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| 4/3 |
| 2009/12/23 [Recreation/Food] UID:53597 Activity:nil Cat_by:auto |
12/23 Mental note to myself:
Ritual Roasters Cafe in San Francisco-- communist star symbol
== lots of wannabe dotcomers.
\_ http://www.ritualroasters.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ritual-coffee-roasters-san-francisco
XO in San Francisco-- lots of hot mamas during midday
\_ http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-xo-san-francisco |
| 4/3 |
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| www.ritualroasters.com -> m.ritualroasters.com/ Ritual Coffee Roasters has been busy developing long-term, sustainable relationships directly with coffee producers since we started roasting in 2006. We seek out exceptional producers who take special care in the cultivation and processing of their coffee and then bring it to you at its peak quality--freshly harvested and carefully shipped. We roast it precisely to bring out the natural sweetness and unique characteristics and hope that you enjoy it as much as we do. |
| www.yelp.com/biz/ritual-coffee-roasters-san-francisco Ethan R San Francisco, CA 4 star rating 12/14/2009 Not being a disaffected hipster, I wasn't sure if I was legally allowed into Ritual, but once I slipped past the guards, I found a damn good cup of coffee in a space which seems to be a pseudo-ode to the defunct Soviet empire. I dig the location right on Valencia, and was simply meeting a friend here, so had no problems either finding a table or a plug for my laptop. Had the Guatemalan drip, and was impressed with the complexity and sweetness for a mass brew. Ross S San Francisco, CA 2 star rating 12/22/2009 This coffee was fair. But what was cool is that everyone here knew each other. It was like Cheers, except Ritual serves coffee instead of pints of oat soda. "Hi Jean, here's your double espresso with a hint of cinnamon" or "Wow, Mike, your baby has gotten so big! Here's your double-decaf with half-and-half and a mint leaf." This is the type of banter you hear on a Saturday morning at Ritual. Of course, they didn't know me, so instead of being like Sam Malone, they were more like Rhea Pearlman's character in Cheers when addressing me: sassy and curt. That's kind of what you hope for in a neighborhood coffee shop-- even one that acquires Yelp accolades like "second best cup of coffee in San Francisco" which is totally false. You'd like to feel like this is YOUR coffee shop, and if you do, you're willing to overlook the fact that they do nothing to resist the trend in SF to not serve non-fat milk (they say it ruins the coffee's taste... On the other hand, the line out the door would imply that I'm wrong and everyone else is right. Unless, of course, you're used to Starbucks, in which case Ritual's java is like God's love served piping hot from hands of angels. Mitsi L San Francisco, CA 5 star rating 11/30/2009 The first time I visited Ritual I was nervous and accidentally ordered the Clover coffee because I thought they used some type of special milk from Clover Dairies. Today I spent $10 on one cup of coffee, but to be fair, I shared some of it. I've been going to Ritual for a while now and my trick is to look at the paper menu before ordering. The one thing about the paper menu is to ignore the descriptions of the coffee and the individual "notes". There is usually a long, drawn out description about how and where the coffee is grown/roasted and what the coffee tastes like ("notes"), generally comparing the taste to sitting outside in a park in Paris on a Spring day with owls and mimes after a revolution while sucking on a lemon drop and getting a petrol massage. My trick is to look for how rare the coffee is and how Ritual isn't going to carry it for much longer because the farmer only made a small batch. This hasn't failed me but the downside is sometimes having to pay $10 for one cup of coffee, which ends up being TOTALLY worth it. Megan B San Francisco, CA 5 star rating 12/23/2009 We found this cafe just by chance but their hot chocolate and cakes were unbelievably tasty! I can say I had the best hot chocolate and cheese cake in my life there! And the atmosphere was cool and relaxing, and their service was kind and friendly. Even if you are NOT an hot chocolate lover, seriously, I recommend you to try it. Amy L San Francisco, CA 4 star rating 12/2/2009 Ritual Coffee, thou art a tasty, heartless hipster Mecca. Your brew excites my palate and nostrils, but the overwhelming number of ironic moustaches plaguing your store both in front of and behind the counter offend my very eyes. You are a vicious, disaffected mistress in skinny jeans, tormenting me with your delicious, chocolatey iced mochas, all the while charging me more than Starbucks and forcing me to sit in a coffee shop with no place to plug in my laptop. Really, this is something Ritual could do something about, and the only reason I took a star off. Well, that and their baked goods are overpriced and mediocre at best. But you didn't come here for the baked goods, now did you... And thank you, thank you, Ritual, for composting and showing us how easily it can be done. Grzegorz M San Francisco, CA 3 star rating 12/4/2009 1 They have good coffee. In short: this place would be a coffeeshop I go to, but it is horribly impractical to go work on my laptop here. Jon D San Francisco, CA 4 star rating 12/13/2009 The house coffee was poured from the same kind of pump dispenser you see at funerals and luncheons, which was odd, considering the reputation of this place. The barista that helped me was friendly but seemed like she was in a hurry to move on to the next customer. Also, the place is such a hipster mecca, I fell like I should resent it just out of principle. However, I also purchased a pound of coffee that had been roasted that day, and the next day when I made it at home in a French Press it turned out fantastic. I enjoy the lighter roast since it brings out the flavors without overdoing it and producing burnt tastes. I definitely have to make a trip across town now every couple of weeks just to pick up fresh roast from Ritual. Diana G San Francisco, CA 4 star rating 11/24/2009 Four stars because I haven't yet decided if this place is too hipster or not. I almost gulped down my latte because it was so delicious, and it came with a fancy foam design to rival any other I've seen (this one was a leaf). There weren't any non-vegan cake options but the one I chose is light and delectable, a chocolate sherry confection of some kind, covered with powdered sugar. The drink service was not as fast as the big chains, which is kind of refreshing. The clientele are a cross-section of money and age, which is always a good sign. Some "ladies who do lunch" were waiting in line, designer bags draped over their arms, and paid with credit card. So there's enough substance--people and refreshment--to keep me coming back. A substantial demographic of the painfully hip, young, white-people-trying-to-be-poor set, but they don't seem to dominate. The insignia above the door looks like a communist sign, but since many patrons are using fancy laptops and paying with credit cards, that would be a consistency FAIL if I'm right about the symbol. The whole neighborhood is, though, so maybe that's good. H N San Francisco, CA 1 star rating 12/19/2009 Terrible service. I asked the mission hipster behind the counter if they have any whole milk so I can put a splash in my coffee. He replies, "we're in conservation mode, we only have one container left." The helpful staff at Four Barrels is getting my business. I ordered a drip coffee of the day - auuuggghh - too floral, too Sumatra-y. I'm an Italian / French Roast man - gimme that burned note every time. I approached the grrrl on point, "This is ok, I'm just not fan of floral coffees... She says, "Listen, let me do you an Americano, it's cool." Thanks for *totally* taking care of me, blonde bob Ritual grrl. Martha B Los Angeles, CA 1 star rating 11/23/2009 We did not like the flavor of this espresso at all, even when I made some at home with a longer pull than their few drops of acid in a cup. The young guy making our shots was very unfriendly and I didn't see one smile behind that counter. Why does someone making my coffee treat me like a lesser being? I have a real job, a cool one, with a salary, and yet I don't treat people like crap, even those making my coffee. Zeke A Foster City, CA 1 star rating 11/17/2009 I'd go negative if I could. Rude service (hipsters who are "too cool for you" work here). I love the fact they are trying to be green, but who cares about that if the people working suck. Lydia W Berkeley, CA 3 star rating 11/13/2009 I am averaging my experiences here. Waited in line/at the counter for 20-30 minutes for a beautiful foam-art cappuccino. I held on tight to my almost-scalding cup to stay warm and let the yummy soy cap heat up my esophagus. I drank like 85% of it but I didn't enjoy 60% of my drinking experience. Was it my bad to not add any cream or sugar to an americano? Apparently the French Press Coffee has nothing on Cole Coffee in Berkeley. I think I'll stick with the lattes/cappuccinos if I meander over here again... Jeff G San Francisco, CA 3 star rating 12/12/2009 Dear Comrad... |
| www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-xo-san-francisco clay s San Francisco, CA 2 star rating 12/15/2009 The food choices here are solid. Not so much for a vegan like myself, but I often get stuff for my busy student girlfriend. Their egg and cheese bagel is very substantial, and tasty I'm told. Several of them are just curt and unknowledgeable -- particularly this one Hispanic girl who looks to be in her late 20's and often takes the orders. I finally decided to write this review when I walked in today and she was on her mobile phone finishing up a phone call. As if it wasn't already unprofessional enough for her to be on the phone in plain view (as opposed to behind the coffee machines for instance), she didn't immediately put the phone away saying, "I have a customer" when I approached the till. She just stared right at me, finishing up her phone call for about 10 full seconds. To me, good baristas make about 40% of the experience of a caf. I would never go to this place if it weren't 2 blocks from my house. Ryan L San Francisco, CA 2 star rating 11/26/2009 Does the woman behind the counter really need to be loudly gabbing away on her cell phone as she makes the latte? Maybe that has something to do with me being served the wrong cup of joe. If the staff can be whipped into shape, this place has real potential. Luscious-looking pastries and nice stylish atmosphere make me want to give this place a second chance. Let's just hope the barista runs out of minutes on her cell phone plan. kat r San Francisco, CA 2 star rating 12/5/2009 i really want to like this place since its so close to my house and right off the j church. but their coffee is mediocre and overpriced, and the staff are really rude, loud, not helpful, and need to learn a thing or two about making coffee. ill go to martha's or nervous dog any day over this place. And I'm not even talking about the rumble of the passing J-Church or the whirring of the milk steamer. For whatever reason, the customers here think it is perfectly acceptable to shout from one end of the cafe to their friends at the other end, where screaming children are a regular occurrance, where the finer art of talking quietly on your cell phone or to your tablemate is lost. The tables fill up frequently and the customers feel to need to raise their own voices in order to be heard over the cacaphony surrounding them. Nadia P San Francisco, CA 1 star rating 11/13/2009 The lady with the short hair was really rude, a double latte to stay was in a mug, barely any weak foam and tasted like a single tall rather than the double I asked for. For the amount they charge for espresso drinks, the baristas seriously need to be retrained. When I was there this morning, 5 out if 6 people ordered soy coffees & I was no exception. Just the lightest sprinkle of cinnamon & I had a warm, velvety, creamy latte to welcome me to my day Since I'm traveling this wknd, thought a nice sugary treat would be appropriate to pair w/ my coffee so I opted for Choc Chip Cookie..... was just a bit underdone which is exactly how I like them - delish! Elena C San Diego, CA 3 star rating 9/15/2009 WAY to expensive, but they make a good Chai lattte. Often I'll come here after putting my name on the wait list for brunch at Toast Eatery a block away. Vanessa W Daly City, CA 4 star rating 10/6/2009 Ok, first of all, what happened to the hours? Overall, a nice neighborhood coffee shop with free wifi. Other reviewers hit the description pretty well, the place is always clean, cute, and cozy. Gabriel T San Francisco, CA 2 star rating 10/5/2009 I think this cafe is ok. It is expensive, and I felt like I should of just made my own coffee and pastry. It's a nice cafe to spend a your time reading your paper, but it's also small and it's hard to find a place to sit at times. miika m San Francisco, CA 4 star rating 1/28/2009 la la la Anything for a neighborhood cafe joint that reminds me of the little tea tents that may have been erected during the Victorian days replete with cute outdoor furniture and charming accoutrements that detract from the modernity hustling away on rails right outside. I stepped in because my date was putting our names down for brunch at Toast down the street and my obvious caffeine addiction had already kicked in: meaning I was not up to my spastic verbal self. The staff are pretty laid back and especially nice if they personally know you. An extra star for their obvious love for pups of the day since they let dogs on the outdoor bench as well as a watering bowl. My latte was extra hot, just like I ordered and ready to go. If you can afford to live in Noe Valley, then expect a slightly higher tab. Carmen H Daly City, CA 3 star rating 3/21/2009 This is not my usual neighborhood ( I live in Daly City ) but I went in today to see friends who were visiting from Orange County. The grandma in the group used to work at the produce market across the street and it was a warm reunion for our enclave. I spent a good 15 minutes perusing the menu and ogling the fabulous desserts, finally choosing a latte and chocolate cheesecake ( my friend was paying ). Had I been alone, I would have gone berserk and indulged in far more of their tempting offerings ( especially on the dessert menu ). The place is a bit small and the tables are as well - so there wouldn't have been enough room for the feast I was contemplating ( just as well ). I didn't go into the back area which was full but looked quite comfy with sofas and folks relaxed with their newspapers and treats. Parking is a bear - I made several trips around the block before a space opened up right in front. Jason B San Francisco, CA 2 star rating Updated - 2/14/2009 I wish I could give XO more stars. As I wrote before, nice ambiance, and the service is friendly. My sandwich was so so, though the salad on the side was a nice addition. I think that is excessive, and tend to yelp down because of it. Not the worst place to end up, but one can do better (try Nervous Dog down the street). Cool 1 Previous Review: Show all * 3 star rating 6/22/2008 Lots of mini reviews in this experience: - Five stars for 1) letting me see the yogurt container to... David J San Francisco, CA 4 star rating 3/3/2009 For me, a coffee shop is a place to read, chat, and feel comfortable like it's my own personal office. Located on 30th and Church, XO is a quiet coffee shop, and a perfect destination for a cold rainy day. With a fireplace in the back, surrounded by comfy love seats, XO is a warm and friendly place to sit back, read, and enjoy a latte. XO lacks several outlets, which can be a problem when trying to work on a laptop, but usually, the place is not packed and so it's not an issue. Chris O San Francisco, CA 1 star rating 12/28/2008 Though it gets decent marks for charm, I can't recommend this place. Stopped by for a quick bagel sandwich and latte to go and was stunned by: 1) the service. I had to remind them to make my sandwich and then they brought it out without the egg I requested. When I told them I asked for egg, the cashier said she didn't charge me for egg, but then checked the tape and realized that she did. I wouldn't call myself a coffee snob, but this stuff was not drinkable; I didn't sample any of the pastries, but I won't be returning to give them a try. Lola L San Francisco, CA 5 star rating 8/12/2008 For a quick lunch, I usually hit this spot. It's not always busy and when it is, the service is fast and always with a smile! Today i wasn't in the mood to be adventurous so I had the BLT on wheat. It was pretty good and fresh, the same thing I could make at home. Unlike most places there were 5+ strips of bacon on there and not a meager strip or two. It came with a salad and orange slices on the side to compliment the sandwich. Most of the sandwiches are under $10 so you cant beat that. Jars of brownies, macaroons, biscotti and a display case with pastries. Bronze buckets of water, pellegrino, orangina, snapple and oj and apple juice. For a morning pick-me-up, they've got my white mocha with soy. Reggie G Washington, DC 4 star rating 5/18/2009 It's pretty cute in here and they have big comfy chairs. There is something missing, not sure what it is, but that... |