My semi-annual SF sojourn
posted April 3, 2014 3:39 PM   RSS | iCal | +googleCal

Sun April 13 at 11:00 AM, The Grove
690 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA, USA (Map & Directions)
Hey y'all, I'll be up in SF for the 12th for our awards show, leaving on the evening of the 13th. So, brunch on the 13th?
I think I'm staying at the Palace Hotel, despite my oft-voiced anti-aristocracy sentiments, but I believe it's in what's known as the "Market" neighborhood?
posted by klangklangston to Meetup (75 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite

Who doesn't love brunch? Me, that's not who!

We used to watch the Pride parade from a corner suite at the Palace, because a friend got it as a perk for her job. A very civilized way to see the parade.
posted by rtha at 6:01 PM on April 3, 2014


If I am not working, I could totally brunch.
posted by mollymayhem at 9:59 PM on April 3, 2014


(PS to Klang: What's your awards show and where? I might end up working it!)
posted by mollymayhem at 10:00 PM on April 3, 2014


Awards show is at the Palace on the 12th, it looks like.

And yeah, good for brunch.
posted by gingerbeer at 10:19 PM on April 3, 2014


I can see your historic Hotel from my kitchen!

I am very soundly, perhaps even stridently, in favor of brunch.
posted by aubilenon at 10:30 PM on April 3, 2014


I dunno what the staffing for the event looks like; I'm more involved in LA. But it's the Equality Awards, which honor, uh, mid-level state elected officials for their support of LGBT stuff. But last year, I danced with Dolores Huerta, and got weirdly adopted by a stand-up comedian who thought I was both gay and Jewish, and insisted on having me chaperone her around. At least at the LA one, I kinda think it's more fun to work it than to sit through the program.
posted by klangklangston at 10:32 PM on April 3, 2014


Unfortunately, I have to work that day. Enjoy your brunch!
posted by Noms_Tiem at 12:13 AM on April 4, 2014


I like brunch and can potentially brunch that day.
posted by grapesaresour at 12:19 AM on April 4, 2014


I would like to have brunch. Anyone have any ideas for a place that has decent eggs and doesn't have a two hour wait?
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 5:57 AM on April 4, 2014


I will be in Montreal for a conference that week. Sorry to miss!
posted by spitefulcrow at 8:09 AM on April 4, 2014


I'd love to go, as long as I can get back to the Haight by 3PM for my TIC owners meeting.
posted by mike3k at 8:31 AM on April 4, 2014


I am a fan of brunching, particularly with MeFites.
posted by chatongriffes at 10:59 AM on April 4, 2014


Ooh brunching. I approve of brunching.
posted by restless_nomad at 12:19 PM on April 4, 2014


I have a volunteer thing from 10-12 but am free after that, or can join the group wherever you are. Last time klang was in town we had brunch at The Ramp, which is good if the weather's nice.
posted by gingerbeer at 12:50 PM on April 4, 2014


I, too, am a brunch fan, provided we can avoid the afore-mentioned two hour wait.
posted by mostlymartha at 12:56 PM on April 4, 2014


Huh. Well, we do shows at the Palace, and I'm spending more time in hotels now that I don't have blue hair. So maybe I'll be working it. Who knows?
posted by mollymayhem at 3:20 PM on April 4, 2014


I've got visitors coming that weekend, so this one's a no for me. :(
posted by tangerine at 7:22 PM on April 4, 2014


Oh man, if you are at the Palace you should get reservations if you can and brunch there in the Garden Court. Since (as I've seen it noted here previously) brunch is a competitive sport in SF, somewhere that takes reservations is not a bad idea anyway. (I have a book club that day, so sadly can't make it.)
posted by obloquy at 10:18 AM on April 6, 2014


obolquy: that sounds like a great idea!
posted by aubilenon at 2:06 PM on April 6, 2014


Aww, jesus, that place looks fright'ning nice. I wonder how many they could take a reservation for.
posted by klangklangston at 4:48 PM on April 6, 2014


The Garden Court is lovely, but you're very definitely paying high hotel prices for mediocre hotel food. Not the best brunch to be had in SF for that price, and a bit out of our price range at that. We'd likely beg off if that's what you would like to plan. We'd be happy to meet you after for a drink, though!
posted by gingerbeer at 5:39 PM on April 6, 2014


gingerbeer: Do you know somewhere good that does take reservations? Most of the places I like for brunch don't.
posted by aubilenon at 6:09 PM on April 6, 2014


Not really -- most of the places I go don't take reservations either. I think that's why we ended up at The Ramp last time -- it can take the usual uncertain numbers of a mefi meetup and doesn't have too long a wait. If the Garden Court price works for everyone else, please do it and we'll meet up after. The Palace is definitely accessible and convenient.
posted by gingerbeer at 7:16 PM on April 6, 2014


The Ramp was good. I was looking for the menu for the Garden and couldn't find it. I'm vegetarian, and sometimes old-style places like that can be pretty limited. Plus, honestly, if it's that expensive, I'd rather go to a place that more people can afford.
posted by klangklangston at 7:37 PM on April 6, 2014


I was just excited about the prospect of a decent brunchery that I can see from my kitchen. Which I guess would mean you'll be able to see into my kitchen while staying in that hotel. Luckily for everyone my kitchen window is well above pants level.

Anyway, I'm up for anywhere. Another option is to just go somewhere that gets crowded but send a couple people ahead to put a name and number on the list an hour early, and then hang out there or elsewhere in the meanwhile. I'll volunteer for that, extra doubly so if someone's willing to hang out with me in that hour.
posted by aubilenon at 8:14 PM on April 6, 2014


The menu's on the site obloquy linked in their comment above.
posted by gingerbeer at 8:41 PM on April 6, 2014


For a large group, an hour early might be optimistic. Brunch in San Francisco is crazy. There are a few places that take reservations, but they tend to be a bit pricier. I've been to Bluestem Brassaerie for just that reason (large party, some people from out of town) and they are pricey but not out of control pricey and it was, well, better than I was expecting. (I'll admit I had low expectations considering the location.)

I've also had pretty good luck with walkins at Serpentine.
posted by aspo at 10:09 PM on April 6, 2014


gingerbeer: holy cow $85 for brunch is ridiculous. I can not believe it could possibly be good enough to warrant that.
posted by aubilenon at 12:03 AM on April 7, 2014


Yeah, uh, I work at a non-profit, so $85 for a brunch is not something that I can contemplate without a rich patron swooping in, which I find fairly unlikely.
posted by klangklangston at 9:00 AM on April 7, 2014


Blue Stem looks okay if not cheap price-wise, though parking might be tough for those who are driving. Serpentine might be nice too, but not necessarily convenient for KK.
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 1:17 PM on April 7, 2014


Serpentine's not super-close to the Palace Hotel, but it's super easy by MUNI. (walk zero blocks, get on the KT, wait 20 minutes, get off and walk 1 block)
posted by aubilenon at 4:51 PM on April 7, 2014


I didn't remember how expensive the Garden Court was (I must not have paid last time!); I just remembered limitless amounts of fresh blackberries and eating lots and lots and lots of food. I'll be watching to see what other suggestions come up.
posted by obloquy at 4:55 PM on April 7, 2014


Serpentine is awesome, but it's a) spendy and b) gonna be atrocious for a group larger than 4 or 6.

The Grove on Mission by 3rd is convenient to the Palace, relatively inexpensive, and large enough that a bigger group shouldn't be too much of a problem.
posted by asterix at 5:34 PM on April 7, 2014


Oh, and complicating matters in SOMA/Dogpatch: the Giants are in town and playing at 1:05 that day.
posted by asterix at 5:36 PM on April 7, 2014


Maybe we should just make this a bring-your-own-burrito meetup at Zeitgeist.
posted by rtha at 5:41 PM on April 7, 2014 [1 favorite]


... or there's this great place just a few blocks down Valencia from there...
posted by asterix at 5:42 PM on April 7, 2014


But do they have fries there?
posted by gingerbeer at 6:03 PM on April 7, 2014 [1 favorite]


No way I'm going to Dogpatch if there's a Giants game. Is Bluestem too pricey? It seems like a good option, given that it's right near public transit and takes RSVPs.
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 6:46 PM on April 7, 2014


I'm in! I've been meaning to go to one of these IRL meetups for ages.
posted by so much modern time at 2:24 AM on April 8, 2014


Also, I went to The WestWood last week. They take reservations (even at relatively short notice in SF, meaning any time less than a week) and weren't completely packed even at the height of the brunch period. Food was great, too. That might be an option.
posted by so much modern time at 2:28 AM on April 8, 2014


WestWood looks great, and I can take Bart!
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 6:16 PM on April 8, 2014


I would totally eat brunch at that place. With my face.
posted by aubilenon at 8:59 PM on April 8, 2014


Of those, The Grove looks the best for vegetarians. How rough would parking be for thems what drives? I'm gonna enjoy the fine public transit of your peninsula, but I realize that not everyone relishes a bus ride.

(Just browsing on Yelp, it looks like the Butler and Chef could be another option, or Triptych, or Pomelo…)
posted by klangklangston at 7:11 PM on April 9, 2014


There are several large parking garages within a few blocks of The Grove, and it's far enough away from the ballpark that they shouldn't be *too* affected by the game.

The Butler and the Chef is great, but it's on the small side and (more importantly) way way way too close to the ballpark. South Park will be swarming with Giants fans and parking will be a disaster.
posted by asterix at 10:02 AM on April 10, 2014


Brunch is ridiculous in most places. I live around the corner from Zazie, but I've never been able to make it there for brunch with the line running around the block and more than an hour wait.
posted by mike3k at 9:59 AM on April 11, 2014


Grove looks fine (the one on Mission and 3rd, right?).
posted by rtha at 11:07 AM on April 11, 2014


Yeah, let's do it.
posted by klangklangston at 2:12 PM on April 11, 2014


11am?
posted by klangklangston at 2:12 PM on April 11, 2014


Fine by me. gingerbeer will join us when her volunteer gig is done.
posted by rtha at 2:19 PM on April 11, 2014


11am is brunch o'clock.
posted by aubilenon at 2:49 PM on April 11, 2014


I'll be there.
posted by current occupation: at 9:19 PM on April 11, 2014


I was wrong, and am not a careful reader. Have a lovely meal.
posted by current occupation: at 10:15 PM on April 11, 2014


Hey, look at that, I just found out today that I have to work!

I am Jack's total lack of surprise. And also total lack of meetup.
posted by mollymayhem at 11:00 PM on April 11, 2014


See you there!
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 12:42 PM on April 12, 2014


Is anyone making any kind of reservation? Should I?
posted by aubilenon at 7:27 PM on April 12, 2014


You should, aubilenon, because I am drunk off of equality and the free (bourbon) Manhattans that the Palace Hotel has seen fit to provide me. Otherwise, we'll just show up and be like, "Hey!" and if they don't seat us we'll I dunno go somewhere else? SF seems competitive on BRUNCH in a way I don't understand because black tie in LA means a t-shirt with a tuxedo printed on it.
posted by klangklangston at 11:39 PM on April 12, 2014


Oops, well somehow it's 4 AM so I'm not going to get up early to make reservations. But I will get up in time to be there in time to eat brunch.
posted by aubilenon at 4:18 AM on April 13, 2014


So, how on-the-dot-of-eleven are folks likely to be? I'm trying to get out the door, but given the transit situation there's no way I could get there before 11:30, maybe later. (Argh.)
posted by Lexica at 10:29 AM on April 13, 2014


I am on a bus because my options were get there early or get there late and I really hate being late. So. I will see if I can get a table for a dozen-ish? I am undercaffeinated though so who knows what will happen.
posted by rtha at 10:32 AM on April 13, 2014 [1 favorite]


BART is late! Please save a seat for me.
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 10:41 AM on April 13, 2014


Also running late, but am on Muni. Wearing a bright orange dress with a black poncho.
posted by so much modern time at 10:47 AM on April 13, 2014


I'm en route. Are other people gathering?
posted by chatongriffes at 10:47 AM on April 13, 2014


I'm running a bit late, as my drunken message last night may have presaged.
posted by klangklangston at 10:56 AM on April 13, 2014


I'm loitering out front and kind of in line. It's the kind of place where you order at the counter and then snag a table and they bring your food. Like frjtz. Except getting a big table might not be easy?

I'm wearing blue jeans, a blue sweater, and a grey-blue jacket.
posted by rtha at 10:58 AM on April 13, 2014


Running late on AC Transit over here, but on the way
posted by Lexica at 10:58 AM on April 13, 2014


Yeah so I'm gonna loiter out front until there's at least two of us, which makes getting and holding a table easier. I'm leaning on the tree.
posted by rtha at 11:02 AM on April 13, 2014


Me and aubilenon are inside waiting to order.
posted by rtha at 11:10 AM on April 13, 2014


We have a table! Inside, right hand corner. Purple tshirt guy with a beard is aubilenon and short-haired blue-sweatered dyke.
posted by rtha at 11:27 AM on April 13, 2014


We're in the corner trying to hold down some tables
posted by aubilenon at 11:27 AM on April 13, 2014


Jinx!
posted by rtha at 11:28 AM on April 13, 2014


I am also here but don't recognize anyone. Do we have a table?
posted by so much modern time at 11:28 AM on April 13, 2014


Yes! Far right hand corner. Look for bearded guy in purple tshirt!
posted by rtha at 11:37 AM on April 13, 2014


Just heard about this this morning. Will pop in, in a few!
posted by danny the boy at 11:54 AM on April 13, 2014 [1 favorite]


I just added a photo of klang, rtha, and chatongriffes

:)
posted by danny the boy at 9:54 PM on April 13, 2014


Sorry I had to duck out early! It was tons of fun meeting people from the interwebs. A++, would do again.
posted by so much modern time at 10:18 PM on April 13, 2014



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