#san-francisco-restaurants

#san-francisco-restaurants

Crossing the threshold into the San Francisco brunch restaurant, Early to Rise brings an instant feeling of comfort - a direct reflection of the spirit of Southern hospitality it aspires to embody. After operating for eight years as a meandering pop-up, this eatery from chef Andrew McCormack finally settled into its permanent home within the San Francisco restaurant scene in 2024.

Our very serious formula takes into account important factors like menu variety, wrapper chewiness, and soup-to-meat ratio of xiao long bao. Bonus points for alliteration (hi, Dumpling Dynasty), or names that make us want to sign a lease and move in (love you, Dumpling Home). If you're looking for all of our favorite dumpling spots in SF, regardless of what they're called, we've got a guide for that, too.

McIlwraith is teaming here as co-executive chef with Kaili Hill the pair met while working at Barcino and went on to open another restaurant outside The Absinthe Group umbrella, Alora on the Embarcadero. (Hill previously worked at the Post Ranch Inn, 25 Lusk, and Niku Steakhouse.) The two are now returning to work with their old colleagues, creating a menu that will be "hyper" seasonally driven, centered on a wood-fired hearth, and offering generous plates of roasted meats and vegetables, as well as house-made pastas, both fresh cut and extruded.

Truth be told, we do the same with their chopped salad. It's a rainbow in a bowl-exactly what breezy summer days on their Outer Sunset sidewalk patio call for. Crisp greens, marinated chickpeas, cucumbers, strawberries, soft-boiled egg, and a vibrant tahini vinaigrette come together to convince you that "season's bounty" is a totally acceptable phrase to say out loud. And since this salad is pretty big, we suggest splitting it with a friend (and a side of funky wine).

At first glance, this Peruvian spot in the Sunset looks like any one of the sports bars you'd expect to see around the city. The difference is Lomo Libre serves ceviche with fish we'd guess were caught earlier that day from Ocean Beach, oysters with a tangy mango mignonette, and a hearty lomo saltado with crispy french fries. Pull up to one of the bar stools and watch a soccer game on one of the many wall-mounted TVs. Don't forget to get a pisco sour.

This initiative, 'Taco Love,' aims to support those affected by the pandemic while allowing patrons to enjoy a meal for a price they can afford.