The Grove

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The Grove is a quick-bite food staple of San Francisco. Each location is reminiscent of a remote cabin or lodge in the mountains; with its exposed wood beams, pine tables, large Navajo rugs covering the wood floors, rustic pillows scattered everywhere and a huge stone fireplace, which remains the focal point of most locations. You feel like you are stepping into a living room, not so much a restaurant. 

Berkeley Bowl (a delicious vegan salad), Spinach Artichoke Dip and Breakfast Burrito (hangover cure) 

Students are usually scattered amongst the tables, with laptops propped open and a cup of coffee by their side. Others are found leisurely reading the paper in an over sized chair, sipping their morning latte or nibbling on The Grove's American comfort food (think sandwiches, salads, breakfast, baked goods).

The four locations are conveniently located near prime shopping areas throughout the city; Hayes Valley, Fillmore Street, Chestnut Street and the Yerba Buena Gardens, so I often stop by The Grove after a strenuous day of shopping :) Our most recent visit concluded our Mother's Day shopping excursion. We each ordered a cold Hefeweizen and some very unhealthy/delicious spinach artichoke dip. We sat at a table near an open window to take advantage of the rare sunny day in the city. Sipping our beers while devouring the spinach artichoke dip; it was the perfect way to unwind after a long day fighting the retail crowds of downtown San Francisco. So if you're ever in the neighborhood, stop by The Grove to escape the hustle and bustle for a few minutes and just relax. 

The Grove, 2016 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115.
The Grove, 690 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.
The Grove, 2250 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, CA 94123.
The Grove, 301 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94123.

The American Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese is quite trendy in San Francisco right now. With restaurants like The American Grilled Cheese and The Melt, popping up left and right, it is apparent that others enjoy grilled cheese as much as I do. Turn this simple comfort food into quite the culinary experience by adding flavorful cheeses and crème fraiche (to the tomato soup) and you’ll soon have a cult following. Reid and I visit The American Grilled Cheese, located in SOMA, quite often; (1) because it’s conveniently located walking distance from our apartment (score!) and (2) it is simply delicious!

The majority of the seating is located outside (a pitfall for chilly SF days), but there are plenty of bar seats indoors, in case you forget your Patagonia. This cheese heaven offers seven types of grilled cheeses and two soups so you can vary your order a little bit each time. They also have a breakfast menu, mimosas and a few beers on tap…not too shabby for a grilled cheese restaurant.

I've sampled three American Grilled Cheeses: the Mousetrap (Tillamook sharp cheddar, creamy havarti, Monterey jack, on sourdough), the Mushroom Gruyere (fontina, gruyère, roasted wild mushrooms + gold potatoes, melted leeks, caramelized onions, thyme butter on levain) and the Jalapeno Popper (chèvre, Monterey jack, applewood-smoked bacon, apricot-jalapeño relish on levain). All are phenomenal but my go-top is the Mousetrap.  If you like spice, order the Jalapeno Popper. It is sure to leave your mouth burning.

Reid always orders the Club Turkey (Tillamook sharp cheddar, creamy havarti, Willie Bird smoked turkey, applewood-smoked bacon, Sierra Nevada stout mustard, roasted tomatoes, arugula) but last weekend he ventured out and tried the Foghorn Leghorn (Point Reyes blue cheese, creamy havarti, Zoe's Roasted Chicken, arugula, dill-dijon mustard on whole wheat). Although you can't go wrong with either, he's definitely more of a Club Turkey kind-of-guy.

Definitely take advantage of The Red, White & Blue Plate Special, which offers you a cup of soup and half of any of their grilled cheeses - allowing you to sample a little bit of each. We always order the tomato soup to accompany our sandwich; with crème fraiche and croutons, this tomato soup has won a place in our hearts.

The Mousetrap with tomato soup

The Foghorn Leghorn with tomato soup

The American Grilled Cheese, 1 South Park Avenue, Suite 103A, San Francisco, CA 94107.

Deli Board

Who doesn’t love a good deli sandwich? Sure you can always hit up the deli at your local grocer but a restaurant specializing in deli sandwiches is pure bliss. Deli Board is a little gem in our neighborhood that some friends recently introduced us too. The little spot on the busy street of Folsom is always packed with locals. Be careful not to drive right past it, as the unassuming location does not have any outside signage. Walk into their open, loft-like space and notice the minimalist, no frills spin on the lunchtime eatery. The menu is posted on two walls, for you to ogle and contemplate which savory bite you should try this time. Today I went with the maeday, grilled squash & zucchini, goat cheese spread, sprouts, pepperoncini blend, organic greens, pickled red onion and their signature Board sauce on a whole-wheat role. Reid chose Reuben’s Cousin, a recommendation from staff; corned beef, coleslaw (substituted for the sauerkraut), Swiss cheese, Board sauce on a sweet French roll. Both of us were not in the least disappointed. We posted up at a table and devoured the sandwiches while listening to the classic beats of the 60’s.

Deli Board, 1058 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94103