Reviews
Here are just a few of the nice things people have said about us. Thanks everyone!
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San Francisco's Top 50 Best Restaurants, Zagat San Francisco, 2014
“Your first bite justifies the long wait in line outside” this “charming” North Beach breakfast-and-lunch “institution” where the “home-style” American fare includes “awesome French toast” and a Monte Christo sandwich that’s a “sinful delight”; “low costs” and decent service are additional reasons fans say it’s “worth” the effort to squeeze into the “small”, “tight space.” |
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Inside Scoop SF, San Francisco Chronicle
"The North Beach staple might actually have the longest true line in town for brunch, but both tourists and locals continue to queue up for the ethereal baked goods and homey family-owned atmosphere. If only the city would let them open a second location..." |
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San Francisco for foodies, Condé Nast Traveller
Weekend breakfasts in San Francisco are notoriously busy and you are truly spoilt for choice, with places like the Pork Store Cafe in Haight-Ashbury, Red Door Cafe in Pacific Heights and Dottie's True Blue Cafe, but to enjoy the quintessential American breakfast, my personal favourite is Mama's on Washington Square. My advice is to get there early so you can grab a booth and order the breakfast hotcakes which are sublime! |
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Restaurant Business, The Clean Plate Awards
Bob Okura - Vice President of Culinary Development & Corporate Executive Chef for The Cheesecake Factory Mama’s of San Francisco - Fresh Spinach & Dungeness Crab Benedict There is always a line with at least a 45-minute wait to eat breakfast here at this northern California culinary landmark, and this dish has got to be one of the reasons why. An unbelievably generous portion of sweet, steamed Dungeness crab piled high on a bed of perfectly sautéed spinach set on a warm, toasted English muffin, and topped with poached eggs and a buttery smooth hollandaise sauce. |
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Rachael Ray, Rachael's Vacation (on the Food Network)
Rachael calls Mama's a "popular hotspot" with a "homey atmosphere that you just don't find in many restaurants." "For something traditional try the Buttermilk Pancakes made from scratch. And if you come on a weekend, check out the specials menu. If you're lucky they'll have the Dungeness Crab Benedict with Fresh Spinach... it is worth every penny in every rich bite." "My favorite? The Apple Pan Dore. De-lish. No wonder San Franciscans can not get enough of Mama's." |
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Check Please! Bay Area (KQED)
(To jump right to Mama's, go to about 09:38 on the video playback time line.) |
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Time Magazine (time.com Travel)
San Francisco: 10 Things to Do in 24 Hours 1. Get Breakfast at Mama's If you've just flown in from a later time zone, get up early and go to Fisherman's Wharf to check out the sea lions that lounge like giant, stinking dogs, around Pier 39. (This, by the way, is the only thing you should do at Fisherman's Wharf, and only do it around dawn, before the tourists arrive.) Afterward, head down Stockton St. into North Beach, the formerly Bohemian part of the city. Get yourself a serious breakfast at Mama's, which makes the best breakfast in town; it gets crowded on weekends, so get there early or expect to wait about half an hour. After breakfast, you won't feel like eating again for a days. Time to start walking off the food. |
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Travel Channel (travelchannel.com Destination Guides)
Mama's on Washington Square has long queues that will keep you waiting on the sidewalk for half an hour. But once you are inside and seated, be prepared for a great breakfast that puts the wait in perspective. Mama's has been around for almost 50 years and it has aged gracefully to say the least. On the menu you will find eleven different omelettes and French toasts made from different types of bread. Make sure you try their home-made jams. Mama's also serves lunch, that too in generous quantities. Try the Monte Cristo which has turkey, ham, cheddar cheese in bread dipped in egg white and grilled. |
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Food Network
Gotta have the Monte Cristo Sandwich! Want to make our famous Monte Cristo Sandwich yourself? Check out our recipe featured on foodnetwork.com here... |
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LA TIMES
Worth the wait Standing in line for more than an hour for Sunday brunch at Mama's on Washington Square wasn't necessarily the best way to end a vacation. The tiny North Beach restaurant with yellow walls and kitschy curtains is in such demand that it operates under martial law. "Bouncers" at the door let in one party at a time. You order at the counter, pay before you eat and then wait again to be seated. But, oh, the food. The jams are homemade and the french toast moist, but not soggy. It's divine. My sister's only request was that I send this message to foodie tourists who venture there: "Come early and eat quick." |
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Food GPS by Joshua Lurie (food writer)
Mama's is "the reigning queen of Bay Area breakfast joints." "Once you’re granted the privilege of passing through the front door, you’re paraded past the sizzling grill and bustling prep counter, where you’ll see warm loaves of bread destined for French toast glory, bowls of garden fresh vegetables and lump crab meat, and stacks of jaw-dropping coffee cakes." "Michael Sanchez transforms his fresh loaves of bread into French toast. You can order the toasts individually, but the best way to experience the French toast is by ordering the sampler... we enjoyed tart cranberry-orange-walnut, Swedish cinnamon and banana nut topped with thin-sliced banana. The supple French toast fan was dusted with powdered sugar, scattered with fresh berries (black, rasp and straw) and plated with a tiny pitcher of maple syrup." "If French toast isn’t your thing, Mama’s also produces buttermilk pancakes, several varieties of fluffy omelettes and a crab benedict that utilizes that pulled crab meat." "Mama’s was well worth the half-hour wait for what remains San Francisco’s best breakfast. During the week, customers have to contend with fewer tourists, so it’s an even better time to visit." |
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yelp.com
"Best breakfast in the city." "I was honestly blown away." "The eggs were perfectly poached, the breakfast potatoes were crispy in just the right way and the french toast was amazing." "It was definitely worth the wait!" "The cute country Mama's ambiance throughout the restaurant made you feel comfortable and right at home. The place definitely gave the cute, quaint, and country feel. The service was a delight." "This place is fantabulous! Everyone raves about Mama's french toast and for good reason. Whoever thought of using banana nut bread for french toast is a genius! If you're going for first time, don't narrow your options, try the French Toast Sampler (it comes with 3 different varieties) AND the Monte Cristo (you won't be disappointed)." "I am in heaven." "It was definitely worth the wait!" |
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