And look at that, miracles do happen! A project is actually opening ahead of its initially projected date. Hold. The. Phone! Originally slated to open in mid-November, BRENDA’S MEAT & THREE is potentially opening on Thursday October 30th (if the construction gods cooperate)! Friday may be more likely. Let’s just say by the weekend, shall we?
To recap our original story, Brenda Buenviaje and her partner Libby Truesdell (Brenda’s French Soul Food, Libby Jane Café) are opening this project in the former Blue Jay Cafe (they didn’t buy the business from the current owners, André and Jennifer Larzul, but they are now majority/part-owners of the business).
It’s going to be a classic Southern diner, with stuffed johnnycakes, calas fritters, and a one-eyed jack (i.e., toad in the hole), with an egg inside of one of Brenda’s famed cream biscuits (with creamed gravy) for breakfast (check out the brunch menu here).
Lunch brings low-country gumbo, a Bibb lettuce and fried oyster salad (with buttermilk dressing, bacon, and cherry tomatoes), and a great lineup of sandwiches, including pulled pork, a seafood po’boy, spicy fried chicken, and fried bologna with pimento cheese (I am excited for that sandwich, I am the first to admit it). Check out the lunchtime menu glory here.
Supper is all about the meat and three action, which will be listed on a board. You can choose from five or six proteins, like fried chicken, oxtail, fried catfish, and country ribs, and then you will pick your three sides, with up to 15 in all, like bacon fat fries, smothered green beans, mac and cheese, creamed biscuits, and some seasonal sides, too, with plenty of vegetables (vegetarians will be able to make a meal of sides). The meat and three combos will range from $18-$22. Other items on the supper menu include the picnic board (bread and butter pickles, pimento cheese, ham jam, tiny biscuits, crackers) and rock shrimp hush puppies.
The place got really cleaned up in the remodel—there’s a new paint job, new counters, and check out that fun mural of a pig (by Mural Arts). The horseshoe counter is still with us (yay) but it got trimmed a little bit in the back to make more room for seating, so now it’s more of a “J” shape. There are some antique/distressed mirrors on a wall, and you’ll find new yellow chairs on the back patio. It’s looking cute.
Hours are Wed-Mon 8am-10pm. During weekdays, breakfast will be served 8am-3pm, lunch 11am-5pm, and dinner 5pm-10pm. On the weekend, brunch will be 8am-4pm and dinner 4pm-10pm. 919 Divisadero St. at McAllister, 415-926-8657.
Time to acquaint yourself with the meat and three. Photo via Brenda’s Meat & Three Facebook page.
