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    TRACE

    3.8 (378 reviews)
    Closed 6:30 am - 2:00 pm

    TRACE Photos

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    TRACE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - TRACE

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    Menu
    Deb C.

    Nice place. French toast was really tasty with crispy texture I enjoyed. Would have liked to have known ahead of time that there would be cream on top for anyone lactose-intolerant. My friend had the cinnamon bun and enjoyed most of it though. Seemed very filling as she couldn't finish it. Good deal for $8 while the French toast was $26. Little steep on coffee being $6. Good combo with the $40 destination package.

    Hot tea + bagel and lox

    Tasty, but expensive! If it wasn't for the food credit I don't think I would've had breakfast at Trace since the omelette & lox/bagel was rather pricey at $26 each when I dined here. The omelette and roasted potatoes I ordered was simple, but executed very well. Nice and hot when it arrived to my table and it didn't take too long either. My sister enjoyed her lox/bagel as well, but didn't really have anything to note. I also ordered one to go to eat before my flight back home and it traveled well and was still very delicious when I ate it like three hours later lol.

    Eggs Chilaquiles
    Hemali S.

    Okay hear me out. This place is amazing. We had breakfast today and never imagined a service like this. The food was prepared quick yet had all the flavors of hours of manual labor. The staff was attentive and never let a glass go empty. The ambiance was relaxing while also classy. We have a few more breakfasts coming up this week, but if this is what it is like, I can't wait for the morning to come!

    Menu 1/2 - August 2023 - VN
    Vince N.

    Trace is a brunch eatery located in the lobby of W San Francisco. An included daily room credit brought our gang here for some morning fare. ATMOSPHERE: High ceilings, big windows, trendy decor and lighting. RESERVATIONS: Not needed as there were lots of open tables. PARKING: Hotel valet, street or the garage on Howard Street. BRUNCH MENU: Handful of continental and traditional breakfast selections, alcohol. BEVERAGE: Mimosa - $13.00 Adequate, conventional offering. FOOD: Avocado Toast - $23.00 I was hoping it'd be a light dish but it was very hearty. The single, oversized toast was blanketed with mashed avocado, two eggs and seasoned pea sprouts. Very good. SERVICE: Host service was immediate and professional. Our server was equally good. OVERALL: Slightly pricey with delectable offerings.

    Lox and bagel and I got eggs and sausage.
    Ted C.

    I had checked in early enough at the W that I was looking for a breakfast spot and after trying to find an entrance but found it was in the lobby of the hotel. I did that slow, 'looking for someone to help' walk since there wasn't anyone at the host stand and there were 2 tables occupied; had they closed down early because it was so quiet? Someone came up and asked me if I'm staying at the hotel and I said I had just checked in. She didn't seem to register that but I got seated adjacent to one of the occupied tables, a little weird since there was so much space in the place. I guess it ended up making sense, less space for our server to traverse. I looked at the menu and saw they had bagel and lox on the menu. I ordered that and since I found myself to be exceptionally hungry get 2 eggs and links as well. My server took my order came back, with curt efficiency and let me be. I wasn't expecting much from the bagel and it was thin but pretty tasty, not just bread with bagel seasoning on it. The lox though was pretty good as well, not overly salty or greasy. The eggs and sausage helped with that. My meal got assigned to my room.

    Twisted Cinnamon Roll
    Nicole K.

    While staying at the W hotel, I had $40 each day to spend at the property. I was able to enjoy a light fare and coffee at Trace. I got the twisted cinnamon roll, fruit bowl and a cup of coffee. I didn't realize that if you're staying at the W hotel, the coffee is waived until I got the check. I enjoyed everything that morning and the staffs were friendly and efficient. Would recommend if you're nearby or staying at the W.

    Eggs Chilaquiles
    Kayli D.

    We stumbled upon this place after the line for a place down the street was too long. It's inside the W, and you have to enter through the lobby. We got confused as there's a door with a menu and the name on the side, however the door is locked (and we weren't the only ones that had this issue). The inside was pretty, we got seated immediately. Good looking menu, but the food was just blah. Lacking flavor. After we paid, we ended up having to wait for someone to meet us so we tried to order another round of mimosas, however they never came. Our waiter was nice, very knowledgeable about allergies. Overall it was fine, convenient for where we were located, but wouldn't come here for the food.

    Breakfast burger
    Adnan C.

    Very good burgers. Everything on the menu is good. This is one of our go to breakfast amd brunch spots. Customer service is outstanding and staff is friendly.

    Cinnamon Roll. Flaky croissant like and amazing

    I drink my coffee, black, theirs was very good. The bowl of berries was ok, I had to pick a few old ones out. Eggs Benedict was perfect. We came back that afternoon to the Living Room Bar, which is the same menu and enjoyed the guacamole and chips but the cinnamon roll was amazing, flaky layers of cinnamon sugar like a croissant.

    Lovely table setting
    Winnie W.

    Not happy with this place. We had a party of 14 on Mother's Day and as expected, Trace is not busy. We KNEW that this place would be overpriced, BUT, we came for the nice decor and relaxing environment and just wanted to get away from the usual Mother's Day crowd... what we didn't expect is the POOR and INATTENTIVE SERVICE. From the moment my party was seated, we were pretty much ignored the entire time while other tables were being served and greeted. Our server was nowhere to be found. What seemed like a long time (I'm sure it's like 5-10 mins) someone finally brought the table water. We waited some more... Still, no menu, no waiter, no greeter. My sister finally walked to the Maitre 'd to complain about this. Then long behold, the waiter FINALLY arrived. By this time, we're 25 mins in after being seated. Well, he simply passed some menus around and then left... again.. and again, no where to be found. By the way, he was also short 3 menus... ok, no big deal I guess; we can share. But this just speaks to the level of inattentiveness. Then, after reviewing the menu for another 10'mins, we need to FIND OUR WAITER so that we can order our food. My sis has to go to the Maitre'd to ask for someone to help us, AGAIN. This time, we're told that there are actually 2 servers who back each other up and apparently, our primary server is pretty awful and the other waiter was supposed to pick up the slack... well, sorry, I don't really care! Can we just get some help here, and mind you, we're paying $20 for a bagel here so I do expect some service!! Well, throughout our brunch, my sis pretty much had to coach the waiters every step of the way... take away the empty coffee cups, more half and half for coffee please, more sugar, more coffee, more water, take away the empty plates... what the heck! For our party of 14, we pretty much ordered everything on their limited menu. All items tasted decent to pretty good, but everything is twice the price than what one might expect to pay : $16 pancakes -- very good, 3 very fluffy pancakes $23 smoked salmon bagel -- good but a similar bagel at New York Bagel would be $7 $28 Crab benedict - pretty good $19 Chicken Club sandwich -- ok, but awful chips $16 -- Steel cut oatmeal. Well, it's oatmeal When servers brought out the plates, they were very confused and did not have a clue which plate goes where and simply yelled out the name of the dish, waiting for us to raise our hand to claim the entree. AWFUL SERVICE. Again, we KNEW we'd be paying for mediocre food but we came for the nice ambience and to avoid the crowd. What we didn't come for is a 18% mandatory gratuity and awful service. Yep, there is a reason why this place is never busy.

    Pork belly with octopus
    Claire W.

    Dined here on New year's Eve with a few girlfriends. We chose this spot since some of the girls in our party really appreciate good ambiance and this is one of the cuter spots in town. Overall service was fine. Nothing to rave about and I would've actually expected a bit more and better service from a place like the W, but since we were able to get someone's attention regardless if it was our server or not, I'm fine with it. As for the food, I was pretty disappointed in their selection. There wasn't a lot to choose from on the menu. I ordered the crispy brussel sprouts and pork belly. As for the brussel sprouts, I found those to be tasty, but they were sitting in a bowl of what tasted like oil, potentially with some of the marinade sauce. I would've wished they separated the oil so that my sprouts weren't drenched by the time I got to the bottom of the dish. As for the pork belly, I wasn't a huge fan. It was too dry for my liking, so I only ate one bite. I did eat the octopus that came with it however and that was tasty. Overall, not a spot I would recommend specifically to try the food, but if you're looking for a good restaurant in the SOMA neighborhood with a full bar connected to it, and good ambiance, this is a spot to check out.

    Roasted pork belly - 2018 SF restaurant week
    Jennifer H.

    Went here for the SF restaurant week's dinner option. Starters - Ahi Tuna Tataki: The tuna was paired with a black olive vinaigrette, which brought out the sweetness of the seared tuna. The creaminess of the avocado really made the dish blend well with all the ingredients. Also, the portion was very generous. :) Roasted Pork belly: The pork belly was accompanied by a squash puree. The pork belly was cooked so that the fatty bits were filled with pork-olicious fat and juiciness. YUM! Entree - Liberty Farms Duck Breast: the menu listed duck confit croquettes, but croquettes were no where to be found. :( The duck was nicely cooked but we both thought the saltiness of the entire dish made it hard to finish. Would not order this again without asking for more bread. ;) Dessert - Chocolate ganache bar with cookie butter ice cream: beautifully plated but in terms of taste, it was not very creamy and had more of a cake texture. Vanilla bread pudding: Drenched with a butterscotch caramel sauce which made it ultra sweet and the perfect way to finish off the meal. Without a doubt, we both thought that the first course was the best dish that suited and satisfied our taste buds. The decor and environment is great for lunch meetings or client meetings. It is also located inside the W hotel and just a few blocks away from the conventions center.

    Edwin R.

    My salmon was fantastic. Juicy and tasty. I had their famous lemon drops martini. It was delicious, surprisingly as I'm a whiskey guy. Our team were here for an evening of get together. Good place for large groups. We received their royal group treatment that came with sparkling mineral water. Best on their menu, grilled Brussels sprouts. Nom nom. Ambience was great and service was fantastic! Cheers!

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    1 year ago

    Nice place to sit down and eat. Good food, fresh salads, deliciously combined dishes .. we thoroughly enjoyed the food and the company.

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    2 years ago

    Amazing Food. Super local, tasty, responsible. Service was great. Ambiance is nice, close to many things to do. Nice hotel.

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    Ask the Community - TRACE

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    Sweet Maple - Reservations Policy

    Sweet Maple

    4.3(5.2k reviews)
    1.9 miLower Pacific Heights
    $$

    Unfortunately it was overpriced for what we got. We ordered the bulgogi beef burger which had good…read moreflavor but hardly any meat. There was more lettuce than anything else with a side of potato wedges for $26. We also got the French toast. Literally one and a half slices of Texas toast for $18. We also paid $6.50 for a cup of brewed coffee which they charged $1 extra for oat milk. So our out the door after they added their sf mandate tax and we added tip was $77 for an order of French toast, a "meatless" bulgogi burger and 2 coffees. Service was good but unfortunately we left feeling we didn't get what we paid for.

    "Mom! Let's go to Sweet Maple for Mother's Day brunch!" We…read morecasually stroll from our beautiful hotel (because we overslept the 1st floor breakfast buffet offering) to a corner restaurant -"Sweet Maple". The line was 20 people PAST the bus stop. I asked a passing waitress how long was the wait--(30 minutes she said confidently). I had ZERO faith in that estimate. I was wrong. About EVERYTHING. The Host was a genius. Our waitress was a royal. Her serving team was the Kentucky Derby of thoroughbreds racing to place the silverware, condiments, used dishes, and refilled coffee going. The food tasted Michelin level. I can SAY that because we had eaten dinner at an actual Michelin rated restaurant the night before. (No Yelp rating needed because they ABSOLUTELY deserved it= NARI) I had a FRIED French Toast BECAUSE it cannot sit waiting to be served. My daughter had Eggs Benedict and the granddaughter had fresh fruit, fresh squeezed OJ in an ADULT glass (because she is a Big Girl now). While we paid our tab we heard a woman scream "I'm giving this restaurant a ONE STAARR REVIEW on YELP because of this WAIT!!!" OMG I thought someone had been ROBBED--but..on THIS Mother's DAY..it was only a spoiled young lady with poor manners. For me...now at a point in life that WAITING anywhere for anything is a PERCENTAGE of TIME I have LEFT to live...this breakfast was easily worth the time that it cost in human terms. Go any time you got a Mom, Grandma, Dad, offspring, first date or best friend you want to share a moment in time with early in the day over food and drink. No waiting worth mentioning. Thanks

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    Sweet Maple - Millionaire's Bacon

    Millionaire's Bacon

    Sweet Maple - Marnier | french toast with creamy grand citrus batter (added $3 for the fired banana & candied walnuts)

    Marnier | french toast with creamy grand citrus batter (added $3 for the fired banana & candied walnuts)

    Sweet Maple - We are ready for INDOOR dining on Friday 26th April

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    We are ready for INDOOR dining on Friday 26th April

    Sisterita

    Sisterita

    4.5(1.1k reviews)
    0.6 miFinancial District
    $$
    Locally sourced ingredients
    Casual dining

    Excellent service! My only advice is to come and see for yourself. When we called to ask about a…read morewait, they mentioned there was not wait... part of the reason they do that is because they don't keep a list. You either have reservations or you're a walk in and you stand in line until a table is available for you. At first this was strange, but I think it makes for a better experience. The team was incredible, they were so kind on a day that can be stressful for a small restaurant. We had incredible food. I was so happy to get my Eggs Royale and my husband said the French toast was the best he's ever had. (Even comparing it to French toast in Paris) No notes. This will be our Mother's Day place going forward next time with reservations.

    Sisterita may be a cozy brunch spot, but it delivers an unforgettable experience from start to…read morefinish. The atmosphere is warm, creative, and full of charm -- almost like stepping into a whimsical tea-party dream. Between the stylish décor, welcoming service, and amazing food, every detail makes the visit feel special. The cocktail menu adds the perfect touch, featuring everything from comforting classics like a White Russian to fun signature drinks inspired by Harry Potter. The food was just as impressive. Whether you order the crispy fried chicken, the flavorful Eggs Benedict, or the Alcatraz Escape omelette, every dish is packed with flavor and made to satisfy. If you're looking for a unique brunch spot to enjoy with friends, good vibes, and great food, this place is definitely worth adding to your list.

    Photos
    Sisterita
    Sisterita
    Sisterita

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    Brenda's French Soul Food - 3 way beignets- plain, chocolate, apple

    Brenda's French Soul Food

    4.2(12.8k reviews)
    1.0 miTenderloin
    $$$

    In town visiting San Francisco for the first time & heard this place was a must try and a MUST TRY…read moreIT WAS! My husband and I's favorite place to eat in the world is New Orleans so this place definitely did not disappoint. We started with coffee drinks, I had some sort of boozy espresso drink which I could have done without since the bitters tasted like licorice which is probably a taste preference. My husband had the grandma coffee which was also fine. Then the food came out and it went up from here! The catfish & grits just might be the best I've ever had. My husband also really enjoyed his banana foster French toast, & i loved that they allowed you to get one piece of fried chicken because i had to try it out despite a full meal. The wing I had was Nice & crunchy with a delicious sweet sauce on the side that reminded me of mambo sauce ( a DC staple.) My husband also had the gumbo which was good but I wouldn't say our favorite. I prefer my gumbo with a little more spice but that could just be personal preference. We ended the meal with beignets: I had the ube beignet which was so unique & flavorful! I don't think I would have had a chance to try that type of beignet anywhere else so glad to try something different, it was delicious. The crawfish beignet was also so flavorful! The beignets in general were much more bready than typical beignets but still very good & unique to this place. On top of that, the service was great & the food came out quick, hot & fresh! I wish we had more time (& stomach space) to try other items on the menu, everywhere we looked everything looked delicious so we'll just have to try more the next time we're back in SF!

    I've been to the Oakland location of Brenda's and gotten delivery before, but my first time…read morevisiting in SF was a few months ago, when I booked a last minute reservation for a group of 8 friends. The place is a little cramped, but we were able to wait inside until the whole party was there to be seated. It was a good place for a group dinner. The cocktails are cheap for San Francisco, and the beer selection is decent. And the food is dense and delicious without being too heavy. I shared the catfish with crawfish etouffee (special), the gumbo, and a dungeness crab beignet with my boyfriend. We also ordered some banana cream pie for the table, which was a huge hit.

    Photos
    Brenda's French Soul Food - Dining area and entrance

    Dining area and entrance

    Brenda's French Soul Food - Their dark chicken and shrimp.

    Their dark chicken and shrimp.

    Brenda's French Soul Food - Shrimp & Grits

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    Plow - French Toast

    Plow

    4.1(3.6k reviews)
    1.6 miPotrero Hill
    $$

    This is an incredibly popular restaurant in the Dogpatch district of SF. The wait time on a holiday…read moreweekend was about 1.5hrs. There is some room to sit as you wait and there seems to be plenty of street parking around. The inside is cozy and I was tickled by their menu. They print a new menu daily! I wonder if they vary the menu by the day. We liked everything that we tried! We shared a biscuit and Hong Kong Toast. The toast was a little burnt and you could taste that through the condensed milk. The biscuit with the honey butter was delicious! These make great shareables because they're a lot on their own. The plow is a great sampler breakfast platter and I'm so glad they offer that! It comes with 2 lemon ricotta pancakes, choice of eggs and protein! Huge portions and I shared this with my husband! We really enjoyed the food and would love to return when we're next in SF!

    Had brunch at Plow for the first time. I'm local to SF and had been meaning to try it, but the wait…read morewas rough -- 2 hours on a Monday morning. That alone makes this a place I'd only revisit when I have plenty of time. The restaurant itself was clean, and the service was solid with no complaints there. I ordered the lemon piccata pancakes. I love lemon flavors, but the lemon curd topping was a little overpowering for me. Once I ate around some of the curd though, the pancakes themselves were delicious. The real standout was the potatoes -- absolutely amazing. The bacon was just as good and honestly ended up being my favorite part of the meal. Overall, no complaints about the food or service. Would I come back? Probably... but only if the wait wasn't so long.

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    Plow - Indoor ambiance

    Indoor ambiance

    Plow - Buttermilk biscuit

    Buttermilk biscuit

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    Fried Egg Sandwich

    TRACE - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026

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