Raw Milk Cheddar

It’s just this perfect mix of down-home American diner food, with touches of Korean flavor. Their crab and shrimp omelette is huge and so good. They call their bread “strong bread.” I have no clue what it is, but it’s delicious. Think of it like whole-grain bread on steroids. Everything’s made in-house, and it’s all phenomenal.

I’d go to Coquine for brunch any day; you can’t go wrong. The chef, Katy Millard, worked in Michelin-starred restaurants in San Francisco and France, and she’s one of the best chefs in the city. Her menu looks simple, but it’s very creative. Even something like a simple Little Gem salad gets a twist.

It’s influenced daily or weekly by whatever’s local and seasonal, so the menu’s always changing, but I’ve really liked brunch dishes like grits with roast vegetables and pork ribeye. She served that with house-made sriracha.

Honestly, anything you order off the menu is going to be great. It’s a small place, probably 30 seats or fewer. During the summer, she has a patio open, too, that adds maybe six or seven more tables. Outside is perfect, not too hot or sunny, and it’s right next to Mount Tabor Park. So you can walk up the mountain to enjoy some nature after the meal, or come to the restaurant after walking.

“Splurge” means different things to different people, but price tag aside, these four spots are all great choices for a celebratory meal.