Rusty Ladle

Cozy, Delicious, and Super Satisfying Rusty Ladle SF totally hit the spot. We had their clam chowder and a sample of their tomato soup plus the inside out schmelty sandwich, and it was everything I wanted — warm, comforting, and packed with flavor. The chowder was just the right amount of richness, and the sandwich was perfectly toasted and satisfying. The place has a chill, welcoming vibe, and the staff was friendly and helpful. It’s the kind of place that feels like a local gem. I’ll definitely be back next time I’m in the mood for a cozy, delicious meal.

WOW!! OBSESSED. Every single menu item here slaps, and the weekly rotation keeps things fresh and interesting. I don’t even live in the neighborhood but make it a point to come here at least once a week to try their new soups. John and the team are so nice and make coming here such a treat. Really appreciate it when a business truly cares, and it’s easy to tell that this is one of those gems. (Bonus points to the cool penny bar that they created by hand)

Soupy weather of the Outer Sunset has finally met its match. If comfort is what you crave, Rusty Ladle delivers it in spoons — from the best grilled cheese of my life (add the kimchi) to an assortment of soups that John and team have poured their souls into, the menu truly offers infinite paths to enlightenment. Don't wait for a rainy day — there's no right or wrong weather to treat yourself to the best soup(s) of your life.

For me, it’s always soup weather. We went on a 70 degree day but that made near to no difference as we probably would’ve loved it regardless. We sat outside to take advanced of the warm summer weather. The atmosphere pretty busy for Friday at noon. I ordered a bowl of the Shrimpatesh with a side of the Schiacciata bread. It was warm and hearty. My friend had the Schmelty which was deliciously cheesy with a cup of their tomato soup. They had wonderful service and I would most definitely recommend this outer sunset gem. They change out their soups every week and I will most definitely be returning to try them.

Relaxing bar to get warmed up with an assortment of soups and sandwiches. Try their “schmelty” grilled cheese and don’t forget to add kimchi to add a nice textural contrast to the sandwich.

Super delicious food and excellent service; friendly and attentive. Nice spot outside. A little steep prices. Delicious soups. $8-$15 per dish.

Tomato soup with the basil cream sauce as well as the grilled cheese is quite possibly the best I’ve ever had. This place is worth every penny. It’s always soup season in the outer sunset so this place will for sure be a frequent spot!

Best made daily, fresh ingredients soup in San Francisco. Too bad can't order by phone and go pick up. Family owned and run, and warm and absolutely wonderful. AND those sandwiches....a must try...and walk over to the new park on ocean... Jeanne Milligan

Took a stroll on a windy foggy day on Ocean Beach aka Sunset Dunes and needed some warmth, so we walked about 6 blocks east on Lawton Street to land at the penny-laden counter at Rusty Ladle, Their Bodega Bay clam chowder was chockful of goodness but is less heavy than the New England ones. The Schmelty is an out -of-this-world grilled double cheese sandwich - my daughter had it with 1/2 cup tomato soup, which kept her nice and toasty. Real flowers in vases line the counter, a nice touch to this friendly place w/ very reasonably priced foods. The bathroom is also very clean & more seated tables are available outside.

tldr neighborhood joint serving up classic and rotational soups and more for a decent price and counter seating friend and i ordered clam chowder, tomato basil, a magnifica sandwich, and bonus free snickerdoodle. they are great - u can sample as many soups as u like esp cool since they have a rotational menu with new special soups but me and my friend just stuck to the classics on their menu clam chowder (3.75/5) a bit on the watery side but was satisfyingly warm + well seasoned. clams seem fresh along with all the other ingredients! i tasted some sand in the soup which was a meh so would suggest they clean their clams a bit better tomato basil (4/5) hard to mess up this one but it was nicely balanced tomato flavor with a dash of cream that made it the perfect dipping vessel for the sando magnifica sando (4/5) we also got the magnifica toasted which is technically not allowed but super tasty if u can do that - couldn't really taste the truffle but ingredients were fresh and olives went nicely with the mortadella + cheese. suggest dipping this with the tomato soup for the perfect bite free snickerdoodle (4.5/5) waiter gave us a free cookie and it was super tasty! sweet but also had a bite and chewy on the inside. appreciated that. service was wonderful, staff talked us thru the menu and water is self service at the counter. the soup counter is cute with pennies all around and bathroom was clean. overall, it was a bit pricey but i would come back if i was in the mood for soup and near the water on a cold day! food 3.75/5 service 4/5 ambiance 4/5 value 3.75/5

I never considered myself a "soup sycophant" until I read the SF Chronicle article about this spot last April and recognized I might be one. Whether it's menudo or pozole, ramen or pho, bisque or gazpacho, yes, I naturally gravitate toward soups. Color me a sycophant because I ventured out on the N-Judah to the way Outer Sunset to try it. It's on the same block as Andytown and next to an art gallery owned by chef John Lindsey who owns this place. I arrived around 2PM thinking I might miss their lunch rush. All the outdoor picnic tables were occupied, but they looked more like neighborhood residents than actual customers. The counter inside was empty, so I perused their brief menu - four soups and two sandwiches. Normally I'm a clam chowder guy, but it was the classic combination of tomato soup and grilled cheese that drew me in. Probably inspired by the toddlers from the school next door, I felt a need for a school lunch and ordered the $9.75 Schmelty described as an inside out grilled cheese sandwich. Indeed I saw the staffer load up my sammie onto a press with cheddar and mozzarella on both sides of the bread (Photo 8). It was a bit much for me, but it was satisfying and nostalgic. For $4, I got the half-cup of Tomato Soup drizzled with their housemade basil cream (Photo 7). That was just the chaser I needed for all that cheese because it was thick, warm, and just enough. I'd like to come back and try the other soups. They even offer sake and snickerdoodles. Wouldn't that make for a well-balanced meal? OK, maybe not. FOOD - 4 stars...the soup was aces, the grilled cheese was cheesy for sure AMBIANCE - 4 stars...old school diner vibe fits the neighborhood SERVICE - 4 stars...friendly crew TOTAL - 4 stars...yes, I am a soup sycophant...do I need help? RELATED - Exploring the Sunset? Here's a collection of places l've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2El8elJ

We went here after a fun, foggy day at the zoo and had wonderful tomato soup and grilled cheese (the KimChee grilled cheese was sooo good)! Reasonably prove and packed full of flavor. Small area, can only be seated at the counter but we went after lunch so it was perfect timing for us! Everyone was so kind. Highly recommend

Decided to try this place after seeing an Instagram reel (had my doubts cause it was an Instagram reel) but honestly pretty solid food. Got the clam chowder and inside out grilled cheese. Clam chowder (4/5) A little too watery in texture for me. I like it when chowders are thick and stick to the spoon but this one was a little more soup like. The clams were overall clean but I did have so sand in one of my spoons of chowder. Inside out grilled cheese (5/5) Really cool concept to have the cheese on the outside. Made it really crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Will try this with the tomato bisque next time! Quick service, ordered in person and my food was ready in 10 minutes. Could walk over to andytown next door and grab a drink.

I just had a really good lunch here. The grilled cheese sandwich and the clam chowder were both delicious, the staff is very friendly, and it's a nice environment. I will definitely be coming back.

In my soupy happy place at Rusty Lable. If you are a fan of a good soup this worth all the pennies in the world (they have a penny counter!). While eating in the second time we saw the chef washing and taking all the fresh vegetables for the next pot of soup. Perfect for the winter and honestly any time of year. If you eat in they give you a small (dipping size) side of tomato soup with your sandwich. All the staff are friendly and prompt with ordering. If you order soup with the sandwiches you'll have to wait a bit, but enjoy the fun atmosphere and your friendly counter neighbors.

We were first in line waiting to get in. You order, pay, find a seat at the penny counter and wait for the food. We enjoyed our bowls of chowder and schmelty cheese sandwich. Seating is pretty limited and that's why we showed up 1145 on a Saturday morning. Place is only open Thursday to Sunday, noon to 8. Hope it will open more days soon. I think some of the specials rotate but the chowder is a constant. We will definitely be back. It beats a lot of touristy joints around town. Love that this is a neighborhood place!

The schmelty is a must for grilled cheese lovers. The burnt cheesy exterior was perfection. It was rich and greasy, one was more than enough to split between two people, with sides of soup. We tried the tomato and the gumbo which were not bad, but the schmelty was definitely the standout.

Fabulous Bodega Bay Clam Chowder - brothy with delicious flavors - adding bacon bits and oyster crackers. The richness of Perfect Pozole garnished with crisp greens. La Magnifica - Schiacciata bread with Mortadella, Provolone, Olive Salad and Truffle Oil. Total satisfaction in every bite! Friendly service is charming! Place your order as you enter ...find counter seating ...watch the action and devour the goodness! ...say hello to John!

You walk in to a clean, welcoming, and well lit counter seating area. Either you order in or take out; everyone order at the register. A regular changing menu is posted up front. If dining in, there's oyster crackers to munch on while you wait for your order to arrive. All the food is always consistent-filling, delicious, and comforting. An overall great neighborhood spot. We look forward to our next visit.

Ultimate comfort food spot. All of their soups are delicious and you can really taste the ingredients. The owner is super friendly and gave us a few samples to try, the creamy cauliflower was my favorite! So creamy and cheesy but not overly greasy, and just the right amount of cauliflower flavor. The sandwiches are both out of this world. The olive tapenade on the La Magnifica was fantastic, and it's the perfect sandwich not too greasy like other places. Everyone that works here are super friendly, will definitely be coming back!

You can't beat this place! Fantastic soup, amazing grilled cheese. The owner is the sweetest guy. He is a local artist who is so talented and a few years ago decided to open a soup spot. Well why did it take so long to open? Artist / business / perfectionism need I say more? Well the hard work sure paid off, I think he pretty much built the entire place by himself with the help of his daughter sorting pennies. This is an absolute don't miss spot, especially on a cold sunset day. Only downside is it's a bit small so either be prepared to wait a few mins or take it to go.

Service was excellent and the grilled cheese OMG delish. And the clam chowder was divine.

Foggy day, tomato soup and a unique inside out grilled cheese sandwich....Amazing The place is nicely designed, nice bar and outside tables (bring the dog). The owner and the staff were really nice folks. Go for it.

Very good soup in a unique setting. The restaurant feels unfinished, physically and conceptually. I believe one or two soups are always available, and one or two others change frequently, partially based on how well they sell relative to one another. The serving size isn't large, but it's not skimpy either. You can order bread separately, and their bread is pretty good, but it would be nice if all the soups came with bread. They do have all the oyster crackers you could possibly want, so you can thicken your soup that way as well, and it's free! The pennies in the countertop are neat, and I like that everyone's sitting on these stools, but the place feels like it's under construction even though I'm pretty sure it's not. It's hard for me to put my finger on it, but the entire operation just feels temporary, and this takes away from its attraction as a cozy place to warm up on cold, foggy San Francisco nights. It's owned and run by the artist who owns the gallery-studio space next door. He's a nice guy and seemed genuinely happy to chat us up after we had finished our soup. I would definitely come back, but I also want a little bit more of something.

Just had an amazing meal served by a friendly & courteous staff. Had the clam chowder & schmelty with house-made turkey chorizo. It was a fun & filling meal!

My husband and I had been planning to come here for the past two weeks. We were looking for a solid soup place and I think we found it! It's a long spot with counter seating. There were quite a few patrons and more coming and going. We ordered some quarts to go, along with 2 La Magnifica sandwiches, and a few Schiacciata Bread slices. My husband asked if I wanted the Snickerdoodle and I thought about it, said no, and the owner gave me a cookie anyway! That was super nice of him. It was soft on the inside and a little crisp on the edges, exactly how I like my cookies. I had one La Magnifica, and I must've glanced over the 'olive salad' ingredient because I don't really love olives and it was strong for me. My BIL liked it though. I'm just a simple grilled cheese girly. The tomato soup was good, especially with the basil cream. The clam chowder was the star! It was thinner than others and had a lot of seafood and flavor. It tasted great paired with the Schiacciata bread or oyster crackers. The bacon is a nice touch too. Definitely check them out and grab a sticker on your way out!

Top notch comfort food in San Francisco, best grilled cheese sandwich and soup combo ever! A unique style with robust flavors. Every thing made fresh from scratch. Enough choices of soup to satisfy every family member, and a good variety of hot sauce if that's your thing. Great ambience with grooving music, gold spoons and penny countertops. Service was excellent, clean restrooms and restaurant, they also have kind employees and a timely delivery of food.

Had the clam chowder which is aptly named & tastes just like those from Bodega Bay! The Schmelty sandwich with turkey chorizo is absolutely delicious! The restaurant is so cute and nicely designed. The owner is super nice! It's next to an Andytown coffeehouse and there were jazz musicians playing outdoors the day I went. Was recently in SF Chronicle as one of the top 25 new places to try!

Local soup spot with amazing soups and a darn good schmelty (inside out grilled cheese). Great beer choices and friendly service. They had clam chowder, black bean, tomato and chicken noodle today. Come check it out if you're in the area.

holy fuh rusty ladle i love you the kimchi grilled cheese had me (insert emoji but im not gonna specify which one) i broke my vegetarianism to try a bite of the clam chowder no regrets it was amazing. the cheese skirt was so good that i can ignore the mid snickerdoodles it's okay i forgive ygs the effort is there all i can think about is cheese skirt

Came here around 3pm on a Sunday and they only had one sando on the menu and one cup of chowder left. The sandwich was fresh and tasty, but definitely something that could be made at home - nothing super special. The chowder was pretty delicious, though. I'd be curious to try some of their other menu items but likely wouldn't come back knowing they could have a limited menu again. Perhaps it was a fluke given we went on Mothers Day, but I don't think I'd risk it in the future. The other sandos do look pretty delicious, though!!

I only tried the Shrimpatash and it was insanely good - if you can do carbs you absolutely need bread on the side. That said, I was having orderers remorse as the other soups and Schmeltys came out. On top of it, the environment couldn't be more welcoming. And when you think about it, warm soup is perfect for the cold Avenues. This place is likely to be crowded sunny or not. What a great addition to the hood. Edit: Finally got the Schmelty. Yeah, its as good as it sounds. The bar just got raised.

These are the kinds of places in The Sunset I love the most. The food is amazing (had some chicken soup and a grilled cheese) and the people who work there are super friendly. It feels like a local hole in the wall in the best possible way. Since all reviews should be balanced with a negative to go with any positive... This place is gonna make me super fat.

I've been waiting for a good soup place on the West Side for a long time. This place seems like it's starting off strong. I ordered the Irish Stew and All Things Green Paprikash soups. Both delicious, hearty and surprising. At the last minute, I noticed their special...can't remember the name...but it was a bread thing with pesto, mozz, sausage and tomatoes. A kind of lasagne in a cup. I got three bowls of that to go. I have fans at home of anything vaguely lasagne. Everything was a hit with the home team. Great service and good value. On the way home, some idiot ran the stop at 46th and Lawton and my bag of soups toppled over. Shout out to the handled bag that I grabbed for the save.. for it stayed intact. Shout out to the soup containers! They didn't leak a drop.

Staff is friendly and service were good, the grilled cheese and the soup even better. Takes a while to get counter space but worth the wait.

Keep coming back for more! It's so fun to try the rotating flavors every week and chat with everyone in here. The jambalaya might be a new favorite of mine, I loved it. I usually see John (owner), Wes, or Gigi working when I go in and they all make it that much better- always kind and fun environment. Will continue to be a regular here

Our first time here, we tried a few sandwiches and soups to-go. Service was friendly and its a cozy little spot. They source their yummy bread from the next door Andytown Coffee. The stand out tonight was the Smelty sandwich (pro tip- add the homemade kimchee) and the Tomato soup. This combo hit the spot on a cold night. The Clam Chowder was also pretty good. My wife usually prefers clam chowder but tonight preferred the tomato, she was hoping the clam chowder would be thicker/creamier. Overall, it's great to have Rusty Ladle in the neighborhood, we're looking forward to coming back soon (that French onion oxtail they posted on IG looked amazing, hope it goes back on the menu!).

I gotta say, I had my doubts about a soup place in the neighborhood. We waited for it to open and it was worth the wait. Best clam chowder I've ever had! Let me disclaim to each their own first. This is not your Safeway style thick white glob. If you're looking for that rich clam flavor with chunks of clam, search no more. The clam chowder is their flagship, but I've also tried their gumbo (smokey and spicy) and curry spinach lentil. They don't disappoint. And let me tell you about their bread. You just can't have a soup without proper bread. It's delightful! Do they make this in house? I've never seen heard about schiacciata. It's light and chewy. I'd eat that by itself! The folks there are very nice. It's got that local neighborhood feel of being welcoming. And somehow, they manage to keep changing up the amazing soups week to week... definitely keeps us coming back!

Had an extremely enjoyable lunch here today. It's counter-service and the servers are all warm, friendly, and kind. Our soups were equal parts familiar, comforting, and inventive! The grilled cheese is not to be missed either! A perfect cloudy day stop - we'll definitely be returning.

John and the team have created something special in the Outer Sunset! Amazing soups with new ones each week. Sandwiches are awesome. Bread pudding kills it. Every neighborhood in San Francisco needs a Rusty Ladle

Love the Matzaball Soup, Clam Chowder. Very friendly service, we need more soup. I will return and tell my friends.

Nothing really special about it. Limited seating inside (just counter) and terrible outside seating. Hard wood seats and not really sheltered and when the wind picks up which is frequent, it is unbearable. Sandwiches are limited to a grill cheese type and one with cold cuts. Nice bread though. Soup is okay, but seems pricey for being out in the deep Sunset. Lots of good reviews, but not for me.

If 0 is an available rating, I would select that!!! Service was at best "Rusty" (borderline racism). The soup was far from spectacular. Did not deserve my patronage.

I love that there's a soup spot in my neighborhood! The interior is cool and casual, and the staff I've interacted with are always friendly. I've had both the clam chowder and jambalaya.. so comforting!

Holy cow, happened upon this new spot next to my fav coffee in SF. Clam Chowder was devine. My friends and I shared both sandwiches available, both delicious, but that grilled cheese is life changing. If there were 500 stars I would rate 500. Service was also friendly and fast. 100% recommend.

One of my new favorite places! Just discovered it this month and I've gone at least once a week. I've had a few different soups and they've all been amazing. Service is pretty quick whether you're dining in or getting take out.

Great soups, tried the clam chowder & the chicken, both were delicious. Service was quick & friendly, it's a good way to warm up on a cold SF day!

It pains me to rate them this low because they're small and local, and I want them to do well. TL, DR; the best part of my meal was the bread on the side. I love a good stew and was excited to get the beef stew, but this was more a soup than a stew. It came out warm, not hot. The flavour was bland, and the vegetables were obviously frozen. The peas tasted like they were poured in frozen and just warmed up. The closest comparison I can give you is that it reminds me of the slightly underwhelming soup at say Whole Foods. The bread was actually good. If you're a local, might be worth a try. But I wouldn't make a trip to get it.

My son went here with his friends and are reporting back epic results. They loved their grilled cheeses, which had just the right ratio of cheese to bread and with a crisp and tasty crust. Service was quick and friendly. Nice outdoor seating.

Finally my husband and I got to try Rusty Ladle! We are so excited about this place as there's not too many good soup places anymore. From our visit, we were able few items on the menu: Tomato soup for the grilled cheese sandwich, savory bread pudding, clam chowder and potato leek. As a bonus, the owner who was super nice gave a sample of the gumbo and the collard green soup with beans. Everything was delicious! Unlike some soup places that are just full of butter and cream, this place actually offers so much flavor in each items. Service was outstanding and eatery has a great vibe. We highly recommend!

Great local spot. Grilled cheese is amazing. Soups are also amazing. John and his team are friendly. We'll be back again and again. Or just get it to go and walk home. Thanks!

Another superstar joins the NoNo (North of Noriega) restaurant bonanza. Start with the idiosyncratic, exquisite "Bodega Bay Style Clam Chowder--Bacon on the side,Clams, Leeks, Cream, Red Potato, Celery, Onions." As tasty as any in this town. The mortadella/provelone etc. "Magnifica" sandwich was light and yummy. The perfect lunch on the way to checking out the controversial Great Highway Park. (And/or grabbing a cone at nearby Polly Ann Ice Cream.)

Top 3 clam chowder soup and grilled cheese that I've ever had in my life! Amazing sandwiches too!

The chowder is delicious ! The grilled cheese is spectacular- dipped in a little tomato soup - soooo good! I ended up getting two quarts of soup to go . Nice space and nice people.

Delicious soups, sandwiches were stellar and the beers on tap were a fantastic complement to the food. 2 soups are standard and 2 rotate on a weekly basis. Great place and wonderful staff make this a place to regularly visit.

Outstanding. Not only is this a smart concept to set up a high quality soup place by the ocean but to collaborate with fellow biz next door - Andytown Coffee Roasters. The soups are amazing. We had the chowder and tomato soups, a panini sandwich, and focaccia bread for tomato soup dipping. We paired that with two great draft beers. This place, is a winner. The service and ambiance can't be beat.

For out-of-this world tomato soup and clam chowder served by wonderful owners, then visit The Rusty Ladle.