Showing posts with label "SF - atlas cafe". Show all posts
Showing posts with label "SF - atlas cafe". Show all posts

3.13.2010

bold yam statement

With the return of Spring, I recently started thinking of all the things I enjoy doing during the warmer days in the city. One of the activities I am most excited about is popping off to the Atlas Cafe to leaf through their great selection of magazines and eat their fantastic sandwiches... this sandwich in particular.

It's a pretty bold statement, but the yam sandwich at Atlas is my FAVORITE sandwich. Roasted yam, chevre goat cheese, thinly sliced red onion, parsley, and cherry tomatoes are served on a lightly toasted fresh sourdough baguette. Why I claim this as my favorite sandwich is one, the flavors and two, the textures. Texture is a huge thing for me when I'm eating. The sweet yam is sooooooo soft, melts in the mouth and blends so well with the chevre, the tomatoes burst with juicy bright tang, the red onion adds a hint of crisp spice and the toasted baguette gives the teeth something to rip into. Most of this I have no trouble re-creating on my own at home, however, the roasted yam is perfected at Atlas. I have tried countless times, different marinades, cut widths, cook times, cast iron skillet, baking sheet pirex dish but its just not the same. Maybe it's the way they cook the yam, maybe it's the act of eating this sandwich with the combination of the back patio and the fashion magazines, but for me this is one of the most comforting and satisfying sandwich experiences I have yet to have and am excited for the return of Spring and Summer when I look forward to lazy afternoons at Atlas.

3.01.2010

atlas turkey sandwich

 
 atlas cafe, 20th & alabama, san francisco
 Although this is my first review of a sandwich from Atlas (bxb contributor Katie reviewed their grilled cheese and apple sandwich last year), its certainly not my first sandwich from the Mission coffee shop.  While I've very much enjoyed the beetloaf sandwich in the past, and Els swears by the roasted yam sandwich, I've also had sandwiches at Atlas that didn't impress me much.  So my hopes for this turkey sandwich were rather subdued when I ordered.  It didn't help that I was HUNGRY and I recalled Atlas' sandwiches as being on the smaller side.  As it turns out, my worries were for naught- this tasted hella good and was pretty filling too.  The turkey was fresh and flavorful, and of course turkey on sourdough is basically the most classic combo of all time.  But, this wasn't yr average turkey sandwich.  Sharp cheddar and red onions bit at the taste buds, and a sweet chipotle-fig chutney balanced out the stronger sour and savory flavors.  Get this, a ginger lemonade, and enjoy the backyard patio if it isn't too packed.

4.28.2009

guest review - grilled cheese with apple

atlas cafe, 20th & alabama, san francisco
Not only did the sharp granny smith apples provide a nice balance to the cheddar cheese, along with the arugula (I think it was arugula, it was something green anyway…) they do an excellent job of making a grilled cheese seem healthy and grown-up. It’s on thick whole-wheat slices, which, appropriately, are almost burnt. The apple slices sitting next to each other can make for a slippery eating experience and requires frequent management of the sandwich’s structure. However, if that’s the price I have to pay for ordering a grilled cheese sandwich while still feeling like an adult, I’ll gladly pay it.

guest review by Katie Roquet