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(415) 885-2767
522 Jones St
San Francisco,
CA
94102
37.786
-122.4128
Neighborhoods: Tenderloin, Northeast
Years in business
Established in 2003
Price:
$
Last updated 8.17.11
Category:
Payment Methods:
Discover, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Breakfast, Family-Friendly Dining, Brunch, Lunch Spot, Cheap Eats
Reviews & Ratings for Dottie's True Blue Cafe
72 reviews
What users are saying:
- Citysearch (64)
- |
- Around the Web (8)
- |
- All (72)
09/04/07
Best breakfast joint in San Francisco - The food is worth the wait.
by m3initaly at Citysearch
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
12/11/11
A real farm breakfast in the heart of of SF
by coolray at Citysearch
I don't think I've ever had a better breakfast...EVER, even with a 1/2 hour wait on a Thursday morning at 9:30am.
I had the True Blue plate for $9.95 - 2 eggs over easy (the hens must've just laid them), mild Italian Sausage (Italian? what, but I'm a convert), hash browns (another fresh off the farm, flavorful, cooked where the inside was soft and outside perfectly crisped), toast (did I say buttermilk dill with fresh raspberry jam).
I would eat breakfast every day if I could have Dottie's!
09/20/10
Best breakfast. Ever.
by Lauren Hannah at Citysearch
I'm a breakfast lover. I could probably eat breakfast foods all three meals, every day. But this? This tops all I've ever eaten. Totally worth the wait.
Black plum crumb cake. Whole wheat pancake, cinnamon and Ginger. Chorizo scramble, salsa. DIVINE.
02/01/10
Diner-dive Heaven
by Julie Dyer , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch
Like a healthy helping of grease in your morning diner cuisine? You've lucked out. Follow the line of people waiting around the corner to the bold blue awning. Should you find the luck gods on your side, walk right in, and you'll be welcomed with the trashiest of diner decor (it is in the TL, after all!). You'll get water in gigantic, unmatched tumblers on top of tacky tablecloths, and the waiters (and waitresses) are as greasy as the food. Should this all sound like a negative thing, think again. The rotating specials menus holds the key to some of the best breakfast options in the City (pulled pork scramble, blueberry cornmeal pancakes, or a lamb sausage scram...I could go on for days). If you haven't been yet, take your taste palates straight down to Dottie's before the day is through.
- Pros: The most delicious specials menu known to man
- Cons: Wait is usually over an hour, no matter what day or time
09/01/09
So worth the wait!
by citron23 at Citysearch
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 at Citysearch
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 at Citysearch
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 at Citysearch
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 at Citysearch
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!
Good, wholesome handcrafted breakfast with fattening baked breads and sweet rolls. Yum! Almost too much food - but somehow we managed to retain our good standing in the clean plate club.
05/23/08
Simply Fabulous
by drmata at Citysearch
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 at Citysearch
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.
