We're not in Oak Park this week! Victoria's Pastries in San Francisco

On Saturday afternoon we left Chicago for San Francisco. It's R & R time for Leslie and the Rabbi's Convention for Max. We got here Saturday night and had a great Tapas dinner. Sunday morning we went to a local restaurant for breakfast and then walked around. On our walk we passed by Sear's Restaurant (not part of Sears Department Store). There was a long line out the door and a video playing about their Swedish pancakes. It's supposedly the best pancake in town and has been open since 1938. It had to be good. We decided we needed to blog about this place. SO we thought we'd cheat and go there early Monday (before Max's sessions) and blog about it on Tuesday. Well, after our breakfast we were so disappointed that we didn't want to blog about it! The Depot has nothing to worry about. The pancakes were small and there was not much flavor. We were both disappointed until this morning. We had a great breakfast (serves us right for trying a place the day before!).

Leslie's coworker sent us with a list of restaurants close to our hotel, the Fairmont in Nob Hill. Victoria's Pastry Company was about 7 blocks from our hotel in North Beach. The pastry shop has been open since 1914. The walk there was really nice (all down hill!). There are about 8 tables in this old Italian Bakery. We got the last table. There was a man siting alone at one table next to us and two woman at the table on the other side. It wasn't until the middle of our breakfast that we found out they were a married couple who come to the bakery every morning. The woman sit and gossip together. The man was waiting for other men and reading his newspaper. We offered to switch tables but he was thrilled with the distance (I didn't understand but Max shook his head in agreement). They meet their friends every morning.

There is no doubt in our mind why this bakery has been open since 1914. It was delicious! The coffee was rich. We both enjoyed our large mug and could have had more. (Although I didn't want to carry it on the walk up the hill!). We shared three pastries. The first one was a Bear Claw. It was fresh and so soft. The next was a broiche. This was also very good. But by far the Cherry Strudel was the best. It was flaky and delicious. We both finished everything. I have to say this was one of the best bakery's we've ever been too. You'll have to check it out when you come to San Francisco or you can even order on-line. The walk back uphill was hard but not hard enough to stop us from going back to this bakery tomorrow!

Max went on after breakfast to a day trip titled, Coffee, Beatniks and Jewish Literature. Leslie went sightseeing around San Francisco and to the Wharf. We won't say who has had a better day. We're home on Thursday and will blog about our regular life next week. Thanks to Leslie's mom and dad we've had a great time away together (and of course Max has enjoyed his meetings.)