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Categories: Desserts, Coffee & Tea, American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Pacific HeightsMon-Thu. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 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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A young, hip crowd frequents this large, informal-looking restaurant on Fillmore Street in Pacific Heights, and from my first visit it appeared that they like the dinner time atmosphere filled with loud music.
The layout is quite simple, uncovered wooden tables, some large enough to make for democratic seating. Food and drinks are ordered -- and paid for -- at the counter, and drinks; beer, and wine are picked up at the bar. The food is brought to the tables. Most food - except for the homemade entrees - is expensive (e.g., some breakfast items are overpriced) and many of the dishes are on the skimpy side. The quality, however, is generally quite good. Most diners don't spend more than $10.00 or so, and enjoy the din and meeting friends there.
The Grove Fillmore is a place for those who wish to meet their pals for a snack, drink and good conversation. After all, this is Pacific Heights....
I came here with a couple of gfs and we couldn't decided on Harry's or The Grove. I love Harry's but we were in the mood for something different. The Grove was packed for Sunday brunch and it took us about 10 mins to find somewhere to sit.
I ordered the Yucatan chicken salad which came with crushed up pieces of cool ranch Doritos. Hmm, what does this remind me of? Oh yea, Java beach cafe's salad with Doritos. Maybe this is a new trend? The salad was nothing to write home about but making through half of it was very filling. We also ordered the tuna melt which they specifically point out is NOT made with mayo. I like a good tuna melt whether it's made with olive oil or mayo so that was good too. Then a grilled cheese and ham sammie and tomato soup. We also got the fresh squeezed orange juice that came in this super tall pilsner type glass. It was big enough for the 3 of us to share.
I like this place, I like the atmosphere, and the waitstaff is super friendly and attentive even when they're packed.
Next time I'm going to get the breakfast burrito that I was eyeing. Too bad they only have refriend beans instead of blackbeans. I think I can make an exception next time.
I work from here a couple of times a week, and it's become like my little corner of the working world. No, I am not the SF version of Perez Hilton. Though...maybe...hmm.
Sorry, got distracted.
Naturally, I first measure a coffee joint by their coffee, and the java here is sublime. Nice and strong and served in a giant, bicep-curling cup. I usually eat the fruit cup (apples, grapes, strawberries, and banana) which is fresh and sweet and lemony (from lemon juice. Duh), and some kind of bagel sandwich. I have yet to really find fantastic bagels on the West Coast, but these'll do just fine. Hey, I'm an East Coast Jew. i judge bagels. I judge EVERYTHING.
Service here is great.
My one complaint is that the Internet situation sucks. They give you a little printout with a login and a password that's good for an amount of time that's directly related to how much money you spent. I understand it, from a business perspective, but I still hate it. I usually try to pirate Internet from a non-secure wireless connection, but that never ends well.
See you tomorrow, Grove.
Great coffee, great decor, extremely friendly staff and delicious food. I love that their turkey club wasn't triple stacked with bread, since the two pieces they do provide are hefty enough. The sandwich is huge and delicious! I've also tried the french toast which was equally scrumptious. It had a nice sweetness too it and lightly battered.
The Grove is a great place to grab a quick meal or just sit around and people watch on FIllmore. With seats inside and outside, the atmosphere is comforting with the wooden chairs and tables. The food ranges from salads to chicken pot pies to sandwiches. You'll find something to satisfy every mood. The food is good but nothing out of this world. Good place to just hang out or even study on the weekends.
The day after the wedding banquet, My husband and I went out for breakfast since we were staying in Japantown. I couldn't walk there even though it was a quick walk but I am just too tired from wearing heels all day long on our wedding day... we drove there and found a meter parking spot. My hubby had the Florentine and coffee, while I had their omelet and scramble and their fresh squeezed OJ. I loved the food. My hash brown was stir fry with fresh herb and the omelet had cheese in between the layer that was cheesy and melty. And my hubby's egg Florentine was delics!
(A lady walked up and ask my husband what did he ordered because it looks so good that she will order that next time she comes back ^_^ )
I really like the atmosphere here... cozy and comfortable. The food was pretty good too. I had the Florentine steak pressed sandwich and my friend had a beet salad. The steak was really yummy and they put a good amount in the sandwich--not too much or too little. The tomatoes tasted fresh and delicious. The sauce was pleasantly flavorful, as it didn't over power the meat, but gave the sandwich an extra subtle kick. The bread was fresh and perfectly crisp. The sandwich came with a side salad and chips, which were just average. I should've asked for dressing on the side and a substitute for the chips. Maybe fruit perhaps? It also came with a great big, crispy, juicy pickle slice!! Yum.
My friend's beet salad was good and over flowing.
It would be nice to have an upgrade on the wine list, but whatd'ya gonna do...
I am wondering if this place is owned by the same folks who own the predominately crepe restaurants all over the Bay and Sac... because their menus all look the same... hmmm. I hope not.
Even still, it was a nice meal in a relaxing/kickback/fun environment with great service and affordable prices. Nice job!
While the food and drink are good, they have a policy of $5 minimum for 30 minutes of Wifi. I paid $4.71 for a hot chocolate and they wouldn't give me the 30 minutes. There happens to be other free Wifi in the vicinity so it didn't matter but I thought it was very tacky to not let the customer have the code.
Nice LPH neigherbood cafe and hangout. Been here a few times over the past couple months. Indoor seating as well as out. Attracts a diverse crowd on weekends.
I really enjoy their "mayo-less" tuna salad (more restaurants should take note!) with high quality greens, and they make a good chile, although go with the bowl instead of the cup. The cup is tiny and not worth the price. The bowl is. They make a nice, strong bloody mary as well. Nachos are pretty good.
Now, that said....the service is unreliable, and falls short. I've had them forget that I ordered a dish, and there is some blonde girl behind the counter who simply seems pissed off that she even has to work. Would an occasional smile or kind word kill ya?
For me, this spot works perfectly when I'm in the area and want a quick bite at a reasonable price. Also works well for brunch. Love the outdoor seating.
Food: 3.5
Service: 2
Value: 3.5
Ambiance: 3.5
My first food stop in San Fran. After walking for a while and no restaurant in sight along the Fort Mason/Fort Point trail we asked a few locals of a good spot nearby that served alcohol-I'm convinced my friend has a drinking problem.
Anyway, I ordered the Cuban sandwich and the strawberry rhubarb pie looked delicious so I ordered a piece of that as well. I waited for the sandwich and it good. The pork was sliced a little thick but was still pretty tender. The sandwich was pretty good, the bread was a little hard but the filling was soft and warm on the inside.
The pie was delicious, it was a good mix of sweet and tart. Usually one of the other overpowers it but this was a right balance. A good end note to a pretty good meal.
I have been here about 4 times in the past few months and after these visits the quality of food and service has gone down.
I have had a few of the sandwiches on the menu and thought that they were all good, not great, but do the job to fill my belly and satisfy my hunger.
On my most recent visit, I decided to go light, and order the yucatan chicken salad. The info described it as a chicken salad with marinated onions, tortilla strips and a habanero vinaigrette w/ a piece of toasted sourdough.
What I got was indeed what was described:
-chunky and large, uncut pieces of romaine lettuce
-pieces of unseasoned chicken
-marinated purple onions
-stale tortilla strips
-habanero vinaigrette
-piece of toasted sourdough.
cost: $9..ish.
I have never paid that amount of money for a salad that consisted of one main ingredient...romaine lettuce...
this was probably the worst salad I have ever eaten in my life and at that moment I thought to myself...
'hrmm...my buddy is nom'in on the chicken enchilada while my other friend is eating a steak sandwich and I paid more than both of them for a head of romaine lettuce..damn it dont feel good to be a healthy eater...and damn it costs an arm and a leg for a head of romaine these days.'
Thank you, Grove Fillmore, you have re-insured me that I, Jason W, will NEVER go vegetarian and NEVER order a salad here again.
+1 star because of free wi fi..
This is like the 10th brunch spot I have reviewed on Fillmore alone so I may be a little bit jaded...The Grove is the perfect name for a place like this. It is very a earthy, like you're out in the woods, spot -- basically a cabin that happens to serves up some grub. Lots of people come here to lounge, study and chat like a coffee shop. Food is good, with breakfast, salads and sandwiches, but nothing spectacular. They offer up some core dishes too like their chicken pot pie which was quite hearty and fulfilling. Seating is a little cramped and hard to find since the places does get quite busy.
May not be bottomless, but definitely the best damn mimosa I've ever had. EVER.
Anybody else have mimosa favorites on Fillmore?
I recently visited SF and my friend told me that The Grove was a great place to go the morning after a night out. The ambiance was warm and cozy and the strawberry banana smoothie helped my hangover. Also had a beet salad- delish!
Two. Words. Breakfast. Burrito.
Fluffy scrambled eggs, hash browns, refried beans, melted cheddar and jack cheese, salsa and lots o' guac. This thing is huge - definitely splittable between two people - and Awesome. Particularly with a generous helping of Cholula sprinkled all over it!
Thumbs. Up.
My favorite place for post drinking breakfasts. Big lattes, relaxed atmosphere, yummy food. Everyone who works there is really nice as well.
Cheers
Seats generally are full during peak hours.
Fan of chicken pot pie, chili, mac & cheese, salads.
Don't bother with the nachos, and you can get better lasagna elsewhere.
Access to beer and Arnold Palmers makes me like this place even more.
Awesome place to go for brunch/snack on a gorgeous SF day.
This used to be my go-to place, since it was practically next door to my house. It's dependable, just like a best friend, and has this comfy cabin vibe (fireplace included).
Pretty much anything on the menu is good. I have yet to have a bad meal, knock on wood. Although small items like a glass of OJ ($5) can be a little pricey, you're paying to sit and enjoy the scenery.
If you're looking for a cozy cafe, with a decent and extensive menu, check out the Grove on Fillmore.
Perfect atmosphere when you want to hang out and relax with friends. The latte was meh but the watermelonade and the lavender lemonade were perfect for the rare hot days in SF.
The food looked really good (at least what my friends ordered) - and really, it's the atmosphere of this place that makes it a hit. Good service and big open windows that they open on warm days - and the watermelonade! Super delicious!
Well yesterday I decided to brave Yuppie-ville and chill in the Fillmore @ the Grove. The place has always been popular and busy as long as I can remember, but its' manage to keep it cozy and comfortable feel even when it packed. I think the reason I keep going back is because the staff are always so friendly and attentive. Even the Manager, that has been there for a long time has always made the patrons feel rite at home! Place great for a laid back lunch or coffee and dessert!
Brunch here is a fun thing to do.
Unless you are not fun.
Then no brunch for you!
I know your saying, "But Po, I like the Grove the Marina and why ruin a good thing?" Well reader, you'd be missing out on the following. Great atmosphere in and outside. You'll still have to stalk your seat because this place is bumping. Your meal will be just as if not more delicious, Eggs Florentine here please. Slowly drink your beverage of choice and enjoy your day and time with your friends.
So change your routine because change is good. Ultimately, also because I said so, so there. :P
I just love cozy sofas next to fireplaces. And I love cafes with extensive and beautiful pastries and desserts. So, needless to say, I immediately fell in love with this place the moment I laid eyes on it. Settling for a pastry and a glass of port, this is the type of place you can "people watch" and lounge for hours. Definitely my type of place!
Don't say "FREE WIFI" on your front door if your policy is to charge for wifi. I stopped at The Grove after a lunch downtown at Chez Carla (5-stars). Wanted to do an hour and a half of work. Saw the "FREE WIFI" sign. Thought, ah The Grove finally got its act together and is offering free wifi (like Nook--"yay"-- does). Bought a lovely mint tea. Logged on to the internet. No luck connecting to "The Grove" network. Asked the staff. Ohhhhhhhh, they charge $5 every 30 minutes. Whatever you spend goes toward crediting that and you fork over the remainder. So, I was told since my tea was only $3.83, I could have 30 minutes of wireless if I handed over another $1.17. Yes, really. I've never been nickeled and dimed quite like this. I told him, I thought the policy was kind of crappy and that I was just gonna leave.
THE ECONOMICS OF A HOT TEA AND GETTING SOME WORK DONE
===================================
THE GROVE
Tea: $3.83
Wifi charges: $11.17
Total: $15.00
-------------------------------------------------- ----------
NOOK
Tea: $1.50
Wifi charges: $0.00
Total: $1.50
Winner: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I have been a fan of "The Grove" for about 8 years now. I used to go to the "Marina District" location but one year during the Jazz Festival we found this location and it is the one I prefer now.
Just like the one in Marina the menu is the same the vibe is the same (real cool) I love the eclectic seating arrangements this place always reminds me of the "Central Perk" in the TV Show Friends. The food has been consistently good for all these years it is one of the main reasons that when I visit SF I make time for breakfast or lunch at least one day during my stay.
Omelets are delicious, ingredients are fresh, bacon is TO-DIE-FOR, Orange Juice freshly squeezed and COLD in a tall pilsner, my favorite menu item here is the bread with Gorgonzola Cheese, Green Apples drizzled with Honey... I loved it so much I came back to the convention center and created it as a Hors D' oeuvres item. :)
Parking is horrendous you are on Fillmore street lots of shops and restaurants so if you are a tourist I suggest you either walk or take public transportation to get here... or a cab. Seating is at a premium on weekend mornings so come with patience in mind.
Respectfully Reviewed
I went here on Sunday for brunch. The place was crowded, but I enjoyed the bustle. I ordered the egg's Florentine, and (at the advice of owner Dave) I got it Dave's way (with avocado and bacon). It was fabulous!! I am an egg's Florentine girl and this one was one of the best I've had. My friend ordered a chicken pot pie and we split the goat cheese and beet salad. The salad was super yummy and fresh.
I liked my brunch soooo much, I went back for dinner and some study time the next day. I ordered the turkey club. It was nice and filling. Could have used some avocado though. It was a nice studying place, warm lights and fire. Only wished they had true free wifi, instead you can get 30 minutes for every $5 you spend... one of my only complaints.
My friend and I decided to meet at "The Grove" last week because we needed to study and they have internet access here. On the window it actually says "free wifi here". What they don't tell you is that you only get 30 minutes of "free wifi" if you BUY anything under $20. First of all - that's not free, in anyone's book!! Second of all - WOW - that's not only not free - it's damn pricey!!! If you spend over $20 you get 90 minutes of "free wifi". That's a really sucky rate! Can you imagine if Comcast or Speakeasy charged $20 for 90 minutes of wifi at your house? They wouldn't have any customers!!
That said, the prices are insane!!! My double soy latte cost over FIVE DOLLARS!!! I though perhaps it was a mistake. I blinked incredulously over and over when they told me the price. I have never before been charged that much, anywhere else, even in Europe! And if you don't ask for your receipt you can't get wifi because your password and login are on your receipt. So there I was sipping my $5 latte (which tasted exactly like a $3 latte) and they hadn't given me my receipt so I couldn't get online. When I asked them about it they shrugged nonchalantly and told me without a receipt there was nothing they could do so my friend had to buy something else for our 30 minutes of FREE wifi?!?!?!
Now onto the "good" stuff. I like the atmosphere. It is very bohemian and eclectic. The chairs are not comfortable so you can't really hunker down here even if the prices were not exorbitant and the free wifi was cheaper. I had the tuna salad which someone else recommended on yelp and it was pretty darn good. My only complaint here is that I don't eat dairy and there is no dairy listed on the menu as an ingredient for this item yet I found more than one bite of blue cheese in my dairy-less tuna salad.
I guess what I came away with is that this place is not honest. They claim to have free wifi when they charge you A LOT. You need your receipt to get online yet they don't give you your receipt unless you ask for it and they don't tell you that you need it to get online. They put dairy in a dairyless salad. And their prices are much too high for a coffee shop!!!
I love the atmosphere of The Grove Cafe- when sitting there, I always feel like I'm back in college, studying hard.
My girlfriend and I got an early dinner here. We both opted for salads- me, Caesar, of course, her, Chinese Chicken Salad. I think they are a few dollars overpriced. Both salads were decent, but definitely overdressed. Which is a pet peeve of mine. However, the grilled bread that came on the side was absolutely delicious. We both thought about asking to steal a loaf for home.....
And the giant cookies. Oh yes. Still warm. So buttery. You must get one for dessert.
HONEY ORANGE VANILLA SMOOTHIE!
Had it yesterday and three different strangers asked me what it was I was drinking, "well deliciousness in a tall tall glass" I replied. Love the ambiance (all cozy, woodsy) and hey, I'll even stand around until the perfect spot opens up because it's busy for a reason, right?! I will say though that knocking a buck or two off the items might be nice, a little steep...
So I've been back to The Grove another three or four times since I first wrote the review. That in itself is an indication of how much I like this place. It's not cheap, but it's not that expensive if you know what to avoid.
The smoothies here are not worth it. They're too icy, and don't have all that much flavor. I mean, it's not a bad smoothie at all, but I'm not keen on paying $5 for something I can make at my house.
The French Onion Soup here is ridiculous. The soup has incredible flavor and texture, but they don't stop there. They cover it with really good cheese and bake it in its own individual soup bowl, resulting in a cheesy, crunchy, savory, and sweet concoction that you'll order again and again.
They do a very good job with the tuna melt. The tuna salad has all kinds of good stuff (celery, onions, spices), not to mention really high-quality tuna. They use fresh-baked sourdough and good quality cheese, and serve it hot with the cheese melted perfectly. They give you some potato chips with it too. I like the contrast of crunchy and sandwich (that can be used as an adjective, right?).
A couple other little things. The Eggs Florentine is good; the hollandaise is tasty, as are the eggs, spinach and muffin, but the potatoes that are served with it were a bit salty. The mac 'n cheese is good, but not as spectacular as the french onion soup. In my book, the holy grail of mac 'n cheese is found at the Peninsula Creamery in Palo Alto, CA, and the one at The Grove doesn't compare.
I have yet to try the salads. I'm excited to go back. Check out the photos I've posted, they tell a better story than I can.
Very impressive restaurant product. The inside is very well-done; classy, clean furniture, awesome… Read more »
The atmosphere is cool but it ends there. I ordered the apple chicken salad and mimosa. They were both ehh. The salad is big enough to fill you but I could make a better salad at home or should have gone to pluto's instead. My friends ordered different things on the menu but they also thought the food was mediocre. I don't really think I'd go here again.. too bad.
Great "ski cabin meets French bisto" ambiance. You can't pay separately for Wifi, but you get 30 minutes with a $5.00 purchase and 60 minutes with a $10.00 purchase.
Currently, not many gluten-free options but I was promised that this is on the chef's agenda!
Very friendly and gluten savvy staff.
so delicious! We went for brunch this past weekend and I got the egg's florentine dave's way (i.e. + bacon and avocado) and a strawberry banana smoothie. Even though it was really crowded, we found a place to sit right away, and we liked the fun, eclectic atmosphere.
The smoothie was really good...very fresh, and actually quite filling itself. And I had to order the florentine since I'm the biggest fan of all things egg's benedict and it's variations. This place did not disappoint. The eggs were perfectly cooked, the bacon and avocado were a nice variation on the standard canadian bacon, and the spinach was fresh as opposed to precooked/frozen and gross. The breakfast potatoes were also really good. My only gripe was that the hollandaise was a little bland, but i'm just a sucker for really strong/rich flavored sauces. It wasn't bad at all, but if it had had that extra little kick, it would've been a home run for me.
I love places like this. If you're eating with a group you can order/pay separately, so you don't have to worry about figuring out the disaster that is splititng the bill at the end, but the menu variety and food quality is not sacrificed. I'm definitely coming back and trying some of the lunch options, or perhaps those giant cookies that were staring me down at the counter.
Let me begin by saying I LOVE this place. It is hands-down my favorite place to work when I'm not in the office - the atmosphere is perfect, they have tons of power outlets, their food is delicious and their service is impeccable. There - is that a bright, shiny 5-star rating or what?
So why the 3 stars? They just changed their wireless policy and it's a total joke. You get 30 minutes free with a $5 purchase; 60 minutes for $10; 90 for 15...ok, you get it. Or...you can just purchase 30 min increments for $5. But here's the thing - if I want to hang out for an hour and a half, order a bagel sandwich and a coffee ($6.68 total) and work for a bit, I have to pay FIFTEEN DOLLARS to do that? That's way, way too steep.
I know this place probably had some struggles in the past with people coming in, taking up a table and squatting for the entire day to work. I get it. But this is a stupid solution. Raise your prices a tad. Or give people at least an hour. But this idea doesn't solve anything. My 30 minutes just ran out and I plugged in my (crappy) wireless card, which I'm guessing most people would do anyway - the service sucks, but at least I can sit here and finish my coffee for another few minutes.
Anyway...I know it's a rant, but it disappoints me that the Grove has done this - hopefully it doesn't stick forever...
Wow, what a fun place! Even late on a school night, this place was packed.
I just had a Green Meanie, then a forgettable beer. The Green Meanie was amazing though. It's just the Honey Orange Vanilla smoothie, but add lots of spirulina and Voila! You have a wicked dark Green Meanie.
The food options are plentiful and all of it smelled delicious. I am going to come back and try several items.
cool place out to hang out... with a wide variety of food to choose from
I would go there just for the food but mainly for atmosphere and to do some homework. It has a cool western look to it and has comfortable chairs to sit on.
i really like this cafe! it's cozy, it's comfortable and it's got a fireplace--it's reminiscent of a ski lodge. what more could a girl with a hankering for a good cup of coffee on a foggy san francisco morning ask for?
they've also got great sandwiches, fresh juices, smoothies, and pie.
only complaint (and i guess this is a big one): there's always a TON of people and the indoor seating is pretty much packed at all times of day.
Great atmosphere in this place, its really cool inside. Ordering is done at the counter and food is brought out.
Their salads are great, I've had the Morrocan and the Yucatan Chicken which are both execllent, the only problem is they are a little pricey. I supose I can justify that since you do get what you pay for, and the salads aren't tiny.
The only thing that pisses me off is the Free Wifi thing. 5 dollars every 30 minutes? So if you buy something less than 5 dollars you get no wifi? I bought 17 dollars worth of food, and I got 1 hour and 30 minutes to eat my shit and get out. They didn't even round it up to 2 hours.... nice of them. Seriously if you're the owner and you're reading this shit, my review would've been 5 stars.
They got rid of the waffles. Womp womp.
I love their waffles. I dont come here for anything else. Just the waffles, and maybe a bowl of… Read more »
The lure of this place is deceiving as I walked in thinking I'd have a great lunch date only to leave quite dissatisfied.
I've been here a couple times before for study groups and didn't really have any problems.
Walked in today with boyfriend in hand after having gotten delicious drinks at nearby Coffee bean. Now, I don't know if there's a large blaring sign in front, but I don't see the problem of having outside drinks at an EATING establishment. I can see how retail stores and the like would worry about their merchandise being ruined by dripping condensation from cold beverages, but a restaurant?? Come on... Funnily enough, it was the same annoying (cleaning?) lady came over a few times to tell us that her boss would be extremely upset if she saw us with outside drinks at our table. In hindsight, we probably should have walked out then and there, but decided to stay and try to enjoy the food and ambiance, but that pretty much set the tone for the rest of the lunch hour.
We had ordered the turkey sandwich, tuna melt, couple teas, and large choco-chip cookie for dessert. Food was ok, mediocre at best, but difficult to enjoy with anal staff lady continually asking us to throw away our drinks.
Too crowded, small menu. Great open airy space but definitely overrated.
MMMMM OATMEAL! I'm an oatmeal snob and this place is next best to homemade. With brown sugar, fruits, milk... cooked oats to perfection!
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San Francisco, CA
Category: Apartments
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Category: Creperies
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