General Store
I don't have a backyard, but if I did, I'd consider myself incredibly lucky to have one nearly as nice as the beauty of a space behind General Store SF. Their backyard is open, rustic, and lived in, surrounded by weathered panels and plenty of plants. My favorite part? The wooden tabletop, dotted with tree stumps serving as seats, the perfect little area to host an outdoor dinner party or to simply sit and read.
Visit: General Store, 4035 Judah Street, San Francisco
Snapshots: Ocean Beach
What was meant to be a quick stroll to Ocean Beach while waiting for a table at Outerlands turned into a mini-shoot—the overcast skies and beach foliage were too good to resist. (So good that we almost missed our table at Outerlands, in fact.)
Outerlands
Brunch—for better or worse—is not something to be taken lightly in San Francisco. And so when I heard that Outerlands had finally re-opened after a five-month hiatus for renovations, I made it a point to make a visit to the Outer Sunset spot.
It's a beautifully designed space, outfitted with unfinished woodwork and rough-hewn tables. I ordered the dutch pancake, baked in a cast iron pan and topped with sweet strawberries and ricotta. The pancake was light and flaky, and the perfect size for one person.
Even better? Ocean Beach is just a few blocks away—making the long and dreaded weekend brunch wait for a table a breeze.
Visit: Outerlands, 4001 Judah St., San Francisco
The Mill
Chile Pies & Ice Cream
When it comes to dessert, I'll choose pie over all else. And when it comes to pie, Chile Pies & Ice Cream does it best. They've got sweet and savory offerings on their menu (get a slice of their green chili apple pie for a spicy take on a classic). Chile Pies also takes à la mode to the next level with their pie shakes—that's an entire slice of pie (your choice) blended with scoops of ice cream. With options like that, dessert should be no question at all.
Visit: Chile Pies & Ice Cream, 601 Baker St., San Francisco and 314 Church St., San Francisco
Front
If you’ve ever sat at the outside tables at Front Cafe before, then you’ve probably spotted more than a few rubberneckers in their cars, trying to get a glimpse of what could be the reason for the small crowd gathered in front of the open space storefront. That’s exactly how I stumbled across Front—nosily, with much curiosity, and purely by accident.
Needless to say, I’m glad I did. It’s a bright, open space, with a friendly staff behind the counters. In addition to a selection of bagged beans, they’ve got a nifty Tasting Kit, complete with three sampler coffee beans and a test tube (fill up the test tube for the perfect serving of beans for your pour-over). I came home with a bag of the Obata, one of their fruitiest (and very delicious) offerings. I also ordered a cold brew, which is served in a mason jar and best enjoyed outside in the sun. Something tells me I’ll be seeking out Front again very soon.
Visit: Front Cafe, 150 Mississippi St., San Francisco
Snapshots: Ferry Building
Some snapshots from a recent visit to the Ferry Building, where I ate overpriced (but tasty) dumplings, refused to wait in the long line for Humphry Slocombe (but not for Blue Bottle), weaved in and out of foot traffic, and discovered the most delicious butter toffee almonds I've had to date.