Came here for a work team dinner a couple weeks ago and had a good time. We were a group of about 12 or 13, but our waiters did a great job of regularly coming by to check on us and clearing plates, refilling drinks, giving us new plates as needed, etc. We tried a ton of different things, given the size of the party. The Margherita pizza and the one with Italian sausage were very good, but in particular I really enjoyed the one with sausage. We also tried the chicken wings with potatoes and those got cleared by the table pretty quickly. The fries were also great and also got inhaled pretty quickly. One of our teammates is vegan and the kitchen made her a vegan version of the risotto that's on the menu, and we were all surprised by how genuinely delicious it was. A couple people got the salmon and cleared their plates. The only food leftover were a few slices of pizza and two wings, which I took home because no one else wanted to and I wasn't about to watch pizza and wings go to waste. Dessert was fantastic. I went with the ice cream sandwich that was made with roasted banana ice cream sandwiched between two lemon cookies. That was great. I also ordered the Peaches Peaches Peaches cocktail, which amused the waiter, and loved it. If you love peach and fruity cocktails, that's the one for you. This seemed to be a good venue for a party of our size. The wait staff didn't seem overwhelmed, we had plenty of room at the long table we were seated at for drinks and plates, and the room was quiet enough that we had no issue hearing each other talk, even down the table. Solid venue for a team dinner with really good food. Just one note though: take a look at the food options in the drink menu. For whatever reason, some of those weren't listed on the dinner menu and I wouldn't have known they had a couple of the dishes (the sausage pizza and wings, for example) if I hadn't checked it. A little odd, but it was a great meal overall. read more

I came on Mother's Day because there was a special bouquet experience. You could smell the beautiful flowers from the moment you walk in. The hotel restaurant was nice. The server was so good! She answered questions about the chicken for chicken in waffles and the chef made a switch to boneless for me. I had the chicken and waffles along with salad that was delicious. We never ran out of coffee or wanted for water... the server was on it! Thanks for making the day lovely. read more

This W Hotel restaurant features warm service and well executed dishes. The price point is high, as you might expect from a downtown San Francisco hotel. butI enjoyed my lunch dishes, as well as my shashuka breakfast. read more

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7/2/23 Day 2 at TRACE, today our server is Jane, the fabulous Alvin, our server yesterday, was so amazing with the attentiveness & service....and the food being delicious, my friends & I decided to return the next day. We're staying at The W, so this is also convenient. There's a myriad of options in this beautiful city but this makes the most sense due to the wonderful experience we've had. In short, check out the pictures posted of our food-just tasty, delicious with superb service from Jane. By far the most attentive of our servers this stay at the W at TRACE. Coffee is definitely more than decent & the detail of how the service made for a very delightful experience, I cannot express that enough. Everything at this establishment has been stellar except for one individual which I will mention for my review of The W San Francisco, stay tuned because, I will try not to leave a scathing review of his behavior. Will definitely return if were ever in this fair city. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

TRACE - Hot tea + bagel and lox - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

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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! read more

TRACE - Eggs Chilaquiles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

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. read more

TRACE - Lox and bagel and I got eggs and sausage. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

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

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. read more

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Service is excellent, food is wonderful, Airy bright ambiance. W SF is the cool spot to be during conventions, weekends, sports events, etc! read more

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. read more

TRACE - Eggs Chilaquiles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

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. read more

TRACE - Breakfast burger - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

Valentine touch was incredible, the hospitality was so lovely, we were pumped up.The dinner serving had an excellent palate selection. Will come again, decent bargain, beautiful ambiance you don't want it to end. read more

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

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. read more

TRACE - Cinnamon Roll. Flaky croissant like and amazing - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

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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. read more

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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. read more

TRACE - Pork belly with octopus - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

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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. read more

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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! read more

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Really a 3.5, but there are a number of reasons I'm deciding to round down. First, I'd stopped in here for apps and drinks with friends before and already had the impression that the food was good but overpriced. I finally planned to come here for dinner after purchasing a TravelZoo deal $69 dinner for two that included one Share dish, two "Taste" dishes, and two Mains, plus 20% off bottles of wine. Without this deal, I feel that the individual dishes at regular menu prices are delicious but just not amazing enough to warrant the cost. We selected the charcuterie board for our Share dish. It included paper-thin Italian cold cuts, pan-fried crostini, tomato jam, stone ground mustard and a sharp, cheddar-like cheese. I love charcuterie and think this stood out as one of the best parts of the meal. We were also super happy with our "Taste" plates. I chose Creamy Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Toast, and the BF chose Roasted Scallops. Both of these dishes were flawlessly executed, but here is where things started to go wrong with the service. No sooner had the Taste dishes arrived then the Mains arrived as well. Now we also had plates of Flat Iron Steak and Sauteed Branzino on the table that were about to get cold while we finished the hot soup and scallops. The waiter basically apologized as he was setting the Mains on the table and started the delivery by saying he could return them to be heated. But, we really didn't want fish and steak to be heated up! Portions for the Mains were small, while portions for the other two courses were average. My BF's flat iron steak turned out to be a few slices. It was properly cooked medium rare, but seemed under-seasoned. It really didn't have very much flavor. I was happier with my Branzino. It was simply but perfectly prepared with a crispy skin, but I definitely wished for a bigger portion. It seemed like barely 3 ounces of fish, and maybe 1 or 2 sliced fingering potatoes with a bit of leeks. I have to wonder if the portion sizes for the mains weren't down-graded due to our TravelZoo coupon. Overall, I'm neutral about TRACE as a culinary experience, but it's a beautiful space and I feel overall that it's a good dining experience if you want a relaxed and generally good meal in downtown SF. Just purchase a deal for value. read more

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My favorite spot for breakfast, which is conveniently located on the first floor of the W. Depending on you membership status with the Marriott, your meal is comped or discounted! The ambience/decor is classy, I love the lights! I enjoy the small, intimate booths, I've yet to come here for dinner! I am a Benedict addict, I love a good Hollandaise and some places make it too acidic, they've got it down. Their Benedict has a tomato jam, Canadian bacon and it's served with a side of salad or fruit. The English muffin they use is thick, but soft and the eggs are always poached almost over medium which I enjoy. Recently swapped the Canadian bacon for American and I like it better! The juices are really good, however it depends on the day because sometimes they have 100% fresh orange juice or sometimes it's a blend. The coffee is standard, strong but I'll walk down the street for a latte instead. read more

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Stayed at the W, searched for a nice breakfast in SF and ended up happily at the Trace in the hotel. All four of us (foodies) loved our breakfast and coffee, key recommendation is to order of Damien's secret menu. Damien is a member of the team who crafted several uniques dishes that were not on the menu. We loved it. read more

TRACE - Damien's secret menu - combo of Avo Toast, Poached Egg, Salmon and lemon oil dressing. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is one time review for a brunch with family. We mostly had Eggs Benedict and other egg dishes, but the kitchen is very good, perhaps amazing. What made the eggs bene so good was that there was a tomato jam on a housemade muffin. That made it both sweet and tart, both interesting and delightful. Not for everyone but I really enjoyed this twist on the "classic". The hollandaise was very nicely done, thick and perfectly tasty with a bit of citrus to it. It was delicious, of course $24 is a lot to pay for a Benedict but if you are afraid of high prices this hotel and restaurant is not for you. The corkage here is $35. That should set you straight right there. Coffee is $6 or more depending on how fancy you go. You get the picture. There is a full bar next to this restaurant, and the beer selection here is quite well crafted, varied and excellent. Ambience here is quiet, elegant, and modern. Light is moderate, it is not very noisy and they play this modern soft music in the background. You could definitely relax in this atmosphere, so I give the ambience 4 stars as well. The lobby in fact is 4+ for enjoying a talk and a drink with friends. Service we received was OK, nothing outrageous, no manager on the floor but overall it was friendly and attentive. No issues, but not superb either. Trace is in a modern, top tier, convention hotel in one of the priciest sections of SF, there are plenty of pricey, fancy restaurants in this area. But the food here is not to be overlooked, the (breakfast) kitchen I experienced today was excellent, but hey this hotel is a 4 star establishment and part of one of the better chains that Marriott operates. read more

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Very good breakfast in a nice setting off the lobby of the W hotel. A little pricey for what you get (to be expected) but the variety and quality was high and service was nice. Get the toast just to try the house made cherry jam. My son liked the cinnamon roll so much he ordered it two days in a row. read more

Located next door to the Museum of Modern Art in a trendily decorated space, this place is both convenient and super tasty! We had brunch. The chilaquiles and the croque madame were beautiful. Just an amazing mix of flavors cooked perfectly. But what was out of this world was the nondescript Bloody Mary. Steve Buscemi would not have approved as there was no celery, but I have to say the taste was AMAZING!!! Bloody Mary fans have got to try this one!!! Trust me! Service, decor, and taste are all two thumbs up. I highly recommend dining here. read more

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Great breakfast to start the day. Had the American Standard Breakfast with eggs, avocado and sourdough toast. Bonus -- homemade strawberry rhubarb spread! read more

TRACE - Menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Date & Time: Thursday December 1, 2011 @ Noon Location: Former XYZ in The W Hotel Dining Companion: Dana Crowd: Suits & W Guests- Ladies in Sweaters, Leggings & Thigh High Louboutin Boots Music: Holiday Music & Foster the People Decor: Mod White Interior. Sleek Bar & Furnishings Service: Friendly Imbibe: Full Bar Devour: Pork Belly FlatBread, Trace Burger & HazelNut Panna Cotta Total: $45.46 read more

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A fancy brunch at the W hotel means: 1. Classy, trendy surroundings complete with a live DJ 2. Savory-sweet bacon and cocoa nib waffle paired with a stiff bacon bourbon old fashioned 3. A juicy Burger cooked medium topped with goat cheese and arugula and served with perfectly roasted fingerling potatoes 4. The only way to start a gorgeous Saturday in SF! read more

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Everyone was kind and attentive, we came for lunch and were very happy! I got the steak bahn mi and it was awesome, the steak was cooked perfectly, not chewy which is exactly what you want in a sandwich. The only thing I would have changed would be more of the carrots and radishes :) read more

A lot has changed since XYZ closed down. when the W first opened, the restaurant and bar scene were hot for quite a while. As time moved on it was no longer a destination, and i think the management has recognized that. Sleeker, darker and more contemporary, Trace has undergone a transformation in it's aesthetics, food and bar program. The space certainly looks more club-lounge like. Stark white tables with patterened mercury colored matts, large black perforated dividers with sheer mercury curtains allow them to break up the space. There's a very long communal table in the back with a matching long bar on the second floor with various lounge booths. After being promptly seated by the attractive hostesses, we perused the drink menus. Now most (if not all) the W's in Manhattan are designed by one Randy Gerber (Mr Cindy Crawford) and his rep and the fact that it's NYC causes cocktail prices to be at a certain level. The fact we're in the W here also carries some rep and at $14 a pop theyre not the cheapest. However my Bourbon based Mr Robinson was excellent and well worth the price. It was a good start. After perusing the menu, we saw that they are following the farm to table ethos that most of SF is championing and that's good to see from a national hotel chain. We ended up with: -BRAISED PORK SHOULDER crisp gnocchi, pecorino -CHICKEN "OYSTER" TORTELLINI roast chicken broth, pickled cherry peppers -PAN ROASTED DUCK BREAST savoy spinach, pine nuts, wine grapes, black barley, quinoa -BAKED CALIFORNIA SEABAKED SEA BASS fresh shelling beans, cippolinis, broccoli spigarello, fennel sausage -PANNA COTTA thyme, apples, tuille -PEACH CRUMBLE white wine sauce Now i like XYZ's food when it debuted, but it wasn't widely memorable. I'm liking the fact that they're letting the chef do his food and it's definitely an upgrade. Everything was tasting with solid flavor profile combinations. I'd say my only complaint was the duck breast was over on temperature. The staff were quite attentive. Roger our server was in tune with us, our waters were never below half full and we were certainly well taken care of. They were smart to open on a holiday weekend and when we arrived there were a handful of folks. but by 9.30 the place was mostly full for a Monday night. Go figure. They maybe hammered when the next weekend rolls around, but if they can keep this level up, it will be definitely worth returning for both food and drink. 4.25 stars. read more

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I only have the faintest recollection of what XYZ was like as a dining destination a decade ago since I was probably not trendy enough to hang out at the W Hotel. Back then, I was closer to a 'P' than a 'W'... OK, maybe an 'S' but surely not a 'W'. A lot of years have passed and a lot of rings have grown around my trunk, so I must surely be past 'W' by now. Sparked by a couple of positive reviewers by Yelpers I could trust, I decided to give it a try with a longtime friend of mine, but now it's been redone into Trace. Trace? Like "he left the crime scene without a..."? Gee, that's so hip I don't get it. What I do get is that they use all the right buzzwords on their website - "socially responsible", "sustainable", and the ever-popular "locally sourced". And the entrees are described as "Farmed", "Crafted", or "Shared". So San Francisco. Michael Bauer was none too impressed with the food he had there last month according to his Chronicle review, chiding its "uncomfortable surroundings" and uneven execution. My friend and I didn't have the same experience as we pretty much liked the place. Sure, the decor felt like an West Elm catalog spread, but the food was quite good and creatively prepared. As a working mother of two and wife of a burgeoning car-wash magnate, my friend Liz deserved the pleasures to be had with the $15 Anson Mills Farro Verde, which was a delicately delicious mix of melty farro, cavolo nero, delicata squash, crispy ginger bits, and best of all, Brussel sprouts. Mine was the "Crafted" selection - the $13 Braised Niman Ranch Pork Shoulder, which was a nice meat-falling-off-the-bone delight piled on some pan-crisped gnocchi and accompanied by hen-of-the-wood mushrooms and pecorino cheese (see photo). Even Bauer liked it, and I would definitely order that again. FOOD - 4 stars...liked the creations despite the pretensions AMBIANCE - 3 stars...like I said, West Elm...dark chocolate woods, blinding white chairs SERVICE - 3 stars...attentive enough TOTAL - 4 stars...guess I have to be farmed and shared next time since I was crafted this time read more

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*** I've eaten here twice and I'm a fan already. *** 1st visit on Fri nite after Yerba Buena Arts Center: Flatbread for starter with brussel sprouts followed by a braised pork shoulder gnocchi w/ mushrooms. Both were quite tasty, and adequately portioned for a small plate selections. I was satisfied as a result. 2nd visit came Sat @noon before walking SFMoMA: Poached eggs & prosciutto w/ arugula on an english muffin smothered in hollandaise. That was delicious. However, fried potatoes on the side were overcooked. Overall I like its contempo ambience and location here. Service was exceptional over brunch ... a group effort. *** I'd certainly ret'n. A great spot to meet friends. *** read more

TRACE - Poached eggs & Proscuitto - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

Who works over two full-time jobs without pay or a yearly raise? Mom's that's who. So, for a belated Mother's Day gift (since I was out of the country), I decided to take my mother here for a nice brunch. It's conveniently located near the SF MOMA, and within walking distance to the Powell Street Bart station. My mother ordered their vegetarian omelet while I had their steak and eggs. I also ordered a chai almond milk and a kale and greens juice. Mom: "With the price you're spending on this meal, you could have bought me a ticket to the Motown Musical at the Orpheum Theatre." This is my mother on a good day, in a good mood. Me: "I thought this would be a nice treat; brunch downtown." Mom: "That's the problem with you and thinking." Anyways, back to the food, I was disappointed with the portion of the steak. It looked like one steak kebab, and that was all. And the chai almond milk was a joke. It was 90% ice, and after two sips at $9, I found it to be an incredible waste of money. Maybe mother was right after all. The service was slow, since the waitress was taking care of all the tables, and the kale juice thing was awful. It was extremely bitter, and again, this was also filled with ice cubes, so it was like paying another $9 for a cup of ice. My mother didn't really like her omelet since the house potatoes were semi-raw and not crispy. I tried to give her my crispy potatoes, but by then she was over Trace's food, and just wanted to leave. Mom: "See smarty pants, paying more for brunch doesn't always mean it's going to be better." At nearly $80 for two people, mother is right once again. read more

TRACE - All ice and no drink - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

We came to TRACE as a start to our Bliss & TRACE Spa Package which has a 2-course menu with some of the regular TRACE brunch items as well other healthy choices (http://www.trace-sf.com/assets/u/BlissSpaMenu115.pdf). There are some open area tables as well as "booths" screened off a bit (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/trace-san-francisco?select=XmS7vbY3Qp3I4oKrJPhhjA#UwC1B9kmdsgWMAnu7O1d8A) which is where we were seated. What better way to start a spa day than with a Bloody Mary (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/trace-san-francisco?select=XmS7vbY3Qp3I4oKrJPhhjA#XmS7vbY3Qp3I4oKrJPhhjA), though the g/f would say a Mimosa the better choice. She started with the Market Fruit Salad (vanilla and honey straus yogurt http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/trace-san-francisco?select=XmS7vbY3Qp3I4oKrJPhhjA#Gb7WosLJ5CvKJsf4eEUb5Q) which had banana, orange, apple, watermelon, pineapple, pears, and grapes. Pretty basic, it was a big plate with everything nice and ripe. I went with the Sliced Yellowtail (green goddess, cucumber, radish, toasted almonds http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/trace-san-francisco?select=XmS7vbY3Qp3I4oKrJPhhjA#8f8B3AXJ8aLTG0Tzq_xCFA). In addition to the listed ingredients there were strawberries, kumquats, and some watercress. Fresh and clean flavors. The fish was better than many sushi bars I've been to. The almonds were a great component adding crunch and flavor. For the mains, the g/f got the Fregola Sarda "Risotto" (slow poached egg, fall mushrooms, herb salad, aged balsamic http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/trace-san-francisco?select=XmS7vbY3Qp3I4oKrJPhhjA#KvHYyjsiMg7rfNTEDEAxxA). Fregola Sarda is an Italian pasta reminiscent of Israeli couscous. The egg was nicely poached and the "risotto" got a thumbs up. I had the Grilled Albacore Tuna Salad (arugula, shaved fennel, quinoa, mixed beans, green goddess http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/trace-san-francisco?select=XmS7vbY3Qp3I4oKrJPhhjA#tb_Z2G3sC7sD93tt94sSCg). Nicely seared tuna. This had a little too much going on with the green goddess on the plate plus a different dressing on the salad. Pretty good as part of the package we got, but next time I'd go for the a la carte brunch menu, though with the hotel restaurant prices, that might not be soon. read more

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Feeling blessed to have lunch here after my wedding in the city hall. Wonderful location. Inside is clean, quiet, and beautiful (maybe not many people in the middle of the week?). We were greeted warmly, and the food was just fabulous. I ordered squash (super delicious) and my husband had salmon, which was so fresh and melting in the mouth!! The chief even congratulated us with a lovely desert. I made the best decision here P.S. I don't understand why the ratings are so bad here...In open tables, Trace ranks 4.5/5 or so and that's more accurate. read more

TRACE - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Go to lunch spot with my colleagues when the company is buying! Unfortunately, the menu is pretty limited. Although we typically go for the Shanghai noodles (which are absolutely delicious), today I opted for a burger (specified bunless by me) and fries. Burger was well cooked and they accommodated my request. However, I ordered a blueberry iced tea that look & tasted like pink lemonade even though our server insisted that it wasn't. My coworker tried a sip and had to agree. It was so sickenly sweet I had to send it back and get a plain ice tea instead. I would recommend for a quick bite, but don't expect a large selection. Also, note that they don't honor their check-in deal for lunch, disappointing. read more

TRACE - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

The review is for the brunch fare on a Saturday when I had to use my Gilt promotion before it would expire. For $29 I could snag for two persons: mimosas, 1/2 fresh juice and any entree. The traces of mmm +'s: + Mimosa came in requisite flutes and they were easy to imbibe + For $9 you can get the full glass of green juice that tastes great after pounds of leafy greens have been pulverized to a decent blend. + Steak and eggs ($21) included fingerling potatoes which were awesome! The side salad was lightly dressed and clean. The scrambled eggs were crazy fluffy and amazing! + Pancakes ($14) were on the menu and I'll say I was tempted but did not try it. We saw an order go by our table and the stack was huge and airy. Visually it looked divine. + Decor is modern and trendy. I dig the white glossy tables and silvery curtains that separated those in the booths and those on the floor. + Excellent service. We were never left unintended. The traces of errr -'s: - Coffee is $5.50 with free refills. Err, I think it's a bit much. - Medium rare steak was cooked to practically medium. Bummed but my fault for not complaining especially since the waitstaff had asked pointedly how was the steak. Great place to have breakfast but just parking kills. TIP: Watch for the service charge that may be included in the bill. For my visit, the service charge was part of the total due. read more

TRACE - Steak and eggs $21 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Francisco, California

We came here during restaurant week and we weren't disappointed. Great space, tall ceilings, plenty of sunlight. The beet salad with burrata, pistachio, and honey was my favorite. Perfect texture for the beet, very creamy burrata with just the right amount of honey. I also really liked the pork should dish. Very tender meat but the best part of the dish is the slightly browned gnocchi. If you are trying to decide on a red wine by the glass, get the meritage marsennay from burgundy (2006). I like it better than the Location E from Spain (E is the license plate initial for Spain, quite ingenious marketing for non-appellation specific wine. read more

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