We all get cravings for comfort food at some point, and no one does comfort food like the South.
So it isn’t surprising to find southern comfort restaurants in the north - Northern California, that is. The Front Porch touts itself as Southern Mission Hospitality and the service lived up to the moniker.
The wait staff at Front Porch were top notch. We always like to get the staff’s recommendation when eating at a new place. The recommendations were well thought-out instead of just rote regurgitation. The bar staff was even able to accommodate a drink request for something they don’t normally serve.
We had a good time perusing the walls while we waited for our food. One picture by our table had a bunch of cassette tapes on it. It was fun to identify the bands we recognized and then try to explain to the younger generations why the 80s were the best decade since the beginning of time. That could have been an all-night discussion, but since we are the parents we declared ourselves the winners just as the food arrived.
One of the recommendations was the caramelized mac and cheese. Is there any dish more southern comfort than mac and cheese? Even if there is, this mac and cheese was by far the best dish we had. The caramelized part comes from the small cast iron skillet it is cooked in. The cheese that touches the cooking vessel is transformed into a delicious, crunchy crust. Creamy doesn’t even seem like an adequate adjective to describe the non-caramelized middle of the ooey gooey mac and cheese.
Speaking of creamy, if you have someone that dislikes all southern goodness in any form, you can tell them to get the mashed potatoes. I guess southern Idaho can still count as southern comfort, right? If you want a real treat, ask for extra gravy. Together they are like a symphony in your mouth.
Unfortunately, the rest of our order wasn’t as spectacular as the mac and cheese and potatoes and gravy. The first thing I look for at any restaurant that dabbles in southern comfort is shrimp and grits. The Front Porch serves Spicy Shrimp + Grits. It was definitely shrimp and grits, and darned good shrimp and grits, but I think they forgot the spicy part. I am not a chile head but I did not get any heat from the dish. Not a total bust but not what I expected at all.
Chicken and waffles are another quintessential southern dish. The Front Porch’s slider version needs to take a trip to the south for some charm lessons though. The chicken was more breading than chicken and the waffles tasted like they were made from a mix. This was the biggest disappointment of the evening. Well, almost the biggest disappointment. The dessert menu was very limited. But don’t worry, Mitchell’s Ice Cream is just down the street.
As with most places in San Francisco, parking can be a challenge, so if you are driving, leave early so you can find a spot before your reservation time. Better yet, take an Uber and don’t worry about parking.
The Front Porch is definitely worth a visit if you are in the mood for southern comfort food, and let’s be honest, you should always be in the mood for southern comfort food, but this does not make our list of must visit restaurants.
Pricing: -
Our Verdict:
