Foundation is a cute cafe with a great looking menu, part of a trend of upscale cafes popping up along this stretch of Kearny. I love that more high quality food options are opening near my office. So why the two stars? The Four Barrel coffee sign lured me in. Before ordering, I asked if they used organic milk & was told they use organic Berkeley Farms milk. I've never seen Berkeley Farms milk labelled as organic, so I was skeptical. From where I was standing, I could see the Berkeley Farms logo on the milk carton. I googled Berkeley Farms organic milk later in the day and it turns out Berkeley Farms' organic line is marketed as Horizon Organics (which is basically "organic" factory-farmed milk--Strauss and Clover are higher quality local producers). Some milk producers have separate packaging for commercial versus retail sales, so I'm not saying for sure that they lied to me. However, my research on the Berkeley Farms website suggests that if they were using organic Berkeley Farms milk, it should've been packaged as Horizon Organic, and it most definitely wasn't. The latte was delicious, although a little light (lots of foam, but still not too strong--makes me wonder if my $3.75 latte only had one shot). However, they get 2 stars for what appears to be deceptive marketing. Please correct me if I'm wrong; I'd like to like your cafe. read more

The chopped salad is ahhh-maaazing. I wasn't too sure about the roasted carrots infused with vanilla but when I tasted it, my eyes rolled back into my head. You MUST try the salad with the char-grilled tri-tip. So DELISH. The chicken sandwich was ok. It needed some kind of kick or something - it was kinda bland. The interior is clean and trendy. Only reason why I'm giving them 4 stars is that it's pretty pricey... read more

Eh this place is just ok. I feel like people who rave about this place love paying a lot money for mediocre foods. Got the beef brisket cheddar sandwich. It came with 2 small pieces of brisket the size of my dogs mini jerky treats....come to think of it kinda looked like it too. The bread was the best part because it was soft but, overall all I kept thinking was meh. read more

Excellent! One of the better fried chicken sandwiches you can get in San Francisco for any price. Crispy and flaky on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. The bun matches and complements perfectly. I'm going to have it at least a dozen more times before I move down the menu. Four Barrel coffee is a blessing. If you work in the area you are full aware that restaurants come and go and I'm betting this one will be with us for a while. The only downside is it is a little expensive but you could say that keeps out the Mc Donald's crowd and that is a good thing. read more

Foundation Cafe (FC) is the New Kid on the block. It faces stiff competition from the always packed Ramen Underground and Onigilly. It's surprising that so many Americans love Asian food! FC has a very minimalist modern vibe. They serve up some pretty standard lunch food - sandwiches, salads and maybe even a sweet bite or two. My friend had a sandwich, I guess it was ok. She was rather ambivalent to it. I've only tried their coffee and it was pretty decent. I guess I would go back if the food wasn't so expensive. I just cannot justify paying more than $10 on a lunch quickie when I can whip up the exact same thing in the office for $0. With the rising number of cafe places, legacy neighborhood restaurants and the ever growing number of mobile food trucks... I'd say PC faces some tough competition. Only time will tell if the new kids stays or goes... read more

Is it expensive? Yeah, kinda. You're in the FiDi, remember? Beef cheeks are meaty and flavorful. Salads have all been solid. They're quick, they're nice and for the quality of the food, relatively reasonably priced. Want cheap lunch? Go to the Chinese Buffet down the block. Want something that had some actual thought put into it? These guys are one of your best bets around here. read more

I like it for the bulletproof coffee and the veggie burger. It's a win for me! Diligent people and diligent service too. Saviour of the neighborhood. read more

Chicken sand + Broccolini = $16.00 Breakfast stops at 10:00 am ;( Chicken sandwich. Meh. Was not soggy after a 5 min walk to office. I feel the bacon is just hidden calories with no added taste. Is not a huge sandwich so it is overpriced The broccolini is what saved the day. So delicious. Why cant I make vegetables like that? Not much seating so get to go. You should call ahead, prep time seems longer then usual. read more

I would like to preface this review with, I was pretty sick and couldn't taste all the flavors that much because of my sinuses. Broccolini - SO SPICY! I don't know if it was just that day, and the hot chili pepper flakes that were visible in front of me should have tipped me off, but they were really spicy. So spicy that it basically took all the taste bud abilities that I had left away from me and left my mouth and lips burning for the duration of the meal. Also, I was sad that they didn't heat up the broccolini, I am all about hot food, and broccolini has never been in the cold chapter of my book. Mushroom burger - Not the best veggie burger I've had. Pretty overhyped in fact. The texture is a lot mushier than I normally would like my burgers to be. Also, I'm not sure, but I think I got some grilled jalapeno or sort of pepper within my burger, which did not help with all the burning of the previously mentioned broccolini. I split the burger with a friend who said that he just got a grilled bell pepper, but with each bite, my mouth kept burning more and more, so there was no way that what I was eating was a grilled green pepper. Cod sandwich - This was definitely the highlight of the meal. There is a sort of pineapple salsa or chutney that comes with it that really complemented the cod really well. My mouth was already burning with everything, but I could still tell that the sandwich that I was partially tasting through all the burning was good. My friend also commented on how delicious the burger was. I would probably come by again to have the cod sandwich and taste it in its all its glory. Also, make sure you check in on yelp to get a 10% discount! read more

Their mushroom barely burger is the best vegetarian burger I have ever had. I am not vegetarian though. Everything on their small menu is good. Maybe a tad pricey, but most of the restaurants downtown have tipped the $10 threshold for lunch and seem to be approaching $15. There isn't much seating here, but it's worth going for take out or a quick lunch. read more

The food is good, but expensive. I have had the fish sandwich at lunch and the carnitas breakfast sandwich. I enjoyed both, but felt it was overpriced for what you are getting. read more

I gotta agree with the second Adrienne G.'s review way down below about the excessive oil thing. I ordered a crispy veggie wrap and should have been warned off by the oil film that had soaked the take away box but I was starving and wolfed it down. It didn't taste bad at all, but 4 hours later I feel sick and nauseous. The first time around I tried their chilaquiles, which tasted great, but I got the greasy feel there too... Like my arteries were soaking in oil. Look, I'm ignorant about the intricacies of food prep but I do appreciate the effort that goes into making good food. I like the organic sourcing, the Four Barrel coffee, and the cool layout. But I gotta call out when I feel like I chowed down some major grease. Never really had a problem with the staff. The wait time's a bit long, so go prepared. I might give'em one last try before writing them off completely... 3 strike policy aaaite! read more

How much do I love Foundation Cafe? Let me count the ways... 1. The Kale Caesar salad is one of the best salads that I've ever had. I usually add grilled chicken to it. It's a substantial salad, and the delicious brown button croutons are a fantastic finishing touch. Even with grilled chicken added, it's a very reasonable price ($10 + tax) for the area. Even though the line can be a bit long at times, the food always comes out pretty quickly after you've ordered. 2. Their breakfast is awesome. They have always have sweet and savory toast options, breakfast sandwiches and Four Barrel Coffee (and if you're into the bulletproof coffee thing, they have a take on that, as well). Their pastry options are a nice change from other places nearby, too (I'm partial to the donut muffin). Again, the price is great. Their toasts are cheaply priced but amply proportioned, and the coffee prices are on par with other places. I'm a fan of the little drawings the staff do on their frequent coffee buyers cards, too! 3. The staff are friendly and engaging. The same people are always working, and they're friendly without being over the top (so it actually feels genuine). They have a sign kindly asking people to avoid being on cell phones while ordering, and I recommend taking that phone break to make some small talk with them. 4. The ambiance is nice. Yes, it's small and seating isn't necessarily plentiful at rush lunch time. But it's an awesome spot for a coffee chat in the AM or a one on one lunch with a friend. The sidewalk seating is nice on a sunny day! 5. While it gets pretty busy from 12-1, if you head over at non-peak hours, you can get in and out super quickly. I went in around 2:30pm the other day (they close at 3) and had the place to myself. Definitely one of my favorite weekday spots in the FiDi. Highly recommended!! read more

Lovely breakfast spot. All the stars for good vibes, charming staff, and single origin pour over coffee. Their avocado toast seems a tad overhyped though: the poached egg tasted a lot like vinegar (still, perfectly Instagram-ready). read more

Loved this place. First of all, where else can you find a REALLY high quality and unique avocado toast for $3.75?? They also offer a "cherry bomb toast" with pluots, cherry tomatoes, zaatar, and olive oil on a sourdough levain that's one of the best and most affordable sandwiches I've ever had. The menu was one of the best breakfast menus (especially for a fast service place) I've ever seen in the city. The atmosphere is cute, cozy, and the wait staff is great! The food is really, really good and absolutely affordable. With its amazing location and amazing menu, you'd be crazy not to go. read more

This is some of the best food in the city in its category. And great coffee with none of the overkill down the street at Blue Bottle. read more

Walked by this place as it was close to our hotel in FiDi and saw they offered a breakfast menu item with vegetables so we ducked in. I get excited when I see breakfast that is different from the some combo of eggs, breakfast meat, potatoes and cheese. Ordered the Eggs Over Broccolini Toast and my husband got the Avocoado Toast w Egg. Everything is cooked to order so they accommodated our request for dairy free versions of our food as we have an allergy. The broccolini on my toast was perfectly cooked with the right amount of crunchiness, crispy ends, soft stems and savoriness. It was dotted w small pieces of bacon and a slight kick from sliced Fresno chiles. I would go back just to eat a whole plate of the broccolini. The avocado toast was light and bright w a touch of lemon - so delicious. The rest of the menu for lunch looked so good, I would have ordered anything on it. My only complaint was that our food was served in to-go boxes which felt unnecessary when we were eating in. Didn't take pics of our food because could not see layers of our toast when they were in the boxes. Would have enjoyed our food more on a plate w metal utensils. We are from out of town and perhaps the SF covid practices are still in effect due to differences in infection rates and city regulations. The staff was friendly and welcoming. The place is clean and small with 2 medium large tables for communal seating and a bar seating area. They do charge 15% service charge automatically for their staff which was ok w us as their prices seemed reasonable to begin with. Wanted to go back but closed on the weekends. Another time! read more

Strong start. Recently opened but already a loyal following judging by the the constant line and buzz in the small space. Seats are elusive. Masses are likely coming for the tasty blackened rocketfish sandwich with pineapple slaw on a baguette. Touch of sweet perfectly accents the mild fish. Also in demand are the Brussels sprouts. Cooked with butter but surprisingly light. Not surprising was how good it was. Long day called for caffeine. Four Barrel Americano hit the spot. Prices ($12 for the sandwich, $5 for the sprouts) keep Foundation from a fourth star. Still a strong start for what likely will be a foundation in the FiDi for years to come. read more

You'd think that salad would be the last thing people want to eat these days, but during a work conference where most of our meals were catered, Foundation Cafe hit it out of the ballpark! They brought in a make-your-own salad bar with everything from lettuces to cheeses to vegetables to bacon. Surprisingly the homemade guacamole seemed to be the clear winner of the toppings popularity contest. I work at a place where we get to eat lots of fun things, so having a healthier choice made for us was lovely. read more

I was just robbed and it didn't feel very good. My co-worked and I just got back from trying Foundation Cafe for the first time. We both ordered the tri-tip sando which looked really good on the menu. We were handed our to-go boxes and walked out, both commenting how light they felt. Once we arrived in the office, we simultaneously yelled from our offices that there was barely any meat on our $13.05 sandwiches. No side salad, some goat cheese, mushrooms and about 4 pieces of meat. I feel exploited like I never have before. I have worked in the FiDi for 12 years now. Eat lunch on Kearny 2-3 times/week, Darn Good Foods, Ramen Underground, Baladie, you name it and this is the most offensive experience I've ever had. For over $13, I got about $3 of food. I often hear people complaining about overpriced casual food, but I never have any issues. It's expensive to run a small shop using organic, high quality ingredients. This however doesn't entitle you to take advantage of your customers and overcharge. I'm so disappointed since they they clearly take pride in their space and store and for that I commend them, but they clearly don't make any effort to please their customers and provide them with any sort of value, and for that, they just lost 2 very quickly. (I will also be posting a picture of my sandwich so you can judge if it is worth over $13). read more

Foundation Cafe - Tri-Tip sando. About 3 slivers of meat on each half. Showed to 3 co-workers and all laughed, not feeling good about my $13 lunch - Salad Near Me - San Francisco, California

I really enjoyed a catered lunch from Foundation Cafe at a work conference last week. It's so difficult eating healthy when you're away, and especially when menus tend to be preset to accommodate a large group. The salad bar that Foundation put together was fantastic and much-appreciated. I loaded my plate with healthy veggies plus fresh avocado, grilled chicken and parmesan cheese for protein and taste. The balsamic dressing was absolutely delicious. I will likely seek this place out on future visits to San Francisco for a healthy lunch. read more

This is probably my favorite coffee shop in all of FiDi. They have Four Barrel cold brew on nitro which is so divine and smooth. My go-to morning pick me up is their savory avocado toast. I don't usually come here for lunch since they have a smaller menu and it's always crowded but if you get a chance to try their nori deviled eggs, you will NOT be disappointed! Big plus for me is that the morning staff is always friendly. read more

While the food is quite good (I enjoy the Crispy Eggplant wrap, the deviled eggs, and the mini chocolate chip cookies), I have been incredibly disappointed by the service on multiple occasions. The staff behind the counter appears to be inexperienced and generally inattentive--for a cafe that is catering to the work day lunch crowd, this is particularly off-putting! read more

I really want Foundation to be good. They have a great menu, different from everything else on Kearny Street, and I want to support them. I stopped going because the food was just too inconsistent and the employees seemed pretty indifferent to the customers. I decided to try again. The service seems better but, unfortunately, the food QC isn't. read more

Get here early because this place gets super packed. Got the fried chicken sammy w/ a little bit of bacon and sauce. It was really good and not oily. I will be back. Yay to another lunch spot near my work. read more

I can only speak for the sides. I have yet to have a sandwich. However, the deviled eggs are SO good. Also I have had the brussels, which are also very good. I think I like the fact that there are veggie options other than salad... I get so bored of salad. read more

Close to my office, good coffee, good almond croissant. I like the decor, and the communal seating with the swinging seats. I just got my stuff to go, but I will be returning. Have to dock a point because their credit card machine was down when I went (gotta conserve cash!). Also, very clean, and, at least for now, not crowded at all. There are also heavier lunch items in addition to pastries (the eggplant parmigiana looked particularly good), including sandwiches and salads. read more

While I seem to hold an innate aversion to the super boug, I have to say: I love this place! A few reasons: the design and décor is clean, modern, and intentional without seeming overly pretentious; there are a great many vegetarian options that can easily be made vegan (including incredible side salad possibilities); and the presentation of the foods is impeccable and attractive without seeming contrived. A tad pricey for lunch, so I only frequent very occasionally, but am a huge fan. Particular favorites: any pureed soup there, the beautiful and delicious beet salad, walnut green beans, and crispy eggplant wrap. So yum! read more

So yummy love this spot. I always get the Kale Caesar with grilled chicken and tofu. Their dressing, meats and well everything on my plate is usually so flavorful! The staff is always super friendly and give great customer service. I tried the deviled eggs and marble potatoes with dill today, it was all so delicious! Great casual lunch spot. I appreciate their attention to flavors and ingredients, being a cook myself. read more

Barley and mushroom "burger" with a side of broccolini with garlic: Pretty good. Looking forward to coming back.

Surprised by the crappy reviews . I had the healthiest lunch I've had in a long time there last week. It was the rice bowl. Nice portion of rice topped with TONS of fresh veggies, raita sauce and chicken. I thought that it was actually a good deal considering the quality of the ingredients and location. read more

I probably eat the California Donburi (add chicken, usually sub mixed greens for rice) two to three times per week for lunch. Phenomenal ingredients, quick enough service despite lines that can grow to obscene lengths and a really neat, diverse and unique menu keeps me coming back. read more

very friendly staff, great sourdough bread, and good food. Walked in while looking for a quick place to grab breakfast and do some emails and this was perfect. Will definitely come back on my next trip into the city! read more

I discovered this cafe about 6 weeks ago. The aesthetic of the restaurant first piqued my interest. It looked like a cool hipster Mission cafe out of place in the Financial District. I next saw they served Four Barrel coffee and just-under $4 toast. So hipster! Setting aside my perpetual hipster/yappie (young asian professional) internal struggle, I decided to give it a try. First, for breakfast, I tried the eggs over-easy & broccolini over levain toast. Pretty good but a little too spicy, even for a spice-fiend such as I. On the next breakfast visit, I tried the savory grilled sourdough levain toast with a a generous serving of avocado slices, lemon zest, ricotta. This really hit the spot. I came back for lunch and tried the crispy eggplant wrap. Although I try to veer healthy, I rarely have a truly fulfilling vegetarian meal. But this was delicious! Will probably get this every time. For those with more forgiving diets, Foundation Cafe has brisket and fried chicken sandwiches, too. read more

I've only had one bite of my beefcheek sandwich and I'm hooked. Now I am obligated to try everything on the menu.

Best breakfast sandwich in the Financial District. Skillet-cooked omelette, aïoli, arugula on a fresh brioche roll. Bacon and avocado optional. Four Barrel coffee. Lunch is ok here but the breakfast really is a win in a desert of microwaved egg sandwiches in many other area cafes. read more

Delicious lunch spot for the downtown crowd. Yesterday I had a lovely sweet potato soup with gluten free bread and a side of roasted carrots with some sort of cumin glaze. Really fresh food and they always have tempting seasonal specialties. Also while the place is always packed, somehow there is always one seat free. Really like this spot. read more

Had lunch here. Small place but mainly for take out. Had crispy eggplant wrap. Was really good. It seems like the menu changes everyday so will definitely go again to try vegetarian options. read more

This place has my favorite vegetables and is always good. But the customer service needs severe conditioning. No one says hello to you when you first walk in. There is usually a long wait without any of the workers saying "We will be right with you". Very upsetting and I was late to get back to work. read more

Started off with a pretty long wait in line, and people kept piling in behind me. This place is super SF, but I was hoping they were still going to deliver on flavor (I've had mixed experiences with super hipster places) . I got a torta with grilled tofu, and it was pretty tasty: didn't blow me away, but a solid option. I'm down to come back and try more stuff! read more