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Zare
By Peter Dell
On a recent Sunday morning, my partner in crime (Erik) and I decided to indulge ourselves in that most San Francisco of meals: Sunday brunch. I needed to make sure that we went somewhere that fit my student budget, and Erik wanted somewhere close (because we were hungry). We decided on Zare Garden Cafe, located in the heart of the Haight-Ashbury district, and home of what Erik assured me were the largest mimosas in town.
I had passed by Zare many times before, one of the many psychedelic storefronts that somehow became generic in the rainbow swirl of the Haight. Surprisingly, Zare's clientele is largely locals and not the tourists who normally clog the area.
The main dining area is a cozy wood tables and chairs sort of place with ceiling fans, a full bar, and friendly employees. With the rare confluence of good weather and a reprieve from studying for medical school classes, we opted to go out to the back patio, an even more cozy and more San Francisco dining experience. The backyard has large trees and a view of the backs of adjacent buildings and enough open air to make an emphysemic breathe clearly. The tables are packed closely together on the multi-layered deck, allowing you to eavesdrop on your neighbor's conversation without feeling claustrophobic.
We sat down and ordered two mimosas (champagne with orange juice, for you innocents in the crowd), and enjoyed the ambiance and other people's conversations. Erik had told me that the mimosas were somewhat expensive ($6 each), but that you get a half bottle of champagne per glass. We were not disappointed. I had finished mine by the time my food got there, and enjoyed a pleasant buzz from the alcohol.
The menu had eclectic and unique items. Erik was more interested in the -- unch part of brunch and ordered a flank steak sandwich ($8.50) and salad ($2.50). The br-of brunch sounded better to me (even though we got there after 1 p.m.), so I ordered the eggs with apple sausage, mushrooms, and green onion ($8.50). Their food is described as "Persian-influenced Californian," though that must have been more apparent at other meals than at brunch.
When the food came, I immediately knew I had made a mistake in ordering the eggs. The flank steak sandwich looked and smelled great -- cooked perfectly and served on French bread (oops -- Freedom bread now, I suppose). One bite confirmed that the steak was tender, juicy and cooked to the rare which Erik had ordered. The side salad was also good, but was not worth the $2.50 price. My eggs were good but not spectacular. I had hoped the apple sausage would be a bit more tangy and was surprised that the dish seemed a little bland for what I had imagined given the menu's description. Overall, however, we were satisfied with the food.
The service, atmosphere, patio, and food make Zare an overall good dining experience. Erik and I would like to go back to try lunch or dinner, although the mimosas seem to keep calling us back to brunch.
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