Goldenette is a refreshing new diner that has replaced Toast, and it comes from the same prior owner, Eddie Naser, now in partnership with Wes Rowe of WesBurger 'N' More fame (RIP). The interior has a refreshed classic diner feel, and I love all the natural light that floods in from both Polk and Sacramento since it sits right on the corner, conveniently just off the 1 bus. They are serving breakfast all day, along with a full lineup of chicken sandwiches, smash burgers, a patty melt, and those shattering tots I have come to associate with Wes. Our server was super sweet, and when I asked for recommendations, she immediately pointed to the Reuben, which was a new special, so that is what I ordered. The pastrami itself was fantastic, with great seasoning and cooked to tender perfection, even achieving a nice crust from what I assume was some time on the flattop. The Swiss was so melty that I was getting consistent cheese pulls with each bite, and the sauce was tangy and helped cut through some of the richness. I will say I was not a fan of the bread, since I am used to marbled rye being sturdy but soft and buttery, and I found the bread here to be a bit hard and dry, more akin to Irish soda bread. The side salad was a simple mix of arugula, cherry tomatoes, and pickled onion, which had nice flavor but was pretty overdressed. My partner ordered the spicy chicken sandwich, and it is worth noting that this is a ground, battered, and fried chicken patty rather than a typical fried chicken sandwich. The menu does mention this, but the font is tiny, so I would recommend the staff call it out when ordered just so folks aren't surprised. That aside, I found both the flavors and texture to be absolutely stellar. You get a bit more of a springy texture, but not in an unpleasant or artificial way, and the chicken flavor actually felt more pronounced than if it were just a standalone piece of chicken. The smoked paprika Calabrian chili mayo is super tasty and provides a decent amount of heat. They also have a housemade carrot hot sauce you can ask for, which is tangy and vinegary, more like a Tabasco or Crystal, with some sweetness from the carrot. Overall, it was a good meal with friendly staff, and a nice refresh on the old-school diner feel that Toast had. I will definitely be back to try more of the menu, including the breakfast items and the smash burgers, because how could I not with Wes as one of the partners. read more

Goldenette - Spicy Chicken Sandwich w/ Tots - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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It must be the Generation Jones in me, but I have a thing for retro-vintage diners. Sometimes I crave comfort food in nostalgic settings, and the irony is that this spot only recently opened in its 1960's-style format. It was Toast before, but owner Eddie Naser decided to revamp it by partnering with chef Wes Roe of the recently closed and well missed WesBurger in the Mission. With an old-school counter, a lot of warm pinks, and Googie-style vintage lamps, the cross-pollination appears to be working and so is the positive energy of the staff. Even though I was tempted by the Bread Pudding French Toast, I stuck with the basics and ordered the $20 Goldenette Plate. It consisted of two scrambled eggs, a sausage patty, hash browns, and extra thick sourdough toast (Photo 9). Delightfully plated on pink melamine, the eggs were soft in the French style and presented in a little bowl shape. They went well with the lightly grilled potatoes, and the patty tasted like a mini-smashburger. Along with the refilled coffee, it was a satisfying diner-style breakfast along the lines of the cool Japanese kissatens in Tokyo. I need to try that Goldenette Mekt for lunch next time. FOOD - 4 stars...dependable diner fare with nice culinary touches AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...likable retro vibe, not overbearing like certain chains SERVICE - 4 stars...attentive crew TOTAL - 4 stars...definitely want to try their other specialties RELATED - Exploring Nob Hill? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/JQjJxGsLGK read more

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I visited this place with my girlfriend without many expectations. You walk in and are immediately bombarded with pink. The place has a diner theme, but the food turned out to be much more bistro-style than I expected, and I really enjoyed it. When I looked at the menu, what stood out to me were the homemade ground chicken patties. I immediately ordered one of the chicken sandwiches with tots on the side. I have to say, the patty was delicious. You can see in the cross-section just how many herbs they put into it, and it's not paper-thin either. It was juicy, flavorful, and honestly exceeded my expectations for the place. Service was casual and friendly, and the bathrooms were very clean as well. I'd definitely bring friends back here for a casual lunch. read more

Goldenette - Chicken sandwich - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

We had a family friend visiting and we wanted to grab a brunch before heading to the park. Since it was breakfast time, I went off script and didn't go for the smash burger which in hindsight I should've done. Either way I opted for the chile rellano breakfast burrito and a banana milkshake. The chile rellano burrito was pretty small. I should've added a protein but $4 for a bacon add-on would've made the burrito $18. My main issue was that the chile rellano, the cheese inside of the pepper wasn't fully melted. For a side I got tots and those were solid. No ranch here but their spicy aioli was good. I've been craving banana milkshakes ($7) lately, and when I saw they had one I had to get it. I think this has potential but the consistency wasn't thick enough, it was borderline more like banana milk. It came in a traditional milkshake glass. My girlfriend got the spicy crispy chicken Cesar salad but in wrap ($22) and I had a few bites and didn't get any spice at all. The chicken was interesting bc it was like a breaded ground chicken patty, kinda reminded me of chopped chicken nuggets. Breading and crisp was good though. Although, I think I'd opt for the griddled chicken instead. I loved the old school with new school vibes to the place. The staff here were incredibly kind and offered great hospitality. Overall, I think if I came back, it's going to be for the burgers. read more

Goldenette - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Appreciate the kindness of the staff. Diner food with a twist, and it will depend on your taste if you like the twists, such as: -Pancake was unique as it was pretty thick and tall and almost cake like, less dense than pound cake. I liked it. -House made sausage was delicious yet somehow vinegar-y, I didn't mind it. -Chile Relleno burrito was flavorful and the eggs were done well. -Vietnamese coffee milkshake was mid - coffee flavor was present and the shake was too sweet. Decor from the previous Toast has been upgraded, and they fixed the bathroom door :) read more

Girlfriend and I have been wanting to go here as we used to go regularly to the previous version, Toast. The service was not good at all, after putting our order in which included 2 coffees, we sat there waiting for a while with no coffee. My girlfriend noticed the waitress putting away dishes rather than getting our drinks so we had to ask one of the bus guys for the coffee. The food was decent but not worth what is charged. The wait staff also never came back to see if we needed anything so I had to ask the bus guy again for more coffee which was also not free. I guess the saying is true, you can never go back. read more

30 days new, just open! Goldenette is where all the cool kids are going and if you want delicious pancakes, burgers, shakes & salads, you'll head there too. The 1960s cool logo and interior are exciting and fresh: A lemony leather banquette runs the length of the restaurant with pink chairs and plates. I felt I was in a 1960s TV set. Menu had nice twists on American diner food from a classic Smashburger ($17) with fries, tots or salad or Smashbrown sandwich ($13), packed with perfectly soft scrambled eggs. Definitely order the milkshake ($7) in the Vietnamese Coffee flavor though the Strawberry was just as delightful (my son had both). They also have chocolate and golden banana. Service was prompt and kind- constant refills of icy water on this hot day and a refill on iced tea (iced tea needs to be served in a taller glass). I got a glimpse of the '60s fabulous bathroom with its glitter floor and all I could think was, "Instagram-ready!" - and clean. read more

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Amazing smash burgers ... very with the the amount of fries they give you. Charge 50cents more and load the fries. It was really cute place, we loved the burgers. Need more fries we got about 8 pieces and felt it was like off looking on plate. read more

Hmm this is a tough call. The restaurant is adorable! It's colorful and the styling and ambiance of a counter / diner works really well. The entire place is chic and has pizzazz. The service and staff are all wonderful!! My partner and I went pretty close after their initial open and I believe because of their soft launch, some items were discounted. Because of the discounts we had a GREAT time, the food and drink were solid and felt appropriate for the price we paid haha. If I consider what it would have been if we paid full price... well.... Here's what I'll say, everything is good and fine. You will have a pretty meal in a very pretty place. I think in my heart of hearts, the honest truth is that it is overpriced for what you get! And hey sometimes that's okay, a splurge is a fun treat, just temper your expectations before you go, I think goldenette has some stuff to figure out read more

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There is a lot of buzz on Goldenette Diner, which took over the space that was Toast on Polk and Sacramento. I walked past it last weekend and noticed that it was packed. Then I read about it from the Chron's food newsletter, so I knew I had to check it out. I decided to visit today during the work week as I knew it wouldn't be as crowded. And I was the first customer. I promptly ordered their smashbrown sandwich and added sausage and avocado. It was incredibly delicious! One of the top breakfast sandwiches I've eaten for sure. The eggs were fluffy, the sausage was juicy, and the smashed hash brown was crispy. And I liked that the sauce was just ketchup. It didn't need the likes of a fancy aioli. The ketchup added a bright acidity that balanced the rest of the flavors. It also felt nostalgic to me as I used to smash my hash browns with ketchup when I was little. I definitely took the time to savor each bite. I overheard that they're adding pancakes to the menu. I don't know if that's officially on the menu today. I couldn't help but look over the person who ordered it (who coincidentally asked for one after looking at the current menu), and it was fluffy and quite large. The sandwich was quite filling so I'll have to get a pancake next time. As for the space: beautiful! Modern diner vibes that have a golden glow in the morning. I was enjoying their playlist, too, that had hits from the 70s. I'm not surprise about all the buzz after dining here. I will be coming back to try more of their menu. read more

Goldenette - Smashbrown sandwich (extras: sausage and avocado) - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Extra points for vibe and service. I'm pretty old school on my breakfast choices (think Pinecrest) so was a little bummed with the 'safe' sausage and eggs that kind of felt like airline food. (Potatoes and eggs need a little grease.) My own fault, had been told to order burger... That said, server was excited to be there and the spot is perfect for people watching. read more

Goldenette - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a cool venue that looks like it could be a roller rink or it turns into a disco at night! Luv it! The staff was friendly and informative, I ordered the classic smash with the side salad. The food came out quick, hot and sizzling. You can smell the char on the burger as you take the first bite. Ingredients all combine well and is a good solid burger. I would probably order some extra sauce but then again I like it saucy. I will definitely be back to try some of the other menu items. I have my eye on the CHILE RELLENO BURRITO! Cheers! read more

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I used to come to this location for the Toast diner, and am excited Goldenette opened up with the same owner! This time around, it's a more elevated diner and a bit more kitschy--feels more old-timey and retro. I love love love the interior. The ingredients are higher-quality and the prices do reflect that. I like how busy it is (it's been open for a little over a month) and how they are open late! Polk St needs that. I enjoyed their Lady Falcon coffee--I got a cold brew with banana foam. Yum and fun! I also enjoyed the Fancy Smash ($19) with tater tots. Well-cooked and seasoned meat and bacon and good sauce. It was a good portion but not overwhelming. Friendly and helpful service. Diverse clientele. Will be back and can't wait to try their shakes! read more

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Took my friend Brian Toledo to a new place that just opened for a light dinner. Goldenette Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner Server: Jorge M, was so good on recommendations on what to eat and drink. Mimosa - Orange Champagne Fancy Burger and Fries Crispy Tots The deco of the place was so fun and retro. Great setup. A must visit! read more

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This replaced the old "Toast" restaurant. I love going to Toast because they had a good breakfast menu as well as sandwiches, burgers, salads, etc. Everything on the menu was good - like home cooked and reasonably priced for the amount of food you received. So when Goldenette opened I was eager to try it. The interior looked the same - scrubbed clean with a new paint job. Unfortunately, it was the worst expensive breakfast I ever had. For starters, I like to have a good cup of regular coffee. When I drank the coffee, it tasted funny and weird. I asked my companion and she agreed it tasted weird. I asked the server for a replacement cup and she said she had to ask the manager. ??? Why could she not simply replace my cup of coffee or was there a replacement fee? I saw her talking to the manager and the manager asked her to bring him a cup of coffee which she did. The manager, server and another person each took a teaspoon and drank it. The server returned and said the coffee pot wasn't working well. What? Why on earth would you serve coffee to customers and charge $5 when knowingly the coffee machine was broken? The server asked if I wanted a latte instead. She said they use a different coffee machine. I reluctantly agree. It was no better. I couldn't even finish the cup. How can a restaurant not have a decent cup of coffee? I just couldn't understand how other customers drank that coffee. The coffee tasted burnt and odorless. To top it off, I was charged for the latte and coffee that I did not enjoy and drank only two teaspoons. The food looks like a painting, a dab of that and this. It was so little that the plate overwhelmed the food. Burrito, eggs, bacon and pancakes were dried. Seems like it was reheated. It wasn't until I was standing in line for the bathroom that I was correct - scrambled eggs and bacon were precooked sitting in a container. It was recooked when an order came in. This restaurant is a great disappointment. I agree with my "Toast" regulars that the food was bad. I should have heed their warning but I needed to find out for myself. read more

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Classic American diner food served in a bright and nostalgic restaurant. Vibes are great and the decor is cute. All of the food just fell short of the mark though. Service was also a tad slow, but it was packed. I may revisit just to try the smashburger (as one of the chefs is from Wesburger). But for now this gets a 3 from me. SEC Great combination of flavors. The sweet heat of the strawberry jam elevates the sandwich. Unfortunately, it is also it's downfall. The combination of the soft scramble, jam, and grease of the sausage makes the sandwich very slippery, and a pain to eat. Spicy Caesar Salad This dish was so close to being good. The first few bites are great. The salad is coated well, chicken is seasoned adequately, and the dressing is tasty. But after a few bites, the amount of salt in this dish is evident. I found it tiring to eat due to how oversalted it was. Bread Pudding French Toast The texture is heavenly. But it's insanely sweet. I found it impossible to eat once my coffee had run out. read more

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I'm so glad a smashburger spot opened up in my neighborhood. I first heard about Goldenette through social media, so I knew I had to check it out. I ordered the Fancy Smash, and it was delicious. The bacon was perfectly crisp, and the burger was the ideal size! It was filling without being overwhelming. I left feeling satisfied but not overly stuffed. I was debating between fries and tots, and the server recommended the tots. I'm glad I listened. I added the spicy gold dust seasoning, and while it wasn't actually spicy, it added great flavor. The tots were crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside, exactly how they should be. The space itself is super cute. I love the diner-style vibe, and the sparkly gold bathroom floor was such a fun detail. Overall, I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu, but I'd absolutely order the smashburger again. read more

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Got to stop by Goldenette at noon on a Friday after hearing good things about it! It was busy, but we were seated before the rush - generally, folks were in and out, with many solo diners as well. We ordered the Goldenette melt, the BEC sandwich, and the spicy Caesar salad. Overall, solid food - the Goldenette melt had toasty rye bread, juicy and flavorful meat, and was paired with crispy tots. The flavor reminded me of in n' out with the caramelized onions and the sauce. The BEC sandwich was good - could use a bit more sauce, but the eggs were fluffy and the bacon was smoky and thick. The bun is fantastic. My favorite dish, surprisingly, was the Caesar salad. First off, it is huge! The kale and romaine leaves were fresh, the dressing was creamy and flavorful, and the capers/breadcrumbs gave a nice texture and taste as well. The crispy chicken is like their own chicken nugget - it was so good! It was nice and crispy and they were generous with the portion. The salad was a bit salty, but just tasted extremely flavorful. Service was just OK as it got busy and there were only 2 workers who were doing everything - taking orders, making drinks, serving food, bussing, and getting people seated. Hopefully they can hire more people to keep up with the demand! The tables are a bit close together but inside overall is comfortable. There is bar seating as well. read more

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You can tell a good diner by the fries- and wow! Thick, spiced, slightly crispy on the outside. Tried the chicken med wrap and will go back to try other items like the banana pudding French toast! Super cute interior and the owner welcomes you and makes you feel at home. read more

Goldenette - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very solid new brunch spot on Polk! Love the decor and old school vibes, it's pretty nice inside. Food is classic American breakfast/brunch. Really liked the bacon sandwich and the loaded tots. Wait to get in wasn't too bad and service was quick and easy. Would definitely go back read more

Goldenette - Bacon Sandwich - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I was drawn in by the cute retro diner theme, especially love the bubblegum pink decor! We stopped in for dinner, and I couldn't resist a night diner coffee, which came hot and fresh. I tried their impossible smash burger, and I'd say it's as expected, not really hype-worthy. Loved the tots here though! Overall I still enjoyed the fun, cozy vibes. read more

Goldenette - Smash burger (impossible meat) - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The service was friendly and fast. The environment is definitely colorful with it not being too packed. The food was your typical diner food with nicer presentation. The price point is partially why I scored a 4/5, but additionally the food was a little over sauced. My breakfast sandwich basically had one bun and one soggy ketchup sponge read more

Walked in at a good time, were seated right away. Ordered the Spicy Ceasar salad, Diet Coke, loaded fries, and a smash burger with tater tots. Let's start with the vibe and ambiance. 100/10. The bathroom, are you kidding is so crazy cute. Gold glitter floors and a pink toilet. read more

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Had been hearing about this place from my daughter. I tried the smash burger and tots. So very good! The service was also great. The only negative was a bunch of very loud people speaking way above normal levels. The place is very cute, and the next time we will sit outside...hopefully it the weather is good. read more

Excellent diner option My partner loves diners so I've now been to many, and my pet peeve is when there's nothing remotely healthy on the menu. I appreciate Goldenette offers some good options if you're trying to be health conscious - the side salad is a great salad with arugula (not just a sad iceberg lettuce house salad), and they offer a griddled chicken option if you don't want yours fried. I got the goddess chicken with a griddled chicken and it was quite good! Super juicy (note it's a chicken patty, not a piece of chicken). The burger my partner got was really good too, as were the tots. He loved the banana milkshake too. Their breakfast items looked great too, need to come back and try those. read more

I am so glad this place just opened up. It's literally down the street from me. First off, it's the cutest diner decked out in pink and gold. I popped in for dinner last night with my friend because I was craving a sandwich. I opted for the spicy chicken sandwich and wow, it was insanely delicious. The sauce was perfect and the patty itself was so tender and spiced so well. I got the tater tots with it, which I also have not had in so long. We also shared the banana milkshake and it was so so good. I can't wait to go back here and try the rest of the menu. The service was also so quick and friendly. What a great addition to the neighborhood. read more

Goldenette - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We spent about 40 minutes watching other tables also wait for their food. Eventually, our server informed us that our order had never made it to the kitchen. When she asked, "What did you order again?" we decided to leave rather than wait even longer for breakfast. Also, the interior is much less kitschy in real life than in pictures. read more

Just tried Goldenette on their opening day and it was excellent. Service was friendly, fast, and on point without being overbearing -- everyone was welcoming and clearly cared about the experience. I ordered the Fancy Smash and it was truly special. Perfect crispy edges on the patties, super juicy inside, great balance of cheese, sauce, and toppings -- easily one of the best smash burgers I've had in the city. You can tell real thought went into it. The space is bright, fun, and comfortable -- a great spot to hang out and actually enjoy your meal. Definitely coming back to work through more of the menu. Highly recommend. read more

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We came in on a weekend morning and were seated right away at the bar. We ordered a Thai iced coffee that felt more like a latte. The issue came while we were still eating. We weren't lingering or taking up space, just sitting there finishing our meal, when one of the servers brought us the bill and started clearing our plates. One of us literally still visibly had a sandwich in his hand while this was happening. To be clear at that moment, the restaurant wasn't overly saturated and the line outside was probably one or two groups at most. There were other tables there longer than us. We ended up joking that maybe we should've just left the rest of the sandwich sitting on the counter to make the point that we were clearly not done with the plates yet. Overall, the food was fine, (I got the Thai breakfast Sando) not enough to make up for the experience. There are definitely better spots elsewhere for food and service. read more

Goldenette - Thai Sando - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Was excited to try this new spot, but was quickly disheartened. I walked in at 1:30 on a Sunday (says they close at 3:30 pm) and was told they're not seating anyone because they "ran out of food". Extremely disappointed and won't bother coming back. Forgot to add- their menu has drinks and wasn't offered seating for even that. Also, received a hateful message on yelp from someone not liking this review (Courtney F.). Unsure if they have a connection with the restaurant or not, but posting in case they do. read more

Goldenette - Courtney F. - a yelp member who messaged me in response to my review - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

We stopped by this new diner on Polk for Saturday lunch. We were seated at the counter after a brief wait. First off we had a delicious coffee milkshake followed by two unique dishes -a chile relleno burrito, totally unique and very delicious and a cheese egg bacon sandwich also a stand out. The servers were friendly and helpful . The restaurant has a very clean and golden appearance with lots of booths , mirrors and great lighting. Definitely returning for more of the shakes and to try the smash burger. Open 9am - 9pm and serves the diner menu all day, read more

So while my true desire is to give this place a 2, I'm willing to provide a bit of grace since the reviews torwards their lunch items seem to be stellar. However, I went for breakfast. Aesthetically the restaurant is fairly nice. The service was fine, nothing spectacular in my opinion. My issue was (1) they were sold out of pancakes at 10:45 in the morning. Never in my life have I heard of a place being sold out of pancakes. (2) I ordered the cold brew with butterscotch cold foam. The cold brew tasted like water, and the cold foam was green and to top it off was dropped off to my table dirty. (3) I ordered a breakfast platter. Two eggs, a slice of toast, two pieces of bacon. All for like 17 dollars and then the gas down was burnt, the bacon was not crispy and they had no simple condiments. It seems like I should have went with the lunch options since they did seem fairly nice. However if you're going to offer a breakfast menu, then there really is no excuse to fuck up a simple breakfast platter. I paid $23 dollars for a breakfast platter that was mediocre at best and a drip coffee that tasted weird. read more

Goldenette - The burnt hash brown. - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great smash burger and tater tot's! Staff is friendly and attentive. Will definitely return.

A great diner for brunch! I went with some friends and we waited about 30 minutes to get a seat (it was over the weekend). The vibes were cute and the staff were friendly. The chicken sandwich was amazing, I'd definitely go back and get that again. The tots were yummy too and it felt like comfort food overall. read more

Goldenette - Smash burger, chicken sandwich, loaded tots - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great Burgers, Tater Tots, and Milkshakes. They let you combine flavors too. Breakfast good too. Wish they were open late night

I miss Toast. If you're a picky eater or have dietary restrictions, stay home. This place has a very limited menu with weird menu items. As someone who can't eat beef or pork, there was about 2 things on the menu I could eat, one of which is a strawberry chia pudding that costs $17 (in your dreams am I paying $17 for a cup of pink sludge). They don't have pancakes, waffles, toast, fruit, chicken tenders, vanilla milkshakes, or a lot of menu items you'd expect from an American diner style restaurant. Every menu item seemed to go out of its way to be "different" and "quirky" and "not like other restaurants". I'm hoping the menu expands in the near future so I can give them another shot. read more

Cute new mid-century modern diner on Polk St. It has a combination of Tex-Mex and American breakfast fares in addition to wraps and milkshakes. It also has two beers on tap. I really enjoyed the restaurant, and thought it was a good place to get late night breakfast and a milkshake. read more

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This place is so good! A bit of a wait but they've just reopened. Ambiance is diner vibes with a touch of modern flare. Milkshakes are very good! Will certainly be back. read more

Goldenette - Smashbrown Sandwich with Sausage. YUP! - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love how easy it is, come alone or with a friend. ..I'm slightly blown away, the eggs were perfection, they have the scrambled eggs absolutely down, it's crazy and the sausage was so good everything was so damn perfect. I love simplicity, let me taste what I'm eating, nothing is over dressed. Everything was excellent. Can't wait to go back, maybe the only thing missing is fresh OJ... I'll live. read more

Goldenette - Great space, awesome light. - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food was less than subpar. The avocado toast on sour dough was drenched in butter that tasted old. The topping was watered down and could have been left off of the bread. The sausage egg burrito had soggy potato tots and a whisper of sausage. The only saving grace were the French Fries that were obviously of the frozen type but had too much salt. This is a definite don't waste your money on this dining experience. read more