This time, we came prepared and brought along books to pass the time. What we didn\u2019t expect was for it to be that hot in August in San Francisco. The employees at Mama\u2019s were kind enough to bring out cups of water for those of us waiting in line, and a few doorways and awnings offered small areas of shade. But the length of the line and the heat hardly bothered me, thanks to my book. Instead, the main source of irritation on this occasion was the boisterous girl behind me in line, who squeezed herself into the narrow doorway in which I was standing. Girl, \u00a0we all want to stand in the shade, but we both don\u2019t fit in this tiny doorway and your sweaty body pressed up against mine is just making things worse, so back up!<\/p>\n
After almost an hour wait (not bad), we were allowed inside to wait a little longer to order, and then a little longer to be seated. By the time we left at around 1 pm, the line was quite short, so if you\u2019re interested in trying it and refuse to wait, try stopping by in the afternoon or on a weekday (or start lining up at around 7:30 am, before it even opens).<\/p>\n
\u00a0Location<\/strong><\/h2>\nMama\u2019s is located in San Francisco\u2019s North Beach neighborhood, on the northeast corner of Washington Square Park. Parking in the area can be tough to find, though there is metered (and sometimes free) street parking in the neighborhood, and a few nearby garages.<\/p>\n
Address: 1701 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94133<\/p>\n
Phone: (415) 362-6421<\/p>\n
\u00a0Hours<\/strong><\/h2>\nTuesday through Sunday \u2013 8 am to 3 pm<\/p>\n
\u00a0Ambiance<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe restaurant is casual and homey, like visiting your grandparents\u2019 house. There\u2019s antique furniture and flowers on the tables. There\u2019s an old menu on the wall showing the prices and some strange offerings from 1967, the year Mama\u2019s opened.<\/p>\n
The kitchen is open, with the delicious breads and other baked goods on display, enticing me to order more than I should.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/images.mapsofworld.com\/san-francisco\/2015\/09\/Mamas-4.jpg\")
<\/a>A cozy corner at Mama’s<\/p><\/div>\n
The seating area is fairly small and cozy, with tables close together and only a few tables that can accommodate larger groups. It seems clean and it\u2019s bright and sunny.<\/p>\n
The one issue (aside from the lack of seating) was the restroom. While it was decently clean, it\u2019s very old and about the size of an airplane restroom. To get to it, you have to pass through part of the kitchen and head outside and down the stairs. There\u2019s only one room, and there\u2019s nowhere really to wait for your turn, because a member of the staff will need to squeeze past every few minutes.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Service<\/strong><\/h2>\nAside from wait times, the service at Mama\u2019s is very good.<\/p>\n
The staff at Mama\u2019s was friendly and seemed sympathetic about the heat and the long wait times, rather than stressed out by it. The folks I encountered as I passed through the kitchen and outdoor space were all smiles and full of patience.<\/p>\n
The waiter we had was one of the best I\u2019ve ever had. Though he was very clearly busy serving quite a few tables, he took the time to make friendly, funny conversation. He insisted we try the homemade jam and appeared out of nowhere to lift the top off the jar the second I lifted my fork to begin eating the French toast. It was as if he could read my mind at times \u2013 I only had to look at him quizzically while trying to finish chewing my food, and he answered my unspoken question: raspberry. The guy is good.<\/p>\n
![\"Mama's](\"https:\/\/images.mapsofworld.com\/san-francisco\/2015\/09\/Mamas-3.jpg\")
<\/a>Mama’s famous Raspberry Jam<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0Price<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe prices at Mama\u2019s are pretty standard, with entrees ranging from about $9 to $15, mostly on the upper end of the range. Alcoholic brunch drinks like mimosas cost $7 each, while coffee and espresso drinks cost $3-4 and smoothies are $6.25.<\/p>\n
Bring cash! Mama\u2019s does not take credit cards, but they do take debit cards for a small fee.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Food<\/strong><\/h2>\nAfter that wait, we were pretty hungry and I was ready to order one of everything on the menu. They serve some hearty comfort food, however, so don\u2019t go too crazy. I\u2019d recommend sticking to breakfast foods, though they do have some good sounding lunch items. The menu features omelets, scrambles, and benedicts with crab or other variations on the classic, like prosciutto, pancetta, or bacon. There are pancakes and a whole list of French toast, made with fresh baked breads of various flavors.<\/p>\n
They also have quite a few decadent drinks on the menu, including some fresh squeezed juices. I had a grapefruit mimosa, which I worried might be bitter but it was very refreshing on this unseasonably hot day.<\/p>\n
I split one savory dish and one sweet dish, which is the best way to brunch. It\u2019s like having breakfast and then breakfast-dessert in perfect portions.<\/p>\n
Tuesday through Sunday \u2013 8 am to 3 pm<\/p>\n
\u00a0Ambiance<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe restaurant is casual and homey, like visiting your grandparents\u2019 house. There\u2019s antique furniture and flowers on the tables. There\u2019s an old menu on the wall showing the prices and some strange offerings from 1967, the year Mama\u2019s opened.<\/p>\n
The kitchen is open, with the delicious breads and other baked goods on display, enticing me to order more than I should.<\/p>\n
<\/a>A cozy corner at Mama’s<\/p><\/div>\n
The seating area is fairly small and cozy, with tables close together and only a few tables that can accommodate larger groups. It seems clean and it\u2019s bright and sunny.<\/p>\n
The one issue (aside from the lack of seating) was the restroom. While it was decently clean, it\u2019s very old and about the size of an airplane restroom. To get to it, you have to pass through part of the kitchen and head outside and down the stairs. There\u2019s only one room, and there\u2019s nowhere really to wait for your turn, because a member of the staff will need to squeeze past every few minutes.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Service<\/strong><\/h2>\nAside from wait times, the service at Mama\u2019s is very good.<\/p>\n
The staff at Mama\u2019s was friendly and seemed sympathetic about the heat and the long wait times, rather than stressed out by it. The folks I encountered as I passed through the kitchen and outdoor space were all smiles and full of patience.<\/p>\n
The waiter we had was one of the best I\u2019ve ever had. Though he was very clearly busy serving quite a few tables, he took the time to make friendly, funny conversation. He insisted we try the homemade jam and appeared out of nowhere to lift the top off the jar the second I lifted my fork to begin eating the French toast. It was as if he could read my mind at times \u2013 I only had to look at him quizzically while trying to finish chewing my food, and he answered my unspoken question: raspberry. The guy is good.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Mama’s famous Raspberry Jam<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0Price<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe prices at Mama\u2019s are pretty standard, with entrees ranging from about $9 to $15, mostly on the upper end of the range. Alcoholic brunch drinks like mimosas cost $7 each, while coffee and espresso drinks cost $3-4 and smoothies are $6.25.<\/p>\n
Bring cash! Mama\u2019s does not take credit cards, but they do take debit cards for a small fee.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Food<\/strong><\/h2>\nAfter that wait, we were pretty hungry and I was ready to order one of everything on the menu. They serve some hearty comfort food, however, so don\u2019t go too crazy. I\u2019d recommend sticking to breakfast foods, though they do have some good sounding lunch items. The menu features omelets, scrambles, and benedicts with crab or other variations on the classic, like prosciutto, pancetta, or bacon. There are pancakes and a whole list of French toast, made with fresh baked breads of various flavors.<\/p>\n
They also have quite a few decadent drinks on the menu, including some fresh squeezed juices. I had a grapefruit mimosa, which I worried might be bitter but it was very refreshing on this unseasonably hot day.<\/p>\n
I split one savory dish and one sweet dish, which is the best way to brunch. It\u2019s like having breakfast and then breakfast-dessert in perfect portions.<\/p>\n
<\/a>A cozy corner at Mama’s<\/p><\/div>\n
The seating area is fairly small and cozy, with tables close together and only a few tables that can accommodate larger groups. It seems clean and it\u2019s bright and sunny.<\/p>\n
The one issue (aside from the lack of seating) was the restroom. While it was decently clean, it\u2019s very old and about the size of an airplane restroom. To get to it, you have to pass through part of the kitchen and head outside and down the stairs. There\u2019s only one room, and there\u2019s nowhere really to wait for your turn, because a member of the staff will need to squeeze past every few minutes.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Service<\/strong><\/h2>\nAside from wait times, the service at Mama\u2019s is very good.<\/p>\n
The staff at Mama\u2019s was friendly and seemed sympathetic about the heat and the long wait times, rather than stressed out by it. The folks I encountered as I passed through the kitchen and outdoor space were all smiles and full of patience.<\/p>\n
The waiter we had was one of the best I\u2019ve ever had. Though he was very clearly busy serving quite a few tables, he took the time to make friendly, funny conversation. He insisted we try the homemade jam and appeared out of nowhere to lift the top off the jar the second I lifted my fork to begin eating the French toast. It was as if he could read my mind at times \u2013 I only had to look at him quizzically while trying to finish chewing my food, and he answered my unspoken question: raspberry. The guy is good.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Mama’s famous Raspberry Jam<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0Price<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe prices at Mama\u2019s are pretty standard, with entrees ranging from about $9 to $15, mostly on the upper end of the range. Alcoholic brunch drinks like mimosas cost $7 each, while coffee and espresso drinks cost $3-4 and smoothies are $6.25.<\/p>\n
Bring cash! Mama\u2019s does not take credit cards, but they do take debit cards for a small fee.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Food<\/strong><\/h2>\nAfter that wait, we were pretty hungry and I was ready to order one of everything on the menu. They serve some hearty comfort food, however, so don\u2019t go too crazy. I\u2019d recommend sticking to breakfast foods, though they do have some good sounding lunch items. The menu features omelets, scrambles, and benedicts with crab or other variations on the classic, like prosciutto, pancetta, or bacon. There are pancakes and a whole list of French toast, made with fresh baked breads of various flavors.<\/p>\n
They also have quite a few decadent drinks on the menu, including some fresh squeezed juices. I had a grapefruit mimosa, which I worried might be bitter but it was very refreshing on this unseasonably hot day.<\/p>\n
I split one savory dish and one sweet dish, which is the best way to brunch. It\u2019s like having breakfast and then breakfast-dessert in perfect portions.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Mama’s famous Raspberry Jam<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0Price<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe prices at Mama\u2019s are pretty standard, with entrees ranging from about $9 to $15, mostly on the upper end of the range. Alcoholic brunch drinks like mimosas cost $7 each, while coffee and espresso drinks cost $3-4 and smoothies are $6.25.<\/p>\n
Bring cash! Mama\u2019s does not take credit cards, but they do take debit cards for a small fee.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Food<\/strong><\/h2>\nAfter that wait, we were pretty hungry and I was ready to order one of everything on the menu. They serve some hearty comfort food, however, so don\u2019t go too crazy. I\u2019d recommend sticking to breakfast foods, though they do have some good sounding lunch items. The menu features omelets, scrambles, and benedicts with crab or other variations on the classic, like prosciutto, pancetta, or bacon. There are pancakes and a whole list of French toast, made with fresh baked breads of various flavors.<\/p>\n
They also have quite a few decadent drinks on the menu, including some fresh squeezed juices. I had a grapefruit mimosa, which I worried might be bitter but it was very refreshing on this unseasonably hot day.<\/p>\n
I split one savory dish and one sweet dish, which is the best way to brunch. It\u2019s like having breakfast and then breakfast-dessert in perfect portions.<\/p>\n
After that wait, we were pretty hungry and I was ready to order one of everything on the menu. They serve some hearty comfort food, however, so don\u2019t go too crazy. I\u2019d recommend sticking to breakfast foods, though they do have some good sounding lunch items. The menu features omelets, scrambles, and benedicts with crab or other variations on the classic, like prosciutto, pancetta, or bacon. There are pancakes and a whole list of French toast, made with fresh baked breads of various flavors.<\/p>\n
They also have quite a few decadent drinks on the menu, including some fresh squeezed juices. I had a grapefruit mimosa, which I worried might be bitter but it was very refreshing on this unseasonably hot day.<\/p>\n
I split one savory dish and one sweet dish, which is the best way to brunch. It\u2019s like having breakfast and then breakfast-dessert in perfect portions.<\/p>\n
![\"French](\"https:\/\/images.mapsofworld.com\/san-francisco\/2015\/09\/Mamas-2.jpg\")
<\/a>