Via Eater, I learned ~GIOIA~ on Polk Street is now serving weekend brunch, with dishes ranging from breakfast pizza to buttermilk flapjacks to sausage and potato hash. Sat-Sun 11am-3pm.
The fab folks at the OLD SKOOL CAFE in Bayview have started a Sunday brunch and buffet. For $20, Sunday’s menu included white chocolate French toast with honeyed strawberries, Jaqon’s homemade banana pudding, Jeffery’s banana chocolate chip breads, cheesy grits, brown ale-braised greens, baked chicken, and more. Plus you can order à la carte items like fried chicken and sweet potato waffles, eggs Benedict, and sweet potato biscuits and whipped honey butter, as well as vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Look for different menu items to reflect the students’ heritage, like tamales, nopales, lu (Tongan corned beef wrapped in taro leaves), Taiwanese sticky rice, lumpia, and more. The buffet is only $20 for now, and since their beer and wine license is still on someone’s desk in Oakland, you can BYOB! Sundays 10:30am-3pm. 1429 Mendell St. (3rd St. and Oakdale/Palou), 415-822-8531.
Over in the Mission, ~NAMU GAJI~ has added some tasty, large-format menu items that are designed to serve three to five diners, with three orders available per day, first come first served. Examples include bo ssam (roast organic pork belly with crispy skin, 18 oysters, steamed napa cabbage wraps, fresh vegetables, pickles, kimchi, mustard barbecue sauce, and ssam jang, $100); KFC (Korean fried chicken: one whole Marin Sun Farms pastured chicken, tare glaze, spicy slaw, pickled daikon, dashi gravy, $60); along with whole fish (selection will vary). Available during dinner service only, Tue-Sun 6pm-11pm.
The Old Skool Cafe during a Behind the Cart event. Photo: © tablehopper.com.
