George’s Donuts & Merriment
Cafe · West Portal
163 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127
Highlights
Creative brioche donuts, artisan sandwiches, salads, beer & wine
Creative brioche donuts, artisan sandwiches, salads, beer & wine
"What makes the brioche donuts at George’s Donuts & Merriment special is their light and airy texture. If it weren’t for the generous injections of cream, we’d be worried they’d fly away when the Muni barrels by. There’s no going wrong with any of the brioche donuts—if you only have room for one or two, you should get the Bacon and Eggs and the key lime pie (feel free to skip the apple fritter that’s dry and has no fruit flavor). This West Portal cafe does sell out of their brioche donuts the quickest, but the vanilla or chocolate-glazed crullers are also a great fallback. If you have time, ask to dine in so that you can order the fried-to-order donut holes that come with a chocolate fudge dipping sauce." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
"George’s Donuts & Merriment is a huge all-day cafe in West Portal serving crème brûlée, bacon and eggs, and strawberry champagne donuts. To go alongside, there’s also wine, coffee, and a savory menu with sandwiches and salads." - julia chen 1
"Yes, you’ll see many children populating this new West Portal cafe. But you don’t have to be a child to wear a golden paper crown and enjoy the doughnut shops’ beautiful interiors. Designed by the busy Bay Area firm ROY Hospitality, George’s is bright and festive, with expansive marble countertops, framed “royals” — they serve a dish named Fries for a King for a reason — and arched entryways. All the doughnuts are delicious, but pay special attention to the key lime pie and the creme brulee. For a lighter morning, the cottage cheese breakfast bowl is surprisingly good." - Flora Tsapovsky
"To find George’s Donuts & Merriment in West Portal, you just need to follow the steady pilgrimage of pink-box-toting customers and the wafts of sweet dough. This daytime cafe specializes in—of course—several types of donuts alongside plenty of wines and beers (the “merriment”). While there’s a tight selection of solid savory items like sandwiches and salads, you should be locked in on the donuts. The brioche versions are the best, but the daily hour-long lines means they do sell out fast, so get there early or ask for a doctor’s note that says you’re medically required to have key lime pie donuts at all times. While most people grab their fried dough to go, we suggest sticking around—the bright, airy space with natural light, high ceilings, and exposed brick cutouts is perfect for lingering. Plus, the fried-to-order donut holes with chocolate fudge dipping sauce are a dine-in-only perk. video credit: Patrick Wong Food Rundown video credit: Patrick Wong Key Lime Pie The brioche donuts are our favorite at George’s—they’re pillowy and border on cotton candy with how quickly they melt in your mouth. And the key lime flavor is the best one. It’s inflated with a thick glob of citrus curd and topped with a torched swirl of meringue. video credit: Patrick Wong Bacon And Eggs This ring donut, like the other brioche donuts, is also filled—this one with a maple cream. It’s also topped with crispy slices of bacon. A must-get if you enjoy a little sweet and savory moment. Apple Fritter The only brioche donut letdown. It’s dry and doesn’t have much apple flavor. video credit: Patrick Wong Crullers For something slightly less rich, the vanilla or chocolate-glazed crullers are just as light as the brioche donuts and just sweet enough. photo credit: Patrick Wong King’s Chocolate Chip Cookie For anyone who likes a chewy and soft cookie, this one’s for you. We wouldn’t let this take the place of a donut, but it’s a great add-on. photo credit: Patrick Wong Turkey Club A perfectly fine sandwich. But you’ll be able to find one just like it anywhere else in the city. photo credit: Patrick Wong Heirloom Tomato And Mozzarella Sandwich The focaccia is chewy and tender, but we wish there was more green goddess spread and that the mozzarella was more moist. The whole thing ends up dry. photo credit: Patrick Wong Harvest Chicken Salad Our favorite main. This big salad is shareable and tossed with just the right amount of honey dijon dressing. photo credit: Patrick Wong Fries For A King If you only have room for just one savory dish, you should absolutely get these. They’re served on a mini silver stand and come with a fantastic garlic aioli." - Patrick Wong
"An upcoming San Francisco shop offering a variety of doughnuts, sandwiches, and salads, led by pastry chef Janina O’Leary." - Dianne de Guzman
