Universal Cafe

Universal, we’ll miss you! We’ve been coming here for 10+ years as we live practically across the street. We love it so much, we had our wedding reception there! Sadly, we learned just this weekend that December 19 will be their last day. Kudos to Chef Leslie, Wendy, Armando and the whole team at Universal for many, many years of excellent food, service and laughs.

Delicious breakfast, brunch & lunch options in Mission neighborhood.

Everything was delicious and the constant line of people waiting for tables meant a popular restaurant.

The house coffee is strong and the wait staff made sure to refill on more than one occasion.

The menu has many great choices and my breakfast hash with maple sausage, crispy fried Brussels sprouts, sunny-side egg, sweet & traditional potatoes, salsa verde, etc. was perfectly seasoned and a filling portion.

They are following all COVID protocols by asking patrons to wear masks and only take off when actively eating and drinking. All servers wear masks at all times.

I'm not normally a brunch person, but this place far exceeded my expectations. The orange juice was freshly squeezed (to our surprise), service was fast, and food was absolutely delicious. I will be coming back!!

Definitely a place to go when visiting San Francisco. The food is definitely worth the wait! They do not take reservations so it's first come first served. They do hand out menus ahead of time so you can order food once you get seated. The blood orange juice is very tasty and all the food is outstanding! We had the veggie burger, the spinach and asparagus egg and the steak sandwich, they were all super! The place is also dog friendly and they supplied our dog with a bowl of water. We will be back!

Awesome scrambled eggs, although I wish they had more egg based options. The eggs were delicious, creamy and cheesy, one of the best I have ever had. The flat bread was also quite tasty, but I wish it had more toppings. Highly recommended if you are around.

Great brunch spot. Nice outside area, all with some shade and dog friendly. We have been here a few times and never disappoints! Orange juice, freshly squeezed, you can taste those vitamins :) The portions are generous, we tend to share 1 and have an additional side dish. Here a picture of the scramble soft eggs with mushrooms and spinach- deeelicious!!!

Really great food! I especially enjoyed their buffalo fried chicken sandwich. I heard that their menu rotates so not sure if this item will be there next time too. It was a little crowded but I think it just speaks to the popularity of the place. We had to wait in line but we just walked around the neighborhood while waiting so it wasn’t bad at all.

A thousand times yes. Consistently great food and solid service. And a good enough value to be a regular staple.

Amazing breakfast. Baguettes are so fresh and delicious. Medjool date butter is to die for. Ambience is bright, bussling, and inviting. Outdoor dining available in front. Bar seating under the skylight overlooks the kitchen. Superb spot.

Although there was a wait we we're able to sit immediately at the bar. The food was great and fresh. Definitely would come back again.

Busy already at 10:30 on a Sunday. Tried the potato-cake with poached egg and sweet corn succotash. Pretty good.

Great place. Friendly staff, nice atmosphere and good food.

Amazing brunch place for not so typical brunch food. Menu changes every weekend but keeps a lot of general dishes with seasonal twists. For example, eggnog french toast!!.
Make sure to taste the soft scrambled eggs. The best I have tasted and the best dish here !
Usually the wait is not too long and there is a waitlist to out your name on.

Best brunch in the city, bar none.

We dropped in late on a Fri. night, and were graciously received. Everything we ordered (several side dishes and appetizers) was just outstanding. The place was not too noisy, which we appreciated, and has a hip, industrial feel. Recommend!

I am biased. Completely biased when it comes to reviewing The Universal Cafe. One day, I’ll weave in nuances about the people and place of this restaurant into a poem or work of fiction. For now, I can tell you that I’ve been to the Universal so many times that I call it My Second Kitchen.

Leslie has changed my life in terms of knowing what to buy produce wise and how to incorporate fresh ingredients into my own cooking. Her menu stays “universally consistent” but shifts seasonally. There will always be a steak, a fish, poultry or other protein dish on this New American menu. There is some thought to vegetarian and sometimes Vegan meals—but don’t expect it. The chefs are willing to reasonably accommodate for food borne allergy anything if they can. They are flexible. For me this review, I researched and found that I’ve been here over 450 times in 11 years (how long I’ve lived in this part of the Mission). Of the 450, I’ve had one over salted bavette, a charred squid and one over done risotto: but that’s it!!! The rest of the dishes have been perfect!

Staff? Love the staff. One must befriend the staff to really feel comfortable enduring brunch, okay?

Wine: you cannot get this wine selection anywhere else.

I write this review hesitantly because I don't want this place to become more popular than it already is. Of course I want the owners to do well, but since it's around the corner from our house, I would love to for it to remain a neighborhood secret and hangout. Shhhhhh.

In all seriousness though, this place is amazing. We have only eaten brunch here (still need to come back for dinner) and each time have left wanting to come back. This weekend, we actually went twice!

Michael, the face of Universal, is usually seating people and is always cordial in the morning. Coffee is also self-serve while you wait, so don't hesitate to pour a cup. You can usually grab a seat outside if it's cold and you will probably have to wait around 20 minutes for an inside table.

Some highlights include:
(menu changes with the seasons, so this is based on winter 2015/16)

Soft scramble, flat iron steak, breakfast sandwich and the chicken sandwich are absolutely incredible. The bacon is also very tasty, so don't be ashamed to order a side of it.

Caution: this may become your new favorite spot.

The food here was great. The flatbread, the ravioli, the fries. I even had to ask what type of mushrooms they were serving because the mushrooms on the ravioli were so meaty and delicious. My partner and I really enjoyed ourselves here.

One of those awesome Mission cafes that creates its own gravitational pull - with good reason as the menu is nuanced with creative egg dishes and bowls of various kinds. The staff are attentive and fun.

Favorite brunch in SF! Dog friendly on patio. The staff is always super friendly and full of great recommendations. Location in Potrero Hill is quiet and parking is easy in the area. Long waits for brunch at times but its worth it.