Mercury Cafe - Reviews

My experience at this restaurant was quite disappointing, primarily due to the pricing and limited options for dietary restrictions. I rarely leave reviews, but I felt compelled to share my thoughts. For $16 (which is closer to $20 after tax and tip), I received a dish with just one avocado, one egg, and a small amount of tomato. This felt ridiculous for the portion size. As someone with celiac disease, I cannot eat gluten, and the restaurant offered very few alternatives. I had to pay an additional $5 to substitute bread for avocado, which seemed excessive considering the small portion of avocado provided. Additionally, the lack of accessible outlets was an inconvenience.

I really wanted to like this place, but my experiences here have been consistently negative. As a Black patron, I’ve often been ignored while waiting in line, and when I do get acknowledged, I’m met with rude or dismissive responses from staff — things like “what? ” or “I’m busy” when I’m simply trying to order. It’s disheartening to feel brushed off and unwelcome in a neighborhood spot that should be open and friendly to everyone. As both a community member and a school administrator at a nearby school, I cannot recommend this coffeeshop, especially for people of color who may not feel respected here. There are plenty of other places in the area where kindness and good service are part of the experience. Sadly, I won’t be coming back.

I visited with some friends and we tried the Egg McMercury, the brunch combo, and a couple of drinks. The drinks were definitely the highlight of our experience – generously sized and well executed, with no complaints. The food orders seemed quite backed up, and I felt for the staff who appeared to be handling a lot. The Egg McMercury and brunch version were interesting; I suspect the poached eggs were cooked in ramekins or a mold, resulting in a medium poached consistency. They were served on biscuits that, for my taste, were large but a bit dry. The breakfast potatoes on the side were decent. Despite the order queue, we received our food and drinks quite quickly, and the customer service was good even during the rush. I'll definitely return for the drinks, but might explore different food options next time.

My experience at this coffee shop was definitely a great one. The espresso drinks were amazing, and their Thursday evening jazz nights were lots of fun. The service was rated a 5, and the atmosphere was also a 5. The price per person was between $1–$10, and scones were recommended.

My experience was fantastic, especially with the food. I had the best scones I have ever tried in my life and I'm kinda proud of myself for discovering this hidden gem for scones 😅. If you are lucky enough, your coffee will be served and made by a wonderful barista who spent a night at a techno rave prior to the shift (at least this is what my imagination whispers). The service and atmosphere were also rated a perfect 5/5.

My experience at this restaurant was defined by its unpretentious and raw vibe, which felt very friendly and community oriented, truly capturing the spirit of SF. I enjoyed a Big City pour over made with Four Barrel coffee. The indoor area is spacious, and they offer a good sandwich menu and free WiFi, though there are no outlets. The baristas were nice and kind. There's a large outdoor parklet area, but I'd advise caution when sitting there, considering the neighborhood 🫣. I also noted they have Thursday jazz nights, which I'd recommend checking out if you want to support local musicians.

My experience at this restaurant was very positive. I enjoyed a great portobello sandwich and a very tasty chai. The parklet was also a highlight, especially for my dogs, and it had a calm neighborhoody feel.

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I enjoyed the delicious food and coffee for breakfast/brunch. I highly recommend their BLT + avocado or the Portobello mushroom sandwich. The live music sometimes playing added to the lovely vibe.

I actually really like the food here, and the location is great, but I’ve been burned one too many times by the slow service… I want to like it, but every time I go, it takes 30+ minutes to get my egg McMercury, or my order is forgotten, wrong etc. : (The owner is a good guy, if he can figure out how to speed everything up, I’m certain this place will do well.

My experience at this restaurant was marked by a significant wait for our food, which took over half an hour to arrive. While I love the location, I would advise against ordering anything more complicated than a coffee, as you might be left waiting. We ordered two unmodified egg dishes, and the staff never informed us about a potential delay. It seemed like food was taking a long time for all guests. The atmosphere was pleasant, but the service aspect of the wait time was a major drawback.