The Grove – Hayes

Great place for breakfast and a drink. Awesome avocado toast and fruit platter (will not disappoint). They give generous portions and it’s not too pricey.
Not enough choice for dinner though. More of a breakfast/​lunch place :)

Great breakfast made any way you want it. I really liked the set up and how much food I got with my meal.
A bit overpriced but it is SF. For an omelette with hash browns, spinach and bacon it was almost $ 16.

The Grove is one of those places when you search for restaurants in Hayes Valley that you pass because the number of stars are yellow and not orange. It’s the one when you walk by, see the cool seating and ask yourself «what is this place? it looks cool» and then you realize it’s The Grove and then you pass based on the yellow stars.
Here’s the thing… you should at least give it a try when you’re hungry. We had friends visiting from out of town and we needed an easy option that wasn’t overly pricey but had easy, comforting menu options… The Grove came to the rescue. It’s casual and not intimidating.
My husband and I shared the chicken pot pie and a small side argula sald. The pot pie was large and I enjoyed the fresh pastry shell and the salad was well seasoned, perfect little side portion.
It’s not somewhere that I would visit often but an option that I will save for when out of town guests (who aren’t foodies) visit.

Came on a busy Friday night and the line was jam packed. Since we came for a show that started in half an hour from arrival we were worried that we were not going to get the food in time. We were wrong. The food was ordered and brought to our table within 10 minutes. Really pleased with the quickness and quality of service.
I got the Cuban panini style sandwich and gf got the chicken tortilla soup. The sandwich came with homemade chips and a pickle. It was delicious, moist and fresh ingredients for sure. The tortilla soup was made from scratch as well and a hit. Fresh made tortilla chips were in the soup.
Server who took our order was great and friendly in spite of the large lines.
Seating is seat yourself and first come first serve. The bussers turned over tables very quick making finding seating easy. Ambiance was great and they had nice décor.
Great place for a bite before a show or just a bite in general.

Saw this place while walking around Hayes valley and though to give it a try. Got the chicken pot pie, vine-​ripened BLT and a cranberry black tea sangria. Everything was great, ambiance is great but just a little pricey.

So here’s the thing, while I appreciate the pleasant lighting and atmosphere $ 5.60 for a peppermint tea is obscene.
Even for San Francisco. Even for Hayes Valley.

This is a great place for after Opera coffee and snacks!
A great place for conversation and good food.
It is located a block from the Opera House and my son and I enjoy having after performance drinks and snacks here. The ambiance is great and the staff is friendly. The also offer full meals.
On our last visit there, my son and his fiancée had Cinnamon Bread Pudding ($ 7.95) and Bacon Wrapped Dates ($ 5.95) which they said were delicious. I just had a perfectly made Cappuccino ($ 4.50).

We have here an order at the counter café, complete with colorful chalkboard menus above the register, or extensive laminated menus behind you, as an employee pointed out. Check out the baked goods! Once you order, bring your number to the table of your choice while waiting for food to arrive. They’ll bring over utensils as well. Self serve water to the left behind you after ordering, next to napkins, sugar, straws, etc.
Highlights:
My sis got the standard smoked salmon eggs Benedict with a very fluffy English muffin and a side of delicious rectangular hash browns, sliced & crumbled in center, a gentle disarray of perfectly crisp edges, yet soft in the middle. I would get a side order with my meal if there’s a next time!
Crispy bacon and chilled rotisserie chicken for the Cobb salad, included green goddess dressing was sour. They didn’t have ranch. Two slices of grilled bread adorned my salad, soft in the center!
Chicken salad sandwich tasted homemade, kind of like comfort food for me, plus had the same kind of bread as my salad.
Impressive presentation.
Warm homey feel, lots of wooden structure, and
decorated with wreaths and lots of red bows for the holidays.
Friendly staff with genuine smiles, always a plus! Even with my questions about food, particularly the Cobb salad’s contents. They clear up plates when you’re finished. Some seats are lounge chairs with low side tables while others are wooden bench/​chair combos.
Quick turnover, especially with couples just stopping by for brunch cocktails and bites. Definitely family friendly for breakfast all day and lunch/​light dinner. As soon as we stood up to leave around 1pm, some folks already claimed our tables.

It’s a Hayes Valley institution, and a good one. They’re open late, have a huge menu, generally enough seating even for a group, and a charmingly rustic, casual vibe. A good place to hit before or after you tackle the symphony or opera with a group.

Man this place was packed when we came in… I ordered soup and salad and the soup was salty AF! So much so I couldn’t even finish it and just ended up eating the salad. The line was long and the food wasn’t worth it so definitely go elsewhere. The meatball sandwich was ok but not that great either… may be I’m just picky but yea, go if you haven’t yet and tell me your opinion on it.

I love this place. I come here and to the one on Mission at least once or twice a week. The salad are big and satisfying. The ingredients are good quality. The Guac Chop comes with a hefty scoop of chunky guac. The chicken portion that you can add onto their salads is quite big.
I’ve also had the chicken pot pie, the veggie lasagna, and the avocado & eggs on toast. All were plenty filling, and delicious. The poached eggs on the avocado toast are always cooked perfectly.
The atmosphere is nice. Sometimes the music is loud. I like that you can hang out for awhile, and not feel rushed. They will take your empty dishes away right away, but there’s no expectation for you to leave when they do.

Cute and cozy café with mediocre food and service.
Me and my friend were both seriously surprised at how small the portions were. He got the grilled cheese with side of soup for about $ 10 and it was seriously smaller than a kids meal. My french onion soup wasn’t ridiculously small, but it is still overpriced when you realize that Absinthe across the street charges $ 3 less and that is a more upscale restaurant.
Also, the $ 3 side of ham is the equivalent size to one small piece of bacon. When I asked the server, she noted that this was alot smaller than usual and brought me out some more, but I’m still shocked that they would even send something out like that.
Bussers were slow to clear off tables and staff didn’t seem to be working well together. After our food came, we asked if our drinks were coming. We were told they were at the counter, but why did it take 10 – 15 min for them to let us know?
3 stars because food was decent and came out quick.

Charging an extra $ 2.95 to add Chicken Apple Sausage to a Breakfast Burrito but then having to go on a search and rescue mission to find any of said sausage?
C’est un brunch faux pas.
That’s French for «WHERE’S MY CHICKEN APPLE SAUSAGE AT?»
(I know, I’m classy.)

2 lattes and bread pudding = $ 19. The place is cute, has a great cabin, woodsy feel, but overpriced. It took them over 20 minutes to make 2 lattes, too. We had to go up and remind them of our order. All the baristas just stared at each other, wondering who either missed the order, or who should get going on the order.
We initially had ordered to eat there, but since it was a bit disorganized and had already waited so long, we requested our drinks to go.
A trendy place that you’ll pay the price for in time and money.

This place was pretty good. We came here this morning and I got the avocado toast with poached eggs with hashbrowns. It stated on the menu that there was lemon in the avocado mixture, and I didn’t really taste it, but the eggs were poached perfectly. I also had an orange juice that was gigantic, the only downside of this place is the price. I don’t really know if I agree with them but there was adequate seating and the staff was nice.

Cool hangout spot during the day, but it’s way too expensive for what it is.
I’ve come on two accounts for socializing purposes only. We have a large group and this place can provide the space.
I ordered the grilled cheese with tomato soup the first time I was here. I was definitely unimpressed because the mixture of cheeses felt lack-​luster. I would much prefer something with plain old American or cheddar :/​It also came out to be ~15 dollars. The bread was nothing terribly special, though it was my favorite part of the sandwich. The soup was good, but again, it lacked luster for the price that it was.
I do have to admit that it’s in Hayes Valley.
The second time I came, I ordered off of the «socializing snacks.» It was perfect because I was really only there to socialize. I ordered the almond butter, banana, and bacon toast. It came out to ~5, but it was something nice and small that I could munch on when my main concern was to hang out. But if you’re expecting it to be some amazing combination that sends your taste buds out the window, you’ll be disappointed. It tasted like everything that is on it. It was surprisingly delightful but no foodgasm. Also, the bread isn’t as spectacular as it says it is. Just toast, which is still yummy.
I enjoyed the atmosphere and everything tasted good. I would come back without complaint if my friends suggested it, but it’s a place I wouldn’t come on my own will. There is no real justification for the price.

I’m really surprised by the low reviews for this restaurant. I work right by Hayes Valley and The Grove is one of my favorite dining choices in the area.
First off, the rustic wooden décor gives off an airy, comfy living room ambience feel, which is very fitting for the hipster heavy culture in this neighborhood. There are lots of tables for two and larger communal tables. Plus there’s super cute outdoor seating available. They’ve certainly stepped up their customer service — a greeter welcomes you and hands you a menu at the door, the cashiers are knowledge and bubbly, and the servers are efficient and friendly.
The food is colorful, flavorful, and delicious! Their menu options are awesome here — filled with a variety to tickle anyone’s pickle. I personally love the salads. I used to get the Tuna Salad, which is not on the menu anymore. I also love the Steak Salad which is HUGE and truly what a steak salad should be… Generous portions of juicy flank steak strips over fresh mixed greens, red tomatoes, potatoes, and blue cheese. Loves it!
This is a lunch worthy place for sure — prices aren’t bad either. You definitely get a good bang for your buck here! Cookies are ginormous as well, and that ways gets an extra star in my book! ;)

Love the Grove! It’s an easy spot to meet friends since 1) you pay at the counter, avoiding the split-​the-​check ordeal and 2) the menu is super lengthy, but everything is delicious! It does get quite crowded but I’ve always been able to locate an empty table.
I’ve tried several breakfast offerings and salads and I think the Cobb salad, Asian salad, and granola with fruit & yogurt are reliable go-​tos. They also have a ton of drinks and desserts to choose from — the giant cookies are so yummy! I do kind of wish they had options with smaller serving sizes though, I end up leaving pretty stuffed more often than not.

The first time I popped into the Grove I enjoyed a quick cookie snack and a coffee before a symphony matinée and the second time I visited The Grove I sat down for a light dinner. Both visits were sincerely delightful!
Grove Hayes has a nice café décor with a fun and bustling vibe. Order at the counter, take your number and have a seat. Meals are delivered when ready. My friend and I had the mac and cheese and chicken pot pie plates. The pot pie was hearty, piping hot, and filled my belly with home-​cooked goodness! The mac and cheese was also piping hot and quite tasty with multiple layers of cheesy textures and flavors. Drinks are served in very large pilsners, they are more than generous sizes.
I’ll quote my friend «this place certainly performed above my average standards! I’m pleasantly surprised»
I’ll be back next time I’m in the neighborhood and in need of a satisfying, relatively quick meal or snack

Despite the long lines, this isn’t an oasis.
Yes, it’s run by San Franciscans, but so are many other restaurants.
Should I give you guys brownie points for my lackluster panini and salty onion dip?
Heck, I’m a San Franciscan, born and raised in SF, but no one gives me 5 stars.
Even after munching on my own food, then pushing it aside because the dip was way too salty and I finished my small panini, I turned to my friend’s hotdog when she said she couldn’t finish it all.
Sure, I’ll eat it, I said.
Meh, and ho-​hum for the hot dog.
I literally could have bought the ingredients from Whole Foods and have made this myself.
And I’m the worst cook you’ll ever meet.
3 stars for average food.