Where to Eat on Jury Duty in SF

Neighborhood: Tenderloin

Distance from courthouse: 4 minute walk

This famous French brunch spot in SF's Tenderloin/Little Saigon neighborhood is absolutely mobbed on weekends, but stop by mid-afternoon on a weekend and you'll have your run of the place. Here's your chance to indulge in chocolate beignets before dining on offerings of cornmeal-fried shrimp and fried chicken with a side of house-made biscuit. It's enough to fill you up for the rest of the day, not to mention leave you feeling a bit lethargic. Just try not to fall asleep during jury proceedings once back at court.

Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Distance from courthouse: 8 minute walk

Whether you’re looking for a healthy salad or a hearty meatball sandwich, The Grove in Hayes Valley has got you covered. This simple counter-service place is both cozy (with a woods-inspired interior and a roaring fireplace) and delicious, not to mention full of menu options. Bonus points for serving breakfast all day.

Neighborhood: Mid-Market
Distance from courthouse: 7 minute walk
Tech companies strive to make it so that their employees never have to leave the building, but that doesn’t mean non-workers can't join in the experience. On the first floor of Mid-Market's Twitter Building stands The Market, which is both a sprawling industrial food court and organic produce market. Opt for Malaysian eats at Azalina’s, or go for a bowl of delicious raw seafood at Poke Bar. There are also sandwiches, Sicilian pizza slices, and mouthwatering burgers to choose from, not to mention premium speciality coffee at Blue Bottle café. 

Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Distance from courthouse: 9 minute walk

A frontrunner in the city's fine fast-casual restaurant trend, Souvla is a modern take on the souvlaki or "skewer" food stands found throughout Greece. Choose from a compact menu of salads and sandwiches (you can get pork, chicken, lamb, and veggie versions of either), and don't miss their Greek fries, judicially covered in olive oil, lemon juice, parsley and cheese. While indoor seating is limited, a newly expanded parklet (parking space-turned-park) just out front is the perfect play for whiling away a lunch hour.

Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Distance from courthouse: 13 minute walk

The distance might make it near impossible to get here on a thirty minute recess. But if you’ve got an hour, you’re golden. This bright and airy fast-casual rotisserie is an off-shoot of nearby Rich Table, and if you're lucky you even come face-to-face with the sister restaurant's Michelin-starred chefs Sarah and Evan Rich--who often run RT's front-of-the-house. Menu favorites include the cauliflower sandwich with red beet tahini and herbs, and the eatery's namesake chicken, served either half or whole. RT Rotisserie just opened a second location in the city's Nopa neighborhood (on the cusp of the Haight-Ashbury).

Neighborhood: Tenderloin
Distance from courthouse: 7 minute walk

If it’s pho you’re craving, head north from the courthouse to Turtle Tower. This Vietnamese restaurant does different styles of the beloved noodle soup, including with rare beef, tripe, and even chicken giblets. It's closed on Thursdays and there aren't too many other dining options in the area, so plane ahead.

Neighborhood: Tenderloin
Distance from courthouse: 11 minute walk

Choose from a menu healthy eats at this cozy little café, where breakfast is served all day and green smoothies are the norm. Offerings include a daily quiche, granola that's both vegan and gluten-free, and a smoked salmon platter served with toasted homemade rye bread and a side salad. The eatery also makes its own in-house pastries, because balance is where it's at. Jane also has locations in Pacific Heights, and one just west of Japantown.

Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Distance from courthouse: 8 minute walk

Sometimes, Thai food is the only thing that will satiate your lunchtime hunger. If this is the case, swing by Lers Ros, an award-winning Thai restaurant that's a simple stroll from the courthouse. It’s sit-down table service, so be sure to let them know you’re on a timed break upon arrival, then order all the fried tofu, chicken satay, and coconut curry you can stomach.