Griddle Fresh
Banana Mascarpone Souffle Pancake – Mascarpone pancake with vanilla curd, caramelized banana, candied walnuts + $1 pure maple syrup supplement
Gooey Boule French Toast – Sweet Cream Vanilla curd, Crunchy granola
Coffee
Located at the edge of the Mission and Noe Valley with breakfast from 8am until three o’clock not even a (typical) delayed flight into SFO would prevent a visit to Griddle Fresh on my most recent trip to San Francisco, the restaurant’s signature soufflé-style pancakes the lone ‘to-do’ list omission on my previous trip to the Bay Area. Small and narrow with the kitchen offset right it was to a quarter-filled space that I arrived on Thursday morning and with menus already in place for self-seating it would be mere moments before I was greeted by a young woman, apparently an owner, who not only took my order but also functioned as server, busser, and consistent source of hot coffee throughout my hour-long stay. Open and airy despite its small size and pleasantly minimalistic in décor it was with little effort that I made my selections and opting to dine in two courses I began with the pancakes – in a word, ethereal and easily the lightest pancake I’ve ever experienced with a thin ‘skin’ similar to the top layer of a soufflé overlying cavernous pockets of smooth mascarpone with rich vanilla curd to balance intensely sweet bananas atop. With pancakes large in portion but slight on the stomach it was onward to the French Toast that my meal progressed and although perfectly ‘fine’ with good bread griddled golden the composition simply could not live up to its predecessor – a tall order for sure, but one that would inspire me to order the lemon ricotta pancakes as a second course were I to visit again.
RECOMMENDED: You are here for the soufflé pancakes, obviously.
AVOID: Ordering anything as a follow-up to the soufflé pancakes. It will disappoint, no matter how good.
TIP: With a partially open kitchen those who are sensitive to temperatures would be best served to request seating accordingly as tables close to the kitchen window are subject to the effects of a hot griddle.
http://sanfrancisco.menupages.com/restaurants/griddle-fresh/
