Wake-Up Call: Breakfast at Il Cane Rosso

M. Brody

The fried egg panino and almond-studded breakfast farro.

At Il Cane Rosso, Daniel Patterson and Lauren Kiino's instantly popular Italianate stand in the Ferry Building, it's not only possible to get a delicious and interesting breakfast for between $6 and $8, but you get one of San Francisco's best vistas thrown in for free. 

M. Brody

Short but sweet: The breakfast menu.

​The brief breakfast menu, which evolves frequently but usually boasts a breakfast sandwich, home-made yogurt with fruit, and cereal, is available from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The olive-oil-fried egg panino ($8), on a soft Acme bun, featured not one but two fried eggs and two layers of Boccalone pancetta, the bottom one impressed into melty aged provolone. A yummy, fatty, salty treat, big enough to share.

Farro, an ancient wheat grain, is imported from Italy in a partially crushed ("broken") state, and cooked with raisins in milk ($6), yielding a nutty warm cereal with a little tooth, its texture enhanced by a topping of roughly chopped almonds. Good, and good for you.

Pick up your coffee elsewhere -- the Ferry Building boasts outlets of both Blue Bottle and Peet's -- because Il Cane Rosso doesn't brew its own. [Update: this just in! Il Cane Rosso started coffee service -- Blue Bottle, what else? -- the day after we posted this.] Daily-changing acqua frescas might include a melon-berry version ($4). And you can pick up a little something from Il Cane Rosso's menu of salads, sandwiches, and roasted meats for later.

Il Cane Rosso One Ferry Building #41 (at The Embarcadero), 391-7599

M. Brody

Even in deep overcast, the view isn't bad.

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