Friends With Benedict's Pop Up Brunch — Restaurant in San Francisco

Was super excited about trying this place. Had high expectations given some reviews and pictures. I was a bit underwhelmed. Host was friendly and turned out to be the owner and chef which was admirable to see. The food was good. I ordered the duck benedict. It was good, it tasted sort of like duck pot pie and came with nicely poached eggs and delicious hollandaise. We also got a champagne flight with a bottle of our own. The champagne was tasty and the juice was ok. It was served in little cups that you find at an office party that was held in a park. Almost everything was compostable I believe which is great for a to go order but having to make reservations and being seated and $20 benedict’s for me merits real plates and utensils. Felt strange eating with to go utensils and not having real cups. I wish I had known that our table would be on a slanted street. It was a bit uncomfortable sitting slanted for the duration of brunch. The juice flight was underwhelming esp in those cups. The chef/owner was clearing a table down from us and brought over their remaining champagne and topped off our drinks for us and left the bottle. Great gesture in theory but it did not sit well with me. To start...we’re in a pandemic...I’d prefer not to touch or drink anyone else’s leftover beverage. Also there was no type of asking if we wanted more. He just walked up and starting pouring it in our cups. And even if there was no pandemic it’s a bit insulting and embarrassing. I don’t know if he thought we were children who stole their parents credit cards or what but I’m 32 years old. And no other adult around us was offered someone else’s leftovers so I don’t see why we were the lucky chosen ones. You wouldn’t top off my water with another tables water carafe that you left on their table for them. He had this spiel he gave everyone that sat down about how he’s the chef and owner and his wife’s of out of town so that’s why the menu is incorrect and then sort of engaged in a little banter about what they were doing in sf and where they were from. He failed to inquire about our travels or day, I found that out from hearing him say it after seating every single other person around us. Weird. I wouldn’t go back. Cons outweigh the pros. Sucks because a large group of my friends are big in brunch and I’m glad I went before...

I am part of the "Together SF" Lower Polk Volunteer Clean-Up crew on alternate Saturdays. In fact, I will be leading the charge next month while Kumar is away in May. As a thank you to us volunteers, the owner offered us all free brunch for helping keep the neighborhood clean!

The 1st time I volunteered it was at the end of the day. We had a volunteer Happy-Hour sponsored by "California Jack's" then, but if you volunteer on a Saturday morning from 11a-12p, you will see that the brunch food selection here is excellent 😋 and their mimosas are super tasty bubbly especially after picking up garbage and keeping Polk Street clean on your weekend off!

I cannot wait to bring my husband for graduation brunch next month. There used to be a LOT more brunch n munch people here on weekends before the Pandemic. Mayes Oyster House where "Friends with Benedicts" serves brunch was packed wall to wall inside and out back then. Musicians, artists, and vendors are slowly coming back to Fern Alley now that Endemic has been reached.

Things are slowly coming back, but not fast enough for gems like these! May they remain open and stay in business for the longevity of our once thriving neighborhood. The nightlife hasn't come back to its once fabled glory, but we keep hope alive here. It's safer and cleaner than ever.

Food service and quality never disappoint, so definitely support local businesses. Let's not speak of stimulating this overinflated economy, shall we? The future may be uncertain, but we do what we can to live, love, and enjoy one another in the present. While here, we might as well live our best lives by...

I've always wanted to try this place. I always pass it when I'm doing errands on Polk Street, but never had the time until today.

I'm not sure if reservations are required, but I recommend that you do make them. This place gets crowded pretty fast.

I ordered the Bennie with Seoul, which was a soju fried chicken with a gochujang hollandaise sauce. It was delicious! The chicken was fried beautifully, and yet it didn't seem heavy. The eggs were perfectly poached, and the hollandaise was yummy. I'm actually not a fan of pickled onions, but I really liked it with the chicken. It gave it a nice acidity. Speaking of which, I ordered a pineapple juice, so I think that also helped lighten the meal. The dish also came with potatoes, ketchup, and an orange slice. The portions were just right.

There's outdoor and indoor seating. I'm dog sitting, so we needed an outside table. But I'd like to dine inside because the decor/ambiance is looks cool.

What's also great about this place is that they have an option where you can pay it forward. You can donate up to $20 (not sure if it's per person or per check), and it goes towards a meal to those in need.

The Tenderloin has always been a neighborhood of hardship, but it's also a tight-knit community. If you're dining hear, please pay it forward.

All in all, great service and food with a charitable heart. I would love to dine here again and try more...