Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [97]
The Grove ★ CAFE The Grove is the kind of place you go just to hang out and enjoy the fact that you’re in San Francisco. That the heaping salads, lasagna, pasta, sandwiches, and daily specials are predictably good is an added bonus. I like coming here on weekday mornings for the easygoing vibe, strong coffee, and friendly, fast service. Inside you can sit at one of the dark-wood tables on the scuffed hardwood floor and people-watch through the large open windows, but on sunny days the most coveted seats are along the sidewalk. It’s the perfect place to read the newspaper, sip an enormous mug of coffee, and be glad you’re not at work right now. A second Pacific Heights location is at 2016 Fillmore St. between California and Pine streets ( 415/474-1419).
2250 Chestnut St. (btw. Scott and Pierce sts.). 415/474-4843. Most main courses $6–$7. MC, V. Mon–Fri 7am–11pm; Sat–Sun 8am–11pm. Bus: 22, 28, 30, 30X, 43, 76, or 82X.
Home Plate ★ BREAKFAST Dollar for dollar, Home Plate just may be the best breakfast joint in San Francisco. Many Marina residents kick off their hectic weekends by carbo-loading here on big piles of buttermilk pancakes and waffles smothered with fresh fruit, or hefty omelets stuffed with everything from apple wood–smoked ham to spinach. You’ll always start off with a coveted plate of freshly baked scones, best eaten with a bit of butter and a dab of jam. Be sure to look over the daily specials scrawled on the little green chalkboard before you order. And as every fan of this tiny cafe knows, it’s best to call ahead and ask to have your name put on the waiting list before you slide into Home Plate.
2274 Lombard St. (at Pierce St.). 415/922-HOME (4663). www.homeplatesf.com. Main courses $3.95–$7. DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 7am–3pm. Bus: 28, 30, 43, or 76.
La Méditerranée ★ MEDITERRANEAN With an upscale-cafe ambience and quality Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food, La Méditerranée has long warranted its reputation as one of the most appealing inexpensive restaurants on upper Fillmore Street. Here you’ll find freshly prepared traditional dishes that are worlds apart from the Euro-eclectic fare many restaurants now call “Mediterranean.” Baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, dolmas, and hummus start out the menu. My favorite dish here is the chicken Cilicia, a phyllo-dough dish that’s hand-rolled and baked with cinnamony spices, almonds, chickpeas, and raisins. Also recommended are the zesty chicken pomegranate drumsticks on a bed of rice. Both come with a green salad, potato salad, or soup for around $9.50. Ground lamb dishes, quiches, and combo plates round out the affordable menu, and wine comes by the glass and in half- or full liters. A second location is at 288 Noe St., at Market Street ( 415/431-7210).
2210 Fillmore St. (at Sacramento St.). 415/921-2956. www.cafelamed.com. Main courses $8–$10 lunch, $10–$12 dinner. AE, MC, V. Sun–Thurs 11am–10pm; Fri–Sat 10:30am–11pm. Bus: 1, 3, or 22.
Mel’s Drive-In ★ AMERICAN Sure, it’s contrived, touristy, and nowhere near healthy, but when you get that urge for a chocolate shake and banana cream pie at the stroke of midnight—or when you want to entertain the kids—no other place in the city comes through like Mel’s Drive-In. Modeled after a classic 1950s diner, right down to the jukebox at each table, Mel’s hearkens back to the halcyon days when cholesterol and fried foods didn’t jab your guilty conscience with every greasy, wonderful bite. Too bad the prices don’t reflect the ’50s; a burger with fries and a Coke costs about $12.
Another Mel’s at 3355 Geary St., at Stanyan Street ( 415/387-2244), is open from 6am to 1am Sunday through Thursday and 6am to 3am Friday and Saturday. Additional locations are 1050 Van Ness ( 415/292-6357), open Sunday through Thursday 6am to 3am and Friday through Sunday 6am to 4am; and 801 Mission St. ( 415/227-4477), open Sunday through Wednesday 6am to 1am, Thursday 6am to 2am, and Friday and Saturday 24 hours.
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