Want to change up your same-old brunch game? Here are five new places to do it (including a weekday brunch spot, handy for the next time you play hooky).
Russian Hill and Nob Hill residents who want a unique twist on brunch can stroll over and check out what’s happening at 1760, which is now open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 2:30pm. Burrata for brunch, why not? It comes with flatbread, house-smoked maple bacon, and grilled asparagus. The menu is definitely on the savory side, with pork belly with kimchi fried rice and an egg, or rock shrimp with Anson Mills polenta, hoisin, lime, and cilantro. The cocktails are also out of the ordinary, like the green cardamom fizz (cardamom cream, lime, egg white, club soda, gin), which sounds rather amazing. 1760 Polk (at Washington)
If you want to lay some proper brunch bedrock before a day of shopping downtown, Klyde in the new Hotel G has you covered (and they start at 6:30am, which is pretty darn early). Here you will find crab and fried green tomato Benedict, ham and eggs with green chile grits, and bacon-wrapped shrimp with cheddar-scallion grits and a poached egg. For those who like things a little sweeter, there are liège waffles and pancakes, as well as almond brioche French toast with fruit and whipped cream. Bloody Mary, check. Served until 2pm. 386 Geary (at Mason)
Did you know that Marla added Saturday brunch service? So now you can come by on Saturday or Sunday for their incomparable bagels with herbed farmers cheese, house-smoked sable fish, pickled vegetables, or their baked egg, which comes with spiced tomato cream, red Russian kale, charred torpedo onions, and garlic oil with grilled bread. Yeah, you want that — and their English muffin, too. Embrace the carbs, folks. 10:30am–2:30pm. 3619 Balboa (at 37th Avenue)
Okay, so weekend brunch is, of course, commonplace, but how about weekday brunch? Exactly. Stop by Sparrow Tuesday–Friday from 10am–3pm for huevos rancheros, scrambles, smoked salmon quiche, and French toast. Prefer something a little big lunchier? Then check out their hanger steak and hidden egg in a nest (which would be a fried egg in brioche), or there’s always their burger. And it’s worth noting this Upper Haight spot has a pretty spacious patio, yessss. 1640 Haight (at Clayton)
One tactical way to beat the Mission weekend brunch crowd is to head downtown, and the brunch here includes the big bonus of an outdoor patio (it’s glass-enclosed, so it doesn’t get too chilly). The menu includes some of their excellent salumi (hubba), like coppa with soft-boiled egg, asparagus, and mizuna. There’s also a croque madame with country ham and Brie, or a semolina pancake with huckleberries and maple syrup. Cocktails? Oh, you know it. Served Saturday–Sunday 11am–2pm. 140 New Montgomery (at Mission)
Marcia Gagliardi is the founder of the weekly tablehopper e-column; subscribe and get more food news and gossip at tablehopper.com. Follow her on Twitter: @tablehopper.
