Universal Cafe
(415) 830-4954
2814 19th St
(at Bryant Street)
San Francisco,
CA
94110
37.7605
-122.4101
Neighborhoods: Mission, Central East
Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm
Tue-Thu, Sun 5:30pm-9:30pm
Fri, Sat 5:30pm-10:30pm
Price:
$$
Last updated 7.02.09
What People Are Saying About Universal Cafe
The Owner
Universal Cafe
Owner
Universal Cafe, located in the Mission District, serves American brunch and dinner in a modern and industrial setting. The decor is reminiscent of a trendy loft containing Euro-style tables. The menu changes weekly.
A few menu items include scrambled eggs with spinache and white cheddar, roasted chicken hash with poached eggs, housemade organic oat granola with banana and milk, to name a few. The dessert menu at this cafe offers guests a wide selection, including warm toffee and medjool date pudding cake with chantilly cream for $6 and bittersweet chocolate torte, creme caramel gelato and caramel sauce for $6, among others.
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short
This longstanding Mission eatery echoes the industrial feel of its out-of-the-way locale in a warm and sleek way. Art-lined walls and an open kitchen balance cool steel fixtures and track lighting. The dining room can get noisy as 30-somethings slip into tightly spaced tables. The service is relaxed, but adequate. The kitchen's inspired menu offers a seasonal selection of rustic dishes.
User Reviews
monkies
January 20, 2008
i was really impressed. the food was a good twist on standards, albeit the menu was limited for brunch. the fruit smoothies were good too, and the eggs loose which is a rare but simple treat to implement in a restaurant. i went to foreign cinema which is in the same neighborhood...the food at foreign was definitely better (by a small margin), but the cost of universal made it more of an every weekend brunch joint. the only issue was the insane wait.
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liquidsound
May 13, 2007
I have lived in the 'hood for five years and been a loyal customer of Universal all that time. Today's brunch experience changed that. An "intimate space", huh? Not at brunch it isn't. OK, in all fairness, a gentrification has been brewing in the neighborhood and it seems that Universal is feeling that effect. Brunch at Universal is a most unpleasant experience. I used to go and hop a seat at the bar, order my food and chit-chat with the two friendly wait staff there. No longer. It's find the list, sign your name, hope someone calls you and then squeeze yourself into a spot too small to eat. The cafe seems to have no realization of their own space constraints. They cram far too many people into too small a space. Today I sat at the bar and the space was so tight that I could not lift my fork to my mouth to eat my $20 brunch without bumping my neighbor and either spilliing her coffee or loosing my eggs to my paper napkin'd lap. Loose the fancy flower arrangement folks or find another place for your juice on the counter. Folks need space to eat. One thing about Universal, the food is good. But, as good as it is, it is still just french toast, eggs, bacon, fruit and coffee... brunch, folks....all served in an atmosphere as comfortable as a seat in any New York diner costing half the price. The noise level in the place is reminiscent of that too. The staff at Universal is totally over-worked. They have little time to recognize you and your needs much less be pleasant. The only time I saw the wait staff was to order, get my food and receive my check. And that totalled only a few seconds...yes, seconds. It would be nice if your coffee could be presented to you in as pleasant and fast a manner as your check. So, if your thing is a eating $11 eggs in cramped quarters with a "casually chic" crowd, have at it. I'm gonna walk a few blocks to Reds and save my money, my nerves and my good mood.
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mkbauer
October 25, 2006
I was impressed with the food here. The service was good. Though, the location itself is not where I would like to be for dinner. I would recommend for Brunch on Sunday.
read full reviewThe Details on Universal Cafe
Where to Sit:
When dining solo, just grab a stool and eat at the bar--you'll get a front-row view of the kitchen.
What to Drink:
The modest wine list offers a diverse array of selections--from Chile to Sonoma--plus seven by-the-glass offerings.
Know Before You Go:
The restaurant offers a weekend brunch that's perfect for lazy afternoons.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Romantic Dining, Date Spot, Brunch, Outdoor Dining
Cuisine:
Message from Universal Cafe
- Brunch
- Dinner
- Fresh, inventive dishes
Universal Cafe, located in the Mission District, serves American brunch and dinner in a modern and industrial setting. The decor is reminiscent of a trendy loft containing Euro-style tables. The menu changes weekly.
A few menu items include scrambled eggs with spinache and white cheddar, roasted chicken hash with poached eggs, housemade organic oat granola with banana and milk, to name a few. The dessert menu at this cafe offers guests a wide selection, including warm toffee and medjool date pudding cake with chantilly cream for $6 and bittersweet chocolate torte, creme caramel gelato and caramel sauce for $6, among others.
