Just for ME (Mabel’s Just For You Cafe — San Francisco, CA) Dogpatch.
It’s on the other side of Potrero Hill in the area that treads the fine line of cute/sketchy. Every time we are there, we comment about how it’s just waiting to become prom queen.
Over in this quasi-neighborhood is Mabel’s Just for You Cafe. Just for You used to be on the “acceptable” side of Potrero Hill at 18th and Connecticut (I think). We’d go for breakfast/lunch from work sometimes. It was a tiny hole in the wall with a counter and a table for three. It was on these trips that I discovered a) the louisiana hot sausage (if you haven’t been paying attention, I love spicy food) and b) the fan-fucking-tastic cornbread. It’s amazing. Plus, they have a nice sassy attitude (no cell phones, no kissing).
Here’s the best part: When they moved to Dogpatch, they got tons more room and started making beignets. I shit you not. They make beignets. They are everything you want them to be — fluffy with a perfect amount of sugary goodness. And they rule. We get an order no matter what. Usually everyone orders a breakfast and we get beignets on top of that.
Be prepared for a wait. It’s a fun wait, though, with interesting people and dogs and babies. And you can have coffee while you wait.
I’ve never, ever eaten anything there that I didn’t love. The eggs are fantastic. We have friends who live for the oatmeal pancakes. The Mexican specialties are perfect. Jon got some huevos rancheros with a green “yowza” sauce. It was heavenly. I love the hot chocolate — it’s got some nice cinnamon-y goodness in it.
Eating breakfast there represents everything I love about this city: great food in an unexpected place, diverse people and opportunities to connect. Hmmmm…maybe we’ll go on Saturday.
xoxo Joy
Confessions of a Restaurant Whore
“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.” –La Rochefoucauld
