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    The Sentinel

    4.1 (1.3k reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 2:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    The Sentinel Photos

    Business Info

    THE SENTINEL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - The Sentinel

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    Reviews With Photos

    Mei-Sa Y.

    The warm, fresh-baked, generously sized muffins at The Sentinel (almost) make me look forward to my in-office days. Those sweet delights are a small and highly valued reward that I promise to myself to make up for the pain of the commute. The Sentinel's a tiny, easy-to-miss, grab-and-go storefront with fast, friendly and efficient staff. I've only ever had their muffins, but, after the first one, have kept going back for more. If those baked goods are any indication of what the rest of the sandwich-centric menu tastes like, don't hesitate, just go.

    Jason F.

    What a find! I was looking for a breakfast sandwich and noticed their cool black board before I saw their store's sign. The wood covering most of the infront facing service area also makes it hard to notice this place I got a breakfast sandwich the ham, soft egg, and the pesto really blended flavors well together. There's no where to sit of course, and parking is tough to find. Seems like a place for the busy people who work in the area. would recommend this place for anyone in the area

    Kathy L.

    Newly returning to the office and no longer familiar with what's in the area to grab lunch--I was recommended that tiny sandwich spot near my office. Literally looks like a little hole in the wall. Look for the House of Shields sign above it. I've walked past this place from across the street and never really noticed it. The was a short wait on my visit, but the line goes fast. If you want to avoid a wait, go early. It was a short and simple sandwich menu that's posted on the wall. I ordered the barbecue beef short rib sandwich with caramelized onions and it was packed with a generous amount of meat and served with pickles on the side. The sandwich was juicy so it was a little messy eating. It's a great sandwich & if you work in the area, worth checking out.

    Muffaletta Sandwich with Coppa, Mortadella, Capicola, Green Olive Relish, and Provolone Cheese
    Mike L.

    Back when I worked on the Peninsula, places like The Sentinel were the exact reason why I wished I worked downtown. Not because I had heard they were amazing or because there weren't interesting places like this where I worked, but rather, I would hear about popular eateries like this in FiDi and SoMa and I could never check them out since they were only open on weekdays! Thank goodness all of that has changed, though ironically enough, now that I work in FiDi/SoMa, I miss being able to get my fixes of pho so easily. I guess the grass really is always greener... Now, in the spirit of transparency, I have to admit that my first visit here was actually more than a year ago. After drafting my original review (my comments on the first sandwich are still the same), I was so torn on how many stars to give, I figured a second trip would help break the tie. That said, I may not have any idea as to why it took me so long to come back, but at least it helped me to finally decide! In the time in between, the menu seems to have evolved a bit (their list of sandwiches is pretty different), but their offerings are no less delicious than they were before. -- MUFFALETTA SANDWICH with Coppa, Mortadella, Capicola, Green Olive Relish, and Provolone Cheese...$11 (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-sentinel-san-francisco?select=_SZtrVQuzH32whRBf5i2Zg) This is what I had the first time, and while it sounded terrific, this was just okay. The coppa and capicola were both great, and I liked the taste of the bread (despite how it was a bit dry), but I didn't care much for the mortadella and the olive relish was rather overpowering. -- FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH with Napa Cabbage...$11 (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-sentinel-san-francisco?select=mZGCfIFh5y3TjQrMOi_Txw) Way, way better than the Muffaletta. It was kind of disappointing how they used chicken tenders instead of a patty, but they were no less meaty or tasty. What's more, the bun was super soft and I liked how well the Napa cabbage/slaw complemented the chicken. Given how popular The Sentinel is, you can pretty much expect to run into a decent crowd here during the peak of the lunch hour. However, the line actually moves pretty steadily, as they turnaround orders ridiculously fast considering their small confines (it's pretty much just a small kitchen and a counter to order/pick up from). All of that, along with their relatively budget friendly prices compared to other nearby alternatives, makes it easy to see why The Sentinel is so popular. I just need to do a better job of taking advantage of how close they are to my office now!

    Fried chicken sandwich
    Kayla R.

    Talk about a hole in the wall joint. No seriously though. It's literally a walk up to the wall, order, and on your way you go! Perfect for that busy San Fran worker bee that needs to pick up something quick on the way back to the office. I was in town visiting for work and we had an off-site lunch hour to grab some grub. The couple days before, I decided to venture further away from our office and kept arriving back late (not used to that San Fran traffic. We hardly have any in Vegas!). A group of veteran CMs and I decided to walk over to this sandwich joint, grab some grub, and take it back with us to eat at our office's outdoor patio. Excellent choice. I opted for the fried chicken sandwich. I had been craving one like crazy. They also had fresh strawberry lemonade which I received the last pour of, so you know they aren't lying when they say fresh! I pretty much finished the entire lemonade on the way back to the office because it was that good! So fresh, and you could taste some of the chunks of when they grinded the strawberries. Very tasty! The sandwich had a tender piece of fried chicken with some coleslaw between these two delish buns. Holy crap. Probably one of the best fried chicken sandwiches I've ever had. My coworker also bought a chocolate chip cookie which he kindly shared with us. Wow was the fresh, soft and fluffy. Next time I visit San Fran, I will definitely be back for that fried chicken sandwich. Yummmm!

    Halves of roast beef and meatball sandwhiches
    Jared S.

    Pro tip: If coming here for lunch, get here before the noon crowd (as with most popular office spots) I came here with a group of 4 others and they're so fast behind the counter that we were all in-and-out of there with food in-hand in about 8 minutes. One of my colleagues and I truly become friends as we agreed upon the sacred ritual of going halfsies. Personally, my favorite of the two was the roast beef. I was never a top 1% student in math but I do know this: one half of a roastbeef sandwich + one half of a meatball sandwich = imminent nap. Pro tip: Get the cookie

    Crispy chicken sando
    Denise C.

    The Sentinel is fun and serves sandwiches downtown to people downtown like office people and etceteras. The sandwiches are crispy chicken, deviled egg, pulled pork, and more. They have a list of 6-8 sandwiches in a day. They have breakfast and a lunch time. People walk by and pick it up. The old cigar sign is still hanging. It's near House of Shields. The Sentinel has sandwiches and it's cute. I got a chicken and I ate it at the museum nearby. It was foccacia.

    Daniela J.

    Just had the Vietnamese Bahn mi. Sooo good. Bread is nice and soft, although toasty and close to burnt but I'll disregard that. The meat was very tender and good amount of spicy sauce. They also have jars of homemade pickles you can serve yourself to take to go. This is only a walk up window and no seating nearby but great for a quick sandwich pickup.

    Fried Chicken Sandwich
    Claire W.

    Sorry I was just not that big of a fan. The Sentinel had been on my list to visit for awhile now, but given that it's only open M-F till 2:30p, I hadn't gotten a chance till now. Excited, I got a fried chicken sandwich to-go. The sheer weight of the sandwich signaled that I was getting a bang for my buck. The sandwich sure looked pretty. But it was cold, somewhat bland, and the fried chicken tenders they used (not a whole chicken patty) was pretty underwhelming. Not the worst but also wasn't worth me going out of my way to try.

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    3 months ago

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    26 days ago

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    1 year ago

    A terrific sandwich stand with good value and excellent quality. But if you blink you might miss it!

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    4 years ago

    Awesome place. Great spot to get creative sandwiches. Only problem is they're only open for lunch and on weekdays.

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    3 years ago

    Top notch sandwiches and coffee drinks. Despite the line, turn around is super quick and easy. Nice staff. Gourmet grub.

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    16 years ago

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    Page 1 of 33

    The Sentinel Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Sentinel

    Voice mail message says House of Shield. Is this the same business?

    No, this is a small brkfst and lunch take out window with a daily special menu of 5-8 items.

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    Q Specialty Coffee - matcha strawberry cloud

    Q Specialty Coffee

    4.2(265 reviews)
    2.7 miPresidio Heights
    $$
    Certified professionals
    Locally owned & operated

    I visited Q Specialty Coffee in San Francisco with my sister and really enjoyed our experience…read moreoverall! We both loved our drinks, and I also appreciated the portion sizes--they were just right and really satisfying. I ordered the Velvet Matcha Cloud (a matcha latte with matcha cloud), and my sister got the Matcha Strawberry Cloud, which includes an organic matcha latte topped with house-made strawberry cloud and dried strawberries. Both drinks were beautifully made and tasted great. They also have a wide variety of drink options beyond matcha, including coffee classics like signature pour-overs and espressos, as well as tea and other hot drinks. Their food menu is just as extensive, offering pastries like crepes, croissants, scones, muffins, and even sandwich bites. I really loved the vibe inside Q! It's very aesthetic with a soft, creamy, almost cozy atmosphere. Since we went last Friday on an afternoon, it was quite busy with a mix of tech workers and college students working at tables, but the space still felt comfortable. The staff were kind and working hard despite how busy it was, which I appreciated. Overall, it's a great spot if you're looking for good drinks, a pretty atmosphere, and a productive café environment.

    A great place for curated gourmet coffees, matcha and other drinks with a superb pastry selection…read moreto match. Bright clean Modern minimalist decor with tiny little round tables just big enough for a laptop and your beverage of choice. Friendly service and definitely fast service midweek, though seating can be a little tight due to everyone camping out here "working from home". :) I really just wanted something simple like the drip coffee, black, no room, but they were out! Hey.. isn't this a coffeehouse!??? lol So I went for the Mocha and a blueberry scone. The Mocha was on point but I have to say the scone had a remarkable moist and almost airy texture with plenty of blueberries. 5/5 on the scone, 4.5/5 on the mocha. The servers were all friendly and seemed to enjoy being here as much as I was! I would love to come back again anytime I am nearby, especially midweek when there aren't any lines!

    Photos
    Q Specialty Coffee - Velvet Matcha Cloud; Dubai Chocolate Mille Crepes

    Velvet Matcha Cloud; Dubai Chocolate Mille Crepes

    Q Specialty Coffee - Yuzu matcha air cream cloud

    Yuzu matcha air cream cloud

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    Stonemill Matcha - 2024 Christmas Strawberry Matcha Cream Pie (sliced) (12/2024)

    Stonemill Matcha

    4.2(1.7k reviews)
    2.0 miMission
    $$

    Came here to try the Japanese breakfast! They only offer it on weekdays for dine in only and they…read morehave a limited quantity, so be sure to come early. Our group came around 1pm and was able to grab the last 3 sets. Our party of 6 was able to share the 3 sets and feel relatively full. There was a range of dishes, of the selection the tempura and the silky eat was quite delicious. We found the Napa to be a bit floral for our taste but a perfect palette cleanser. The staff were the sweetest and combined tables together to let our party sit together. They even put a candle in the matcha tart for my birthday!

    Came for matcha and was disappointed. Busy dine in area and line outside. Ordered for take out and…read morethe drink comes out quick. ~2 minutes. Option to mobile order as well. I got the strawberry matcha and the seasonal lavender matcha. Both drinks were bitter and tasted watered down. Default sweetness was not too sweet but the matcha didn't have the creaminess even with regular milk. Strawberry puree was good but not enough to carry the diluted matcha. The matcha cream pie was solid. Soft matcha filling with very crispy edge. Whipped cream on top was also tasty. Would not come back here for the matcha. Maybe their food is better. With matcha coming out that quick feels like it wasn't prepared well and lost its quality. Street parking here or parking garage next street over.

    Photos
    Stonemill Matcha - Interior

    Interior

    Stonemill Matcha - TO Hojicha Pumpkin Pie

    TO Hojicha Pumpkin Pie

    Stonemill Matcha - Strawberry Yuzu-ade, tamago sando (w/ pork katsu on the side (that i sliced and put in myself)) (02/2026)

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    Strawberry Yuzu-ade, tamago sando (w/ pork katsu on the side (that i sliced and put in myself)) (02/2026)

    Maruwu Seicha - mango matcha latte (10/2024)

    Maruwu Seicha

    4.3(700 reviews)
    1.6 miJapantown, Lower Pacific Heights
    $$
    Women-owned & operated
    Certified professionals

    - Menu: tons of options, drinks/baked goods/soft serve -…read moreDrink adjustability: can adjust any drink - Seating: open food hall style seating in Japan Center Mall - Crowd: pretty empty at 10a on a Monday - Parking: parking garage, metered - Water is scarce in the Mall, but restrooms are widely available (albeit old) My Bay Area friend swore Maruwu Seicha is THE place to go for quality matcha. Turns out she was right. I had a matcha latte half sweet, and it was delicious- high quality matcha, not too strong or sweet. We did wait about 10min for our order, service is kind but busy. This is a stand nestled in the middle of the Japan Center Mall, so recommend grabbing a sip here and wandering around. Just heads up that many stores don't allow outside drink.

    Wow this place is good. I stopped by during the first weekend of the Cherry Blossom festival and…read morethe line was long as usual. Surprisingly, I only waited about 10mins to order and another 5-10mins to get my drink. I ordered a Hojicha Latte + Snow Top for myself and Hokkaido Milk Soft Serve for my hubby and baby to share. The Hojicha Latte was delicious, I finished it all in one sitting (which is rare for me). The soft serve was creamy and delicious. Worth the hype IMO,, I'll be stopping by every time we go to Japantown from now on.

    Photos
    Maruwu Seicha - Hōjicha Latte Cheese Foam, 1/2 sweet ($6.30)

    Hōjicha Latte Cheese Foam, 1/2 sweet ($6.30)

    Maruwu Seicha - Matcha + Hokkaido Milk Swirl Soft Serve and Matcha Tea with Snow Top

    Matcha + Hokkaido Milk Swirl Soft Serve and Matcha Tea with Snow Top

    Maruwu Seicha - Hokkaido Latte with Snow Foam

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    Hokkaido Latte with Snow Foam

    The Sentinel - sandwiches - Updated May 2026

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