There’s always brunch: Mission Beach Cafe in San Francisco

I think brunch is the best meal of the day and I love nothing better than waking up to a good weekend brunch. Nothing compares to the pure bliss waking up (not early but at a leisure hour of your preference), get ready (not rushed like on workdays, but at your own pace),  then head to a brunch restaurant and enjoy a hearty meal filled with both sweet and savory elements.

The word “brunch” is a portmanteau made from the words “breakfast” and “lunch.” While the origins of brunch aren’t exactly clear, we do know that a British writer named Guy Beringer first used the word in an 1895 essay, “Brunch: A Plea” (Punch Magazine). In it, Beringer argues that instead of a heavy, midday post-church meal of meat pies and other delicacies, people should opt for  a lighter meal. By eating common breakfast foods like toasts, Beringer argues that brunch “puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings”.

America may not have invented the concept of brunch, but the immensely popular meal has become an integral part of the American cultural institution. Here’s one of my personal favorite: Mission Beach Cafe. 

Mission Beach Café ♥ 198 Guerrero St, San Francisco

The quintessential neighborhood cafe, Mission Beach Cafe (MBC) is popular among locals. The wait for a table is roughly an hour. Personally, that doesn’t bother me because I love waiting in line. The anticipation pumps my adrenaline, and foods always taste so much better when you know you have beaten others to it. You are in, they are not.

And yes, I am in. The cafe is bustling and buzzing with conversations. This is the place for you and your girlfriends to talk away, no one will bother to eavesdrop. Now the menu. MBC uses fresh, local ingredients to prepare their dishes. My favorites are Wild Mushroom Benedict, MBC Huevos, and French Toast.

MBC french toast

MBC french toast

MBC eggs benedicts

MBC eggs benedicts

MBC breakfast huevos

MBC breakfast huevos

Benedicts are Benedicts, the winning combination of poached eggs, mushrooms, English muffins, and Hollandaise sauce is unbeatable. It is topped with truffle mayo, which adds a wonderful aroma. MBC Huevos takes inspiration from chili con carne and the resulting dish is full-bodied and flavorful. The chili is ooh-ooh-so-good! The French toast, with a hint of lavender, is beautiful visually and taste-wise.

Brunch was introduced to Americans after World War I. And during the Roaring Twenties, party-goers embraced brunch as the perfect meal for people who were dancing and drinking all night long. In fact, most brunch menus often include drinks. So don’t forget to order a large mimosa to round out the meal! MBC’s mimosa come in a huge, round glass and is the perfect, morning cocktail. Methinks: Light, drinkable, posh.

Read about Sherry’s other favorite brunch spots.

  • Sarabeth’s ♥ 381 Park Avenue South New York, NY (click HERE for review)
Mon - Thu 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM / Fri 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM / Sat 9:00 -11:00 / Sun 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM / $

Jan. 1, 2013 刊登於老中新聞_老饕 (originally published in News for Chinese)

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