Philz Coffee
Mission District
3101 24th St. at Folsom St.
San Francisco, CA
Some people say they “left their heart in San Francisco” but I left my stomach. Bi Rite’s Ice cream, mexican food from Mission district, Bouchon, and now Philz coffee. These eateries offered the best of their genre and for me it was the best I’ve ever had. Philz coffee has a interesting story (which I won’t recount here) but more importantly, out-of-this-world coffee. I ordered Jacob’s Brew which is accurately described by Philz as:
Named in honor of Phil’z only son Jacob. Each memorable sip boasts delicious layers of nuts and chocolate filled with a full-bodied flavor and finished without any acidity or bitterness. Jacob’s Wonderbar brew is a dark roast favorite!
Inside this hip coffee joint is a conglomerate of coffee drinkers lounging, chatting, and web surfing. Standard coffee shop atmosphere until you watch the magic of the coffee being made.
The brew masters hand grind each order and hand filter it. I’ve never heard of any other coffee shop that does this. I am positive they must be downing cups of Philz brew to multitask coffee orders and stay sharp. Even if you don’t love coffee, you must try Philz; it may turn you into a coffee lover.
Good
The coffee, duh.
Bad
Can be crowded and hectic
Ugly
The dark roasts can deliver a serious caffeine buzz for the uninitiated
515 Valencia St
(between 16th St & 17th St)
San Francisco, CA
The best place to go for real Mexi-Cali food is, you guessed it, Cali. SF has too many taco joints to name and this review is not to find the best one. La Cumbre, however, does put up a good fight and is a perfect example of what a mexican restaurnt should be: tasty, fresh, and cheap!
The menu is huge and the combinations endless. Combine that with low prices and you will want to order everything twice. Taking much thought and restraint, I decided to order just 2 tacos: pollo asada (grilled chicken) and al pastor(grilled marinated pork). After you order, the assembly line starts and fresh grilled meat is pulled out of a tray and chopped up before your eyes and then toppings are added to your liking. Stop by the surprisingly ample salsa bar for peppers and sauces and chow down.
I could tell right away these tacos were the real deal from the refried beans alone. The grilled pork and chicken were juicy and tender. The pastor was flavorful but not too salty or overpowering with a touch of sweetness. For less than $6, you get 2 tacos with plenty of meat and all the fixin’s.
