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Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: MissionTue. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Wed-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Wed-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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I just got a text from my friend saying "Dammit! I just passed Universal Cafe and I'm not eating there. FML!"
I hear ya sista. FML too! I wish I was eating there right this second!
Universal Cafe is a favorite of mine in terms of brunching. When I conjure up visions of my past visits there, there's sun beaming down on me, a fresh glass of OJ in hand, and a spattering of delectable dishes on the tables. Their sleek modern interior, plus huge countertop floral arrangement also comes to mind. It's one of the perfect brunch settings, especially on a warm day out when you can sit at one of their patio tables.
Their menu is organic based, seasonal, w/ house-made this and that, and w/ most of their products coming from environmentally sustainable farms & ranches. Sweet.
There's no point in me mentioning what I've had here since the menu changes frequently, but I will say that you will definitely find something you'll like and even be torn between which breakfast items to order. If you're lookin' for a cocktail to go w/ your brunch, they've got you covered w/ fresh-squeezed Valencia Orange Mimosas, Strawberry Bellinis & Sake Bloody Marys. Mmm!
The only issue w/ coming here is the wait. It is a bit horrendous, so don't come here w/ a gigantic party and be prepared to hang out on the sidewalk for awhile.
Best brunch fruit plate, excellent service, great weekend brunch.
Universal does not have the broadest menu, however what they do (aforementioned Fruit Plate, French Toast, killer Bacon, the intriguing Egg&Pork thingy) they excel at, and personally I would rather go to an establishment that does their thing exceptionally well, like Universal Cafe.
Universal gets 5 stars from me for:
1) Have stellar service, every time. (No one is on top of coffee detail like Universal, period)
2) The best (did I mention THE best?) brunch fruit plate in town.
3) Very friendly staff, every time.
4) Easy neighborhood parking on the weekends (we all know it's a challenge so that counts for a lot)
5) Consistently delivering great food, friendly atmosphere, and stellar service.
If it's a nice day, this is an outstanding place to take out of town guests to enjoy the outside patio.
Arrive early!
::BREAD n OLIVE OIL::
Fresh baked bread, premium olive oil with fennel? Yum!
All you can eat. :)
::RAVIOLI::
Cheesy, Pine-Nutty, Egg-Planty Goodness!!
::HALIBUT CHEECK::
Again!
::SPLIT PEA SOUP WITH HAM n MINT::
Just a hint of mint... tasty!
::STAFF::
Nice folks!
::ATMO::
Happy Happy! Great outdoor seating for such a nice evening. Not much traffic to pass ya by.
What I liked most about Universal Cafe was that they had a daily menu. While this ensures the freshest quality of ingredients, it makes it harder to Yelp. Since the menu items are constantly changing, some yelpers may not have the opportunity to try the same dish. Regardless, the food served there is pretty good, albeit may not be for the budget conscious.
For our table, we ordered,
-donuts: were light and fluffy, but overall i've had better
-french toast w/ strawberry compote and lemon whipped
cream: loved the french toast but wasn't a fan of the
compote, more bitter than sweet
-free range focaccia chicken sandwich: absolutely amazing,
chicken was moist and packed full of flavor
-open face egg, bacon and tomato sandwich: simple yet delicious
and so satisfying
I believe with a cup of coffee and a glass of wine our bill came out to $67 for brunch. Definitely not the cheapest brunch place but quality ingredients come with a hefty price tag.
Final Thoughts
Universal Cafe is a tad more expensive then your average brunch/lunch restaurant but for those who are looking to splurge a little for better quality food, then look no further than Universal Cafe.
One of my favorite brunch destinations in the City.
Almost always crowded at the weekend, but it is definitely worth the wait (and they have free coffee while you wait.) It's one of the hipper brunch spots, with crowds of arty and geeky types usually gathered outside waiting for a table.
I've been to Universal Cafe quite a few times, but almost invariably, I end up with a seat at the bar -- not a bad thing: you get to see the activities in the bustling, noisy restaurant, and you can also see close-up as they assemble your breakfast order.
The coffee and the signature banana bread are standouts. I'm also very addicted to the "side" of bacon slices. The menu varies on a daily basis, typically with a variety of egg dishes, salads, but most everything is fresh and excellent. Breakfast here for me is an event, and a good prelude to a relaxing, satisfying weekend.
Sunday Brunch...while waiting for a table my friend and I enjoyed a Bloody Mary made with Sake. Beer and Wine Only. Sat outdoors on a beautifully sunny November day. I had poached eggs with biscuits and turkey sausage gravy. Deeeelicious! Then a Ginger Lemonade also with Sake. No complaints here.
The only reason it didn't get 5 stars is I would have liked a few more choices on the menu. The menu does change daily which will keep me coming back.
Staff were attentive and friendly and parking is also really easy in the neighborhood.
A 3 star review on Yelp means A-OK, so don't get your panties in a bunch Universal lovers. I might wait to review after a couple of visits, but I don't think I'll be returning, so here you go:
There are some great, well executed items on the menu (roasted tomato soup=delish) and there were a few mis-steps tonight (fresh sardines and the vegetarian pasta) where the chef fell victim to the thought that something was good and fresh and natural and local so they should put it on tonight's menu. But to our snooty-ass ultra high standard way of thinking....I dunno...know your ingredient, make love to it, coax the best out of it...before you put it out there.
Asked some surrounding diners about their main courses and they agreed. The problem with using super seasonal/super fresh ingredients is that you have got to have it dialed to do it right. The range isn't firing on every single piston, but it's tasty enough.
Oh. my. god. (Yes, the emphasis is necessary)... I have met the next worthy contender in the scone wars. Candied meyer lemon pistachio scone with strawberry preserves. Let me just close my eyes in appreciative bliss - moist, crumbly textured, lemony, sugar dusted magic! It rivals the scones I adore at Arizmendi. Words I have never spoken before. The same perfect texture, minus the usual fruit fare, hello to a creative pairing. Love those candied meyer lemons!
Excuse my ramblings, I just get excited about well-made scones. The weather was beautifully warm so we opted for the sun-drenched, plant enclosed, extended sidewalk seating (I refuse to call that a patio). Our waiter was a sweetheart and upon request, helped us move from the please-no-heat-stroke table to the pleasant umbrella shaded corner one. oh, the beginnings of greatness.
The scone dazzled. The fruit plate, studded with ripe, vibrant colored fruits....mmm persimmons! The soft scrambled eggs with wild mushrooms were tasty, nicely seasoned, accompanied by a crusty thick slice of real toast and some greens with a light vinaigrette. The perfect bite was a little bit of everything. All in all, a success, score one for Universal over Slow Club.
Just go. Def my fav brunch in the city. There's a line? Then enjoy a pomegranate bellini while you wait. The menu changes constantly per our server, but we enjoyed some wonderful pumpkin french toast. Also- get some of the acme toast.yummmmm
I visited Universal for brunch on a Saturday. We arrived at prime brunch time..around 1 PM..we were told 20 minutes for a table for two. It was closer to half an hour by the time we were seated but no big deal...they have free coffee while you wait. The service was somewhat mediocre..it was a good 10-15 minutes after we were seated before anyone came to our table to take our order. I actually saw the busboy ask the server to come over and take our order..at least someone was paying attention.
I had the pot roast with fried eggs..it was just ok..the eggs were a bit runny...but the pot roast was tasty and the portion was plentiful...as it should be for a $17 brunch entree! My friend had the soft scrambled eggs with a side of homemade pork sausage...both very good.
I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to go back there, but its a good choice if you are in the neighborhood and aren't in a hurry.
I was checking out some Mamet on Mariposa and literally stumbled upon this place before the show since I didn't have time to pre-Yelp. Good place for an outdoor wine and some tasty bites before the theater. Yet another menu of environmentally sustainable ingredients. Mostly good food, but nothing really stood out to wow.
Salt Cod & Shrimp Fritters: Salt cod is like the beef jerky of fish! 500 years ago before Trader Joe's frozen fish, it was essential to heavily preserve protein for later consumption. However today, like beef jerky, the invention of refrigeration has reduced but not diminished salt cod availability. It really isn't a pleasant taste for the palate and ruins an otherwise nice chunky shrimp fritter. You don't see beef jerky on menus, so why use salt cod?
Flat Bread: Topped with sautéed spinach, raclette and thinly slice rosemary potatoes. The bread is quite amazingly thin, with some uncovered pieces being as thin as lavash bread crackers. The spinach might have been unnecessary as it was too chewy compared to the cheese and potatoes. The potatoes on the flat bread gave it a good rustic feel.
Hanger Steak: Several pre-cut medallions are perfectly cooked with charred outer edges and rare insides. The onion rings were a little strange with the corn meal breading adding texture but making them too sweet. I enjoyed the soft stewed tomatoes, but only in individual bites since they didn't pair well with the steak.
Frites: With the fritters and hanger steak being such modest portions, I was shocked at the size of these! This could have easily fed four normal people or one Middle American. I don't know when it start happening, but I love how some restaurants have taken to frying herbs with their fries. The fried basil added a lot to this batch. The aioli was ok, but nothing stand out.
Pumpkin Pudding Cake: More of a super moist cake than a pudding. Great pumpkin and spice flavors. Especially enjoyed the pool of cream on the plate to make it extra rich!
This is now my go-to place for brunch. Everything was excellent. Had the french toast which was really good, but could have used just a little more soaking in the egg solution bath. The poached egg with sausage gravy was orgasmic. The best thing of all was the bloody mary - I think it may have been the best I've every had.
The patio was amazing today as the weather was incredible. The sun lightly shone down as I ate a tasty brunch. Sure, anything called "Little Gem Lettuces" followed by tomato soup is bound to be fantastic (you could season the salad with bird droppping and it would still be amazing when called "little gem"), but I'm probably mostly biased due to the weather.
My friend ordered the French Toast. While I generally don't like my breakfast to have a heaping portion of whipped cream on top, the strawberry compote looked incredible over those golden triangles of battered goodness.
Our waiter? I never saw him. He took our order and didn't reappear... ever. I have no idea how we got the check.
The inside of the restaurant? Decor? Atmosphere? No clue. I didn't enter the restaurant.
But, combine good friends, great weather, "little gem lettuces", and the proximity to my Potrero Hill apartment and I will definitely return to Universal Cafe to see what I missed.
There's always one genius dish at Universal. It's usually not what I would expect, so sometimes I let serendipity guide my ordering. That or the waiter. Trust the professionals.
Beware the wait. Might want to bring a law chair and a newspaper.
WOW.
Brunch was SOOOOOOOOOOOO much better than lunch. Seriously.
Came here on a random Saturday for some late afternoon brunch and boy, was I blown away.
We ordered:
French Toast with peaches & whipped cream
Soft scrambled eggs with mixed greens
Applewood smoked bacon
Fresh-squeezed Valencia orange mimosa
Coffee
The french toast was absolutely delicious. I was "supposed" to be dieting but diet shmiet. Did you taste that french toast? Arggghhh...
The soft scrambled eggs were alright...standard brunch item. There wasn't anything super special or outstanding about it, just good solid food. Hey, but atleast it's organic!
The applewood smoked bacon were thick, crunchy and alittle sweet. It reminded me of a meaty chip.
The Mimosa? I didn't like it. sue me.
Coffee on a Saturday?! I knowww...I vowed I wouldn't but I took one sip. It was bliss.
I had to re-Yelp this place just for their french toast. I can't wait to go back again, sit on the outside wearing "summer clothes". HAHA *inside joke*
Carol and I were due for a get together so we decided to lunch at Olive Garden. Quick and easy,… Read more »
You'll ask yourself how your weekends were ever complete without it.
Drenched in sunlight, thanks to ample skylights, you'll be wide awake even if you've foregone the bottomless coffee while you were waiting anxiously out on the sidewalk for a table to free up. Watching plates of fresh figs drizzled with honey and scrambled eggs oozing with gruyere, nestled against thick country toast, your mouth waters, your stomach grumbles in anticipation.
Not too salty, nor too spicy, a sake bloody mary might be a bit overpowering alongside your gruyere laced eggs, but an eye opener on its own. Smoked trout hash topped with poached eggs - can you be my every Sunday morning? Top me in creme fraiche and chives and call it made.
While acquiring a table took a bit of patience, nothing a few cups of coffee can't solve, the wait was worth every moment. Once seated, service was prompt, attentive and friendly. And since you're already there, your stomach borderline full, your face lit up with sunshine and a smile, you may as well have dessert. The crumble was baked/heated to order, gently allowing the vanilla gelato to melt on top and fill in the little gaps between the not-too-sweet crunch, the soft-but- crisp, perfectly balanced happy ending.
Are you in a breakfast rut? Are you tired of plain old eggs and bacon? If so, read on:
Universal Cafe is not the type of place that will bore your palate with breakfast staples. Yes, they cover the breakfast fundamentals but with a twist. They offer sophisticated pairings and internationally inspired fusions.
Case in point: I ordered poached eggs over polenta with eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes-- like I said, not a typical breakfast combo, but a surprisingly perfect blend of flavors.
Give your palate a break from the ordinary...
Went there last night with friends. I still love the space and the promise that it offers, but once again was disappointed with the whole experience. One of my dining partners was so unhappy with his appetizer and entree that he suggested going to get something to eat when we left. He had sardines that he said were way undercooked and thus too fishy. His lamb entree was barely warm when it arrived.
My other friend had a ribeye and was very pleased with the flavor, only commenting that it was a bit fatty - but that's the tradeoff with flavor.
My pasta dish had the makings of a good dish, had they seasoned it properly. However, the frites were delicious.
The service was attentive, helpful and friendly, even if the maitre d was trying to pick up on the guy next to me, which made for an odd experience as he was being showered with wine in nice stemware. We got wine glasses that I would have expected a much cheaper restaurant.
This is the second time I've been there in 2 months, and neither experience blew me away, which is a shame since it's a neighborhood joint for me. I guess it's Slow Club when I want to dine in the 'hood.
Nice location, a quiet street. Today, even if it was quite a warm SF day, it was great to eat outside (in the large umbrella shade).
The place is OPEN. Expect to be on a long waiting list, but it goes fast. I would say 20 minutes wait around noon on Sunday, which is quite good for SF.
Tables are tiny, but it is brunch, and they are very fast at cleaning out the used or un necessary dishes.
The menu is definitely different. I ordered poached eggs with green polenta and ratatouille and my friend a great lamb burger with goat cheese :) Totally slurped away in a flash!!! I was hungry and it was all delish !!!
Ohhh, we started with doughnut with blue berries and cream..... YUMM!!!
The coffee was very good, well prepared (single shot americano).
Not cheap, but all sustainable.... Bla bla ... organic local.... NOICE!!!
Get your Prada or Gucci glasses, a bit of fab make up and you are ready to enjoy the catwalk @ Universal :) Worth a try.
figs
carpaccio
affogato
Ate here for the second time today, and I really think it is one of the best brunch places in San Francisco. It keeps things interesting, breaking at least somewhat out of the sometimes monotonous (if delicious) fancy brunch mold around here. Okay, fancy brunch mold sounds gross. I think you know what I mean.
Today I had the fried egg BLT with applewood smoked bacon, heirloom tomatoes, and pesto mayo. It was sock-rocking good.
I quite enjoy what Universal Cafe has to offer - an organic, seasonal menu with fresh ingredients. For example, I found it perfectly fitting that their menu for November 1st featured Pumpkin French Toast and Biscuits with poached eggs in Turkey gravy . I ended up ordering said Biscuits and eggs, and the bf ordered soft scrambled eggs with mushrooms, and I thought both were delicious. They were missing some sort of side, like potatoes or sausage (which you have to order separately), and I found our dishes to be a tad on the pricey side, so minus a star. But I'll be coming back to try what else is on the menu soon to see how they switched it up.
Almost died of heat stroke sitting out front. A rare occurrence in SF, yes, but invest in some more umbrellas for God sake.
And I wasn't impressed with the breakfast pairings. $15.75 for fried eggs? Better come with a complimentary lap dance or something.
Really? $14.75 for a two-fried egg breakfast? With one piece of toast? Sorry. That. Just. Feels. Wrong.
To be fair, Universal Cafe serves a delicious, high-quality meal. The plum cream-cheese scone with preserves is wildly good. But the menu for brunch feels limited by the fact that this is mainly a dinner joint. Hence, you will not find whole-wheat toast or hash browns or any of the options you might find in a more traditional breakfast spot. What you will find are things like soft scrambled eggs with cheese, served with focaccio and a tossed baby green salad. It's good. But it would be a LOT better, and worth 5 stars, if it was priced a few dollars less. Because if we are really really honest, we can buy heirloom tomatoes, field greens and focaccio at Trader Joes for a lot less, and probably all organic, which Universal is not. These prices seem too precious.
This is hands down one of the best restaurants in San Francisco. I had tried it a few times for dinner and brunch, always leaving incredibly satisfied, happy and dreaming of my next opportunity to dine there.
The restaurant focuses on local, sustainable food from good farmers. Absolutely everything is superb, from the steak to the flatbread to the fish to the pastas to the desserts to the wine choices.
My husband and I decided to have our rehearsal dinner here and they did an unbelievable job (thank you Rachael and the chef!). The staff was friendly and helpful and everyone who came said it was one of the best meals of their lives. I can't wait to return!
In addition, it's off the beaten track which means that parking is easy and the area is quiet and serene.
One of my absolute favorite restaurants in the city. It's a little off the beaten track which makes… Read more »
I had the beet salad, which was beet-utiful. The hand-cut spinach pasta was also excellent.
Bread was good, which is important.
The chocolate pave ($8) turned out to be just a chocolate brownie, the kind you can buy for $2 from Starbucks.
Always stellar. A perfect place to take your friends/parents from out of town that you want to impress with delicious food in a fun, neighborhood hot spot. Show up early for brunch if you don't want to wait a while.
Came here for brunch the other day and the food was AMAZING!!! I had the poached egg, cheese grits and shrimp in creole. My friend had the pork belly, fried eggs and broccoli. Both dishes were made perfectly!! I definitely will be visiting here again.
I just wish the restaurant was a little bigger. We were sitting really close to the party next to us, that I felt that if I moved the wrong way I would have kicked the person next to me.
Overall the place is very cute. FOOD is excellent and the parking was a breeze on the weekend.
I've been such a brunch addict these days. Gone are the days where a glass of V8 or granola cereal with soy milk would get me started. Get me something sweet, whipped, and caffeinated. Pronto.
French toast drizzled with a fruity sauce, scrambled eggs infused with cheesiness, toast, and salad that is bathed in a savory dressing that "only a few can get right for brunch". I got a single latte and while it was alright, I'm so getting the double mocha next time.
I'll just whimper and wait until my next brunch-isode.
During my recent jaunt to San Francisco I had to go back to this lovely place and was not disappointed. In fact, I think I fell in love all over again. No pumpkin french toast this time, but I did get the peach french toast which was equally alluring. I also tried the apple cider doughnuts with lemon curd whipped cream. In my opinion this is now the best way to quench an apple cider craving.
If I lived in San Francisco, which it some point is bound to happen, I would be a brunching lady of… Read more »
It has been over 5 months since we last cheated ourselves out of climbing and decided to get food / drinks instead. This time it was because it was so hot and since heat rises, the tops of the climbs were very uncomfortable.
We decided to nosh on something simple ... if you consider 4 glasses of wine, a huge appetizer plate of fries and some prosciutto flatbread simple. Then we split dessert. The fries were awesome ... salty, crunchy happy yumminess ... the plate was the size of a small boulder.
I'd pass on the sour cherry dessert next time though. It was a deep fried empanada but wasn't anything amazing.
68 degrees in the middle of January and EVERYONE needs to come out and enjoy the sun. A quick walk… Read more »
I want to review this in a British accent is that possible? Yelp should have like audible reviews where one can record their voice and everybody could listen to it. It's like then instead of writing, one can gather the true personality of each individual.
I went here about one year ago and I still remember my experience, well partly, not exactly the food. I remember the server! He was a cute guy with thick framed glasses, probably gay, but you never know these days who is gay or not in this wonderful city, well if one is looking for love. Does anybody else have that same dilemma? Well, back to the server, he seemed dynamic, like somebody you would want to have a conversation with over a triple espresso in Paris. I think he was pacific islander or something. I wonder if he still works there. But he was somebody one would think about after a couple of months later. He sticks in your head for a while. Well, the server had personality and that's what anybody could ask for at a restaurant like this in the mission district. It's not like it's on Mission street but down a little east, so that's a little different than normal. Anyhow, come here for the service, for sure. The food was incredible but I wish I could remember exactly what I had, this was one year ago till today.
I also remember the decor. It was a rather smaller room. Tables were slightly close together so if you're looking for utter privacy, I would say go somewhere else. But if you're looking for a fun place, think NOPA, then yeah, it's worth it to check it out. I don't think you will be extremely sorry.
yummy. delicious. heavenly! was treated to a deelish birthday brunch by the bestie k.love. we arrived around 11 and the place was super crowded. the hostess was not rude, but just not friendly whatsoever. while we waited i had a bloody mary. it was good, but a bit too horseradishy for me. the spice was perfect on it though.
for our meal we shared the poached eggs special: perfectly poached eggs with cheese grits and shrimp in a creole sauce. heaven! we also split the heirloom fruit plate that came with brioche and a cinnamon/honey creme on top. some of the best fruit i've had this summer. the peaches were the perfect texture and just sweet and tarty in the best possible way.
i thought the portions were perfect. i would much rather have excellent quality food than a huge plate of crap regardless of the price. our waiter was really nice and the service other than the hostess was great. they even charged my camera battery for me while we ate. i would def go back for another meal.
The Wait: We got there on a Sunday afternoon around 1:30pm and there was a bit of a wait - but they were good about keeping track of the list and clearing out tables quickly etc.
Food: Its all organic- so we felt like the food was relatively "lighter" than regular brunch places. We had the Shrimp Salad and the Pork Chop and Eggs. The salad was good- shrimp was grilled perfectly but the dressing was a little too sour-- maybe needed a touch of sweetness??? The pork chop and egg dish could have had one more pork chop ( it only comes with one) but flavors were good.
Price: I think it was a little pricey for Brunch for the portions we got, but I guess we are paying for the "organic" element?
Location: this place is hidden in a strange neighborhood which is partly residential and party warehouses(i think?)... weird if you ask me.. but there are no bums hanging around and parking was easy.
Good, but not great.
To start, the venue itself is small, which by no fault of the restaurant, makes it difficult to get a table. There's no place to wait but the sidewalk, which my two friends and I did this morning. They'll give you drink service outside, but you can't drink at the bar since it's part of their seating (though I doubt I would have been happy waiting 30 minutes for a seat at the bar).
By the time we were seated we had a mimosa and bellini. The mimosa deserves recognition, it's one of the few mimosas in the city that you can actually taste the fresh squeezed orange juice (they leave the pulp in) *and* the champagne, which makes it more memorable than the hundreds of other mimosas I'ved sipped at brunches in my life. My regret with the mimosa was that I had ordered bellini instead! The strawberry bellini was good, but nothing special.
By the time we were seated (outside in the front, it was a lovely day and I'm sure that the back patio probably has better, or at least less dense, seating arrangements) we had also picked up a ginger lemonade -- very tasty. The lemonade goes down and then the ginger hits you afterward and lingers on your tongue. If you're not a fan of ginger I wouldn't suggest it, but if you want to try a new spin on a old favorite, the ginger lemonade is definitely worth a go.
I had the grilled flat bread. The sweet corn and peppers gave it some flavor, but it was very lightly topped and goat cheese alone can't carry a flat bread. My two friends had the open faced fried egg BLT -- one with the bacon the other without. They both enjoyed it, the eggs were fried and fluffy. Neither thought it was the most amazing sandwich they had ever eaten, I had a bit of the non-meat one and it good, but not great. The pesto mayo was nice and light, the eggs well cooked, but it just wasn't spectacular. The side salad that came with their meals was overly salty, 2 of the 3 of us found more than a bite to be inedible, while the third claimed it was the best salad of her life. Since I was with someone who enjoyed it so much, I didn't want to base too much of my opinion on it. For desert the 3 of us shared the crisp -- it had clearly been made hours before hand and wasn't even heated all the way through. It was pretty terrible, especially for the price.
The hostess seemed a bit overwhelmed, but not unfriendly, and our waiter was fantastic. He answered questions honestly, gave his opinion on dishes and was available and attentive. I think we our is what brought the experience from a 3 to a 3.5, since he a great attitude, was capable, and friendly.
If you live around 19th, stop by for brunch, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend making a trip across town for a meal that tastes like you could find it a million other establishments. They do what they do well, but again, it's just nothing that special.
What a civilized way to start Sunday morning!
I'll admit, I was worried when I saw the crowd of people standing outside at 10am. It looked large, not by Mama's standards, but large nonetheless. We went inside and put our name on the waiting list - it was surprisingly short given the people outside. We were offered coffee and other drinks while we were waiting. So easy and painless to get our fix. Morning caffeine in restaurants should always be this way.
The waiting area inside is pretty small unless you're willing to prevent other people from getting coffee - and I'm not stupid, so we joined the group outside.
There were several tables eating outside - enjoying a nice breakfast under the heat lamps. We eyed their delicious looking entrees hawkishly.
After only 5-10 minutes we were seated - ahead of the large group - yea! We were lured in by the strawberry bellini... so pink, so fizzy, so full of youthful promise... (we all like a little youthful promise in our lives you know). The bellini was disappointing. Maybe my hopes were too high, but my guess is strawberries and bellini's just aren't meant for one another. We also tried the Loire sparkling - which was also just ok. My recommendation: save the calories.
Food consisted of Soft scrambled eggs with asparagus and ricotta and the fruit plate. Both were good, but I'm not waxing poetic am I?
Tables are too cramped. It was like the line from Fight Club, "Do you give them your a** or your..." This is a typical SF issue, so they're not losing points here.
One small bathroom and always a line. I guess given the choice of more kitchen space or another bathroom, I would make the same decision.
Service was slow. Had to wait and wait for our check. (that and the bellini is why they only get 3 stars).
The next time I'm brain dead on a weekend morning and need someone else to make me breakfast, I'll return.
Went to Universal Cafe this weekend after hearing nothing but wonderful reviews from my co-worker...and she didn't let me down. My boyfriend and I really enjoyed this place. It's on an unassuming street, and has an adorable look and feel - inside and out. We only had to wait a few minutes (maybe 10) before we were seated on a Sunday at 1030/1100 a.m. The waitstaff was efficient but not pushy or rushed, and the other patrons looked like they were from all over the city, which was great.
We ordered the soft eggs - which came with golden cherry tomatoes, a side salad, a heap of avacado and a nice slice of acme bread - YUMMY, and we also ordered the poached eggs, which were on beans in a romanesco sauce. Again, Yummy. This is our new favorite brunch place - we'll be back!
I was just searching for a place to go for the upcoming Father's Day and stumbled upon Universal Cafe. The name sounded very familiar and I realized I came here back in June '08 for Dine About Town. For some reason or other I didn't write a review of my experience. I remember the meal fairly well which means that my overall experience was good.
I ended up not doing the prixe fixe menu but instead ordered the charcoal-grilled Niman Ranch hanger steak with fingerlings a la carte. I recall a lot of "ohhhs and ahhhs" at the table when this arrived. Presentation was nice and the ambiance was lively. All of my friends enjoyed their meals as well. It's a small restaurant though so be prepared to wait up to 15mins even if you have reservations.
I love the location of this place, especially for a sunny weekend brunch. The service is quick and efficient. Unfortunately I found the food to be unspectacular on my first visit. The house-made pork sausage was extremely salty, and came out a bit undercooked. The house-made granola had good texture, but was a bit cinnamon-y for my taste. The flatbread pizza lacked the good chewy texture of flatbreads at other places like Slow Club.
Considering the awesome location, and rave reviews of other folks, I'll give them a few more shots. The sweet breakfast items look good, especially the blueberry donuts that several tables around us ordered.
I went by on a weekday for lunch and got there about 15 minutes before close. I called ahead to ask when they closed, and the person who answered said "we close in 20 minutes and it's a really firm deadline." I found that response to be distasteful and it should have been an immediate tip-off.
I got there less than 5 minutes later and ordered quickly so I wouldn't keep the waitress there.
Order:
Peach Bellini
Ginger Lemonade
Steak Frites
The peach bellini was terrible and in my opinion undrinkable. I took two sips and gave up.
The ginger lemonade wasn't bad at all. It was the best part of my meal.
The Steak Frites dish was pretty mediocre. By "salsa verde" they really mean "chopped up cilantro." It is somewhat ironic to have a french dish smothered in a cousin of parsley, but the problem was that the dish didn't really work - the steak was not particularly flavorful and cilantro is a very strong flavor. I had thought I would be getting something more salsa-y, and was excited to see how the tomato and steak would go together. Oh well. The fries were smothered in herbs which overwhelmed their flavor, as well.
I was pretty upset that the waitress did not comp the bellini after I barely touched it. I put it on the other side of the table, so it should have been quite obvious that I did not intend to drink it.
Another issue was that as it was close to closing time, the busboys were making a huge racket with plates, pans and silverware. It was very loud in there.
Overall I found the experience unpleasant - like the people who work there would prefer not to have customers. The bellini was terrible and the $18 steak frites mediocre. I would not go back even for a free meal.
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Cole Valley
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: American (New)
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