Restaurant Review: Bob's Donuts and Pastries, San Francisco, CA

Bob's Donuts and Pastries
1621 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA
415-776-3141
http://bobsdonuts.com/

* Eat-in or take-out
* Cash only
* Limited metered parking on street

I was wanderin' up Polk one fine morning, with no particular plans other than to head in the general direction of The Water and loaf in the fine spring weather, when I passed the open and inviting door of Bob's. Partial to the idea of a little cup of inexpensive coffee and an old fashioned or two, I sauntered on in. While putting in my order I noticed a "Yelp Loves Us!" sticker on the front counter. As the donuts were very uninspiring, the coffee weak and the environs lacking in any particular aesthetic quality, I was very curious as to what the hell it was Yelp loved so much about this place that they would go to all the trouble of sending over a sticker to advertise the fact. So, next time I was in front of the internet tubes I fired it on up and skimmed the 200-odd reviews. Then, next time I was in the neighborhood, I made a return stop and this time got a raised glazed and apple fritter.

Ah. I see the difference now.

So the Bob's experience is really a case of what you order, it seems. Based on my experience, I would not order the old-fashioned - bland, dry and borderline stale. Certain menu items, it appears, are among the best in the city - those being the apple fritters primarily, also the raised glazed and cinnamon buns. Timing seems to help too, as they're better when coming fresh out of the oven (all stuff is made on site, not that prefab junk they ship around to all the generic donut stores). Unfortunately this seems to be very late at night, but fortunately Bob's is open 24 hours, and that first unfortunately may actually be turned into a fortunately if you are a regular drunk and accustomed to stumbling around at the midnight hour looking for sustenance anyway. I don't think there's any way to help the coffee, but it's hecka cheap and washes the donuts down your craw (plus caffeine) so it gets a pass.