breakfast

Restaurant Website: http://www.littleskilletsf.comGoogle Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=330+Ritch+St.+San+Francisco&sll=37.765601,-122.402117&sspn=0.037115,0.053215&ie=UTF8&ll=37.779653,-122.394068&spn=0.009277,0.013304&z=16&iwloc=A

With window-only service, this offshoot of Farmer Brown has brought a little soul to SoMa. On a sunny day, Ritch Street—an alley lined with brick warehouses—is full of people with Little Skillet to-go boxes in their laps, making the most of a their lunch break. Dinner service is rumored to open in near the future.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>It’s hard to go easy here. The menu tempts with all sorts of decidedly non-salad options, including excellent, crisp fried chicken and Belgian-style waffles (with a side of maple syrup), biscuits with sausage gravy, dutifully sloppy Sloppy Joes, plus sides of crisp, pickled cucumbers and cole slaw. It’s really Southern picnic fixings for the urban dweller. We’re just happy that there’s another window café right next door selling Blue Bottle coffee for a caffeine bump; it’s not easy feasting on this kind of comfort food and then settling back to work.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=level+iii,+sf&sll=37.818192,-122.434044&sspn=0.051801,0.107632&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=37.798323,-122.408123&spn=0.024348,0.053816&z=14&iwloc=A

This capacious dining room, done up in an eye-popping palette of reds and oranges, has taken up residence on the third floor of the newly remodeled JW Marriott in Union Square, adjacent to the hotel lobby. Though the decor and service might have you thinking fancy, the whimsical food is pure fun.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>The kitchen, headed up by a French Laundry alum, presents upscale versions of familiar favorites—there is silky, crumb-topped macaroni and cheese, Kobe beef sliders on miniature brioche buns, topped with Lilliputian onion rings and a fancified version of chips and dip—geared to appeal to visitors and locals alike. Don’t miss the cooked-to-order chocolate soufflé with vanilla-bean ice cream.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=luce,+++sf&sll=38.056742,-122.365723&sspn=0.776381,1.722107&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=37.817921,-122.406578&spn=0.103603,0.215263&z=12&iwloc=A

The in-house restaurant of SoMa’s new Intercontinental hotel, Luce (Italian for “light”) takes advantage of its corner location with floor-to-20-foot-ceiling windows that flood the spacious room with sunshine. Modern silver pendant lights and white leather booths add to the airy feel.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Chef Dominique Creen (named a “chef to watch” in 2007 by Esquire) recently returned to San Francisco after stints in Indonesia and L.A; the Frenchwoman has created a menu for Luce that showcases her global experience while taking advantage of the best locally sourced products. Lamb (chops and cheeks) is served with a Moroccan-style apricot tagine; a pristine piece of John Dory is accompanied by classic French artichoke barigoule—a kumquat escabèche adds a nouveau twist. For dessert, order the signature “study of chocolate,” a five-way variation on the theme, paired with a glass of grappa off of a (100-plus bottle) list.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Sugar++Cafe,+SF&sll=37.776295,-122.422843&sspn=0.007378,0.013819&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=37.791405,-122.408166&spn=0.014752,0.027637&z=15&iwloc=A

Should you be at a loss for a place to go for that pre- or post-theater drink, Sugar Cafe comes to the rescue. The sleek gas fireplaces, cozy lounging area and smart turquoise-and-brown color palette are appealing at all times of day (the cafe is open from morning until night) but it’s at its best after dark.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>During the day, Sugar has all the cafe standards—baked goods for breakfast and sandwiches and salads for lunch (including our favorites, the simple ham-and-cheese panini and irresistible fudgy brownie). At night, order savory bar bites to accompany your cocktail, or go straight for the sweet stuff with a slice of flourless chocolate espresso cake.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=500+Brannan+St.,+San+Francisco&sll=37.776479,-122.395806&sspn=0.011838,0.019312&g=330+Townsend+St.,+San+Francisco&ie=UTF8&ll=37.778279,-122.396858&spn=0.011838,0.019312&z=16&iwloc=addr

Despite this neighborhood restaurant’s off-the-beaten-track location (where Cortland and Mission streets intersect) and notoriously unpredictable hours, those willing to put up with these idiosyncrasies will be rewarded with superior Mexican food cooked and served by owner Irma Calderon.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Brunch-goers have trouble ordering anything other than the superb chilaquiles, but the truth is that everything here is terrific, from the chiles rellenos to the sautéed chicken, topped with chiles and crumbled cotija cheese. The menu changes according to Calderon’s whims, but not to worry: It’s all good.</p> <p>MUST ORDER: Chilaquiles</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=66+Mint+St.,+San+Francisco&sll=37.784952,-122.417378&sspn=0.011837,0.019312&g=771+O'Farrell+St.,+San+Francisco&ie=UTF8&ll=37.784554,-122.413273&spn=0.011837,0.019312&z=16&iwloc=addr

This cafe, the first from the beloved local microroasters of the same name, looks like a mod science lab devoted to top-shelf coffee. It anchors one corner of the Mint Plaza development and is probably best known for its $20,000 Japanese siphon coffeemaker, the first (and only) of its kind in the United States. A communal table provides not-quite-enough seating for the crowds.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>In addition to siphoned joe, you can also get drip coffee (the cornerstone of the Blue Bottle brand) and espresso drinks, but don’t come looking for any caramel Frappucinos—these people are serious about their beverages. Food offerings are dead simple: In the morning, try the poached eggs set on slices of lightly toasted Acme pullman or a bowl of stone-ground polenta topped with maple syrup or smoky ham and Gruyère. They serve sandwiches daily from 11am until 3pm, and Saturday evenings a small selection of wine and beer is on offer, along with plates of cheeses and cured meats.</p> <p>MUST ORDER: A Gibraltar</p>

This famous Castro corner lot is the place for 24-hour people-watching on the weekends. You’ll see everything from dog-walking couples on weekdays to six-foot-tall divas vamping around in the wee hours. Sit by the window or huddle at the counter and let Bagdad’s all-American eats fuel you up for the night ahead or ease you into the morning after. Eats:What's on your menu.: Half-pound Angus burgers are a hit, especially with a side of “desert-spiced” fries served with a glug of ranch dressing. If breakfast’s what you’re after, try Odetta’s potato pancakes with sour cream, applesauce and sausage. Body-conscious types should stick to the Gluteus—four scrambled egg whites with fruit, cottage cheese and toast.

You can’t miss this sky-blue crêperie near the corner of the Mission’s main intersection, 16th and Valencia. A sidewalk table makes you part of the neighborhood scene, whereas the pub-like dining room offers an array of seating options to suit your mood—the counter for a casual bite, the bar for mingling or a corner table for getting cozy. Eats:What's on your menu.: Breton-style buckwheat crêpes are the base for a long list of savory sauces and fillings—shrimp with parsley butter, caramelized onions, ratatouille and seafood sauce, for instance, or smoked salmon with crème fraîche and scallions—available for diners to mix and match. White-flour dessert crêpes ooze with citrus butter and homemade jam or the ever-popular Nutella and banana. Salads and charcuterie plates round out the menu.

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=3108+16th+St.,+San+Francisco&sll=37.784896,-122.406906&sspn=0.011837,0.019312&g=845+Market+St.,+San+Francisco&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=addr

You can’t miss this sky-blue crêperie near the corner of the Mission’s main intersection, 16th and Valencia. A sidewalk table makes you part of the neighborhood scene, whereas the pub-like dining room offers an array of seating options to suit your mood—the counter for a casual bite, the bar for mingling or a corner table for getting cozy.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Breton-style buckwheat crêpes are the base for a long list of savory sauces and fillings—shrimp with parsley butter, caramelized onions, ratatouille and seafood sauce, for instance, or smoked salmon with crème fraîche and scallions—available for diners to mix and match. White-flour dessert crêpes ooze with citrus butter and homemade jam or the ever-popular Nutella and banana. Salads and charcuterie plates round out the menu.</p> <p>MUST ORDER: Ham and Cheese Crepe with a Fried Egg</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=pork+store+cafe,+sf&sll=37.787301,-122.468204&sspn=0.010243,0.017166&gl=us&g=4611+Geary+Blvd.,+sf&ie=UTF8&ll=37.782723,-122.443571&spn=0.020486,0.034332&z=14&iwloc=A

If you arrive before 11 a.m., expect to see park squatters pushing grocery carts down Haight Street as you wait in line for breakfast. (Another location is in the Mission). There are plenty of tattooed and pierced customers at the 14-seat counter overlooking the open kitchen and at the handful of tables set against walls covered with vintage Haight-Ashbury Street Fair posters and a mural of hungry, smiling pink pigs.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Look up at the bubblegum-pink balcony for posters of the day’s specials—like the gut-busting Eggs in a Tasty Nest (veggies, bacon, cheddar and two eggs over-easy on hash browns)—hanging from the banister. Plastic platters are piled high with favorites like pork chops, French toast, vegan sausages or huevos rancheros (crispy corn tortillas topped with smoky black beans, eggs over-easy and chunky salsa).</p>