I loved just about everything about La Tartine. The area where it resides, off Rua Augusta (a…read morestreet as legendary as Haight), is bustling with action. Fashionable young punks pour out of neighboring bars and restaurants - those who can't score a table sit with friends against the building façade with a shared bottle of beer between them.
Just around the corner from the main street action, we found the quaint spot, La Tartine: a true bistro with café tables assembled with just enough room to squeeze as many hungry, savvy diners in its 2-story villa. When we arrived, the lady informed us there'd be a 30 minute wait. It became clear this is a frequent occurrence after she waved us to the upstairs waiting room where we could order a cocktail. Caipirinhas, beers, wine - you'll find a stocked bar offering mostly the essentials. 30 minutes ended up being much shorter and before we even got our cocktails, we were escorted to our downstairs table.
The menu (all in French) is utterly petite. There were 3 specials (steak, chicken, salmon), a handful of salad choices, and a number of different quiches. Surely I went with the steak and found it cooked perfectly. The quiches stole the show however. Admittedly, quiche is the last thing I want for dinner (or perhaps at any point in the day), but I really loved their version (specifically the one with onions).
Budget-friendly, happily busy, and located around lots to do, I'll certainly be back to La Tartine.