Located in the Tenderloin, on a dingy corner of Larkin next to the worst KFC in the city (don't use the bathrooms unless you like to watch people shooting up), it is close enough to City Hall to get its fair share of government workers and public service employees, and an eclectic mix of people from all over town. It only seats 40, so there is usually a line out the door. This was a rare quiet weekday.
The first thing that I ever had to eat at Brenda's was the flight of beignets. This is a great dish to share. Plain, Granny Smith Apple, Ghirardelli Chocolate, and Crawfish - which I eat in exactly that order.
The Crawfish is my favorite - with scallions and cheddar cheese, dusted with cayenne. Absolutely wonderful - a couple of these would make a meal in themselves.
Nothing like a hearty cup of gumbo on a cool fall day - this one is made with chicken, sausage and okra.
The Hangtown Fry is one of my favorite specials - I always look for it on the chalkboard. An omlette made with oysters and bacon, a bowl of creamy, buttery grits, and a flaky biscuit with butter and homemade jam. Heaven.
They make the expected Po Boys - Oyster, Shrimp, and Catfish - but they also offer a variation, the BBQ Chicken Po Boy. The sauce is tangy/sweet and the fries are crisp and perfectly cooked.
This is the Sloppy Josephine, made with turkey instead of beef. Hearty, satisfying and delicious. And how do you know you are in San Francisco? They offer a Vegan Josephine, made with Tofu.
Another special off of the chalkboard that day: Crawfish Pot Pie. That's a cheddar biscuit sitting on top of a luscious, creamy filling. Decadent and amazing.
Ahh, Brenda's. Wonderfully prepared food, in a cozy setting. Add a few glasses of their watermelon tea to wash everything down, and you will want to linger all afternoon in this Big Easy.
