Tag: brunch

The Belgard Kitchen

Rating
9/10

Wait
5 Minutes

Value
$16 per dish

Where
Vancouver

Postmark Stout Sausage Skillet
The presentation of the dish is beautifully rustic with two perfectly well cooked poached eggs sitting over a sea of crispy potatoes and sausages served in a cast iron skillet. I think food just somehow always tastes better when it’s served in a skillet. 
The sausage has a nice flavor but the stout is a bit lost and the crispy potatoes are good but not good like Plow. Overall it’s a solid dish and you’ll definitely leave full and happy. 

Having only briefly visited Vancouver, I am glad I had the chance to stop by Belgard Kitchen. A major plus is that it shares the same space with Postmark Brewery – nothing better than killing two birds with one stone. The location is a bit off the beaten path, in an industrial neighborhood, but definitely well worth the trip. There something that can be said about a place that even before entering, you already know there’s something special. 

By far the most memorable feature of Belgard Kitchen is the building. Surrounded in a neighborhood of by tired looking warehouses, Belgard Kitchen maintains the integrity of the context but uplifts it’s appearance with nice details. The exterior windows have a concertina treatment which adds nice texture to the facade and this concertina detail carries all the way through to the 30′ tall entrance door. Opening and walking through the entrance feels like you’re walking into a cathedral – but instead of worshipping religion it’s beer and brunch. It’s quite a transition from the cold warehouse exterior to the warm timber cladded interior. The interior is a large beautiful space with high ceilings and clerestory windows that bring in a lot of natural light. There is a balanced mixture of warehouse accents like the featured overhead crane, natural elements such as the timber columns/beams which support the crane, and rustic features such as the wrought iron furniture. As I’m writing this review, I’m realizing this is turning into a critique of the space than a review of the food. In the end, the food is tasty, but the atmosphere is what you’ll remember about Belgard Kitchen. 

The Belgard Kitchen is gem in an otherwise worn neighborhood. Given more time, I have feeling that one can spend a whole day in the building moving back and forth from Belgard Kitchen to Postmark Brewing. This place will be a definite must stop the next time I visit Vancouver.

Website – http://belgardkitchen.com

Andytown Coffee

Rating
10/10

Wait
5 Minutes

Value
$5 per dish

Where
SF

Snowy Plover
I was skeptical when I was told that there’s an amazing coffee drink that is a mixture of expresso, simple syrup, homemade whip cream, and sparkling water. I had to go try it myself as my mind couldn’t imagine all these ingredients coming together. I was proven wrong and this cold coffee drink is amazing. 

Cheddar Scallion Scone
A must order. The scone is fresh, dense but fluffy, and most importantly cheesy. Its different than “traditional” scones in texture and flavor. The Cheddar Scallion Scone has an interesting balance between sweet and savory flavors. 

Andytown has a very cozy living room feeling. There’s tchotchkes all along the walls and potted plants peppered throughout the space. The space is not large, but all the natural light reflecting off the white walls make the space feel larger than it is. Do keep in mind there isn’t much seating so it’s not the most ideal place if you want bring your laptop and work. 

Andytown is a great local corner shop and would be a hit in any neighborhood. I highly recommend the Snowy Plover and the fresh pastries.

Website – https://www.andytownsf.com

Son’s Addition

Rating
9/10

Wait
Reserve

Value
$13 per dish

Where
SF

Tuna and Uni Tostada
There’s no better way to describe this dish than it tastes like “California.” It’s amazingly fresh with a touch of sourness from the pickles, served on a light but crunchy tostada. 

Bacon and Kim-Chi Deviled Eggs
A solid and decadent deviled egg. My only critique is that there isn’t much of a kim-chi flavor. 

Fried Chicken Sandwich
By far one of my favorite fried chicken sandwiches in SF. The chicken is cooked perfectly and the breading is light yet extremely crunchy. I’m not a huge fan of the sourness from the slaw but it does make the overall dish taste fresh and light. I prefer Alta MSP’s sauce/slaw which is a buttermilk flavor. 

Son’s Addition is now on my list of “go-to” brunch places. Everything on the menu sounds appetizing and the dishes we ordered tasted amazing. There is an evident core set of flavors throughout the dishes: tanginess, freshness, and lightness; which gives the meal a cohesive feeling. 

If you’re a fan of Marlowe than you’ll love Son’s Addition. There are quite of few similarities between Marlowe and Son’s Addition but what sets Son’s Addition apart is the more relaxed atmosphere and the fusion oriented cuisine. Son’s Addition, much like Marlowe, is a small trendy space with seating packed to the brim. The difference with the interior of Son’s Addition is the industrial/NYC look is toned back, in favor of a more minimal and brighter color pallet, making the space feel roomier and brighter. 

I am huge fan of Son’s Addition and wouldn’t hesitate to go back. There are definitely many more dishes on the menu that I can’t wait to try. If you’re left with the choice between Marlowe or Son’s Addition, I would say you can’t go wrong with either choice. It’s a win-win.

Website – http://www.sonsaddition.com

Plow

Rating
10/10

Wait
1 Hour

Value
$17 per dish

Where
SF

The Plow
Imagine the best Denny’s Grand Slam you every had and times that by 1,000,000 – that’s how good this dish is. Every component of the dish is amazing in taste and preparation. The crispy potatoes are probably the best potatoes you’ll have in the city. The Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are creamy, fluffy, with a subtle lemon flavor. Hands down all pancakes should be made with ricotta. The homemade pork sausage patties are full of flavor. Lastly, the eggs are cooked perfectly and seasoned well. To put simply, this dish is perfect. 

If you love traditional classic breakfast, Plow is the perfect place. Plow isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, what Plow does it takes the classics and makes the best version of it possible. The food is so refined that it’s hard to imagine how Plow could improve upon their dishes. I suppose the price could be a bit lower…

The rustic and refined qualities of the food carries all the way through into the space. Although the interior is small, Plow feels spacious with large operable windows allowing natural light and ventilation to flood the entirety of the space. Plow’s interior is minimal with warm accents of rustic decor, must notably the angled dark wood floor. With only a handful of tables and counter seating, it’s obvious why the wait can reach upwards of an hour. 

Admittedly, deciding to dine at Plow boils down to one question, “Am I willing to wait over an hour for brunch?” I must say that I wavered a bit while waiting but after the meal I can confidently say that it’s worth the wait.

Website – https://www.eatatplow.com

Deli Board

Rating
9.5/10

Wait
15 Minutes

Value
$17 per dish

Where
SF

Boca
This is an amazing sandwich. The flavors of all the meat are distinct and flavorful. What I enjoyed most is the way the meat was sliced. It’s sliced paper thin that the meat fold on itself to create a wavy texture which adds another sensation when eating. 

Leroy Brown
This sandwich has it all – salty, sweet, tangy, and spicy. As mentioned previously, the meat is sliced in similar manner which adds another dimension. On top of that, the Dutch Crunch roll adds the crunchy texture which is perfect complement to the tender meat. 

Pickles
Each of the sandwiches are served with a side of deli style pickles. They are a perfect palate cleanser when all that meat from the sandwich becomes a bit overwhelming. 

Deli Board is like the Rolls Royce of sandwiches. Everything from the meat, bread, cheese, and vegetables taste of luxury. You would think with such great tasting ingredients the portions would be small, but, Deli Board packs a mountain of food in-between two slices of bread. I would even say half of the sandwich would be enough for lunch. 

If you plan on arriving around lunch time, be aware that Deli Board’s line is consistently out the door. Don’t be surprised waiting in line 10-20 minutes before placing your order. Upon arriving, the most noticeable thing will be, the ever changing menu hanging on the wall. The menu is extensive, however, the wait in line will give you plenty of time to read it over. 

The space is small and sparse. There’s not much seating inside and there’s only a couple tables right outside on the sidewalk. If you plan on eating in, be prepared to wait again for seats to open up. I can’t wait for Deli Board to move to a larger space and revamp their interior to be equal to the quality of their sandwiches.

Website – http://www.deliboardsf.com

Neighbor Bakehouse

Rating
9/10

Wait
10 Minutes

Value
$5 per dish

Where
SF

Everything Croissant
Flaky, buttery, but chewy on the inside is how a croissant should be. The Everything Croissant is the epitome of those characteristics plus the addition the everything seasoning on top. 

Pistachio Blackberry Twice-Baked
After having this, I’m set on believing that all pastries should be twice-baked. The outer layer is a nice crunchy mixture of pistachios and mashed blackberries. The inside, much like the croissant, is flaky, butter, but chewy inside.

If you plan on heading to Neighbor Bakehouse, be on the lookout for the line snaking out onto the sidewalk. The line length is a bit misleading, as there is only a small ordering area for customers. Also, the line does move quickly as the Neighbor Bakehouse staff is efficient with the orders. Majority of the space is dedicated to their baking operations, therefore Neighbor Bakehouse does not offer any interior seating but has a handful of tables on their patio. 

Neighbor Bakehouse is one of those types of places where you leave questioning, “If pastries are supposed to taste like this, what have I been having my whole life?”

Website – https://www.neighborsf.com