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Dottie's True Blue Cafe - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants American (Traditional) Restaurants Diners Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch American (Traditional), Diners, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
522 Jones StSan Francisco, CA 94103
Neighborhoods: Civic Center/Tenderloin, SOMA
(415) 885-2767
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- 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
1623 reviews for Dottie's True Blue Cafe
Review Highlights
"The whiskey-fennel sausage scramble was amazing."
(in 105 reviews)
"Blueberry cornmeal pancakes - so light & fluffy."
(in 80 reviews)
"French toast with balsamic strawberry reduction."
(in 307 reviews)
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1620 reviews in English
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Review from Brian M.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/22/2012
Dottie's has now reopened at their new location. I must say I am very impressed at the decor (the neighborhood, not so much). The food is still as good as ever and there wasn't any wait this morning due to the larger seating capacity.
Go hungry, go often!
Dottie's really is the best!
(Edit: Oops. I wasn't aware that links to my 'blog were not allowed. Sorry for the interruptions.)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/12/2012
Don't pay any attention to any of the negative reviews here. Dottie's True Blue café is not only the… Read more »
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Review from Mark K.
1/5/2012
HAPPIEST HOLIDAYS: Part V - Tenderloin for Breakfast
I woke up the morning after my snowboarding excursion pining for steel-cut oatmeal and ski slopes (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Instead, I was given the task of finding my mom and I a breakfast spot while my brother took care of some business. Where does one go when he or she needs an unbiased consensus of a city's finest eating establishments? (Rhetorical question, I hope.)
After a quick "breakfast" search, I discovered Dottie's True Blue Café. Not only did it have an average rating of four stars with over 1,500 reviews (A feat NO Austin restaurant has accomplished), it was also just a couple of blocks from our hotel (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Why in wine country would I not want to eat there?
One warning might be the wait (according to a handful of Yelp's pro-bono critics). If you hope to enjoy a Jalapeno Jelly smothered slice of their famous Grilled Chili Cornbread, you'll most likely be standing outside for at least an hour. Fortunately, we had four to kill until my brother could take us to our next activity. Game on, Lamb-Fennel Sausage Scramble!
Another common complaint amongst Yelp's negative minority is the service. It's true, the servers never seem to break a sweat, but after waiting over an hour for a seat, the last thing you want is some table-turning waiter shoving eggs down your gullet. Even with the line stretching beyond the front window, our waiter kindly and calmly took our order and answered our every question. There's even a sign out front explaining their "no-rush" philosophy, so there's really no reason to be surprised or upset by the relaxed atmosphere once you're inside.
The last reason one might want to avoid Dottie's isn't readily apparent to tourists. Currently, Dottie's operates in a little area known as The Tenderloin. If you're unfamiliar with this infamous neighborhood, fast forward to the 2:35 mark of this video and let Dave Chappelle enlighten you (http://youtu.be/xBG0ty...). If you can't access YouTube at the moment, I'll just share the conversation I had with a resident of the Tenderloin sidewalks.
PANHANDLER: Heyman. You got 55 cents?
ME: Sorry. I only have a credit card. (True Story)
PANHANDLER: What about some hot coffee (he asked, pointing at the to-go cup in my hand.)
ME: Sorry. This is all I have.
PANHANDLER: (Leans in closer) Selfish ass cracker! You're lucky I just got hassled by the cops or I'd beat the F**K out of you!
Some people would have found this exchange horrifying. (Exhibit A: My mom's face after hearing his closing statement.) Me? I just chuckled like Buster Bluth on a construction site (Arrested Development reference).
Although Dottie's will probably be in a larger and safer location by the time I return to San Francisco (According to the "relocating" sign on the door), I'm glad I experienced this culinary landmark in all of its ORIGINAL glory; hour-plus wait, sluggish servers and aggressive panhandlers included.
Tune in to tomorrow for HAPPIEST HOLIDAYS: Part VI - I Really Am Russian (http://okmarkok.yelp.com/)Listed in: HAPPIEST HOLIDAYS
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Review from Kate J.
San Francisco, CA
I'm confused...what's all the fuss about??
My roommates parents were in town and we wanted to take them here because of how popular and good it looked. We waited in line for an hour, it rained on and off, and we finally got a table. The coffee was good, the wait staff was friendly, but I easily could have made the breakfast at home.
I ordered the chocolate chip french toast and it was dense and a little dry. I watched the chef made a ton of it if while we waited for our table and he has to make it all so fast that I guess the break doesn't get to soak in the egg long enough. Whatever the case I won't be venturing to the tenderloin for Dottie's round 2. -
Review from Patrick S.
Oakland, CA
2/2/2012
Good food but very rich. Have not tried the new location, but the old one was a pain due to the wait. Give it a try if you urgently need an infusion of calories.
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Review from nathan n.
San Jose, CA
12/26/2011
So so let me tell you guys my little story about this place. came to sf to hang out with my sig other for a couple of days for my birthday. went to go a watch a show and had dinner. stayed at hotel monaco so dottie's was walking distance for breakfast. read the reviews and i expected the long wait. okay cool let just stop by and see how good the food is.
here's when things get really freakin odd.
the employees there seem to take their time. nothing was a priority even tho the line was getting longer. we didn't really care cause we finally got a table. yay! we're looking at the menu, decided what we wanted and put our menus down. we patiently wait for our server to take our order. we're twirling our thumbs looking around, checking out the restaurant and the pictures. (+1 for the big boobie naked chick picture.) OH you know just waiting patiently for our server to take our order. Then it happen. We hear the cook yelling at our server. Our server comes up to us and tells my girlfriend to stop staring at the cook/owner? He doesnt like it. WHAT!?!?!??!??!!???!? she said wtf, i wasn't ever staring at him. the server goes "excuse him he's having a bad day".
WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
are you serious!
So is that right he takes it out on us?
I of course had to play it cool and calm the gf down. come on, wouldn't u be pissed off if you were at a restaurant and someone said that to u? why would she stare at u when she got this hot stud muffin sitting across from her? oh ninja pls! hahah
anyways if you're reading this cook guy. thanks for ruining my breakfast cause i lost my appetite after that. thanks for getting my gf upset. its not like u had to deal wiht it. i did! u f*cker! i hope you lose an eyeball or something. nm that was mean. i hope santa claus defecates in your xmas present and stocking. i'm sure karma will get you! arghhh -
Review from John T.
San Francisco, CA
12/22/2011
NOTE: The lease at this location has not been renewed. According chef/owner Kurt Abney, Dottie's will be moving somewhere around Mid-Market in early January 2012. http://on.wsj.com/ukPMYW
Breakfast is an important meal for me. It's also important to the multitude of tourists ready to explore the wonders of San Francisco. Therein lies the problem. I live a few blocks away and have come to learn that I need to be in line by 7:15 on weekdays and 7 on weekends (they open promptly at 7:30) in order not to wait for a seat. Depending on the line, the wait can be as long as 90 minutes. Most of the time I sit at the counter but when I can't, I'm asked if I'd be willing to share a table with another solo diner. That wasn't a problem as I've always met some interesting people.
Dottie's is really small and seats about 30. Service is efficient thanks to Kurt's watchful eye. Breakfast here is really good and probably the best in San Francisco. Daily specials are posted on the south wall. You'll spend between $12 to $15 but portions are generous so you do get a bang for the buck.
Even though the food and service are great, the challenges of getting in here precludes me from giving it 5 stars.
I'll review Dottie's again once they're in their new and hopefully bigger location.
And oh yeah, I've been the longest Foursquare Mayor for 2011. :-) -
Review from Rebecca F.
Los Angeles, CA
12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
My boyfriend and I came here for breakfast when we visited San Fransisco.
I will admit the food was pretty good (I had the black bean cakes), but definitely NOT WORTH the hour and a half wait and the ridiculously sketchy area that it's in. We almost stepped on a needle on the way there and we were asked if we would like to buy some meth about four times. I am glad I made it out alive.
I can't imagine how anyone finds this place worth coming to. I'm not from SF so I did not know to avoid this area, but I still can't see waiting so long for a restaurant with like 6 tables. -
Review from matt t.
San Francisco, CA
1/28/2012
Waited from 6:30-7:30. Got a seat. Ate average food with a bunch of tourists. Um, lame? 2 for the baked goods but if you're going to stand in line for baked goods check out Tartine (now with even more tourists).
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Review from Raychel P.
Vacaville, CA
12/18/2011
Amazing. Worth the wait in line (which moves quicker than you think). Within 10 minutes of being seated (after a 45 minute wait in line ) on a busy Saturday morning, we had 3 full plates of food. Our coffees were kept full and everyone was SO NICE! They have a real knack for service and quality!
Try the sweet potato, carmelized onion and gruyere tart! YUM! -
Review from Juv C.
12/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I was hoping to indulge in their banana chocolate chip toasted pecan french toast. Sounds mouth-watering, doesn't it? Well they didn't have it when I went. I was crushed, but whattya gonna do right. Sadly defeated I went with a classic eggs-bacon-potatoes breakfast. Eh, nothing special. My breakfast companion had the pulled-pork scramble. Now THAT was something special. It was so good I ended up having 4-5 bites and ignoring my plate.
I'll be back. And the banana chocolate chip toasted pecan french toast will be mine. -
Review from Marie D.
Alameda, CA
1/29/2012
I am a huge Dottie's fan had breakfast at the NEW LOCATION, 6th & Market, (28 6th Street) and as usual the food was amazing. Yeah, yeah the neighborhood is a bit sketchy but, not a big deal and not much different from the old location, also there was SF finest eating with us, so I certainly felt comfortable. I like the decor and larger seating capacity but by the time I finished my breakfast the lines were out the door. This is my favorite SF breakfast spot.
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Review from MeMyMoeMooo T.
San Francisco, CA
12/18/2011
Long lines and sticky close quarter tables.
We had the
cornbread with jalapeno jelly- it was eh. the cornbread was very plain to me and the jalapeno jelly did not excite my taste buds.
Cornmeal blueberry pancakes- it was bitter on practically every bit. odd.
and one of their omelets with sausages in it- it was good, but then the saltiness of the sausages got overwhelming.
Everything was well sized and great for sharing for 2-3 people, the high points was the great service. Wish i had skipped the food and went straight for their pastries...
coconut chocolate chip muffin, coconut honey muffin, butterscotch muffin,mango yogurt muffin, toffee bar... i'll see you in my dreams. -
Review from Daniel D.
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
First saw Dottie's on Triple D on Food Network. Finally got a chance to get up early and trek out here.
B -- S
-- Plenty of parking on Sunday plus NO METERS
-- Get there EARLY or wait and go late
-- Small place - gets packed FAST
-- 1st ones there @ 7am and out before 8:30am
-- Get the specials
-- Blueberry cornmeal pancakes are BOMB
-- Open Road is kind of basic but allows you to try pancakes or french toast
So my GF and I were having our romantic stay in Union Square for a little mini getaway. Of course we had to scratch one of SF's finest breakfast joints off our list. We woke up early and walked four city blocks and got there around 7am. We were the first people there but by 7:30 there was a line down the block. I will agree that the area isn't the best, it is the tenderloins but the food is worth it.
We both got the Open Road with Bacon. I wish I would have just gotten the Chorizo scramble. I think that if it's your first time, you shouldn't go basic but might as well go with some specials like my friend Angela W. says in her review.
The awesome thing about Dottie's is you can get whatever the specials are as your pancakes or french toast. The Open Road comes with like a 1/2 order which is plenty enough. My GF got the chocolate chip and banana french toast and I got the cornmeal blueberry pancakes. The special french toast was very rich and savory. She was glad she got bacon to battle the sweets with some saltiness. I ate my pancakes first and they were light and not til filling but very satisfying.
The rest of breakfast was regular and basic and not even worth mentioning. Except the home fries which were just ok, but I'm not a big potatoe fan anyways.
I'm definitely looking forward to coming back again and getting a scramble or some other type of special. I hope it's sooner rather than later :) -
Review from Roem B.
San Francisco, CA
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicious. Went on a weekday and only waited 15 minutes. Got the Whiskey Sausage scramble and was blown away. Jalepeno corn bread with jelly was awesome.
Damn, Dottie. Damn. -
Review from Robert S.
San Diego, CA
12/9/2011
While on my last trip to San Francisco, I was kicking in the lobby of the Hotel Serrano (more on that one later) on the handy Yelp app on my Iphone looking for some tasty breakfast eats. The concierge could not help but notice my query and offered his unsolicited advice. "Dotties. You'll be glad you did." Not one to question the local knowledge, I took the suggestion and departed on my way.
I enjoyed the breakfast so much, I went back to the hotel and tipped the guy $10 for such a great suggestion. Yep. That's how I do it. Pay the love back.
Dottie's is small, maybe 10 or 12 tables, so there's always a line so I'm told. The facade is unpretentious. In fact you'd probably miss it if it weren't for the line out front. We waited 20 minutes but it was well worth it. I'm old school so I ordered a couple of eggs, potatoes and some wheat toast. Like I said, I'm old school. It was all good.
The great thing about small restaurants is that they smell good and you could see the guy making your food. And since the tables are so close together you not only see what your neighbors are having but you actually engage in some friendly conversation.
I'm gonna go back. -
Review from Erica B.
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
We were in SF for the weekend and Yelped a brunch place. Dotties came up as the highest rated and once the BF read reviews about the jalapeno corn bread w/ jalapeno jam, he was sold. We ignored all the pictures of the crazy line and all the warnings about wait times. We were only in SF for 2 days, so why not?
Verdict? If you can get over the 1 hour wait, the food is worth it. The jalapeno corn bread was just as delicious as we'd hoped. And the chocolate chip french toast = OMG.
I read reviews that this place was featured on the Food Network, which explains the line. But what I appreciate is that they don't rush you to finish your food. They leave you alone to talk and enjoy your coffee. They know there's a massive line outside, but that doesn't matter because what really matters to them are the patrons inside enjoying their food and experience.
TIP: They serve mimosas! When we were Yelping for a place to eat, I almost passed on Dotties because the info states no alcohol. LIES! A yummy mimosa awaits you =) -
Review from Marissa H.
San Francisco, CA
Decided I had to eat here before it moves to SOMA & I don't get to have the "Dottie's experience". Got in line ~7:30am on Sunday. Already a few people in front of me, but as a party of 1 I was quickly seated at the bar when it opened. Figured I'd try as much as I could since I don't plan on going back.
Cons: Waiter service is OK. Some are better than others, but there definitely wasn't enough of them. Table turnover is so slow...empty tables sat uncleared for awhile before being reset & sat again. Cash only
Pros: Watching the owner/chef do his thing using his 6 (or 8) burner stove, regular fridge (used for cold storage), & other restaurant cooking appliances.
What I ordered:
Coffee - Ok, nothing amazing but they do keep it continually full.
1 of the specials - Sweet potato w/ red onion & Guyere cheese tart. Came w/ fresh fruit - grapes, small bits of watermelon & blueberries - & a biscuit. I don't eat eggs so got extra fruit. The tart was completely missing the onions & cheese...or it was so pureed in w/ the sweet potatoes that it was impossible to distinguish/taste. The tart breading was good - flaky & buttery. Overall, it was bland & I wouldn't order again especially for $11.95.
The biscuit (2) was very good - light, flaky & airy. Good taste & delicious when spread with the jam served on the table
Whiskey Blueberry Crumb Cake - a huge piece served with fresh whipped cream. The cream was amazing, the blueberries line the top part of the cake & makie it look beautiful. I didn't taste too much whisky but overall it's a good dish & for $5.50, it's 1 I'd order again.
Chili-cheddar corn bread - 2 big slabs for $3.95 served with jalapeno-pepper jelly. It's spot on! This is a definite must order (& I'm not a fan of spicy things!). It has a slight kick to it from the jalapenos but it doesn't hit until you've had a bite or two.
I'd never come here if I didn't show up before it opened b/c there's no way I'd want to wait in line. Hopefully the new place will hire more people & put in a credit card machine. -
Review from Nadeem A.
Union City, CA
11/23/2011 2 photos
Even if you don't consider the hour long wait, this is place is "eh, it's OK" at best.
There were a few things that were good:
- The chocolate chip french toast was good and had lots of chocolate chips
- The breakfast potatoes were well seasoned
- You can't really screw up fried eggs
But there were more things that were bad:
- The Blueberry pancakes had lots of blueberries, but were mushy
- The dill toast was very dense, and not flavorful
- The grilled cornbread had no corn sweetness, and no spiciness
- The hot chocolate wasn't very creamy
After adding in the hour long wait, this becomes one of those places that we'll never go to again. -
Review from Jayne W.
Los Altos, CA
11/11/2011
Found this place on Yelp and it was all that I expected. Arrived at 9:30 on Saturday morning. There was a small line outside waiting. 30 minutes later we had a table (1 of 10 in the whole restaurant, plus 5 seats at the counter). Both my friend and I ordered the "Open Road", comes with fresh squezed juice, 2 (JUMBO) eggs, 4 slices of thick cut bacon, hasbrowns, and your choice of pancakes or french toast (4 thick cut slices). It was way more food than we could ever have finished. Our total bill with tax and tip was $40 that included coffee and tea as well. For us that was a little pricey for a breakfast, next time we will order one plate and split it. Some other unique specials: black bean cakes, blueberry cornmeal pancakes, grilled eggplant, great muffins, scones, etc.
Its well worth the wait!! -
Review from Ali A.
San Francisco, CA
1/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love this place!
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Review from Josie M.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2011
maybe it was the two days in a row of cornbread that killed it, but honestly i wasn't overly impressed by this place. i mean it was good, but not 1 hour wait good. i'd rather go to plow. parking is also really difficult.
portions are gargantuan, so are the pastries, which are recommended to take home. -
Review from Shirley C.
It's cold out and we're hungry but this place got a lot of reviews and we are visiting so we decided to just wait and try it out. If I was alone I'd walk right past the line up and go elsewhere but here we are waiting in a questionable part of town.
1hr 15 mins later...
We order spinach frittata with pesto, kalamata olives, tomatoes, and feta, the chorizo omelette, southwestern and pulled pork scramble. It was just okay, but apparently cheap eats, large portions and the grungiest places are the 'in' thing in San Fran...go figure. -
Review from Rae R.
San Diego, CA
11/18/2011
While working in the neighborhood at Cheap Petes Framing Store on Geary St. I would always walk here and order the usual......A grand coffee and a small pastry on the side, during my 15 min breaks.....
If I wanted to splurge a lil, I would buy granola and yogurt.....yummmmmmm! Everything here is superb, small tiny cafe, the service is very helpful, friendly, and personable.
I love how there is an open patio in front. And you can juz see the hustle and bustle of Clement St. -
Review from Anthony L.
San Francisco, CA
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'd have to say that Dottie's is the epitome of Over-rated.
I've been here a couple of times and each time we've had to wait over an hour.
When you get to the front of the line and you see t the waiter/busboys leave 2 out of the 10 tables unbused for over 10 min, you start to understand why the wait is so long!
The food is pretty decent and the pastries are the one saving grace.
Jalapeno Cornbread with jam, and any of their blueberry type pastries are amazing but the rest of the dining experience is not up to par.
If you're looking for chic brunch go to Lime
If you're looking for a real City delight for Breakfast go to Mama's
If you not in the mood for the City, go to Stacks in the South-Bay
If you're in the mood to wait and just want out of this world pastries, then you've found your place!
2 stars for the overall breakfast experience but 4 stars for the pastries! -
Review from Faye G.
10/24/2011 3 photos
DOTTIE'S! I've been looking forward to trying this breakfast spot forever and was so glad I was able to stop in during my last visit up north.
What I loved:
-The menu! I loved the daily specials (there were about 8 listed) and the variety offered on the menu. Downside: I'm such an indecisive person. It took me forever to order but I just went with the recommendations on Yelp & wasn't disappointed ;)
-The Grilled Chili-Cheddar CORNBREAD. This stuff was amazing! Especially with the Jalapeno Jelly on the side. *Note: You have to ask for the Jalapeno Jelly on the side if the cornbread comes as a part of your meal.
-The Whiskey Fennel Sausage was delish. So glad I split the scramble with my boyfriend.
-The Blueberry Cornmeal pancakes were light & not too sweet.
What I didn't love:
-Obviously, the location. Like everyone else on here says, the Tenderloin sucks. I had the pleasure of walking from my hotel to Dottie's, so I had my fair share of craziness for the morning. Seeing Dottie's was like a safe haven! "We're here!!!"
-I didn't really dig the waiting system here. Basically, there is no list to put your name in. It's literally first come, first serve as everyone had to just stay in line. Our wait was about an hour.
I will admit, I totally saw Dottie's on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives which is why I wanted to come here so badly lol. Awesome choice in the end, as taste trumped everything else. Solid 4 stars! -
Review from Evie B.
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yup, the wait is true. Plan on getting there extra early or extra late because if you don't you will probably wait 45min+ to get in. However, the food is totally worth it. My husband tried the whiskey fennel sausage scramble with the jalapeno cornbread and it was amazing! Even added the jalapeno jelly which made it that much better. I had the prosciutto and roasted peppers scramble, which also was amazing with a kick of heat. We ordered a side of pancakes to try and it was delicious with the extra cinnamon all topped with tasty syrup. We got some muffins (coconut honey and pumpkin toffee) to go for my sis and bro-in-law which they raved about as well. Staff was friendly and accomodating even with the hustle and bustle which was highly appreciated. Can't wait to try this place again next time we're up in the city.
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Review from Albert L.
Irvine, CA
12/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I'll cut to the chase. I would recommend the the Smoked whiskey-fennel sausage, mushroom and baby spinach scramble and the blueberry pancakes. Boom; done. Actually, their other items are good as well. I also tried their Chorizo scramble, but the Smoked Whiskey-Fennel was better (in my opinion). They're both good though. :-)
The wait is about 45 minutes on an average weekend morning. If you can't wait that long, Taylor's Coffee Shop (just a few blocks away) is an excellent alternative. Of course, Dottie's is moving to a larger space in December 2011, so I'm not sure how far that will be from Taylor's.
Overall, Dottie's serves up a mean breakfast. The question is, do you wanna wait 45 minutes for it (probably why they're moving, right)? Hopefully the next time I'm back in the city, I'll only have to wait a few minutes. :D -
Review from Lee-suh C.
San Francisco, CA
11/9/2011
Saw this little cafe showcased on the Food Network and I had to try.
Don't be alarmed by the long line that awaits you. The food is incredible and mixed with the vibe and decor...it's a must try place in San Francisco.
It's one man who makes everything so I'm assuming he's the owner. He probably does that to guarantee that the food comes out perfect which it sure does!
The sausage fennel omelet is delicious! The breakfast potatoes are brown and crispy just the way it should be.
Everything is good so choose what appeals to you the most. You won't be disappointed.
Dottie's has truly mastered the art of breakfast cuisine. -
Review from Loni F.
Sacramento, CA
1/11/2012
If you need your morning caffeine fix, you better grab it on the way because you will be standing in line for a while. Don't worry, The wait is totally worth it!!! Be sure to check out the pastry case and the specials board. The Italian fennel sausage was amazing, the best sausage I've ever had!!!
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Review from Soo K.
11/15/2011
I was craving brunch, pancakes, french toast, eggs the whole shabang. So, I looked up best brunch places on Yelp and found Mama's and Dottie's. I've heard of Mama's, but I know that is a super duper long wait. So, off to Dottie's it was.
We still waited in a long line, in the cold! But, after an hour, we were in! Once we got around the corner, it was no wonder it took so long to get in. The space is small, maybe 10 tables. We were sat and looked over the menu...so much to choose from! The pancakes said "world famous pancakes", so our server let us split and get half order of pancakes, half french toast. We also ordered an omelet and the cornbread...oh my goodness...the cornbread was divine! Halbert loved the omelet the best. He said he was eating slow to savor it, haha. The pancakes were slightly different, but nothing to write home about. All in all, food was very good and I would definitely recommend trying Dottie's!
For photos visit, http://sooandthecity.b... -
Review from Amiee H.
12/19/2011
Bottom line: this place is a pretty typical breakfast place and honestly, if I didn't have to wait a WHOLE HOUR in line outside in the COLD, I think I would have appreciated the food A LOT more. Here's the deal, when you wait an HOUR for food, you have certain expectations and when the food doesn't meet this expectation, you feel ripped off that you had to wait an HOUR in the COLD for this sub par food that wasn't even really worth it. Too much effort, not enough satisfaction, so it's diminishing returns....makes the whole experience not worth it.
Food:
1) French toast: Really good bread, very soft and chewy with a nice flavorful thin layer of egg! I really liked this dish, very tasty!
2) Avocado frittata: Not your typical frittata but still tasted pretty good. This seemed more like an intact, unscrambled version of an egg scramble (if that makes sense...). It was pretty good but I still like the hard baked edge of a typical frittata instead of this version but I like their inventive new take on a frittata.
3) Open table scramble: the sausage was pretty good, the scrambled egg was over shadowed by the frittata we got and the home fries were pretty well fried and had good flavor. Overall, the dish was pretty typical but they did give pretty large portions.
4) Jalapenos cornbread: Two slices of this bread, very heavily toasted, made it very crunchy and crumbly. I normally really like cornbread but I felt like this one had better presentation which didn't live up to how it tasted. I didn't really taste any spicy jalapenos flavor and it very much lacked the corn flavor too. The Jam dip that it came with helped a bit but it still didn't completely save the dish.
Service:
They are so crazy busy here but they are still pretty good at attending to your needs, however, it was difficult to get their attention when you needed something.
Ambiance:
This place is SOO small! it only seats like 30 people inside! No wonder you have to wait an HOUR for your meal because there's only like 30 people eating at any given time! And after a table finishes their meal, the waiters are so busy serving other people that they take like 20 mins to clear off a table so they can seat the next group. It's pretty slow turn over and given the limited amount the seating, the hour long wait makes sense now...
Price:
Typical breakfast prices, you do get a lot of food for what you pay and I guess if you factor out your hour long wait, the food is pretty good! But when you think about how long you waited, it significantly decreases your affinity for the food.
Overall:
I WILL NEVER WAIT AN HOUR FOR FOOD FROM HERE AGAIN!! Unless it's like a 5 minute wait, FORGET IT!! This is NOT the only good breakfast place in town!! -
Review from Janet S.
Atlanta, GA
12/21/2011
For sure worth the line, if you get there before 8 there probably won't be one. Sit at the counter if you can and watch the chef in action..he's bad ass..so is the chili cornbread they throw on the griddle. We need more places like this. Oh and a side note you actually don't have to wait A WHOLE HOUR in the COLD (typing random words in CAPS does not evoke sympathy) you can go somewhere else like McDonalds..they don't have a line (i wonder why).. quit your bitching..deal with it or go somewhere else, there's no one standing there making you wait. i'm sure the owner would prefer you step out and make room for someone with a better attitude.
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Review from Cookie V.
Lawndale, CA
11/20/2011
I found this place on yelp and the recommendation was reinforced by a recommendation from someone I know. After reading all of the reviews, I was ready to wait in line for this place. The place opens at 7:30AM, so I thought if we got there at 8AM (on a Sunday), we'd be in good shape. Boy was I wrong!
We ended up waiting for 1 hour and 20 minutes to be seated! The place is tiny (only about 10 tables), so that was to be expected.
I had the blueberry cornmeal pancakes. They were actually very yummy. My boyfriend got some sort of combo meal with pancakes, eggs, bacon, and potatoes. I liked their regular pancakes too because they put cinnamon in them. Cinnamon makes everything great!
We got two muffins to go: raspberry chocolate chip muffins and a chocolate chip muffin. They screwed up our order and gave us a coconut muffin instead of the chocolate chip muffin but we were already at the airport by the time I realized it. Both muffins were dry and not good.
I thought the breakfast here was good, but no place is worth that long of a wait. I'm glad I tried it once though! -
Review from phillip w.
San Francisco, CA
10/5/2011
I come by this place and every time I do there is always a long line. That long line made me very curious. Now is it because the cooks are slow? Is it another trap of some sort for tourists? But after hearing my friends talk about this place I realized that it was a place worth checking out.
So yes there was a line, but it moved fairly fast. Maybe it was about a good 15-20min at most. I ordered a very simple breakfast. Bacon, eggs and hashbrowns. This came with their very delcious homemade toast.
Oh and a side of french toast.
All very delicious, and though I ended up smelling like breakfast the rest of the day I was very happy that I decided to come out here for breakfast.
I will definitely find time to go back and try the other items. -
Review from Jess H.
San Francisco, CA
12/26/2011
The first time I went to Dottie's True Blue cafe I was too lazy to wait in line and order breakfast to go and ate in the car. The pancakes were amazing and with their syrup. YUM! This time I waited and ate in. I'm not sure what changed but it was not as good as before. Their baked goods looked scrumptious so till next time.
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Review from Eric S.
San Francisco, CA
10/9/2011
Average breakfast food. I went here thinking that there must be something special about the place to have a line down the street until closing, there isn't.
3 of us ordered 4 plates and ate family style. We got a couple of specials, and a couple of "standard" breakfast items. The only memorable part of the experience was the coffee cake (which is pretty damned good). The rest of the food was disappointing.
If you like breakfast food, we have a lot of good options in the city. Don't just assume that because it has a line going down the block that it is good. Try Sweet Maple for some interesting and delicious breakfasts, or try Stacks if you're looking for more standard (but still good) fare.
Bottom line(s): This is not the special, gem of the city that you may be looking for. The food is average, they don't have adventurous or even creative items on the menu. You're going to wait at least half an hour for the terribly cramped seating. The service is mediocre (unwilling to make any changes to menu items, inability or unwillingness to describe food). You have much better options in this city. -
Review from Amanda S.
10/14/2011
Okay, yeah, you'll probably stand in line for an hour. We were there in July which is peak tourist season so our wait was probably well over an hour but it was worth it.
And you'll probably deal with some homeless people from the shelter next door who will simultaneously scold you for blocking their doorway and ask for spare change.
But it's worth it.
Sure, the interior is a little cramped. Get over it. Where else can you gaze upon Josephine Baker's boobs while you drink your morning cup of joe?
And, yes, their wait staff isn't the most upbeat but, quite frankly, I don't want some manic waitress getting all chipper on me before I've fully shaken the sleep from my brain. I was rather fond of our server. He was wearing a punk t-shirt (Stiff Little Fingers?) and completely laid back but totally efficient. I did not want for anything during our breakfast.
Which was fantastic! I had the black bean cakes with an outrageously fresh pico de gallo and sour cream, the jalapeno cornbread toast, eggs and potatoes. A lot of carbs to take on, for sure. My pancreas punched a whole through my torso, grabbed its hat and bag and made a beeline for the door about halfway through our meal but I'd do it all over again.
My love for Dottie's is true blue, indeed.
My husband was very happy with his breakfast. He had the southwestern omelette with salsa and tortillas. Actually, it's really the sides that make the dishes so fantastic. His salsa and my pico de gallo really took our meals to a
whole.
other.
level.
And I could kick myself in the keister for not bringing home some of Dottie's pepper jelly. It was salaciously good with the jalapeno corn bread. Spread it on something, you won't be disappointed.
Dottie's serves a damn good cup of coffee also. I wish I had tried one of their screwdrivers but I wussed out. Whatever.
Maybe next time?Listed in: If you're going to San…
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Review from Aaron Y.
Tustin, CA
11/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Standing in line for about an hour and a half is debatably worth the wait. We, as supreme fatties, had to make the most of it and order 4 breakfast meals between the two of us. I got the Prosciutto, basil, balsamic roasted tomato and red pepper flake scramble with chili corn bread and home fries. Make sure you get the corn bread with jalapeno jelly! This dish was awesome from start to finish. I tried my boy's smoked Whiskey-fennel sausage, mushroom and baby spinach scramble, which was perfectly salty.
We split a couple of the specials because they sounded good. The banana raspberry rice flour pancakes were so light and berry-tastic. drenched in pine maple syrup, what more could I ask for? We also split the chocolate chip french toast, also drenched in pine maple syrup. The waitstaff could not believe how much we ordered. They were probably a little disgusted that we nearly finished everything off! They were super friendly and even joked with us a bit.
Don't worry about the homeless people walking around the area, they will only ask you for some cash...the crack heads on the other hand.....at least I didn't see anybody peeing on the walls like previous Yelpers have "yelped". -
Review from Joe R.
Nyack, NY
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had an opportunity to check out Dottie's when I was in San Francisco for a college reunion. After seeing the warnings on Yelp about the lines, I got there right after opening only to find the whole place full of people and twenty people on line. Since I was meeting a friend who was coming later, it was no problem -- I waited on the line, which moved quickly enough, and my friend got there in time to join me for breakfast.
The place is great -- a rustic, homey feel with a lot of tables packed in together, just a perfect place for a big breakfast. We had a great meal, with some terrific muffins and cornbread and a few really tasty dishes. I would totally recommend it as an authentic San Francisco experience, well worth the wait online. -
Review from Linh V.
10/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been hearing so many things about this place so when I had a friend come up from L.A., I took the opportunity to go with him and another amigo to Dottie's. We thought that by going on a Monday after noon, there'd be no wait. We were mistaken. There was a line with about 3-4 parties in front of us. Granted, that's probably relatively short compared to the weekends but it was a Monday for crying out loud! Don't people have work?! I guess they could be like us - law student, unemployed, and on vacay.
Despite the many heads in front of us, it moved rather quickly - about 20 minutes. I only remember because I had to put money in my meter. But once we got to the front, it took forever for us to be seated even though there were 2 empty tables! And then when we got seated, no one wanted to take our order. Big sad face. All the waiters who passed by either tried to avoid eye contact or told us they weren't our waiter. And it wasn't as though all of them were crazy busy. There were a couple just standing around. That was quite frustrating. I eventually had to ask who our waiter was and flag him down.
Once we got that settled, we ordered:
Banana Chocolate Cheesecake Bar: I saw this while waiting in line and was drooling. It looked so cheesecake-y. And it was not disappointing. The only thing is I wished it had more banana flavor than chocolate. But that's just me.
Quesadilla special of the day: This was my favorite dish. The tortilla was so crunchy, the salsa was fresh, and the cheese stretched for miles.
Ham scramble with jalapeno corn bread and jalapeno jam: The scramble was great but I was more excited to try the corn bread and jam. I make jalapeno corn bread for Thanksgiving every year but I've never had jalapeno jam (except the red pepper jam from Brenda's). The corn bread... did not live up to my expectations. You couldn't taste the jalapenos. The jam was no better. I think I prefer the red pepper jam at Brenda's. :X
Dottie's pancake stack of two: I'm not a fan of pancakes so I wasn't and didn't expect to be wowed by Dottie's pancakes.
The long wait we endured in the beginning was almost made up for by their quick turnaround on our order. It only took about 10-15 minutes for them to bring us our order.
Overall, they serve good brunch (but not "sooooo good" status) though I'm not sure it's worth more than a half-hour wait. Bring lots of coins as street parking in TL is $3/hour.
This is really a 3.5 star review rounded up to a 4 just because there is a lot of potential for me to love this place.
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