If you travel to San Francisco and do nothing but go to interesting restaurants, you might leave a few kilograms heavier but you will not be disappointed. I enjoyed living and working in the Bay Area, and during my last full weekend there I stumbled upon this hidden gem in the historic Ferry Building. On August 5, I tried out Cowgirl Creamery Sidekick Café and Milk Bar.

After a morning of walking around downtown San Francisco, I was hungry and looking for a light lunch, so I walked into the Ferry Building not knowing what to expect. While I wanted to see all of the offerings in the building before making my choice, I knew that my mind was made up the second I saw the cheese sandwiches being assembled. “I shouldn’t…” I mumbled to myself, knowing full well that I was probably going to return. And I did just that.

I ordered the Farmhouse Grilled Cheese Sandwich, consisting of aged cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, and maple mustard. To add a little protein to my lunch, I added some European bacon to the sandwich. The entrée came with some sliced bread and butter pickles on the side.

Cheese shops with cafés attached have started to become “a thing” in recent years. While I cannot explain why, the business plan makes sense. In general, cheese shops tend to be on the expensive side. People are not likely to purchase an expensive food product if they are unaware of its taste. Serving cheese sandwiches gives these shops an opportunity to allow people to taste test before buying. 

The sandwich was out-of-this-world. The maple mustard was a tangy, slightly-spicy sauce that balanced out the sharpness of the aged cheddar cheese. The sandwich was a bit greasy, but I knew what I was getting into. The European bacon was salty, but added some good texture to the sandwich. If I return, I will have trouble not ordering this exact same sandwich again.

If you’re checking out the historic Ferry Building in San Francisco, give Cowgirl Creamery Sidekick Café and Milk Bar a try. Although I went on the weekend, if you visit during the workweek between 3:30pm and 6:30pm, you’ll be able to have a plate of cheeses specifically arranged by their in-house cheese expert. I cannot wait until I am able to go back!

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Rating:
Tasteless  |  Bad  |  Okay  |  Good  |  > Tasty <

Name: Cowgirl Creamery Sidekick Café & Milk Bar
Website https://www.cowgirlcreamery.com/sidekick-cafe-milk-bar
Phone +1 (415) 392-4000

Credit Cards? Yes
Apple Pay ^[?]? No
Bathroom? Yes
Reservations?  No
Take out? Yes
Delivery? Yes
Wifi? No
Outside seating? Yes
Wheelchair friendly? Yes
Alcohol? No
Dogs allowed? ???
Bike parking? Yes
Car parking? Yes

Date night? No
English-speaking staff? Yes
English menus? Yes
LGBTQ friendly ^[?]? Yes
Information updated on: September 22, 2018
Prices ^[?]: $ $ $ $

Hours:
Monday: 07:00 – 19:00
Tuesday: 07:00 – 19:00
Wednesday: 07:00 – 19:00
Thursday: 07:00 – 19:00
Friday: 07:00 – 19:00
Saturday: 07:00 – 19:00
Sunday: 08:00 – 17:00

Address 1 Ferry Building, Site 17, San Francisco, CA 94111, U.S.A.