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BALLIN’ ON A BUDGET
This week features some smaller openings around town, plus new places to go for brunch, and, how charming, they’re not all gonna leave you broke. Besides, some of us self-employed types are still reeling from those pesky tax quarterlies that were just due, blergh.
Pizza-man-about-town Jeff Krupman (aka the PizzaHacker, known for his FrankenWeber mobile pizza oven) has pulled it on over and has been softly opening his first brick-and-mortar spot in La Lengua-Bernal, aptly named PizzaHacker (3299 Mission, SF. www.thepizzahacker.com). He’s keeping the menu pared down, with pies like a classic margherita, although some have fun names and ingredient combos like the Yo Vinny (with marinated onions, Mama Lil’s pickled goat horn peppers, 4505 hot Italian sausage, tomato sauce, mozzarella), and the Rocket Man (arugula, garlic, mozzarella, farm egg, lemon juice, chili paste).
For now, pizzas are $15 during the opening weeks — but the pricing may change a bit in the future, just FYI. There’s also a killer salad, check it out. The space is pretty bare bones, with seating at picnic tables or the bar. Yay, there’s local beer and wine too. It’s mostly open Thu–Sun at 5:30pm, but check out the schedule on the website or on Twitter (@pizzahacker) before heading over.
Downtown workers have a couple new options to add to their lunchtime mix, or for post-work dinnertime. It’s OK, we know your fridge is empty. First up, Bun Mee (650 Market, SF. www.bunmee.co) has opened a second location, with the same menu as the original location on Fillmore. You can order Vietnamese sandwiches (you have to try the sloppy bun, trust, and get an egg on it!), along with salads, and other items that are good for eating at your desk, like rice and noodle bowls. And get a coconut sandwich cookie, because hey, you’re worth it. Open daily 10:30am–9pm.
There’s no denying that the burgers at Super Duper are pretty fricking good — it’s all about the double patty action on the Super burger. You now have another location to hit up: The latest location to open is in the Financial District at 98 Mission (www.superdupersf.com). Hours are Mon–Fri 7am–8pm and Sat–Sun 11am–6pm.
You dig brunch? You’re a San Franciscan, of course you do. One new brunch service that was just added to our scene is on Saturdays at St. Vincent (1270 Valencia, SF. www.stvincentsf.com) in the Mission. Come by noon–3pm for an East Coast fave like scrapple with fried eggs, or a new-fangled rye waffle with mixed winter citrus, pecans, hickory syrup, and sour cream. Also very au courant SF: a variety of toast toppings on country bread, like cultured butter with persimmon jam. Oysters on the half shell, yep. And more wine and tasty beers than you’d know what to do with! Start with some coffee from Bicycle Coffee Co., however. Pace yourself.
Also in the Mission: the folks at Hi Lo (3416 19th St., SF. www.hilobbqsf.com) are serving Sunday brunch (11am–2:30pm), and this menu is not gonna let you be hungry for long. You’ll find some Southern-inspired numbers, like shrimp and grits with andouille sausage and chicken fried steak and eggs, plus classics like a Benedict with house-cured ham. Those looking for lighter choices — i.e. people on a January diet — can opt for house-smoked salmon on lavash or fruit with yogurt. Lemon-ricotta pancakes: always a win. There’s a selection of brunch cocktails, like a jerked Bloody Mary with pork fat–washed rye, Caribbean and house BBQ spice, heirloom tomato, and Youk’s hot sauce. Dude. There are also three “hair of the dog” shot specials for $7 for those who need some healing, stat. Woof.
Marcia Gagliardi is the founder of the weekly tablehopper e-column; subscribe for more at www.tablehopper.com. Get her app: Tablehopper’s Top Late-Night Eats. On Twitter: @tablehopper.