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Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph HillTue-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
"It's been months since I gorged myself to this degree, but it was so damn good that I just could've stop myself... For months, I've been…" read more »
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Well, let me start with their French Toast. Probably the most authentic french toast you can get outside of France.. yeah, I am French.
I like almost everything there, their cakes, Omelets, fruit plate.
Two things I don't like are the long wait --the sun is right into your face while waiting in line. Specially if you are going on weekend, no matter how early you get there, there is a line.
Also, I think the prices are a little too high.... but I guess it worth every penny and every minute of wait....
The place is too small and I wish they get a bigger place near by or buy their neighbor stores.... the demand is really high.
Whoa Mama's! I just got home from eating brunch here and i can't stop thinking about how good it was. For a Friday, I thought this place was incredibly busy; but then, I've never been here before so I'm not sure if they're ever not busy. The line was out the door and it took us about 45-50 minutes just to get inside! And not only was there a long wait outside, we were finally welcomed inside (by the "gatekeeper") and had to wait an additional 20 minutes until we could finally order.
It's a unique setup where you wait in line inside, you figure out what you want to order from the menu that's posted up on the wall. They have great selections for breakfast, brunch and lunch.
Must Try: (basically everything we ordered)
Hot Chocolate -- great sized portion, topped with whipped cream and cocoa powder.
Buttermilk Pancakes -- I had mine with fresh berries (strawberries and blueberries), powdered sugar, butter and maple syrup.
Blueberry Sour Cream cake -- took a square of this to-go. Needed some sugar for class later this afternoon (like I didn't have enough with the pancakes).
Side of Bacon -- it's bacon. That's all I need to say.
Nelson's Rancheros -- their version of "huevos rancheros." John S. ate them in literally 5 minutes and they were gone before I could even know what was happening. The eggs were poached though, and not fried like they usually are. I guess this serves as a "healthier alternative."
Wait staff were all very friendly, smiling constantly and communicative, which can make a wait go by smoother. Mama's will make you wait, but trust me it's worth it!!
Total: $45.33 for 3 people + tip
TIP: CASH ONLY!
What's not to love about a restaurant that's been serving SF since before I was born and much the same way. There's a history to this place and going here makes me feel nostalgic and a part of something San Franciscan.
Things I love about Mama's
*Pancakes & berries
*Omelets
* Carrot Cake
*Coffee Cake
*Well lit
*Friendly staff
*I hear the Benedict's are amazing as well
*Location
Things I don't like
*Long wait to get in
*Its cramped inside
*Loud
*Order first then sit down
*Parking is tough
But, if you don't mind waiting you should absolutely go here, but perhaps avoid the weekends.
I'm not from SF but heard about this place from my cousin so we decided to check it out. I think we got there around 9:30 am on a Saturday. The line out the door didn't seem TOO long..maybe 10-12 people in front of us? But the line moves a lot slower than you would think which is because the seating area is rather small so it takes a while for turnover. If it turns out to be a sunny day in SF, make sure you put on some suncreen and maybe even a hat cuz the sun hits right where you're standing in line and you can burn after waiting for so long.
The wait was worth it though. An hour and a half later, we were finally seated. Very cute cafe. You order at the counter and it's cash only so be prepared.
We ordered the omelettes - Farmer's and Mama's Children's Favorite. Even with egg whites, they were very fluffy and flavorful not to mention huge. Coffee was above average. I was very tempted to try the french toast but maybe next time.
Everyone walks out of this place looking happy so I'd definitely recommend this place as long as you expect to wait up to 2 hours.
OMG - French toas to die for!!!
My sister took me, my bf and his son here cuz she fell in love with their food. Got here around 11a on Sunday. There was a line outside and our wait was about an hour. Once you get inside, you wait in a new line to place your order and get seated. Place is not too big, about 30-35 seats maybe?
We ordered:
French Toast Sampler - 3 different french toasts
Banana Nut French Toast - it's made from Banana Nut bread! topped with sliced banana's and almond (Very sweet).
Chocolate French Toast - Sooo good. Drizzled with choco syrup, topped with berries and whip cream.
Omelette with Smokes Salmon - yum!!
It was all so good. But the wait was sooo long...so its not somewhere i would go on a regular basis...maybe for a nice brunch when me and friends really really want the food.
I've always stayed away from Mama's long lines, but as part of my f(unemployment), I finally left my apartment to walk to the other side of the park and try the french toast. Since it was a Wednesday there was only one couple ahead of me in line so the wait was short and soon my order was taken, a seat was cleared, and my order was in front of me. Now I'm not a french toast kind of girl, but one bite of the chocolate french toast and I was hooked. Loved it so much I convinced a couple of friends to go with me again so I could try the Monte Cristo...pure heaven. I may have to go one more time before I leave on vacation.
Service here is amazing, both times everyone was super friendly and not in a fake overbearing way, but you can actually have a conversation with the servers and you know they are being genuine.
One of the few places that is absolutely worth all the hype!
I was sooo excited that I finally got to try Mama's! My friends who live in SF always talk about Mama's but every time we tried to go, the line was way too long. I took advantage of the fact that I was in SF on a rainy Friday and went to Mama's, hoping for a shorter line during a weekday. Luckily, the line was indeed shorter, but we still had to wait about 45 minutes to be seated. As everyone has already stated, there are literally three different lines - one outside, one to place your order and one to wait to be seated.
As usual, I couldn't decide what I wanted, so I ordered both the two eggs with Italian sausage and the chocolate cinammon french toast topped with berries. Both were delicious! I was especially fond of the breakfast potatoes and the french toast. Three of my friends ordered the famous Monte Cristo - two of them thought it was too cheesy; the other friend really liked it. The orange juice at Mama's is also worth mentioning as it is freshly squeezed and surprisingly delicious.
All in all, I had a very nice experience at Mama's - yummy food and good service - but the wait is a bit excessive.
I can't believe I'm actually giving 5 stars? This place is fantastic!
Its small, and the wait is a pain. Especially when people cut in front of you. How hard is it to see a line of people on the side of the building?
Then when we finally got in, ordered (note: you have to order first before you sit down so another line) and they finally sit you down well let me tell you. The food makes it worth it. HOME MADE: Jam, and juice makes up for everything. Jam is so perfect, you can't believe its home made every day!
This place is always packed. So make sure you leave early to get here. Believe me its hard to give 5 stars in my opinion. This place passed with flying colors.
Unbelievable magnificent food. I love their breakfast. I have yet to try their lunch but I can't wait to go back. Wow there are so many great things to say about this place.
But seriously to the CUSTOMERS: cut the attitude and stay IN LINE. The staff working at this establishment don't deserve it. It gets busy just like any other place, just be patient.
I applaud the staff for taking the customers so well and keeping their cool. You guys are awesome and deserve over 15% of tips. Keep up the great work.
-SN
PS They don't accept Credit Card. They accept Debit Card but charge for a dollar fee. Go Cash.
This is the most famous breakfast place in the city.
I don't know how many times my gf and I walked by here and seeing the ridiculously enormous line and we both go "sigh...."
And she said, " I don't wait in line for eggs."
I don't think breakfast shouldn't be scheduled.
Breakfast should be spontaneously.
I am not a diplomat or anything, I have no meeting to discuss issues, I have no conference phone calls, I have no formal meetings. I don't talk about business, I am not interested in stock market, i don't read Daily Pacific Builder.
Breakfast is "sexy".
I think most happy couple having a breakfast together.
I think people don't break up during breakfast.
I think people having a breakfast together because they are happy together.
I think people break-up at lunch time more often.
I think I have seen more arguments between people during having dinner.
I can tell the difference of "did" or "didn't" when I see a couple having a breakfast. The couple "did" the night, usually the female is jumpy and the male is jerky, the couple "didn't", both jerky.
Well,
I got a phone call from my son last Friday. He is here for X'mas break.
"Hey dad, I'll be off to NY tomorrow night. Can we have a brunch at Mama's? Have you been there yet?"
I said, "Brunch at Mama's? Are you FXXXin' kidding me? That's the mission impossible! The line is too long especially weekend. Forget it, ain't happen."
My son said, "Really? That bad? I have been thinking the place for a long time. sigh...."
I said, "Well, we could go there for early like 1st thing in the morning."
He said, "They open 8 am."
I said, " Can you?"
He said, "I am up for that."
So, I went Mama's.
We got there 8:20 am on Saturday morning.
The line was about ....... 12 people front of us.
We waited about 15 minutes, it wasn't too bad.
There was a line inside for order, the menu is big but it's easy to read on the wall.
You can see the small kitchen right there over the counter with a lot of breakfast pastries.
It was exciting!
I felt like I was in the wonderland.
The menu on the wall is nicely written, fun to lookin' at and it looks like coloring book typo made me stoned. I felt like I was in a miniature golf club house or Wonka's chocolate factory.
Or, Walrus and the carpenter's Oyster bar.
http://www.youtube.com...
I always wondered why the kitchen is that big.
I think I saw a chef looks like Humpty Dumpty wear chef hat.
I was almost missed the special menu right behind the casher.
I had a dungeness crab, leak and cheddar cheese omelet, $18.50
My son had the Washington square omelet, Italian sausage, Tomato, bepp pepper, hot pepper and jack cheese, $10.25
The dinning experience wasn't like mad tea party that I was expecting.
The service was really good. The waitress was so nice, kept checking us for water and coffee. She even remembered that we drink water with no ice.
The food was ........ WE LOVED IT!
The omelet was really nicely fluffy.
Glad we came.
Worth wait.
I'd love to comin' back here again.
If the Alice come here.
I bet you she'll say, "This is the excellent breakfast I've ever had to all my life."
But, she might say, 'This is a stupid door that hard to close."
Hey Mama, Can you fix the front door?
P.S.,
I got a message from a guy name Mike S sayin' :
" lol great review, just fyi, tuesday-thursday the wait usually never gets beyond 15 0r 20 minutes, and yes we did fix the door the past monday!"
Thank you Mike S. fix the door! I was sitting right by the door and we saw people were having hard time closing it.
OK, so I'm going to acknowledge this place has a bit of a wait (1 hour on a Monday holiday).
And yes, I probably would never wait in line for an hour for a plate of eggs you could get anywhere in SF or make yourself...and if I did, I probably would be another haterader on here complaining about how this place is overrated.
However, I went there solely for the Monte Cristo sandwich, and damn--it was worth it.
Came back here with my coworkers for breakfast today. While we got there at 7:45 am, the line wasn't that long. Maybe just 2 parties in front of us not bad! This time, I decided to try something new - instead of savory I went for sweet!
I ordered the french toast! So good! The waiter told me to try it with their fresh jam instead of the syrup, and it was delicious! The fresh ollieberry jam was so good! I'll know what to get when I come here from now on!
Came here today for breakfast today with my coworkers. Since this was preplanned and there was going… Read more »
I am never disappointed by Mama's. Yes, sometimes I'm disappointed by how long I have to wait to experience their amazing French toast but never let down by the experience itself. Granted I do try to avoid this places on weekends and holidays, I don't have the patience to wait an hour plus for breakfast! I did that my first trip to Mama's now I go on weekdays. It's a great place to visit on a random Tuesday!
Here's the scoop: You have to wait in line to place your order and pay, afterwards you will be seated. The staff is super friendly and so patient even on a jam pack day! This alone impresses me!
They have a huge variety of breakfast and lunch items. Love the fact that they also serve alcohol. Mimosa anyone? My favorites are the French toast, sour cream blueberry coffee cake and salmon scramble! YUMMY!
Bring a clementine or two for the long wait in line.
Everything was DELICIOUS (the french toast, the omelette...)! I would wait in line all over again, even in the rain!
Came in around 10am on a Thursday. No line! :) I like that they have a variety to choose from, especially the french toast. I had the Pan Dore- sourdough french toast with sauteed apples in a lemon butter sauce, and my mom ordered the cinnamon french toast with fresh berries..both were superb! i enjoyed it every much, and my mom couldn't stop raving about it...even after we left the restaurant.
the staff was very friendly, and one of them suggested we use their homemade blackberry? jam with the french toast instead of the syrup served with it. it was sooo goood.
i love the little place... it feels very homey. definitely coming back!
Hated waiting in line, as many other people do, but once I had gotten seated and gotten my order, I instantly forgot my troubles! I love their french toast and bacon, portions were more than sufficient too . The place is small but charming. The staff were semi-friendly, probably because they have to deal with the grumpy people waiting in line for sooo long! Mama's has a great selection in their menu, so I was pleased to have so have many options.
However, if you are thinking about trying this place, please do, but here are some words for the wise: "come early, so you don't have to wait long!". Enjoy!
Holy crap - 60+ minute wait!
Definitely try the French Toast Sampler! The cranberry loaf was delicious!
I'm glad to have to have tried it, but I know back in Sacramento, I can find better for cheaper and without the wait. Sorry city dwellers, but I have all this at home!!
This morning I had brunch to celebrate my gal pal, Kerri C's birthday.
A few things to note:
1) There are very few people for whom I'd actually set an alarm clock for on a Sunday morning.
2) There are even fewer people for whom I'd set an alarm clock for, get myself showered and dressed as well as my 3 yr old up and dressed and out the door before 9am for on a Sunday morning to drive into SF.
3) I NEVER wait in line, voluntarily, for food. Unless of course there's a natural disaster and every restaurant and grocery store is closed and government relief workers are handing out rice and cans of chili to live on. But I digress...
Since we were a large party, someone thankfully got there around 9am. This person was NOT me. I got there about 9:20am and the line seemed to grow and grow. The wait was not unpleasant since there were plenty of entertaining ppl/sights across the street in Washington Sq. LOL but that's for another review. We finally got in around 10am.
My favorite things about Mama's...the fresh squeezed juice, strong, hot, tasty coffee and this incredible homemade jelly!
I had the french toast with fresh berries and it was delicious. For my 3yr old, since they don't have a kids menu, they will let you order a half order of something...so he got the 1/2 order of the dollar sized pancakes with strawberries. It was a hit! The eggs and potatoes were also perfect! The food came out quickly, it was hot and fresh and delicious. One of our party comes here and orders the Eggs Benedict. In fact, that's all he ever orders from Mama's...he says it's the best ever. It certainly looked amazing!
This place would get 5 stars except for the wait and although the waitstaff was attentive, it wasn't exactly the warmest either with one notable exception. Maybe it was because I was the only person crazy enough to bring a kiddo here...I certainly didn't see any other kids inside or in line waiting.
Don't be scared off by the long line outside! There is a reason why that line exists...and that reason is the Monte Cristo. It is so yummy that I refuse to cut it out of my life even though I am a vegetarian now. Unfortunately, they are too busy to be able to take custom orders so I just order the Monte Cristo as is and then peel off all the meat myself. I would also recommend dipping the sandwich in their homemade jam, but my boyfriend prefers it without. So if this is going to be your first time, give the jam a shot - but it may not be your cup of tea.
I have only had maybe two other things from their menu even though I have been here a billion times. I think that I had some french toast once and an omelette the other. All I really remember when I had those dishes was wishing that I had ordered the Monte Cristo. So now I just save myself the heartache and order the Monte Cristo every time.
I know Yelp will be paid to slide this review out of sight, but here goes.
Mama's is to breakfast what House of Nanking is to Chinese food. Over hyped and mostly for the tourists.
This place's wait system is insane. First you stand outside for an hour. Then you get in and stand in line to order at the counter. Then, after you order you wait AGAIN, usually standing over someone else's table while they eat and try to ignore you. Then, after an average of 10-15 minutes you are seated. Yes, you wait twice to be seated.
And the food is just meh. I was here twice and everything with an egg in it is pretty bland and uninteresting. The eggs florentine, spinach scramble, and huevos rancheros were all lacking and needed salt. The potatoes are also not particularly interesting.
The only this I've had that was above average was the french toast, which is made from some unbelievably good banana, cranberry, or cinnamon bread. Good enough to be eaten without syrup. But probably not worth the wait.
4 1/2 solid stars
whether you come early or late the food is always good, the staff is also friendly. this lil corner restuarant is in the city next to one of the larger churches maybe less then 2 houses away and across the street from a small park located in the north beach section of sf.
this spot is definitely a hit for residents, yelpers, out of towners, and word of mouthers haha
the food is homemade you can just taste the difference between here and any other breakfast place only hassles we have here is the wait time, they do not stay open very late last I remember they stay open only til I think it was 2pm on weekends this is strictly a breakfast spot line is usually out the door and wraps around the street but if you can manage the wait then go for it. depending on the day anywhere from 5min to hour wait.
other thing that is very difficult to find here is parking it is the city and in northbeach area so get some good hiking shoes on haha. been here only 2 times and both times food has been to my liking, portion size just rite, flavor good, service excellent
food *****
service *****
price $
ambiance **** really small inside
parking = ( non existant bring out your hiking shoes
I had French Toast today. Last time was egg Benedict. I sat with someone who had French Toast sampler. They were all amazing. I will keep going back until I have everything from the menu. I found new place for my French toast fix. You have to wait in a long line for Sunday branch, but oh it is so worth it. I recommend going during weekdays, since it offers breakfast menu during lunch time, too.
Came here again with a huge appetite! I basically ordered the same thing I order from last time. If you check the photos, you'll know what I ordered this time. Splendid as usual!
For the 3rd time waiting in line and this time having the patience to actually get in, I can now say… Read more »
Seriously? 4 and 5 stars all the way? Give me a break.
Overpriced, overrated, overly-crowed. Enough said.
January 11, 2009: I bookmark Mama's on Yelp and make a mental note to enjoy delicious brunch ASAP.
December 18, 2009, 10:48 am: I get in line to finally try Mama's (I have a lot of bookmarks, and even more mental notes).
Around 11:17 am, we've made it about halfway to the front door. My stomach is eating itself and the surprise December sunshine is beating down on me in my wool sweater. I've studied the menu and the weekend specials posted on the window, and have already decided on the Cinnamon Chocolate French Toast with berries and bananas, plus a side of home fries. My indecisive dining partner has changed her mind at least 6 times.
At 11:40 am, the line has really picked up and we're at the front door. The hostess lets us in, we expect to be seated but instead are directed to yet another line, which runs along the cooks' station and baked goods display. We are this close, I'm starving, and you are going to torture me with fresh baked coffee cakes and made to order omelets?? So cruel!
We reach the front of the line at 11:50. Turns out Mama's is an order at the counter and seat yourself joint, which I did not know until the very moment I reached the cash register. I placed my French Toast order and my lady friend finally decided on one of the weekend specials, a Dungeness Crab Omelet with Brie and Avocado. We sit down, and just a short wait later, our feasts arrive.
And guess what? The people do not lie, Mama's is all it's cracked up to be! With so much going on, my French Toast reminded me of a sundae, all I was missing was ice cream. The house baked bread was amazing and the fruit incredibly fresh. Despite the drizzlings of chocolate sauce, I drowned the entire plate in syrup and then proceeded to eat every single bite. And then did not eat again for almost 24 hours, it was that satisfying.
My lady friend finished her entire meal as well, aside from the few bites I stole. It is the season for Dungeness crab, so that was a wise selection. The crab, brie and avocado all went well together, though I would have preferred it in sandwich form on sourdough rather than in an egg dish.
And so, we waddled out of Mama's two slightly fatter and much happier ladies. Worth the one hour wait? Most definitely, especially after I'd already made myself wait almost a year for this brunch.
Heard great rave reviews about this place from my boyfriend and his good friend so he decided to take me to this place for breakfast. :)
I ordered the chocolate cinnamon French toast with seasoned berries and bananas. It was great with the sauce that is on the table(Ollieberry?). The French toast was really good and I really enjoyed that the orange juice was fresh squeezed :) My boyfriend had pancakes with fresh berries.
The place is quite small for the amount of traffic it gets but the food is delicious and the people that work there are really nice and courteous(always checking to make sure we were doing fine throughout our meal).
I would love to visit again and love that there are regulars that come to this place :)next time I will need to try the Monte
Cristo everybody is raving about :)
COME EARLY (or extremely late). Goodness, my boyfriend and I had missed several brunch at Mama's due to it's line. So one day, he just jumped out of bed and dragged me there so we can finally taste Mama's. It was early. It was pouring, and I stood under the eaves while he finds parking. It was around 9 am, and the line is around the corner. This place is like a breakfast assembly line. There's a line out the door, and a line to order. Maximum efficiency, I swear.
But yes, the food is worth it. the Monte Cristo, the french toast, all of their french toasts are totally worth it. The omelettes were good too. I am not an omelette person, but I have to give it to Mama's. Only my mama can make me eat what I don't like, and so can Mama's!
GO GO GO! it's worth it!
So I have only been here once and frankly I just don't get all the hype. After waiting in two ridiculous lines for god knows how long, I pretty much lost my appetite and just wanted to sit. The whole lay out of this place kills me. It is like let's see how pissed of we can make you before we feed you.
I had some shrimp Benedict and the hollandaise sauce did not mix well with the fresh shrimp. I love a good breakfast spot but this place is just OK.
It's a long wait (even on a weekday) in line, but it's worth it for a good hearty breakfast. The french toast was delicious and the omelettes are huge!
However, what's getting me coming back is the Monte Cristo. It has got me tired around its finger. At first I was unsure of it, but the combination of ham/turkey/cheese grilled like a french toast worked so well together. It's like a perfect breakfast taster all in one!
Can't wait to go again...but maybe not during the weekend craze.
At 10AM on a Friday morning, we tried eating at Mama's to only be met with a long line. After five minutes, we decided to leave because the locals behind us kept ranting about about how "tourists really suck because it means locals have to wait in line" (except much more crude).
We came back the next day at 7:55AM (before they opened) and there was already a line! However we got in easily and was able to put in an order at the counter. We sat down and the waitresses brought us our food and beverages.
I ended up ordering the Brioche French Toast with fresh berries, where the brioche bread contained pecans, walnuts, and raisins. Unfortunately, it was a little disappointing because the bread itself was dry. The saving grace was their homemade olallieberry jam -- I recommend putting that on top instead of the syrup.
The chocolate crumb cake on the other hand was magnificent! It had wonderful texture -- moist cake that was chewy and crumbly all at once.
Although I adored their olallieberry jam and crumb cake, plus the wait staff was helpful and attentive, I can't justify the wait in line or the extra trip.
Este lugar tiene mas de 1000 reviews! no se si tiene en Espanhol, pero bueno, para los que me entiendan esta BUENISIMO, si vienen entre semana , durante la manhana y en temporada baja entran sin bronca!, yo fui a Sn Fran a principios de Diciembre y entre semana desayune ahi DOS veces de los tres dias que estuve.
Rico, no tan baras pero bien servido! para que les cuento que el menu es amplio! lo que comi y lo que chismee de las otras mesas estaba muy bueno.
Bottom line: come eat here, but during a weekday and on a low tourist season....the food is great, but is more yum when you don't have to wait in line!
San Francisco loves lines and hype. The breakfast here was heavy and sickening. I don't get it but I strangely understand the attraction.
The line..RIDICULOUS! My friends and I waited almost 2 hours...why? because I haven't seen them in so long, it was perfect for us to catch up while we were in line (minus one star). Would I do that again..absolutely not!
I love french toast, and most of all, I love having variety. It was definitely good here.
The coffee, not so much. I would never get it again.
I get shit from my friend's who call me silly for willing to wait over an hour and a half for brunch. Those friends clearly have never eaten at Mama's. And I feel bad for them, I really do. Because they have no idea of what they're missing out on. The 2 hours of lost sleep on a Sunday morning is paltry after that first bite of Monte Cristo with housemade jam, or their succulent crab and avo benedict.
My silly friends will just never know. What a shame.
Mama's is my favorite brunch place in the Bay Area. This place is always busy and for good reason. The pancakes, waffles, and french toast are heavenly and the eggs benedicts are spot on. You MUST try the pancakes/waffles/french toast when you are here!
The wait is long, especially on the weekends, but its definitely worth it for the portions and the food.
Over 900 reviews kind of tells you something about a place. My cousin recommended this place to me prior to taking my trip to NoCal. I planned out my trip and I told myself this is going to be one of the stops for sure. I see a lot of people giving this place 5 stars and I can't understand why. I got that French Toast Sampler and thought it was pretty good.
I'll tell you why I am giving this place 3 stars.
1.) This place is tiny
2.) There's a line outside because there's no waiting area inside. This is an advantage to the restaurant as people see the line and think WOW, this place must be really good. If you have to wait more than 30 mintues....leave. .
3.) Once you enter the restaurant, you go to another line to place your order. I thought I was getting seated when they said to come in...
4.) Once you place your order, you still have to wait for a table (I think most of the time, it will be ready...but the couple in front of us still waited some time before they got seated.
5.) They only take cash and debit
6.) Parking sucks
7.) Overpriced (I spent $30 for two people. It's breakfast for crying outloud)
Should I go on?
I know you're supposed to love it, it's an institution and all that.
And it was good, it really was, but worth lining up outside in the cold for - no, I think not.
Went with a group of 7 (six out of towners (actually out of country'ers) who LOVED it + me). We got there at 7:40 and lined up to get a table.
The food was good (I had the north beach omelet) and I liked the option of a hunk of warmed sourdough instead of the usual toast. Potatoes were quite undercooked.
Others had the banana pancakes which looked great or the special of the day chorizo and eggs which looked like a passable huevos rancheros.
It's a solid breakfast place, but I just can't get past they idea that I lined up in the cold to stand in another line to order. All for an omelet that I could have gotten in my hotel restaurant. Maybe the french toast really is that good?
My friends liked it so well that I'll probably end up here again when they return next year - and that'll be okay.
Make the trip on my own - probably not.
Came here when the line was the shortest it had been all day. We still had to wait a hour. The only reason why there is a line is because the place is super duper tiny.
The food is good but like others have said, it's not worth the wait. The service could be better. They really rush you to order. Ordering is weird. First, after waiting a hour or two, you are told you can go into the restaurant. Be careful, don't go in before this, even if the door is open and you see open tables because they're going to just kick you right back out. Second, once you get in, you go to the counter and stand in line there and look at the menu up above. Then, they ask if you are ready to order, and if you say no, you keep standing there and the server will roll his eyes and let out a big sigh. Finally, if you are ready to order, THEN will they seat you and take your order. Umm yeah... I don't understand how this situation is more efficient than seating people first and giving them menus.
3.5 stars round up to 4 =)
I agree with some people, the food taste good, but not really good enough for the long wait.
I got there around 9:20 on a Sunday and we were super excited so first we thought the wait was okay. So we waited outside, under the pretty cold San Franciscan weather. Then when we finally got called and allowed into the restaurant it was a little pass 10 already. Since I woke up @ 7:30AM for this Sunday brunch, I didn't eat anything and was pretty much starving when we were called! So I was like "oh YES! Finally FOOOOD!"
However, we were instructed to go in we had to wait in line to order (I think it was because we had 3 people. those with 2 people were allowed to sit first and got food faster than us even though they came in later)
We ordered the crab egg benedict, an omelet (forgot which one), french toast sampler, and pancake. We also got orange and grapefruit juice. Then we paid, it was about $20/person.
Then we waited to be seated. Then we waited for the food.....
When the food finally came, I was pretty much dying. I have to admit the food looked really good and tasted delicious! I am not a big fan of juice because I always think they don't have as much nutrients but their juice is freshly squeezed! You can taste the freshness of the food and juice.
However, I think this place is so popular is because people were starving when they get the food. so anything would taste good to them! =)
I mean I would still come back, but this wouldn't be my regular breakfast place =)
If you're looking for some good breakfast, go to Mama's!
It's this tiny little restaurant, really homey so you know its gonna be good.
Kinda weird how they set up the place, and you order first and wait to be seated but I'll deal because the food is worth the trouble!
My absolute favorite is the Northern Italian Omelette... wow that's a great omelette. But the Kugelhuph french toast is really good too. Mimosas are small but are stiff enough to give a little girl like me a nice buzz!
This place is awesome. It's the local hangout for breakfast. I brought 15 of my cousins here last weekend. We got here a little after 9 am and got seated in 30 minutes. With such a large group, they even managed to seat us at two tables. The food was so delicious. We ordered the crab florentine, french toast sampler and omelets. It truly is worth the wait.
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