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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: Inner RichmondMon-Tue. 6:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wed-Fri. 6:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
"I live on 16th Ave, which is not exactly a "happening" location, if you know what I mean. Having said that, thank heavens for House of…" read more »
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My favorite café in the neighborhood. They've got some great food if you're able to snag a spot for lunch, especially hard on weekends... and they do have some beers on tap! Nearly always busy, but the wait for a table's worth it with the great atmosphere and ridiculously friendly employees. They are a music venue too, which is nice on some evenings to see kids rockin'. Beware, they do close at 5 in the midweek.
As far as cafés go, I go the whole coffee-and-get-school-work-done route, and they serve Blue Bottle Coffee, which is divine as far as a cup of joe goes. Mixture of tables and a few couches, with hip music playing. Free wifi, yet plugs are sparse.
They have mimosas, they have my heart.
Mmmm ..mmm.. mmm. mmm.
Do you know what true love is? I'm not sure either but I sure love how my bacon, eggs, and potatoes complimented my mimosa. So much so, that I had two.
The atmosphere and folks are as pleasant and charming as the woman who dutifully picked up after her dog outside. What a great start to a Sunday.
After a royally crappy day at work today, who knew that a visit to the cafe across the street from my apartment could completely change my mood? My book proposal's due tomorrow, and I realized that I probably won't last through the night without the help of some Blue Bottle, so I hurried over to Velo Rouge 15 minutes before closing time (10PM).
Of course, they were closing shop, and I felt like a douche for even trying to order at the last minute. But the barrista understood I was desperate because I was about to pull an all-nighter, so she dripped me a cup of coffee on the spot. She had already shut down the register, so she gave it to me for free -- AND she offered me a free pastry (or two, or three) because they were all about to be thrown out anyway. I've been coming here two years, but now I'm certain this is the best cafe in San Francisco.
I'm pumped and dead set on finishing this book proposal by tomorrow. Thanks, Velo Rouge.
I guess it's kind of pointless for me to go here since I live right across the street and only drink… Read more »
You can only guess that since i am a biker that i loved this cafe. The decked out bike hanging in front of the door and all the pictures on the wall inside were great touches!
They serve blue bottle coffee, so it's amazing.
Didn't get a chance to try the food but it smelt damn good.
Will absolutely be returning to this cafe in the near future!!
Tasty, albeit a bit pricey, coffee and treats.
Blue Bottle!
Bikes!
Brilliant!
3.5 stars. I like the coffee dudes. They were very friendly, all 3 of them. One went as far as to get me a lid for my coffee. Awhhh. I felt "special". Didn't try any of the food but I was in need of a caffeine fix mid-day. They make a better cup of Blue Bottle coffee than the BB coffee shop in the Ferry Building, if you ask me. They decorate the foam which is wasted because it gets covered up by a lid unless you're dining in. The latte was bold and hands down much better than coffee at Tully's but steep for $3.50. The mocha is pricier at $3.95. The mocha wasn't too sweet but sort of chalky tasting.
They have a coffee card, buy 10 coffees get one free, but one stamp per person per visit. Not sure I'd be back for another cup of coffee because I think Starbucks is more reasonable cost-wise, but would consider trying the food another time.
Yup...they use Blue Bottle coffee beans...sigh....
Never had a disappointing cup of coffee here.
However... on buzy period on weekdays and most weekend...The wait is apalling. Several times they were so behind... it took 15-20 min from entering the door to bringing out the coffee to the car. This happenend several times. The ride bar me from picking up coffee from here after several long waiting incidents!
They need to find a new system that when u are able to put an order early...get the drip coffee working so it will be ready when u reached the counter.
They have a full kitchen in the back! For a coffee house...they have a exiting out of the boring lineup in sandwiches and other menu items. For slightly over $12 have gourmet pizza, in which you could customize your own toppings! I will post a pic of the pizza soon.
The first time I ever heard about "Radio Africa" dining was in this cafe several years ago. I believe that they have a new venue...Melissa Kitchen...will update this info.
All they need is to place more electrical outlet to attract more wifi users in the evenings. It gets pretty dead in the evening, because of the isolated location. (They could shut down the new outlet in the day. They are already crowded during the day.)
Went back this evening for my caffeine fix.
Still haven't tried the Blue Bottle coffee, but opted for their latte instead. The only flavor syrup they had was vanilla (which was what I wanted :]). The latte was very smooth and so far, is keeping me up and running.
The downside is is that it was $4.00... kinda harsh on a student's wallet, but the latte was good and made with love.
:D
Love at first bite?
Velo Rouge is literally right down the street from my house. My sister and I went…
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Good coffee, nice staff.
Now wonder I loved this white chocolate mocha.....I just discovered that they use BLUE BOTTLE coffee! hooray!
The BEST White Chocolate Mocha I have ever encountered...not too sweet....just oh-so-perfect!
I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEE mom n pop cafes! I also love that it is within walking distance for me. Yeah, this place is on the smaller side, but how awesome is it that a cafe is dedicated to cyclers/cycling? Ok, fine, I won't act as if I myself is a cycler, but my bf was and pointed this out. From the name of the cafe to the names on the menu and of course, they have a pump for your bicycle if it's low on air outside.
I do have to confess though, that I've only had the iced mocha here. But it's yummy! And once I find something yummy, I don't want to try anything else. One day I'll try a different drink and have a yummy sandwich.
Anyway, great place to hang out and study. And plus, you'll be supporting a mom n pop. Oh yeah, did I mention I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEE mom n pops?
Lately I've been on a kick of trying to rediscover the amazing city that I live in by attempting to patronize the places that I've never been to before but have been on my radar, so when I was craving a cup of coffee to kick start my Sunday, I almost innately knew that I would be stopping by the oh-so-cute Velo Rouge Café to satisfy my caffeine craving.
I walked in at about 11:30AM and the place was most definitely a'bumpin'! I was pleased to see that they serve Blue Bottle Coffee here -- something that I feel like I should've already known coming in, but perhaps I had just forgotten? Anywho, the bakery treats in the display case are self-serve, which is nice and convenient, but I have to say that I was very dissatisfied with the quality of my selection. I picked out a blackberry scone, which looked fresh and absolutely amazing, but to my chagrin, it had the texture of cardboard, so that was a let down. My coffee, on the other hand, was full-bodied and supremely flavorful, so I left feeling pleased.
I'm planning on swinging by again when the place is less crowded, for I'd love to be able to actually sit down and savor a nice breakfast here. The menu is jam-packed with choices and based on the size of the crowd that routinely assembles here on the weekends, they must keep coming back for something good.
Good place to get stuff done. Free wifi, they have counter space with bar stools within close reach of the outlet. Seems like there is reasonable parking available in the early afternoons, mostly 2hr spots, as i'm typing this review, i am actually exceeding my 2 hr parking limit as we speak. i like living on the edge, its my dangerous lifestyle. But i fully intend on dashing to my car at the first sight of the DPT!!!!
Cute surroundings, charming, clean, with a cute open/close sign made out of beans and my small vanilla latte, although it cost me $4, it was filled to the brim in an ikea cup with a elegant leaf design. service here is pretty good. Lots of regulars, and large windows for people and dog watching (today i got an added bonus of witnessing a fender bender right in front of the cafe!). Couple of chairs and tables outside, for a nice day (not right now tho, its freaking FOGGY outside).
They serve a variety of plates, i see a lot of people having salads and what looks like a small pot pie looking-ish thing on the side. They also offer CRUNCHIE bars and TOFFIE CRISPS! which is rare b/c i only see those candy bars when i'm in Canada, or at cost plus world market .
This place has gained my full appreciation for a wifi stop if needed in this neck of the woods. Not here often, but if i am, i'm coming here for sure.
Though nail-bitingly slow, this place makes a mean cappuccino. The crema was thick and frothy and the color of toasted coconuts. The intensity of the coffee was not overpowered by the roast (i.e. it didn't taste burnt like some places). All in all, the texture was pure velvet going down my throat.
As we sat in the window keeping an eye on our bikes (2 regular, 1 kick-ass tandem!), the BF and his mom ate some morning bread that contained every healthy ingredient under the sun. I wasn't in the mood for it, but it certainly looked chock-full of texture, fiber, and roughage. Heeh. I used the word "roughage" in a sentence.
I once got a lemon bar here a long time ago. Unfortunately I was not in the mood for the food items offered so I didn't eat. But then again, some people think I'm bat-shit crazy for not liking breakfast foods. I just don't like scrambled eggs, ok? You don't like uni. Don't judge.
I really want to like Velo Rouge--it's on the same block as my boyfriend's apartment. However, when I finally got around to going there this morning, I was really disappointed. I wanted a chai, something warm and caffeinated. What I got (for $3.50, I might add) was a small cup that contained something like warm, banana-flavored milk. I don't know if the barista forgot a step or if their chai is truly unlike anything I've ever had (and I've had a lot of chai), but I don't think I'll be ordering it again unless one or more of you can convince me otherwise.
That all aside, my muffin was really tasty and the cafe is really cute. I'll go back sometime, but perhaps I'll order a hot chocolate instead.
One of the worse things a place can do to me is make me wonder if they forgot me... I go into this swirl of thoughts, making up excuses in my head for them... "maybe they ran out of milk and need to get more; maybe it takes a really long time to grind beans, and I'm unaware of the process... maybe... ugh, did they forget me?? do i need to confront them? am i just being impatient? Perhaps eye contact will give me a sign.. remind them??" I don't know if I was just being impatient, but considering no one ordered after me, and it still took 15 plus minutes to get my drink while the dudes were chatting - well it sure made me feel like crap. It was a great cappuccino, granted, but it almost felt like they wanted to watch me get anxious.
It made me feel all the worse since they were quite friendly with other customers... you know, the pretty girl... the other hipster dude. Sucks to feel like an invisible if not disdained customer for no particular reason.
New to the neighborhood and thrilled to find that this is within walking distance. Came in yesterday, and although the place was very busy, lines usually mean there's something worth waiting for, and I was not disappointed. The woman behind the counter was extremely knowledgeable about the coffee, and it was the best latte ive had, with a neat heart in the milk. can't wait to come back
great neighbourhood joint. everyone should go here for great coffee and support local cafes. Delicious food too.... but the best is the coffee... nice and black. dont mess with it by adding cream and sugar. Black is beautiful my friends.
Cute, independent cafe with friendly staff. Minuses are limited hours, prices are moderate, there are often no seats to be had, and though there is free wifi (yay!), the wall sockets are almost completely destroyed.
Great place to walk to in the inner Richmond, though.
The cafe is really cute on a corner with convenience parking for your bikes. The staff is incredibly sweet and they have Blue Bottle Coffee! I tried their breakfast which was the scrambled eggs with spinach and onions on an English muffin, it was average. The ambiance was good, sat outside on a nice warm morning.
This place grew on me.
I had been in a sublet nearby for a couple months, cursed to a life without internet at home. I had no choice but to come to Velo Rouge, as it offered the most accessible internet nearby. In that context of desperation, the fact that it closed early Saturday-Tuesday did not endear me to it.
But, phew, let's just enjoy it as a neighborhood cafe: I don't need regular internet to survive. Let's just go and read a book. Let's just relax. Let's get an Americano for the bus, because I do need regular coffee to survive. The quality of your coffee is hugely dependent on your barista, but try not to worry too much about it.
Are you an SF bike club member? Be sure to flash your card for 10% off--icing on the cake!
I'm a big fan of "F" words when it comes to restaurants... FOOD and FREE!! The food is delicious, and the free wireless is a huge brownie point!
The food is organic and they have my fav Blue Bottle Coffee. I could have died and gone to heaven after eating The Merckx sandwich, which features ham and cheese toasted on sourdough. They also serve all sandwiches with side salads. This "F"rickin' "F"abolous "F"aire is recommended :)
This coffee shop (Blue Bottle served) has a comfortable atmosphere, on a nice stretch of Arguello just a stone's throw from the park.
Seating is ample and comfortable, and in addition to the coffee they have two beers on tap and a selection in bottles.
Head's up that there's a credit card minimum that a single cup of coffee and a snack won't get you over.
I was expecting, I don't know, coffee and some good-enough sandwiches from this place. It would probably have no problem staying in business doing just that, given its proximity to the park.
When I came in, all sweaty and nasty smelling, I was over the moon to find that they not only have delicious organic food, but that they serve blue bottle coffee. I am never having lunch anywhere else in the neighborhood again.
Also, I don't have to feel shy about being in spandex and smelling like dog. Everyone else does too. Fabulous!
Now that we're a biking family, we take out our sweet rides and pedal through the Panhandle, then through Golden Gate Park, until we make a pit stop at the Red Bicycle.
I've found everything to be fresh, from the Jack Johnson pancakes to a bagel with cream cheese and lox; serving Blue Bottle Coffee just makes it all the better.
It's a little cramped when the weather is nice, and sometimes the line just takes forever, but that doesn't take away from its overall perfectness. Special bonus for having Connect Four!
P.S. I've also heard good things about their Thursday "Melissa Claire's Kitchen" Dinner: http://www.velorougeca...
Velo Rouge top 5
5. Bike parking- makes life that much easier.
4. Mt. Ventoux- yummiest hangover croissant-which in all the land.
3. Outdoor seating- exciting because it is, unfortunately, rare in SF.
2. Perhaps the friendliest staff I've encountered- they know my name and say hello.
1. Blue Bottle Espresso and Coffee!
Velo Rouge is a cute little corner cafe staffed by friendly, young hipsters. They serve Blue Bottle coffee, which I have heard about for awhile now, but only tried for the first time today. I'm not going to lie, it was as amazing as everyone says it is! In fact, I got a few refills (not free, but a buck a pop).
The mood there is nice and chill, but I found the blasting Beastie Boys (a group I really like, but not on full blast over breakfast on a Sunday morning!) a bit nerve rattling.
I ordered a breakfast sandwich. The McAllister I think? Totally underwhelming. No taste. Tiny. Unsatisfying. Boooooo.....
First, the good: the coffee (fantastic), the atmosphere (it's always lively in there), the staff (very friendly), the place itself, the patio, the free wifi and the quirky furniture. The fact that it's a block away from my house helps.
Now, there are two things that are not so good. First, I don't know think that it's a place where you would come to study or do some serious reading, even though I saw a number of people doing it. It's simply too loud most of the times. I realize that this contradicts my previous statement about the liveliness of the place ;)
Second, the breakfast items that I had were quite small. They should definitely increase their portions, given the number of hungry cyclists that sit there everyday :). Also, the scrambled eggs were just that, scrambled eggs, quite bland.
My honey and I decided to make the trek down here to try it. I'd definitely have to say that the staff here is a total bummer. They're really kinda too cool for school. What is even more strange is that the customers that were in the shop also had that stinky attitude.
Other than that the food was good. I had the Indurian panini (three cheese grilled sammie on sourdough with tomatoes) and a lentil coconut soup. Pricey but worth every penny. I guess I'll put up with the weird vibe again just so I can try everything on the menu.
I am glad to see this little cafe doing very well in the Richmond. It's a sight for sore eyes - a great addition and one that seems to have longevity in its future!
The Mt. Ventoux is delish! Simply fried fat with melted fat and crispy fat on a warm fat-ssant! It's comforting food and great with their chocolaty hot chocolate. Some of the best I have had!
The mere fact that it steals the show for cafes in that vicinity gives it a leg up. Unfortunately, I think the current staffing - generally friendly but slow to an aloof smile- sucks some energy from the cafe's good fortune. I would give place 3.5 stars if I could.
.
Velo Rouge might have the best coffee house atmosphere in SF: it's clean (which isn't the case for half the coffee houses in town), rustic, relaxed and has a European flair. The rust colored walls are adorned with pictures of bicycles and they actually attract cyclists (must be that red bike rack in front of the café and the proximity to Golden Gate Park).
As a place to get work done, it's decent but there's only 1 working outlet and the café is popular, so you're unlikely to get a table by the outlet. The wi-fi (free, unsecure) connection wasn't stable either.
They serve Blue Bottle Coffee, so you know that you're going to get a good cup of coffee. I had the latte ($3.50) which was exceptionally smooth and bold and the foam even had a pretty leaf design.
Unfortunately, the latte was on the small side. I need more caffeine in the morning to get me going.
I also had the breakfast burrito ($6.95) with eggs, cheddar and whole black beans in a grilled tortilla. The burrito is topped with avocado slices and accompanied by salsa and sour cream. It was a nice breakfast, a cut above the usual coffee house fare. I like how the grilled tortilla was a tad crispy. The small cup of salsa certainly isn't enough for a breakfast burrito.
Breakfast (sandwiches, bagels, pastries, eggs) is served till 2:30 PM. Lunch (grilled sandwiches) is available after 10:30 AM.
They have a stamp card (a very cute one) for coffee drinks.
One of my favorite places to work + eat + and have a fantastic cappuccino (don't I sound fancy!). Also - great tuna melt and egg products.
When I'm in town, I visit this place. I don't go out of my way, mind you-it just happens to be near my friends' place.
Usually, when I come in here, it's in the late morning/early afternoon and most often fighting a massive hangover. This place is very good for that. Specifically, I order a Mt. Vonteux and maybe some tea. If I can score a table, this helps immeasurably.
The only downside is just that-seating. It's usually packed to the gills, and you have to be prepared to take your food and retreat somewhere else to actually eat it. Maybe everyone has similar nights. Or they just like the laid back environment.
OK, so the customer service has gotten better... But it could very likely be due to the fact that I now come regularly (every Saturday morning!)... Or maybe it's because an old classmate/friend of mine now works there... Whatever it is, you've been nice and I like that quite a bit.
I also can't deny it anymore... You make a MEAN latte... Seriously, I crave it every weekend and I kind of hate you for that! Damn you and your good coffee... Oh yeah, and damn you for being the only option when I'm at my boyfriend's place... There needs to be more coffee shops on Arguello!
I know, I know, everyone loooooooooves Velo Rouge. And you know what, I probably would too if the… Read more »
alright the coffee is good, but the prices are insane. it's $3.50 for a regular to-go latte and $3.95 for a vanilla latte. the prices are so expensive that they don't list them and the cashier even agreed with me that they are a bit pricey.
then to make the experience worse, i decided to get a stamp card and i only got one stamp even though i bought 2 drinks. when i asked about it, he said, it's only one stamp per day, but that if i wanted to come back later tonight, i could probably get another stamp...oh YAY? i read the stamp card later and it says in the top left "buy 10 coffees & the next one's on us!" THEN on the bottom right it says in small print "one stamp per person per visit." SO basically it's more like, "visit us 10 times and purchase at least one drink each time, then on the 11th visit, you will get one on us!"
2 stars for the awesome coffee. velo rouge can't take credit for blue bottle coffee though....
This place is always busy as hell. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing. After Mac bought the place from Meg, I feel that the food went up a notch.
I used to live next door to this place before I moved to the Panhandle. I haven't check out Melissa's Claire's Kitchen or their Pizza nights yet, but it is definitely on the to-do list. I believe that they have various events during the week too. I am a huge fan of their breakfast sandwiches.
Been hearing about the Velo Rouge Cafe serving Blue Bottle Coffee in the Richmond District. Funny, as I lived close by in the early 90s, I never knew about this place. That is because it has been here for only a year or so.
I've been here for both breakfast and lunch. Both times I get the double espresso which is a mainstay from me. The espresso has a nice foam on top and has a nice flavor going down. Most excellent. For breakfast, I get the Mt. Ventoux breakfast sandwich. It's an egg sandwich w/ jack cheese on croissant. I add bacon to the sandwich as an extra. For lunch, we have had the Pantani (grilled veggie/jack cheese) and Merckx (ham & swiss) sandwiches. Each sandwich is grilled and comes with a side salad. The salad is pretty robust with feta, sliced apple, corn and blueberry - surprisingly tasty. Everything here is very good.
Added perks in the front of the cafe are the 2 doggie water bowls and the tire pump with Presta/Schrader valve both in one. The Velo Rouge cafe is a welcome and much needed addition to the Richmond District. You guys rock!!
The place is really cute, I have been in the neighborhood for over half year and heard about many good things about this place and always saw a lot people. Finally I have decided to visit on a Friday afternoon, and it was just great.
Some staff didn't seem to be so friendly, but I think once the owner gets there the atmosphere changes and he was just super friendly and welcoming and i even enjoyed watching his interaction with other customers; really feels like a neighborhood cafe!!
on friday evenings they have live music and wednesdays movie nights. they do have some vegan meals but given i am quite particular about my intake i did not have the chance to try. As far as coffee, since i do not drink coffee either so it is difficult to judge how good it is. But i do love the atmosphere, it's just very enjoyable to be there, when there are not so many people.
Note it can get really crowded...
Service: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Wait: 4/5
Price: $$
Portions: 3/5
Presentation of food: 5/5
Presentation of restaurant: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Their dripping coffee is the best of the best. i never had any better coffee! this little cafe, is on the corner; very homie feeing to it. friendly workers (: i came originally for their panini sandwiches, and i ended having a cup of their dripping coffee before i headed out the door. and oh my lord was it delightful. its superrr smooth, nice and rich, strong enough to keep me energized for the rest of the day. one cup is all you need. and for me personally im a caffeine addict, i can have up to 3 cups of coffee; but this place set it off by just 1 amazing cup. i suggest drinking it there and enjoy it :) the only thing is that it takes couple minutes because of its dripping, but the time pays off once u get a whip of that coffee! yummmm-o! speaking of it, i just had a cup earlier today! ^.^ haha.
Cute little place with outdoor seating. Good for an inexpensive first date :)
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