Union Square or Nob Hill Breakfasts [San Francisco]

[arepo]

Do I HAVE to end up at Sears or is there something else close by of worth for breakfasts?
No hotels please.

[grayelf]

Cafe de la presse gets somewhat mixed reviews here, partly I think because of the higher prices. We like the Gallic atmosphere, the bols de cafe Colombe and the tasty egg dishes (benedict, meurette will run you about $12-13). You can just get a basket of baked goods if you're not into a bigger meal too which is nice. It does get busy, like every other decent breakfast/brunch place in this fair city, so go earlyish, especially on the weekend.

If you're here on a Saturday, you can't do better in my book that the Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market, and specifically a plate of chilaquiles from Primavera. Again, go early to avoid the line ups, take your victuals and grab a bench looking out over the water.

Another option nearer the Square is Café Bean (and probably will, now that Canteen isn't serving breaky anymore). We've only been once several trips ago on another visitor's recco but would definitely return. There's some sort of Dutch connection in this tiny, funky but efficient and friendly coffee shop serving full breakfasts including the Dutch Smasher (melted Edam, fried onion, tomato, ham and over easy eggs on toast) and chicken apple sausage and eggs with toast. The eggs were perfectly scrambled and the sausage delicious (housemade or at least very local I think). We saw some Dutch pancakes on another table that looked mighty tempting too. They were serving Chester’s coffee in the urns but something else for the lattes which the SO deemed very tasty. Prices were around $8 for the breakies IIRC but again that was a few years ago.

Last but definitely not least, you might want to check out farm:table. It's a bit further away and kinda tiny (though I think they've added a patio or some such since our most recent visit). Small, focused menu and solid pastries. Good coffee.

For Nob Hill, Nob Hill Grille is on my list to try.

[arepo]

Very helpful grayelf and as a result I am now booked into Cafe de la Presse which looks quite good actually.
My thanks to all for your help.

[grayelf]

Hope you like! Prolly not the best in town but solid, and it's certainly stood us in good stead over the years. Good to know they take resos for the morning meal as well. Do report back if you have time as I'd love to hear a recent opinion on their breaky.

[c oliver]

I couldn't find on their website what time Café de la Presse opens for breakfast. I'm meeting a friend in the city this weekend and we're staying at the Triton. Sunday morning we have a cooking class that begins at 10 so we need breakfast, not brunch.

Café Bean looks good also but we may want to be closer.

TIA.

[c oliver]

Oops, just found it! Mon-Fri, they open at 730. Weekends at 8. That should be perfect. Thanks for the tip, gray.

[grayelf]

I do recall they open quite early which is handy. Let us know if you like it -- I'm thinking of heading back there in May as it's so close to our usual hotel.

[c oliver]

I'll definitely report back. I've walked by it a gazillion times but I'm more a dim sum for breakfast person. My friend wouldn't go along with that :(

[Steve Green]

If you're coming from Union Square, Pinecrest is about a block away, on Geary and Mason. Unexceptional diner breakfasts. Brenda's makes exceptional breakfasts IMO, but is an appx. 7-block walk, through a downright nasty neighborhood.

[GH1618]

Also a bit of a walk: Pinecrest Diner at Mason and Geary.

[ipsedixit]

If you don't a bit of a walk, try Brenda's.