Matching Half Cafe

It all started as a bagel stand and expanded into a made from scratch diner. My combo, pictured, was excellent (although I prefer coaster, stone ground grits). The eggs bene were so-so (a little skimpy on the hollandaise), the salad was a show stopper and home made bagel good (depending on the type you like).

Early to Rise is like if a chic modern diner and SF brunch culture had a baby—with excellent taste and zero chill on weekends. Nestled in the NoPa neighborhood, this place is bright, airy, and absolutely not messing around when it comes to brunch. The staff? Super sweet. The crowds? Absolutely feral by 10 a.m. If you roll up without a resy on a weekend, that’s a bold choice. Good luck. Now, let’s talk food. The eggs Benedict come with a runny, sous-vide egg situation and a brown butter hollandaise that could honestly win awards. It’s rich, buttery, and just tangy enough to give you feels. The white cheddar grits? Creamy. Dreamy. Like a weighted blanket for your stomach. And listen, I’m not usually about the sweet breakfast life, but one bite of the French toast had me rethinking my choices. Custardy, thick, not tooth-achingly sweet. I would fight a child for another slice. DO. NOT. SKIP. THE. DONUTS. Get all of them for the table. You’re welcome. In short: Early to Rise is a brunch baddie. It’s got style, substance, and housemade everything. Go early. Book the damn res. And order like you mean it. I did—and I regret nothing.

One of the best brunch places I’ve had food. Please reserve before you go :) the place gets very busy so recommend to have your spot prior and enjoy a great ambiance and excellent food

Dušan

Very busy and vibrant spot. Our server Brian was so nice and accommodating as well the host, that offered coffee while waiting for the table. What I really like is the simplicity of the menu, fresh ingredients and not overwhelming portions of the food. Cherry 🍒 on the top was the chef Andrew 👨‍🍳 that approached each table ensured that each table is satisfied with the food, this place care and that's something we appreciate. We will be back indeed. Thanks everyone once again, especially lovely Chef Andrew!

LisboaMac

Visited Christmas Eve and was quickly seated at the bar. The ambiance was great, open airy and bright with a buzz in the air from customer chatter and the busy servers hustling really well presented platters from the open kitchen. Noise was moderate, but conversation was easy. I started with a Bloody Mary + House smoked bacon which was really tasty. When my order arrived ( Shrimp & Grits ) one glance told me to get ready for something special and I was not disappointed! Just beautiful with a perfectly poached egg, 5 good sized shrimp on a bed of grits surrounded by a delicious sauce loaded with finely sliced peppers, mushrooms, onions and small bits of bacon. What I really enjoyed was the interaction of the various flavors like the soft egg yolk oozing onto the grits and sauce then taking a bite of shrimp and tasting the freshness explode in your mouth. I actually had to tell myself to slow down and savor this well created dish. A final observation on this and the other dishes I saw as they passed by was that the portions served are, by any standard generous, and a good value. Yes I will definitely return!

Pamela L

Located in a quiet neighborhood. Staff makes you feel welcome. Great brunch food. Parking is nil. The restaurant has lots of natural light which makes it welcoming in a pleasant atmosphere. All food ordered were well plated, inviting and tasty. Coffee and water were constantly refilled.

Oneill Mclean

Early to Rise was solid but didn’t quite blow us away. I came with my partner and a few friends we tried the Up & At’em, the eggs Benedict, and the shrimp and grits. The portions were generous and everything was well-prepared, but flavor wise, it leaned more safe than standout. The shrimp and grits had a nice texture, though it could’ve used a bit more punch. Service was friendly, and the vibe was laid-back and cozy. Overall, a decent brunch spot, just not a must-return for us.

Faray Almazrouei

Early to Rise in San Francisco feels like the kind of brunch spot that was built with love from the ground up. The energy is warm and welcoming, almost like stepping into a friend’s kitchen where everything is made from scratch and served with care. Their brunch plates have that perfect balance—hearty, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared—where every bite tells you it was crafted with real ingredients and patience. It’s the sort of place that makes you slow down, enjoy the morning, and appreciate how good food can set the tone for the whole day.

Eric Sanne

It all started as a bagel stand and expanded into a made from scratch diner. My combo, pictured, was excellent (although I prefer coaster, stone ground grits). The eggs bene were so-so (a little skimpy on the hollandaise), the salad was a show stopper and home made bagel good (depending on the type you like).

maia tidwell

Midweek brunch. Light airy space that easily allowed for conversation . Each of us got a different savory dish and tried a couple donuts. The special donut was passion fruit with coconut. Good, but the regular one was better. The samusa pancake doesn't come with an egg, but I might suggest one . The Benedict had the biggest slabs of Canadian bacon. Super yum. The bacon on the BLT was delicious! The shrimp and grits was the standout dish in terms of being so unusual for the area and so good. The roasted shrimp broth was beautiful and full of shrimp and pepper rings. The salads, the arugula with the benefits, the herb arugula with mint for the samusa were light and perfectly dressed. I might go back for the salad entree with delicata squash. The service was friendly and attentive but forgot our drinks. I imagine this place is hopping for weekend brunch. We didn't need reservations and found easy street parking but I bet it's different on a weekend or holiday. Will be back.

Brianny Gonzalez

OMG ACTUALLY THE BEST BREAKFAST I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. everything is made in house from scratch so everything is fresh. also all staff is so kind and attentive. YOU MUST TRY ! :)

Catherine de Frates

Great food and people! We got the Lox bagel platter to share between 3 of us since we weren’t too hungry, and they were delish! The baker, Andrew, came out to ask how we liked the bagels and indulged me by letting me ask a ton of questions and describing his process. I’d recommend stopping by!

Rose Y

Great service, creative new twist on familiar dishes. Some you may not find elsewhere. Be aware, there’s often long wait, but definitely worth it. A must try.

Jerry James Stone

Early to Rise is like if a chic modern diner and SF brunch culture had a baby—with excellent taste and zero chill on weekends. Nestled in the NoPa neighborhood, this place is bright, airy, and absolutely not messing around when it comes to brunch. The staff? Super sweet. The crowds? Absolutely feral by 10 a.m. If you roll up without a resy on a weekend, that’s a bold choice. Good luck. Now, let’s talk food. The eggs Benedict come with a runny, sous-vide egg situation and a brown butter hollandaise that could honestly win awards. It’s rich, buttery, and just tangy enough to give you feels. The white cheddar grits? Creamy. Dreamy. Like a weighted blanket for your stomach. And listen, I’m not usually about the sweet breakfast life, but one bite of the French toast had me rethinking my choices. Custardy, thick, not tooth-achingly sweet. I would fight a child for another slice. DO. NOT. SKIP. THE. DONUTS. Get all of them for the table. You’re welcome. In short: Early to Rise is a brunch baddie. It’s got style, substance, and housemade everything. Go early. Book the damn res. And order like you mean it. I did—and I regret nothing.

Gangadharan Esakki

One of the best brunch places I’ve had food. Please reserve before you go :) the place gets very busy so recommend to have your spot prior and enjoy a great ambiance and excellent food

11/10 for this place. I am super picky with food being fresh and cooked with some love and care. Unfortunately most restaurants I try in SF fall short. That’s why it was such a pleasant surprise when I visited Early to Rise yesterday. The dishes were well-balanced and well designed, with every ingredient adding an important note into the combination of flavours. All super tasty. The French toast was well soaked and the bread texture was just excellent 👌🏼 Extremely good. This is now saved with a heart on my Google maps and I can’t wait to go again

Not a big review guy, but I had to chime in as I was thoroughly impressed by this spot. It is evident that everything is made from scratch from the donuts to the bread and even the smoked meats. The salted caramel crème donut was the best I’ve ever had without exaggeration. Our server, Brian, was a pro and the chef even stopped by to ask how everything was. These people clearly have passion for what they’re doing here so here’s a shoutout to them :)

Finally came here for brunch on a weekday with my husband. Parking was fairly easy and we were sat right away - the host asked if we had reservations- so I guess you can make reservations….. Server was nice, explained that donuts were being made all day (two styles), so of course I had to have one (rolled in sugar) no picture because it was too delicious we ate it in 2-3 bites. Soft warm and sweet. I ordered the shrimp and grits and he had the basic breakfast. I also had a Bloody Mary and coffee. Shrimp and grits had a generous amount of broth surrounding it-server said this was the chef’s favorite dish and reminiscent of ramen-good description and how I would characterize it as well. It was a tad too seasoned for my taste-the bacon ends and broth added a lot of salt. I would have loved more grits as I think the saltiness would have been well contrasted with the delicious grits. The shrimp were abundant and cooked nicely. I loved the green onions and sliced chili peppers. I would order this again but only with a side of grits. Husband’s food was good. Eggs over easy made perfectly and hash browns had a taste I couldn’t name but it was not like any hash browns I’d tasted before-excellent crispness, bacon perfect and arugula salad added a nice contrast to the meal. Bloody Mary was delicious and you can add a strip of bacon if you wish. Overall a great place for breakfast/brunch. I recommend if you’re in the neighborhood. I know it gets busy on the weekends so plan accordingly! I’ll be back sometime to try the pancakes and French toast.

I went to Early to Rise with some friends a few weeks ago for Sunday morning brunch. This was my first time going! I don’t typically go out for brunch or breakfast so this was a treat. There was about a 35 minute wait for 5 people. Once ready, we were seated in the corner booth which was cozy. A couple of us ordered the rose cardamom latte and I loved it. I’m typically not a floral latte person, but I really enjoyed this one. We started with some of the donuts. We ordered two sugar rolled and two of the daily specials, which ended up being a coconut cream donut. After taste testing both, we all agreed we preferred the sugar rolled donut because it was recently prepared so they were still warm. I ordered the eggs Benedict with bacon and a side salad. Shocker, but this was actually my first time having eggs Benedict and I loved it! The sauce was delicious and my boyfriend who has ordered many eggs Benedict said that it was really tasty. He ordered the blueberry ricotta pancakes and another friend ordered the shrimp and grits. Each plate we ordered was a good portion size. If you don’t mind waiting, I would recommend trying this brunch spot. There is a coffee shop across the street (Matching Half) that I have been to quite a few times and love. If you find yourself needing to wait you could always go across the street and grab a coffee while you wait.

Came here for the first time for my birthday brunch with a couple of friends. You can tell all of the food is made fresh and the portion was pretty good so all of us were stuffed! Pancakes were fluffy and sweet and what stood out to me the most out of the savory options were the eggs Benedict.

We visited Early to Rise on a rainy afternoon, and despite the rain the place was full upholding its reputation of being a neighborhood favorite. My friend got us a reservation in advance, so we didn't wait in line. Food 4/5 We ordered Eggs Benedict, Potato Samosa Pancake and Persimmon French Toast. I was in love with the Persimmon French Toast - it tasted like fall in all the possible good ways. However, both Eggs Benedict and Potato Samosa were weak for me. I took a mental note to revisit Early to Rise to try out their pancakes, as they are famous for them. Service 5/5 Quick and polite service. Atmosphere 5/5 Loved the ambience Presentation 4/5 Very basic plating Value 4/5 The main dishes cost around $20 per plate. Given SF pricing I think the prices were average.

Liz Cong

Finally came here for brunch on a weekday with my husband. Parking was fairly easy and we were sat right away - the host asked if we had reservations- so I guess you can make reservations….. Server was nice, explained that donuts were being made all day (two styles), so of course I had to have one (rolled in sugar) no picture because it was too delicious we ate it in 2-3 bites. Soft warm and sweet. I ordered the shrimp and grits and he had the basic breakfast. I also had a Bloody Mary and coffee. Shrimp and grits had a generous amount of broth surrounding it-server said this was the chef’s favorite dish and reminiscent of ramen-good description and how I would characterize it as well. It was a tad too seasoned for my taste-the bacon ends and broth added a lot of salt. I would have loved more grits as I think the saltiness would have been well contrasted with the delicious grits. The shrimp were abundant and cooked nicely. I loved the green onions and sliced chili peppers. I would order this again but only with a side of grits. Husband’s food was good. Eggs over easy made perfectly and hash browns had a taste I couldn’t name but it was not like any hash browns I’d tasted before-excellent crispness, bacon perfect and arugula salad added a nice contrast to the meal. Bloody Mary was delicious and you can add a strip of bacon if you wish. Overall a great place for breakfast/brunch. I recommend if you’re in the neighborhood. I know it gets busy on the weekends so plan accordingly! I’ll be back sometime to try the pancakes and French toast.

Isabel Hernandez

I went to Early to Rise with some friends a few weeks ago for Sunday morning brunch. This was my first time going! I don’t typically go out for brunch or breakfast so this was a treat. There was about a 35 minute wait for 5 people. Once ready, we were seated in the corner booth which was cozy. A couple of us ordered the rose cardamom latte and I loved it. I’m typically not a floral latte person, but I really enjoyed this one. We started with some of the donuts. We ordered two sugar rolled and two of the daily specials, which ended up being a coconut cream donut. After taste testing both, we all agreed we preferred the sugar rolled donut because it was recently prepared so they were still warm. I ordered the eggs Benedict with bacon and a side salad. Shocker, but this was actually my first time having eggs Benedict and I loved it! The sauce was delicious and my boyfriend who has ordered many eggs Benedict said that it was really tasty. He ordered the blueberry ricotta pancakes and another friend ordered the shrimp and grits. Each plate we ordered was a good portion size. If you don’t mind waiting, I would recommend trying this brunch spot. There is a coffee shop across the street (Matching Half) that I have been to quite a few times and love. If you find yourself needing to wait you could always go across the street and grab a coffee while you wait.

Sarina Iwai

Came here for the first time for my birthday brunch with a couple of friends. You can tell all of the food is made fresh and the portion was pretty good so all of us were stuffed! Pancakes were fluffy and sweet and what stood out to me the most out of the savory options were the eggs Benedict.

Manana Hakobyan

We visited Early to Rise on a rainy afternoon, and despite the rain the place was full upholding its reputation of being a neighborhood favorite. My friend got us a reservation in advance, so we didn't wait in line. Food 4/5 We ordered Eggs Benedict, Potato Samosa Pancake and Persimmon French Toast. I was in love with the Persimmon French Toast - it tasted like fall in all the possible good ways. However, both Eggs Benedict and Potato Samosa were weak for me. I took a mental note to revisit Early to Rise to try out their pancakes, as they are famous for them. Service 5/5 Quick and polite service. Atmosphere 5/5 Loved the ambience Presentation 4/5 Very basic plating Value 4/5 The main dishes cost around $20 per plate. Given SF pricing I think the prices were average.

I feel really bad writing this message because the manager came around before I left and asked if I "enjoyed everything". I absolutely did not enjoy the food. I found it to be the most elaborate yet tasteless plate of food I've had in awhile. I've ordered shrimp and grits all over this country and this was the worst. My friend and I were excited about the communal concept and planned to order and share 3 items. We ended up with two. After one bite of my shrimp and grits I didn't bother to taste hers. The roux was dark but tasted like Campbell's broth and the paprika was expected to carry the dish. These shrimp and grits weren't for me. The flavors are underdeveloped.

Chanae P

I feel really bad writing this message because the manager came around before I left and asked if I "enjoyed everything". I absolutely did not enjoy the food. I found it to be the most elaborate yet tasteless plate of food I've had in awhile. I've ordered shrimp and grits all over this country and this was the worst. My friend and I were excited about the communal concept and planned to order and share 3 items. We ended up with two. After one bite of my shrimp and grits I didn't bother to taste hers. The roux was dark but tasted like Campbell's broth and the paprika was expected to carry the dish. These shrimp and grits weren't for me. The flavors are underdeveloped.

K C

Food and service were both good….I just don’t know that I would wait in a long line for this place, given there are so many other places you can brunch at for a fraction of the price without the long lines. Good thing we had reservations but if I had to wait in line like all the others, I’d go elsewhere. There’s lots of neighborhood parking with just a 4-5 min walk. Would go back if someone suggested it, but I wouldn’t voluntarily go back.

Dixun Cui

Extremely disappointing and frustrating. We had a reservation for 4 for brunch and our whole party was there on time. However, we had to wait 45 minutes beyond our reservation time until we were seated. After we were finally seated and we ordered, it took another 30 minutes for the food to come out. We got the shrimp and grits and up and at em. They were alright, but definitely expected better with the high price and limited menu selection. I will not be coming back and encourage anyone to go to one of the countless better brunch spots in SF that are better run with more worthwhile food.

Audrey

Food tasted ok, but all had really weird textures. The pancakes were overly soft, wet, and tasted like mush. The eggs benedict had the opposite problem, and were impossible to get through. Vibes were good but the food is not.