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Breakfast At Tiffany's
Categories: Restaurants Diners Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Diners, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
2499 San Bruno Ave(between Thornton Ave & Felton St)
San Francisco, CA 94134
Neighborhood: Portola
(415) 468-0977
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
163 reviews for Breakfast At Tiffany's
Review Highlights
"dont miss the hash browns with "the works."
(in 30 reviews)
"Blueberry pancakes are delicious, too."
(in 13 reviews)
"Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in "Breakfast at..."
(in 7 reviews)
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163 reviews in English
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Review from Amy Y.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2012
It is one of my favorite places to go. It has a variety of people, young, old, diff. races and background. It's pretty eclectic down to the Christmas, 4th of July, and Halloween decorations. They have massive amounts of art works done by kids taped to the wall. I wish I was a kid.
The only drawback is you can sit there for a long time before your food comes. Someone told me they once waited 45 minutes. Hahaha. Sad, but I'm never in a hurry whenever I'm there. Andddd the hashbrown "the Works" is the best!! -
Review from Vanessa C.
San Francisco, CA
1/16/2012 2 photos
Man, the wait for your food is no joke. I sat there looking around at the kids' drawings on the walls probably one too many times. Length of wait? Merely 47 minutes.
The place is old-school; the clientele, diverse. The food - solid. I was able to try several different items. The corned beef hash - all right. Came with a side of three eggs and toast. More than enough for a breakfast/brunch. The Big Scramble - the pieces of ground beef were huge and it definitely needed some ketchup to go with it or else the whole thing became kinda bland. Blueberry pancakes - yum.
The food is nothing too fancy that you can't try making it at home though. In fact, you should probably do just that if waiting for almost an hour scares you. -
Review from Maya S.
11/9/2011
Food = Excellent
Service = Not-so-excellent
I tried the french toast as well as the corned beef. Both dishes were spectacular. The french toast was soft and eggy but with a nice crust and was served with strawberries and whipped cream. The corned beef, which I believe is homemade, was just heaven with the hash. I can't even describe it.
It really breaks my heart that service here isn't up to par. It took 15 minutes for someone to take our order and another 40 minutes for our food to come out. It was really disappointing to watch our waitress set up an empty table instead of tending to us, actual customers in the restaurant. Although our waitress was nice at the end of our meal, her attitude wasn't very friendly at the beginning.
I would probably only return if I knew the restaurant was going to be dead just so I'd have the attention of the wait staff and my food would be cooked up quickly. -
Review from Helen Y.
12/30/2011 4 photos
I've heard many good things about this place but last friday was my first visit, and this place did not disappoint. I love how unique everything is, from the name of the place, to the walls decorated with children's drawings. It was entertaining looking at the different and imaginative pictures.
We had a hard time choosing, but ended up with the French Toast and Eggs Benedict. The food came promptly and was delicious. I loved how they cooked the egg and sausages. The portions are huge as well. The waitress was wonderful and really nice. We came just before they closed for lunch, and I'm glad we came in time. I will definitely be back for more breakfast.Listed in: Breakfast time
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Review from Mili A.
Brentwood, CA
2/3/2012
my b/f and i were trying to figure out where we wanted to have breakfast at, he told me him and his friends go to Tiffanys because its good, so i said why not, we headed over there they werent really busy, we got seated our server was really nice, she offered us drinks and then took our order i ordered a regular bacon and eggs breakfast, and my b/f ordered french toast, it took a while to get our food and i was getting cranky because i was so hungry, after 30 minutes our food came, wow it was worth the wait, my bacon was nice, thick, and crispy, and man o man thy serve you hell of a plate, i was a happy camper at the end and i enjoyed looking at the drawings on the wall. I WILL FORSURE BE BACK!!!!!
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Review from Jeff C.
San Francisco, CA
1/31/2012
nice little breakfast place located in the portola neighborhood, the place has a nice little small town feel to it, These guys know how to make a hearty breakfast with a wide variety of selection on their breakfast menu. The food and the atmosphere alone would help earn them 5 stars, the only thing holding this place back is the slow service, for all you first timers that want to try this place out...just remember that if the servers approach you and ask if you're ready... even if you're not.. say that you are.. because once they leave your table.. they will not be back for a while.. and keep in mind that it's not easy to find parking in that neighborhood.. and if you do find parking.. it's going to be meter parking and it's almost certain that you'll have to run out there to add more money to the meter.. because you'll be there for a while. overall this place serves good breakfast food, you'll leave with a happier stomach =)
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Review from Rae R.
San Diego, CA
11/5/2011
Used to live around here. Was looking for something near and heard good reviews about this place. The diner is a mom & pops kinda diner. It's definitely pretty casual.
Their service is fast. And they are pretty nice. The ambiance is definitely a family type of vibe. The plates are huge! So if you come there with another person, you can definitely share 1 meal together and it be enough for you two.
I ate there once, but not sure if I'd eat there again. It's good to at least try. -
Review from Tim G.
10/9/2011
I read good things about the food here and decided to give it a try! I must say I was probably sitting there for an eternity before getting my food. I was not in a hurry and I lived just a few minutes away. We came here around noon today and it was busy. Instead of waiting for a table we decided to sit at the booths for faster service and also to see the cooks work in the kitchen.
We originally ordered but since we sat in front of the cooks and saw all that good food, we were able to change the order before the ticket was read. We settled on #13 Steak, Potatoes, and cheese hashbrowns and a #10 Louisiana hot links and 3 eggs, any style. The OJ is bottled, not freshly squeezed like I expected and the coffee is freshly brewed. They have good quality beef and get shipments daily from their butcher. My hot links were spicy and well grilled. I had my eggs cooked sunny side up, with the 3 yolks oozing out when I cut into the egg white. The food did not need any seasoning at all and I enjoyed it. They have a large flat screen TV mounted on the wall for your enjoyment while having brunch.
I give them 3.5 stars overall factoring in the food (very good), location (very convenient) and service (a little slow). I would bump it up to 4 stars easily if they cooked my food faster and accepted credit cards. That would definitely bring in more business for sure. -
Review from Monelle P.
San Francisco, CA
8/15/2011
You'll understand the irony of this restaurant being named after the famous Audrey Hepburn movie if you dine here. This hole-in-the-wall diner on San Bruno Ave. is probably the furthest you could get from Holly Golightly in a little black dress and pearls and jewelry shopping at Tiffany's.
Inside, it's an aged, greasy diner that looks very popular with the locals. Although service is slow, the waitresses are very nice and call you "Hon" and "Sweetie."
The food is straightforward, uncomplicated, and greasy = quintessential dinner. I've had the corn beef hash and Armida's omelette (a Mexican-style house special), but my favorite dish here has been the pork chop and 3 eggs. Though slightly on the smaller side, the pork chop is perfectly grilled and served juicy and flavorful. Served with a side of house potatoes and hash browns, this is artery-clogging, greasy perfection.
Not worth a detour if you're coming from another part of SF, but definitely worth a stop if you're in the Portola/Silver/San Bruno Ave area and looking for a solid, hearty breakfast. -
Review from Hushi L.
San Francisco, CA
9/5/2011 2 photos
Great omelet! Long waits but definitely fills you up! Gives you lots of food. Just look at this awesome picture: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Parking to the right of the entrance is pretty convenient if spots are available . -
Review from arlene d.
South San Francisco, CA
12/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is so small and it gets busy. I came here with my bf before the niners game for breakfast and the food was not bad. I would like to come back and try other things on the menu because I just had waffles with strawberries which was good but they have so many choices to choose from.
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Review from Kevin A.
Daly City, CA
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
I am definitely a breakfast guy. In college, I used to wake up early in the morning to cook my hash brown and eggs before I went to my summer job. Fortunately, I have a better job now and I can just go to this place where they serve hearty American goodness.
I went here with a friend Saturday morning to cure our hangovers from a night of "too many shots". Parking was a bit hard to find but you can usually find space in the neighborhood across from the diner.
We entered the diner and already I bumped the door into a customer waiting to be seated. It was about 11am and the place was CROWDED. This was a tiny restaurant with about 8 counter seats and about 6-8 tables. At first I was going to leave and find another place, but my friend urged me to stay and I'm glad I did.
About 15 minutes of standing we finally got a seat at the counter and I ordered the Corned Beef and Hash Scramble, while my buddy got the Denver Omelet. It was a bit of a wait for our food (they only have one grill and one stove), but it allowed me to take in the decor of the diner. From the hole in the wall decorations, like the faded until green "Seasons Greetings" ornament that was probably hung before World War 1, to the eccentric staff that held the diner together.
One of the cooks was an old man sporting a fishing hat, sweat pants, and crooked glasses. A server was a kid with a bandage on his ear that reminded me of the Dave Chappelle skit "TURN MY HEADPHONES UP!" And our waitress was a warm lady who knows the value of serving our food with a smile.
My meal was delicious. I should have had my eggs poached, but the Corned Beef Hash Scramble was one of the most delicious things I've ever put in my mouth. My hangover completely disappeared after I finished my meal. And the best part is, I couldn't even finish it because it was so much food! My friend also enjoyed his meal.
Be warned it's cash only (but if you're BoA, there's literally an atm next door) and if you come to this place during peak hours (10am -12pm) there will be a long wait and probably no seats. But I'd gladly come back here again to try out the other specials and get to know the fine people who work here. -
Review from Ly T.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 5/13/2011 4 Check-ins Here
3.5 stars. I heart the food but I'm sorry I have to downgrade you.
This used to be our go to place for easy, hearty American breakfast. But after our 2 most recent visits...we should just call in for pick up, eat our food at home and still be done before we get our food when dining there.
What happened Tiffany's?!?! It looks like you lost one of your cooks, but still! For a non-pretentious place, I still cannot understand why it takes an hour on a weekday to get your food. It feels as though the waitresses almost avoid eye contact with you, so they can prolong taking your order to give the cooks extra time. I'd think you can take down more than one order before walking away to turn it in, and then not returning to the other diners for another good 10 mins...
AND, I do not like how they fill their pick up orders before sending out food for their in-house diners. C'mon! We saw so many ppl that were peeved that day and some even walked out. People asked to get their food boxed for take away.
Even still, great food no complaints there, but the service needs to be stepped up or hire an additional cook. Shall have to consider if I have at least 2 hours to kill at a dive breakfast spot before frequenting here again.Listed in: Did someone say breaaakfasst!?, My Neighborhood
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/15/2010
This place is literally a hole -in-the-wall breakfast spot . It's so GOOD and unpretentious, which… Read more »
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Review from Melissa V.
Portland, OR
5/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is kinda hilarious. It's an old-school greasy spoon diner, with a Cheers-like clientele. The name is clearly a joke, and intended to mess with people, because there is nothing elegant about the joint.
Everything from oldtimers to local 20-something hipsters. The food's really just basic stuff, way more basic than you'd expect to get in SF.
If you go in with low expectations, you'll be fine. -
Review from Tiffany P.
San Francisco, CA
9/22/2011
Other than the slowest service I have ever experienced in my life, the "fruit" that came with my waffle were peaches from a jar. FROM A JAR.
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Review from Mar H.
San Francisco, CA
9/17/2011
I have to say after waiting forever for my order and food, I will not be coming back. If I have only read the reviews from yelp, I would not even try this place. Well, my friend went in and I was not going to be left standing on the street outside. After seating ourselves and picking up the menu 15 mins later we are ready to run for our lives but the waitress spotting my antsy body language and approached us. The food is actually not bad. Portion not huge like everyone stated, its kind of small to me. My feeling is similar to the other yelper, who said they could have made the same breakfast myself if I have to pick up the eggs from the supermarket and actually go home and cook it and I would have make the same or better breakfast faster! I live near by so ....
Don't get me wrong this place is a gem if you like Dean Martin, and all the old people. This place is pack with seniors during the weekends. They are the regulars. The waitress is super nice but slow. The cooks are slow too. Seniors don't mind waiting for an hour for their coffee, they all bough their newspapers to read and wait.
What makes me give them the one star is when I have to put the money out before they give me my bill so I can hurry them up. And I saw a regular customer walk to the the register to pay his own bill. Wow!
I have been to some crepe place that charge less and give you more food. BAT don't have a unique menu. I rather go to Georgie's across the street and get a donut or eggs $1. 60 for eggs. Georgie is organize and fast; get you in and out.
$1.25 french roast vs. water down horrible $2 coffee(I don't want your free refill). Sometimes BAT is full now I know why because most of the customers are stuck there. -
Review from mario w.
San Francisco, CA
3/6/2011
Avoid this place!
The good:
they are nice, no one is trying to make it a bad place
The food is OK - nothing special. Just OK.
The bad:
We waited well over an hour at a table - no water, no one to take our order, no nothing. If a restaurant does not have it's act together enough to take your order within an hour -- leave.
We left.
What a disappointment. What astonishing incompetence.
I think it is time for them to change ownership. They have lost sight of the idea that a restaurant exists to ... serve food. -
Review from Dara C.
Santa Barbara, CA
8/18/2011
Wow, horrible! Never got to eat! Waited there with a 7 month old and 3 year old for 2 hours, one cup of coffee (asked for cream but never got it) & parking is metered (a quarter for 7 minutes). We ordered a bowl of fruit and an a veggie omelet and we never saw either of them. When we asked when we'd get our food, they said that it takes awhile because they make everything by scratch- really? its eggs and veggies. I don't like to give bad reviews, but wow, I really don't recommend going here. Not to mention, it's in the ghettttto.
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Review from Kevin C.
3/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
So I come here with my girlfriend's family on a Sunday afternoon and the place is packed, which I expected due to the praise Yelp gives it.
You seat yourself so you have to hawk the tables and anticipate who's finishing their food first. Not my favorite thing to do because I either end up awkwardly staring at people eating or just get super hungry looking at their food.
We finally got a table after about 15 minutes of waiting. The staff is friendly. Make sure you know what you want right away because the wait for the food is SUUUPPEERR LOONNNGGG. You might as well go full so your stomach can digest whatever you ate before while you wait. Make sure you either have something to talk about or have an iPad to watch a movie cause we waited atleast 50 minutes for our food. The reason why I can't go any higher is because breakfast food does not take 50 minutes to cook!
Now to the food...
I ordered one of the specials, 2 blueberry pancakes with a ham and cheese scramble on the side. I'm not really a pancake person but I did succumb to peer pressure after reading all the positive reviews of these blueberry pancakes during the long wait. My verdict - they were ok. They weren't overly buttery and the blueberries seemed fresh.. nothing you can't just make at home. The scramble on the side really just a small scramble of eggs, ham, and cheese on a little side dish. I was disappointed, ordered the wrong thing =[
One dish that stood out to me was my girlfriend's little cousin's order. She ordered simply Cornbeef and hash. Her plate was COVERED with a mound of hashbrowns and cornbeef all smothered with cheese. It looked too good. I see this is where this place makes the money, GET THE HASHBROWNS!!!!!
I will try this place again... one day.. just for the cheesy hashbrowns that I know will give me the runs. I just need find a good day I know I can't be productive the rest of the day. -
Review from Linda K.
San Francisco, CA
6/5/2011
The first thing I noticed were the decorations on the walls:
pictures drawn by customers pasted on the wall,
the american flag,
"seasons greetings" decorations
and much more.
The environment feels hectic and packed
We sat for a while before a waiter came to ask us what we preferred to drink with the menu.
We asked for waters all around and received the biggest cup I have ever gotten by far! (I finished 2 of them instantly since I'm like a fish in water.. made me super bloated though haha)
My friend ordered their Stella hashbrowns which was amazing! And my other friend ordered the croisant sandwich that came with hashbrowns. It smelled and looked DELICIOUS. I ordered the number 12. Even the waitress didn't bother saying it by the name.. haha. It was scrambled eggs with avocado and all sorts of meat mixed in with hashbrowns, toast and served with salsa and sour cream.
It was HUGE and DELICIOUS. I seriously wanted to explode and still couldn't finish my food! And it was only $13(with tax and tip). Our order came out to be $28. Pretty legit for huge portions. I want to try their blueberry pancake and french toast next time! I was eyeballing it for the whole time haha
Some tips:
- opens at 6:30 and closes at 2 (since they're mainly a breakfast joint)
- there are soo many options, it's okay to be indecisive! (the waiters made it obvious that new people are usually indecisive there) glance around and see what others have before you make your decision
- the food takes a while to make, but don't worry, the anticipation is WORTH IT. You can watch the cooks making your food in the kitchen right behind the counter as you wait
- they're CASH ONLY!
- the workers there look like they're really tired and cranky... but they're really interactive and know how to make the customers feel comfortable
- there's a parking lot in the back
- expect a HUGE portion
- Take lots of pictures and ENJOY! -
Review from Jessica H.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2011
Grease never tasted so good.
I was introduced to this place a few years friend, and I definitely love this place. Something about it's diner charm just makes me warm and fuzzy inside. I came here recently with my dad for brunch, and even though the wait is miserable (30 minutes for seating then another hour for food), everything was delicious.
As always, here are some things you should know.
1.) I love the Stella Hashbrowns. Like hand down.
2.) The french toast, even though I haven't tried it, is very popular. I saw it everywhere.
3.) Sitting at the bar is kinda fun. Watching the chefs work their magic just makes the food that much better.
4.) The dishes are large, so sharing would definitely be a good idea. -
Review from Jackson P.
San Francisco, CA
11/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
Awesome good old fashion American Breakfast with butter. This place is delicious at reasonable prices.
I had the sirloin with 3 eggs, hash brown, and toast. My girlfriend had the french toast. All of which were awesome.
The waitress was super nice and greeted us / took our orders / got our checks promptly all with a smile on her face.
First bite to last bite was delicious. The portions were huge too! I wanted to stop eating half way through but I just couldn't stop myself.
4 Stars would've been 5 if i didn't have to wait 20 minutes because of the crowd and another 30 minutes for the food.
Side Note: Come early this place gets packed around noon. -
Review from Gorvey G.
San Francisco, CA
11/5/2010 21 Check-ins Here
My favorite no-frills SF breakfast spot. Great service from experienced, caring people. My favorite: large steak & 3 eggs & hash browns & toast for $12.95. Great for families with small children. Last time we went, my son got a special order of five mini-sized blueberry pancakes. We could have asked for any specific quantity of pancakes and they'd have figured it out and charged appropriately, no sweat. It's that kind of place: happy to accommodate. If you like restaurants that proudly display tons of kids' crayon drawings on the wall, you will like Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Arrive early for the cozy 4-person table in the front window. Cash only. Coffee is fine but could be better. Prompt refills. -
Review from Angela T.
San Francisco, CA
1/3/2011
I really wanted to like Breakfast At Tiffany's... I love breakfast food and this place seems like such a nice neighborhood restaurant.
So after my experience here, I am very sad to say, I don't think I will be going back.
Everyone at the restaurant was very nice and friendly, however the service was extremely slow and quite disorganized. This was partly due to my inexperience with their seating process. Apparently, self seating, if you see some seats open and free (or about to be open), better try to claim them. It was a bit of a wait for us to get seats and of course, after seeing people who came in after us seat themselves, we seated ourselves.
I thought the food would make the experience worth it... but it didn't. I ordered an omelette, and like all the other reviews have already stated, the portions are huge. I also upgrade my normal hashbrowns to the Stella, which has cheese, tomatoes, salsa, and sour cream. Luckily the sour cream was to the side because there was a crazy amount of cheese on my potatoes, way too much for me to handle. I had the same problem with my omelette. Cheese overload! I felt like I was mostly eating cheese. If you are looking for a super cheesey, greasy breakfast, this would be the place. My friend had the sausage omelette and it was overstuffed with sausages. Personally, I like things to be proportional. Delicious omelettes need not be overstuffed with things.
I do have to say that the ladies working here know their regulars well so it does have that nice little neighborhood place feel. -
Review from Mariela D.
San Francisco, CA
I love this place but my cholesterol doesn't. I occasionally tell my cholesterol to SHUT THE HELL UP...and then I go to Breakfast at Tiffanys.
To say the portions are massive is an understatement. Their omelettes take up the entire plate and are jam packed with toppings (or fillings, rather). Their hash browns are made in the traditional homestyle fashion, crispy and golden.
I always entertain myself by looking at all the kids' drawings that are plastered all over the walls. Each has the child's name and age on it. The decor looks like a holiday decoration exploded on the walls - where else could you find Christmas, Halloween and Valentine's Day decorations all in one place?
Service in general is welcoming and warm, like you've just stepped into a relative's house for brunch. It's somewhat of a small space so it can get pretty tightly packed, especially on weekend mornings.
And it's a cornerstone of the Portola district - I grew up there, and they've been in business since as far as I can remember. Love this place! -
Review from Sarina I.
San Francisco, CA
12/5/2010
I'm a fan of this place now. Wait time was not long at all. But the inside is very small, so I can see how long the wait would be when it gets busy. There was a big table but only with three people so my friend and I ate at the other end of the time.
It took a couple of minutes for them to notice us, since I got up and grabbed the menu myself. It must have caught their attention because after that they came to serve us.
I had the French Toast Special (as always) & it was delicious. It came with strawberries and whipped cream on the side! Loved that!
The menu was priced great for anyone on a budget. Plus the food fills you up and keeps you satisfied. The owners checked in at our table a decent amount of times to make sure we had everything we needed.
If I'm ever in the area again, I would come back to this place for sure. Parking can be a little diffcult but there's a small lot next to it. I waited there a few minutes and got a spot when someone was leaving.
plus i love the name of the place! YuM! -
Review from Danielle B.
Fullerton, CA
Warning: CASH only!
That being said, Tiffany's food impressed me, the wait time did not. My BF and I were seated at 10:20, waited until 10:35 or so to put our order in. We finally got our order at 11:25. I was on the verge of a cranky hunger outburst.
Thank goodness their food saved them. My eyes lit up when the food finally arrived. I ordered the #7 Bridgette's special which consists of a waffle with eggs and choice of meat (chicken apple sausage, bacon, or patty--i think are the choices). I chose the chicken apple sausage. The waffle came with a serving of strawberries topped with whip cream and a cup of hot butter syrup. Everything was delicious. The portion is seriously larger than anything I should come close to finishing, but it was so good I couldn't stop eating and almost finished everything. I also tried my BF's corned beef and hash, which was also delicious. Their corned beef is perfectly sized, chunky yet hash-y (if you know what I mean).
If anything, I did overhear the waitress tell another table that they were training new cooks that morning. So that may slightly explain the longer wait. But I swear that people who ordered after us got their food before us and that's what annoyed me the most. I'd come back here, though, as long as I'm not in a rush to get anywhere afterward. This is definitely a warm, cozy breakfast spot to be at. -
Review from Jason B.
7/6/2010
Greasy spoon doesn't do this place justice. Try greasy utensil set. Grease oozes from everywhere, and the sassy ladies running the joint are proud of it. It's the place time forgot, as if you're leaving 2010 and entering 1950 when you walk in the door.
Now, the eats. Greasy? Ah yes. Lots and lots of hashbrowns on the menu, which apparently is a specialty. Had to get some. They were greasy, but good, and made a nice companion to some egg whites. Shockingly not charged extra for that. But you can bet they were greasy. -
Review from Layne C.
San Francisco, CA
11/14/2010
Love, love, looove...this place, not only do I love it but clearly many other people do, hence the waiting factor, but it's totally worth it.
I can't stray away from their omletes, which are deliciously overstuffed (as am I if I attempt to finish 'em) so thankfully my b/f has tried quite a few items which have all been muy delicioso!
The folks that work there, make this establishment what it is and what it will continue to be so keep doing what you're doing. -
Review from Ed U.
12/2/2007 5 photos
Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in "Breakfast at Tiffany's":
"...the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's, then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name!"
I doubt very much that Audrey would walk into this working-class diner on the eastern edge of the Portola district next to 101. But there she is...looking out from that famous studio photograph, framed and sun-faded, hanging high on the wall next to the grill. She was indeed perfection...
http://www.youtube.com...
Funny thing is that I compiled a local breakfast eatery list called "Breakfast at Tiffany's" before I knew this place even existed. I had a dickens of a time trying to find it because it was not quite what I expected. I guess I was expecting something like Holly Golightly's apartment in the movie - a suitcase with a phone inside, a cow's head, silly Baroque art pieces, a sofa cut out of a bathtub, skinny waitresses in simple black cocktail dresses. Nope, not close, not by a long shot. In fact, I have a feeling if I asked the numerous Asian teenagers in here what the name of the place means, I'd get a lot of head scratching.
It's not that I was all that disappointed when I entered. I had a feeling it would be more like a greasy spoon, and I was right. It's a tarnished place that looks very popular with the locals. The waitresses are genuinely friendly veterans of the slinging hash variety like Flo at Mel's Diner on "Alice". They call you "Hon" and make sure you love the food you get.
She didn't have to do much convincing because the food is good in that greasy diner kind of way. I had the $9.25 Armida Special (see photo) which was a tasty scramble chock full of ingredients - chorizo sausage, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, avocado, green peppers, onions, and melted jack cheese.
It came with hash browns which actually seemed a bit closer to a potato pancake texture, but it was good hearty stuff all the same. There was a dollop of sour cream and a side of salsa, and I topped everything off with a few healthy squirts of Tabasco. Along with some sourdough toast and a cup of joe, I was a happy man with just a tad of indigestion.
Like I said, the interior is nothing to write Architectural Digest about, and it gets crowded pretty quickly. But it is a friendly place and worth a stop even if Audrey's spirit is limited to that faded photo above the counter.
FOOD - 4 stars...solid scrambler and lots of hash browns...happy, happy, joy, joy
AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...uhhh, well...it's a diner alright
SERVICE - 4 stars...friendly service from waitresses who sang "The 12 Days of Christmas" slightly off-key
TOTAL - 4 stars...I say go for it if you want a hearty breakfast -
Review from Angela M.
Suisun City, CA
5/22/2011
Is the food good? Yes. Would I go there on an empty stomach? Hell no! I walked in, sat down, the waitress took my order and then had to wait an hour for my food to come. Had I known it was gonna take an hour to eat after ordering I would've just cooked my own brunch! As much as I'd like to say I enjoyed my food I can't. Especially when some random waitress made her way to my table and reached over my plate to take my jelly rack to another table. Step up the cooking time and step away from my plate!
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Review from Drue C.
San Francisco, CA
11/20/2007
So, I walked in expecting to see a socialite or two sporting some bling bling from my favorite jewelry store, or a mob boss who was getting some grub after a hand off downtown or at the very least a decorator who wanted to get into someones pants. Did I get any of that?? Noooooo!!!!
What I did get was a super fantastic breakfast in which, if calories were dollars, would have been a mighty nice piece of jewelry from that store with the little blue boxes.
They have these hash browns that are not the little stringy ones but the coarse grated fried patties of goodness that you can upgrade. And I thought you could only upgrade diamonds and cars and cable service. I was wrong. You can upgrade hash browns, there are three upgrades, the most deluxe model featuring bacon, green chili's, cheese, sour cream and several other ingredients I cant remember but that made these the best damn hash browns EVER!!!
This is a greasy spoon diner, with a counter and a few tables and fewer people to wait on you so relax a little and take in the ambiance, the ambiance being a lone Breakfast at Tiffany's poster on the wall and the super hot cook. The portions are huge and they use a lot of butter. The prices are reasonable. If you like strong coffee get it ahead of time. Theirs is a kinder gentler variety (watery) but you will forget all about that when your 3 lbs of delicious food is placed in front of you.Listed in: Guess Whos Coming To Diner
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Review from Matt G.
2/7/2010 1 photo
I'm not much of a movie-watcher, nor did I've ever seen the Audrey Hepburn's orginal classic movie. But this classic diner is as close as "Old-school" as it gets.
A very prototypical diner that serve your classic breakfast meals. There are also daily specials. But I ordered straight from the menu and I ordered the Tiffany's Breakfast special. For $9.00, it is a chopped Bacon, Sausage, Ham and Cheese Omelette with Hash Browns and Toast. "I'm all about meat, baby!"
As I was waiting for my meal, I was sipping on my coffee (with free-refills), listening to the classic tunes of the Beach Boys and spectating at the skillful chef preparing my meal from my counter table. Just looking at the skillful chef and agile workers running around is a performance itself.
My meal was ready within five minutes with the chef handed me my meal in front of my face. One bite of my hearty Omelette, my bacon was thick and crunchy and the apple sausage was juicy. My side of hashbrown was also "carbo-lious". (Is that an appropriate word?)
One of the very few times I would drive cross-town for a breakfast, but it was worth it. Plus parking in the early morning wasn't much of a problem along the busy streets of San Bruno Ave. With good food and friendly service, I don't mind doing this whenever I get this chance.
Cash only too.Listed in: Approaching my 1,300th review, The best of 2010!
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Review from phillip w.
San Francisco, CA
8/18/2008
Stepped in here, so busy with people~ and tables packed..but didnt have too long of a wait
The waitress was very nice and she was quite quick on her feet. The two gentleman manning the station were quick wit their hands. The guy taking care of the of the hashbrowns and pancakes and french toast was moving like the dickens, the other guy taking care of the waffle iron, sauteing the meat and vegetables for the omelets was also working like flash. All this food with the wonderful smell of breakfast~ *droool*
I had the armida omelet..had eggs of course, with chorizo, spinach, tomatoes, cheese, mushrooms, i think bell peppers..I dont remember anymore I just ate it so fast..the hashbrowns were cruncy and delicous, the pancakes were quite wonderful too..nice and soft and topped with syrup its quite yum. I think I scared the couple sitting near me, I was eating so fast with toast in my other hand and my fork in my right..just scarfing and scarfing..I was so happy to eat this breakfast..
I cant wait till I find another wonderful breakast joint~ -
Review from Wilhelm Y.
San Francisco, CA
11/15/2007
This restaurant has been in my neighborhood for as long as I can remember and that is a l - o - n - g time, yet it finally took the reviews of my fellow Yelpers to get me to stop in and give it a try.
Oh, what I have been missing out on! Yesterday I had one of the best mushroom and cheese burgers ever at Breakfast at Tiffany's. Besides the daily specials which are written in white chalk on a huge blackboard behind the counter the regular lunch menu is made up mostly of burgers and hot or cold sandwiches. I took a seat at the front counter, surveyed the menu and chose the Mushroom Swiss Burger. For $6.25 I really wasn't expecting much, but I was so wrong.
The burger is a thick third pounder of beef cooked to order on an open grill. The cook oiled up a frying pan and placed the pan on the stove top. Smack! He crushed a clove of garlic and tossed it into the pan. As the garlic browned in the pan he picked up the pan, walked over to a container of butter and added butter to the pan. After removing the excess garlic a monster heaping of fresh sliced mushrooms went into the pan and sat searing away in the butter, oil and garlic mixture. Meanwhile he had two halves of a hamburger bun heating away on the griddle. From a refrigerated unit he took out two slices of real Swiss cheese. One went onto the burger on the grill, and one would be later melted onto the sauteed mushroom mixture. A light film of mayo goes onto the bun and your choice of fresh onions, ripe tomato slices and/or leaf lettuce. I took everything except the onions.
The finished burger was so thick I had to open wide, really wide, just to get my first bite in. Parts of the mushroom and cheese mixture fell to the plate and hot juices dripped from the burger patty. This was a fabulous burger and it came served with a large heaping of crispy, meaty steak fries that left me overstuffed. With a canned soft drink and tax the total came to a measly $8.14 and well-deserving of a $2 tip.
It's a family run business, and everybody is super friendly as I was greeted by at least four people behind the counter. It seems that a lot of the customers are regulars. I'd like to think that I'll become a regular also some day. They serve breakfast and lunch only as the restaurant is open from 6 AM until 2:30 PM on weekdays and 7 AM until 2 PM on Saturdays.
Eventually I'll try some things on the breakfast menu, but for now I'll stick with lunch knowing that I can get a great burger here that is super affordable and supersized. -
Review from Todd B.
San Francisco, CA
5/16/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Great food but no phone order that sucks when your at work and want some
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Review from Aaron I.
San Francisco, CA
3/8/2009
3.5
Corned beef hash, mmmmmmmm, over here is unreal, broke da mouth! Its friggin ginormous!!!!!! Is that how you spell it? Pumpkin pancakes, mmmm!!!!!! but they are the pumpkin spice kine.
Make sure you have lots of time, it takes awhile to get your food. There are only like 2 chefs for like 20ish seats? -
Review from Yan G.
San Francisco, CA
8/10/2009 1 Check-in Here
And I said, "What about 'Breakfast at Tiffany's?'"
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And, as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."
Yep, for some reason this place made me think of the song and not the movie. It could be because I could imagine Deep Blue Something having breakfast here after a long night of partying, but Audrey Hepburn? Highly unlikely.
This place is very unique. If you think you've been to a greasy spoon diner before, think again. This place makes Waffle House look like Russian Tea Room. I wouldn't be surprised if they actually gave greasy spoons to their customers. Still, you've got to love a place like that.
This is the spot in my review where I usually talk about the decor, but alas, the decor was nowhere to be found. I'd never been to a place where old Halloween decorations share wall space with Christmas decorations . . . in July (and, presumably, year round). The waitress wore a faded blue 2000 Boston Red Sox sweatshirt with grease stains and a pair of old jeans. I kept looking at the poster of Audrey Hepburn, thinking "She would SO not approve!"
The place is really, really small, so get ready to wait for a table or sit at the counter. I showed up last Wednesday around 10:30 am, and the place was busy, but not packed. I took a corner seat at the counter, as I always try to do when I dine by myself. I had a clear view of the grill, the store room and the loading dock.
I ordered the Inflation Fighter (eggs, hash browns, bacon and toast) and a short stack of pancakes on the side. The bacon was really thick (good) but overly crispy (bad). Everything else was delicious, especially the pancakes. I can't wait to try the waffles next time.
Despite the fact the whole place looks and feels like a diner along Route 66 in 1966, the waitresses are extremely nice and caring. They kept refilling my coffee (I'm a 4-cup kinda guy) and kept asking me if I needed anything. What I really needed was some Splenda and some sugar free maple syrup, but they didn't have either. I wouldn't have expected them to.
Great greasy spoon in a somewhat sketchy area of the City. Lower your expectations, and you will be pleasantly surprised. Bonus points for easy metered parking in the area.Listed in: I brake for breakfast!
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Review from Amanda C.
San Francisco, CA
5/9/2008
There are places that wish they could be authentic delicious greasy spoon diner and then there is Breakfast at Tiffany's, an authentic greasy spoon diner.
Everything from Bubba's (the dishwasher) Inn to the Mario (http://www.trickmyspac...) look alike at the grill to the pictures drawn by neighborhood children that line the walls, everything about this kitschy hole in the wall screams AMAZING. The food is plentiful and delicious with some of the best hashbrowns I've ever had.
I think the conversation I had over my amazing bacon and cheese omelet best describes my feelings on this place.
Me: I never knew this place was out here!
Friend: Yeah there isn't any reason to come all the way down here.
Me: I have one now!
Now excuse me while I go watch Breakfast at Tiffany's and blare Deep Blue Something's "Breakfast at Tiffany's" for the next few hours while I digest. -
Review from Cheryl D.
5/3/2008
=)
While S and I were waiting for our food, the waitress looked over at the gentleman who was at the table next to us and jested to see if he was going to pay for ours too. That would be fine with us! The waitresses here are sweethearts and great people.
Everything on the menu is good.
I tried S's shrimp and mushroom omelet and it was huge and hearty. We also shared a the usual short stack of blueberry pancakes and they were really good. We only finished one of them.
My corned beed hash special was made with big hearty chunks of real corned beef, not the canned stuff. It was served with crispy on the outside hashbrowns topped with cheese and it was fantastic. It came with 3 eggs and toast and was priced super reasonably. I only ate half and since its Saturday I am saving the rest for morning-after food. Did I just state in a freakin yelp review that I am going to get some? EEk. Ok, maybe I am planning on getting some because why should my mouth have all the orgasmic fun today?
Maybe if he's lucky I will let him stay over and see what he says when I say we're having Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Anyway - stay away - its crowded sometimes but nowhere near as some SF breakfast/brunch hot spots. Leave my local grimey breakfast alone - I don't want to eat and overhear conversations about some chic from people talking in sentences that emphasize the last word and make a statement sound like a question. I hate you, I hate you, I hate you.
