Cozy corner venue with communal seats serving seasonal, reservations-required weekend brunch fare.
Melinda Scholten
We had the most delicious and creative breakfast here…I can see why it’s so popular! Our server was amazing…helpful and personable. The coffee was so smooth. My French toast was a work of art. I have been back again with family and they loved it. 15/10 stars
… moreDušan
Very busy and vibrant spot. Our server Brian was so nice and accommodating as well the host, that offered coffee while waiting for the table. What I really like is the simplicity of the menu, fresh ingredients and not overwhelming portions of the food.
Cherry on the top was the chef Andrew that approached each table ensured that each table is satisfied with the food, this place care and that’s something we appreciate. We will be back indeed. Thanks everyone once again, especially lovely Chef Andrew!
… moreLiz Cong
Finally came here for brunch on a weekday with my husband. Parking was fairly easy and we were sat right away – the host asked if we had reservations- so I guess you can make reservations…..
Server was nice, explained that donuts were being made all day (two styles), so of course I had to have one (rolled in sugar) no picture because it was too delicious we ate it in 2-3 bites. Soft warm and sweet.
I ordered the shrimp and grits and he had the basic breakfast.
I also had a Bloody Mary and coffee.
Shrimp and grits had a generous amount of broth surrounding it-server said this was the chef’s favorite dish and reminiscent of ramen-good description and how I would characterize it as well.
It was a tad too seasoned for my taste-the bacon ends and broth added a lot of salt. I would have loved more grits as I think the saltiness would have been well contrasted with the delicious grits. The shrimp were abundant and cooked nicely. I loved the green onions and sliced chili peppers. I would order this again but only with a side of grits.
Husband’s food was good. Eggs over easy made perfectly and hash browns had a taste I couldn’t name but it was not like any hash browns I’d tasted before-excellent crispness, bacon perfect and arugula salad added a nice contrast to the meal.
Bloody Mary was delicious and you can add a strip of bacon if you wish.
Overall a great place for breakfast/brunch. I recommend if you’re in the neighborhood. I know it gets busy on the weekends so plan accordingly!
I’ll be back sometime to try the pancakes and French toast.
… moreLisboaMac
Visited Christmas Eve and was quickly seated at the bar. The ambiance was great, open airy and bright with a buzz in the air from customer chatter and the busy servers hustling really well presented platters from the open kitchen. Noise was moderate, but conversation was easy. I started with a Bloody Mary + House smoked bacon which was really tasty. When my order arrived ( Shrimp & Grits ) one glance told me to get ready for something special and I was not disappointed! Just beautiful with a perfectly poached egg, 5 good sized shrimp on a bed of grits surrounded by a delicious sauce loaded with finely sliced peppers, mushrooms, onions and small bits of bacon. What I really enjoyed was the interaction of the various flavors like the soft egg yolk oozing onto the grits and sauce then taking a bite of shrimp and tasting the freshness explode in your mouth. I actually had to tell myself to slow down and savor this well created dish. A final observation on this and the other dishes I saw as they passed by was that the portions served are, by any standard generous, and a good value. Yes I will definitely return!
… morePamela L
Located in a quiet neighborhood. Staff makes you feel welcome. Great brunch food. Parking is nil. The restaurant has lots of natural light which makes it welcoming in a pleasant atmosphere. All food ordered were well plated, inviting and tasty. Coffee and water were constantly refilled.
… moreIsabel Hernandez
I went to Early to Rise with some friends a few weeks ago for Sunday morning brunch. This was my first time going! I don’t typically go out for brunch or breakfast so this was a treat. There was about a 35 minute wait for 5 people. Once ready, we were seated in the corner booth which was cozy.
A couple of us ordered the rose cardamom latte and I loved it. I’m typically not a floral latte person, but I really enjoyed this one.
We started with some of the donuts. We ordered two sugar rolled and two of the daily specials, which ended up being a coconut cream donut. After taste testing both, we all agreed we preferred the sugar rolled donut because it was recently prepared so they were still warm.
I ordered the eggs Benedict with bacon and a side salad. Shocker, but this was actually my first time having eggs Benedict and I loved it! The sauce was delicious and my boyfriend who has ordered many eggs Benedict said that it was really tasty. He ordered the blueberry ricotta pancakes and another friend ordered the shrimp and grits. Each plate we ordered was a good portion size.
If you don’t mind waiting, I would recommend trying this brunch spot. There is a coffee shop across the street (Matching Half) that I have been to quite a few times and love. If you find yourself needing to wait you could always go across the street and grab a coffee while you wait.
… moreChanae P
I feel really bad writing this message because the manager came around before I left and asked if I “enjoyed everything”. I absolutely did not enjoy the food. I found it to be the most elaborate yet tasteless plate of food I’ve had in awhile. I’ve ordered shrimp and grits all over this country and this was the worst. My friend and I were excited about the communal concept and planned to order and share 3 items. We ended up with two. After one bite of my shrimp and grits I didn’t bother to taste hers. The roux was dark but tasted like Campbell’s broth and the paprika was expected to carry the dish. These shrimp and grits weren’t for me. The flavors are underdeveloped.
… moreOneill Mclean
Early to Rise was solid but didn’t quite blow us away. I came with my partner and a few friends we tried the Up & At’em, the eggs Benedict, and the shrimp and grits. The portions were generous and everything was well-prepared, but flavor wise, it leaned more safe than standout. The shrimp and grits had a nice texture, though it could’ve used a bit more punch. Service was friendly, and the vibe was laid-back and cozy. Overall, a decent brunch spot, just not a must-return for us.
… moreLaura Camps
11/10 for this place. I am super picky with food being fresh and cooked with some love and care. Unfortunately most restaurants I try in SF fall short. That’s why it was such a pleasant surprise when I visited Early to Rise yesterday. The dishes were well-balanced and well designed, with every ingredient adding an important note into the combination of flavours. All super tasty. The French toast was well soaked and the bread texture was just excellent Extremely good. This is now saved with a heart on my Google maps and I can’t wait to go again
… moremaia tidwell
Midweek brunch. Light airy space that easily allowed for conversation . Each of us got a different savory dish and tried a couple donuts. The special donut was passion fruit with coconut. Good, but the regular one was better. The samusa pancake doesn’t come with an egg, but I might suggest one . The Benedict had the biggest slabs of Canadian bacon. Super yum. The bacon on the BLT was delicious!
The shrimp and grits was the standout dish in terms of being so unusual for the area and so good. The roasted shrimp broth was beautiful and full of shrimp and pepper rings. The salads, the arugula with the benefits, the herb arugula with mint for the samusa were light and perfectly dressed. I might go back for the salad entree with delicata squash.
The service was friendly and attentive but forgot our drinks. I imagine this place is hopping for weekend brunch. We didn’t need reservations and found
easy street parking but I bet it’s different on a weekend or holiday.
Will be back.
… more