SFReview
photo credit: Melissa Zink
Outerlands
Included In
The dining room at Outerlands feels like the inside of a boat, with its weathered wood planks and curved walls. It’s fitting, since this place is just blocks from Ocean Beach. The healthy dose of seaside escapism (minus the fog and wind chill) is one reason to get to this American restaurant, and another is their excellent food—especially the brunch.
A morning meal should always start with the dutch pancake. The puffed-up behemoth is the best thing on the menu—it’s crisp on the edges, dusted with powdered sugar, and finished with a scoop of mildly sweet housemade ricotta you’ll want to eat by the spoonful. The rest of the brunch menu (available Friday-Sunday) is a blend of more crowd-pleasing AM standards to pay attention to, like a head-turning sticky bun, toast with house butter and jam, and a pretty good breakfast sandwich. They’re hearty, comforting plates that’ll sustain you as you count the number of Birkenstocks walking down Judah Street. If you’re here with a four-legged friend, snag a sidewalk table to dig into your spread and wrap yourself in one of the provided blankets.
photo credit: Melissa Zink
photo credit: Melissa Zink
photo credit: Melissa Zink
While the food is more memorable at brunch, dinner will still get the job done as the seasonal pastas, tempura vegetables, and trout-topped salads are perfectly pleasant. But spending a morning sipping coffee and getting powdered sugar on our nose is our favorite way to use this place. If you haven’t done that yet, consider this your sign to get here this weekend. And always grab an extra sticky bun for the road.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Melissa Zink
Dutch Pancake
The dutch pancake to rule all dutch pancakes. It’s fluffy, eggy, and just-sweet-enough in all the right ways, and crowned with powdered sugar and seasonal fruit at its peak. Add a dollop of their house ricotta, always.
photo credit: Spencer Cotton
Sticky Bun
This dense, caramelly sugar bomb is the size of your palm, and it must be on your table.
photo credit: Melissa Zink
Breakfast Sandwich
A solid breakfast sandwich, but it’s nothing you’ll dream about. Still, when you need eggs, cheese, and bacon, stat, it’s here for you.
Little Gem Salad With Smoked Trout
The trout is an add-on to this salad ($10), and you should get it for a wonderfully smoky layer. Without it, the salad is still a zippy number with shaved pecorino, tomato, and cucumber.
Housemade Tagliatelle
What goes on the pasta rotates seasonally—it might be pork ragu, or summery corn and tomatoes. You won’t be mad about ordering this.