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Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Lower HaightMon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
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Two fork-fuls in, and I announced to the bf that I was in love with my breakfast. Not even joking.
I ordered the fresh lox scramble and have never, ever had something so amazing. I asked for no onions or anchovies and the request was honored, so my dish was eggs with salmon, tomatoes, avocado, and cream cheese. Yes, cream cheese sounds weird but it was sooo freakin goooood!!! The hash browns on the side were lovely as well.
Ok but really, this scramble was amazing. I wanna go again. Now.
Oh but question: are the coffee refills free? I was afraid to ask.
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Was in complete "food coma" after having their delicious chicken pesto sandwich. It was to the point where i felt like completely passing out on their tables. But i didn't. Because i still have my dignity. And it defeats the whole purpose of having a car.
But yeah.....my point is, it's THAT good.
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My favorite type of brunch is of the hangover variety; when you wake up on a Sunday, bleary-eyed and dry-mouthed, with a need to atone for Saturday's sins and shenanigans. which is why we went to the Grind. And there's not much I can say about this diner-come-community coffee shop other than;
- It's semi-self-service (read: you place your order at a counter, get your own condiments and silverware, but they bus the tables).
-It's affordable and reasonably priced
-It served it's purpose in providing a safe haven to soberly rehash yesterday's details (eg; "Wait, you did WHAT?! - Where was I?!")
Sometimes all you need to recover is an order of pancakes with a second helping of pillow-time....at least the Grind can deliver on the first one.
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The Grind rocks. The Grind Babes (Andrea, Valicia, Kelly and Ashley) are the bomb and they always make me the best lattes! SO MUCH DELICIOUS, THICK, CREAMY FOAM!
The wifi is fixed now (or so I've heard) and even though it gets crowded, you can always wait outside and people watch...
Tell your friends.
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My wife and I decided to take off on our scooter and find a new spot in the city that we had never been. we ended up in the lower haight and happened upon this place.
it's a happening little spot with lots of light, big sliding windows allowing for lots of air, and outside seating which was a plus. we had lunch (i had the crispy chicken sandwich and fries) which was very tasty and she had the chicken cheesesteak (even better!) it was a very enjoyable, relaxing lunch with plenty of great people watching.
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Veggie salad is great! Spring mix, romaine, garbanzo beans, avocado, tomatoes, sprouts and cucumber. $7.25. Brett's Niman ranch beef steak and egg with hash brown was $10.25. I just moved to this neighborhood and intrigued that food costs less in the Lower Haight.
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I totally forgot about yelping here since I came here in June and it was worth the random drive my friend and i took.
My friend and I happen to spot this place after finding out the Joe's pot o' Soul was supposed to be open but they weren't. We drove around to find a good breakfast/brunch spot to dine at and my friend passes by a couple places then says "Hey, what about there?" and points to the Grind Cafe. I said sure why not. We easily found parking and walked over.
When we walked in i looked up and noticed the huge chalkboard menu. LOTS of food and snacks and drinks to choose from, definite worth 2 stars. For the variety they had everything was very well-priced (under $10 a pop except for the steak and eggs, duh) I ordered the Lower Haight omelet since the ingredients caught my eyes (chicken apple sausage, spinach, sun dried tomatoes, and feta... YUMMMM) and I can't remember what my friend had but he did have a fresh squeezed orange juice.
The atmosphere was real nice; busy in the kitchen but very casual in the dining area. The cashier was friendly and made sure she had got our orders right. I'd like to come back here again for sure. I only give it 4 stars since I am a fan now but would like to come here more often to experience the full force of their menu :)
My coworkers and I came here for lunch. We found parking right away and made our way into the cafe. I noticed an outdoor patio section, perfect to enjoy your food on a nice warm sunny day. The menu was on a chalkboard on the wall. There was a great selection of food. I noticed an appealing menu for breakfast and i was almost tempted to get breakfast for lunch, but I decided not to and ordered the chicken melt.
There's no waitress that comes takes your order at the table, you go up to the cashier, order your food, pay and then they give you a number to put on your table. When the food is ready they bring it to your table.
My sandwich came with a side of house salad which tasted great with their balsamic vinaigrette sauce. YUM. The Chicken Melt was soo GOOD i finished every last bite of it, or maybe I was super hungry.
I thought it was a nice little place for lunch!
Next time, I'd like to come and try their breakfast menu!
Fantastic in every way. I love this place and have been coming here since the day they opened. The owners mom comes in still and makes the dressings for all the salad from scratch. Try the poppy seed dressing it's off the hook.
Great breakfast and salads. I can't eat the lasagna because it has mushrooms and I am allergic to them but my friends tell me it is great. This is another place I come back to all the time.
Why can't there be a similar place in good ol' SOMA? Came in for breakfast early on a saturday morning when it was quiet and I could take my time reading the extensive menu.
The breakfast choices are great-- had the egg white mediterreanean scramble with hash browns and a latte and it was out of this world. So much food that I had to take some home for later. I like the layout and outdoor seating (although does the sun ever come out in lower haight?) Next time I'm going for the breakfast burrito and french toast because they looked quite awesome.
staff is friendly as well. I'm a fan.
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We were walking back from Haight-Ashbury and had to go -- really, really bad. We were at the point where we couldn't hold it any longer and The Grind Cafe was the closest restroom, so we decided to stop by and have a drink. We glanced over their menu and decided we might as well stop for lunch here.
I've become such a Yelp snob that I regularly don't eat at a place that I haven't at least read a couple of reviews on. Today was different though, I really had some bladder presser that needed relieving. The other half ordered a standard burger and a banana smoothie. I ordered the breakfast sandwich with a side of hash browns.
We found the food to be flavorless and uninspiring. I sure hit up the salt and paper shakers to spice up my hash browns. They had run out of croissants, so my breakfast sandwich was scrambled eggs and bacon between to slices of toast. I suppose I was hoping for something tasty and surprising, but all I got was a sandwich that I could have made at home. Even the smoothie was a disappointment. From the first sip you could tell that the banana was still unripened.
It was a disappointing meal from start to finish.
It is a cute, cozy little neighborhood spot with lots of yummy choices. We walked down and ordered the Haight Scramble and the strawberry waffles. The only reason I give this place 4 stars is because the order got mixed up. They brought us over the pancakes instead of waffles and it took another 15 mintues just to get them...worth the wait though. The staff are extremely polite and very cheery for a dreary Monday morning. Definitely in a "food coma" right now...gotta go walk it off.
I can only speak for breakfast at The Grind, but it's mighty tasty. Prices are moderate and the menu's extensive. The outdoor seating area is a nice touch, but is unfortunately on the wrong side of the street so it's mostly shady and can get a bit chilly. Place gets crowded on the weekends around 10 AM on. Baristas are nice, though a few times (when especially busy) I think they've made my Latte with coffee instead of espresso...note to barista: Mr. Espresso is a brand of coffee, like Folgers. It is not espresso, you gotta make that yerself.
Not the quietest place, but a great option on a lazy sunday for some eggs, french toast, and bacon.
Ohh and I saw Alec Baldwin there who is basically my doppelganger.
Finally went to The Grind Cafe for a day of work, and I was happy! The staff are very friendly, the salads are excellent (try the pear salad with cranberries and blue cheese!).
It straddles the line between cafe and restaurant pretty well. The wifi is kind of sketchy, but there are a few outlets you can nab for your laptop.
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Finally, a place on Haight that isn't overpriced. This place is such a great breakfast/ brunch spot. You walk in, order your food and find a place to sit. The prices are very reasonable and so are the portions. I had the pastrami sandwich with fries & a coffee for 8.25, he had the corned beef hash for 8.75 - we both enjoyed our food and felt just right after - stuffed but not too stuffed.
It was packed for Sunday brunch, but it seemed no one had a hard time finding a place to sit right away. If it wasn't cold and rainy, I would've opted for the nice outdoor seating area. Downside: they charge for drink refills, but that won't stop me from making another visit.
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I love The Grind Cafe. I live really close by and it's so nice to be able to walk over within a minute or two. The folks are always friendly and if you're a regular coffee drinker, they'll remember and offer you recommendations on what you might like to try. The Sister and I loved the granola with yogurt and fresh fruit. Ask for a little bit more yogurt when you order though. It comes with strawberries, blueberries and bananas and at the very end I like to mix in some honey (when all of the fruit except the bananas is gone). The coffee is mediocre but the scramblers are yummy. I like the Grind Scram. Get it with the hash browns and sourdough toast and then eat the latter with a little butter and a lot of blackberry jam and you're all set! Viva la breakfast!
I come here at least two Sundays a month, maybe three. Perfect since its about 5 blocks from my place. My routine usually goes like this, grab my laptop (they have free wireless) or a book. Head down and order one of the egg specials. You can roll in here solo, with your significant other, family or friends. Its an all around people friendly joint. The staff is also very cordial and welcoming. It gets a bit crowded but don't fret I've never had a problem getting a seat. The omelets and breakfast specials are perfect after crazy night out, they are also perfect after a quiet night in.
So there you have it, its a no-nonsense breakfast joint, let's keep it that way!
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Less than a block from mi casa, the Grind is my 'usual' brunch spot these days. and i have no complaints about that. i have a hard time not ordering the same thing every time tho. i'm really into the Sicilian omelet. if you're veggie i am highly recommending this fabulous omelet to you.
last time i was there the girl spent an extra long time frothing our cappuccinos, which i thought was a nice tough. foam all the way to the bottom. i meant to go back and thank her for that but i forgot. she actually seemed really excited that we ordered them too.
i've never had to wait for a table. i like sitting outside, although one time (when i had some out of town guests along with me) there was a car alarm going off the entire time...which is no way to start your day, lemme tell ya. i can't believe people still use those things? wtf.
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The Grind is right around the corner from my house but I didn't start going there until about a year ago when my son and his fiance visited. What's that old saying? "People can go to Paris or Rome but they don't even know what's in their own backyard". That's not a saying? Well, mark me down for that one.
I've had several breakfasts there, once, the fruit/yogurt bowl which was
very filling, another time I've had their eggs, bacon and toast. Filling but nothing special. But I absolutely LOVE the burgers. They come with really nice green leaf lettuce, RIPE tomatos, pickles and they cook it up to your specs. I get the salad as a side and, while they use a lot of ribs from the lettuces and are a bit scanty on the croutons, it's still a hell of an improvement from the salads I had in the South.
It's packed on the weekends so I don't go but on a Wed. afternoon it's nice and mellow. I love to people watch and there was a very pretty woman holding the cutest puppy inside. Brought out the neighborhood feel seeing that. The staff are superb and friendly and the prices are inexpensive. Nice place to go on foggy afternoons!
So I came here after my facial at Wak Shack. I always wanted to go here, passed by but never went in before. I had a lox bagel, it was good, but how can you go wrong right? One complaint the tomato was soo not ripe. The latte I had was not that good. I love the atmosphere! I like the indoor, outdoor seating, high ceilings and airy space. I will go back for the space and other people's food looked good!
I like to call this "MTV's The Grind with Eric Nies".
I could eat the Haight Scram with tofu instead of eggs everyday! Their toast is perfect with it- big slices of sourdough.
This may very well be my favorite place in the city (at least for now). I take my friends here for breakfast/brunch because of the vast selection of good food and the friendly atmosphere. Sometimes I'll just visit to have coffee and sit on the patio and work on the computer.
Definitely that "good breakfast place" in the area.
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Excellent food. Very fresh, reasonably priced, really good selection. The outdoor tables are also really nice, especially for people watching. But....my huge stomach usually ends up bringing me to Kate's Kitchen instead for the portions.
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I am one of those people who eat the same thing every day. When I lived on Haight, I went to The Grind for a side of wheat toast and a cup of coffee for breakfast like clockwork every. single. day. I was a little embarrassed that they wouldn't even ask me what I wanted, just "the usual?" but hey, they were always so friendly and nice! For some reason I hate eating at home and this place was perfect. I wanted to eat my toast at Cafe Grind. I guess I just loved the atmosphere there. The only drawback was that on weekend afternoons, it was so crowded that sometimes there would be no place to sit.
I'm running an experiment right now. I'm writing my review FROM the restaurant! Blackberries are handy.
The Grind is the kind of place I miss having in LA. Urth Caffe attempts but is a little high concept. I guess Vivienne's is closest to the mark. I should go back there soon... But I digress. I'm sure the Northern Californians reading this don't care about LA breakfast spots.
The grind is a triple threat. The food is awesome, the prices are right, and the atmosphere is delightful. Though to be fair, that last part might just be a symptom of the city. I love San Francisco! Again, I digress. Maybe this reviewing-on-the-go idea isn't the goods.
It's worth noting that the home fries are top shelf. They alone would have been worth draggng myself out of bed on a coveted day off. And I didn't indulge at 10 in the morning, but $2.50 beers during happy hour score bonus points.
1. The people who work here are great. Nice, friendly, helpful, sincere. Andrea and Felicia are my favorite gals...
2. Coffee is good.
3. Breakfasts are delicious. I like the mixed plate with a little bit of everything: french toast, eggs, potatoes, bacon. Breakfast burritos out of this world. Egg dishes are good, too.
4. Salads here are DELICIOUS. Get it with chicken. So yummy and huge and crisp. Probably not for the diet conscious, though.
5. Burgers are always nice. I think they use Niman Ranch, too.
6. French Fries here are my favorite. Since I stopped eating McDonalds like 15 years ago, I've found the Grind's skinny fries to be the perfect replacement.
7. Sandwiches are okay, so-so. Don't love any that I've tried.
8. They usually have 2 homemade soups each day
9. They also have a happy hour where the alcohol is cheap.
10. This place is recession proof
LOVE YOU!
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I like this place. I tripped into it while waiting for Cinzia's very first ever ballet recital last weekend. I rate it only on the damn good latte I sipped and the look of sheer joy on Reno's face as he massacred one of their huge m+m cookies. i really wanted to eat dinner here... the menu has, umm everything, but my timing was just off.
the service was great, super friendly, fast.
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I'm in love with three things: scones, portugal, americanos.
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I love waiting in line for breakfast. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I like staring at the… Read more »
Open at 7am on Saturdays, this may become a destination for us early risers. So friggin' exciting to have an option other than Toast! Having no expectations, they were readily exceeded. This is some good quality food with decent portions.
I love omelets. I love breakfast burritos. I have high standards for them.
My partner & I went to grab brunch and she had the South Western Omelet and I the Breakfast Burrito- yes, that's what it was called on the menu. The staff was friendly, it was pretty clean inside and there were many tables to sit at which was nice since it was crowded that morning.
Both were good, tasted fresh and were in HUGE portions- but the home fry's weren't very good @ all. Pretty gross, actually and undercooked. Our main meals were good, but I was slightly disappointed since the prices were up there. It's doubtful that I'll come back to this place, but I don't hate it. I just would rather spend $9 for a breakfast burrito and some un-cooked potatoes elsewhere.
3 stars for the freshness and friendliness of the girls behind the counter.
ive never had a bad breakfast at the grind. always pleasant and comfortable. i never have to wait too long and its very well priced. they got all the usual stuff you might find at any normal breakfast spot but this place always comes through. if you're looking for breakfast in the lower haight this is the place. sure beats waiting in line for an hour at other spots (except the porkstore which i will gladly wait in line for). the outdoor seating is a very nice touch on a sunny day also.
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Outside patio rocks. It is a GREAT place to hang out on a sunny day, enjoy a cappuccino and people watch.
I love it. I eat here almost every day. Yea, sometimes an avocado is missing here or there. But, big whoop. It's still great and if you tell the cooks, they will get you an avocado.
The salads are amazing. Almost all the dressings are made in-house. (Same with all the soups.)
The poppy seed dressing is to die for, especially on the pear salad.
My favorites are the BLTA, the Veggie Delight, the Pear Salad, and the Breakfast Sandwich.
Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice...
Awesome mimosas....
Spectacular cappuccinos...
What's not to like?
The Grind is great for breakfast and lunch! Great way to satiate the belly...
Just a note: Expect a long wait on weekends (just like any other brunch place....)
And you get what you pay for. (HUGE portions)
This is not a 5-star restaurant, folks. This is a cafe....
And based on a cafe and cafe drinks and food, I give it like 4.65 stars....
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great place for breakfast or lunch when you're just strollin' around on a lazy day. free wireless woohoo! great coffee. outdoor seating & friendly staff :)
only thing is that sometimes the food can be a bit greasy & the service isn't always consistent.
The GRIND Combo: 2 eggs, hash, sausage or bacon, french toast or pancakes
Boy: Can I have your sausage
Girl: Can I have some of your corn beef hash
Boy: Mmm my corn beef hash is good
Girl: best french toast ever
Boy: this breakfast is good. the hash isn't greasy
Girl: I can't believe I just finished my plate
Expect a long wait for the food.
Patio seating is available and is dog friendly :)
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Yelp says that three starts is "A-OK", and that is exactly right. The Grind is okay. The don't mess up simple things like an omelet and hash browns, but its not out of this world. In such a foodie town, this is an okay place. Since the prices aren't any cheaper than anywhere else Im surprised its so popular. Last summer I did see Laura Linney and Ben Harper eating here, so thats a plus. If you are really hung over it will do.
Straight up, I agree with the "too small of water cups" criticism. Room temp water served in tiny cups is the hungover kid's worst breakfast-nightmare. Luckily, the 2 mornings I've been here I was fresh as a peach.
Minus 1 star for the pricey menu, but the omelets are the bomb dot com.
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I like this place a lot.
Lots of vegetarian oprions, I feel comfortable sitting here for hours with friends.
Nice atmosphere too. My husband had to wait an hour for his food on a Sunday at noon, it was very busy though.
I am within walking distance of the Grind, so I usually pick up food to go. The salads have been pretty ok. The other day however, I phoned in an order so it would be ready to go when I arrived 15 minutes later. It was not ready (the order was not lodged with kitchen, nor was this explained to me so I had to wait 10 minutes.) I got a Chicken Cesar Salad. Word of advice, check your order before you leave. When I got home, I was confronted by the scariest looking Chicken Ceasar salad. The grilled chicken was - was - was ... I can't find the words. It looked so unpleasant and tasted not quite right. The chicken was hot which wilted the salad. The whole thing was terrible.
Having said this, I would like to go back to the Grind and dine in and hopefully upgrade my review. It appears to be nice. And the food looks okay. This 2 star review is based on one very unfortunate Chicken Ceasar salad. For $13 (salad and coffee), I expect a little more.
Don't hate. Appreciate.
The Grind is what it is, and has been for years. A non-shmancy, non-sceney breakfast joint with very basic food where groups of friends go to nurse their hangovers and laugh at each other over the previous night's shenanigans. And I dig the fact that there are now bottles of Tabasco on each table vs two bottles for the whole restaurant placed next to the silverware. It's the little things in life that matter the most. In my case, hot sauce within reach.
3 stars.
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I don't think I expect much from brunch places - decent eggs, good hot sauce, great coffee and a relaxed atmosphere to start off a Saturday morning.
Discovered the Grind and it didn't quite make the cut. The staff is friendly enough however the coffee is uninspired. I also seem destined to never get a croissant when I want a breakfast sandwish - interestingly, they are never, and I mean never, out of english muffins (how many times can you use the word never in a sentence?). This was also true at the Grind but a worthwhile substiution to sourdough was made. The hash browns are also good.
Sadly, the grind, like many brunch locations feels the need to optimize their space by seating 40 odd people in a space that should only take about 30-35. Bottom line: you're going to be very close to your neighboring table. As much as I like other people, I don't like them that much.,
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Neighborhood: Lower Haight
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Lower Haight
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Lower Haight
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Lower Haight
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
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