Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Art's Cafe

    4.3 (1.4k reviews)
    Closed 7:30 am - 3:00 pm

    Art's Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    ART'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Art's Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Beef bulgogi plate
    Megan W.

    This is a convenient spot if you're near Golden Gate Park. They have a single bar of seating inside and the tables outside. As a table of four, we were grateful that the manager was willing to ask a party of two sitting at a four-top to relocate so that we could have a table sooner. The manager also stopped by to entertain us a little after a lengthy wait for our food. I had the beef Bulgogi plate which comes with rice and side salad. The food was delicious. Other menu items we ordered were pancakes, a hamburger, and the tuna melt. Everyone was happy with their food. The service was kind and professional, though the wait times were significant. $19 felt overpriced to me for the bulgogi plate considering 2/3 of my order were just white rice and a paltry salad. I would still recommend this family owned business. Just be prepared for the wait and the slightly overpriced food (which is hard to avoid in SF now). Oh, and try not to be swallowed by the tiny, cramped bathroom in the back. That was an experience all its own.

    Grilled Banana French Toast (walnuts And Whipped Cream)
    Rhea A.

    Sooo yummy and has the friendliest staff! Came here (hungover) for the first time and loved it. The waitlist looks like writing your name on the whiteboard and waiting until they call your name. Definitely worth the wait! I ordered the Bulgogi special and it was sooo tasty. I loved the cheese with the bulgogi and the hash browns. We also ordered the Grilled Banana French Toast to share between 3 ppl. It was just ok. It's a tight diner like space inside and you get to see the chef's chef it up. There is also outdoor seating too, but the Sunset is always chilly.

    Victoria T.

    I feel like it's not the same as it used to be. Service is quite slow and portions are smaller than a couple years ago. I normally get their bibimbap, which is good, but I feel like I get a bigger portion for the same price at other places! Art's is great for that nostalgic diner feel, but it's pretty mediocre now.

    Exterior
    Sally Y.

    Been twenty years or more since I was last at this counter diner cafe, bringing back nostalgia with my same friend who had breakfast with me here. Asked for a recommendation and ordered hash melt and banana French toast with bottomless coffees. Large portions and lots of carbs. International postcards lay on the counter. People are efficiently busy at work and it's a marvel to watch them in between eating and talking. Tiny place, so go early, because it can get full fast.

    Bugolgi hash brown sandwich with scrambled eggs
    Karen T.

    Shockingly my first time and not my last time! Perfection with the crispy hashbrown. The bugolgi beef was not too sweet, so yummy and a lot stuffed in the hashbrown. I got a side of pancakes and that was ok for me. It was a little tough but my friend likes it. I want to go back to try more. I had my friends French toast that was good

    Two Eggs Beef
    Sarah C.

    Small diner in the sunset, usually a wait! I got the eggs with bulgogi which was delicious and hit the spot. It is kind of pricey but I love the Asian influence and the vibe. You can see them preparing the food at the counter.

    Hot tea
    Makena L.

    Cute mom and pop shop! It's got a simple American brunch vibes. When we arrived around 9am, there was a waitlist posted outside. I don't think there was an online waitlist, so you'd have to arrive to put your name down. You could sign up to either wait for an inside or outside table (they listed expected wait times), but inside tables weren't available if you had a group of 5 or more. We sat outside since we had a group of 5. The wait for us was about 10-15 minutes. The outside seating is made of folding tables and chairs, which give a casual, easy ambiance. Service was nice! They came quickly to get our orders and give us water. I ordered the "Two Pancakes, Two Eggs, & Sausage" ($17.75). It was yummy, though personally I thought the scrambled eggs were a little overcooked. Pretty standard pancakes, perhaps a little dry, and sausage. Toppings for the pancakes came in little plastic containers. I also got a hot tea ($3.75), which was just hot water and a Bigelow tea packet. Personally, with what I ordered specifically, I think the price for what you get is lack luster. However, I didn't order any of the Korean fusion options or hash brown melts, so I would come back to try those next time!

    bulgogi beef hashbrown sandwich
    Thien H.

    Can't find many mom and pop places these days. A couple years ago a new mom and pop took over Art's Cafe which was run by a different couple for 30 years. They haven't changed much to the menu. The breakfast place still has Korean - American breakfast fusion options in addition to Korean and American favorites. I like my hashbrowns crispy and they did a good job here without making them overly oily. We ended up eating the hashbrown sandwiches with knives and forks but the concept is still cute. The eggs were expertly made, and the toast and English muffins were standard. They open early for breakfast which is nice because most of the restaurants nearby don't open until lunch or later. It's a convenient spot that is somewhat near Golden Gate Park's botanical garden, art museum, etc. They have parklet seating in addition to the inside diner bar. I wanna sit inside one day because it looks adorably nostalgic inside the restaurant.

    Tina L.

    A hole in the wall is the literal description of this place. Cozy small spot really makes you reminisce of the old days. Food was fresh as they cook it right in front of you. Really is amazing to see how your food is being prepared. It makes you respect those in the service industry more. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. Though to sit inside is most definitely a first come first serve type of environment. Very nice people working here would definitely come back if I am around the area.

    Postcard of people are recommending this place
    Joccy M.

    This weekend was my first time ever in San Francisco. Me and my husband were looking for a nice place to eat with great food, we came across this mama and Papa shop.. we got to interact with the owners and the owner son, which is something you don't see every day. Their service is 10 out of 10. Joe (the owner's son) was nice enough to kind of let down a to-do list in San Francisco. Something he did not have to do but was kind enough to share places he recommend the food was 10 out of 10. I got the steak and mushroom breakfast fireee my husband ended up getting the simple pancake and egg breakfast with the side of sausage biscuit uyyy yum ! Most definitely will be coming back

    The write up on their window
    Kari M.

    We loved our time at this restaurant! Our son got there ahead of time and put our name on the list. There is a counter insider with stools to sit on and tables outside undercover. We sat outside which was great. Our server brought coffee and water promptly and also took our order. There were so many things to choose from and I honestly don't think you could go wrong. The hash browns were great as were the hash brown sandwiches the omelette was a hit with my mom. I think it was $110.00 for the four of us with a tip. Also the wait staff is wonderful!!

    Bacon Avocado Cheeseburger with a everything and grilled onions
    Jennifer L.

    A great local spot that has the burger you're looking for! Glad I finally tried this place out in the neighborhood and I would recommend it for a comfort lunch day! Only complaint - fries were too overdone for me

    Ashley C.

    Great food and has very old-school vibes. The service is efficient. The open kitchen is a kinda cool with the classic diner set up. Food tastes fresh and was made well. Nothing blew my mind, but was solid.

    Steak and egg

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rhea A.
    308
    432
    1175

    9 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ben M.
    1591
    1072
    1976

    11 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Karen T.
    428
    1488
    3168

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Thien H.
    989
    1087
    6081

    1 year ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 4
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vivian W.
    79
    22
    11

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Judy D.
    2
    73
    61

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Robbie P.
    546
    21
    33

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 34

    Art's Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Art's Cafe

    Is it under new ownership?

    Yes it is! https://sf.eater.com/2021/2/8/22272777/diner-arts-cafe-inner-sunset-hash-brown-sandwiches

    Can someone help me find out if Arts is still open for take out during quarantine? 15may2020?

    They appear to be closed. I tried calling this morning (June 14) and got the message "the person you dialed can't take your call now".

    Great review on the food but how's the coffee.? No breakfast is good if the coffee isn't.

    The coffee is old school and ordinary. Don't go there for the coffee.

    Is the breakfast menu served all day?

    yes

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Diners 92,163 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Mel's Drive-In - Pesto Turkey Melt + Salad in back

    Mel's Drive-In

    3.4(2.9k reviews)
    3.6 miSoMa
    $$

    Mel's Drive-In is a fun, nostalgic spot that's definitely worth visiting--especially if you enjoy…read morethat classic retro diner vibe. The atmosphere really stands out, with a cool 50s theme that makes the whole experience feel unique and memorable. The burger was the highlight of the meal--juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right. It's exactly what you'd hope for from a place like this. The fries were decent, but nothing special--good enough, just not as standout as the burger. The cheese sticks were tasty and cooked well, but at around $18, they felt a bit overpriced for what you get. The restaurant was clean, and the staff were friendly and kept things moving smoothly. Overall, it's a great place to visit for the experience, solid food, and fun atmosphere. Not perfect across the board, but definitely a spot I'd recommend checking out at least once if you're in San Francisco.

    I remember this place being significantly better. We came after a late night Giants game because…read morenothing is better than good ole fashioned diner food. Greasy, salty and fatty. Here's what we got: 1. Banana milkshake 10/10 2. Coke float 10/10 3. Beef dip 2/10 4. Smash burger 6/10 Service was still great! There was only one server and the place started to get pretty packed so that's the good news. Also, forgot how nostalgic it is at a diner and one that still has a juke box. Come for the vibes and milkshakes.

    Photos
    Mel's Drive-In - Inside the diner

    Inside the diner

    Mel's Drive-In - Chilli cheese dog

    Chilli cheese dog

    Mel's Drive-In - Brunch in SF

    See all

    Brunch in SF

    Orphan Andy's - Milkshake

    Orphan Andy's

    3.5(1.2k reviews)
    1.7 miCastro
    $$

    Original. Iconic. Comfy food. Excited to dine here for the…read morefirst time while visiting SF! Service is on point. Staff is always quietly checking up on us and clearing unused items which is so thoughtful especially when someone at the table is in the middle of a story - so grateful! The ambiance is unpretentious, vibrant and welcoming. I look forward to dining here again when we return! Scroll through our meals in the photos attached and send some love Thank you Orphan Andy's for a memorable 5 star experience!

    Want a true San Francisco late night eats experience? Go to Orphan Andy's…read more Growing up in the city, me and my friends would always go to Orphan Andy's after a late night out. Orphan Andy's is located in the Castro, near the major Muni lines and the best part is? It's open late! They used to be 24 hours, but not sure if that's still true after Covid. A couple of friends and I went to a party downtown last Saturday night and we ended up here at 4:50AM. This place is a classic - super cozy and cute inside that just feels at home. No frills, very straightforward. Their menu is pretty standard. I ordered a decaf coffee (which I believe is bottomless) and a veggie omelette with feta cheese and I asked for crispy home fries, but it came out average - nothing to complain too much about. The server was able to split up the bill 3 ways, which was nice of her to do. I absolutely am so glad that Orphan Andy's is stiil around!

    Photos
    Orphan Andy's - Fun decor

    Fun decor

    Orphan Andy's
    Orphan Andy's - Philly cheesesteak

    See all

    Philly cheesesteak

    Mel's Drive-In - braised short rib dinner,

    Mel's Drive-In

    3.2(1.2k reviews)
    1.3 miLaurel Heights, Inner Richmond
    $$

    Honestly, I'd rate it more like a 3.5. The kids menu is…read moredefinitely worth it... everything is under $10 and a solid deal. They have a wide selection overall, and the short rib grilled cheese and omelettes are pretty good. That said, there's nothing particularly special about the food. I usually come here with a Groupon, which makes it feel like you're saving more than you actually are (it's really only about $7.50 that you're saving). I will say the service is consistently great. But if you're ordering off the regular menu, it feels overpriced for what you get and pretty average food at higher-than-average prices. My kids love it though, so for now, it's still our go-to spot!

    I want to drop Mel's at least a star, but I gave it two stars when I first reviewed it, and it…read morewould be dishonest of me to pretend that it has remained at two stars all these years, because I've come here occasionally in the intervening years and have mostly enjoyed myself. So it might have rated three stars before this past April. What happened in April? Well, I don't know whether it actually occurred in April, but in April, I noticed that Mel's very prominently advertises on its menu that it fries its fried foods in beef tallow. That means I can't eat French fries or onion rings from here, because they're needlessly not vegetarian. And while I'm not the most healthy person out there, I do notice when things probably aren't vegetarian. In short, I'm pretty sure this is a change, because I would have noticed this a long time ago and ordered accordingly. So why did Mel's make this change? Probably because its owners are MAHA people, and RFJ, Jr., and a bunch of other clueless people believe that seed oils are deadly. But even if you believe seed oils are deadly, there are other non-seed oils that aren't sourced from dead animals. I only noticed because it's printed on the menu, so it's not like Mel's is trying to hide this change--on the contrary, I think they really believe using beef tallow is a selling point. Except that there are expressly vegetarian items on the menu, including a veggie burger. Non-beef fries aren't even an option? Really? I must issue a GRATUITOUS MEAT ALERT. Other things annoy me about Mel's too. It's not open late enough. They do that stupid thing where they charge you a hidden fee to pay either their workers' salaries or for their health insurance. A Bunch of SF restaurants do this same thing; it's false advertising, and it should be illegal. Build the cost of doing business into your actual prices. It's not as if the restaurant is paying these fees; we customers are. Finally, the service has been atrocious the last two times I came here. If you don't have enough servers to offer good service, do not seat people. That's the time-tested solution. Seating people without enough help just makes everyone angry. This isn't a one-star review, because Mel's is useful in a late-night bind and has a parking lot. If more places in San Francisco were open late or at least until ten p.m., Mel's would probably only warrant one star. Still, I can't see coming here anytime soon, especially after such recent bad service. It's also really expensive, even pre-hidden fee.

    Photos
    Mel's Drive-In - What a lineup.

    What a lineup.

    Mel's Drive-In - Breakfast burrito

    Breakfast burrito

    Mel's Drive-In - Cup of chili

    See all

    Cup of chili

    Caché - Sliced Beef w/ burned leek puree, sausage brunoise, mustard ($40)

    Caché

    4.1(166 reviews)
    0.1 miInner Sunset
    $$$

    We hosted a 20-person corporate dinner at Cache and were incredibly impressed with both the food…read moreand the service. As the event planner, I had several last-minute headcount and timing changes. Florent, the manager, handled everything with so much professionalism, flexibility, and a great sense of humor. It made a last minute high-pressure work dinner feel easy. The restaurant may feel intimate, but do not underestimate their capacity. The same evening we were there, they were hosting another group our size and the kitchen executed flawlessly. Every course was presented beautifully and was so delicious. Service was just perfect and warm across the board. Jeron (our waiter), Captain Devyn, the bartender (*footnote: drinks are fantastic and they have several N/A options), and the host team were attentive without being intrusive, exactly what you want for a business dinner. Cache works great for: * Corporate group dinners * Client entertainment * Romantic date nights *** This one for sure * Private patio gatherings ***Perfect for a Birthday or Anniversary, I am thinking about it for my hubs If you're planning a group dinner in San Francisco and think it might be "too small," don't skip it. They are extremely capable and run a tight, professional operation. I LOVED this place, can you tell!!? We'll absolutely be back.

    3.5 stars Good but…read moreunmemorable, not dying to revisit. But can see it being a nice neighborhood restaurant option for people who live nearby. We got: Bread and Butter - Simple but good bread. Scallop Carpaccio / Yellow Corn Puree / Brown Butter / Celery - Scallop was very tender and delicious, although I don't know if I loved the pairing with the celery Duck Breast, Sweet Apple / Creamy Polenta / Shallot Red Wine Sauce - I liked how the duck paired with the slight sweetness from the apple, and I think this was most people's favorite of the night. Duroc Pork Tenderloin Eggplant Puree - Cubes / Chorizo Cream Sauce / Hazelnut - not bad but probably my least favorite of the mains Petrale sole, Parsnip / Green Apple / Dry Vermouth - Tarragon - I actually quite liked this, it was probably my personal favorite main, which is surprising because I don't usually love creamy sauces and sold. Warm Cookie, Caramel, Peanuts, Sweet Almand Gelato - Too sweet for me with the caramel, but otherwise a very well executed warm cookie. If you're a skillet cookie fan, I think this would be up your alley. I can't put a finger on it but overall pleasant meal that somehow I just didn't love. I think it might just be this type of cuisine that's a bit heavier than I personally like.

    Photos
    Caché
    Caché - Manila clams

    Manila clams

    Caché - Bread Bowl

    See all

    Bread Bowl

    Breakfast at Tiffany's - Chicken Eggs Benedict Croissant French Toast

    Breakfast at Tiffany's

    4.0(1.3k reviews)
    4.1 miPortola, Excelsior
    $$

    I recently returned to the Silver Terrace area where I grew up and was on the hunt for a great…read morebreakfast spot. What a fantastic find in the San Bruno Ave strip! I ordered Tiffany's Classic Breakfast with bacon and the Avocado Toast special, and both dishes were incredible. The Classic Breakfast was satisfying, while the Avocado Toast was fresh and delicious. The ambiance of the place is cozy and inviting, perfect for a leisurely brunch. It was great to meet the owner, Patty, who was so welcoming, and our friendly server, Song, made our experience even better with their attentive service. All in all, this place is a must-visit, Highly recommend!

    The place itself is semi crowded but still pretty quiet, and I do like the classic diner style…read moreambiance. It feels comfortable and familiar, which is what drew me in. The menu has a lot of classic American breakfast options, which sounded great. I ordered the trio eggs benedict and asked for extra crispy hash browns, but unfortunately the hash browns came out barely cooked and borderline raw. My bacon never came out at all, which was disappointing. On top of that, the food took a really long time to arrive. It seemed like they were overwhelmed with delivery orders, which is probably why everything felt slow. On the positive side, the waitresses were fast, attentive, and kept the place clean. Service itself wasn't the issue, it was more the kitchen timing and missed items. Overall, I like the vibe and the staff, but the food execution and long wait really took away from the experience.

    Photos
    Breakfast at Tiffany's - Mimosa

    Mimosa

    Breakfast at Tiffany's - Croissant French Toast

    Croissant French Toast

    Breakfast at Tiffany's - Nice mug

    See all

    Nice mug

    Mel's Drive-In - Melburger with Onion Rings

    Mel's Drive-In

    3.0(875 reviews)
    2.9 miMarina/Cow Hollow
    $$

    Ahh bummer they have closed! No wonder those Almond Slivers…read moreon my sundae were stale. Going out of business stale. Well the ambience is empty- just a parking lot. No more service. Farewell to all the good times!

    I feel a little bit bad writing a bad review of this Mel's location, as it had a major fire a few…read moredays after I ate here with my parents and niece. But this is Yelp, man; you can do whatever you want as long as you're reviewing honestly and not getting quid-pro-quoed to do so. I know Mel's Drive-In. One of this Mel's Drive-In's selling points when I came here late at night recently was that it was open. Another was that it had a parking lot. Check to both, but with some grains of salt. THE PARKING SITUATION Yes, it has parking. But beware! It's one-way for some ridiculous reason, and the only legal way to enter is from Lombard Street. That's right; although the parking lot is attached to Lombard, Steiner, and Moulton Streets, you're only legally allowed to enter from Lombard Street, which is a huge busy street that's difficult, if not illegal, to make U-turns on. If anything, you should be forced to exit onto Lombard and be allowed to enter at or exit from either Steiner or Moulton, but nope, you'll be breaking the law to do what's convenient to both you and most other drivers. Great work, Mel's. THE INTERIOR It's weird. And small. And crowded. The bathrooms are kinda gross. Fifties diners make me think of comfortable booths. I know that Mel's is a '40s drive-in--supposedly--not a '50s diner, but booths are booths. Why aren't they more of them, and why is that weird seating area right in the middle of the restaurant? THE FOOD If you can call it that. I had the worst restaurant omelette I've ever had in my life. It was supposed to have veggies and cheese. Instead of being inside the omelette, all the veggies were underneath it, as in the cook put veggies on my plate, and then he put the cheesy omelette on top of it. My dad ordered the same thing, and his came out the same stupid way. THE SERVICE Friendly, but impossible to flag down. They have a lot of people working, but only your person can help you with your problem, even if it's an any-person problem like needing more napkins or salt. It also took forever for our food to come out. We could see and hear the cooks having a grand old time in the kitchen, and the servers were bringing things out to people, but our meal was awkward, because my niece's plate came out four minutes before my mom's, which came out seven minutes before my dad's and mine. I still kind of like the Mel's on Geary. Maybe that's just for nostalgia reasons, but I will say that I've never had poor service there, and the food is generally good. This Mel's, on the other hand, was a joke. I was embarrassed to bring people here, even if they were my seventeen-year-old niece and my parents. (My niece had been here before with her friends late at night, that little social butterfly.) I didn't pay, but I saw the bill. It's just as expensive (which means too expensive) as its Geary Boulevard location, but with way less value.

    Photos
    Mel's Drive-In
    Mel's Drive-In - He got a cheeseburger w American and curly fries.

    He got a cheeseburger w American and curly fries.

    Mel's Drive-In - I got a blue cheese burger (they loaded it on!) w onion rings. Darn tasty!

    See all

    I got a blue cheese burger (they loaded it on!) w onion rings. Darn tasty!

    St. Francis Fountain - Fried egg sandwich

    St. Francis Fountain

    4.0(1.3k reviews)
    3.2 miMission
    $$

    St Francis Fountain is a legacy business, the oldest on 24th street, and there's a reason why…read morethey've been around serving up some of the best diner food in SF since 1918!!! I stopped by for breakfast early on Saturday. There's the main restaurant with tables and bar seating, and they have the restaurant space next door with even more tables. Apparently at peak brunch time, the whole space is packed even the outdoor seating. The whole time our service was fantastic, it wasn't super busy so they were also able to give us a little history about Saint Francis fountain and the building. The space has that classic diner decor, fresh pothos cuttings at every table, I felt the good energy. The coffee was good, no frills diner coffee. We ordered the chef's mess side of banana bread (the warm it up straight on the grill), biscuits and gravy with poached eggs, and the sourdough French toast with banana walnut topping. Was this too much food for two people? Of course. When you look at this incredible menu, good luck choosing only 1 thing! The food came out hot and very big portions. The biscuits and gravy were perfect. The gravy was creamy with nice size chunks of sausages, cooked so well, sausage wasn't overcooked. The biscuits were so soft, buttery. The home style spuds were seasoned really well, paired really well with my eggs and biscuits and gravy. I was so happy. The sourdough French toast was so good. The fresh banana topping with walnut and a little butter in one bite, wow!! It was also done so well, sourdough wasn't mushy at all. My partner enjoyed their chef's mess. It was seasoned well, cooked well, and the mushrooms in it were great! Overall, this is a very memorable breakfast for me. I can't wait to go back to try more on the menu. They had so many good options in the quality of food was fantastic. I think this is generally one of my favorite spots in the city for a classic diner breakfast.

    Been coming here 20 plus years now & it has changed in just that short amount of time. Considering…read moreits been open and serving similar food since 1918 I'd say they pass the diner test with a solid B or 4/5 stars. Service sucks here and it always has since I can remember but this time one guy in particular was pretty nice to us. At least there are way less hipsters and scene kids working here now. The ambiance and food is what I come here for and that has stayed the same over the years. Its one of the top 10 diners in SF for me with the BEST pancakes!!!! Of course I love the " thing" too. Will continue to come back bc of the nostalgia & items mentioned above.

    Photos
    St. Francis Fountain - A view from our booth to the opposite side wall in the back.

    A view from our booth to the opposite side wall in the back.

    St. Francis Fountain - The Chef's Mess. Eggs, bacon, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, peppers and delicious.

    The Chef's Mess. Eggs, bacon, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, peppers and delicious.

    St. Francis Fountain - Persephone

    See all

    Persephone

    Art's Cafe - diners - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...