooks have actually hunted down their plates because people do it all the time. I haven't been the victim yet but I'm sure I'm not far from it. -
Review from Rochelle D.
Brisbane, CA
I walked over to Acre Cafe expecting to pick up my usual Open Face Roasted Veggie Sandwich on Foccacia...but there were out! If you wait too long, a lot of the good items sell out.
Acre, really just is a grab-n-go hole in the wall, kinda place. There's 3 windows: 1 to order and pay, 1 to pick up, and 1 to watch the chefs create their magic.
So, on the advice of a co-worker, I ventured out and tried the Tuna Melt.
Oh my gawd! That's a damn good tuna melt. Just enough cheese to be a melt, not too fishy.
If you end up at Acre and they've run out of your favorite dish, they've always got great alternatives salads, soups, sandwiches and quesadillas...they're all good! -
Review from Melissa L.
Berkeley, CA
6/10/2011
I literally keep the Acre Menu Googledoc open from 8 am until they post the special for the day. Most of the time I bring my lunch, but it doesn't matterb ecause I still like to see what they have for the day and imagine that I'll be eating it.
Something about their salads makes them taste just right, and the plates are the perfect size (as in, I don't have to snack like a cow after lunch). A lot of their sandwiches come on this really great ciabatta, which fills you up nicely. Their penne pasta is great as well, but good god somebody should have warned me about all that cheese (somebody's lactose intolerant...)
I love this place! But alas I am a poor college student and will only be eating here when, like a college student, I wake up late and don't have time to make my lunch before running out the door. -
Review from Lenneal G.
Emeryville, CA
5/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Good tasting organic selections for lunch. Soup and salad deal for lunch is great because the soup is a large bowl and salad is decent sized so you can get full.
Regular sandwich meals, pastas, and salads are also good and quality fresh ingredients are used.
For the environmentally conscious, they use biodegradable to-go containers but well charge you $ 0.25 too defray the cost of supplying such green containers.
Staff is also very friendly which is a plus. Only down side is I wish they had more outdoor-seating for use when the weather is nice. But being that they are likely trying to maintain the pristine nature of the Presidio Park, the less they provide patrons with the opportunity to litter the better. -
Review from Josh S.
San Francisco, CA
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Long waits and overpriced food. It's an okay option if you're stuck in the Presidio for some reason. If you go late they'll usually give you some soup for free.
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Review from OOdniceOO o.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2007
I used to like Acre. I work just about as close to it as you can work without working at Acre itself, and options in the Presidio are limited, so I'd eat there about once a week. While I thought it was a little over-priced (particularly for the non-profiteers who work in the Thoreau Center like me) the food was better than acceptable.
HOWEVER, one day late November 2006, having purchased the chicken quesadilla, halfway through I picked up a triangle of quesadilla and discovered, underneath, a piece of crostini bread WITH A BITE OUT OF IT. Pretty grossed out but not wanting to make a huge deal about it in front of customers at the order window, I took it back to the pick-up window and showed it to the staff.
The guy in charge (all huffy, because it is lunchtime and they're busy, and he'd rather be manning the register so I'm holding him up) said, "So, what do you want?" Uh, my money back, for one....
It took a while, and I got my money back, quite rudely -- but NO apology and no offer for a replacement meal (which I would've declined anyway).
On a related note, a colleague was in the middle of an important client lunch when she found a huge clump of mud in her spinach salad. She took it back up and was told with a shrug, "It happens." Sure, particularly with organic food, it happens -- but so should apologies, and good customer service.
Don't go to Acre. -
Review from Adolfo L.
I have to slightly alter my original review. Upon picking up my order today Chef Rogelio says to me,
"That's a big salad man. I'm sorry, I got carried away."
Imagine the gall of this guy to accidentally give me more food because he got carried away. WHO DOES THAT?!?!
So if you please, don't come here. They inadvertently give you extra food because their inexcusable lack of awareness. Uber unacceptable.
Today's lunch:
"Grilled Free Range Chicken with Jicama, Orange, & Carrots over Mizuna Greens topped with a Mango Dressing & Almonds"Listed in: Neighborhood Gems
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/5/2010
Hidden Gem Alert!
From the same folks who brought us the Slow Club in 1990 we have Acre Cafe. Their… Read more »
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Review from Marz W.
San Francisco, CA
7/12/2006
I had the best Chinese Chicken salad here. It was just so good. It wasn't your typical lettuce salad. There were all kinds of actual vegetables in it that weren't of the typical salad fare (carrots aside).
I really enjoyed it.
I hadn't been to the 'new' Presidio yet but to drive through it. Its really beautiful. We took our lunches and sat by the pond outside.
What a pleasant afternoon. -
Review from GIR ..
San Francisco, CA
1/28/2008
Mediacre.
Would be nice if prices came down to reflect actual quality and service. Wonder if adjustments will be made when Starbucks competition opens in the ol' Perk Presidio location close by. -
Review from robert s.
Seattle, WA
10/3/2006
Acre Cafe is a little jewel tucked away in the Presidio. It's a sunny warm cafeteria right across from the Presidio YMCA. But it is a great place to go for a change of pace and the outside patio tables are nice.
The food is excellent. The service is as warm and inviting as any service I've had in a former communist country. But still the food is worth it. -
Review from Chris N.
South San Francisco, CA
9/3/2009
I don't really know what to say about the Acre Cafe....
I mean, the place is rather small...
and the food is horrible...
plus, the service is really, really...bad....
HAH, who am I kidding? Nothing that I said above is true- at ALL! My friends and I were trying to decide on a place to go for lunch one day, and we finally chose Acre Cafe. Their menu is VERY diverse, and each of the workers there has a huge, welcoming smile. The place is very clean, there is more than enough seating, and when you're there, you're in a great location!!!
Now about the food- it was AMAZING! I ordered the day's special- bbq (free range) chicken on ciabatta bread with mixed greens on the side... I was SO excited when I got it cuz it looked so dang good... AAnnddd, it tasted even better than it looked, which was really surprising. They toast it all just the right amount, and their special salad dressing is very mouth-pleasing haha. I also ordered a cup of their Melon (cantaloupe) juice... and my god was it good and refreshing, especially on a day as hot as yesterday. It was fresh and not too sweet, but not too dull either- it was perfect! Chef Rogelio really outdoes himself because everyone around just seemed....happy. My friends also seemed to enjoy what they got even more than I did, which seemed nearly impossible at the time haha.
Overall, this place is GREAT. It will not disappoint, and the next time you're in the Presidio- try out Acre Cafe! -
Review from Rashmi N.
San Francisco, CA
12/21/2006
The people are THE BEST.
The food is delish...
It's been slim pickings in the Presidio for food and even though newbies are now coming in, Acre is still top-dog.Listed in: The Presidio
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Review from Janet Z.
San Francisco, CA
9/8/2009 3 photos
This place always smell STRAIGHT UP GOOD! I can smell the food right when I step into the building. Acre Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch! Hmm I gotta see what's up for breakfast, soon.
+: LOVE,LOVE,LOVE the daily specials! It is soo hard to decide which one to get because they all sound soo delicious! I came here with Chris N. for his last day as an Park Ranger. I ordered the open faced veggie sandwich with lemonade. Some people may like their lemonade very sweet but I like my lemonade a little tangy! And Acre had the right sweet-ness and tangy to their lemonade. The open faced veggie sandwich(tasted like pizza! yumm) came on a focaccia bread with mushrooms, avocados, sun dried tomatoes, corn, onions, cheese, artichoke(I think), and that is what I can remember with a side of salad. I was stuffed from my lunch, but I wanted more :)
-: None. -
Review from Joe S.
South Lake Tahoe, CA
4/7/2010
Acre is SOLID, and consistently so. I've been coming to work in the Presidio for multi-day stretches for several years now, and it just wouldn't be the same without Acre. Lunch at this place is often the highlight of my day, and I always look forward to finding out what creative and fresh daily specials are in store. Today I had a Niman Ranch tri-tip wrap, full of sauteed veggies and dill havarti cheese, topped with mango salsa fresca and creme fraiche...are you kidding? It was delish! The service, as usual, was friendly and fast. And to top it all off, they've got amazing drip coffee from Flying Goat.
As for the prices: as a restaurant owner myself (one in which we also use a lot of natural & organic ingredients), I have an eye for what goes into the food and how much it all costs. And I can swear to you that the prices at Acre are VERY reasonable. In fact, given that it's mostly organic, I'm surprised the prices aren't higher. It's organic, people...it's damn expensive. If that's not your thing and you want to bitch about how hippied-out this place is, then you're not going to appreciate it. But for those who do appreciate local and organic ingredients, this place has it dialed and is, for the quality and portion sizes, downright cheap. There, I said it.Listed in: My favorite places to eat in…
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Review from Daniel D.
San Francisco, CA
8/8/2011
This is the best kept secret in the Presidio! I've been here several times for lunch and the food is fantastic. The staff is always friendly and willing to make a recommendation and, if you like salsa's, they always have a homemade batch of salsa or pickled peppers available. The salsa is fresh and always very tasty.
The only drawbacks are finding the place and the seating. If you don't work in the Presidio, it is almost impossible to find. Also, it is a cafeteria setting with the tables and chair in the hallway. If you can overcome the obstacles, you will be rewarded with an outstanding lunch at a reasonable price. -
Review from Cathleen M.
San Francisco, CA
10/14/2011
This place rules. I checked it out for the first time today after starting a job in the Presidio last week. I got the chicken quesadilla, which was a spinach tortilla stuffed (and I mean stuffed) with grilled chicken, cheese, lentils, zucchini, summer squash, red peppers and topped with pico and sour cream. The pico has so good. It had the standard tomato, red onion and cilantro but also had watermelon and green onions in it - very fresh! The quesadilla came with chips and a side salad and there was a bowl of super legit tasting salsa at the pick up window that I snagged a container of. The portion was huge, service was efficient and quick, and the guy who seemed to be the manager/owner was friendly and genuinely nice. I will be back!
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Review from Abendigo R.
San Francisco, CA
7/26/2006
This place rocks. Amazing local, sustainable sandwiches and pizzas and coffee. Highly recommend it, and the prices are totally reasonable for the quality of the ingredients and might I add...FLAVUHHH!
Seriously, if you work in the Presidio or are passing through, or just happen to be hanging out near the Thoreau Center, you'd better get on over to Acre for some serious grubbins. -
Review from Deepak J.
San Francisco, CA
1/23/2007
I love the variety Acre provides. They have soup, salads, sandwiches, quesidillas, pasta, cookies, and more. The menu changes everyday! I would suggest you go earlier than later because all the specials of the day will sell out. Also, a lot of the items are hugely portioned. So either go when you have a huge apetite or be prepared to save some for later.
I think the price is out of wack and I disagree that since it's organic it justifies it with the exception of the organic meats. Sure if you shop at Whole Foods for your organic vegetables it's going to be pricey. Go to the farmers market on the weekend and you'll be amazed how cheap organic produce REALLY is. I'm sure Acre is not buying their produce from Whole Foods and has it delivered straight from a local farm. The only things that should be expensive are the niman ranch meats and freerange chicken. -
Review from Jimmy L.
San Francisco, CA
9/13/2007
I spend too much in the Presidio....and have eaten here a million times. Everything is good. The side salad can be hit or miss...(sometimes there's not enough dressing, sometimes too much dressing)..but hey, its always super fresh.
Great for lunch, Good to go, not that expensive. -
Review from Sarah T.
San Francisco, CA
6/17/2010
The food is decent, but just misses the mark every time. They almost have it right, but for the price I expect it to be ON the MARK.
The service is weird - I've either felt harassed to order & BEGGED to come back OR I've felt like a total reject for asking that my bagel is open faced with onions added. This morning the cheese on my bagel had a cat hair or a PUBE (I hope the former), either way totally gross.
After all of the attitude today for asking that my bagel is open faced + onions & the bonus hair added to the cheese, I will never be back. It really is a shame because I work in the area, love to patronize restaurants who use local and sustainable ingredients, and the mom & pop establishments.
I've given Acre three chances to win my business.....three strikes and I'm out, never to return. -
Review from Jenny R.
Los Altos, CA
4/4/2006 1 photo
Acre is what it is. A cafe in the Presidio where there aren't many places to eat. Their food is probably all organic but they can charge more cause there isn't any other choice, unless you want to eat a greasy hamburger at the Presidio Bowling Alley, or a mediocre-you-could-have-made-it-better-yourself sandwich at the Officer's Club.
Affordable bagels for breakfast however. -
Review from Nicole J.
San Francisco, CA
12/22/2007
Eat at Acre Cafe for delicious, fresh, organic food prepared by Chef Rogelio. Some dishes to try include salads that have fresh papaya, the homemade hearty soups, the cheesy, juicy tuna melt, pasta with a light tomato sauce and salmon...
I eat here only once in a while, but every time I go here it really is a treat, and I know what ever I order will be scrumptious! -
Review from Joowon A.
San Francisco, CA
1/12/2007
4.5 stars, but I just rounded it up. It was my first time today at the Cafe, and my boyfriend and I shared the veggie pizzeta and bbq chicken sandwich. I enjoyed every bite of everything!
* They both cost around $7.50 before tax, with a small side of tossed greens. Not cheap, but not bad at all for truly organic ingredients?
* Great scone (I think raspberry. Not too buttery or dry. Chocolate chip cookie was okay. Nothing too special.
* They separate compost, trash, and recycle. Got a large clean glass for filtered water. Awesome :) !
I'd definitely go back, esp. on a nice sunny day. This is a very casual cafe with no attractive interior decorations, but there's plenty of seating (not sure at peak times) and Presidio is just so beautiful. Wish I worked in the area.
If you are taking the bus, take 43 and get off where Presidio Blvd. meets Lincoln Blvd. - walk another block up the Lincoln until you see Torney Ave. Walk through the main gate of the building on your right and make a right at the end of the hallway, and you'll see it shortly :) -
Review from S S.
San Francisco, CA
10/22/2008
Super delicious, very fresh, great portions. A bit expensive. $10-11/day for lunch means it's not going to be my everyday stop for lunch at work.
I'm perplexed by other reviews. Pachoulli? The ambience of a convalescent home?? I don't think we're talking about the same place. This building WAS an Army hospital. They've done a great job with what they had to work with. They have wireless access and continuously running art shows. Secondly, the smart (and obvious) thing to do when you go there is to sit outside in the sunshine on one of the many picnic benches. The food is made with skill. I don't have a problem with the occasion bug or twig in my salad. That's a good sign. It's just too pricey for me. -
Review from dave g.
San Francisco, CA
10/8/2007
Ate there this past Friday. The workers were all kinda mean and in a crappy mood. Everything is pre-made so you can't make substitutions. I got the chicken quesedillas and asked if I could make any changes. She barked at me "no!" All i really wanted was no sour cream and salsa on the side. It was loaded with sour cream and salsa making the quesedillas soggy and kinda nasty. I could have gotten that stuff on the side if she would have let me.
It's also quite pricey there. -
Review from Yung K.
San Francisco, CA
4/17/2009
I work nearby and I love this place. The people working there are honest/nice people. I pretty much had everything on their menu. Most of the sandwiches are pretty good. The tuna melt is exceptional. The Nicoise Salad and the quesadilla are very good, but I'll tell you a little secret. Their specials are out of this world. Look for them before 1am and they're worth every penny. On a good day, I take their daily special over any offering from any restaurant on Chestnut! It's that good!
Btw, some poor sap mentioned that Starbucks might provide some competition w/ Acre. That's like comparing Old Navy to G-Star. I work right in the same building as Starbucks and I take the extra 5 minutes to walk to Acre because they make very extremely good coffee and latte.
I highly recommend it. Chef Rogelio is a genius. -
Review from George K.
San Francisco, CA
4/28/2006
5 stars for the best veggie burger in the city. About $8.50 out the door, including organic salad and free filtered water ;-) Open weekdays only, 11:30am - 2pm for lunch. If driving, there's a giant free parking lot down the street, on the south side of Lincoln Blvd, between Montgomery St. and Anza Ave. This cafe is eco-friendly: clearly labeled composting bin; compostable take-out containers. Good catering service too.
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Review from ray e.
San Francisco, CA
1/17/2007
note to self: always befriend those who work behind the counter of a place whose food you ADORE. why? because someday they will make the decision for you with regards of what to order, and you will hand over your well earned non-profit wages and trust that you will be handed a heavenly plate of organic food that is worth every penny you paid for it. and it will be an item that is not listed on the menu nor is available to anyone else. why? because you befriended those who work behind the counter. full circle my friends, full circle....
BUT seriously, the creativity and freshness of food served at Acre is largely due to the care and imagination of rogelio the chef and all the rest of the jovial Acre staff. I once had a lively conversation about the mass production of food, in particular it revolved around a special on Nova that Rogelio had watched which then compelled and confirmed to him the reason why it's imperative that organic meats are used in his kitchen. and it shows in every single plate. BURP! amen. -
Review from Rego S.
San Francisco, CA
10/11/2009
The food's been consistently delicious over the past few years that I've come here, and the daily specials are always creative. The only caveat is that lunches run $12-15 with drinks included (though I always get the agua fresca). It's worth it, but the price keeps me from eating here more often.
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Review from Joe I.
7/27/2010
Had lunch here while in town for work. It was great. My basic ham and bacon sandwich was delicious and I ate every morsel of it and the accompanying salad. I would gladly eat here daily and am more than a bit jealous that the best lunch food I have near my work is a Jimmy John's and the folks who work nearby Acre have this place. Unfair for me.
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Review from S. P.
San Francisco, CA
1/3/2008
Yes, the food can be great, but there have been too many people finding other "fresh" ingredients that really have no place near a fork. My colleague had a huge twig in his dish; another had some dirt; another had something half eaten on her dish.
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Review from Christopher G.
San Francisco, CA
6/25/2008
This place is named Acre, as in an acre of land fertilized by stray hippies and refried roadkill. The place has all the ambience of a cafeteria in a convalescent home in Hayward, and the food tastes like. . . cafeteria food, without the cafeteria food prices. Saying this place is undiscovered is like saying you have not yet experienced a parasite. I like organic food myself. Usually it doesn't taste like an Arby's sandwich flavored with patchouli oil.
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Review from Tinou B.
San Francisco, CA
3/18/2006
Had the BBQ chicken sandwich. Was really good (I was also very hungry). Would repeat, except it's a little pricey. $8.16 (including tax) for a sandwich and lettuce (not a salad, just some lettuce with dressing).
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Review from sofiya f.
San Francisco, CA
7/7/2011
Acre Cafe has the best food. I"ve been there once for breakfast and got some eggs and toast with coffee. The eggs were steamed and yummy. It was way better than it sounds. I've also been there for lunch twice. The first time I got a salad and it was fresh, crunchy, and organic :) Today I decided to try their veggie quesadilla. Wow! It was amazing. It had all kinds of veggies, lentils, and salsa. The best part of eating here is knowing that they use good ingredients. If you care where your food comes from and how it is cooked, you will like this place!
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Review from Michelle J.
7/19/2006
Even though the veggie burgers are Amy's brand, they do tart them up nicely with roasted onions, which makes all the difference. Their daily special salads are usually very good, but be careful for the side salads. They're dressed at the beginning of the lunch service (or in the morning?) and are often quite limp and wilted if you take your lunch late.
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Review from Michael M.
Berkeley, CA
5/31/2007
Probably not a place you'd seek out unless you worked on the Presidio... but George K. is right, they serve a mean veggie burger: what's not to love about the grilled onions and melted jack cheese on a toasted poppy bun? It is fairly remarkable what they're able to do in the 12 square feet they have to work with, and they manage to deliver a pretty interesting and constantly changing menu of organic, healthy foods. But, alas, the prices are a bit steep and the staff are a tad stiff.
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Review from A. Gun n.
San Francisco, CA
7/7/2006
I would agree with the rest of the comments on here about the monopoly on cafes in the presidio, the food is good, the portions okay, but the price is a bit redic. and the veggie burger pretty sloppy and boring (it's amy's V.B) but they once made an ahi salad to die for, and I almost did for the cost: 12.50 but it's all we have here in the presidio- actually I will be going there shortly.
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Review from Ty G.
San Francisco, CA
11/22/2010
Great, fresh organic food at very reasonable prices. Shhh, don't tell too many people cause it gets a big lunch line. Well done Acre!
