Posted by TheShot on 19 Jul 2008 | Tagged as: Café Society, Local Brew
This casual café run by Mission locals lives across the street from the slightly newer, and trendier, Sugarlump. That detail alone contributes to an unusual social “halo” surrounding this café — one that forgives the many sins it commits against good coffee.
To be honest, the espresso here is quite dreadful. But this place is notable [...]
Posted by TheShot on 30 May 2008 | Tagged as: Local Brew
This kiosk/cubby hole with old cigar branding on glass above the doorway has only a dry-erase marker menu inside giving away its name. (”The Sentinel“? Are they Michael Douglas fans or something?) A former cigar shop, and most recently an outlet of Enzo’s Italian Deli for a number of years, this tiny location opened in [...]
[view full post]Posted by TheShot on 18 Apr 2006 | Tagged as: Local Brew
A popular, often crowded, slow, and somewhat under-tabled and under-staffed Parisian-styled café that strongly emphasizes French details. (It changed owners in March 2004.) A somewhat confused system for getting a table when they are busy — you’re not sure whether to grab a table yourself, to ask to be seated, etc. Black & white photographs [...]
[view full post]Posted by TheShot on 21 Feb 2006 | Tagged as: Local Brew
This café opened in September 2005, replacing the barely noteworthy Cool Beans — one grungy café among many in a series of ownership changes at this location. The new proprietor, Antonio, brings a clear Italian flair to this location (he even answers the phone, “Pronto!”).
However, when you approach it, you might mistake it for a [...]
Posted by TheShot on 28 Jan 2006 | Tagged as: Local Brew
With my kitchen currently getting the bulldozer (i.e., reconstruction) treatment, home espresso operations have come to a screeching halt. What better time to forage for espresso? Last week I reported that Caffé del Doge opens in Palo Alto, and this morning I decided to pay a visit.
This chain of Venetian cafés opened in 2003 (thanks [...]
Posted by TheShot on 21 Jan 2006 | Tagged as: Local Brew
Over the past couple of years, San Francisco has undergone something of a revolution in great espresso. Although the quality revolution has yet to trickle down to the typical corner café, great changes have taken place at the upper eschelon.
At the forefront of this revolution is a troika of relative newcomers: Blue Bottle Coffee, Café [...]
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