The Comtemporary Jewish Museum's cafe offers light and healthy pre- or post-museum snacks and lunch.

by Patrick Heig

Set on the recently opened plaza facing Yerba Buena Gardens, Cafe on the Square's sun-blasted outside tables offer prime people-watching, while the indoor seating shares cool air with the cavernous museum lobby. The food is kosher but only vaguely Jewish--onion tart with smoked salmon, cod cassoulet with olive ragout--and light both in substance and portion; it's not enough for the exhausted and hungry but perfect for a bite between exhibitions. With so many great lunch options in this area, it's hard to imagine this place drawing huge crowds, but that's good news if you consider the price of your sandwich to be an hour's rent on a sun chair.