Mason Diner (Cafe Mason) — Restaurant in San Francisco

This diner/cafe is pretty large, has a nice interior, and is open from 6:30am to 2:30pm every day. We only tried breakfast at the Mason Diner.

We ate at Mason both on the weekend and during weekdays. During the winter time, which was our most recent visit(s), there was no wait to get a table, even when arriving around 8am. The restaurant features many booths, but also tables for two or four people. The booths are mainly for four persons, but there are a few booths that also seat six people. When you arrive you will be greeted and seated. There is a small waiting area in case the restaurant is full. We were seated in a booth for four the times we ate at the restaurant.

The staff is extremely friendly and accommodating. We were amazed by their professionalism and how they went out of their way to make us feel welcome. We were greeted with ”oh, you are back, thanks for dining with us again“. The waiters and waitresses are smiling and also giving great advice. Most dishes are fine to make some substitutions, even if the menu says they don‘t (perhaps also because we came during the winter, when there are less tourists in the area).

We tried many different breakfast options, and everything was great. We can highly recommend the huevos rancheros, among the best we have had. The pancakes are fantastic, and so is the hash brown. The orange juice is freshly squeezed and excellent. The eggs made to order were perfect as well, and the french toast is top notch.

We love trying different diners, but comparing with some of the others in this part of SF, the Mason Diner and Cafe really stands out. We won‘t be shopping around for other diner experiences when in this part of town. Mason is it for us, and we will come back again.

Special thanks to Alejandro, Alejandra, Sibel, and Roberto for making our breakfasts great during our ten-day stay in SF.

Ambience: 5/5 for a diner Staff: 5/5 Food: 5/5 for a diner Price/quality: 4/5 (normal prices but very...

Food was great! The bacon is thick, the pancakes are fluffy. But the service is POOR.

We stood at the host desk for a while (I'm talking at least 7-10 minutes), before being acknowledged. Once we were seated, we watched the same thing happen to several others.. many who eventually walked out.

Several servers walked up to the host desk to print checks, but none of them acknowledged anyone standing there to be seated (no, "I'll be with you in a second." They literally didn't even look up.) I've waited 45 minutes to sit down at a restaurant, but I certainly wouldn't wait that long for someone to acknowledge me in the restaurant. It would help them a lot to have someone doing that.

Once our food was served, we never saw our waitress again. Drinks went empty, we needed napkins, etc.. Didn't see her until we flagged her down for our check.

Would come here again because the place was clean (including bathrooms), it was close to our hotel, and the food was good.. but definitely not when I have somewhere to be in a timely manner.

There seems to be no manager on duty, and definitely no designated hostess. They need at least one more person on shift. I'd say at least 6 tables walked out while we were there because they walked in, waited, and were never...

As a woman vacationing in San Francisco with my husband for 4 days, we had the pleasure of starting each day at Cafe Mason, and I must say it was an incredible experience! The breakfast at Cafe Mason was absolutely delightful, offering a delicious variety of dishes that made each morning special. We found ourselves returning to this charming cafe every day of our trip.

Alejandro (Alex), has truly mastered the art of breakfast. His culinary expertise shone through in every dish we tasted. Even though we didn't have the chance to interact with Alex personally, it was evident that his passion for food and dedication to his guests extended to the breakfast menu. The staff's attentiveness and friendly demeanor added to the overall charm of the place, making our mornings in San Francisco even more enjoyable.

I highly recommend Cafe Mason for breakfast to anyone visiting San Francisco. It's not just a cafe; it's a morning ritual curated by the talented owner, Alex. My husband and I will cherish the memories of our breakfasts there during our trip for...