Kascha912

We´ll be in SF for 2 and a half day soon.
And since my husband has never been to the States I´d like to treat him to one of those excessive breakfast buffets or a real American breakfast on his first morning there.
But where? We´ll be staying in the Embarcadero area directly south of Market Street. And our first morning is a Sunday.
Does anybody have a suggestion for us?
Or for Monday morning?
Thanks!

Patrick

Sounds like the Palace Hotel Sunday Brunch would be the perfect option. It isn't cheap, but it will be a most memorable event. Not only will the buffet be "excessive" but superb as well in a memorable setting.
"The place" for breakfast near Union Square is Sears Fine Food. I find it quite ordinary, but people line up for breakfast there. I've never figured out what I'm missing about the place. It is about as far removed from the Sunday Brunch at the Palace, I'd suggest you do it on Monday for the two extremes -- elegant and extravagant to cheap and casual.

Frank

Maybe not what you're looking for (big expensive buffet), but Sears Fine Foods serves a great inexpensive breakfast (don't miss those pancakes) in the Union Square area on Powell Street. Try to have breakfast there at least once, it's a San Francisco institution.

Frank

Patrick: Great minds think alike, I guess we responded at the same time. I agree with the Palace, it's a wonderful hotel but since I haven't experienced the breakfast myself, I was hesitant to recommend it considering the probable cost. Where we differ is that I'm a big fan of Sears, especially the waitresses who have worked there for decades.

plummie

Patrick and Frank are right - the Palace for Sunday brunch is a must!
My husband loves the pancakes at Sears, I'm lukewarm about the place. Also, stop by the Buena Vista for an Irish Coffee (they claim they invented it) and then ride the Hyde Street cable car back up the hill.

Suzie

The Palace is a beautiful place. You'll be hard pressed to concentrate on your food as you marvel at the glass ceiling and beautiful room.

suzanne

The Garden Court (?) at the Palace Hotel may have been my best breakfast ever. Excellent food, beautiful setting (very greenhouse-like). It's a block off of Market Street.

Gardyloo

Just to add to the pile-on, the Garden Court at the Palace is frequently mentioned as possibly qualifying for the title of "most beautiful room" in the US.

Kascha912

Wow, I´m impressed by all the praise for the Palace Hotel. Say, I also heard about the Grand Cafe at the Hotel Monacco. What do you think of it?
Kascha

applejacks

Ther is always the Buena Vista with a great Irish coffee! It is not a buffet, but it is an institution!

Budman

Can anyone tell me exactly how much Sunday Brunch at the Palace will cost?

Gardyloo

$45.00 - http://www.gardencourt-restaurant.com/index.htm

Kal

Aloooha,
Plummie-I'm a big "Irish Coffee @ the BV" fan because they also have some hearty breakfasts there too.
Nothing better waiting there in the warm, cozy confines of the restaurant looking out over The Bay in late March while your crazy better half is out running a 10k over the GG Bridge to the Aquatic Park in the early a.m. chill.

Of course, she winds up there too immediately afterwards to begin a proper "cool down" period!

Kascha912-We had a great b'fast at the Grand Cafe last April. Very nice setting (eclectic 20's style decor?), good food and service.
We're making another NFL Draft/SF trip this April and will probably eat there again.
Kal

Kascha912

Hi Kal,
we´ll probably end up jogging and swimming at the YMCA next to our hotel.
Concerning breakfast though, I have to admit that $100 for `only´ breakfast for the two of us is a lot for our budget (on a 3week vacation).
So I´m still looking for a nice place.
So I heard about Sears and the Buena Vista...

BayArea

One of my favorite Breakfast places in SF is called Ella's. It's not downtown, it's halfway across the city. However, the food is divine.I strongly recommend the chicken hash, so tasty.

It will not cost $100 for two, more like $30 +/- $10 depending on what you order.

Phone: 415.441.5669 Location: California @ Presidio

elberko

It's not close to where you are staying, but we really enjoyed our big breakfast at Cliff House, overlooking the ocean. This was a few years ago (2000). It doesn't look inviting from outside, but it was quite nice inside. I don't recall the prices, but MUCH lower than $45 a person.

http://cuisinenet.com/info/rstrnt-303562/?&t=578711

PamSF

You can take the #1 California bus from the Embarcadero area straight up to California and Presidio for a breakfast at Ella's. Get off coming home at California and Fillmore to poke around the shops on Fillmore.

applejacks

We were at the Cliff House Sunday (for drinks) and some people were upset that there was a two hour wait even with reservations. They are under renovation, so if this is important to your decision, you might want to skip it for now. I have never been impressed with their food even before the renovation.