Hamburger Haven

(415)387-3260
800 Clement St.
(@ 9th)
San Francisco, CA
(Inner Richmond district)

Price: $
Rating: 4 (Rating & price key)
Last visit: 07/16/05

Cash only!

We went here after discovering that, contrary to a number of food websites listing them, Clement Street Bar & Grill is *not* open for brunch on Saturdays (only Sundays). The interior is a little dark, with old-fashioned (70s) faux-wood paneling on the walls, an open kitchen on the left as you walk in, a handful of narrow tables-for-two on the right, and a small dining room at the far end. Our waitress was friendly and took our order quickly.

The coffee, which arrived speedily, and was refilled often, was of poor quality; what little taste it had we wished it didn't. I had an "Irish Breakfast" ($9.95, "imported" bacon, sausage, 2 eggs, hash browns and toast) while Sarah had the benedict special. After sampling our orders, we agreed that the hash browns were actually pretty well done, a too-rare find. Unfortunately the same could not be said of the rest of our dishes. Although my over-easy eggs were fine, the "imported" bacon (imported from where exactly?) was terribly salty, and the sausage's primary flavor was grease. Sarah was equally nonplussed with her hollandaise sauce, which was much more of a country-style gravy than one would expect on a benedict.

Despite the good service and funky diner ambience, I very much doubt we will return to Hamburger Haven, at least not for breakfast!