Brenda's French Soul Food

Brenda's French Soul Food, at 652 Polk Street on the edge of San Francisco's Tenderloin and Civic Center, is a Creole and Southern restaurant founded by chef Brenda Buenviaje, a New Orleans native's cooking tradition in a San Francisco setting. The cuisine blends Louisiana Creole dishes with Southern soul food, and the restaurant is best known for brunch. The emblematic dishes are the beignets, served in flavors such as plain and crawfish, along with shrimp and grits, fried chicken, gumbo and po' boy-style sandwiches. A beignet flight is a common first order for groups. The dining room is casual, bright and busy, with a brunch crowd of locals, families and visitors; noise is moderate to loud, and the dress code is casual. Drinks include coffee, mimosas, Bloody Marys and Southern-style cocktails, though the focus remains on food. Reservations are accepted online at frenchsoulfood.com, and walk-ins on weekends often face a wait of 30 to 60 minutes, so booking ahead is useful for brunch. Hours run Monday to Wednesday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Thursday to Sunday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, so dinner is possible late in the week. Typical spending is about $20 to $35 per person. The restaurant sits near the Civic Center, City Hall and the Asian Art Museum, so it fits easily into a day of civic-center sightseeing in San Francisco, California. Visitors should be aware that this part of Polk Street can feel rougher than other dining districts at night, and the early-morning and midday hours are the most comfortable for most travelers. Dishes tend to be rich and portion sizes generous, so sharing is common.