Kantine is a gem. Minimal Scandinavian interior, a tight but well-curated menu, and nice staff. I went straight for the classics: pickled herring in creamy mustard sauce on rye bread (housemade, rich, but with a kick) and a cardamom bun that was soft, fragrant, and with the right level of sweetness. Coffee alongside made it a perfect lunch. Small charming detail: your order comes with a card bearing the name of a famous person instead of a number. Great spot for a weekday lunch with a friend or to stock up on Nordic baked goods and rye bread to take home. read more

Kantine - Pastries - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

I think I have a bit of a different perspective since I'm vegan, so I can only really speak to the vegan options. The coffee here is actually very good, although I found the drinks to be on the smaller side for the price. It's a cute café with a nice atmosphere, and I can definitely see why it's a popular brunch spot. That said, the vegan selection is very limited. Even looking at the menu as a whole, it seems like most of the dishes really shine because they rely on dairy, eggs, or other animal products. If you're vegan, I don't think this is the best value. There are several other cafés within walking distance, especially around Hayes Valley, that offer more creative vegan options for a similar price. I'd recommend checking those out instead if you're looking for a satisfying vegan brunch. If you're not vegan, I can absolutely see why this place has a strong following. The coffee is excellent, the space is inviting, and it's worth stopping by for a drink since the staff is friendly too! read more

My ideal rating for Kantine is a 4.5, with the pastries being the positive contributor and the cafe food menu being the more negative contributor. Overall, it's a solid experience, and I do think pastries are a must if you want to have the best time. I've been here twice now with friends after seeing it consistently popping on the weekends. My first time around, we got the wild salmon bowl, the yogurt bowl, and some pastry that I can't fully recall. Things were good/mid, for lack of a better term. The salmon bowl was definitely fresh, and the flavors meshed well, but I felt I could pull off the same thing at home pretty easily. Most of all, the portion was quite small for the price. My friend enjoyed her yogurt bowl, but the yogurt:topping ratio felt pretty imbalanced to me. One of my peeves with cafe yogurt bowls is when there is simply too much yogurt. It's so important to have a good amount of texture so that you're not left just eating tart glop (mind you, I love yogurt). The pastry we had was completely fine. I can't even remember it, so I wouldn't recommend it. The second time around, things were much better. For one, I was able to get the cardamom bun, which I know is the thing to get. I also got the Kolasnittar and the smashed chickpea spread sandwich. I was a bit skeptical, but that cardamom bun is bomb. A really gorgeous, buttery, pillowy texture, lightly crisp exterior, sweet but not too sweet, beautiful aroma, beautiful in general. Like everyone else, I would definitely recommend. The Kolasnittar was quite yummy as well! I love ginger, and I felt the cookie had a good mix of crunch and chew. The sandwich had the makings of being good, but that bread... is for a certain palate. It's super seedy, hearty, and hard, and also kind of dry. The sandwich filling was nice overall. I wouldn't have been mad at more salt and/or tang, but the bread was the biggest detractor. That being said, it definitely felt healthy and like it would keep me regular lol. So there's that. I have yet to order a housemade drink from them, but they look great. I will also say the other pastries they have look amazing. I'll probably stick more to those two categories in the future! read more

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If I could do 4.5, maybe that would closer to my rating. We had a great breakfast here! The salad was delicious with the added egg and I particularly enjoyed the goat cheese in there. Also shared the trout sandwich and the cardamom bun which were great bites. Coffee was also surprisingly delicious. Overall I think the ceiling for this genre of cuisine is capped at such a degree, but Kantine matched that energy and was a solid option. Will definitely be back if I'm craving Scandinavian. read more

first time to kantine! While walking around the city Actually would've never noticed it had we been walking by it? But we wondered what all the commotion was outside of the establishment And lone behold it was brunch. I ended up getting a few pastries here. A little too sweet to my liking, but now I can say I can try it. The service here was not bad, the line moved pretty quick for a weekend café read more

Kantine - interesting pastries - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

not a single miss here, everything is filling and appetizing. I love the fresh and tangy flavor profiles of my favorite things here like the yogurt and the seeded rye bread. It's a good price point as well. The service is at the kiosk and you order after viewing the display and menu. it's usually quiet on weekdays and busier on weekends but ambiance is casual and simple. read more

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Cardamom morning bun: 5/5 Ginger slice cookie: 4.5/5 Bread pudding: 4.2/5 Cardamom knot: 4/5 Jam caves: 3.5/5 Cinnamon knot: 2.5/5 Rye chocolate chunk cookie: 1.5/5 read more

Kantine - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Kantine is such a cute, fun brunch spot. There is a good amount of seating inside and outside, you pay at the counter and they bring the food/drinks to you, and you bus your own tables afterwards. We got there before the line started, but it seems they get very busy on the weekends around 11am ish. The coffee was yummy and strong and the cardamom knot was delicious. The brunch plate was fun, but my favorite thing was definitely the jam. The rye was seedier than I was used to, the cheese wasn't super sharp and the yogurt was a bit boring so I would probably try something new next time. Still, a very fun experience and I'll be back! read more

Kantine - Brunch plate and Grovbirkes Sandwich (add ham and cheese) - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love to try unique cafes and this Scandinavian one is a little gem! The atmosphere is bright and airy, and although there's a line, it moves quickly. With every item in the pastry shelf looking absolutely amazing, it was hard to decide! We ended up ordering the cardamom knot which I thought was delicious and perfectly fluffy. We also ordered the lox bagel sandwich which hit the spot. While eating, my food envy led me to ask the table next to me about their egg sandwich which looked fantastic too. It's called the Grovbirkes sandwich, so I'm adding that to my order for next time! Seating can be hard to find on a weekend to be honest but may have opened up if we lingered for a while. We ended up sitting in a cozy bench corner which was fine but would have been hard to eat a larger meal. Go check it out :) read more

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Scandinavian pastry is high on my radar these days. I'm tired of croissants. Give me cardamom pastries! Poppy seeded pastry. That's why I am SO excited by Kantine. It is in the middle of Upper Market near the Old Mint. Some savvy folks know about it and go for their brunch. Porridge? Soft cooked eggs? Pastries...yup, I'll go for these! Service was calm & steady and went pretty quickly. Charming, calm ambiance early in the morning. Seats outside on Market Street go quickly. I bought a cardamom morning bun. A bit too Sugary sweet...but Deliciously scented and crispy outer shell yet moist inside. I also could not pass up their savory pain suisse with veggies inside. Buttery flaky pastry with a savory filling...so delicious! I'll be back again soon to try more! read more

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I've had Kantine on my want-to-go list for such a long time, and I finally checked it off over the weekend with my friend. We stopped by for a round of cinnamon knots and enjoyed them fresh outside in the pleasant weather. The pastries were lightly sweet with a pretty soft chew despite the browned exterior. I thought there were salt crystals on top of the buns, but it turned out to be a type of sugar. It's kind of hard to accurately critique this place after only sampling one item, but for my first time, between the cinnamon knot and chill environment, it was a 4/5 experience. Next time I'd like to branch out and try one of the savory dishes. read more

Kantine - outdoor sign - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Kantine is a charming and unique spot in the Duboce Triangle area. I went in on a Saturday morning at about 10am and it was pretty crowded. Outside was full and there was a couple spots inside that I had to snag pretty quickly. But there's a reason they are so busy, the food is absolutely spectacular. I got the cardamom bun which is one of my favorite Nordic pastries and it was just as I remembered it. Super flavorful, very soft, just an incredible pastry. I had it with coffee too which was also delicious. My friend got the yoghurt which was thick and flavorful and topped with unique toppings and a delicious apple sauce. I can't wait to come back and try more of their menu. Definitely a new go-to place in the city for me. read more

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A very stylish spot to meet friends or hang out for a few hours. The staff was lovely, the interior and exterior seating was plentiful, and there were so many tasty looking things on the menu! I ended up having their salmon bowl, an iced tea, and a cardamom bun and everything was tasty and refreshing, if a bit small portioned given the price. Pros: - very tasty food with fresh ingredients - cardamom bun was slightly sticky and spiced with a hint of sweetness, perfect in my opinion - plentiful, nice seating - in an area with street parking a block or two away Cons: - on the more expensive side - small portions - limited gluten free selection read more

Kantine - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Went here on a Sunday morning to enjoy a brunch. There was a bit of a line, but it was a really nice day so one of us grabbed a table outside and the other one ordered. We went with the brunch plate with sourdough, the shrimp salad smorebrod and a cardamom knot. Also got some orange juice and a cafe latte. We really liked the cardamom knot. Very light and flavorful, not as heavy as a an American cinnamon bun. I also enjoyed the smorebrod with the shrimp salad. Bread was great and good portion of the salad. The brunch plate was also a good mixture of jam, cheese, butter, yoghurt and some nice bread. Some of the other sandwiches also looked great and the pastries as well. Would definitely be back and check out more of their offerings. Staff were super nice. read more

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Deliciousness all around! We ordered the Savory Porridge, Trout Scandwich, Golden Klint drink and the Choux bun! I've never had savory porridge in this way - with grains, mushroom, kale and cheese but all the flavors worked so well together and was a light clean dish! The Trout Scandwich was also super tasty with the crispy sprouted rye buns and flavorful cream cheese, purple onions and trout! I ordered the Golden Klint with oat milk and it was such a warm and cozy drink which reminded me a bit like eggnog flavor! The choux bun had the perfect amount of cream and crispy so chefs kiss! Service was quick and servers were very attentive. The only downside would probably be the lack of seating sometimes especially on a busy Sunday but people were nice to share tables with us! Will definitely stop by again to try the rest of the menu :) read more

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Cardamon twist. Open face sandwich. Great hot tea. The coffee...sour but some enjoy this. read more

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SCANDI-TASTIC!!! Simple beautiful menu - Kale salad with farro & beets, Smoked Trout & Potato Bowl, Lovely eggs scrambled with herbs --- YUM fish (trout, herring with mustard, trout salad) --- bountiful baked gems (sprouted rye bread - cardamom knots, twists, rye chocolate chip cookies & cake specials) LINE UP moves fast - ORDER AT COUNTER - FOOD & COFFEE DELIVERED TO YOU WHEN READY - ABOUT 10 TABLES INSIDE & 10 TABLES OUTSIDE on the sidewalk HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - simple clean food & kind crew read more

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We ordered the $40 cookie box for Christmas Eve and it was just OK. The display was really pretty and the cookies looked nice, but the only ones we really liked were the butter wreaths. We did appreciate the service as they were ready when we asked for them to be ready because you had to pre-order them. read more

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Awesome Swedish bakery full of authentic pastries and breads. The coffee is just like Swedish. They use quality ingredients. I had the rye bread to take home it's excellent. They are very popular and busy. Definitely would go back I highly recommend them! read more

Kantine - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I came here for a light brunch with a friend because we were intrigued by what a Swedish breakfast entailed. I was super excited to try the porridges -- got the sweet three grain porridge and it was very good! The flavor combo is awesome - love the crisp thinly sliced pairs and the walnut butter was sooo tasty. I should try to buy that somewhere... Am curious about the savory porridges too! The cardamom knot was overrated - it did not taste like cardamom. Would skip. The inside is very minimalist and clinically white, and it's a self-serve kiosk. Came on a Saturday and it was very calm inside. No complaints but this is not somewhere I go usually because I feel like I can make a bowl of oatmeal at home that's not too far off a porridge lol - not a fault of the restaurant but just the category of food read more

Kantine - SWEET 3-GRAIN PORRIDGE - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Stopped by Kantine this morning and was impressed. Their decaf coffee has a real kick to it - finally found a place that doesn't skimp on flavor. The sweet porridge was divine (10/10) - creamy with the right hints of tartness from the stone fruit and strawberries. Such a thoughtful balance of flavors. Also tried the grovbirkes sandwich (8/10)- loved how flaky the pastry was but wished there were something else to enhance the sandwich more. The ambiance really ties it all together - cozy, welcoming atmosphere that makes you want to linger over your meal. Will be back to try Hot Smoked Trout Bowl! read more

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On a Friday at 12, it was packed, perhaps because it was a sunny day. I ordered a cardamom knot ($5.50) - delicious, lots of flavor, soft inside. Some seating indoors, outdoors was a little tougher. They do set up quite a few tables though, and luckily we were able to snag one big enough for two people right as someone left. Good energy though, felt cozy and bright. It is right along market, and sometimes cars can be loud. Besides that, the noise level was good enough for having conversation. Service was friendly and quick. You get a number after you order and they bring out your order to your table. read more

Kantine - CARDAMOM KNOT - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Lovely spot for a nice breakfast or brunch. Didn't get the opportunity to try any baked goods but their bread was bursting with flavor and had a nice sour taste to it. Quite busy but line moved quickly read more

Kantine - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

I believe this bakery made must-visit-bakeries in SF and rightfully so. An absolute gem, especially if you love cardamom. I always get their morning bun which is flaky buttery cardamom-y goodness.Their iced cardamom latte is so beautiful and lightly sweet. In the summer they bring out their iced mint shakerato which was other worldly and I fixated on until it went out of season lol. The weekends get a lil busy but the line moves and usually if you wait 5 min you'll find a seat. Love coming here to read when it's less busy like on the weekdays. Friendly staff, beautiful interior, 10/10. read more

Kantine - Morning bun, cardamom kaffe - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was excited to check out Kantine because I heard about their build your own board but was sad to hear that they no longer have that option on the menu when I went April 2025. I ended up getting the scandi breakfast sampler which comes with a soft boiled egg, yogurt with granola, jam, butter and havarti cheese. I chose the Swedish flatbread for the bread and added a pickled herring scoop ($4). While everything was fresh, it definitely felt like a girl breakfast with a handful of cold items and I wished there was something warm or cooked. Perhaps I should have chosen something else but the flatbread was dense and flavorless and generally everything was a bit bland. Honestly nothing that special and I could have easily prepared it myself. I'm glad I got the pickled herring as I love dill and pickled fish in general so I enjoyed it. I also tried my friend's apple bread pudding which was pretty good. Perhaps the pastries are better than the food. read more

Kantine - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

A nice local gem that is open and friendly....making the best drinks ... outdoor seating is nice if weather is cooperative read more

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I'm really glad Kantine exists! I was really curious about cardamom buns (the cardamom knot) after learning about them while planning a trip to CPH. I still haven't been to CPH but feel like I'm already in Denmark whenever I go here. The Market Street gem is simple and spacious and youll be greeted with very unique looking breads and pastries when you enter. The staff has always been friendly and helpful as well. So far I've had the rye bread, cardamom morning bun, cardamom knot, cardamom latte, lavender latte and chickpea sandwich. My personal favorites are the cardamom knot and lavender latte. Both are 10/10. My rating for cardamom knot based on temperature: Room temp: 7/10 Lighted heated in microwave: 9/10 Fresh out the oven: 11/10!!! Even though maybe an 8/10, I would get the chickpea sandwich again because it's hearty, pretty good, healthy and the bun has a nice crisp to it! I will be going back to Kantine over and over as I have established favorites but also have many things I'm excited to try. The prices here are also reasonable! read more

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This is my cousin's restaurant - and though she's not vegan - I trust her with food more than most people. If you haven't tried Kantine - hop on public transit and head over immediately! read more

We visited Kantine because I was intrigued by their porridge. I am used to asian style rice porridges with a softer consistency. This nordic version had more of a grainy texture and I did not mind at all! I liked the varied textures from the different grains. the mushrooms and farmers cheese all mixed together made it a really comforting dish. I did wish it came hotter though. We also tried a few items from their deli sides menu and the trout salad and carrot hummus both really stood out. These two were probably our favorite items. The egg in spinach sauce was a little bland, and we preferred the sourdough over rye bread. Would def be back to try more sides/dips and their pastries! read more

Kantine - savory 3 grain porridge - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here on Sunday 6/15/25 at 10:30am. It's easy to find street parking space. It's almost a full house inside the restaurant and also outdoor seats. We ordered the SAVORY GRAIN PORRIDGE, HERRING + BEET OPEN-FACED sandwich , SMASHED CHICKPEA SPREAD, YOGURT BOWL, and two TEBIRKES. My favorite dish was porridge. It's so creamy with mushroom, pine nuts, kale, egg, cheese, etc. I love the combinations. My second favorite was the Tebirkes with poppy-topped and almond-filled. It's flaky and not too sweet. The Yogurt bowl was watery like a yogurt drink but I like the combinations though. The Herring beet open faced was so fishy and didn't taste the beet flavor. Sorry I don't like the texture of it. And the Smashed chickpea spread was so dry. Overall, we enjoyed our time here. Thank you! :) read more

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the cardamom knot ($5.50) was so soft and flavorful! wasn't too sweet and you could taste the cardamom very well but it wasn't overpowering read more

Kantine - CARDAMOM KNOT - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

The pictures on DoorDash are fake. This was the most disappointing sandwich I've ever seen and they lie about what's in it in the description and photos. Never ordered here again unfortunately. I was excited to find a healthy place too. read more

Kantine - What I ordered - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Cute vibe inside but super cramped and crowded because all the tables are squished together. Wouldn't recommend coming here with a big group but it's good for 1-4 people! Food options were very unique since it's scandinavian style breakfast/brunch. Options felt very healthy and fresh. Their pastries looked interesting -- didn't get any this time, but I would try next time! I got the savory porridge and added bacon and egg, and it was a really big portion. Super filling and hearty, and interesting textures from the different grains inside the porridge. The cheese was really good in it too. Bacon added a nice savory note that was otherwise only present in the dish from the mushrooms. Tried my friend's kale salad and it was pretty good as well. Service was pretty quick and it's all mostly self serve / self seat! read more

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I've wanted to try Kantine for a while now, and it did not disappoint. The ambiance is lovely with lots of cute signs, decor, and aesthetic table numbers. There is also plenty of seating inside/outside. As for food and pastries, everything looked and tasted so fresh. I tried one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've ever had and fell in love with the cinnamon knot. I tried a few other pastries, but the cinnamon knot was the clear winner. While pricey, the food kept me full for a long time, was high quality, and was unique as there are not many Scandinavian spots in the city! I hope in the future, Kantine adds more merch because I'd love to get a tote bag or shirt or mug in the future. Lastly, I didn't find the staff when ordering to be very friendly as I felt I navigated the conversation more so. Everyone who brought our food out was very kind though! read more

What a great place to meet up with a friend for a yummy and healthy brunch. Transport to vacation mode; a celebration of food. Cortado coffee with latte art was great tasting. Poppy Seed Almond Paste Roll was flaky and not too sweet with the almond paste. So good with the coffee. Savory Grain Porridge with added egg was hardy and healthy. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of seed, mushrooms were the star of the show. read more

Kantine - Savory Grain Porridge - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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TLDR: I think this place has a lot of potential so I caveat this review by saying that I need to come back to try other things. But the food items I did get just truly did not impress me this time around. Service and ambiance were great, and there's lots of parking nearby that was convenient. Reasonable prices and was super popular for Saturday lunch. ------ FOOD: 1. Tebirkes (5/5) - One of their most popular items and understandably so. It's the Scandinavian version of an almond croissant, with the most notable difference being the poppy seeds on top vs sliced almonds. The almond paste inside was perfectly sweet and the pastry was flaky and crispy. 2. Coriander, Pear, Sweet Cream Danish (4/5) - Good flavor, especially from the sweet cream. I think the danish itself was a little underwhelming and this would have been so much better if they could have toasted it to give it some life back. 3. Roasted Broccoli "Scandwich" (2/5) - This is roasted broccoli with curried tarragon dressing in rye bread a little bigger than the size of your palm. Unfortunately this really missed for me. I was eager to try this rye bread that they're known for, but while I loved all the seeds, the bread itself tasted cold and a little stale. The broccoli was limp inside and it was hard to bite through. I also barely tasted the sauce, which probably had soaked into the bread by lunchtime so the bread was soggy but the sandwich in general was dry? Toasting this and serving it warm also could have saved it a bit! I'll be back to try their porridges, grovbirkes sandwich, and cardamom morning bun. ------ AMBIANCE / ENVIRONMENT: * This place is so cute. It lets in so much light from the huge widows that line the front of the bakery, and there are a lot of tables both inside and outside * While on Market Street, I found the area to be neighborhood-y and safe. There was also a lot of parking available right on Hermann Street which was super convenient * A cute place to read or work in the morning or afternoon, but given how busy they got for lunch, probably best not to work at one of the tables during the lunch rush ------ SERVICE: * Super friendly staff and they'll bring any prepared foods out to your table which is nice (they'll give you a sign for your table) * Self-serve cutlery and water, though they will wipe down tables in between guests * You can put your dishes away at one of the stations at the end of your meal read more

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We love coming to Kantine. They have the best breakfast sandwich in the city. All of their pastries are fresh and super yummy. The coffee that they serve is always so good! I love getting either the breakfast sandwich or the yogurt bowl. My mom ordered the smoke salmon bowl and really enjoyed it. The service is quick and friendly. The restaurant is light and airy and has lots of inside and outside seating. Such a great spot for quick healthy bite! read more

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Came for a bite and was delish. I hadn't been in a while but I pass it all the time and is always pretty busy. Thankfully it wasn't too full midday on a weekday. It's cute inside and a nice outdoor seating area. All the pastries are flaky and a bit unique than a traditional bakery. Their plated items are also really good and filling. Recommend and am never disappointed! read more

Kantine - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Updated review from second visit (so I can remember what I liked). Service was friendly, food took a bit longer to arrive this time, looks like they were fairly busy Sunday around 1pm. We ordered: - Drip coffee and decaf Americano: 4/5 - large portions, very light flavors - Tebirkes: 5/5 - had to revisit again, so delicious - Summer salad: 4/5 - was good, but missed something, maybe goat cheese? Maybe sliced red onions? More acidity? - Grovbirkes with ham: 4.5/5 - very good seeded sandwich (baked good?), flaky, yummy eggs and ham - Scandi brunch sampler: 2/5 - 2 slices of bread, 2 slices of cheese, some butter, jam, hard boiled egg, and yogurt. Very simple, fairly pricey for what it is. Good to try, but wouldn't get it again. Next time can't wait to try more baked goods, maybe salmon or trout sandwich. All in all still really like this place - inside was stuffy! read more

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I came here around 11am on Thursday with one of my friends. Very warm day but decided to stay inside and we were able to find a seat immediately. We ordered one of the special dishes (soup with mushrooms, barley), a piece of bread and one sweet for me (sorry I don't remember the name). The soup was very good, simple but good, bread was good too maybe not very soft, and the sweet was delicious! I liked also the americano I ordered. The ambiance is nice and friendly too. read more

Kantine - Scandinavian Near Me - San Francisco, California