Cafe Sebastian

Financial District restaurants could learn a thing or two from Cafe Sebastian. - Review - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"Across SF, there are a million versatile daytime spots serving just fine Cal-Ital and American pastas, salads, and sandwiches. But if you're specifically in the land of standing desks and Sweetgreen loyalty program holders (known to most as the Financial District), it’s rare for one restaurant to work for a quick takeout lunch and still be nice enough to host a client meeting. That's Café Sebastian. Convenience outweighs nearly everything else here. The restaurant is open until 3pm on weekdays and for an extra hour on weekends. Service is fast, and reservations are easy to get any day of the week—even the day-of for last-minute client-wooing. You can always walk in, but to be on the safe side, try looking ahead for a table during prime brunch hours on weekends. video credit: Patrick Wong photo credit: Patrick Wong photo credit: Patrick Wong Pause Unmute As such, the American food is far from the main selling point. Yes, it’s solid, but whether you’re ordering at the counter or sitting down in the dining room that looks like an Italian villa, most everything you'll eat will be just a step above a corner store or grab-and-go spot. And for some dishes, that step isn’t a big one. (A chicken caesar wrap is dry and unevenly dressed and the tuna niçoise needs more seasoning.) The small plates are the most successful of the bunch, like a ricotta toast topped with perfectly ripe, basil-infused strawberries and a bowl of mussels in a spicy broth. Count on the meal ending on a high note with a slice of dark cocoa babka from the bakery counter. Or just get a huge kakigori from MadLab, a dessert counter that shares the same space. Food Rundown Mussels A great starter. The chili tomato broth is spicy, but that shouldn't deter you from ladling a few spoonfuls. photo credit: Patrick Wong Ricotta Mousse Toast This piece of bread can work double duty: it's technically a starter but would also be an appropriate dessert. The thick squiggle of vanilla-flavored ricotta counterbalances the preserved strawberries and basil, and the punchy black pepper honey. photo credit: Patrick Wong Sandwiches The sandwiches rotate, but if you see the turkey option on the menu, get it. The pimento cheese spread and the folds of smoky turkey are fantastic on toasted sourdough. Feel free to skip the bland egg salad, the chicken salad that’s more arugula than meat, and the add-on of pommes anna for an extra $4. (The few stacks you receive are soggy.) photo credit: Patrick Wong Tuna Niçoise The fish is soft with just a bit of chew, but the small dollop of kalamata olive aioli runs out in a few quick swipes, and without it, the dish tastes bland. (Thankfully, the accompanying potato salad is excellent.) This entree is on the smaller side with just eight small medallions of fish and a handful of that potato salad. If you have a bigger appetite, pad things out with an app. photo credit: Patrick Wong Chicken Caesar Wrap At $25—at least $10 more expensive than many other great CCWs—this dish is a letdown. The dressing is creamy and tangy but unevenly distributed and the chicken and tortilla are dry. The parmesan crisps help a bit, but we’d skip this and satisfy any chicken caesar cravings elsewhere. photo credit: Patrick Wong Dark Cocoa Babka We’d stop by just for a slice of this. It's not too sweet and moist all the way through. photo credit: Patrick Wong Funfetti Sugar Cookie It's difficult to choose between this cookie (which tastes like brown butter) and the babka to finish up a meals here. If you’re a chewy cookie loyalist, you’ll love this one. photo credit: Patrick Wong" - Patrick Wong