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Pirate Cat Radio
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Mass Media Radio Stations Coffee & Tea, Radio Stations [Edit]
2781 21st St(between Bryant St & Florida St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 341-1199
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
137 reviews for Pirate Cat Radio
Review Highlights
"That is the genius of the maple bacon latte."
(in 48 reviews)
"I have to agree that the new cafe is awesome."
(in 51 reviews)
"Did I mention they have vegan donuts."
(in 7 reviews)
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137 reviews in English
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Review from Jane A.
9/19/2011
BACON IN MY LATTE!!!
(4 stars)
You've been scoutmobbed! I've had bacon in all kinds of form such as chocolate covered bacon, bacon wrapped hotdogs with creamcheese, etc. but definately NOT in my latte. Needed my boost before heading to the Beach on a beautiful Saturday morning and remembered that I had my scoutmob deal of (50% off) for this place. SCORE!
It's on the outskirts of the mission, not in an overly crowded area, and hidden between the residential homes. Parking can be tough but was easy for me. The place is small, indoor seating and outdoor seating with live radio (liked the music that was playing). Unique local art or featured art that decorates the walls.
HEFFER-STYLE STATUS
Pastries - Had none. They get their pastries fresh in the morning so whatever is out, is out. No bagels left, No plain pastries left, and only 3 pastries not to my palate liking were shelved for display.
Maple Bacon Latte ($5/scoutmob $2.50) - Latte with nautural maple syrup and itty bitty bacon bits sprinkled ontop. It was SO good, i think i could have been find without the bacon and enjoyed my latte with maple syrup (so sweet and delicious). The itty bitty bacon bits seemed more for decoration and barely added any flavor. wish there was more flavor extracted from the bacon, i think i'd enjoy it more. But still enjoyed this drink and will classify this as one of my favorites.
Will I be back? HELL YAH!
Until the next review... -
Review from Eli G.
Hard to say how good the bacon latte should have been since the large man behind the counter struggled to make it. At each step he paused, read a crumpled piece of paper, paused, wandered off, and came back a few times noting that they were first out of maple syrup, then that they were out of other key ingredients.
All this went on in a cloud of pot smoke that was wafting in from the radio room adjacent the cafe. I'm pretty sure the guy making my drink was just too high to know what was going on.
I was left with a sad excuse for a cup of anything;
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Don't waste your time supporting these lazy hippies. -
Review from Alice L.
San Diego, CA
1/19/2012
Like everyone else, I was attracted to this cafe by the infamous bacon maple latte, and after taking the first sip, I was disappointed to find that I'm not a big fan. Perhaps it's my conservative taste buds that have a greater affinity to the regular old coffee taste, or the fact that the "coffee" had way too much sweetness that drowned out the rest of the flavors, I couldn't finish my $5 cup before dumping it in the trash can outside.
On another note, the cafe itself definitely has its uniqueness with the ongoing radio airing studio right next to the cashier. It was exciting to watch radio interviews live inside the cafe.
Overall, it was a novel experience. Unfortunately, this savory sweet maple bacon coffee just isn't my cup of coffee. -
Review from Sophie C.
San Francisco, CA
11/2/2011 1 photo
After reading about the infamous maple bacon latte, I was dying to try it. A year later, I had the long awaited latte. At $5, I consider it pricy and since I'm not a big fan of sugar in my coffee, the latte was too sweet for my taste. The bacon fat helped a little to balance out the sweetness, but the artificial bacon bits sprinkled on top is not my cup of tea.
Overall, it did not meet my expectations, but it was a nice idea. For the meat candy aka bacon lovers, I suggest skipping this. -
Review from Alexander R.
San Francisco, CA
12/12/2011
I am a sucker for some things and apparently bacon in my coffee is one of them. In the end the bacon latte wasn't all that, in fact I suggest you order a latte from your local cafe and sprinkle Bacos on it, same thing.
The cafe is small and in a desolate area but the employees are friendly and they do run a radio station from there which is cool and which makes this place special. -
Review from Jason B.
Updated - 10/18/2011
Anthony Bourdain made me do it.
Took one sip of the maple bacon latte. Threw the rest away. So hyped. So disgusting.
Three stars for having other caffeine alternatives and clearly loving their little rebellious radio place in the world.
One star to me for being suckered by Mr. Bourdain.
http://www.youtube.com...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/3/2010
I like music a little more on the house/progressive trance side of things, but I'm a fan of any… Read more »
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Review from William D.
San Francisco, CA
9/24/2011
I dont understand what happened to this place. First time I went it was decent at best. No decaf espresso which is a downer, I overlooked it cause the customer service was great and they worked with me to put less shots in the drink I wanted.
But this last time, tonight, I go for a Bacon Maple Latte and find door open, a bunch of people outside, a guy inside, the radio station full, I stand at the counter looking around, wanting to order but cant find anyone who works there, let alone no one looks at me or makes eye contact. I guess no one who works there wanted to help. Certainly cant figure out who they are since they dont wear anything signifying they work there. So, with that said I walked out, walked past all the people and again, no one looked at me, asked me anything, nothing...
Either this place is now just a radio station where people congregate and no longer a coffee shop, or people werent doing their job and lost $5 sale and $2 tip!
I wont be going here again. I can go to many other places in the Mission that have bacon and maple flavored coffees for just a little less, with better more attentive service. If the owner is reading this, maybe you should try changing your hours not to say you are open till 12AM on Saturdays if you are closed by 830PM! -
Review from Erica K.
San Francisco, CA
9/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow...look @ all these reviews for Pirate Cat! I learned about Pirate Cat Cafe + Studio as I moved into an apartment one block away about two years ago. I really love this part of the Mission - to me, it is the heart of the Mission, where locals have raised their families here for years. On my evening jog I would run past the cafe almost every night. What struck me most was the vibe: A dated FM radio outside the cafe playing live from the radio station to folks on the street. People on sofas drinking lattes made of bacon fat + maple syrup. The visual of the radio personalities while on air via a studio to sidewalk glass window. Everything about this place is inviting: No strings, come as you are, participate or not, play the lonely upright piano, chat with the barista, be part of your neighborhood.
Not to get all human rights on Yelp, but this place is a piece of history, a pioneer in modern free speech. I had no idea that Anthony Bourdain brought his show 'No Reservations' to Pirate Cat Cafe + Studio until I had been a patron for almost one year. This is testament to how the people who run this shop are true to their values + beliefs. Even thoguh they were featured on one of the most watched television shows on travel + food, they still maintain the same presence they ever had: A low profile neighborhood gem, human rights-forward + refusing to be compromised in their ethic.
And did I mention the bacon maple latte? -
Review from Rob P.
11/8/2011
I came here for one reason...one reason alone the BACON LATTE! Once I ordered it, I was mildly disappointed. It was a solid latte, but nothing really that special. There was a subtle bacon-y flavor but I was wishing and hoping for something more over the top. Not a bad place to swing by to try a crazy bacon concoction, but not a drink I really dream or crave about now that I've tried it.
Listed in: Adventures in Bacon!!!, The Caffeine Shakes
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Review from Ivan L.
7/30/2011
I can't pretend for even one minute to understand why people come here. The coffee was pretty third rate. We tried to order baked goods but didn't succeed. And listening to anarcho-communists' self produced radio programming is just torture.
I *think* that pirate cat may have closed down earlier this week. At least I'm crossing my fingers. -
Review from Jessica S.
Emeryville, CA
4/27/2011
Pirate Cat Radio is a collective of local radio DJs broadcasting from the corner of 21st and Florida in the Mission district who happen to run off kick ass espresso! DJs interning at the station can work at the café to pay for the PCR collective dues and also get their own airtime. Currently the collective and management are being reconstructed but the café, radio station, and membership enrollment is still up and running!
The hours of the café are a little weird, due to lack of staff, but
are always open by noon. The have a punk black and white theme for the café with a comfy red couch. The menu offers Mission Minis, NASHBaker pastries, Vange Empanadas, the famous Maple bacon latte and espresso drinks made with De La Paz espresso. Yes that's right the Maple bacon latte! The only way to describe this would be breakfast in a cup. The smoky bacon goes great with the rich espresso and sweet maple syrup. Don't knock it before you try it! It definitively brought back to my country hometown. The espresso was bright with a good balance. It had a medium syrupy consistency with qualities of cocoa, caramel, and nuts with a hint of lemon at the end.
The barista, who is a DJ at the station, was very friendly and told me all about the internship program and how it operated with the café. Basically the money generated by the café pays the rent for the café/station facilities and the interns work the café in exchange for airtime and hands on experience in the studio. A very cool joint operation! Overall, it's a really cool café with a really great collective and quality espresso. You can apply for the internship on the http://pcrcollective.org . -
Review from Fancypants X.
San Francisco, CA
Maple bacon latte:
a) so right, yet oh so wrong
b) so good, yet so bad (for your arteries)
c) concoction made up of bacon fat, maple syrup, whole milk & espresso
d) so rich the fat just coats your mouth
e) all of the above
Pirate Cat Cafe:
a) local radio station & haven for an eclectic mix of DJs, hippies, wanderers & latte lovers
b) confusing/hypocritical with the bacon fat AND vegan bacon bits & pastries
c) crawling with hipsters (& my curious, highly impressionable dumbass) who are all willing to part with $5 for above-mentioned latte
d) 2 cool 4 any-fucking-thing (nevermind school) vibe
e) all of the above
Answer key: e), e)
Just goes to show: people will try anything if it's the perfect combination of cool & uncool.Listed in: My drink of choice: coffee
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Review from Kevin L.
Peoria, AZ
7/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wonderful, unique experience, and awesome atmosphere.
I feel that both the super-hyped maple bacon latte and chai tea latte we ordered could've been crafted a bit better, but the taste was ALL there.
Staff was friendly and inviting, and the cafe was just the right blend of obscure hip destination meets unassuming niche to zone out and/or work.
I don't know much of Pirate Cat's history or background, and my perspective was just that of a cafe patron, but I'm definitely making this place a regular stop on future trips to the city. -
Review from Tiffany L.
San Diego, CA
8/29/2011 1 photo
Pirate Cat is a pretty awesome place, most famous undoubtedly for their Maple Bacon Latte. Bacon fat and espresso - two of my favorite things. Their other coffee drinks are pretty stellar, too, though. Enjoy this unique experience and definitely try their artery-clogging infamous drink.
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Review from Edward C.
San Jose, CA
6/11/2011
I'm not an anarchist, but I will be one for Pirate Cat. Charting a strange history from an at least 15 year ago. This place, or state of mind really was originally a Campbell, CA record store and collective with an 8 bit Nintendo set up and some 7"s in a crate. What they are today is a former pirate radio station with coffees, teas and a live dj. Very friendly barista who helped me get unlost. No attitude at all. Sort of like Epicenter was. Sort of. Yo no sabe.
Someone ought to write a book to explain what Pirate Cat is. -
Review from Sara P.
San Francisco, CA
3/13/2011
I ventured to this part of the neighborhood for the first time today to check out the maple bacon latte. What a great invention (and hangover cure)!! I'm so happy a certain someone *wink wink* suggested it. Whole milk makes everything better. I'm not sure if you can ask for non-fat milk, they might give you the stank eye. Other menu items that piqued my interest: cayenne mocha, coconut curry latte & the Monkeyato. The selection of vegan cookies, doughnuts, etc. were tempting but I needed a more substantial breakfast.
The cafe itself is small and they were setting up for a staff meeting for the radio station part of the business so we couldn't stick around and fully absorb the scene.Listed in: SF Lovin'
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Review from Gardender P.
San Francisco, CA
7/2/2011
As of June 1st, 2011, the station has been renamed Mutiny Radio and the café has been renamed Mutiny Radio Café. It is run by the PCR Collective.
http://www.nbcbayarea.... -
Review from Dennis H.
4/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
So what do you wash down a maple apple bacon glazed donut ... of course a maple bacon latte!!!
I can now say I had one - it was pretty good but odd - I felt strange drinking it and then chewing on bacon fat.... HOW BIZARRE!
Bourdain destination spot completed! -
Review from Jason K.
San Mateo, CA
3/23/2011
There was only one thing on my mind when I came to Pirate Cat... Maple Bacon Latte. Bacon fat, maple syrup, and caffine? What is there not to like?
The latte is made with an entire spoonful of bacon fat and topped with bacon bits. The first sip was a bacon explosion, as I got most of the bacon bits from the top. Unfortunately after the initial bacon hit there really wasn't much bacony flavor left in the latte.
The fat coating your mouth that Anthony Bourdain raved so much about really wasn't that much of a win for me either.
I'm giving 4 stars because of the novelty of bacon fat in coffee and our server was pretty awesome. -
Review from Tiffany N.
Denver, CO
10/10/2010 1 Check-in Here
Honestly, I think I'm not cool enough to hang out at Pirate Cat Café. That's why I had to go with Mike T. With his smart guy glasses, adventurous maple bacon fat latte ordering, and music knowledge they agreed to let me in, reluctantly.
Seriously though - how cool is it that you can get some delicious vegan donuts alongside coffee made with bacon fat. Cool and hilarious of course. And while you enjoy your snacks you get to watch rad radio shows and listen to good music. Pirate Cat Café definitely has it going on.
Word. -
Review from eep y.
New York, NY
3/16/2011
Yeah, you thought you'd check it out because you saw it on No Reservations, right? Thought that maple-bacon latte sounded like a little slice of heaven?
Run, screaming from this place.
I never write a bad review about a place unless I've had a crappy enough experience to make it worthwhile for my lazy A to login and type it. I went into this place on an average afternoon a few weeks ago. Ok, cool atmosphere, so that earns 2 stars. Nice barista, ok. Then the horror came. We ordered a maple bacon latte and the cardamom one. I've never been so underwhelmed by a cup of coffee. They used bacon bits, not bacon. So basically mine tasted like plain old coffee with bacon bits on top. That's it. The cardamom one? bzzzzt. Wrong. Well, at least they labeled the ingredients in the right order when calling it cardamom coffee. This tasted like spice only. And not good cardamom spice. It tasted like that generic freezerburned staleness that you get when you pull one of those mcCormick spices out that has been in your mom's cabinet since 2005. Sort of cardboard tasting.
Even on a bad day this should not be so underwhelming. I don't know, maybe they were just tired of tourists coming in and ordering only 1 item from the menu. Great business model, that. -
Review from Cesar R.
9/22/2010 8 photos
BREAKFAST. In a BIG ASS cup.
What a better way to start my second day in San Fran than with some bacon, coffee and my beautiful daughter Anabella?!
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
MAPLE BACON MUTHAFU*KIN LATTE ($5)
Strolled down the Mission district on a gorgeous Monday morning with my daughter in tow...headed towards the sounds of indie rock and the smells of caffeine and pork.
Friendly BaristO takes my order and even snag a Vegan Strawberry donut ($2) and brownie ($2) for my little one, hot chocolate ($2) http://www.yelp.com/bi... for the wife. http://www.yelp.com/bi... I had a highly stimulating philosophical conversation with my 2 yr old about the finer points of bacon as she nibbled her donut....
The Latte arrives and my eyes light up like a kid in a bacon store.... http://www.yelp.com/bi... I can smell the tasty bacon bits and enjoy every sip...I must agree with Ciara G that I could have used A LOT more bacon...I should have brought over a bacon donut from Dynamo! OH...and unless youre vegan...avoid the vegan donut...even my daughter wasnt so thrilled....I had to fake a smile and muster a lie between my teeth of "yummmm its good" so Anabella would try it....
Nonetheless...a killer concept....and my favorite part? The oh so cute bacon grease droplets floating around my cup before I finished it off to reveal all the glorious little bacon bits....http://www.yelp.com/bi...
.... and yeah, you bet your ass I licked up all those remaining straggler bacon crumbs...Listed in: Best Beautiful Bodacious BACON…
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Review from Cassie C.
Alameda, CA
8/11/2011
I expected more from all the reviews and raves. It's a little hole in the wall cafe with an adjoining studio where the Berkeley radio cats do their thang. Quirky: yes. Maple Bacon Latte: yes. Overall: meh. Oh ya, and cash only.
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Review from Horst S.
2/20/2011
After all the rather massive hype about the vaunted maple bacon latte, my friends and I were pretty jazzed to try it!
Let me set the stage for those who don't know about this place. It's pretty small, and it is combination of cafe, radio station and live performance venue. While the staff and various denizens are quite friendly and entertaining, the service is not stellar.
Why? Well, since there was someone performing live and being broadcast over a mike, we had to wait until the song ended before the milk could be steamed because "it's too loud". I'm thinking to myself "isn't this place selling coffee"? Why am I standing here listening to a guy do some off-key tune while waiting for the privilege of paying $5.00 for a cup of coffee. However, since this was supposed to be a pretty outstanding cup of coffee, I figured it would be worth the wait...
But it wasn't worth it and it was way less than amazing - it tasted pretty good, but it was not the deliciagasm I was anticipating. Additionally, as it cooled it tasted even less delicious, and I ended up tossing the last third of the cup.
On the one hand, I dig the concept and don't regret supporting the cause as it were, and I wish them all the best, but that was definitely a one-time deal for me. -
Review from Kelly H.
12/10/2010 1 Check-in Here
I was very excited to try their bacon latte! the first time i went... the cafe was closed... so the second attempt i called their number... and haha the number i guess was also for the radio show... and my only question was "is the cafe open today?" haha oh wells.... at least it was!
The menu for the coffee crazy... just different flavors... all of which i want to try! But we got two cups of the bacon coffee... the second cup he made it a little stronger... in bacon flavor that is! it's pretty tasty... but you feel the fat of the pig after tho...
It's a little pricey for coffee... but it goes towards the station... so when you get ur cup, your not only satisfying your taste buds... but also supporting the arts! yay! -
Review from Javier J.
9/14/2010
I've always said that the pig was the most wonderful creature in the world. Whatever you had, you could make so much better by incorporating some sort of part of the pig into it. You have a burger - put bacon on it. You have Christmas, toss in a ham and you got yourself a Christmas miracle. Got a sandwich? Some cured pork meat would kick it up a notch.
And while breakfast has been forever helped by a couple of slices of bacon tossed into the mix, Pirate Cat Cafe, a vegetarian cafe for goodness sakes, shows us the wonder that a little rendered bacon fat could do to a cup o' Joe.
Again, let me focus on that.. This vegetarian friendly establishment somehow got the ultimately amazing idea of putting a little bacon fat into a cup of coffee and making Bacon Maple Lattes.. with little sprinkles of bacon on top of it. Oh so good.
The whole place is a small cafe with a radio station booth through a window. Really small but has a fair amount of comfortable seating. Which is a must for some place were you're going to be sipping coffee.
They offer booze later in the day when you don't need a coffee boast, but it's only available to those who have a beer membership. Don't worry, it's only a $5 flat free for life membership.
I have to say though, keep everything else. Just give me my Bacon Maple Latte. It was so worth the hype. The wonders of rendered bacon fat in coffee, I tell you. Starbucks should be getting in on this. -
Review from phillip w.
San Francisco, CA
9/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
Anthony Bourdain...you tried this when you came to San Francisco. From then on I had a hankering to try the "famous" maple bacon latte.
I wasn't sure what to expect..would it taste bad? would it taste extremely fatty? I wasn't sure....
So as I took my first sip..something happened. I dont know how to explain it really. The bacon just kind of wraps around your tongue or something. The maple takes away whatever bitterness is in the latte leaving you with a sweet bacon coffee drink.
I was quite happy with this drink..
But later that evening at home..i spent the night on the toilet..something got to my stomach bad..it was either the oysters at Swan Oyster Depot or the Latte here...or hell it could just be that coffee and oysters don't mix well in a stomach. Whatever it was...I can't seem to put my finger on it..
So this review is based on how I felt before my 3-4 days of sitting on the toilet and diet consisting of rice porridge and gatorade..horrible -
Review from Nicholas N.
Denver, CO
9/7/2010
Mike, a friend from out of town, told me about this place and wanted to go, so we went. Cafe and radio station in the same location = brilliant. I really love it.
The maple bacon latte was very interesting. I had mine with real milk, not soy, so I think mine was creamier than Mike's (his got a little "chunky" at the bottom). You can feel rendered bacon fat they put into it seeping into your body so I doubt I'd have one twice a week or anything, but the novelty definitely hasn't worn off yet. The vegan donuts were also quite good to be honest and I generally don't down a lot of items prefaced with "vegan".
I'd go back here and get a coffee and listen to the radio for sure. I highly recommend checking this place out if you are down in the mission. -
Review from Holly W.
7/5/2010 3 photos
BACON maple latte? How can you say NO to that? Especially since it only comes in one size -- a ceramic mug equivalent of a Starbucks grande.
But try not to mention Starbucks. Or Facebook. Or Twitter. Or any corporatized slash social networking mass media thingamajig out there. I inadvertently broadcasted to my friend that I was, in a frenzy, furiously updating all of my online statuses since hello?! BACON MAPLE LATTE?! The public has to know that I'm just about to drink that and since I'm a shameless self promoter (at times), why the heck wouldn't they wanna know?
And while I was twittering and facebooking and foursquaring my little life away, I answered a call on my Blackberry. Much to my chagrin there is a very prominently displayed sign saying "NO CELL PHONES" and even much more to my chagrin, the topic of the radio conversation they were having (yes, Pirate Cat Radio doubles as a small independent radio station AND coffee shop) was the LAMENESS of people who did just that.
Guess I'm the lame enemy. No bother though. I am NOT an enemy of the smoky characteristic taste of bacon, sweet maple or the rich, slightly bittersweet taste of espresso, and that's all that counts. If it compels me enough to be a paying customer, so be it.
Tip: Get a Bacon Maple latte TO SHARE. There is approximately a teaspoon of bacon grease goodness per mug. Your innards will thank you. -
Review from Brian L.
2/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
OOO OOO AHH AHHH!!!
It's impossible not to mention "bacon maple latte" and Pirate Cat Radio in the same breath (and with good reason) but I'm here to hype another drink... the Monkeyato. A little more on the sweeter side, the Monkeyato has a great balance of banana, coconut, chocolate, and coffee. I really want to try the cheyenne mocha next.
What can I say... pound your chest and go APE $H!T for the monkeyato... I know I do -
Review from Katherine L.
San Francisco, CA
11/22/2011
Pirate Cat Cafe definitely has the too-cool-for-school vibe. You're quite likely to get serious stink eye from the staff when ordering the bacon latte, but hey, it's a pirate cafe, so it wouldn't really work to have their employees be Starbucks friendly. The attitude adds to the charm of this tiny coffee shop. It's also nice knowing there is a good chance Anthony Bourdain's butt was on the same seat you're sitting on.
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Review from Ciara G.
After reading Dave H's review back in Feb and seeing that my buddy Craig R. also had it bookmarked I just had to have this Bacon Maple Latte that blew up over night on the yelp world bc of Bourdain's recent visit to Pirate Cat.
Did it live up to the hype and my high expectations? Honestly it fell short. The latte was good but I wanted more bacon umph. It needed a double shot of bacon fat AND a giant stick of crispy maple glazed bacon to stir it up with. I got barely any hint of bacon except for the chewy bits that were floating on top. And the floating bits were "baco bacon" type bits and were not the best in my opinion.
The joint is CASH ONLY with a lot of evolution talk going on. The piano is tuned and they don't mind if you do a quick jam. A good selection of locally baked goods were available. Most of the cookies I saw were vegan or gluten free. They also sell Empanadas (chicken, beef or veggie). My buddy got one and it was ok. They heated it up for a good 10 minutes but when he cut into it is was not even warm. Service was friendly and chatty but super slow. She really took a lot of time making our drinks but is it worth it to loose customers as 2 parties that came in after us ended up walking out.
Worth a try once to at least say you have had it? YES of course. But I would not go out of my way to return next time I'm in SF.
***side note*** I am sure having a fun time at work though recreating the Bacon Maple Latte to my bacon umph standards using only the finest, wonderfully crisp Nieman Ranch Bacon. -
Review from Lolia S.
San Francisco, CA
5/23/2010 1 photo
Famous for the bacon maple latte featured on No Reservations, PRC serves fair trade coffee with regular milk (or soy milk) only. That is truly annoying. However, I didn't deduct a star because they have Mission Minis cupcakes ($1 each), free wi-fi and a power outlet. The tables are rickety and the place isn't the most comfortable but it definitely has charm. I found myself fantasizing about being a DJ again and eating mini cupcakes in between songs. You can find an application to be a DJ on their website.
It's definitely better than my old radio station. We had an old couch; they have a red velvet couch. We didn't have food; they have coffee, Mission Mini cupcakes and tofu sandwiches. Our place wasn't decorated; theirs features a red door, edgy but cute logo, black and white stripes sloppily painted on the walls.
It's tiny with a room capacity of 12 people. You can see the DJ in the studio and people (friends of the DJ, the next DJ, musical guests) drift in and out.
I saw the Sour Flour guy here, offering to sell his bread there - it's funny that the guy behind the counter said he's not buying bread from some random person off the street. They have standards. I wouldn't call this a full fledged café but for a DJ hangout spot, I like it.
Cash onlyListed in: Confessions of a Coffeeaholic, Free wi-fi + Food in SF
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Review from The Only Opinion That Matter s.
Los Angeles, CA
3/2/2011
The coolest thing about Pirate Cat Radio Cafe, was the actual pirate radio station. I could have passed on the Bacon Maple Latte. Don't get me wrong, the actual latte was good. Better than Pete's but not as good as Blue Bottle. The maple comes from maple syrup which went really well with the coffee but the whole bacon bits thing was just a novelty that didn't accent the drink. The best I can describe it as is if you're dinking coffee just after you've had a big breakfast. And the coffee dislodges a small piece of bacon from between your teeth. You get a shocking jolt of salty meaty goodness that doesn't necessarily go with your coffee. But you swallow it anyways because ...well, because bacon is always good. Even half masticated and mixed in with your coffee.
I was half way through my latte when I found out the bacons bits WEREN'T EVEN REAL BACON! The barista was telling me about how everything was vegan, including the donuts. Vegan? How can bacon be vegan? Well they are if you use Bac-O-Bits, which are bacon flavored soy chips. I felt cheated!
But my trip wasn't a complete waste. I got to see how they ran a real pirate radio station. (Which I don't understand why the FCC hasn't shut down especially with their current publicity on No Reservations and everything) The Pirate Cat Radio Cafe is a small 20 by 20 establishment. It's split in half with a big glass window and an "ON AIR" sign separating the café from the radio station. Instead of muzak, they pump whatever sounds the dj is current playing on air. If you're in SF, LA, or Berlin (some crazy German set up a repeater) you can find them on 87.9 playing a mélange of indie bands.
Full review and pictures at: http://www.theonlyopin... -
Review from Loic B.
Norfolk, VA
Probably going to be the millionth person to write about the maple bacon latte BUT....it was BOMB! Sad to know such an iconic place will be changing it's infamous name, but happy that it'll always be around when I stop by in SF.
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Review from Dave H.
2/25/2010 26 photos
Their maple bacon latte is deliciously sinful, and proof that a higher power exists.
Pirate Cat Cafe's latte is a sweet, frothy cup of joe, full of the essence of bacon grease. It's rich and full of character, and comes in a single size: huge. (If I didn't feel so guilty drinking it, I'd have gotten one myself instead of sharing.)
Besides coffee, the cafe sells locally-baked goods. I savored a semi-sweet mini red velvet cupcake and a rather dashing chocolate cookie. Since I was jet-lagged, I shot an espresso, too. Good service.
Pirate Cat Radio broadcasts live on the premises - their studio is visible through a window - which makes relaxing here surprisingly intimate, an experience that must be completed with a bacon latte.
Appreciate quality radio programming? Send a donation to score a t-shirt, compilation CD, or branded condom (okay, maybe not the last). Be sure to tune in via radio (in the Bay) or on the web at http://www.piratecatra....Listed in: Bay Area Favorites, San Francoffee
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Review from Genevieve Y.
San Francisco, CA
7/6/2009 7 photos
Date & Time: Monday July 6, 2009 @ 8pm
Company: Michael
Crowd: Hipsters
Vibe: Chill
Music: Live Radio
Decor: Small Hip Space. Black & Cream Striped Walls. Menu on Black Board. Red Velvet Sofa. Old Piano. Tightly-Packed Little Wooden Tables for Deux.
Service: Hipster Barista- We Originally Ordered Maple Bacon Lattes when She Asked "Are you sure" We Copped Out
Imbibe: Coconut Latte & Dulce de Leche Latte
Devour: Vegan Donut
Total: $10Listed in: Tea Time
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Review from Tom R.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
If you are like me you enjoy coffee but have always thought that it was a little too healthy and what it really needs is a little bacon grease mixed into it.
Pirate Cat is an all-volunteer cafe that is run to support the Pirate Cat Internet "radio" station. Far be it from me to tell a person how they should volunteer but quite honestly I feel there are more urgent needs in the world than one more Internet "radio" station but that's an issue with little relevance to my coffee experience.
After months of hearing about the bacon maple lattes this place makes I figured it was time to give one a try. My first sip really wowed me but by the time I was 1/3 of the way through the greasiness started to bug me and half way through I just threw the thing away.
It's definitely worth trying but I'll never get one again and at $5 it didn't come cheap. They take a while to make so don't bother if you're in a hurry.
Since the place is all-volunteer they do not take tips. I asked about a tip jar and the person working there told me that all the money including tips goes to the "radio" station. -
Review from Veronica S.
Fremont, CA
Yes Pirate Cat Cafe, I am one of "those" who saw you on Anthony Bourdain and am curious about your infamous maple bacon latte!
I also tried the "Monkey-atto". Both were delicious! Although I have to say, the maple bacon latte is one of those things I've tried, burst my curiosity bubble, and probably wouldn't get again. I felt like I was drinking coffee bacon soup towards the end O:)
I highly enjoyed my Monkey-atto though. It tasted like a machiatto with chocolate and banana flavors - yum yum!
Most of their drinks are $4 and $5 unless you get a basic coffee or espresso. Everything is made to order and may take some time. -
Review from Kevin N.
1/21/2010 ROTD 3/18/2010
The closest thing yet to mainlining bacon.
Pirate cat is a great little cafe in the Mission but riding the border of Potrero Hill, and as such, I'm going to claim it to be local for me. If I didn't I'd have to move to be closer to this gem of a coffee shop and I'm just not ready to move again.
Because I have, have, have to be close to a place that puts bacon in the coffee. That's right: Bacon. IN the Coffee drink.
Repeat: Bacon is in the latte. And Maple, so it's a maple bacon latte. Freaking Genius!
All proceeds go to the radio station which you can see being produced behind the glass that divides the coffee shop area from the radio equipment. The volunteer barristas are skilled at making thei varied array of drinks on the menu, but if you go in a group and order the specialty lattes (and, really, why would you go here and not order a bacon-maple concoction to go perfectly with that vegan donut?) it can take a bit of time while the barrista lovingly crafts each drink one at a time.
There is not a ton of seating, but at one o'clock on a Monday holiday, there was plenty of room for the four of us to sit and chat, with a table for the lone web junkie to suck down some free wi-fi with his java and another group to hang out on the long couch while they watched their drinks being made.
When eating a couple slices of bacon in the morning just isn't enough to get you started, head over to Pirate Cat to get some in a cup of caffeinated deliciousness.
