Socha Café

I don’t know what happened to this place. New owners maybe? They had a good thing going some months ago with live music and a good assortment of food. Now the hours are only during daytime, from 9 to 5, and closed on Monday and Tuesday.
The coffee isn’t the same, the food isn’t the same, and the whole atmosphere had done downhill. I was really looking forward to hanging out here with music and a good cup of coffee.
Never again.

What is going on with this café?
I went here a few months ago when I first moved to the area. I loved the art on the walls and was pleasantly surprised to find that a band was starting to play. I was looking forward to frequenting it.
Subsequently, I’ve found that the service has become very bad and the food/​beverage selection is shrinking. I’m also unclear when the café is actually open. The worst, though, was that the last time I tried to sit here for breakfast, our food was attacked by fruit flies — gross!

Something strange is going on in the world of SoCha.
Apparently they changed management or ownership recently. This led to a drastic reduction in hours and shrinking the variety of the menu. I was willing to let it slide for a few weeks, thinking it was just them taking a step back to consider a new direction.
But it has now been at least a month and nothing has improved. Mondays and Tuesdays they are closed completely, and every other day of the week they close at 5. Um, really SoCha? Youre not going to sell a lot of beer and wine in the middle of the day, and youre not exactly in the middle of the thick of things that you can have the luxury of only serving lunch customers. Most of us in the neighborhood out here have jobs somewhere else (either out of town or some other part of town) and would like a place where we could come by for some extra after-​work work, or to sit with a glass of wine and read a book. But you’re not positioning yourself well to get such business from me right now.

I’ve been wanting to check this place out for some time now and finally got around to it this afternoon. I really appreciate the strong focus on live music here, especially since the quality of the performers seems to be excellent. I just spent a wonderful couple of hours here listening to a great jazz quintet, apparently they play every Sunday afternoon. I also keep hearing about random performances by members of the SF Symphony, can’t wait to catch one of those!
I notice some reviewers have complained about the volume level of the music. If you’re looking for a quiet environment Socha may not be the place for you but I figure there are any number of other places nearby one could go to for that.
Apparently Socha is owned by the same people who run Revolution Café on 22^nd but I really prefer the vibe here, much more chill and not overrun by Mission Hipster-​types.
Oh, great coffee too!

Socha, would you PLEASE do something about your coffee situation? The drip coffee tastes like ammonia, your employees are mostly untrained in the art of making espresso (and for that matter, the art of customer service) and so even if your beans are good to begin with, you are serving not even mediocre coffee. I thought I was just being a snob for the first year, but after living less than a block away for almost two years now, I have met many other local residents who say the same thing– they just don’t go here anymore because of the inferior coffee, less than friendly service and recently hiked prices. I would give this place 3 or maybe even 4 stars if it weren’t for the fact that their coffee is really really bad– not just ok, but BAD.
All that said, the space is wonderful and always feels cozy and creative. I have heard quite a few surprisingly fantastic musicians here. Their baked goods are pretty tasty, and their pizzas are pretty delish (though more expensive than I think they are worth). I have had some really awful experiences with some of the employees in the past, but also had some really great service as well, so I suppose it is hit or miss. Their vegetarian lunch/​dinner options seem like an afterthought and don’t really appeal to me at all– only one veggie option on the $ 8 sandwich menu? No thanks, I’ll walk another block to the delicious, lovely, friendly Café Seventy-​Eight.
Overally, Socha makes me a little sad– every time I walk by I look wistfully through the window, wishing that they would put a little more love into their java (and maybe their employees, too?) so that I could go back to enjoying my local coffee shop.

My brother from DC pretty much summed it up:
It’s a very San Francisco-​ish place.
What he meant was it’s a place for coffee, food, beer, wine and… a random music concert.
When we randomly visited one evening, we were looking for a place to hang out and chat, and that is exactly what we got plus… a random community orchestra playing Mozart symphonies. Not a polished performance, but it was more endearing because it was as if we were sitting in a music hall watching an orchestra in rehearsal.
The coffee was okay. There was only one person behind the counter taking orders and making espresso drinks one at a time so the line went slowly. Still the lady who made cappuccinos for us was lovely and unhurried and so were the patrons waiting in line. If I lived in the neighborhood you would probably find me here often just hanging out and chillin’.

Best homemade potato leek soup and homemade «croutons», like, ever ever ever.
And I was blown away by the principal bassoonist of SF Symphony performing Brahms last week. WOW.

I was searching for a place where I could get some studying done while waiting for the event last night. After walking for a few blocks, there seemed to be no coffee shop in the area… until I heard some very nice classic piano across the street luring me into Socha Café! Lucky me! :-)
The place was really inviting — beautiful blue walls, spacious, with very high ceilings, curtains, padded seating, big window… It transported me to a different time and space, with live classical music to boot!
The menu was typical coffee-​shop: sandwiches, salads, pastries, all sorts of coffee and tea… Plus a relatively good selection of wine. I was greeted by Sarah, a very friendly waitress who made me a nice cup of decaf iced coffee, while explaining to me that the piano was there for customers, and the one who was playing was one of her favorite ones. I had to agree — he was really good!
It was a typical coffee-​shop scene: laptopers doing some work, some people reading, others studying… I thought it was a great place to get work done, as they had outlets everywhere.
I sat down by the window, enjoying the beautiful music and my coffee, and wishing that Socha Café was closer to my place. I could see myself going back there for a myriad of reasons… or just to be transported to somewhere else in time. Again and again.

Man only if I can move Socha over to the Sunset where I live. Very spacious café, nice workers, great iced coffee and a live jazz band playing in my ear this very second. I’m sitting in the back room in case they played too loud since I need to study, oh it is getting a bit loud. If you live around here nice hangout!
Ok went back today, the next day. I watched the lady make my sammy. Hmm kinda scary but I was starving and ate it anyway. She handled my money then I don’t remember if she washed her hands or not. Then when she was making my sammy I saw her wipe her hands on her dirty sweatshirt 2 times! Then she went to wash the dished while my sammy was in the panini press I was praying she would wash her hands after that. Uhh NOPE! Then stuck her hands in the salad to put in my to go box. Hmm. I hope I don’t get the runs tonight. YES I ate it and I think if I didn’t know what she did then I would of enjoyed it more. It was good ha maybe because I was very hungry! Yeah I am gross for eating it. I don’t know if I should of been a dick and called her out, she was nice so I chickened out and didn’t.

Service: ⁵⁄₅
Food: 3.5÷5
Wait: ³⁄₅
Price: $
Presentation of food: 3.5÷5
Presentation of restaurant: 3.5÷5
Overall: ⁴⁄₅
my bf’s mom wanted a cup of coffee and it was kind of late (11:07pm) and she came here but they were close, but they still let her in to get a cup of coffee; since they were closing they just hooked her up with a free cup of coffee which was REALLY kind of them. 4 STARS! :)

If I could give this o stars, I would. I went yesterday for the first time with my fiancé. What made this place deplorable:
1) We went for a late lunch. We happily ordered 2 sandwiches and 2 beers. We took out a credit card and the petite dark haired girl said in a biatchy tone «sorry, cash only». Ok, I get a lot of places are cash only, but I usually see a sign that says as such. Luckily we had enough cash to cover the $ 26 lunch. They loose a point because of her unnecessary attitude.
2) How long does it take to make 2 sandwiches? I think we waited 20 minutes, maybe even 25. Keep in mind we were the ONLY ones there who had ordered food. What made the wait more irritating was the fact that our girl was making food first for the girl who was leaving on shift? The girl who was leaving though did not seem like she was in any hurry to leave as she sat around and talked to our dark haired girl for a while.
3) Horrible service. After our sandwiches were done, she set them on the counter and said in another biatchy tone «order is up». Fine, I get this is not some fancy schmancy restaurant. But again, loose the tude girl! After we were done w/​the food, we left our plates on the table. We got up to leave and she looked at us, the plates on the table and pretended not to hear me when I said «thanks». So I flat out asked her «Do you want us to bus our own table?» upon which she answered «there’s a bin over there». Well missy, if there’s some secret rule I don’t know of, please post a sign somewhere that says to bus your own table. I’m not a princess — I will gladly do it — I just didn’t know.
Owner of SoCha, if you are reading this, I’d like to ask you why you’ve employed someone who clearly doesn’t want to work there?

Love it here!
Great environment, I liked the sandwich I tried today, a lot of plugs for the free wifi, lots of tables to seat and be comfy ;)
Also, live shows in the evening!
Great place to spend time and chill =)

Mmmm, ya ~ I’ll have an Iced coffee — room for cream, a strawberry scone with a side of music from the live Jazz Quartet playing on a Hot and Summery Sunday.
The coffee was incredibly good and the scone — fresh, soft, flaky and slightly sweetened by the chunks of strawberries.
I can’t believe I’m just found out about SoCha. Especially since it is so conveniently located next to the Knockout. I’ll be back to check out the food and music again really soon.

B r i l l i a n c e
I’m so in love.
With what? With the simple ideals that make this unassuming gem of a café stick out in my reflections the day after. I ran down to meet a friend for coffee because I had heard of places in the city that host live classical ensembles during the evening hours, Socha being one of them…
«You’ve never been here?»
I had never been however being a classical musician myself, I would never refuse the opportunity to sit and partake in a free performance.
Socha is located on a busy strip of eateries, stores and bars on Mission and Valencia. I would have walked right by if it were not for the wide sliding glass windows showcasing a quartet playing in the middle of the room, warmed by soft lights. I opened the door and walked in. People were ensconced at the tables and sitting on the floor against the walls, listening. Reveling. Enamored. Ah, what true enthusiasts. I felt right at home.
The counter runs almost three quarters of the establishment, not to mention stools so that one could easily take a seat and be kept company by the cheery barista who acknowledged my presence before I even had time to take off my scarf. My request for a Breve Latte elicited a smile and the remark that he had only heard one other person make the same request during his tenure.
«Half and half, right?» he prompted.
My drink was extra hot, smooth to the point where I did not have to add any sweetener. Mmmm, caffeinated bliss. My friend had a glass of red wine and despite having procured a table earlier, we opted to stand and listen to the quartet perform a composition by Schubert and then Schumann. I leaned against one of the large pillars, taking in the music and watching the clarinetist. Next, a string sextet took up the reins and passionate Brahms filled the dreamy evening air.
Specific evenings are scheduled with different performances. Wednesday are hosted by the Classical Revolution. Other evenings would present live Jazz. In addition to the performances, Socha offers up a simple café menu consisting of sandwiches, pizzas, soups and pastries if one is so inclined while working away on a laptop or firmly engrossed in a novel. Substantial fare to keep slight hunger pangs at bay.
I’ve found my new café of comfort soothed by live performances of classical joy on those dark and stormy evenings.

The good:
* Comfortable seating
* Pleasant lighting
* Cool neighborhood
* Decent food for a café
* Free, no-​password Wi-​Fi
* Lotsa plugs for MacBooks (ahem, laptops)
* Not as crowded as Coffee Bar
The awful:
* The terrible buzzing in the amplified speakers hooked up to the laptop through a loose 1/​8-​inch cable
* Their inability to comprehend the gravity of this problem, how to fix it, or both
And yet, I’m here now. I have faith in you guys, SoCha! Fix that plug and I’ll be yours.

I’m a regular here. I’m here about once a week and had the prosciutto calzone yesterday. Fantastic.
I’m also a fan of the chicken pizza.
This is the place to be if you work from home and need free wifi with interesting people around.
The staff and owners are super friendly as well. I brought my boss here for lunch yesterday and he really enjoyed it.

To succeed as a coffee shop in my eyes is not very difficult. What can I say? I’m easy like that. I don’t ask for much. I’m optimistic. I see the brighter side. While I like Socha, I’m not in love [YET]. Service is usually what draws me in, and it’s alright. It was just a tiny crush at first that I think I’m finally over. We can be friends, good friends.
First and foremost, free wireless! Give me access, so that I can Unilocal and all other things Web 2.0 about you on the spot. There are also downsides though. You’ll never get me to leave. Free internet helps but is not necessary. See my Blue Danube review!
Second, good music. Get my head bopping or toe tapping! Socha has great live music some nights. What drew me into the place was really when they had Classical Revolution come play. Live classical while studying? I think it makes my brain happy. Their events are listed at:
.
Third, seats are available. I think that being located in Bernal Heights helps. It’s close to me, but far for most. There’s plenty of street parking, so definitely an ideal spot to spend study/​social time.
Open late! Okay, 11pm isn’t all that late, but compared to other places, it is. Add the fact that I probably don’t want to be studying past 11pm, and it’s a match.
Added bonus: Wine/​beer is available. There’s a food menu too. Sure, they’re a little bit slow sometimes, but what’s the rush? You’re in a coffee shop. Enjoy it. Tried the pizza once. Not bad! My only major complaint is that it gets WAY too hot in the back.
*phew*
Breaking a sweat while hitting the books sorta sucks!

I’m not feeling particularly creative, so obviously I’m going to write a Unilocal review. That and I’m really bored at work, and procrastinating.
Moving on.
Last night Janney B asked me to come out to Socha for the UYE Open Mic night, and being that she’s every bit as wonderful as sunshine on a nice, warm day on the beaches of Tahiti, I obliged. Little did I know, of course, that she would be reading her POWER EXCHANGE review, of which oh-​so-​delicately reminded the audience that I’m just as every bit strange as they think (to include strangers), PLUS she misled them with thinking that I have a tight little ass. It’s ok Janney, I forgive you AND love you :)
ANYWAYS, my buttocks aside, the space was incredibly intimate for such a great little event. Some people sat on the floor (included), some on chairs, some on couches. It was nice to see Unilocal bring people together for something so poetic, and heartwarming (Haru is responsible for that, PLEASE record that song!), other than for consuming copious amounts of alcoholic beverages.
Except – they have beer. YES. Beer! At a café! It was fabulous! Broke Ass Stuart even read his review while drinking one, and that was absolutely gangsta. Everyone was so nice, and when I asked for two Stellas, one of the guys there told me they were out but there was a beer that was near in taste – some type of Pilsner. He then explained that Austrians in Bizerkley found that the water there was closest to the waters in wherever they brew beer over in Europe, and they were reducing their carbon footprint! Being a Republican-​turned-​Democrat, I was thoroughly pleased (although I’m still registered as Republican… I’m such a political whore).
Everyone who read their reviews were AWESOME. Nobu was HILARIOUS, Alissa was so *cute*, Lauren S made me want to go to Bean Bag Café this morning, and Mick F and Darin I engaged the audience perfectly. Haru, of course, was incredible – what a talented, beautiful woman! I’m always amazed/​inspired by people who write music, and she was just wonderful. Of COURSE, Janney B (once again) was worth the 8 billion dollars in gas I burned coming to the city.
You guys did so well! I can’t wait to come back here again!
And now if you’ll excuse me I feel like I have to go do some squats because you all think I have a tight little ass now. Unless you saw pictures from 1015, and then you’d KNOW I didn’t. GREAT.

Love at first sight? Almost.
The décor is so fitting and the tall ceilings open up the space, so it’s cozy but spacious. It’s jazz night tonight and nothing gets me more than piano and a bass, in a café. Oh wait, that’s a lie, but for the sake of this review and comparison, let’s just say I love this café more than I love potatoes. (and if you don’t know me, I LOVE potatoes)
Jazz art paintings line the walls and there are smaller glass tables on snare stands in the back. (very cool. i want one!) –
The space toward the back is brighter for people who want to bring their laptops (free wifi!), books to read, or just hang out and chit chat. The color scheme works really well. Kind of a dull mint and black. There’s plenty of seating, some cushiony chairs in the back, and barstools at the counter.
There are no fancy schmancy, extra hot no whip non-​fat mocha frapacinnolatte drinks here, but they do hold a liquor license = beer. I settled for a hot chocolate on this chilly evening, but wouldn’t mind hanging out here with a beer. They also have a small food menu. Will have to try something next time I’m back.
It looks like they have live music almost every night and even a film night on some Wednesdays. (see event listing here:
) It may get loud, so if you need peace and quiet, this might not be the place for you. Especially since there are also some customers who like to talk over the music.
Definitely must come back to Socha :) so ka? that’s how i pronounce it.
Free Wifi
Open till 11PM except Sundays!
Heat
Bernal Heights (not too far from where I am)
Street Parking — not too bad.

My computer has always been fickle about wireless.
It only wants it when it feel like it.
So trying to use free wireless at coffee shops is never fun. And often unfulfilling. Trekking my heavy computer down to coffee shops — often will result in some lovely computer poetry such as:
«limited or no connectivity. You might not be able to access the Internet or some network resources. For more information, click this message.»
Eugh.
And so too lazy to cart my computer back home, I just play Solitaire or text twist on my computer (this is truly an awesome game… my brother and I would compete for the highest score for days on end… back when)
for hours.
So it was a beautiful thing this past Wednesday to come across Socha.
Socha is the bomb, with…
cute drum stand tables.
High ceilings.
Free wireless that works.
A huge open space with lots of empty seating, and close-​by outlets.
A nice selection of beers (and I believe wines too)
Big servings of hot cocoa, tea, coffee etc.
A decent selection of food.
Late hours.
Comfortable padded seating.
Friendly staff.
Open mic/​performance nights.
Safe, quiet, and not too busy.
Pleasant patrons.
Right by Jasmine Tea House and fairly close to El Rio
Socha has everything you could ask for (though a little bit more sugar in the chai, and slightly better ventilation couldn’t hurt)
It’s the perfect place to get work done.
The perfect place to day-​dream.
The perfect place to watch live performances.
The perfect place to read.
And above all the perfect place to surf




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