San Francisco: Brunch at Plow

When I was in San Francisco with Tina and Rebecca, we had already mapped out a plan for our dining adventures long before the trip because when you’re traveling with foodies, food is always first priority. One of the places that had made it on our list was Plow, which is a popular spot for breakfast and brunch.

Plow was quite a walk from our hotel, but we were up early due to jet lag, and didn’t mind a bit of morning exercise. You can’t make reservations at Plow, and our hearts sank when, from a distance, we could see that quite a crowd was already waiting outside. We put our names on the waitlist and were told that it might be more than an hour’s wait. There’s nothing worse than waiting when you’re hungry, but with no other eligible options in the area, we found a coffee shop nearby to get a caffeine fix and wait our turn for brunch.

Luckily, the other people at Plow must have eaten quickly that day because a table was ready for us in just 30 minutes. We brought our coffee from the other place with us, and this was fortunate, as Plow only serves drip coffee, not fancy cappuccinos and lattes like the ones we brought along.

I can’t remember if it was Tina or Rebecca who ordered The Plow – a massive brunch plate with fried eggs, lemon ricotta pancakes, and the famous Plow potatoes, served with your choice of pork sausage patties, bacon, or chicken apple sausage. I think it was Rebecca, and I think Tina was the one who had the Prosciutto + Gruyère toast topped with a chili and garlic fried egg.

I was torn between the Custard French Toast with caramelized apple and mascarpone, and the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, so I ended up ordering both, reassured by Tina and Rebecca that they would help me finish, should I give up along the way.

We also added a Buttermilk Biscuit to the order since all of us were curious about the Honey Butter that it came with. Plow bakes Buttermilk Biscuits fresh every day, and once they run out, that’s it. Luckily, they still had biscuits available by the time we were there. I’m still not entirely sure what Honey Butter is, but judging from the name, it’s probably honey mixed with butter? I don’t know, but it tasted really good on the warm biscuit.

For those unfamiliar, biscuits in the U.S. are a kind of scone with a rather dry, crumbly texture. Sometimes they are served with a thick gravy (biscuits & gravy) but you can also have them with butter, honey, and jam.

It was a hearty, delicious brunch that tasted great. I liked how the menu was mainly made up of mainly safe-bet modern brunch classics, because when it comes to brunch, predictability is a good thing if you ask me. I’m fine with saving experimental stuff for other times, when my stomach isn’t roaring.

Plow is a dog-friendly restaurant, so many of the guests at the outdoor tables had their four-legged furry friends with them. I saw that a lot in San Francisco, and I think it’s super cozy!

Plow is for everyone who appreciates a good brunch and doesn’t mind waiting for a table.

Expect to spend $30-$40 + tips.

Plow has something for both the sweet and the savory tooth. If you’re not sure where to start, I’d recommend one of the egg dishes. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, their French toast is amazing, but if you want to order what everybody else is ordering, make sure you get the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. The coffee menu is almost non-existing, so see if you can sneak in your own latte or cappuccino, like we did.

Plow, 1299 18th St, San Francisco