I have only eaten here once, and with that price, I'd rather walk over to Walgreens on Powell Street (which also opens 24 hours a day), get the eggs, bread, and even coffee beans to make my own breakfast... Definitely catering to the tourists. read more

A bit overpriced I thought. A couple of the other diners down the road are as good if not better for a slightly lower price. Also, the response time of the waiting staff was a bit poor - I grew tired of waving my hands to attract attention in the end. I had the footlong hot-dog which was pretty decent. But nothing special. Nothing to warrant a return. read more

The food was good, but the floors were dirty and sticky, quite slippery. The waiters were not very friendly, but at least we got our food and it was tasty. read more

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I just moved away from the Tendernob, but while living in the area, Pinecrest was in my Fav 5 of Saturday morning breakfast stops. I'd guesstimate I've been 20 times? Better than average versions of standards, nice people, good prices and portions...nothing fancy, but a consistent experience, which is about all I want at 9am. I'd go again for sure, if I were in the area. read more

I had a very enjoyable experience here. A friend and I were in San Francisco for the World Series Giant's Parade. With millions of people swarming around us, we walked our way from the Civic Center down to Union Square escaping the madness just in time. We stumbled past Pinecrest Diner and peeked in to see if it looked appetizing. We were tired and hungry so we gave it a go. We were seated within 5 minutes with a line out the door. The place was PACKED, every booth and counter seat was occupied. And still with that many people our food was hot and in front of us within 10 minutes. I ordered a cheeseburger with fries while Tina ordered bacon and eggs. And of course we split a chocolate milkshake. The food was scrumptious and the chocolate milkshake was REAL, more like a malt. Mmmmm :) Although they didn't give us the rest of the milkshake like other diners usually do. Moderately priced, this is a cute place if your looking for a diner ambiance and tasty American food. read more

The most expensive glass of orange juice I've ever had! I often come here during the wee-morning hours after a long night of ripping it up on the dance floor. I rarely eat much more than a small breakfast, but it always seems to satisfy the club night munchies. Where it doesn't satisfy is the wallet, as the prices tend to be a little outlandish. Especially for breakfast at a diner. But the quality service and cleanliness make up for overpricing. Located in the tenderloin this place is like a pretty stone in the rough, not quite a diamond, but pleasant to look at. read more

Not wanting to spend forever finding something to eat, a friend and I stopped in at the Pinecrest Diner to grab something quick and easy to eat one night during our to trip to San Francisco and although the restaurant definitely has a nice old school diner feel, the food is a bit lacking. Not being in the mood for breakfast food, I decided to go with the reuben sandwich and fries as an alternative and while it wasn't the worst sandwich I have ever had, it definitely wasn't the best either. About half way through the meal, I began to wish I would have just gone with breakfast food like my friend did because her meal looked ten times better than mine. Other than the food, my only real complaint is the bathrooms are located down a two flights of super slippery stairs in the basement of the building which seemed a little awkward and annoying. The service was fine, and the restaurant was clean enough. Overall, this is a pretty average spot in an area which is packed full of betting dining options. read more

this place is my new go to breakfast stop! Such great food and nice folks behind the counter. The hot links are great! Just the right heat. read more

Horrible diner. I walked in and was not acknowledge until I approached them for a table. They made a mistake with my order and totally forgot to give me eggs. I reminded two waiters that I have not received my eggs and they just blew me off. We asked several times for our check but they didn't bother on acknowledging us. Worst diner experience ever. read more

Great diner food. The service is slow and you might have to wait for a table, but it's well worth it. My husband asked for a substitution on a meal and the server recommended a different meal that had everything he wanted instead of charging us extra. I liked the variety on the menu; it really has something for everyone, including my 2 teenagers. And the fact that they're open 24 hours makes it that much better. read more

Pinecrest Diner - California Mac N Cheese - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

I only gave it two stars because all I had was the iced tea and it was not fresh-brewed! After being shunned from an art show down the street (which I was invited to but somehow didn't end up on the guest list) my friends and I retired to this quirky diner. Two of my friends got beer, my other friend and his daughter shared a banana split and I, the tea. It was instant tea! Not even on my travels in the South did I ever come across tea so wretched. The banana split, which I had a bite of, was just so-so..nothing fancy. What intrigued me was the bathrooms which was an adventure in itself. Remember that scen in 'Spinal Tap' where the band can't find their way to the stage and end up wandering aimlessly around? It was just like that! Kudos for the waitress. Not only was she an attractive and humorous, she was effective as well. Great place for looking at people, gathering character references for one;s book or ideas for painting. I should go back and try some of their breakfast dishes that people rave about. read more

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Service is terrible. No one looks happy to be there and the food is okay. The Scrambled eggs are good, sausage and bacon are average, the french toast tasted like they cooked it on the same cooking surface they make their hamburgers...gross. read more

This honestly is one of my favorite places for breakfast in the area and I generally pop in for breakfast at least once or twice a month. Also, when I walk down Powell and past the long queue at Sears, I generally try to encourage a few to give up the wait and go to Pinecrest instead. Why do i like it? 1. They have American cheese. It's really the only processed food that I like and I resent the places that are too refined to have it as an option on the menu. Tastes really good with eggs. Put it on your menu! 2. Service is quick 3. Food is really fresh and they use fresh quality ingredients Like everything else, their prices have increased. An omelette (no coffee or juice) plus a decent tip is $13. On the steep side for a diner breakfast, but alas it's San Francisco. read more

Honestly, there isn't anything that remarkable about this place. The food is average. The bathroom is in the dank, mildewy basement and always out of soap. The service is alright. I think I used to like this place because of the laminated picture menu that hadn't changed since the 70s, before food styling emerged as a trade. The food tasted better when I ordered it by looking at the slightly faded, plastic photo of the perfect hamburger, fried chicken, or sunny side up eggs. Now the menus are laserprinted and put in plastic covers--no personality, no nostalgia, not so much reason to come here. UPDATE 9/19/06: I'm changing my stars from three to one. This place has gone downhill fast. Now, it costs $7.25 to get an order of two eggs, hash browns, and toast--WHY?? The omelets, which is basically an unscrambled scramble (as opposed to a skillfully folded omelet), are $9.95. Those prices can be justified if they're made with haute ingredients, but it's just regular eggs and frozen hash browns slung on a plate. They were horrible at coffee warmups, too. It's sad, but I don't think I'll ever eat here again unless I'm desperately hungry and in the neighborhood at 4am. read more

24 hour breakfast. Probably the best mushroom omlette I've ever had. If not the best - pretty damn good. It's always a good sign when a huge omlette is literally falling apart because it has so much filling in it - at least I think so. I also like the cheeseburger, which is especially good after a night of drinking. The coffee is also very good - and refills are never long in coming. The food is decent, so are the prices (check out the Max's Menu across the street). I've neither been over or underwhelmed by this establishment. Some of my friends think it has a stigma because of the tragedy, but I think it adds to the lore. Good food, decent service, good prices - a coffee shop worthy of LA, a town that knows it's coffee shops, but squatting here in SF, lucky for us. read more

Ate here after a concert at the Warfield. It was after midnight, so it was hard to find a good place to eat. We were pretty hungry, but no one finished their food. Probably a good thing, too--don't eat so late. =P Eat here if you are looking for food, but "Meh. I've experienced better." read more

Standard diner fare. Better than Lori's, but not by much. Atmosphere was good, like a real diner. People were focused on the business of eating, or maybe talking to their companions. Service was solid, although the waitress seemed a bit harried. Costs more than a normal (i.e., not right next to Union Square) diner would, but you can (barely) squeeze in a meal under $10. One surprise: juices are Odwalla juices and priced accordingly. $3.25 for a small orange juice is mildly ridiculous. All in all, probably two-and-a-half stars, but not good enough for me to round up to three. read more

I used to walk by this place daily when I lived up the block from Pinecest Diner. It looks the same as 13 years ago, nothing has changed. I've heard some good and bad stuff about this place, but I never really had the urge to try it. I finally stopped by after work Thursday and gave it a shot. I was getting some last minute Christmas shopping done in Downtown so I wanted a quick bite before i start. Came in around 6:05PM and the place was kind of empty, but did fill up fast as it gets towards 6:30. I ordered a bacon omelette which was not great, I've had better ones else where... I did corded my boyfriend the Reuben Sandwich, which is sliced corned beef. He said it was really good. I would come back again since they serve a big variety of food, from breakfast to pasta, sandwich and stuff. read more

I went out to eat with a friend after hours one night, and surprisingly, in the bustling Union Square area, there were very few restaurants that were still serving food. Pinecrest Diner had a neon "24 Hours" sign, so we went in. For greasy spoon diner food, it was pretty tasty! The menu was huge, with both dinner and breakfast options available, and I went for the spicy chicken sandwich, which was made with Franks Red Hot Sauce and had blue cheese. Yum! It was also nice to get a meal in SF that didn't cost an arm and a leg. I'd definitely go here again if I'm not in the mood for a long drawn out dinner at a high end establishment. read more

This is a diner, not fine dining, and a really good diner. We needed a quick meal close to our hotel so we decided to check out the Pinecrest. The service was fast and friendly and the food was hot and tasty. Fantastic Reuben! We enjoyed this spot more than many of the fancier and more expensive restaurants we visited around Union Square. read more

My boyfriend and I were in San Francisco for 5 days and we went here for a meal 4 out of the 5 days. The food is amazing. We had breakfast, lunches, and dinners here and were never disappointed. The onion rings are the best I've ever had. It helped that this place was right across the street from our hotel, so it was very convenient. Compared to the Mason Cafe across the street, Pinecrest is by far superior! Prices are cheaper, and the food and service is wayy better here! read more

Had the Bacon Omelet which was very tasty with surprisingly fast and friendly service. I doubt any review less than 4 Stars is valid; quit being so whiny people. The Pinecrest is a fantastic classic diner read more

The food here was mediocre and expensive. They say they serve the "best breakfast in San Francisco" but really, it's not. Only good for the local lore that goes along with it. Other than that, stay clear. You're better off getting something at Jack in the Box across the street. read more

I came here at 3am on August 12, 2007 after a night of drinking and dancing for a bachlorette party. We walked here from the Parc 55 hotel and totally enjoyed the breakfast. Maybe it was a little pricey but at 3am who cares!... just hand me my greasy diner food so I can he happy. :) After this I've been to Sparky's and Orphan Andy's and I think this is the best bet for late night diners open in SF. read more

We had breakfast/dinner at 1 in the morning there on Thursday and I have to say I am a fan of this place now. We often stay in SF, just down the street and we hadn't tried this place. Everyone liked their food and thought the quality was great. Everything was very fresh and it tasted great. The service and prices were good also. We tried to go there for breakfast the next day but it was packed. Definitely on our list of places to eat when we are in SF. read more

I am amazed their grade is so low People, get some breakfast and you wont be disappointed - perfect hasbrowns, light and fluffy eggs, crisp bacon, can't be beat read more

Another no-frills restaurant, that serves typical "diner food." Nothing really special about this place. Tourist, who stay in the area, often frequent here for breakfast. So, I've always seen this place really crowded in the mornings. The best time to go is at night, less people and the service is better. (They're always rushing in the mornings and can become very careless.) I personally prefer Pinecrest's food over Cafe Mason's. (They're near each other.) Their omelet's are pretty tasty and massive! I also really liked their Mediterranean plate and the French toast is decent too. I do not like their pancakes though...yuck! Over-all, I ate here dozens of times and even brought my mom here for breakfast, when she visited. The food is alright, nothing special...but your hungry tummy will be satisfied. Lol. read more

It's awesome to come here after a night of drinking. There was a fight outside last night. So a show came with the meal. Otherwise, the food is typical diner stuff. Kind of like Denny's. I had the steak and eggs. My friend had a waffle and sausage. The bill was $31. I'd come here if it's 3 am. Otherwise, I won't be eating here again. read more

I think this place deserves a better rating. We went after closing time at 2 a.m. on a Friday night/Saturday morning. It was busy with the bar crowd. The service was fast and friendly. The food was quite good for classic diner food. My companion had chicken strips and fries. I had breakfast with bacon, pancakes, and hash browns and gravy. Mine was very tasty and hit the spot. One drawback: My friend used the lady's room and said it was in bad shape. read more

My wife and I had breakfast here on a Saturday morning and the entire experience was very good to excellent. This is a relatively small restaurant, so expect to wait a bit. But, it is worth it. Service was prompt, pleasant, and accurate. Both of our breakfast meals were excellent. We stayed at a hotel near Union Square, and this was by far the best breakfast we had during our stay. read more

Good size menu and it is open 24 hours with a good location just of Union Square. Food can be hit and miss but the portion is always a good size and the price is reasonable. Staff could be friendlier. read more

Pinecrest Diner - Omelette and hash brown with some brown toast - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've ate here twice already and each time the food has been sooooooo good. The hot link plate, Pinecrest omelette, brioche French toast are delicious! I plan on returning to try a Reuben and mac n cheese. I would definitely recommend. read more

My kind of place. After a long day of training in SF, I was starving. This place was less than a block away so I gave it a shot. Best decision I made all day. They serve breakfast 24 hours a day and I hadn't had a good one in a while so was craving it. I sat myself down at a stool in the front, opened the enormous menu and ordered the country-fried steak and eggs. It came with a huge portion of hash browns and 2 slices of toast. Sausage gravy smothered the steak and ran off into the hash browns. Oh so good. I hadn't had a meal this good in ages. I enjoyed my meal while watching the cook prepare other's food, making the experience all the more enjoyable. Very good prices to boot. I left a happy camper. This will be my go to spot next time I visit SF. read more

Nothing over the top to write home about. Just good food and good service. However, I saw some food safety violations as one cook was making cold sandwiches with his bare hands. That's just gross. Otherwise everything seemed good. read more

(This experience was a few years ago.) My friends and I got horrible serivce from an insulting and arrogant waitress. I was so angry by the time I left I wanted to throw the crappy food at her. I observed her behavior with other groups and decided that she pre-judged us as people not be served but to serve her. We were too nice to keep our mouths shut. Never again. Go to Lori's Diner instead. read more

Not the fanciest food, or the most flavorful. They're tragically understaffed and tiny. Not that cheap, either, to be honest. But if you do want simple food, at an ok price, served up relatively quick, near Union Square, you could do worse than Pinecrest Diner. My mom, boyfriend and I were here on the 4th for dinner. They only had one waitress for the entire place, which apparently pissed off another customer (she threw her credit card at the waitress and cursed a bit...), but given that it was a holiday, I guess I understand. Their chili is a little flavorless and their hashbrowns aren't great, but you don't go to a diner for gourmet. You go for quick. And this place has that down. read more

Bacon & Eggs, hash browns, Buttered Wheat Toast. Standard fare, their hash browns and bacon are top notch. read more

No frills diner with average food. Prices are decent along with good menu choices. 24 hour service is a huge plus. Would return if I was in the area. read more

I would only ever consider going here after a long night at Ruby Skye. That being said... It serves it's purpose well. read more

Pinecrest Diner - Chicken tenders and a bowl of fruit.... I know... - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

I guess it's good for breakfast but definitely not to have a healthy salad for lunch. I had the taco salad and it was sooo greasy I couldn't eat half of it. It tasted Ok but I guess anything with that much cheese in it will taste good! read more

Pinecrest Diner - Taco salad - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California