Wanting to try somewhere new en route to pickup our Boccalone box, Sarah & I checked out this place after nearby Pastore’s (noted on Chowhound for their chilaquiles, one of my favorite breakfast dishes) proved to be closed until Jan 18.

Located in a nondescript and somewhat run down section of town, Olivia’s featured heavy bars on the windows and doors and 60’s-era decor, with vinyl-covered seats and suchlike. This is the sort of place I’d never have noticed if it hadn’t been mentioned on an internet forum. Aside from us, a regular was at the counter, and one other table was occupied. We were seated promptly by a friendly fellow who took our drink order and left us with the menus.

The breakfast/brunch menu has the usual american standards, along with huevos rancheros and chilaquiles (both around $10). I chose the green chilaquilles after our waiter said they were spicy, while the red chilaquiles were not. Sarah, upon hearing that there was a choice in sauces on the chilaquillaes, a fact not mentioned in the menu, changed her order from huevos rancheros to red chilaquiles.

Our OJ arrived freshly squeezed and delicious, just like it should be, and the coffee was decent as well. Their very large boombox played a strange mix of Latin electronic dance music, 80s one hit wonders, and modern tunes.

My chilaquiles were tasty, although a somewhat different prep – the plate consisted of 3 piles, one of creamy refried beans, one of somewhat overcooked scrambled eggs, and one of tortilla chips drizzled with a tangy green (tomatillo, I assume) sauce. The eggs were forgettable, but the beans and chips/sauce were rather good. Sarah’s red chilaquiles weren’t as good, however, and the red sauce was too rich and too savory for breakfast, with a hefty infusion of garlic.

This was a nice place to try, although with its out-of-the-way location and so many other places in the general area, I don’t know that we’ll be back soon.

My rating: Good

Olivia’s Brunch and Fine Dining Restaurant
3770 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA (map)