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The Grove Cafe Yerba Buena
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Sandwiches Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches [Edit]
690 Mission St(between Annie St & 3rd St)
San Francisco, CA 94105
Neighborhood: SOMA
(415) 957-0558
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 11 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
455 reviews for The Grove Cafe Yerba Buena
Review Highlights
"RECOMMEND the chicken pot pie."
(in 52 reviews)
"You're out of fresh squeezed Orange Juice."
(in 13 reviews)
"its filling and the lavender lemonade is to die for."
(in 17 reviews)
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455 reviews in English
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Review from Paul C.
San Francisco, CA
2/10/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I really want to give The Grove three stars because it's completely frustrating to wait and wait and wait sometimes. But you go in there knowing that.
So the food: As a mostly vegetarian I'm in love with their salads and their grilled cheese. They do a Gorgonzola and pear sandwich which is also really really good. You might be tempted to trade out those chips for $2.50 or so for that veggie chili but don't do it--it's only ok and weighed down by some sort of rice concoction.
It's also open late which is seriously seriously clutch. -
Review from Glenn M.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2012
I've tried the chicken pot pie, omelette and a few of the sandwiches here. The pot pie is good, the sandwiches are cool, and the omelette was a huge portion and pretty good.
I've always come for lunch. It's somewhere I like to go to escape the chipotle/sandwich/salad routine. With that being said I do think it's a bit pricey for lunch for the average worker in the area. To me, this is a Friday lunch option.
The decor is a nice change of pace from the grove's surroundings. Some seats are more comfortable than others, but it's never been a problem when I go there. Actually, I usually have pretty good lunch conversations every time I come here. Maybe its the company, maybe it's the ambiance or the food, but good conversations with friends or coworkers is always a +.
Lines are long for the most part, which can play a big role in lunch selection since you only have a limited amount of time.
The food's good, not great. And for the price I can find cheaper alternatives that taste just as good. But I do like the option of coming here, and they are open on Saturdays which is a plus when you are working on weekends. -
Review from Jason M.
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Always consistent, a bit overpriced. I love the BLT, it's filling, delicious, huge pieces of bacon, fresh tomatos, the works. Another pro is that it's a great place for a lunch meeting and the mission street location has solid outdoor seating.
Now for the con's -- very uncomfortable indoor seating. I understand the "lodge"-esq decor, however I've never truly been comfortable when eating inside. A huge line forms in-between the main dining area which is also a bit annoying. I'll continue to hit up the grove for a solid lunch, however it's not something I'd recommend first. -
Review from Drea L.
Milpitas, CA
1/22/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I've been here twice, and it was the attentiveness of management on my 2nd visit that has prompted me write a review.
The first time I came here, I had the Steak Florentine which included black angus flank steak, arugula, roasted tomato, and avocado and I opted for a side of their tomato basil soup. Over all, it was a satisfying lunch. The steak was fairly tender although there was a piece that was a little stringy, but the texture of the toasted bread, the charred flavor of the steak and the creaminess of the avocado was quite good. The tomato basil soup was flavorful and not overly salty and had a rich flavor to it but it wasn't overly creamy.
The second time I cam here, it wasn't particularly busy since it was close to 4 pm. I ordered the Vine ripened BLT which included romaine, bacon, mayo, tomatoes on grilled sweet batard and once again I opted with a side of the tomato basil soup in lieu of the potato chips. I thought it was a fairly simple order, but after waiting for 15 minutes my food still hadn't arrived. I'm not a chef, but putting together a BLT shouldn't take this long and I'm pretty sure they already had the soup prepared.
I go back to the cashier who took my order and asked about my order and she gives a standard response, "It will be out soon."
A few minutes later she comes behind the counter and gives me this weird excuse, "Oh we are having problems with our register and it is losing people's orders."
Skeptical, I'm like,"Umm okay..." O_o I wasn't visibly upset but just thought it was an odd excuse she gave.
Thankfully I still had my receipt and showed her what I ordered. I think one of the managers realized I was sitting there for a while with no food and with my "Pier 51" sign still at my table and the cashier coming up to talk to me. So he came over to check my receipt and said he would go and check the order himself. And yes, within 2 minutes, my food had arrived as ordered.
The BLT had the nice chewy crunch of the batard bread, saltiness of the thick cut bacon, cool crunch of the lettuce and tomatoes. It was overall a decent sandwich and definitely nicer than most diner food versions of the BLT.
The manager came by once as I was eating to make sure the food was okay and as I was about to leave he apologized for the delay earlier and asked if I wanted one of their cookies. I said, "Thank you for following up earlier. I appreciate it." and I declined on the cookie offer.
I think that many restaurants these days just want to get as many people in and out of their restaurants. I'm glad that Grove employs managers who actually do give a damn about a customer.
Grove is a casual place with cool decor, good music playing, trees indoors and assorted types from couches, benches, and regular tables. It provides a nice option of al fresco seating and inside there are two levels you can choose from.
It looks that they serve breakfast till 4 pm. I haven't ordered any of their drinks, but with regards to the prices of food and the quality, I think they are well priced. From what I could tell, the food is freshly made.
I will definitely come back....maybe I'll even try one of those cookies the manager mentioned. -
Review from Melissa W.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/27/2012
Ordered the flat iron steak with garlic mashed potatoes and green salad. The waiter came without mashed potatoes. When we asked where the mashed potatoes were, he said they didn't have anymore so he just gave us more salad. REALLY?!
To be fair, he did try to give us another side after we asked him to, but I really think you should tell people when you are out of something when they order it.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/8/2011
I come here when I don't know what else to eat. Decent food at a pretty good price and a nice,… Read more »
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Review from Jessica t.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/16/2012
The Grove just tripled their food legitimacy - by now carrying Mission Beach Cafe pastries and desserts.
If you have never indulged in a Mission Beach Cafe pie - then remedy that quickly - by strolling on over to The Grove and splitting an insanely big piece of moist decadent carrot cake or red velvet cake with a friend or co-worker. The day will fly by much faster with The Grove's pastries to look forward to.
Trust.Listed in: Places to Eat in the Financial…, Where to go for sugar cravings
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/9/2011
New must have on their menu: Their Berkeley Bowl - Jessica Style.
What is Jessica Style?
1.) Replace… Read more »
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Review from Moua L.
Updated - 1/26/2012
Kudos to the extra shots in my Soju Bloody Mary. I asked for it and they gave it to me, then I forgot to tip them. Oops. Then again it was $8, which is expensive.
In addition to the drink, we had some dip. Somehow they always end up giving more dip then bread to go with it. So I asked the waiter for extra bread to go with the dip, but he took so long, that I practically almost ate all of the dip with my celery stick.
This has been my 8th time here and they always seem like they don't want to give you extra bread for the enormous amount of dip you get.Listed in: Meeting Places
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/2/2011
Somehow, this place became the official meeting place for a group I volunteer with. It has grown on… Read more »
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Review from Sandy L.
1/13/2012 2 Check-ins Here
came here for lunch since i work just a block away to meet up the boyfriend and friends. I've walked by here numerous times but i can't say i've ever had lunch here because 1. the lines get ridiculous during lunch time, 2. the prices are a bit rich for my blood and i know i can find just as good if not better alternatives somewhere else
despite that, i thought it would be a fun place to have lunch with the lover and friends. the interior is so unique! you walk in and you enter a whole different world. i love the decorations and it's a mini escape from the towering buildings and rush of the financial district. definitely made me smile.
we got there at 11:45 and luckily we beat the lunch rush. we ordered:
Chinese Chicken fresh shredded greens with cilantro, carrots, "wok" roasted chile spiced peanuts, roast chicken and orange-sesame vinaigrette - NOT GOOD. i didn't enjoy the preparation and i could barely taste the dressing. it was just a huge bowl of chopped lettuce and chopped carrots. i have for sure tried better in other places. NEXT!
Chicken Pot Pie chunks of chicken breast in a rich creamy broth with carrots & peas topped with a house-made savory oregano-pastry crust - SO SO YUMMY! i think this is what deserves the A-OK review. the portion was huge and i split it with the boyfriend and still left very full. huge pieces of chicken, lots of veggies with a really delicious cream. I'm always a fan of chicken pot pie but this one really is terrific. i recommend!
the place is 2 levels so if you're luckily you'll be able to pull up a table. they have designated 4 person seating areas ONLY and if you sit at the stools they have cool tree trunk stools and animal printed benches. whoever designed the place did a terrific job. i love it! -
Review from Anna H.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Chicken Pot Pie was DELICIOUS. Everything on the menu sounds good, but I had to try this since it's been so cold in the city lately. My best friend ordered the Asian Chicken Salad which was also really yummy.
+ Yummy food
+ Cool & friendly people working the registers
+ Awesome menu
+ Really comfy banquettes & interesting interior
A note for management:
I noticed one of the runners bring a guest their check and stand in front of them waiting for the guy to sign the receipt after he'd already paid...it just makes for an awkward situation and makes customers feel rushed. It didn't bother me much but I'm sure other people who are more finicky than I would write up a bad review for something like that. -
Review from Dennis L.
San Francisco, CA
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
CHICKEN POT PIE - no joke. Good mix of carrots, peas and chicken topped with a flaky crust that you just want to keep throwing into the pot pie. The crust will run out before you realize .
The chinese chicken salad was pretty lame. Shredded lettuce with a couple strips of chicken and lacking any flavor whatsoever.
$4 for a lavender lemonade or arnold palmer? Can you say OVERPRICED?!!!! What part of mixing iced tea and lemonade requires a $4 cost. crazy!!!
The interior is unlike anything in the FiDi, remarkably resembling Rainforest Cafe at first glance. Most of the seating arrangements are far from ordinary, with a long shared dining table on the first floor and two tables inside caves upstairs. They also have lounge like chairs placed around a coffee table too. Unlike Starbucks, it seems they welcome wifi seekers.
Beware of their long long lines during the lunch hours. It stretches from the register all the way through the front door. And it stays that way throughout, with the ordering pace the same as the number of people getting in line. I can't imagine anyone getting in and out on their hour lunch break. And if you do, have fun eating your meal at your desk. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Fallen Leaf, CA
2/5/2012
Happened upon The Grove by chance. Went in for lunch. Great atmosphere, service, and healthy food. Will definitely come back to try other menu items. They have their own bakery. Look forward to trying breakfast. Wonderful ice tea too, which is important to us. Indoors too loud so only 4 stars.
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Review from becke a.
San Francisco, CA
2/11/2012
i wanted this to be good. it is overpriced. the waitstaff is under trained and probably underpaid. the cashiers are handsome/lovely but maybe not workers more showpieces. the manager is good looking. pay the staff. train the staff. or reduce the prices. the most expensive soy latte in the 'hood. but it could be nice. it is cute in a tom sawyer treehouse way, but a little dark. it is open on xmas. yay. that is worth the price. so don't give up Grove! keep trying and we'll like you.
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Review from Maggie H.
San Francisco, CA
12/12/2011
Um... HELLO?! There are trees growing inside this cafe! TREES!
*walk back outside
*looks around
WHAT THE HELL?! WHERE AM I?!
*looks up
Oh, The Grove. Meh, okay.
Sunday spent in the FiDi = no lunch lines, right? RIGHT. Ummm...
Clock out 3:17pm, half an hour for lunch. GO!
The trek from New Montgomery to The Grove is not that long, but tell me why I spent my whole lunch (half an) hour waiting for my food? I'll get into the deets in a bit.
Being 5 feet 1 inch, I, literally, had to bend my neck back ALL the way to read the menu items on the board. I could've opted for the menu but I didn't know where to find one, so insanely high chalkboard, I choose you.
Seems to have a nice variety but prices are kind of ridiculous. $4 for a floral infused lemonade, too fancy for me. I ordered the Chicken Pot Pie for a whooping $10ish ($11ish plus tax, $12ish plus tax and tip = I like to tip cause well, I work in food service, tips are how I make my weekly lunch allowance). The Grove took 1/3 of my weekly lunch allowance... guess I'll just have to go hungry two out of the four days I work. Okay, I strayed too much from my review, back on track.
The person who took my order was extremely nice, so I thought I was gonna have a good experience here and give this place at LEAST 3 stars. I give him my name, I sit near the register
and wait... Wow, the trees are decorated for Christmas.
And I wait... I feel like I'm sitting in a picnic area.
And I wait... Espresso bar, freshly squeezed orange juice, laptops and outlets EVERYWHERE.
And I wait... Wait, what? $5 per 30 minutes of WiFi time? Umm... How do you even monitor that?
Did I mention I waited for my food? I spent probably 25 minutes waiting for my chicken pot pie to-go. I should've just eaten in cause people behind me got their food before I did. ):
After finally getting my food and motoring back to work, I opened up my small cup of soup, box with pastry, and box of salad. The pastry was crisp and seasoned just slightly so not to overpower the soup with it's potential (KEYWORD: potential) saltiness. And my coworkers loved the salad but how hard is it to make a successful salad? Seriously. I broke the pieces of pastry into my soup and started sopping up the heartiness of the soup. Fresh peas, carrots, onions (and I HATE onions, I normally pick them out, but this was an exception), and shredded chicken, like large pieces of roasted chicken. I loved the heartiness of the soup and it tasted slow-cooked. Best word to describe it: homey.
HOWEVER. It was in a 16oz cup with 4oz of air = 12oz of soup.
$11ish for pastry, 12oz soup and a salad. Thanks, but I realized that passing up Soup Freaks was a mistake. I'll give them another try if I had time to kill, otherwise I'll just shy away from here during my lunch (half an) hour. Sorry. -
Review from Nanci W.
Redwood City, CA
1/29/2012
My Mom & I came last week before seeing a show at the Yerba Buena Theater and we loved our meal. I had the Mac-n-cheese, my Mom tried the Chicken Pot Pie and both were delicious! The whole staff was so nice and welcoming. They are so friendly, which you don't find very often, especially in SF. The ambiance is nice & warm also with the faux fireplaces and rustic decor. Will definitely go back and wish they would open one in Redwood City!
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Review from Philip S.
Seattle, WA
1/28/2012
Breakfast here on 25 January. A great little place. Friendly service. Good omelet. Good coffee.
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Review from Peter S.
Suffern, NY
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Healthy, great food, especially for breakfast. Try the smoothie with breakfast burrito. All made with fresh ingredients. Consistent quality and a cut above Mel's Diner.
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Review from Ben H L.
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Grove Cafe definitely evokes a relaxing kind of vibe when walking in. It's been a while since I've been in this area. Upon a quick glance, I can tell that this may be the type of place where I can relax and bring friends and chat as loudly as I want! I went with a big chocolate chip cookie and the lavender lemonade. The cookie was still soft and chewy despite me eating it late in the day and the lavender lemonade was very trippy/different than what I was expecting. I usually expect lavender to smell like the stuff from Bath and Body Works but it definitely is a drink I'd order again.
The owner or manager even came by to our table to address one of my group's concern regarding their grilled cheese sandwich. Any establishment where they are open to receiving feedback is a thumbs up in my book.
This may be my go-to location if I ever come to Westfield and wanted to avoid the claustrophobic overpriced food court on the bottom floor. -
Review from Arash K.
Palo Alto, CA
1/24/2012
Awesome food, wonderful ambiance. I really like the trees. All the employees are super nice too! Easily my first choice for lunch near Moscone.
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Review from Farrah A.
11/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Our office is just a stone's throw away from The Grove, and it makes for a great lunch spot. And service along with the kitchen have a great rhythm going - whatever it may be - and I appreciate how quickly you can get in and out of the restaurant, while still enjoying a quality meal.
It's counter service, and within a moment's time, our *seriously* friendly server brought out our orders: roasted beat and mixed green salad for Jessica T and a giant chicken potpie for yours truly (I know. Gym tomorrow for sure.). I must add that they do keep busy, and you may not get the table of your choice (outside seating, private table, communal table, couch seating), but who really cares when you can enjoy a lovely lunch in a great setting.Listed in: San Francisco - Restaurants -…
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Review from Cassie P.
San Francisco, CA
12/12/2011
So the food is good and the portions are big. But that's all this place has going for it; I don't understand their high reviews.
Everything is so expensive, even for SF. $5 for an OJ? $10 for oatmeal? And my business partner and I spent $25 there and were asked to leave to make room for other patrons after a little over an hour. Frustrating. -
Review from Kelly H.
San Francisco, CA
12/17/2011
- awesome environment
- great service
- friendly workers
- velvet cake with a scoop of mocha ice cream (~$7)
Everything's great, but it's just kinda pricey for a cafe. But I definitely recommend the cakes + a scoop of ice cream! There's a variety of choices. -
Review from Stephanie M.
San Francisco, CA
11/16/2011
I wonder how many startups must have started here. Seems to be more of a cyber cafe for people wanting to use the internet more than a restaurant.
This Grove is the kind of place you go and enjoy for breakfast an omelet, for lunch a salad, or dinner a pot pie. It's a bit pricey to be honest, $9 for hummus and pita, really?
This is the best place to eat around the block, it has an easygoing vibe, the manager is very sweet, fast service, great for people-watching through the open windows or outside, and you will never see this place empty on sunny days.
I ate there this morning with my team and we had gigantic breakfast burritos, done really well! The ratio of professional men to women were about 10:1. I have never seen so many men on laptops or iPads with an iPhone and a Blackberry, only in SF.
Inside you will feel like you are in a ski-lodge with trees lit up, dark-wood tables, and a fireplace. It's the perfect place to use your laptop, read a book, newspaper, or just simply enjoy a coffee or a bite to eat. I dig you Grove, I do. -
Review from Aaron R.
Santa Clara, CA
11/17/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Awesome place to chill
The food and drinks are okay, there really isn't anything outstanding about any of it...
What really makes this place stick out is the hang out factor. It's a great place to go and meet with friends, chat for a bit, it has a warm inviting atmosphere going for it, and you'll notice that a lot of the people there are doing just that.
Just about every time I've been, there seems to be a group session from some class going on, and the random group of buddies catching up on life... that tends to be the table i'm with =) -
Review from Chanel L.
11/5/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Yay for the crispy chicken pot pie. A college friend paid SF a visit, so I snuck out for a sit down lunch. We went at 11 and good thing we did, it got super busy by 1130. You order first, pay, get a number and try to grab a seat that is available.
The chicken pot pie was about $10 and it came with a side salad. I didn't eat the salad though. The pie came out crispy and hot. The crust was delicious and flakey.
No waiting service, so you have to go get your own waters and utensils.
I will be back, price is decent, food preparation is fast and the POT PIE was delicious!! -
Review from Jerico P.
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
the line is out the door!
come on in and seat yourselves. then take turns with your friends waiting in line... because the line gets long and at times it goes out the door. ironically enough there are trees inside... and some of the dogs too...
back to the point- the grove cafe feels like a snow cabin that can be found in the middle of the city. it creates for a rather cozy inviting feeling. and for the holidays they wrapped some lights around the two tall tree trunks in front of the giant fire place.
the food is pretty good. i struggled between the choice of eggs florentine "dave's way" meaning with avocado for an extra couple of bucks -and- huevos rancheros. but as we waited through the line... my feelings wavered until finally just before we got to the front to order, a list of favorite omelettes was posted that made the choice for me.
STEAK - PICO DE GALLO - AVOCADO! and a side of BACON #FTW!
they also had an awesome juicer! they advertise a freshly squeezed orange and this awesome machine does it all! I WANT ONE! you load up the oranges, it cuts in half and then juices it for you. AMAZING! i wish i took a video of it because a picture is neat but seeing it in action makes for the experience.
they give you a number after you order and short time later the food :) and i was happy! the steak was delicious, partnered with the acidic tomatoes -filled my omelette- topped with a modest helping of avocados. i could have done without the bread they added on my plate. and i would have loved more avocados.
overall i just wish i had more for the price/wait. best part of breakfast was the juicer :)
until next time
cheers! -
Review from jennifer l.
San Francisco, CA
11/15/2011
OBSESSED WITH...
1) The decorations. Love love LOVE it. Perfect place to sit and chat with friends over lunch.
2) The food was good. Salad was huge. THE FRUIT SMOOTHIE WAS AMAZING THOUGH.
3) Service was fast, the place was clean, blah blah blah.
I'm coming back here again. -
Review from Narilka A.
Seattle, WA
12/5/2011
I'm staying across the street at the St. Regis for the week, and the night we checked in, three different staff members recommended The Grove as a place for dinner, if we were looking for something a little more casual than Ame.
I've been back every day since.
Their service is always super friendly. On our first dinner, I didn't each much of my main course because I was full after my soup and bread. The gentleman that cleared the table said that next time, if we didn't like something, just to tell them and they would fix it. My husband pointed out that any restaurant would do the same, but I appreciate their pro-active approach.
We went for lunch the next day, and where I tried the grilled cheese with some more soup. I love their tomato basil soup. Turns out, it goes really well with their grilled cheese. I don't know why, but the grilled cheese is probably the best I've ever had. If I had the eat the same thing every day for the rest of my life, it would be this; their grilled cheese with a cup of tomato basil soup.
My husband was less of a fanatic about the tuna melt he had (and the lasagna the ngiht before), but he has a high bar on both of those items. (the Broken Yolk in San Diego for the first category and Mom's lasagna being the current winner in the second category.)
The environment is coffee-house feeling, and they don't seem to mind if you hang out for awhile after you finish eating and they've cleared your dishes. The only thing that I find amusing (but is maybe not amusing to others) is how much the servers will wander around with an order, looking for the number.
Also, the trees lights are pretty. -
Review from Jeff M.
San Francisco, CA
1/17/2012
They recently changed the Red Velvet Cake baker and the new one SUCKS!
If you used to be a fan, don't buy the new one. It is terrible. I used to get 1 of these a week and now I will never go back. Dry, tasteless, tastes old...awful.
I called the store and they admitted they are getting a lot of bad feedback.
Ugh!
This review is only for the cake.
(The new one has red sprinkles on the sides) -
Review from Rose Y.
Berkeley, CA
1/15/2012
This place has a good selection of food, ranging from salads/soups to heavier foods and desserts! I like their fruit smoothie; it's not too sweet and very refreshing. Their salads are not as good, but the macaroni and cheese is soo yummy! Greasy, but sooo cheesy. Also a great place to sit down and grab a cup of coffee with someone.
Come here to eat if you have time to wait though! It takes them a while to prepare actual food, even where there are not a lot of people in line. -
Review from Jen S.
12/28/2011
love this place!! i was watching this place go out not knowing what it was. switched jobs and totally forgot about this place until my friend suggested we come here for lunch. it wasn't until i got there that it was the same place! they did wonders with the space. its two stories, but beware, during lunch you better grab the table if you see it. it goes by fast! the line sometimes looks long but it goes by really fast.
we ordered
mac n cheese - comes with a salad - DELICIOUS. a bit pricey for lunch but they only have one set menu. it is a hearty tasty option so eat away!
tomato soup - YUM great for a cold gloomy windy SF day :) -
Review from Laura F.
San Francisco, CA
10/31/2011
Baby / kid friendly. Strollers of any kind are welcome here. The food is delicious and the fresh squeezed oj is AMAZING!
Minus one star because they put a super high power hand dryer, that is way to loud, right next to the changing table and it scares my baby to the point of a meltdown if anyone uses it while he is being changed. -
Review from Tiffany L.
Berkeley, CA
12/26/2011
I'm not sure about the rest of you, but for me it is difficult to find good food near touristy places/shopping areas. However, whenever I am in Union Square or working in the office, this one place I would come to grab a bite. The food is pretty good, my friend and I would always get the BLT and substitute the chips for the vegetarian chili. The cookies and pies look delicious, but haven't tried those yet. The ambiance is great, very cozy and open.
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Review from Sheryl B.
Redding, CA
10/24/2011
We ate at The Grove for lunch on one of our busy days in the city. The Oracle Conference was going on and this was in close proximity to Yerba Buena Gardens so it was unusually crowded for a weekday lunch. But we still enjoyed it. It's a casual lunch place, but with quality food.
I ordered the tuna salad which wasn't soaked in dressing as tuna salad often is. Rather it was freshly prepared and healthy, served with a couple slices of toasted sour dough baguette.
Both indoor and outdoor seating is available. Be prepared for waiting in line to order. A great place in the SOMA (south of Market) neighborhood. -
Review from Cassy R.
10/26/2011
I love the Grove... but I won't be visiting this one anytime soon. I go there quite a lot for lunch but decided to stop in, have breakfast around 10:30am, run by work and come back to work at the cafe the rest of the day. I came back and brought my colleague with me. We were going to grab some lunch and collab. We got asked to order food "now" or go work in the living room because the tables were for people eating. WHAT?
I explained that I'd already purchased breakfast, and so did my boyfriend, and that my colleague was going to go order lunch in about 15mins and I would eat later. They still insisted we eat in the "living room" not at a table...explaining "We're not being mean, that's what the manager says we have to do."
"The Grove Cafe...", is a cafe. Having laptops at a table while eating isn't okay? Since when? I've never been kicked out of a table for having my laptop at this or any other Grove. So sad... I liked that place but if I can't work and eat there then I'll go somewhere else. -
Review from liz c.
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
- Lunch place that serves beer by the pint? "Yay! I'm a fan."
- I've had their salads, bagels, and sandwiches. Food is okay at best.. don't expect SF's finest.
- A cute place to catch up with a friend; love the decor and the "feel" but not the best work/study cafe. Wifi is finicky and you only get it for an hour
- Awesomely close to Yerba Buena Gardens which is one of the best places to eat outdoors in this city, hands down.
Great spot for SOMA and highly recommend it if you're looking for a pick me up drink or a light snack. -
Review from Andrew M.
San Francisco, CA
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I met a friend for lunch and had the turkey club sandwich. It was actually a really good sandwich, and fairly well put-together (I had to rearrange some of the bacon so as not to induce nitrate shock from one bite). Nice that they give you chips with the sandwich.
The Grove is a great place for a casual date or a business meeting if you have an expense account, but otherwise the food and drinks are too expensive for everyday visits (lattes are like $4?). Glad to have it near the office, but unlikely to visit much. -
Review from Lisa H.
12/5/2011
Love the vibe and the decor. Nice-cabin-in-the-woods feel. Food was ok - nothing too special about it. Decently priced for San Francisco. Got the breakfast special - a dry piece of wheat bread, 2 thick pieces of bacon, rosemary hashed potates and poached eggs for $8.75. Eggs were nicely poached! Bf got a breakfast burrito that was very loaded with refried beans. Yowza. Like that they have Tapatio on hand, and the waiters and waitresses were very friendly. A nice spot to meet friends and sip a mimosa...but would probably be more excited about seeing my friends than partaking in the food.
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Review from Karen S.
San Jose, CA
12/30/2011
What I would do for a restaurant this good to come to San Jose. All of the ingredients were fresh, each bite was better than the last. The chai latte was the real deal, my hubbies moch capp was so thick and yummy. We both had eggs, I had a scramble, he had a breakfast burrito. We just couldn't stop commenting on how great it was. The staff was so friendly, it was so clean. I read other reviews commenting on how pricey it was, but it's not, just average, especially for the location and the quality of food. We will be back again and again, thank you grove!
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Review from Janis S.
Santa Barbara, CA
12/26/2011
Cozy and warm inside, friendly and helpful service, and a great chicken pot pie. The lavender lemonade is so good it will haunt my dreams. Love the trees!
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Review from Sofia R.
My cousin and I stopped by here to grab brunch.
What I like about this place is that they serve breakfast til 4. Usually, I like having my first meal (even if it's afternoon) to be breakfast. Today, I ordered the Healthy Eggs Pomodoro. My cousin opted for the grilled cheese. I got a bittersweet chocolate affogato as a drink just because I couldn't resist.
The affogato was great of course. You really can't go wrong with that. I tried it with bittersweet chocolate just because I felt like having chocolate. It was really rich though which I was expecting...I think the best flavors for affogatos are the milder flavors like vanilla or cardamom. Whatever.
When we got our food we were....unimpressed. My cousin's sandwich plate looked majorly plain (I guess cuz it's a plain sandwich) but my eggs pomodoro looked SAD.
The sandwich was good but not $7 worth.
There wasn't much on my plate. Two little eggs, two grilled zucchini slices (not even really that grilled), and one piece of bruschetta. The eggs were interesting but...felt like I needed more. The zucchini was just....what? And the bruschetta was plain also. Everything tasted a bit plain so I added a lot of pepper and a dash of salt....I almost never add salt to my food. To me, this was not worth $8.50.
Aside from disappointment with food, the atmosphere and the service remained great.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/22/2011
Went here with a friend for lunch.
The place was nice and kind of old fashioned looking. Casual yet… Read more »
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