09/01/09

So worth the wait!

by citron23

I saw this place on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and when it was time to go to SF on vacation, this place was a must. We did wait about an hour and the place is very small but it was worth every minute. I think it was the best breakfast I had in years. In fact, it trumped Mama's in Washington Square and that is not easy. Recommend for the undecided to go during the week to avoid the crowds. Don't listen to the putz who said it was so-so below me. People would not be waiting up to an hour if it was just so-so.

• Pros: Amazing breakfast
• Cons: Not many tables

08/05/09

Unique place but so-so food

by SassyMom

The food is not as great as many reviews out there claimed. But the restaurant is worth a try, if you don't have to wait more than 20 minutes. If you have to wait an hour or two to get in, it's really not worth your time & money, because there are other neighborhood restaurants that serve better food at the same or even lower prices. Besides, the homeless people loitering around can really become a nuisance.

• Pros: cozy, clean, & friendly service
• Cons: always a line, even before restaurant opens

04/28/09

Great food

by aladin13

The food is here is worth waiting for. The service is kinda slow because of the many people eating there. Overall it is a good restaurant.

02/21/09

Good French toast, long line, tiny cafe

by ls54

My husband and I went here this morning and we arrived at 731 and there was already a 30 min wait. There was only about 10 tables for 2-4 people each. I had french toast that was good. My husband had the blue plate special. He was not overly imressed. The toast is very thick and had an odd flavor. He loves bread but was not big on this toast. The potatoes, eggs, and ham was great. They had fresh squeezed OJ and apple juice. The service was quick and they made sure they kept your coffee topped off with hot fresh coffee. I recommend it but be there about 715. When we left at 830ish there was a long line of at least an hours or so.

11/03/08

Eat Here Quick Before the Food Network fans arrive

by SusanRS

Thought we'd lucked out as we approached and saw no line, but alas, the Food Network and star Guy Fiery were there to film an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. We were promised we would be let in at 11:30 but needed to eat breakfast well before that hour. So those of you who can, get there quick, before the Food Network fans arrive!

05/23/08

Simply Fabulous

by drmata

Had to stand in line for about 30 minutes. But the wait was well worth it!! Got a chance to sit at the bar and interact with the cook?all the staff were extremely helpful, attentive and offered their own personal suggestions from the menu. The Cheddar and Broccoli Strata is out of this world. If you have a chance give it a try, it will melt in your mouth!

• Pros: Great food great service
• Cons: The wait in line

02/23/08

Best breakfast ever!

by brides

Worth the 50 min line up- it was a Saturday morning. Very busy. Once you get in there the service is fast- like super fast. The staff are super friendly and work so well in such a tight space. I recommend eating at the bar- watch the cook work his magic. Massive size meals, great juices and hot chocolate.

• Pros: food, service, staff, decore, music
• Cons: line up- but it's worth it.

02/15/08

Absolutely Yummy Comfort Food in a Kitschy Setting

by SFTripper

We arrived around 9:00 am on a Thursday and waited about 30 minutes for seats at the counter--a table would have been another 20 minutes or so. We picked up a couple sections of newspaper by the front door before we sat down, which helped pass the longer than expected wait between ordering and food delivery.

Service was efficient and friendly, coffee refills were frequently offered, and even though we were right next to the grill area, kitchen noise was never obtrusive.

Our food was delivered steaming hot and was absolutely delicious. The pancakes were utterly filling, I had ordered three when two would have been plenty. Just the right amount of spice was added to mix with the creamy buttermilk texture to offer a robust but not overpowering flavor making them by far the best pancakes I've had in my lifetime. My husbands French Toast was equally satisfying. The bacon was delivered as ordered, extra crisp.

The atmosphere buzzed and bustled. The decor is 50's kitsch, and I amused myself for a few minutes playing with the collection of snow globes on the counter in front of me. Bring your appetite and be prepared to wait for a seat, but the wait is rewarded with some of the best breakfast food ever created. Two big thumbs up!

• Pros: The food!
• Cons: No backs on the counter stools

09/04/07

Best breakfast joint in San Francisco - The food is worth the wait.

by m3initaly

Dottie's was one of our favorite food stops in NorCal. We had a 45 minute wait on a Tuessday morning, and the food was totally worth the wait. When we first got in, it was not what we expected. It was very small, and the printed menu on the table was quite ordinary. But as soon as the waitress came and informed us of all the "specials" listed on the blackboard, we knew immediately what all the hype was for. I ordered the pumpkin chocolate chip french toast with candied pecans, pure maple syrup, and powdered sugar - it was every bit as wonderful as it sounds. Mom ordered the egg scramble with chipotle chicken, corn, and tons of white cheddar. It came with potatoes and a wonderful dill toast. Most people snapped pictures of their food when it arrived at their table. That's how yummy it is. It's amazing what the cook is able to do in such limited space. Every recipe was ingenious, and it was prepared as a piece of art. The portions were huge. As much as I loved my meal, I couldn't eat it all.

Here are the only possible downsides. One: At first, the location can be a little scary for some people. It's centrally located in the heart of San Francisco's homeless area - West Union Square. But the people on the street are not agressive like some of the homeless people in LA or Atlanta. We passed about 100 homeless people in 3 blocks, and only 2 of them approached us for money. If you have any leftovers, take it to go for one of these nice people. Two: If you're at all prudish or overprotected, you may be uncomfortable with some of the surroundings in the restaurant. At our table, their was a picture of male genetalia and a note from a customer describing the food with inappropriate language (Citysearch won't let me quote it). Very California. Three: The seating is very tight. We had to turn down the first table offered to us because the man sitting at the table next to ours was overweight, and we couldn't pull one of the chairs out.

• Pros: Fabulously unique recipes, high quality food, fun experience
• Cons: Location, ambience, long wait

07/05/07

Wow!

by maryjatkinson

We were so impressed by this place! Although the line was around the block, we got through it relatively quickly, thanks to the speedy service. The food was excellent (try the blueberry cornmeal pancakes, cranberry oatmeal scone, any of the egg/griddle scramble things, and the jalapeno cornbread!), the service was nice and efficient, the decor was fun and quirky, and the price very reasonable. You should definitely go!

• Pros: YUMMY food, great service - worth the wait!
• Cons: A little bit of a wait, but they're very efficient at getting everyone in.