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Categories: Bars, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA"I live on 16th Ave, which is not exactly a "happening" location, if you know what I mean. Having said that, thank heavens for House of…" read more »
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Hooray, finally a cafe in this neighborhood that serves high quality coffee with friendly service. No attitude, you ask? Am I in Oz? Must I return with the Witch's slippers? You needn't wake yourself up, these lovely people have realized that you don't need to be a-holes in order to serve coffee, even in this town and even in Nopa. The coffee is quite good and the baristas are on top of their game. Yes, a bit of a learning curve but I've been in 3 times over the past week and each time the service improved.
A lot of the negative reviews seem to be from people who have no patience at all for a brand new cafe working out the kinks. Give them a break, jeez. You don't like it? Go back to the coffee butchers over at Mojo who, after a few years in business, have no clue how to make a decent cappuccino. I'm pretty sure they're too busy admiring their tattoos to care.
Welcome to the neighborhood, Matching Half. It's great to have you.
Happy to finally be able to get a decent cappuccino within walking distance of home. That's a huge deal, but boy is it annoying to deal with the people there. It's like some random friends got together, bought a really fancy espresso machine, and opened a shop. They are slow and unprofessional. It lacks the smooth speed of a legit coffee house.
If they got a little more on top of things, and used organic beans and milk, I'd be a much happier camper. But since there is zero competition in the neighborhood, I'll be back most weekends.
Let's face it, it's difficult to start and run your own coffee shop, to start one in the middle of everything this city, this country is facing is another thing. I commend the couple for branching out and revitalizing a space that could have been torn down or turned into a Starbucks. Instead, spending their money, their time, to bring the neighborhood closer together. What more can we ask for?
Beer, wine, and coffee at neighborhood prices. A place to slow down our busy lives, and meet our neighbors. For people who don't bring cash around, and have bread panic attacks, and providing business consulting advice, extreme coffee snobs, find another neighborhood to bash on.
This place either serves INSANE coffee or water as hell coffee.
I was really psyched on a new coffee spot opening right on the corner of my street and when I went to try it out I was SUPER bummed. It looks snobby inside, and you'll probably not be greeted by the staff because they are sort of snobby too. The first time I went, i ordered a cofee to go. That's IT. 15 minutes later, i had a cup of coffee in a small paper cup. It was super hot and they don't have any of those sleeves to protect your hands. They didn't appologize that it took that long for a cup of coffee. I could have easily walked to the supermarket, and brewed my own in half that time. But instead i paid 2 dollars for a small cup of insane coffee. It was very strong and thus, made me insane.
I wanted to give them a chance to redeem themselves, so I returned a week later with my boyfriend. The service was a bit friendlier. Boyfriend ordered an egg and cheese on a bagel, they only had 2 options for bagels. We also ordered 2 coffees to go, and low and behold, the bagel w/egg and cheese was ready a good 10 minutes before our coffees.
Also, how can you have fancy coffee and no sugar that doesn't come in a packet?
Step it up, matching half, this neighborhood expects better from you.
I've known Lauren since jr. high, and she's always had impeccable taste. While everyone else went through their awkward phase, she just oozed style and class, so when I finally meandered over to her new cafe, Matching Half, I wasn't surprised at how awesome it looked. She and long time boyfriend Jason hand made the tables and bar and they're so sleek and sophisticated. The chairs were modern and comfortable too, and the glasswear is gorgeous and displayed tastefully. The menu is smart and simple, and done really well. My fav is the breakfast special - for somewhere around 6-8 bucks (my bad for not paying complete attention to the price) you can score a delicious breakfast egg sandwich on brioche and a PBR. For a dollar more you can move it on up in the world and get a mimosa to replace the beer. My kind of deal.
I'm happy to see someone read their yelp reviews!
I tried Matching Half again last night and was very happy to see a nicer staff that promptly greeted my group, a fully stocked kitchen and great wine specials!!
I had the turkey sandwich, it was tasty but nothing special. The salad on the side was a little boring. Basically just romaine with dressing. However, everyone enjoyed their wine and the happy hour prices were good. They also have a few good beers. I think this is a good spot for happy hour or coffee & pastries.
Overall it's a nice, clean location...a welcome addition to the hood!
p.s. they should think about changing their sign. As one reviewer said, it would probably look great on a business card, but it just doesn't look good on a sign.
Wow! Bad way to make a first impression!!
I was so excited to check out this cute new place in my…
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I am so excited!!! A great new coffee shop in my neighborhood. Perfect ambience, no crowds, tranquility and amazing space to work - the coffee is good, strong and could be better. But hey, I am a coffee snob, so that said - I give this place 5 stars.
The coffee here is really, really good. The kind of good where I would walk out of my way to procure it from some surly, holier-than-though jerk in a crummy-looking hole in the wall just to get that perfect fix. But guess what? The people who work here are lovely and friendly, and the cafe is clean and inviting (if a bit minimalist for my taste). There are also sandwiches and salads and drink-drinks, and a special consisting of a breakfast sandwich and a Pabst. I have yet to try any of these, so watch for the update.
And yes, I am one of the yuppie scum who hacks away blindly on her laptop. Therefore I am delighted with the free wireless, and the fact that there's a communal table that allows me to avoid claiming more space than I need while working.
In addition to all of the aforementioned awesomeness, Matching Half is also in my neighborhood. I could not be happier to have this business a short walk away from my apartment.
I was super excited when I realized a new cafe was going to open on this corner. Went to check out this morning and was sorely disappointed. If you are expecting to get a coffee drink that actually fits your desires, this is not the place for you. Your options: whole milk or nonfat. I'm sorry, that is a HUGE difference in taste. And no offer by the barista to make it blended. I don't consider myself to be a high maintenance person, but come on, offer up some lowfat! Plus it was $3.25 for the smallest latte I've ever gotten. Half the size of a normal small latte. Definitely not worth the price when it wasn't even really what I wanted to begin with.
I'm all for supporting local business. But I have no interest in an overpriced, snobby, hipster-esque cafe in the neighborhood. I'll stick to what's already here.
Matching half just opened yesterday in the emerging NOPA/Western Addition area west of Divisadero. It occupies a corner that's bound to be one of the hipper intersections in the city.
Making up the four points of interest on Baker and McAllister streets are Matching Half on the southeast corner, The Workshop on the northeast corner, McBaker liquor on the northwest corner, and Green Chile Kitchen is currently renovating the southwest corner for an impending move from their current location just one block away. With the exception of the liquor store (which is arguable), this is one hell of a trifecta.
As for Matching Half, it's a pretty no-frills sorta space. Super clean, not quite 'industrial,' but it's definitely sharp and simple. Chairs/tables line the interior, culminating with a rather large and trendy communal table in the back. They also have seating outside, so you can enjoy those rare sunny days with a cup of Ethiopian single drip coffee or a fresh espresso. They also do pots of coffee to share, so if you have a group of four of five people hangin' out on a lazy Sunday, it's a pretty notable menu option.
Food is fairly predictable (bagels, pastries, sandwiches etc...), and the fact that they have beer, in addition to coffee, is pretty cool... but I don't get why everyone is freaking out about the hybrid. Bean Bag and Mojo have been doing the same thing forever. Still, always fun to have the freedom of choice.
In the near future, they'll add some Blue Bottle creations to the menu, which I'm pretty jazzed about. And perhaps they'll conduct a class on the wacky world of coffee across the street at The Workshop?! One can dare to dream, right?
Happy to have a nice coffee house/wine spot with outdoor seating close to the crib.
It's beautifully designed and has a very peaceful vibe that blends well with the neighborhood.
I thought it was really pricey for what I ordered - $3.25 for a standard no frills latte in a teeny little to-go cup. The coffee was on par with other local coffee shops, but not exceptional - so I felt a little jipped on the price. (I could have walked 2 blocks further Central Cafe and gotten a latte twice the size with a little shot of vanilla for the same price)
We went at 9am on a weekday, it was full inside, but not packed and it took about 10 mins. to get two lattes to go - i'm sure this is a "working out the kinks" thing.
I'll definitely give them another go in a few weeks once they get rolling and figure out the swing of things. They seemed a bit disorganized and stressed out today - but I'm really glad to see them in the neighborhood..
I'll be back in a few weeks and really hope to up my review rating - I hope they get it all worked out and succeed- as small businesses like Matching Half built right into the residential areas are great for our neighborhood.
The idea behind Matching Half is pretty cool... you no longer need to decide whether you want to go to a place with coffee, a bar for beer, or a wine bar. Now, you can go to a place that does all three well.
Matching Half has its soft opening this week, and it seems like a pretty cool place. There's a bar on one side where you order your drinks and a line of tables on the other side. The decor is simple, yet stylish, and they have wifi available.
I need to go once they have their beer & wine license and get the kinks worked out, but for now I give it 3 stars.
H as free wifi internet available for customers
A lcohol or caffeine... you decide!
L ocated in the Western Addition at McAllister & Baker St
F ind room at the communal table in the back or take a seat at the bar
Dean and Deluca Meet the Western Addition
The Matching Half Cafe brings a touch of class to the Western Addition (or if you prefer to NOPA).
The white interior with subway tiles lining the walls has a Dean and Deluca feel that adds much to this up and coming area of the city.
The coffee is divine as are the pastries from the Bakers of Paris.
The staff is a little short handed, but this appears only to be because business is much better than the owners had anticipated.
The cafe has really taken off. With lines forming outside the door on Saturday and Sunday
More importantly, the cafe adds another eatery within walking distance of Western Addition/NOPA residents.
With the opening of the Matching Half Cafe, this revitalized neighborhood has gained a great cup of coffee and a new sense of community in the bargain.
living directly on the block of MH, i eagerly awaited as i watched it being built. passing it every morning with lots of hope of having coffee in the morning and drinks in the evening.
well.... it sucks monkey balls!!!!
two dollars for a small coffee that tasted funny??? then for the rude cashier to be totally dismissive towards me??? hummm, not interested.
i was willing to give it another chance, but reading the other yelp reviews, its showing that it wasnt me being overly sensitive, as rude service has been dished to the others..... ill keep my dollars and get coffee a decent cup for 1.25 downtown and call it a day.
ohhh and the fact that this place is sooooo lilly white.... there is no flavor going on what-so-ever. like one of the other yelpers said.... go back to the marina, and take the yuppies with you. i muched liked it when it was a dingy coffee house with a make shift print screen outfit on the other corner and a greasy spoon opposite of that... yes the yuppies have taken over.... they suck, my money stays in my pocket and i will just look at them with disgust as i do every morning when i walk by. same for green chilli...
FINALLY... Excellent coffee in my hood!!! Can't beat fresh ground Verve* (soon to be Sightglass**!) w/ miro-filtered water running though either a Slayer*** for a perfect Macchiato ($2.50) or their handcrafted single origin drips ($2). Hands down the best crafted coffee west of 315 Linden Alley.
Bonus: The young owners, that have invested a lot of love and energy into their dream and created something quite special, couldn't be more humble, sweet and real.
* * http://vervecoffeeroas...
* ** http://twitter.com/sig...
* *** http://www.slayerespre...
Drinking Suggestions:
1.With Espresso, less is more and milk is for babies, so if you're into Lattés, try graduating to a Cappuccino.
2. With Single Origin, try no milk or sugar. It'll open you up the distinct, rich, and unique flavors of Latin America, Africa, and Indonesia.
3. Make time to enjoy your drink out of glass or ceramic (paper cups taste like...well... paper, compromising a clean uncontaminated taste)
4. Finally, don't get in a fit about "it's not hot enough." Most places overheat milk, killing all notes (i.e. grassy, honey, etc.) and sweetness, resulting in a scalded/sour taste.
P.S. To the entitled, self-important, egotistical yelp haters with no patience and an expectance for phony appeasement and jumbo syrup drinks, It's easy to destroy rather then create, isn't it?
It seems that these days, the Western Addition get's better by the day. Matching Half's opening yesterday certainly contributes to that statement.
Nestled right off the thoroughfare that is Lower Divisadero, the ambiance of Matching Half is calm and conducive for studying, quiet conversation, or those who work remotely. The coffee is strong and high in quality. The wait staff is accommodating and friendly.
My favorite part by far is the aesthetic. The look and feel of this place is crisp, modern and refreshing. I love the communal table, which I rarely see in SF. The hard wood floors are stunning and the bar seating creates a variety of levels and seating options. This is an amazing transformation from the old "One World Cafe" which used to occupy this space. Fortunately, Matching Half saved the beautiful stained glass above the store front as it adds a lot to to the simple clean lines that exist everywhere else in the cafe.
As other posters have mentioned, this is a soft launch and there are a few kinks still to be worked out. The Internet is inconsistent, they are cash only until next week and they aren't serving alcohol just yet. Nonetheless, I know I will be a frequent customer.
BEST COFFEE I have had in a LONG TIME. I am so glad this place opened in my neighborhood.
I would really like to recommend this cafe, especially because in theory it's an excellent addition to the neighborhood. After another bad experience, however, I'm avoiding it and keeping my fingers crossed that the owners either hire someone to help them with operational and customer service issues, or figure it out very quickly on their own so they retain their currently enthusiastic clientele. For now, I recommend you stay away unless you like getting high blood pressure in the morning and have a lot of time to spare so you've got "cushion time" should your order get screwed up - very likely - and need time for a "do over".
The Bad:
-If you handle money, cashier person, DON'T handle food with your dirty hands -- it's gross.
-It's sad that such a beautiful cafe should be filled inside and out with piles of dirty plates, cups, etc. It was amusing when one of the owners, as she slowly made espresso drinks, kept apologizing that they were out of plates. Um...get someone to buss and stock.
-You can't serve coffee and espresso drinks and not have regular sugar. Not acceptable. I don't care if you are "out". No excuses.
-None of the baristas seem to have had any training and this has made for lukewarm drinks and VERY SLOW service.
-I ordered a wheat bagel with cream cheese at 10:15 a.m., and they were already out of cream cheese, but I wasn't notified until ten minutes after I placed my order. I was told it would be awhile before they got more. (How about a quick trip to the convenience store across the street?) I switched my order to wheat, cheese and egg. I got a cinnamon raisin with cheese and egg. After having waited 20 minutes for my food I took a deep breath and notified one of the owners, and he took care of the mistake quickly. By then I needed it to go, and I was done with my latte. Mistakes happen, but they've got to be handled quickly. So far, there is nothing quick about the Matching Half Cafe.
-Admittedly annoying and picky comment: the font of the sign hanging outside would look great on on a business card...just not on a large sign. It makes my eyes involuntarily cross every time I look at it.
As someone who has worked in a cafe, I totally get that it can take awhile to work out the kinks -- but the timeframe for getting it right better be a super fast one. Otherwise the novelty of this beautiful cafe will wear off quickly, no matter the pleasantness of the owners or the quality of coffee. I already had a couple of great choices for coffee and bagels, and I'm happy to stick to them.
The Good:
-No discernible attitude among the employees.
-Most beautiful cafe bathroom I've ever seen.
-Lots of light inside, and lots of seating outside.
-The promise of a good afternoon/evening spot for beer and wine.
-Nice owners with good intentions.
Finally, some damn good coffee in the area. Not sure what everyone is bitching about. You want Cafe Central? then go to Cafe Central. Please!
Near perfect--great staff, amazing coffee, beautiful space. And, outdoor seating is well-needed in the area.
Only knock: $2 coffee refills. It's a bit much.
I've lived in the western addition/panhandle area for about 6 years now, and one thing that has been sorely lacking is a place with great coffee and good, cheap beer. Cafe Abir went through all those months of renovation and somehow got worse, and Mojo just isn't my scene.
Matching Half cafe changes all that. This is hands down the best coffee in the neighborhood (and I would argue a larger territory), they have a great selection of awesome, affordable beer and wine, and a really solid food menu. The decor is simple, beautiful, and bright. The staff is nicer than you could ever imagine.
Seriously, go. You'll love it.
What a great addition to Western Addition. The espresso drinks alone merit a 5 star rating. Seriously as good as anything I get at Blue Bottle or Four Barrel. The fact that it's a cute, light-filled space with nice peaceful views, outdoor seating and good bagels? Just icing. Looking forward to many more visits.
@Kandace of prev. review: If you are afraid of the conv. store on Baker and McAllister, maybe you should move to Walnut Creek. Just saying.
I was so excited to see the dark and dirty hole of a "Cafe" re-made into the light and tasteful place that it has become.
I tried a coffee and sandwich today and was surprised by both the wonderful flavor of the coffee and yummy taste of the sandwich.
The staff and owners still seem to be working out the kinks (they have only been opened a week now) but their enthusiasm and obvious desire to please was evident.
I hope they will continue to improve and then we will have what the neighborhood has been sorely missing for so long; a warm and friendly place to gather and converse.
I for one will continue to patronize as often as I can as I am certain the owners will learn from this first week's experience.
Alright, it's time that I set some of these yelpers straight.
It seems as though people have been rating this place in very strange ways. "Yeah, this place is great. Great coffee, great food. 3 stars."
These people, obviously don't know much about the mcbaker intersection, and have obviously no memory of the terrible two, neon and one world. God damnit these places sucked so bad that it was enough to make someone walk/ride to divis to get a decent coffee. I do say decent, not good because divis doesn't have good coffee.
That's right, this is easily the best coffee in Western Addition. And I dare you to argue with me on this. Don't even think about mentioning Mojo or Abir. Oh shit, Please don't mention Abir. That shit hole is the absolute worst. I feel like I'm on stage every time I go in there. At least, it's the worst next to the now deceased neon and one world. Anyways, let's not get off topic here.
Why is this new place good? Hand made, drip coffee made with amazing coffee beans. One of a kind espresso and cappuccinos. Superb food, amazing decor, great music. Crap man, what else do you want in a coffee shop? Not to mention how nice the staff is.
Yes, they're new, yes they are working out small kinks, but this place is already top notch. And they're only going to get better. I just can't wait until people start talking about how great this place is months from now. "Have you been to Matching Half? It's my favorite coffee shop." That's what they'll say. I'll just respond, "Yeah, no shitJohnny come lately, I loved it originally. When it wasn't so damn cool to love it." That's what I'll say.
Hands down the best coffee I've had since leaving Melbourne 12 months ago. Rich, dense, smooth, perfectly moussey foam - it's divine.
Fit out
The interior is lovely, simple and stylish - what, no cheese? It's a classy fit-out, and about time San Francisco got some of that. That said, they could do with some more art on the walls and it was also a little warm in there on an indian summer late morning. I adore the wall planter. (4/5)
Food
Looks like they're doing the "let's wait to order food til we see how many customers we have" thing. Which means that the food ran out REALLY early on the weekend and I didn't get to eat anything. Excusable for a first weekend, and I really hope they fix it. (-/5)
Staff
The baristas are wonderful, and everyone is very friendly. It seems like a few of the younger girls are getting their ocean legs, but hopefully they'll pcik up soon. I would also recommend that they figure out what they're doing about table service - it's not clear how/who is clearing tables. (3/5)
Coffee
If this place scored zero on everything else I would still come here for the coffee. I'm a MASSIVE coffee snob and their espresso is a beautiful thing to behold. It made me very, very happy (5/5)
Overall, I'm super excited that this place has opened up, and I look forward to watching them learn and grow. Good luck Matching Half Cafe!!
Bummer. I give this spot two stars only for gusto for making a go at a new place and potential.
First, the prices are a little crazy for what you get. I was left with buyer's remorse after paying almost ten bucks for a tiny turkey sandwhich. The bread was good and it tasted fine, there should just be something more to it for what they are asking. The side salad was boring. Just cheep lettuce, a few shavings of onion and dressing. Nice in simplicity but I felt ripped off.
Coffee. I ordered a simple drip. Two dollars for a tiny to go cup!!!!??? Since when??? Plus, when I went to pay the gal taking my money looked at me like I wasn't even a person. Zero personality from the 'baristas.' sorry but I've worked in the service industry for ten years and being personable never hurt.
I give the gal my two bucks and since I only had dollars on me did not drop any left over change in the tip jar. Something I alway get the chance to do since I usually only pay a buck fifty for a simple small drip anywhere else. She looked at me like I was commiting a sin for not dropping an additional dollar down.
Producing my simple coffe took five minutes. No, there was not a line. In fact, the number of people working the cafe out numbered the number of customers.
The drip was the worst coffee I have ever had. I could only bear to drink half of it and the rest went down the drain.
I think I'll wait a few months before I give this a third try so the owners can work out the kinks. It could be great and I hope it makes some price and quality tweeks as to not leave a bad taste in it's customer's mouths.
I'm happy that these guys opened up shop here. For years, my husband and I have been longing for a business of better quality to open at this location, (and the one formerly occupied by Neon). Our wishes are finally coming true!! I got a cup of Sumatra this morning that was nicely brewed. It could have been a tad hotter, but it is the 2nd day of business after all. I'll be back soon for the food!
Basic yes, but nicely styled. I am extremely picky when it comes to coffee and the cappuccino was good. The breakfast sandwich was simple yet tasty. Very nice addition to our neighborhood.
Yet another disturbing sign that the last bastion of relative affordability and non-yuppie scumdom is coming to a sad end! Somehow these people managed to take a pefectly lovely, warm inviting space and turn it into just another cold, snotty and unpleasent place for cold, snotty and unpleasent drones to gather hacking away blindly on their laptops. PLEASE people...go back to the Marina and take the yuppies with you.
mmm. this place is the shiznit. who says SF doesn't need another higher-end coffee joint? it's great to be able to grab a first rate cup of coffee on the way to work and a beer on the way home. as far as new businesses go, this place really has what it takes. 5 stars.
Stopped into this welcome addition to the McAlister Corner this morning. The place is cleaned up and looks beautiful from the street as well as cozy inside.
One thing missing: any kind of greeting, smile, welcome words from ANYONE on staff. I sat at the bar--NO ONE made eye contact with me (I am not ugly, nor was I carrying an uzi). To the owner and staff: I recommend you all go to NOPA to see how this neighborhood business has built a relationship with the neighborhood. They smile, talk to you and genuinely show they believe that those of us from the neighborhood are an appreciated part of their business. It is SAD when I see how much money can be invested in a building, equipment, food and drink--but the real investment is building good will with people who live several blocks away who might support your efforts for years to come (or not). Is it really hip to be rude and inhospitable?
this new joint was a welcome surprise. the interior is positively serene and really highlights the charms of the space. great coffee and a very functional outdoor seating area made for a perfect morning. i'm sure this place will come into its own in good time.
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