By Nicole Karlis
I must admit I was confused by the toast trend when I first heard about it. My roommate was going on and on about how she wanted to go to a place with amazing toast … that cost $4. “It’s more than just toast,” she replied slightly defensively when I ranted about how I didn’t want to pay more than one dollar for toast. Can you blame me?
Finally, I accompanied her on an adventure that would forever change the way I look at baked wheat-flour dough. I’d prefer not to reveal which establishment popped my toast cherry, but it was real good — the “I don’t give a fuck what time of day, how much it costs, or how long it takes for me to get there” kind of good.
So I’ve arrived on the other side: I love toast. Sure, the ingredients are simple, but the explosions in your mouth are complex. A toasted slice of bread no longer looks like vanilla ice cream to me. It’s like a rare seasonal flavor at Bi-Rite Creamery. If you want to join me on this toast journey, here’s where to go:
Home (1222 Noriega Street)
A cozy café nestled in the Outer Sunset on Noriega Street, Home offers five variations of artisanal toast with prices that range from $3.75 to $6.00. The owners, Annie Cheng and her boyfriend, In Ho, opened the café in February 2015. They bake the bread in-house and make the toast themselves too. There’s a “friends to lovers” story within this adorable establishment: Cheng and Ho had been crushing on each other for 13 years but didn’t confess their feelings until a year and a half ago. Anyway, I fell hard for the condensed milk and butter one ($4 a piece), which Cheng said is a customer favorite. The moment you cut open the bread, the butter oozes down like a waterfall of greatness. Did I mention they torch the condensed milk to caramelize it on top? So. Many. Textures.
Trouble Coffee and Coconut Club (4033 Judah Street)
Known to be where the toast movement first originated in SF, Trouble is another popular destination in the Outer Sunset. This hole-in-the-wall dive café has resided on Judah Street since 2007 — you can read the heartwarming story here. The toast experience at Trouble is truly unique. There’s no menu; you just simply wait in line (which can be pretty long on Saturday mornings) and ask for a slice of toast, and you’ll receive the classic: bread, butter, and cinnamon for $4 a slice. The other option is the peanut butter, honey, and nutella slice, but the barista always recommends the classic if you’re a first-timer. Pair it with a coconut drink and sit outside on what looks like a fallen tree, and you’ve got yourself the perfect start to a wonderful day.
The Mill (736 Divisadero Street)
The Mill receives an A++ in my book not only because of their delicious toast but also because of their rustic and adorable décor. Seriously, you can’t help but feel like you’re in a Pottery Barn showroom when you enter the Alamo Square establishment. As for the toast, you have four options to choose from — all $4 a piece — which range from savory on rye to cinnamon sugar on a slice of country bread. My favorite is the walnut bread with butter and maple syrup. It’s the perfect mix of simple and sweet. You also don’t feel like you’re on the brink of cardiac arrest after eating it. FYI, all their bread is baked in-house too.
Réveille Coffee Co. (4076 18th Street and 200 Columbus Avenue)
With two locations serving toast, in the Castro and North Beach, Réveille Coffee Co. is a hip place with a small menu. This is the place to go if you’re a savory-leaning person who would prefer a simple avocado toast ($4.50 a slice). Made on Acme bread, it’s a decent-size breakfast that will fill you up — especially if you add a fried egg on it for an extra $1.50.
DIY Toast (Your Place!)
If you love toast but can’t afford to spend $4 a slice, there is a good DIY remedy. And no, I’m not just talking about popping a slice of Wonder Classic White into the toaster. If there’s anything I’ve learned from these world-class toasteries, it’s that it’s all about the bread. Quality bread equals mouth-watering toast. Luckily, living in San Francisco, you have access to many local bakeries (Tartine Bakery, Josey Baker Bread at the Mill, Arizmendi, and Devil’s Teeth Baking Company come to mind). Take a piece, toast it up, and add your favorite ingredients. Yum!
Onward and upward, my fellow toast lovers. If you have a favorite place for fancy bread, let us know.
Hero Image Courtesy of Kliff Rebaya.
