Darwin Cafe

In an alley just off a busy street, there's Darwin Cafe. I was walking past the alley and happened to see it, so I doubled back and went in. It was my first time going there, so I asked the staff what they recommended. The Turkey and Maple Melt was the response I got, so that's what I got. I was thirsty so I also ordered some iced tea. As they made my order, I looked around. It had a very homely look. There was a bookshelf and some houseplants, and the menu was handwritten. I sat down outside with my iced tea and looked at my phone while waiting for the sandwich. The sandwich was done pretty fast and looked delicious when I opened the box. The bread was well toasted. To an untrained eye, some of it would look burnt, but I knew better. I took half of the sandwich out and I immediately knew I wouldn't like it. The sandwich was at least an inch thick with just turkey. The cheese wasn't even melted. The pear slices, turkey, and onion hadn't been heated at all. I took the sandwich apart and ate the bread by itself. I mixed the turkey, onion, and pear slices with the little salad it came with. The service was fantastic. The sandwich looked really really promising. Unfortunately, it wasn't. That's why this is a three-star review.

This place’s interior is cool. However, I wasn’t comfy there. A counter table doesn’t have a good balance with a chair. A table is the same. Regarding foods, I chose pistachio cream cheese sandwiches. It was good, but I didn’t like their salad. But I guess it depends on people’s taste.

The salad here taste great, generous portion and reasonably priced! Highly recommend lunch spot! Tips: Sandwiches can add a side salad There are way more seating areas on the left. The entry way is not too obvious buts it’s on the left a little bit passed the dish drop off area

Another awesome lunch spot. Their menu changes frequently, so highly recommend to try something different every single time. Salads all are tasty and healthy. Main disadvantage: they do not take online or phone orders during rush hours (12-1:30). Highly recommend to visit if you are in SOMA area.

What a cute little place tucked in a little alley. I got there about noon and there was a little wait to order. There is seating inside as well as outside. There is even a little bar area which next to it. They offer hot or cold sandwiches with a garnish (small salad) on the side. Nice place to go to for a change of pace.

Fantastic coffee with great poached eggs and salmon lox. Nice little hidden brunch spot in the middle of the city

Really good sandwiches for lunch in a busy side Cafe, get there just before 12pm to beat the rush.

This was the only take out coffee shop around the area. It looked like a hipster cafe. I liked their Americano. The pastry was delicious too.

In an alley just off a busy street, there's Darwin Cafe. I was walking past the alley and happened to see it, so I doubled back and went in. It was my first time going there, so I asked the staff what they recommended. The Turkey and Maple Melt was the response I got, so that's what I got. I was thirsty so I also ordered some iced tea. As they made my order, I looked around. It had a very homely look. There was a bookshelf and some houseplants, and the menu was handwritten. I sat down outside with my iced tea and looked at my phone while waiting for the sandwich. The sandwich was done pretty fast and looked delicious when I opened the box. The bread was well toasted. To an untrained eye, some of it would look burnt, but I knew better. I took half of the sandwich out and I immediately knew I wouldn't like it. The sandwich was at least an inch thick with just turkey. The cheese wasn't even melted. The pear slices, turkey, and onion hadn't been heated at all. I took the sandwich apart and ate the bread by itself. I mixed the turkey, onion, and pear slices with the little salad it came with. The service was fantastic. The sandwich looked really really promising. Unfortunately, it wasn't. That's why this is a three-star review.

This place’s interior is cool. However, I wasn’t comfy there. A counter table doesn’t have a good balance with a chair. A table is the same. Regarding foods, I chose pistachio cream cheese sandwiches. It was good, but I didn’t like their salad. But I guess it depends on people’s taste.

The salad here taste great, generous portion and reasonably priced! Highly recommend lunch spot! Tips: Sandwiches can add a side salad There are way more seating areas on the left. The entry way is not too obvious buts it’s on the left a little bit passed the dish drop off area

Another awesome lunch spot. Their menu changes frequently, so highly recommend to try something different every single time. Salads all are tasty and healthy. Main disadvantage: they do not take online or phone orders during rush hours (12-1:30). Highly recommend to visit if you are in SOMA area.

What a cute little place tucked in a little alley. I got there about noon and there was a little wait to order. There is seating inside as well as outside. There is even a little bar area which next to it. They offer hot or cold sandwiches with a garnish (small salad) on the side. Nice place to go to for a change of pace.

Fantastic coffee with great poached eggs and salmon lox. Nice little hidden brunch spot in the middle of the city

Really good sandwiches for lunch in a busy side Cafe, get there just before 12pm to beat the rush.

This was the only take out coffee shop around the area. It looked like a hipster cafe. I liked their Americano. The pastry was delicious too.

I. LOVE. THIS. PLACE. I used to frequent this cozy sandwich spot about 7-8 years ago when I used to work in the area. Always spot on gourmet, seasonal sandwiches and salads. Went back for the first time in years and it's still just as amazing as I remember! Hefty sandwich fillings, a perfectly paired acidic arugula salad, and laid back vibe. They don't have the baguettes anymore (not sure if pandemic-related) but TRUST ME their sandwiches are GOAT. Mendoxxxx Farms feels like a Panerx compared to Darwin. TIP: call ahead for your order. It still gets busy at lunchtime so avoid the wait!

Accidentally stumbled upon this hidden gem while trying to find another. Line was out the door which is usually a good sign. This place looked like it was straight out of Brooklyn. Hipster coffee shop chill vibes . Their menu regularly changes and covers it all. I ended ordering the kale salad which was a pleasant surprise since it was huge and did $15 in SF that's a pleasant surprise and memorable. I think they overdid the Parmesan a little bit but overall very delicious. The kale was masaged, so easy to eat. The aged balsamic reduction was VERY prominent so if you don't like bold flavors- avoid this. All of the flavors came together really well, but unfortunately the prosciutto pieces were a bit burnt so the smokiness took over a bit too mich. With some small tweaks it'd be a 5/5. The venue has some outdoor seating and a really nice covered but open air dining area which I imagine is lovely for happy hour. Will try a sandwich next they looked authentically European with the giant baguettes!

Finally near enough at my new job that I can come here for lunch! The line looks long, but its worth the wait. Plus, once you order it takes less than 5 minutes to get your food! I love the freshness and fun combinations of salads they offer! I'll eat Kale if its dressed in Lemon juice and CHEESE. Typical SF lunch prices, so my eyes don't even bat at the $14 price tag anymore.

I can't believe I've only ordered from this little neighborhood gem once! (I literally live mere steps away... I'm mostly lazy.) Roast Beef Sandwich is definitely a "YAAAS". Get it. Seriously, just get it. Ask questions later. I swung by on a Thursday morning and placed my order for an 11:30 pick up before I went to run some errands--which ended up taking forever bc USPS, but I digress. Honestly, the whole process was easy breezy and my yummy sammich was ready for pick up when I got back at a little after 11:30! The staff were super friendly too. I'd recommend placing an order early for pick up bc the line can get long during lunch time. I feel like that's what's always discouraged me from actually eating here; I have very little patience, I know. But I'm so glad I did this time!

A non-yelper suggested Darwin Café to me for a place to come to for sandwiches. My overall experience here was A-Ok and not really memorable. When I arrived it was around 11am and their sandwiches were not being served till 11:30am....bummer. I ended up ordering a ham baguette since I was hungry and could not wait till sandwich time.....so sad. Darwin Café has about 10 bar stools and two tables for one to sit. It wasn't crowded when I arrived and I had a place to sit. They do have a restroom within, which is a plus. I would return, but next time after 11:30am.

I'd been looking forward to trying the kale salad at this spot for a looonnnngggg time. And tbh, I'm so so disappointed. Came here on a Tuesday for a later lunch (around 12:45pm). Surprisingly, only three ppl ahead of me in line. But within five mins of arriving, about 10+ ppl showed up behind me. So be warned. There may be quite a bit of wait. It's a tiny kitchen set-up and everything can be seen from behind the counter. When waiting in line, I glanced behind to see what was being ordered and made. It was strange bc one guy was wearing gloves making a salad (the chopped), while the other was mixing with his bare hands (the kale). I meannnn, nbd to me, but FYI. They were already sold out of the salmon baguette, which was going to be my second order, aside frm the kale salad. Sadness. In the end, I went with the tuna melt and kale salad for sharing. When ordering the kale salad, I asked for the meat on the side (since I don't eat it), but thought someone else may want it, but the cashier quickly caught on and suggested a quinoa topping option instead. Super nice of him. I gladly accepted. Okkkkk, sooo why the poor rating? DUDE the kale salad was DROWNNINGGG in dressing. It's all you could taste. Literally tip the box to a corner and it was a pool of it. Wasn't pleasant at all. And frankly, I wasn't a fan of the quinoa add-in, tho I appreciated the switch-out offer. The tuna melt was okay, but basic. For the price of both the salad and sandwich, it was totally not worth it. If you want an amazing kale salad, head on over to the mission and go to Trick Dog. Now that's one hell of a kale salad. For here, I'll leave you with 2 stars.

For a place with a line constantly out the door, I was pretty disappointed. I swung by at 1 to try and avoid the line, and only had 6 people in front of me. I ordered the kale prosciutto salad to go, and while the portion size is large, and the line moved quickly, the salad was so drenched in salad dressing I couldn't eat it. Like you tip the container and it pools in the corner.. The kale wasn't cut up enough either so when you get a forkful, you end up dragging half the salad with you. Passssssss

Can I get a kale yeah?!??!???!! JK! I came to Darwin cafe during my lunch break to check out what the hype was all about.I was optimistic and was hoping that the hype would be real. My coworker had suggested this place on multiple occasions so I decided to venture 5 minutes away from the office on a nice quest for salad. I ordered the kale salad because the pictures showcased mounds of shaved parmesan, how could I not? The salad came out to be about $12 and some change--pretty typical for overpriced SF salads. It came with kale, radicchio, lemon, garlic, parmesan, prosciutto, balsamic. Really it was the parm and prosciutto that sold me! I took one bite of it and the first thing that came to mind was how acidic and salty it was. I think the salad would have fared better in my opinion if it was much less dressed. Overall, I'd pay this place a visit again simply to check out their sandwich offerings which sound bomb! Review TBD.

TAKE A LOOK AT MY PICTURES AND FIND THE INSECT EGGS. I had mentioned before that due to the proximity of Darwin from our office, my coworkers and I frequent this place to get lunch even after one of my coworkers found a worm on the side salad of his sandwich. Last week I took a visit to Darwin I ordered a sandwich (as usual) and as my coworkers and I were joking about the worm on the salad, I briefly inspected my salad and found a leaf completely polluted with insect eggs. I usually don't get disgusted but the fact that it was not the first time the salad is contaminated shows that they DON'T clean their veggies whatsoever. I decided to take the salad back. I don't know what disgusted me more, the eggs in my salad or the reaction of the staff. The staff, usually nice, instantly transformed to a different persona upon seeing the eggs. She looked at me clueless as if it was normal and said "well, what do you want me to do about it?" And then she lectured me in a condescending tone saying "well they are grown in a garden" and shrugged. I'd like to ask her if she eats her "garden salad" with unhatched insect eggs on regular basis. They managed to refund my sandwich after A LOT of resistance.

This cafe is tucked away in an alleyway and hard to spot from the main street. I've walked by this place countless number of times on the way to work and the only way I found it was via Yelp. It doesn't have too much seating although luckily we didn't have to wait. I ordered the roast beef french onion melt with 2 poached eggs on the side. The sandwich tasted delicious with the caramelized onion, ailoi, and gruyère all melted together and adding a poached egg perfected it. The poached egg is thick and runny, going well with the sandwich albeit it was a bit messy. Service was fast and attentive, perks of a smaller restaurant.

Turkey Maple Melt!!!!!!!!!!! So so so good! Lots of flavors and super hearty. You want to eat this right away because the toasted bread's best when fresh. Their menu items are a little on the pricey side but it's worth it. Their salads are just as good along with the yogurt. There's limited inside and outside seating so if you come between 12-1pm, expect a long line considering there's not a lot of quick lunch options in Soma. Well there are, but not like this spot:) let's add excellent customer service as well. You won't be disappointed!

DARWIN CAFE IS BACK. I just had a great roast beef sandwich with arugula and jalepeno corn relish. I missed them!

I usually eat lunch and dinner at my office so I have never noticed Darwin Cafe despite it being right next to it. However when a friend suggested having lunch there, it sounded good to me. We got there around 12 and it was busy but not too crazy. There were actually a few tables outside when we arrived (all taken by the time we ordered) and we were lucky enough to grab seats at the counter. By the time we were done (maybe around 12:45), there was quite a line and a LOT of people waiting. So, come early if possible. The lunch menu is mostly salads and sandwiches. My friend had the tuna melt which is made with tuna they poach in house. It looked pretty good and she liked it. I got a turkey sandwich- turkey, brie, some maple syrup, aioli, apples. It was fantastic. The various ingredients complimented each other perfectly, and it was a wonderful balance of sweet, salty, smoky, and tart. The bread was quite tasty too, though I would probably ask for wheat bread in the future. Both sandwiches came with a side salad which was good also. I think it had persimons and cranberries, and a bunch of other stuff. The salad was quite good- not super memorable, but a tasty side. We also shared a nutella and marscapone baguette which was as good as it sounds. Such a smart flavor combination- the mild and creamy marscapone and rich, chocolatey nutella went really well together. You can apparently call ahead (anytime before 11) and then pick up your food at 11:30 which seems wise if you don't want to wait in line. They have a few breakfast items as well and serve dinner (I think the dinner menu is different than the lunch, but not sure how). They have wine and beer along with coffee and tea as well. I would probably have given them 5 stars after my initial lunch experience, but I came back to grab breakfast and coffee a couple days later. My cappuccino was okay, but by no means the best I have had, and their coffee and espresso drinks are overpriced. I have had some really excellent, and also cheaper coffee, just down the alley from Darwin. What would have probably been a 4.5 star review that I would have rounded up has been rounded down. Still a great lunch option though- I definitely would order the turkey sandwich again and want to try the tuna melt as wel!

Came here at 11am on a Sunday and there was no line. Being a Bay Area yuppie, I obviously ordered the avocado toast with two poached eggs and added extra ham. Total came out to be $14.11, which is on the cheaper side by Bay Area avocado toast standards. It was a perfectly good avocado toast. I don't have anything to complain about, and wouldn't mind returning here. But, it wasn't an "omfg I became a yuppie to eat this avocado toast" either. Would have given it 4 stars, except the salad that came on the side was underwhelming- I ended up not eating it. The place is small so seating is limited.

A popular lunch spot, Darwin Cafe is a tiny little cafe that pumps out a disproportionately large amount of soups, salads, and sandwiches for its size. The weekday lunch lines are long. To save time, you can grab a soup or their baguettes which are pretty much grab and go once you get pass the line. Other items like their famous kale salad take a little longer but the wait for the kale salad is worth it. The kale and vinaigrette is balanced with savory bites of parmesan and prosciutto. Otherwise their soups are pretty decent choices too. I've had a corn chowder and thought it struck a nice balance of sweet and savory. The prosciutto baguette is another perennial fave especially with all that butter on the fresh baguette. It's tucked away in the little alley that is Ritch Street but has become a neighborhood lunchtime staple for good reason. The lunchtime lines are proof.

While I cannot say that I dislike this place, certainly I did not see any attachment to it. My latte was apparently made with a lame heart, as you could barely see any latte art on it. It for some reason only showed a light brown color, kind of reminded me hot chocolate with water poured inside. Tasted ok though, exceeded my expectation.

I've been wanting to try Darwin Cafe for a while to try their kale salad. I was a bit disappointed and won't be back for a few reasons a) the kale salad is kind of boring and just really hard to eat after a while...kale on kale with 0.5 pieces of radicchio is not fun b) too expensive for what you get c) they wouldn't let me substitute the proscuitto for anything else. So if you're a vegetarian/don't eat pork and want the kale salad, sucks for you because you'll just pay way too much for just a box of kale and cheese. My salad was also covered by a thick layer of grated parmesan which was awesome in theory but also not awesome because it totally ruined the idea of eating a healthy low cal meal. Lastly, the lady taking orders wasn't all that nice so that's just one too many reasons to not want to go back. The props I will give them is for the dressing on their kale salad--super refreshing and lemony!

Fantastic lunch spot with great sandwiches and salads. Menu changes monthly, so you'll have an opportunity to explore new items, and some old favorites, every 30ish days. Expect a line at all times, and during peak lunch rush there's going to be a wait. However, staff does their best to make sure that everyone is able to get their order placed in an efficient manner. I highly recommend Darwin Cafe, and have referred several of my colleagues and friends to come by!

MY FAVORITE SALAD IN THE WORLD. If you want to go so salad heaven, go here. Kale, radicchio, lemon, garlic, parmesan, prosciutto, balsamic vinaigrette... There's extremely limited seating inside - not a good place for a sit down lunch...much better to pick up and go. Extremely busy all of the time so I recommend going to lunch either early or late.

Came here on the weekend for lunch after spin class which was the perfect light lunch! I ordered the prosciutto wrapped fig salad w/ goat cheese and I also got to try the roast beef sandwich. The roast beef sandwich was sooooo good and the meat was very juicy and not dry at all! It also came with a small side salad with some cantaloupes which went really well with the whole salad + sammich. Highly recommend :). I liked the prosciutto fig salad too, however, I thought it was too much balsamic vinaigrette for my personal preference. I also ordered a latte and asked them to make it with honey and it tasted amazing. Will definitely be returning! :)

It seems like I'm in the minority when I say I really don't like Darwin. I've been here twice with the following experiences: 1. Hot and stuffy inside, and outside seating has little to no shade. The staff spend a lot of time chatting which is fine but taking 20 minutes to prep a fruit salad and some toast points seems excessive. The brut was served tepid. 2. I swung by because it was pretty empty and ordered a glass of wine. When I told the cashier I would be sitting outside she said that was fine. I grab a table outside right by the door and a few people file in. Maybe 10 minutes later I still don't have the glass of wine so I go inside and it's just sitting on the bar. I wanted to make sure it was my glass but getting one of the staffs attention was somewhat of an issue because three staff members were just standing around chatting behind the counter towards the back. Basically, I found these experiences to be lackluster and I would probably only return if I was with someone who REALLY wanted luke warm alcohol on a hot day.

Small and tucked away cafe that is located in an alley! They offer sandwiches and their kale salad serves up as a healthier, green option! Too bad they don't restock once their sandwiches are sold out! Their prosciutto crisp and buttered up baguette is a good substitute! A cozy cafe to sit back, chit chat and enjoy!

The first time I went to Darwin I thought it was overpriced for what it is, BUT I have since come back twice and I'm a big fan now! Of course the kale salad is a staple with all that cheeeeese! I had the bay shrimp melt last time and that was really great. For $13 it's a good sized sandwich on delicious bread and of course comes with the side salad of the day (arugula, strawberry and goat cheese that day). The line does get insanely long during lunch, they always sell out of some items, and they don't accept any substitutions/changes to menu items, so 4 star from me. :)

I have a confession to make. I was a bit of a Darwin Cafe hater for sometime, not because I didn't like it but I just didn't get the long line and hype for this venue. I had tried several of their dishes but just was not inspired. You know that one person that all your friends were into when you were young or better yet that one song everyone liked but you didn't "get". That was Darwin Cafe for me. Then I met the "Baby Spinach" salad and everything changed. They went from an afterthought to sky rocketing up my SF Salad rankings (see below) Baby Spinach $12- Turkey Avocado, cucumber, aged cheddar, spring garlic ranch dressing Super tasty, hearty portions (especially with the Turkey ) and i just good and different from many other bland salads. I apologize for every bad thing I said about you Darwin Cafe, please accept my sincerest apology. with love- Rod M. I like Healthy Foods...occasionally ...lol. For the past year or so I workout multiple times everyday so I typically try to eat at least one Salad a day. Often times I bring my own salad for lunch but sometimes I venture out in the city for some healthy greens. When I look at reviews sometimes just want to know where to go or how a user compares one venue against another to see if we have similar tastes. Here is a look at how I rank the Salad Spots in the City. They are all pretty good this is just my take. Rod's San Francisco Salad Rankings (and what they're known for or what I like). I have rankings various foods like Boba, Ramen, Steakhouse, Chicken and Wafffles(random right?) Follow my profile to see my most recent reviews. I hope I can be helpful since so many Yelpers have helped me discover new places Ranked from Fave to least fave (Business owners don't hate me, all these places are good) 1 Café du Soleil-Nicoise Salad 2 SweetGreen-Pesto Chicken 3 Darwin Café-Baby Spinach 4 La Fromagerie-La Mancha Salad 5 Mission Picnic -Deluxe Cobb 6 Mixt-Mixt Cobb 7 Plutos-Custom salad 8 La Capra-The Cobb 9 Tender Greens-Chinese Chicken 10 Soma Eats-Spinach, Date and Goat Cheese Salad 11 Blue Barn Gourmet-Cobber (Cobb Salad) 12 Split Pea Seduction-The Squash salad 13 Boxed Foods-Boxed Chicken Salad 14 Kitava-Pesto Chicken Cobb 15 Native Co-Native Salad 16 Soma Chicken-Caesar Salad 17 Proper Food-Lemon Quinoa Salad with Chicken 18 Eatsa-Various Salads/bowls 19 The New Spot on Polk-Asian Chicken 20 Organic Coup-Kale/Caesar Combo 21 Uno Dos Tacos-Fish Salad Bowl

This is a great place for lunch, if you can manage to go slightly early because the line gets super duper long. They have a lot of interesting sandwiches and salads, and they seem to rotate through them depending on the season. When I was there , they had a thai style shrimp salad. The flavours were unconventional (for a salad), but it was a great blend and balance. I really enjoyed the flavours and the salad was big enough I could have some of it the next day as well! There was very limited seating, so either do take out or come early if you want do want to sit here with a friend or two!

Someone sent me a message asking me if this place was named after Jeremy S.'s dog at Yelp. How the hell would I know? I did snicker thinking that Yelp was on a mission to take over the world. Oh wait, that is their mission, isn't it? Anyhow, I got the straight skinny off the Web and discovered this place was actually named after the former occupant, Darwin Motors, a BMW motorcycle shop. Who knew? Now it's become a popular spot for the young, geeky hipster who work and live in the area. There were sure plenty of them with their dogs when I arrived in the early evening just before going to a tech demo at Gallery 16 up the block. All the tables were taken and none were really set up for single diners, so I squeezed myself at the counter between an anti-social laptopper who was ironically on social on his laptop and a frizzy-haired woman who resented having to move her oversized purse. Bitch, move yo' bag...and your purse, too. I knew what I was having because that's the primary reason I came: the $11 Kale Salad. It's taken on mythic portions in my mind because everyone was raving about it here, and I needed something dark and leafy to fill my bottomless tummy. It turned out to be quite a mound with Cavolo Nero kale and radicchio mixed a little too liberally with hand-squeezed lemon juice. Parmigiano-Reggiano shavings, crispy pieces of prosciutto, and aged balsamic vinegar completed the plate, and it was more than enough for me to eat (photo: http://bit.ly/1E1GJCI). And yet, I ordered the soup, an $8 bowl of the Sugar Pie Pumpkin Soup, which was subtly sweet and not overly creamy with cauliflower, golden raisins, curry spices and pistachios (photo: http://bit.ly/1E1GPdt). I have to admit I found that more satisfying than even the kale salad that brisk evening. Although the space is small, there was a staff of three keeping themselves busy with the cooking and serving (photo: http://bit.ly/1zoMUKP). I'd like to come back when it's less hectic, but I haven't a clue when that would be since I heard tell that lines form even past lunch. Maybe I need to get a dog and a raggedly wool cap. FOOD - 4 stars...the ballyhooed kale salad was overshadowed by the sugar pie pumpkin soup AMBIANCE - 3 stars...felt very crowded in there SERVICE - 4 stars...very attentive TOTAL - 4 stars...probably need to time my visit better the next time...it's the theory of evolution, Darwin

Delicious sandwiches and brunch! Their sandwiches are fantastic, especially the roast beef and rock shrimp melt. The weekend menu is different than during the weekdays, and focused more on brunch food - sandwiches with croissants, poached eggs, etc. Luckily, they still have one or two sandwiches on the menu, but careful because they often run out. Lines during the week can be very long, 15-30 minutes. But on the weekend, the line is much shorter. They brew De LA Paz coffee, which is quite delicious, but they don't offer cold brew options, unfortunately. They accept credit cards on orders over $5.

SIZE.DOES.NOT.MATTER. (*crosses fingers behind back*) Born out of a motorcycle showroom and tucked in a little alleyway, Darwin Café is a SoMa hidden gem; a closet sized café serving up healthy gourmet eats and tapas that pack a HUGE punch. With a rotating seasonal menu, Darwin Café serves up enticing salads and scrumptious sammies for lunch. They also have available De Laz Paz coffee from a small batch coffee roasting company in SF. Bustling during the day from all the SoMa/FiDi'ers expect a long line during lunch and to take your lunch to-go as there is only about 14-16 seats in this walk-in closet resembling a rustic country nook. As the sun sets and everyone is stuck in rush hour traffic, come to Darwin Café to unwind and enjoy one of their tapas (or two or three) while sipping on a glass of wine. (Last night's menu: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/g2QJodH7bcdl-btCWfP8cQ?select=2ojXVgluAsd4h2x-BBdaBQ) I no longer work in the SoMa/FiDi area so what brought me to this neck of the woods where I had to walk through two sketchy alleyways to get to? The illustrious Kale Salad ($8). "Kale Salad? YUCK, that doesn't sound appetizing...I HATE kale, it's so bitter." This is where you're wrong my friend. After trying Darwin Café's Kale Salad, you will NEVER look at kale the same way again. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/g2QJodH7bcdl-btCWfP8cQ?select=RAGSvmWbwgqL0KbcKEHL8Q Like Christmas in a box, the vibrant colors of greens, magentas, and reds immediately caught my eye not to mention the smell of crispy prosciutto that waft into my olfactory glands. The trifecta of aged balsamic, garlic, and lemon dressed every crevice of the crisp kale (not bitter) and radicchio leaves making each bite wonderfully tart, lightly sweet, and garlicky with a pop of citrus tang. The pungent savory nuttiness from the Parmesan cheese shavings danced on my tongue as the bits of crispy prosciutto added that dash of devilishly good salty and rich porkiness. It was a symphony of deliciousness. "HEALTHY" EATING AT ITS FINEST. GO. GET IT. GO. GO. GET IT.

To dine at Darwin requires effort. You need to come early, come late, or risk lengthy lines. If you time it right, you'll be lucky enough to find both no queue and a table upon which to eat your lunch. Some places do swoon-worthy sandwiches but leave you high and dry in the salad department. Or vice versa. Not Darwin! They kill it on both accounts. Their roast beef melt with broccoli rabe ($10) is among the best sandwiches I've sampled in SoMa. And their dungeness crab louie salad ($14) - a seasonal special featuring chopped iceberg lettuce, cucumber, avocado, hard boiled egg, louie dressing - sets the standard high for peddlers of mixed greens. They put a lot of love into this food, and man, you can taste it!

"Yo, this has got to be the best roast beef sandwich I've ever had." Can't guarantee that kind of reaction, but man does this place make a killer sandwich. Salads ain't too bad either. Pro tip: Avoid lunchtime as they get backed up with bulk orders from companies nearby. Luckily they've opened up a nice hacked together space to the side that feels friendly and welcoming despite being located in an alleyway in SOMA. Hell, if you're able to accomplish that plus good food, that's an achievement that can't be ignored.

A co-worker of mine recommended Darwin to me. I was pleasantly surprised but it was not a "WOW" moment. Darwin is a tiny "hole in the wall" style café. Nonetheless, it's hard to miss with a line that trails out and down the sidewalk. Consider yourself warned, there can be a bit of a wait before you can place your order! I played it safe by ordering the hot roast beef, arugula, balsamic caramelized onions, rosemary aioli, and white cheddar sandwich for the whopping price of $12! The folks at Darwin nailed this roast beef! Perfect in every way, right down to the crusty, crunchy toasted sourdough bread! The beef was piled on high. The onions were tender and delicious. The cheese was melted "just right". The rosemary aioli was perfect and not overpowering. My only gripe regarding the sandwich was the fact that it was a bit on the smallish side. For the price, I expected something a little more substantial. The sandwich came in a nondescript to-go box. It came with a side salad consisting of arugula, almond slices, cranberries, and chunks of butternut squash. It was nicely dressed with some form of a vinaigrette. Since I'm not a fan of butternut squash, I just pushed those to the side. Overall, the salad was so-so. I certainly wouldn't order it for the sake of salad only. As a side note and having ordered "to go", I made the keen observation that my order was not accompanied by any napkins or utensils of any kind. Perhaps there was a kiosk nearby that served those up, however the staff did not make mention of such things before my departure. It wasn't until I was half-way down the street that I realized I was without. Good thing my office is fully stocked! Napkins and utensils aside, the service was fine and dandy. I've read many of the other [yelp] reviews about poor service. Perhaps I got lucky on my first visit. Perhaps I'm just a nice, likable guy that doesn't give the staff any grief while I'm placing my order. Perhaps the stars were in alignment. Whatever the case, service was spot on, friendly and professional. Would I go back? I wouldn't necessarily be against it. I just don't really see much on the menu that appeals to me, other than the roast beef and I'm not so certain I can justify $12 for a sandwich on the smallish side with a sub-par side dish. Also from what I've read, there are no alternative sides and they don't offer/allow substitutions. That's a kind of a buzz kill/deal breaker for me. All this being said, my final verdict is 3 stars based on "the little things" (or the lack thereof).

Darwin Cafe's prosciutto salad is one of my favorite salads EVER. I kid you not-- Kale tossed in a lemon-balsamic dressing, smothered in radicchio, garlic, prosciutto, and LOTS of parmesan. The prosciutto is crispy and deliciously salty, the kale is perfectly dressed, and the freshly grated cheese makes every bite so addicting. The portion size is huge, so sometimes I even eat half and save the rest for later. I even look forward to having more later! I've also had brunch here on a Sunday. Of course I got the prosciutto salad again. My bf got the house cured wild salmon lox. VERY good, like the best lox I've had in long time. It's so fresh, and the heirloom tomatoes, lemon, capers, red onion, dill, herbed cream cheese, and grilled sourdough made for one delicious crostini. Other than weekend brunch, I've never actually dined on location during the week because there's limited seating and it could get busy around lunch time. The line gets really long around noon-- like out the door and down the sidewalk kind of long. The one time I didn't have to wait whatsoever was when I came around 11:20am, and I was so pleasantly surprised that I literally thought it was my lucky day. Salads for lunch can get a boring after awhile, but this salad at Darwin Cafe blows my mind every time. So just get it! Pro tip: If you eat outside on a windy day with your prosciutto salad, try to sit facing opposite the direction the wind is blowing. Then lower your face to the table and let the parmesan fly into your mouth. Because there's so much parmesan that it WILL fly away. On second thought, maybe just try to sit inside.

Got the prosciutto and strauss butter baguette with cafe au lait. The baguette was simple and filling, and the strauss butter was smooth/velvety. I'm opting for an average rating because the baguette was something I could have made for myself at home. The staff was rather tight-lipped, but they were efficient so I'm satisfied. The ambiance was cute -- we sat by the doorway table which had just the right amount of outside breeze and inside warmth. After this visit, I realized that even the smallest holes in the wall in SF are worth your time and money. I could see myself coming back here if I was within a few block's radius.

I was grabbing lunch with a great friend and she invited me out to Darwin for a bite. I'd never heard of it since it was hidden in a small alley behind my girlfriend's office. However, a quick search showed me that this was a true gem. I ordered a smoked salmon sandwich featured goat cheese and sprouts and was served with a beautiful salad. The salad had some great surprises like pomegranate seeds too! My friend's bay shrimp salad looked amazing too. I loved the food here and it was perfectly priced for the extraordinary quality. The restaurant was a little small, but I loved the counter top dining which looked into the prep area and service was super fast. They've got a nice table outside that welcomes your dog, but come early because a line forms really fast. I can't wait to come back here to try their other dishes! Food: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Price: $ Atmosphere: 10/10

My friend talked this salad up on our entire walk to Darwin Cafe the other day, so even though the sandwiches sounded amaze, I had to try those greens. The bowl that came out was filled with a cabbage patch of kale, covered generously with fresh grated Parmesan and prosciutto, and the perfect blend of lemon-garlic-balsamic dressing. Absolutely delicious and left me feeling satisfied but not sinful. I did feel like the service was a wee bit persnickety, but I can suffer a small side of sass for that bangin' kale salad.

Challah Toast is top notch, just the right amount of sweetness and good bite Salmon toast was well composed and presented beautifully Kale salad was way overdressed and too acidic for my liking Service outside was slow but considering it was just one person it was fine Overall Thoughts Like to come back for lunch during the week to see what else they do well

Darwin is deep in the heart of SOMA, the lines can be long, but if you come right before noon it's not too bad. They've really optimized this salad/sandwich making process, but I'd still recommend coming early (wait was ~15 min at noon). The salads are tasty and the sandwiches look even better. I would come more often if my office was closer! * KALE SALAD (4 STARS) - $11: Chock full of parmesan and lemon (I saw how much they put in), a hefty amount of crunchy and flavorful pancetta, kale, vinegar, aged balsamic and pepper. The salad was generous and super flavorful thanks to the parm and bacon. I would prefer they use less vinegar and lemon, too sour, but still good. (+$3 for 2 poached eggs on top - genius). If you like this kale salad I would highly recommend Cafe Venue, which also makes large salads full of delicious fatty ingredients. If you prefer a cleaner kale salad, Plant Cafe and Working Girl has one which is very straightforward and healthy tasting. Note: Coffee from De la Paz. Order to go (takes all credit cards) or come early to grab some of the few available bar / table / al fresco seats! Serves brunch on weekends with limited hours (and also a limited menu).

Kale salad yesss! Delicious. I normally don't like kale, but I enjoyed this salad. Definitely get the poached eggs on top too. They really massage the heck out of the kale in the dressing and put generous shavings of Parmesan on top. Generous portions! Space inside is small, so sometimes there is no seating. There's a few seats outside, but if it's raining, like the day we went, then it's a no go. We got lucky and was able to get 2 bar seats. I actually really liked it Bc I got to see them make all the food. Quite interesting. Also tried the yogurt with seasonal strawberries and avocado toast. They were both good but not as standout ish as the salad. Three dishes was definitely overly ambitious for two people, but I happily took my kale leftovers home to eat the next day (still good).

Very cute little lunch spot. Love the decor, from the giant slabs of wood serving as tables to the old school cash register. Service is a little slow, but the roast beef is just about worth it.. * Roast Beef Sandwich $9 - great crunch on bread, but otherwise a little dry/stale - LOVE the nice tangy & spicy kick to the mustard - meat is so tender, slightly raw which I love - salad: spinach, canteloupe, & cheese. awesome

I really wanted to give a better review but I had a pretty bad experience here. I came on Saturday for lunch with some friends. It's a pretty small shop with a couple of tables outside, but we had 5 people and all of the tables only seat 2 people. The staff informed us that one of their employees had to be sent home, so we would have to wait for a while (his estimate was 15 minutes) so we were okay with it. We ended up finally getting seated after 25 minutes of waiting. By this time we were really hungry and all knew what we wanted to order so we ordered right away. I knew that the food would take a while because they only had one server and one guy making the food. We waited for another 30 minutes...people came and left and I saw two other parties get seated. I ordered a smoked salmon plate, my friends ordered eggs benedict, and another one ordered waffles. I saw both of the parties who got seated much later than us get their food served to them first (and the menu is very limited...so it was quite aggravating anticipating my smoked salmon plate being served to me only to see the server walk to another table to give it to them). My smoked salmon plate was really delicious but I think it might have been because I was famished from waiting over an hour for my food. Still, the capers and heirloom tomatoes were delicious and I would say the food at Darwin is pretty good. I understand that they were understaffed and the server had a really good attitude, which is why this review is 2 stars and not 1. Still, I think they could have done a much better job thinking of customers who had been waiting for over an hour to eat.

Poached eggs darwin (creamed spinach, roast beef, grilled sourdough, béarnaise sauce): 4/5 - creamed spinach is a really nice touch Turkey, brussel sprout slaw, Swiss sandwich: 4/5 Both come with an unconventional salad including almond, cranberries and squash.

GREAT brunch spot. I got this lox dish and it was sooooo good. Also tried the eggs Benedict and that was excellent as well. As other reviews have said, seating is pretty limited, but if you go when it's not too busy and get to sit outside and eat...it doesn't get much better than that!

Kale Salad: -hardcore Kale (my mouth got tired from chewing) -very vinaigrette-y (a bit too much) -prosciutto is good -cheeeese -big size -kinda pricey -crowded during lunch

Cool spot...located down a grungy alley but has a nice personality and good food. The proscuitto baguettes was on point. Has indoor and outdoor seating which is always nice.

Wow first time here and already loving it. I definitely love love love the food but it's sorta expensive for sandwiches & salads (although I would still pay for it). I wouldn't know about this place unless someone who lived or worked in SoMa told me to come here, which I came here for. It's kind of a hole in a wall for those who don't normally hangout around this district. I got the kale salad ($11) and it was absolutely delicious! Probably one of the best kale salads I have ever gotten. I love how the vinegarette goes so well with the lemon and just makes the whole salad taste good. It probably wouldn't be an every day type of meal because $11 just isn't feasible.

I'm surprised i haven't eaten here until recently after I moved in to SoMa. Funny thing is, there's a Darwin Cafe in Boston/Cambridge, which also serves amazing sandwiches. Darwin Cafe is a hidden gem in SoMa... I swear I would have never seen this place if it weren't for Yelp! And I believe Thrillist once mentioned they serve one of the tastiest roast beef sandwiches in San Francisco! Their sandwiches are really good; I had a bite of my bf's roast beef, which was solid (but I'm not a huge roast beef person).... and I ordered the turkey sandwich, which was sooo good! It has a little sweetness to it and I love the hint of crunchiness from the almonds. So creative! They are also generous with the meat, so if you're a carnivore, thumbs up. It also comes with a side of arugula salad, which complements the sandwich well. Next time I definitely want to try the kale salad! Edit: I ordered the kale salad.... not a fan. I think it's just my taste preference, but it was way too salty/vinergary for my liking. Since I had it to go, I added fruit to my salad, haha. Also, they go crazy on the cheese, so ask for it on the side if you like to control the portion.

The sandwiches and salads here aren't that bad, nothing special but not bad at all. The service is terrible. Not only do they not do any substitutions (other restaurants have as much or more of a lunch rush than you and handle substitutions with no problems, being busy is no excuse, and no this isn't the Fathers Office, your sandwiches are not perfect the way you designed them). So instead of substitutions I have to resort to asking for certain ingredients to be simply left off. A simple request...that Darwin has gotten wrong all 10 of the 10 times I have been there. How hard is it for "no cheddar" to make it from the register to the sandwich station two feet behind you?!?! Update: The management has reached out via comment on this review and demonstrated that they care, and want to fix this issue. I will go back because I like the food and idea of this place. If they get the order right I will be a little happier, though I still think they should definitely start allowing substitutions. Moving to up to 2 star, and will move to 3 star if I go back and they get my order correct.

3.5 stars. Darwin is a cute neighborhood cafe that offers a menu that should satisfy any palate. I ordered the Poached Egg Darwin. I was debating on that and the avocado toast. I figured I couldn't go wrong with the menu item.....staring Darwin, right? Eggs were prepared perfectly. I had no real complaints about the dish. It simply didn't stand out as an amazing dish. There wasn't a flavor that excited my tastebuds. Darwin Cafe is a solid place, and I'm glad I tried it. The staff are pleasant and seem to be well organized, especially considering the small work area they are working with. One additional thought, maybe the coffee menu could be slightly bigger, or in a more obvious location.

Great spot for lunch though the line will be ridiculous if you come after 12. Since they have limited seating, it's best to grab your food to go. But if you have a small party, like 2-3 people, you might be able to snag a table. I've had their hot turkey sandwich and their baguettes. The turkey sandwich always comes with an arugula salad, but they'll switch up the jam/spread and cheese they use in the sammy. The bread is always toasted nicely, but it will scratch the roof of your mouth haha. The baguettes are SO worth it, two should be enough for lunch. I've even come by to grab one for a snack! My personal favorite is the ham, gruyere and dijon. The fresh mozzarella and basil pesto one is also delicious. Food comes out quick, and you won't be disappointed. Darwin is also probably one of the few places in the area where you can get lunch for $12!