The Grove - Fillmore near California, SF

There are several cafes that over the years have developed a clientele that requires some breakfast and some lunch. I grew up in a cafe like this, the perfect place for students to meet. Of course, I am no longer a teenager, but the allure of a place like the Grove, that serves excellent coffee and offers plenty of space makes this a prime location for the upscale patrons of this neighborhood. I have read reviews of the Grove on several sites, where the reviewer focuses on the food, expecting fare from one of the many upscale eateries in the area, but those reviewers definitely miss the point. This is a place for great coffee to meet friends and have a light meal.

By day, and definitely during the weekend, this cafe, and other locations throughout the city that I have visited, caters to professionals who want to have coffee or even a glass of wine or beer on tap. Normally, I would not review a cafe such as this as a coffee house, but the coffee is exceptional, and several patrons come here primarily for the coffee.

Today, I walked in as the cafe opened at 7 am, on my way to an early 8:30 am dental appointment. I ordered a cappuccino that as usual is exceptional. A medium roast coffee with the perfect consistency of a steam foam cap. At this hour the cafe is empty, and the music plays at a soothing volume. The overcast weather damps down all the sound of the morning. As I sip my cappuccino, contemplating the peace of the morning, I am surrounded by the Woolsey interior, which offers perfect acoustics to hear the sounds of the cafe setting up for business in tha background.

After finishing my cappucino that tasted amazing a half an hour later as I sipped the last of it, I ordered a cup of coffee. The coffee is a medium roast, that goes down smooth with a slight, crisp fruity aftertaste, maybe apricot. As I have said, this is a cafe that serves food. The space is exceptional, well lit, wood furniture and wall panelling, and great acoustics. Come for the coffee, and enjoy a bite to eat. An excellent place to meet a friend, and even, to watch the people that walk up the street or cohabit in this cafe.