Mama's
Sitting on the northeast corner of Washington Square Park, this maternally inspired eatery is, perhaps not a surprise, all about down-home comfort food. Serving breakfast and lunch for over 50 years, yummy omelettes, bread smeared with homemade jam, a wide variety of "Mama's Benedicts," and French toast are the name of the game. Don't let the line out the door (day after day) scare you. It ends up moving pretty fast.

Mama's, 1701 Stockton Street (at Filbert Street); 415-362-6421.

Photographed by Anna-Alexia Basile