Fueling Station Cafe — Restaurant in San Francisco

We had a lovely breakfast with the folks at Fueling Station. The Banh Mi was lovely. Understated but carefully crafted flavor and texture to the carrots, cucumber, and chicken. And a perfect, wonderful light warmth from the spice in the sauce. Great recommendation by the owner.

The banana bread made in house (which the owner made today and offered the recipe for) was excellent and moist - totally reminiscent of my grandmother’s banana bread.

We also had a hot Chaga drink, a cold chaga drink, and a cortado, all with milk alternatives (oat and coconut). Served in for-here glasses/mugs by default. Lovely presentation and flavor. A slight aside: the iced chaga doesn’t seem to get cold quickly perhaps because of the thickness of the liquid. Definitely interested in these functional additives for coffee.

The owner was very personable and was the primary worker in the shop with 3 others. We own a coffee shop on Cape Cod in Massachusetts and I sat inside to observe the coffee process. From what little I did observe (audibly), the owner’s milk steaming is smooth - no frothing, no screaming. I think we made her nervous, telling her we had our own shop, so she offered to bring the cortado. She needed to dial the espresso in again (boy can we appreciate that). She apologized for the wait and even gifted us a bag of their house/espresso roast for the wait.

Would definitely recommend The Fueling Station. Great product, place, and people. Our first experience of the day in SF…and one of the best - certainly the best...

I live in the neighborhood. This place can be real hit or miss. Nice when the other crowded places are super full, because it is a bit out of the way and not as busy, but the service is very much a crap shoot.

Today's adventure was the woman taking the order could not understand "croissant with scrambled egg and bacon". It took 4 attempts for her to understand the request. Once we thought we had the order, the item was prepared without ingredients. Fine, mistakes happen. But then the person proceeded to try to argue the point. Finally she relented and prepared the item correctly (i.e. put bacon on the sandwich, nothing fancy).

This isn't the first time this has happened. They clearly are having a hard time hiring competent staff when the owner isn't there.

I would use this place as a backup going forward if other places are too busy and. you just need a coffee, but given the issues not make it the main place you bring someone if you need things to...

Fueling Station Cafe is a standout establishment that excels in delivering delicious pastries, satisfying lunches, and a diverse coffee menu. As a loyal patron, I've come to appreciate their hot chaga drink, which never fails to impress.

The credit for the cafe's success goes to Lily, the owner, who has skillfully managed and developed the business since its inception. Her dedication and business acumen are evident in every aspect of the cafe's operation, creating a welcoming atmosphere for customers to enjoy their dining experience. Fueling Station Cafe is a testament to Lily's vision and hard work, making it a must-visit spot for food and coffee...