Breakfast & Bakery options near Union Square San Francisco?

I used to love Sears when I went to San Francisco more often than I do now. It's a famous breakfast place within walking distance of the St. Francis. But I have to admit that I haven't been there in years, and it has new management, so hopefully someone can tell you if it's stil as good as it used to be. But I don't know about bakeries.

Someone wrote a trip report just in the last few days that said they went to Sears several times and really enjoyed it. It's a half block from your hotel.

Are you going to the Ferry Bldg. on a non-market day this time? If so, you can pretty much hit all the shops. They all face one long corridor (with a couple of off-shoots on very short perpendicular corridors). You just walk by and decide if its worth stopping for a look. Very few of the shops are very large.

Hit the Ferry Building and browse the shops. Buy somehting to take to your friends' dinner at Miette. So much to choose from. Consider buying something the night before for breakfast in the room. Take/buy a little cooler to keep your oj cold. Surely there's a coffee maker in the room.

Browse the shops here - http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/merchant_list.php

The Cheesecake Factory is at Macy's.

I can't help with take out breakfast, but we have usually opted for Lori's Diner, since Sear's was always jammed packed.

MY

Doug_Stallings, like you I loved Sears, ever since I was a young boy eating there with my parents. I've been there numerous times over the years and always looked forward to visiting whenever we were in the San Francisco.

My wife and I tried it again, several years after it was sold to the owners of Lori's Diner. Sadly for us the food quality was nothing like we remembered, especially disappointing were the Swedish pancakes. Now if you've never been there before it might be ok, but if you remember the way it was you may want to go somewhere else. I especially disliked the audio loop playing outside, telling the history of Sears, how famous it is, etc.

Don't go to the Pinecrest Diner! (across the street from Lori's)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinecrest_Diner

We went to the Ferry Building on a recent trip and found many of the shops in the Ferry Building to be nice. I have to recommend Recchiuti Confections for chocolates.

Miette looked great - I agree with starrs that maybe you can buy something here for your friend's dinner. We weren't hungry enough to buy a snack there, but everything did look good.

There were a couple of olive oil shops that had a bunch of samples on display, and Boccalone Salumeria looked good for sandwiches/meats.

yk...when will you be there?

We'll be there this weekend.

Kuleto's just a half block towards Market for b'fast and bakery.

Grand Cafe just around the corner from the St. Francis.

Hop a cable car from in front of the StF and ride it over to The Buena Vista Cafe??

Kal - We'll be there this weekend!

Kuleto - does it have a take-out counter or just eat-in?

Are you staying at the Westin St Francis as well?

I feel like I'm gaining weight already with everyone's suggestions!

Mini-gtg?

We get in Friday early for someone's, who shall remain nameless, 55th b'day weekend.

I've been told we will walk up Nob Hill down to Fish Wharf, the Marina and maybe try and make it to the GG Bridge.

I might be able to talk this nameless b'day person into heading over to Telegraph Hill instead then maybe a walk down the the back steps to the Embarcadero to a cool down period at the "Ferry Bldg Wine Merchant".

Drop me an e-mail if you'd like and maybe we can drag THEE Stu Dudley up to The City and some other nice locals who are in town over the weekend.

kalkahuna at
ceoexpress"dot"com

Oh...and I think Kuletos has a small street front area for coffee, pastries etc to go.

Right by the Hotel Villa Florence.

I am not a fan of Sears -- and didn't understand what all the fuss and the line was about (admittedly I was never there in the "old" days, though. On the other hand, I'm surprised no one's mentioned Dottie's True Blue, a few blocks away where people line up for wonderful breakfasts. I think that's really something special for the area.

NeoPatrick, since you will be visiting San Francisco again, I'd like to return the favor and recommend a nice place for breakfast. It's Mama's on Washington Square in North Beach at Stockton and Filbert. Like Sears and Dottie's there is a line to get in, but it is worth the wait IMO.

Here's a link to a write-up, you can click the photos to get a closer view of the pictures. Just something to keep in mind for your next visit.

http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Reviews/2171/mamas-on-washington-square

Oh. I already know about Mama's -- the BEST in SF. Been there many times. But thanks.

Also, just realized that the OP was looking more for a "carry out breakfast" so not sure Dottie's is the place for that.

I like Sears and have never experienced a line nor have I heard any audio tapes talking about its history, but then I haven't been there since last year, and I tend to get up and out in the morning rather than sleeping in. It does get busy, but I the waitstaff has been very professional.

Has anyone answered your original question about someplace you can get takeout?

Kal mentioned that Kuleto's may have a to-go window; but otherwise, no.

Alohaaaaaa...another thought is the place in Un Sq near the Niketown side.

Good coffee and surprisingly good pastries. Grab a table and sit outside and watch The City go by or get it on the fly.
Don't know the hours tho.

We have enjoyed Sears the last several times we have been to SF, but really like Persimmon's, which is just up from Hotel Rex. We always eat there and love it

"I've been told we will walk up Nob Hill" - oh, dear, bring pain meds to walk up that hill!

Lori's diner on Sutter @ Powell - on the corner, they have breakfast, and must have food to go!
http://www.lorisdiner.com/breakfast.html#

Cheesecake factory has a take-out counter to get dessert for your friends, walk in Macy's, take their special elevator, they have a counter for take-out cakes, but boy, are they expensive!!

And for really inexpensive breakfast Jack-in-the-Box on Geary @ Mason

Please don't ever patronize Jack in the Box. We're trying to force them out.... : )

Force out Jack? WHY? Why not Burger King or any other?

And who are the "WE" who try to force Jack out? Do they at Jack even know that?

Jack's Tacos got me thru plenty of long Fri and Sat nights!
JACK RULZ!!!!

Anyone been to Luque's in the Chancellor Hotel?

A sentimental favorite near Union Square is David's Deli.

Putting Jack in the Box out of business? How cruel. You'll be cutting my friend Amanda (sometimes known as the Jack in the Box girl from her commercials) out of her substantial residuals income! Ouch.

Hello yk! A great place for you to get coffee and pastries is right there at Union Square. Your hotel is right across the street from Union Square. Just cross the street (Powell) and walk to the east side of Union Square. You will see the Emporio Ruilli cafe. It is an Italian style cafe with wonderful coffee and pastries.

I don't believe the Florence Villa Hotel/Kuleto's Restuarant has their little cafe in the front of the hotel anymore since they remodeled. But when out and about you can check it out. From your hotel just walk a few steps down Powell, cross Geary and it will be a few doors past Geary on Powell on your right.

Also, on Powell, just one block up from Union Square at Sutter is a cafe attached to the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. The enterance is on the corner of Post and Sutter. You can get coffee and pastries there also.

And have a wonderful time in San Francisco!

Sears last week was charging over $8 for a bowl (maybe 5 inch diameter) of strawberries. Prices I thought were nuts, although the food was tasty. Our last morning we ate at Max's, on the opposite side of the Westin San Francis block large building. Max's was quiet, good service, better prices, and good eats.

Carol L

The Peet's Coffee is in the San Francisco Centre, which is a large shopping mall on the other side of Market Street from Union Square. It's downstairs and usually has a long line. There is also a Bristol Farms next to Peet's that probably has pastries and might even have coffee. I seem to remember that there are a couple of Starbucks close to Union Square as well. The walk to the Ferry Building is not short from Union Square. You can catch BART and go two stations down to the Embarcadero station to get to the Ferry Building, but it's not really where you are going to pick up food to take back to the hotel.

The walk to the Ferry Building is not short from Union Square.

It's not long either. Maybe 20 minutes. I work across the street from the Ferry Bldg. and the only time I would take "transportation" to Union Square is if I were in a rush to get there or get back. Easily walkable.

Hi everyone-

Thank you again for all your suggestions. Unfortunately, I didn't some of the later posts until now, and I'm already back from my trip (we were too cheap to pay for internet service at our hotel). I'll be sure to try more of these places on my next trip to San Francisco!