Early To Rise

You don’t have to analyze Strava data from JFK at 6am to know that SF is a morning city. It’s filled with lots of brunch spots to keep the AM crowd fed—and joining them is Early To Rise. This NoPa spot stands out because almost everything on the menu is made from scratch, down to the hot sauce, bagels, and challah in the butter-soaked french toast. The extra care shows. 

photo credit: Melissa Zink

photo credit: Melissa Zink

photo credit: Melissa Zink

This isn’t a grab-and-go operation, so expect to spend a while nursing a drip coffee from a cushy booth or stool at the window-facing counter. It’s where to get acquainted with their standout bagel, or cut into a stack of pancakes soaked in tangy-sweet blueberry syrup. Anything from the “smokehouse,” like the extra-thick bacon or tender canadian bacon you could cut with a plastic spork, is also especially worth your time. Just know that there are no reservations, so come on a weekday if you can, or prepare to spend some time taking laps around the block while you wait for a seat. 

Food Rundown

photo credit: Melissa Zink

Lox Bagel

Smaller and less bready than other everything bagels in the city, but we love it all the same. They’re not reinventing the lox bagel wheel—the sandwich is just chive schmear, lox, tomato, capers, and red onion—but they don’t have to.

Tangerine Pudding

This is an appetizer disguised as a dessert, crowned with little mandarin slices and whipped cream. It looks like pudding, tastes like a creamsicle, and should definitely be on your table.

photo credit: Melissa Zink

Small Batch Donuts

Depending on the day, the “Daily Deluxe” donut might be filled with earl grey or passionfruit cream—those are great, but we actually prefer the simpler sugar-rolled one for its extra-custardy insides.

photo credit: Melissa Zink

Apple Butter French Toast

We’ve never been compelled to describe a french toast as “juicy” until now. The challah gets fully saturated with apple butter and caramel apple syrup that pools at the bottom of the bowl. You won’t need more than a few bites, so sharing with the table is a good bet.

Eggs Benedict

The canadian bacon on this dish is the highlight. Otherwise, everything gets overpowered by the hollandaise, so feel free to skip.

photo credit: Melissa Zink

Blueberry-Ricotta Pancakes

The almond crunch really takes these pancakes over the top—it adds texture, especially when you add a dollop of house ricotta to every bite.

Up & At ‘Em

A fine plate of eggs, potatoes, and a house-smoked meat of your choosing (go bacon or canadian bacon). There are more interesting things on the menu.