Side A

While some restaurant openings in San Francisco go unnoticed, others quickly generate buzz, drawing long lines and lively social media coverage. Side A is one of them. Located in the Mission District, the concept combines several roles in a single space. It operates as a coffee shop by day, led by the local Coffee Movement, and as a restaurant by night. When chef Parker Brown’s food is served, the room also functions as a listening bar, complete with a live vinyl DJ booth.

Brown, a Chicago native who previously worked at the MICHELIN-starred, now-closed Aphotic, moved to San Francisco in 2017. He describes the project as “a neighborhood restaurant serving bistro dishes and vibes,” adding that his food is rooted in “a bit of nostalgia.” The menu reflects that approach, with dishes such as a breaded chicken cutlet crisped to perfection, gnocchi with fall-apart short rib and giardiniera, and a hamburger topped with smoked bone marrow, onion jam, and goat cheese. The space itself also plays a role. The former Universal Café has been redesigned in a crisp industrial style by the design duo Studio Ahead, giving the restaurant an atmosphere that feels cool without trying too hard.

In addition to serving generous portions, a very Midwestern trait, Side A is also a lively place to spend an evening, with music taken almost as seriously as the food. “Both Caroline and I are excited to see the growth of our music and event programming going forward,” Brown says, adding that “record digging” is one of his biggest current inspirations. Another inspiration, he says, is “the love we get from guests and friends who hang out at the restaurant.” It is no surprise that Side A already feels like a natural gathering spot in the neighborhood, an achievement in a district that has no shortage of places for food, music, and nightlife.