Mike L.
Yelp
Maybe it's just me, but when I think of this stretch of 18th Street in Potrero Hill, "brunch" immediately comes to mind. Granted, it doesn't take much for my brain to start thinking about the best meal of the day, but it seems like there's no shortage of attractive options along these few blocks. There's Plow, Chez Maman East, Cracked & Battered...okay, maybe there aren't THAT many. However, there haven't been many that have jumped off the page like how Cracked & Battered has!
When it comes to the things that I look for a brunch spot to have, Cracked and Battered checks a lot of those boxes. There's both indoor and outdoor dining, the vibes are great, there's plenty of nearby parking, and, perhaps most significantly, there's never much of a wait (unlike Plow up the street, though there's a reason why they are one of the best anywhere). However, the menu here is what I find most appealing. While it may not be super extensive, it's got a number of appealing and unique options, from their fried chicken and waffles and ricotta pancakes to their Shakshuka and Nasi Goreng, which was really unexpected to see (and the one thing we knew we had to try).
-- THE C&B PLATE - Four Fluffy Mini Waffles Topped with Berries and Whipped Butter with One Boneless Fried Chicken Thigh, Golden Potatoes, and Two Eggs...$20
Their namesake plate felt like a must and it didn't disappoint! The batter on the chicken was crunch, the chicken was moist, and the eggs and potatoes were well cooked. As for the waffles, they had a nice crunch to them, but they started to soften as they sat on the plate (still tasted fine, though).
-- NASI GORENG - Indonesian Chicken Fried Rice with Cabbage, Cilantro, Garlic, Onions, and Two Eggs...$18
This immediately jumped off the page when we saw this, but sadly, it was a miss for me. While the chicken was fine (other than how the egg made the batter soggy), the rice wasn't very good. Not only was it heavily sauced, but the rice was hard/undercooked, too. Pass.
-- FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH - Boneless Fried Chicken Thigh with Lemony Cabbage Slaw, Crackin' Sauce, and Pickles on a Toasted Bun...$17
Came back just to try this and it was actually pretty decent. The chicken was just as crispy in the sandwich (on the edges, at least) and was seasoned nicely while the slaw had a nice bit of acidity that cut through everything. However, the bun felt a little bready and dry.
-- FRENCH FRIES (Sandwich Add On Portion)...$2.50
It worried me that the fries were paler than I expected, but they weren't too shabby. The fries were a little starchy, but they were crispy and only lightly salted (in a good way). Still, had I known they had tots, I would've gotten that because tots.
As far as service goes, the staff is really nice and the food comes out fairly quickly However, it's weird how you're directed to order/pay after scanning your table's QR code only to have it fail and have to order through a server anyways. That said, I also just hate the whole QR code process at restaurants in general, despite the beneficial convenience for both sides, so it'd be fair to say I'm heavily biased.
Even though I feel like there were things about our food that could've been better, my visits here have been extremely far from "bad". In fact, they were perfectly fine and, from the looks of the reviews from my fellow Yelpers, it's apparent that I'm in the minority. Still, THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down feels right, though don't be surprised if you see me update this review to a four sooner rather than later.