Is it time to shake up your brunch routine? Isn't it always? Because hey, brunch is an official San Francisco sport. Here are four spots serving new-ish brunches around town.
Michelle Polzine’s Eastern European–inspired café on a busy corner in Hayes Valley offers a nice respite from all the cars zipping by outside. The place is full of charming vintage details, from the light fixtures and music to all the dishes and silverware. The menu contains one of the city’s better bagels (go for the poppyseed, open-faced, with thinly sliced smoked salmon and cream cheese). There’s also a fried egg sandwich with a tangy tomato jam and bacon, and all kinds of cookies and cakes (you gotta get the Russian honey cake, just trust me). It's a great spot to catch up with a friend, or your book. And yay, breakfast/brunch is served Tue–Fri starting at 8am, and Sat–Sun, starting at 10am. 198 Gough St. at Oak.
Jasper's Corner Tap and Kitchen
It’s kind of hard to resist something called Badass Brunch, and when the menu is pretty damn creative, why fight it? Executive Chef Mike Ransom’s clever dishes include a potato sausage with an egg and king trumpet bacon (yo vegetarians!); there’s a Monte Cristo hand pie with ham, Gruyère, smoked gouda fondue, and candied bacon; and a poblano relleno with roasted pork. Yup, no one is making those kinds of dishes around town. Plus you'll find some of the city’s best brunch cocktails, check. Come on by Sat–Sun 11am–2:30pm. 401 Taylor St. at O’Farrell.
Now that dinner is up and running at Pesce’s new Castro digs, weekend brunch has just kicked in as well. Brunch dishes include lemon-ricotta pancakes, braised short rib and Tuscan kale hash, and crispy polenta cakes with wild mushrooms and eggs. There's a full bar, so there are plenty of eye-openers, including one called the Buongiorno, heh. The room has plenty of light (but not toooo much), so you can ease into your day gently. Brunch Sat–Sun 10am–3pm. 2223 Market St. at Sanchez.
Need a spiffy place to take your mom, or fancy friend visiting town? Spruce has just launched Sunday brunch, serving some rustic dishes like farro porridge, posh numbers like a lobster Benedict, and crowd pleasers like beignets and French toast. There are also savory items that almost border on lunch, like gnocchi with an egg, and a frittata with duck confit and butterball potatoes. Oh yeah, and the Spruce burger. Cocktails, coffee, you are covered. Sun 10am–2pm. 3640 Sacramento St. at Spruce.
Marcia Gagliardi is the founder of the weekly tablehopper e-column; subscribe and get more food news and gossip at tablehopper.com. Follow her on Twitter: @tablehopper.
