OMG this spot in San Francisco close to Union Square is notable with a capital N. Special thanks to Geraldo our server, a true hospitality professional any food service business would love to hire.
Mason cafe diner is a shining example of why America is the service industry capital of the world, within moments of sitting down the welcome came, the menus arrived with aplomb, and less than minutes later a smiling server was at the table once more, pen poised taking our order, we blinked and our drinks arrived all in one go, everything perfect exactly as ordered.
If you are sick of everything the same Starbucks, Mason Cafe Diner is a 180 degree authentic American diner where the pancake stacks hit the ceiling and the waffles are large enough to feed four. The type of place you’d only experience in 3 D at the IMAX theatre these days, fabulousness gone by the wayside as large conglomerates swipe up expensive prime real estate, sucking the life and wonder experiences out of everyday essentials like breakfast.
Cafe Mason diner is a hive of activity where the servers clearly thrive on hard work and the patrons return day in day out. It’s not just a restaurant but a friendly hub where the staff are on first name terms with their regulars. We witnessed it first hand as visitors on the sidelines. Dining alone is normal, take a seat at the counter and be entertained or not by the funny waiters, cracking a joke or too or just by the energy and buzz of the place.
This is old school, everything done exceptionally and quick and a shining example of why the US have managed to make tipping almost so compulsory, the breakdown of percentage gratuity is detailed on the bill giving foreign visitors, who don’t know the ropes, a push in the right direction.
I heard stories of hard working waiters chasing patrons out of restaurants when I lived in Los Angeles asking "what was wrong with the service" when they failed to leave an appropriate tip. The food and the service at the Mason Cafe diner is so good make sure you do the right thing and reward the fantastic staff for their efforts before you leave.
This place is the kind of joint I hope we can go back to in the future, very special and memorable experience, so good I am going back tomorrow.
Contact us is the message on the Mason diner website
“Feel free to write, call and visit us.
We really love to communicate with our clients” shows the authentic energy of the place from the owners down.
320 Mason St, San Francisco
+1 (415) 544 0320
It’s a walk in place so just show up and you’ll be welcomed with open opens. The average cost for breakfast is a very reasonable 20 bucks per person plus tip.