Early To Rise - Scratch Made Brunch Reviews

We absolutely love Early to Rise! We went both Saturday (pancake day) and Sunday (bagel and lox day) and both were just fantastic. Chef Andrew and his team make everything from scratch and serve this amazing brunch in the most hospitable and inviting fashion. The food tasted amazing both days, there is an endless amount and the environment is fun and friendly. I’d gladly pay 2x the price for this experience. We can’t wait to go back!

Best breakfast I've had in SF. Best lox and bagel I've had in my life. Everything from scratch, simple and incredibly well done.

What an incredibly unique concept!! My wife and I go out for breakfast most every weekend and I've written a number of reviews here on TA. But this brunch really stood out for us! Chef Andrew and his crew have two seatings on Saturday and Sunday. The location is a simple but charming space just a block away from the cable car barn and on the Hyde line. Everyone is seated at once -- perhaps 40 people! I was wondering how they could serve that many people at once, but they pull it off beautifully. The menu varies by day but they do seem to always have fresh baked mini-bagels to start with. These bagels are GREAT -- some of the best I've ever had (and I've had some great ones!). Lox, cream cheese and all the trimmings are at your table. On the Sunday we were there, they were serving scrambled eggs and some delicious bacon family style. Both were outstanding! There were fresh juices available as well as some wines and champagne. The family style seating was fun as we met some wonderful people. Because of this seating system, Andrew can accommodate large groups without any problem. Each of his tables seats 10 people.. Now you can't just walk into Early to Rise. You need to make a prepaid reservation typically the week before. And you have to be outside ready to be seated at either 11 AM or 1 PM. Yes, it's a little weird but it works - spectacularly!

High quality ingredients, incredible service, and thoughtful details to the meal. Homemade everything (including sauces) was a unique experience

This cute NOPA neighborhood spot lives up to its made-from-scratch reputation. The strawberry pancakes taste exactly like how a dad would make them (buttery edges and extra fruit), but elevated with premium ingredients like pistachio-hazelnut-brittle and spicy mint. It just may be the best pancake in the city! We decided to opt for the “fancier” eggs Benedict — “Eggs Stinson” — and were pleasantly surprised by how well the crab pairs with the hollandaise sauce! The chilled meat helps cut the spicy flavor of the sauce and compliments the dressed greens. Admittedly, the grits were a bit uninspired — they were pretty bland with nothing but butter for flavor — so next time we’d ask to sub them in with hash browns. Now, there are a few words of caution before trying Early to Rise: (1) the coffee was, I’m sorry, possibly the worst cup of coffee I’ve ever had. It may have just been a bad batch of beans, but it was so bitter than no amount of milk or sugar could’ve redeemed it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a coffee snob by any means (I use k-cups at home, for heavens sake!) so for me to say it’s bad honestly means it was, frankly, really bad. (2) the lack of reservation system is a big drawback. Getting a table was a nightmare, not only because of the long wait (which we expected for a place that doesn’t accept reservations), but the front-of-house was seriously chaotic. Guests were cutting past one another, the instruction from the hostess was unclear, and several groups were getting clearly agitated by the confusion. Even without adding in reservations, incorporating some type of system that texts the waitlist when their table is ready could go a long way in making the dining experience more smooth, in addition to a bit more clarity from the hostess. All the same, brunch time on the weekend gets hectic and it’s a (relatively) new place, so I’m hopeful that they will work these kinks out. Overall, I’d give this place 4/5 as the food (minus the coffee) was phenomenal and the service was eager though not yet fine tuned.

You have to buy tickets 2 weeks or so in advance but definitely worthwhile. We did the early seating which consists of bagels (absolutely fantastic) lox and cream cheese. It’s followed by slow cooked eggs and bacon. Everything is made from scratch in house and was really great. Seating and food is family style but the atmosphere is great. Chef introduces, serves with help, and chats w guests. All around awesome.

Gem of a place for a weekend brunch! The chef personally talks to everyone and other staff’s service is par excellence. The food was awesome and fresh. Very casual setting. Definitely a good morning start for a weekend day!