Olea: The Quintessential Brunch At Olea

Brunch is probably my favorite meal of the day. Sitting in a quaint restaurant with a cup of coffee and orange juice to start off the weekend or basking in the sun in an outdoor patio makes waking up early on the weekends much more bearable. San Francisco embraces brunch with the diversity of all the eclectic neighborhoods that comprise the city. In comparison to New York, these districts of San Francisco are much more accessible than the boroughs of the Big Apple. Depending on what neighborhood you live in or care to venture out to, you will find what your heart desires, whether it be an eggs benedict, huevos rancheros, or simply buttermilk waffles.

Olea is one of my favorite brunch spots in the city. From its location in Nob Hill on the corner of California and Larkin, you can hear and see the vibrations from the cable car running up and down California Street. Olea is the epitome of what a San Francisco restaurant should be: simple and delicious. The restaurant sits below a three story building, giving patrons an intimate atmosphere of dining in someone's home.

The menu changes frequently depending on their ingredients but there is one constant on their menu that everyone comes for: The Challah French Toast. The texture of the bread comes out light and fluffy, lightly dusted with cinnamon and sugar, topped with fresh strawberries. I would recommend sharing with the table as everyone is going want to a bite as soon as they see it. My go to always consists of the Eggs Cazuela, which is translated as baked eggs in a dish. The poached eggs usually come with kale or spinach, ground pork, and bacon. This dish also comes with three pieces of toasted baguette to dip into the soupy goodness.

If you're in the mood for something more on the heartier lunch side, I would definitely recommend the Pulled Pork Sandwich which comes a side of Olea's amazing fries. One of the best things about Olea's brunch is the Blue Bottle Coffee they serve in a French Press. They also serve Stevia as a sugar alternate!

If you're in town next time and looking for a brunch spot for a small party, definitely add Olea to your list.