A Day in the Bay – vlog 1

My Honest Opinion

Let’s start with the cons and we’ll end on a high note for this cafe. To start, my order of the Pacifica Special never came out. My partner originally wanted a Cubano but they were out of ingredients for that so he got a Turkey Bagel. A patron that was sitting at a table when we arrived went up to the counter after our Turkey Bagel came out and told them that their sandwich was never made. It wasn’t busy when we were there and it just seemed like the employees were fulfilling the “chit-chat” part of the cafe’s name (credit to my partner for that joke).
So the pros are– the turkey bagel was good! It was a good light snack. No crazy sauces or toppings, it is what it is. It’s hard to come by a simple bagel sandwich in the bay. Aside from the simple bagel, there were a lot of seats to choose from. The best part of the cafe is the view! You can see the Pacific Ocean from anywhere inside the cafe. It was very beautiful and picturesque.

Quick Notes

1. Live Music: According to their sign outside, they have live music from local artists every weekend from 10AM-6PM. We were there on a weekday so we didn’t get to experience the music.
2. Two Locations: They have two locations, the second one is located just a hop skip down the road at 2100 Beach Blvd. They sell bait at tackle at this location too which is great because Pacifica Pier doesn’t require permits to fish there.

My Honest Opinion

If you’re driving Southbound on Skyline Blvd. (CA-35), then you can easily pull right into a parking slot. If you’re driving Northbound, it’s a different story. You will need to be extra careful because you will need to make an illegal U-turn (do not recommend) or drive further down South and make a right at San Bruno Ave (first stop light), then make a U-turn at San Bruno Ave and turn left back onto Skyline Blvd so you’re not going Northbound. It’s up to you!
The San Andreas Trail is a segment of the Crystal Springs Regional Trail so you have your options of where you want to enter. But if you just want to walk the San Andreas Segment, then this is the trail entrance.
On a clear sunny day, this trail is gorgeous. The San Andreas Lake is so sparkly and massive. Montara Mountain lines the westside of the lake and if the marine layer is in town, you can see the fog slowly creeping down the top of the mountain. It is a beautiful sight to see.

Quick Notes

1. St. Andreas: Did you know that the area got its name from Father Francisco Palou, who was both a chaplain and a diarist for Portola? He named it San Andreas to celebrate the feast day of the saint. As Portola descended Sweeney Ridge, he set up camp in what is now underwater at San Andreas Lake. If you take a stroll down Hillcrest Boulevard, there’s a sign at the trail entrance that points you right to the spot!
2. Restrooms: There are two restrooms on this segment. One is about halfway down the segment and the other is near the end.
3. Water: There are no drinking fountains on this segment or the entire Crystal Springs Trail. Please bring water before you do any trail!
4. Wildlife: There have been incidences in the past of mountain lion and coyote sightings. Please be aware of your surroundings! The National Park Service has some good tips on what to do if you encounter a mountain lion.

My Honest Opinion

Local Kitchens is a “ghost kitchen” type of venue that has “Best ofs” from different restaurants in one location. The only difference between Local Kitchens and a typical ghost kitchen is that you can eat in here and get table service.
The only food worth ordering here is the pizza from Square Pie Guys. The pizzas are Detroit-style and every time I eat a pizza from Square Pie Guys, it always hits. The crust is always crispy, buttery, and melt in your mouth. The cheese to tomato sauce ratio is always perfect as well.

Quick Notes

1. Card Payment Only: There are no cashiers here, just self-ordering kiosks.
2. YouTube HQ: This location is right next to YouTube Headquarters, so there is definitely a fun photo-op by the YouTube sign!
3. Tanforan Mall: If you need an indoor place to walk off the pizza, Tanforan Mall is just a couple blocks down.
4. Downtown San Bruno: If you yearn for outdoor shopping, Downtown San Bruno is right next to Tanforan!

My Honest Opinion

Downtown Pacifica is a sleepy coastal town peppered with mom & pop local businesses. I wouldn’t call it a destination town but more of a “if it’s on the way and you have time check it out town”.

Quick Notes

1. Card Payment Only: There are no cashiers here, just self-ordering kiosks.
2. YouTube HQ: This location is right next to YouTube Headquarters, so there is definitely a fun photo-op by the YouTube sign!
3. Tanforan Mall: If you need an indoor place to walk off the pizza, Tanforan Mall is just a couple blocks down.
4. Downtown San Bruno: If you yearn for outdoor shopping, Downtown San Bruno is right next to Tanforan!

My Honest Opinion

The store front is cute, it looks like a house but once you enter it is definitely a bagel shop. The Egg & Cheese bagels was delicious. Coffee was meh. Worth going out of the way for? Nah.

Quick Notes

1. They also sell sweet treats: I didn’t get to try any of the sweet treats so I may return to have a bite.
2. In the Attic: The antique store right across the street is a great place to peruse vintage items. I can spend an hour or two lost in their wares.