Tarragon Cafe

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting Tarragon Cafe for a business meeting, and I was thoroughly impressed. As I arrived a bit early and found a cozy spot by the large windows, I noticed the staff didn't bat an eye at me sitting alone at a larger table before my companions arrived. Their relaxed and accommodating attitude made me feel right at home. For my meal, I savored the Veggie Frittata with a side salad, accompanied by a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and a delightful low ABV wine cocktail. Meanwhile, my friend enjoyed the pesto chicken panini with chips. Our colleagues, who were interviewing us for the SF Chronicle, indulged in iced coffees and muffins. Every dish was an experience, prompting us to pause our conversation repeatedly to appreciate the exquisite flavors. The staff at Tarragon Cafe were not only attentive but also incredibly friendly and personable, adding an extra layer of warmth to our dining experience. The ambiance of the cafe was inviting, with plenty of natural sunlight streaming in through the large windows. Though outdoor seating was available, we opted to sit inside and enjoy the cozy atmosphere. If I were to nitpick, the only slight downside was that the music was a tad too loud for our liking, but it didn't detract significantly from the overall experience. So, Tarragon Cafe exceeded our expectations in every aspect. Whether it's for a business meeting, work/study, or a casual bite, I highly recommend visiting this charming establishment.

Best staff ever - in our few days visiting they helped guide us to some great spots and we were in a first name basis! Food is delicious, go for eggs special or frittata or the danishes! Feels like you’re getting breakfast in your own home (but you’re not making or cleaning). Decorated great too! Can’t say enough great things about this place.

Mario is an absolute master in the kitchen, and a very kind owner. We ate too quick to snap a picture but holy heck is the food here amazing. Will definitely make this my new neighborhood lunch spot.

Had a breakfast sandwich with fruit and a coffee. The food was delicious and coffee was good as well. They have some tables to sit outside or plenty of seating inside. They have wifi but make sure to bring your devices fully charged as I didn't see an outlet to use. Will definitely be back!

Spacious coffee shop with modern vibe, good food options, and friendly staff. I ordered fritatta and it was meticulously prepared, delicious beyond your usual cafe fare. A good place to work - solid wifi, plenty of comfortable seating (indoor and outdoor). Long opening hours.

Hands down Tarragon is the best spot in the Lower Haight. Breakfast, lunch, and (on Fri/Sat) dinner — and it’s all incredible. Highly recommend the Italian panini and Taco Friday!

super great local spot that opened up recently. staff was extremely friendly and food was very yummy! pretty comprable prices with other spots but you get two meals worth of food. look at that ginormous beautiful salad!!

One of the best coffeeshops I came across in San Francisco. Very hospitable barristers. Crafted coffee and a selection of American and German beers. I asked about Belgian beer and they took note of it. Nice outdoor seating. The sun is beautiful in the winter here. Cute neighborhood. I got a beer and they brought me some popcorns to "munch" on.

Awesome. Great cesar salad with amazing homemade dressing. Also the best gluten free panini ever!

The cafe sits under a gorgeous yellow house with green lining ; the sun finds its way to light up the spacious interior and sets it up for conviviality between friends and neighbors, strangers and passersby; comfortable chairs; beautifully stenciled menu; the vegetarian frittata has layers of texture and depth. Instead of being jam packed on a street with many other business , it is more an organic part of a neighborhood.

Italian panini + almond croissant is the perfect combo! Great coffee too

This is, hands-down, the best lunch spot in San Francisco. Every item on the menu is just absolutely delicious. The people who run the place are super friendly. It's sunnier and more relaxing than other cafes in the neighborhood. Even the tea is great! One suggestion: If you get the salmon toast (my favorite thing on the menu), get them to add avocado.

One of the best local cafes in Haight/Hayes/Alamo Square, and not just for morning but evening too!. Not only is the classic cafe fare good (pastries, paninis, coffee, etc), but the weekend night dinner specials are *excellent*. Great restaurant food (yes, at a cafe!) and with great portions for the price. The service and atmosphere are lovely - impeccable vibes. Pro level date spot, with live bluesy music on weekend nights and friendly staff any day of the week. Solid wifi and outlets make it a solid work haunt too.

Jazz Saturday nights! Great place to hang and hear some live music at a reasonable volume

Beautiful space inside and out! Salmon toast was delicious. Will definitely come back for brunch/lunch!

Awesome place for breakfast, so good that I came back almost every morning. The breakfast Sando is really great, filling and with plenty of savors. The team is nice, and I felt welcomed every day.

Their food is so fresh and delicious! The chef is so kind as well. Their bacon is so tasty and crispy, best I’ve had. Highly recommend the breakfast sando and chicken caesar wrap!

After a wet and cold walk, my friends and I went in to have coffee and discuss business. Imagine my surprise when we saw a jazz band. Oh wow! It was love at first sight. We decided to order something and I saw a huge plate with a lot of salad at the next table, it was very beautiful. I asked what it was, and they told me it was sausages. I asked them to cook the same for me. The sausages were very tasty, fresh, juicy. They also brought a whole bunch of greens and vegetables and fried toasts. An incredibly good choice of cafe. Small, but with very good service, clean, jazz is playing. There is something homey and warm in this cafe. People from 18 to 90 years old gathered to listen to jazz. A very diverse audience, but this is what brings people together. Jazz has no age, and this is wonderful.

Their salads are out of this world. My favorite is the chinese chicken salad, my partner prefers their niçoise. I could eat nothing but salads if they were all like Tarragon’s. Hearty portions, friendly staff. There’s usually lots of sitting inside, and there’s a few chairs outside where you can sit with your furry friends. Pictured: side salad, chinese chicken salad, chicken panini.

The coconut soup and Salad were exceptional. The people are very friendly as well. A good place for taking a break in the middle of the day.

I was planning on having lunch with my Burning Man Buddy and my girlfriend to catch up. The destination was Tarragon Cafe. I had never been there before but I heard it was good. My buddy ordered Clam Chowder with Grilled Cheese so I asked for the same. It was a great choice on a beautiful winter day in San Francisco. The cafe is well lit and has ample seating. The staff was friendly and the food came out promptly. The combination of their bread and cheese was delicious. The clam chowder was not bad. The pricing is fair, especially when your buddy pays. Thanks Rob! 10 out of 10, I recommend!

It’s such a nice cafe for a good lunch. Have plenty of seating and the Chinese chicken salad is definitely a go to. They have a new Fillmore chicken Caesar salad wrap that I’ve been meaning to try. Based on the salad I had I’m sure it’s just as good. 10/10 and have WiFi

Dinner is now served Friday and Saturday night. We had the most amazing dinner: Chilean sea bass; cheese polenta and ratatouille. Absolutely exquisite! The beef short rib melts in your mouth. My favorite Café in the city. The food is exquisite and is prepared by the Chef owner Mario whose passion for cooking is demonstrated by all the wonderful offerings. The margarita pizza is a hidden gem with its crispy thin crust and delicious homemade sauce is truly addictive. The salmon toast is probably the best I have ever had with its homemade tzatziki sauce. The atmosphere of the cafe is so friendly and welcoming. I came back and had the salmon toast and it was so delicious. I also tried the various soups of the day, a Thai coconut vegetarian soup with kale and garbanzos and a potato kale soup were exquisite. It is worth coming here for the soup alone. The frittatas are the best I have ever had; I could eat them everyday. The newest additions to the menu are amazing. One of favorites is the croissant bread pudding. It is glorious.

SOLID 5 out of 5! My favorite dish was pork belly banh mi. Trust me, this is THE best banh mi that I have ever had in my life. The bread was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the pork was cooked beautifully (sous vide)! Cilantro did a really great job at bringing out the flavor of pork meat as well. Clam chouder soup is really creamy and flavorful, which was just perfect to warm up my body in the morning on a rainy day. The granola farfait was also great. The fruits were sweet and fresh! My fiancé and I finished all the dishes because they were so good and no, we don’t regret spending $70+ (incl. 3 cups of coffee and tips) at this place. I would definitely come to this place again if I ever get to have a chance to visit SF in the future!

This place is a hidden gem! Salmon toast with side salad is my favorite weekend meal. I have had it numerous times. Tarragon is one of my hands down favorite spots in the city. Their other dishes and beverages are all very tasty as well.

Curses to trained chef & owner Mario for making me enjoy foods I've insisted for years I hate. First it was his clam chowder. No way am I eating anything but Manhattan clam chowder. Same sentiment from my New Yorker neighbor Billy. Ok, how is this possible, the chowder is delicious! Baby steps, on to the mayo situation. I've rejected Tarragon's tuna salad sandwich for a year because it has aioli. To me, aioli is a fancy word for mayo & im not having it. Raw eggs & oil? Disgusting. So, Mario gave me a sample & I grudgingly admitted I loved it. Let's agree to not call it aioli & I'll order the sando weekly. Outdoor tables, large interior, coffee, baguettes, salads, salads, case of tempting pastries & to-go items. There's a lovely wood bar where you can get a glass of wine, or chat with the neighbors. You'll definitely run into them here. Last month I was desperate to not cook when I had somehow invited 4 people over for dinner. What was I thinking? Mario does catering! He made an amazing meal of short ribs, potatoes, salad... perfect. Check out the soup specials. Everyone seems to have their favorite & keep asking when their soup will come back in rotation. I sheepishly admit, for me, it's the clam chowder.

Today i visited this cafe for the first time and i absolutely LOVED it ! I randomly drove by it while looking for a cafe to stop and hang out with my kids while waiting for my husband to get off work. The staff members are super nice, the place is really cute and hip, their coffee and pastries that i ordered were amazing, the whole place is neat and clean , with lots of seating. They have a large variety of menu options. It’s located in a cute area of San Francisco. The vibe there is great and the music they played was just a cherry on top (jazz). I can’t wait to come back here again and again! The only thing i would suggest is maybe adding a changing table in the restroom, i came with my baby and wished they had a place for me to change the baby. Oh also maybe add a little kids corner or books at least or color pages and crayons to keep my kids busy so i can sip my coffee in peace 🙈😅

I really like this place, maybe that why I keep coming back. I have not tried the food yet. That is next. The cappuccino is amazing. Ikeep coming back here, they know how to make a great cappuccino. I've got to try one of their sandwiches sometime. They look really good. If you need that great coffee boost come here.

I’ve been to a lot of cafes in the city & this is one of my favorites - great natural lighting, there’s usually always space, and delicious food. Definitely by far my favorite out of the neighboring cafes. I highly recommend the croissaint bread pudding! The italian panini and chicken caesar wrap are great too :) A solid option to knock out a couple hours of work too - there is free wifi, but the chairs are wooden & no outlets.

So good I went there twice in two days! I’d been long overdue to check out Tarragon since I only live a block away—but I’m so glad I did. This is a lovely spot for breakfast and lunch, and they even play live music on some weekends. This is the type of food that you can tell is made with great care: the owner himself is in the kitchen putting your food together. My first visit I tried the chicken panini, which was delicious, and the next morning I went for the ham breakfast sandwich, which was even better. Ingredients are high quality, the bread is great, the vibes are cozy, local and welcoming—and it sits on a great corner for sitting outside in the sunlight. Next time I think I’ll try the carrot cake!

Ok as a visitor and vicarious local, THIS CAFE IS AMAZING! Vibes are groovy, service is impeccable, BUT THE FOOD is the bomb.com. Best clam chowder I've had in the city and they put so much love into the salads (perfectly seasoned, large, and perfect combo of toppings). The menu is hard to pick from because everything looks so good. And my latte was absolutely perfect. Cannot rave about this place enough!! Screw Boudin, Tarragon Cafe all day and every day! PS: don't mind my sub par photo, dug right and am not the type to do reviews but again this place is outstanding. Thank you for such a beautiful meal moment!!!

Nicole T

Their food is so fresh and delicious! The chef is so kind as well. Their bacon is so tasty and crispy, best I’ve had. Highly recommend the breakfast sando and chicken caesar wrap!

Paola M

Their salads are out of this world. My favorite is the chinese chicken salad, my partner prefers their niçoise. I could eat nothing but salads if they were all like Tarragon’s. Hearty portions, friendly staff. There’s usually lots of sitting inside, and there’s a few chairs outside where you can sit with your furry friends. Pictured: side salad, chinese chicken salad, chicken panini.

Polina Ko

After a wet and cold walk, my friends and I went in to have coffee and discuss business. Imagine my surprise when we saw a jazz band. Oh wow! It was love at first sight. We decided to order something and I saw a huge plate with a lot of salad at the next table, it was very beautiful. I asked what it was, and they told me it was sausages. I asked them to cook the same for me. The sausages were very tasty, fresh, juicy. They also brought a whole bunch of greens and vegetables and fried toasts. An incredibly good choice of cafe. Small, but with very good service, clean, jazz is playing. There is something homey and warm in this cafe. People from 18 to 90 years old gathered to listen to jazz. A very diverse audience, but this is what brings people together. Jazz has no age, and this is wonderful.

JJ Chen

The coconut soup and Salad were exceptional. The people are very friendly as well. A good place for taking a break in the middle of the day.

Jeremy Funes

I was planning on having lunch with my Burning Man Buddy and my girlfriend to catch up. The destination was Tarragon Cafe. I had never been there before but I heard it was good. My buddy ordered Clam Chowder with Grilled Cheese so I asked for the same. It was a great choice on a beautiful winter day in San Francisco. The cafe is well lit and has ample seating. The staff was friendly and the food came out promptly. The combination of their bread and cheese was delicious. The clam chowder was not bad. The pricing is fair, especially when your buddy pays. Thanks Rob! 10 out of 10, I recommend!

Anjelika Petrochenko

This place is a hidden gem! Salmon toast with side salad is my favorite weekend meal. I have had it numerous times. Tarragon is one of my hands down favorite spots in the city. Their other dishes and beverages are all very tasty as well.

kelly ochoa

It’s such a nice cafe for a good lunch. Have plenty of seating and the Chinese chicken salad is definitely a go to. They have a new Fillmore chicken Caesar salad wrap that I’ve been meaning to try. Based on the salad I had I’m sure it’s just as good. 10/10 and have WiFi

David Bain

Dinner is now served Friday and Saturday night. We had the most amazing dinner: Chilean sea bass; cheese polenta and ratatouille. Absolutely exquisite! The beef short rib melts in your mouth. My favorite Café in the city. The food is exquisite and is prepared by the Chef owner Mario whose passion for cooking is demonstrated by all the wonderful offerings. The margarita pizza is a hidden gem with its crispy thin crust and delicious homemade sauce is truly addictive. The salmon toast is probably the best I have ever had with its homemade tzatziki sauce. The atmosphere of the cafe is so friendly and welcoming. I came back and had the salmon toast and it was so delicious. I also tried the various soups of the day, a Thai coconut vegetarian soup with kale and garbanzos and a potato kale soup were exquisite. It is worth coming here for the soup alone. The frittatas are the best I have ever had; I could eat them everyday. The newest additions to the menu are amazing. One of favorites is the croissant bread pudding. It is glorious.

JiYoung Seo

SOLID 5 out of 5! My favorite dish was pork belly banh mi. Trust me, this is THE best banh mi that I have ever had in my life. The bread was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the pork was cooked beautifully (sous vide)! Cilantro did a really great job at bringing out the flavor of pork meat as well. Clam chouder soup is really creamy and flavorful, which was just perfect to warm up my body in the morning on a rainy day. The granola farfait was also great. The fruits were sweet and fresh! My fiancé and I finished all the dishes because they were so good and no, we don’t regret spending $70+ (incl. 3 cups of coffee and tips) at this place. I would definitely come to this place again if I ever get to have a chance to visit SF in the future!

Chef Tony

I really like this place, maybe that why I keep coming back. I have not tried the food yet. That is next. The cappuccino is amazing. Ikeep coming back here, they know how to make a great cappuccino. I've got to try one of their sandwiches sometime. They look really good. If you need that great coffee boost come here.

Lynn Friedman

Curses to trained chef & owner Mario for making me enjoy foods I've insisted for years I hate. First it was his clam chowder. No way am I eating anything but Manhattan clam chowder. Same sentiment from my New Yorker neighbor Billy. Ok, how is this possible, the chowder is delicious! Baby steps, on to the mayo situation. I've rejected Tarragon's tuna salad sandwich for a year because it has aioli. To me, aioli is a fancy word for mayo & im not having it. Raw eggs & oil? Disgusting. So, Mario gave me a sample & I grudgingly admitted I loved it. Let's agree to not call it aioli & I'll order the sando weekly. Outdoor tables, large interior, coffee, baguettes, salads, salads, case of tempting pastries & to-go items. There's a lovely wood bar where you can get a glass of wine, or chat with the neighbors. You'll definitely run into them here. Last month I was desperate to not cook when I had somehow invited 4 people over for dinner. What was I thinking? Mario does catering! He made an amazing meal of short ribs, potatoes, salad... perfect. Check out the soup specials. Everyone seems to have their favorite & keep asking when their soup will come back in rotation. I sheepishly admit, for me, it's the clam chowder.

Inna P.

Today i visited this cafe for the first time and i absolutely LOVED it ! I randomly drove by it while looking for a cafe to stop and hang out with my kids while waiting for my husband to get off work. The staff members are super nice, the place is really cute and hip, their coffee and pastries that i ordered were amazing, the whole place is neat and clean , with lots of seating. They have a large variety of menu options. It’s located in a cute area of San Francisco. The vibe there is great and the music they played was just a cherry on top (jazz). I can’t wait to come back here again and again! The only thing i would suggest is maybe adding a changing table in the restroom, i came with my baby and wished they had a place for me to change the baby. Oh also maybe add a little kids corner or books at least or color pages and crayons to keep my kids busy so i can sip my coffee in peace 🙈😅

Felicia Chen

I’ve been to a lot of cafes in the city & this is one of my favorites - great natural lighting, there’s usually always space, and delicious food. Definitely by far my favorite out of the neighboring cafes. I highly recommend the croissaint bread pudding! The italian panini and chicken caesar wrap are great too :) A solid option to knock out a couple hours of work too - there is free wifi, but the chairs are wooden & no outlets.

Sydney Cho

So good I went there twice in two days! I’d been long overdue to check out Tarragon since I only live a block away—but I’m so glad I did. This is a lovely spot for breakfast and lunch, and they even play live music on some weekends. This is the type of food that you can tell is made with great care: the owner himself is in the kitchen putting your food together. My first visit I tried the chicken panini, which was delicious, and the next morning I went for the ham breakfast sandwich, which was even better. Ingredients are high quality, the bread is great, the vibes are cozy, local and welcoming—and it sits on a great corner for sitting outside in the sunlight. Next time I think I’ll try the carrot cake!

Aly G

Ok as a visitor and vicarious local, THIS CAFE IS AMAZING! Vibes are groovy, service is impeccable, BUT THE FOOD is the bomb.com. Best clam chowder I've had in the city and they put so much love into the salads (perfectly seasoned, large, and perfect combo of toppings). The menu is hard to pick from because everything looks so good. And my latte was absolutely perfect. Cannot rave about this place enough!! Screw Boudin, Tarragon Cafe all day and every day! PS: don't mind my sub par photo, dug right and am not the type to do reviews but again this place is outstanding. Thank you for such a beautiful meal moment!!!

One of my favorite spots in SF. I go weekly for lunch and the food is always delicious. I also appreciate the friendly staff and how the owner/management are committed to fostering community in Lower Haight. So much love for Tarragon Cafe!

Came late to closing but they had an excellent Caesar salad wrap. Jazz band playing to serenade us. Local spot, with people who seemed to live in the area. Got the Fillmore styled wrap because we really wanted to try as much stuff as possible. The Caesar wrap is really their standout dish. Initially forgot our chicken and made up for it with a lot of chicken.

Delicious food, super nice staff, great Live music. Will come back! High chairs available for babies. Relatively clean bathroom, no diaper changing table though, but there is a little wooden table that could be used for changing small babies

Julie Holden

One of my favorite spots in SF. I go weekly for lunch and the food is always delicious. I also appreciate the friendly staff and how the owner/management are committed to fostering community in Lower Haight. So much love for Tarragon Cafe!

William Redenbaugh

Came late to closing but they had an excellent Caesar salad wrap. Jazz band playing to serenade us. Local spot, with people who seemed to live in the area. Got the Fillmore styled wrap because we really wanted to try as much stuff as possible. The Caesar wrap is really their standout dish. Initially forgot our chicken and made up for it with a lot of chicken.

Love coming here for coffee and a quick bite! Staff are warm and the vibe is always chill and relaxing. Though they've stopped allowing laptops recently which is a bummer

A locals place for pretty good breakfast and lunch. Would recommend. The panini I got had proscuitto with thinly sliced grapes, which is unusual but it worked well! Think of a cheeseboard but in a bite! Their open faced lox was tasty, but kinda messy to eat (too many veggies, which isn’t a bad thing). Would recommend for a casual bite!

Matty Lee

A locals place for pretty good breakfast and lunch. Would recommend. The panini I got had proscuitto with thinly sliced grapes, which is unusual but it worked well! Think of a cheeseboard but in a bite! Their open faced lox was tasty, but kinda messy to eat (too many veggies, which isn’t a bad thing). Would recommend for a casual bite!

ALERT: No laptops on weekends. Working on the weekend is a necessity, not a luxury; it is how we afford to dine at establishments like this (which is beneficial for your business) instead of just making the exact same sandwich at home. My concern is that more and more places in SF are implementing this policy, yet they fail to advertise it properly. This rule needs to be clearly stated on all digital platforms and prominently displayed at the entrance—ideally where it is visible from the outside. I stood at the counter with my laptop bag for about 5mins, yet I wasn’t informed of the policy until I was about to order. This should have been communicated the moment I walked in. I’m giving two stars because the food was good and the place is cute, but the experience itself was definitely lacking. Sir, your signage is completely ineffective. The register sign is the size of a Post-it note; I only noticed it bc you pointed it out while I was about to order. While I was there for 1+hr, I watched you turn away at least five walk-in customers with bags because of the 'no laptops' policy, all while multiple tables sat empty. Your argument for "survival" makes no sense.

Eddie Aguirre

ALERT: No laptops on weekends. Working on the weekend is a necessity, not a luxury; it is how we afford to dine at establishments like this (which is beneficial for your business) instead of just making the exact same sandwich at home. My concern is that more and more places in SF are implementing this policy, yet they fail to advertise it properly. This rule needs to be clearly stated on all digital platforms and prominently displayed at the entrance—ideally where it is visible from the outside. I stood at the counter with my laptop bag for about 5mins, yet I wasn’t informed of the policy until I was about to order. This should have been communicated the moment I walked in. I’m giving two stars because the food was good and the place is cute, but the experience itself was definitely lacking. Sir, your signage is completely ineffective. The register sign is the size of a Post-it note; I only noticed it bc you pointed it out while I was about to order. While I was there for 1+hr, I watched you turn away at least five walk-in customers with bags because of the 'no laptops' policy, all while multiple tables sat empty. Your argument for "survival" makes no sense.

Staff was outwardly hostile. I put my hand on the counter while waiting in line for 10 minutes while my partner was using the bathroom. A staff started snapping his fingers and said “ remove your hand”. When I got to the line the cashier was glaring at me. I felt uncomfortable and said, “never mind I’m ok” - she then told me that the bathroom is for customers only and I had to buy something. Overall the staff created a pretty hostile environment for no reason.

Rudest service I’ve ever experienced. I asked if they served breakfast and ordered a breakfast sando — the woman at the counter snapped at me and then screamed “WHICH ONE!!!” like I was an idiot. When I asked for sourdough instead of the regular bread, the cook rolled his eyes. That was enough — I walked out. If this is how they treat paying customers, don’t waste your time or money here. Go across the street to the other breakfast place trust me.

I came in for a pastry and coffee and asked a very kind waiter if I could charge my phone for 15 minutes. He kindly agreed, but his colleagues subsequently contradicted me when I asked to plug my phone in and went as far as to tell me off for having asked. I would not have minded being told that I could not charge my phone, but the amount of passive aggressive behavior and sermonizing I received for the mere fact of asking was unwarranted. You can have a policy as long as you’re willing to enforce it, but if one of your employees makes a mistake, don’t take it out on the customer paying 11 dollars for a coffee and a pastry for having asked. This is a serious customer service issue, and I would not recommend anyone coming here if they expect basic respect. I also hope they don’t take it out on the kind server who offered me their electricity.

Katie Shaw

Rudest service I’ve ever experienced. I asked if they served breakfast and ordered a breakfast sando — the woman at the counter snapped at me and then screamed “WHICH ONE!!!” like I was an idiot. When I asked for sourdough instead of the regular bread, the cook rolled his eyes. That was enough — I walked out. If this is how they treat paying customers, don’t waste your time or money here. Go across the street to the other breakfast place trust me.