Time At The Counter

It was a grey morning today. My hair was dripping wet from my morning swim and the cold wind was chilling my brain to the bone. My optometrist appointment was 30 minutes off and I needed a warm cup of coffee and some comfort food. West Portal is what I call an 'old lady' neighborhood. There is a plethora of hair boutiques, doctor's offices, fruit stands, two drugstores a movie theater, Old Krakow restaurant and not much else. Except... Manor Coffee Shop. To say that this place is a throwback would not do it justice. This is a true coffee counter diner without the irony. There's a few Marilyn posters up for that 50's diner look, but they don't mean anything by them. Doris Day and Dean Martin are on the jukebox, not to be cute, but because that's the clientele's tunes. This is not a kitschy, novelty food, joint. The patty melts are greasy, the eggs are runny, the waffles have burnt edges and the bacon is perfect. There is nothing better.

I saddled up on a red bar stool and was given hot diner coffee, a glass of water and a hearty "good morning" by the uniformed waitress.  I ordered a #2 (yes by the number), read the paper, eavesdropped a bit and waited for my perfectly crispy hashbrowns.

Sated by my breakfast and warmed by a few cups of promptly refilled coffee, I paid in cash (no cards of course since their register is from 1940), bundled up and headed back out into the modern world.

Manor Coffee Shop
321 W Portal Ave # A
San Francisco, CA 94127

Enjoy!
EB

Comments

[Erin]

There is something about the culture of diners that is so comforting and beautiful. Glad to learn about this one!!

[EB]

Erin-
I definitely second that motion!