Harrow

I was really impressed with this place. I came here on a weekday for lunch. I’ve passed by the place many times but wasn’t especially attracted to its offerings. But I was pleasantly surprised.
I ordered the vegetable polenta lunch special. It was delicious. I don’t normally eat polenta so I was taking a risk — but not was I glad I ordered it! The dish came with freshly grilled vegetables, polenta, and a side of fresh green salad.
The inside is small and there aren’t many seats, but I was able to sit with my coworker at 12:15ish. It might be hard to find a seat if you come with more than 2 people, but you can always grab your meal to go.
Since you order your meal at the counter and wait for it at the table, I can’t really comment on the service — although the service at the counter was great!
If you are looking for a healthy lunch option in downtown SF, check this place out!

LOVE Harrow! I had a coworker tell me about this place, and I’m so happy they did. They have a rotating seasonal menu that they change out every few months. The current seasonal salad (arugula, satsuma mandarins, Medjool dates, almonds, ricotta salata, citrus vinaigrette) is phenomenal. I’m also a fan of their creamy polenta with meatballs (which isn’t always on the menu), their BLT and soups.
On top of having amazing food, though, the staff is always friendly, the line is never too long, and there’s great wine options if you don’t have to head back to the office after lunch. The ambiance is wonderful, too!

This place gets filled up super fast during lunch. Please don’t expect to find seating because the overall size of the establishment is very small.
I ordered to go and the wait time was moderate (10 – 15 minutes). The roasted pork sandwich was delicious, full of flavor, and wasn’t as messy as a typical sandwich I’ve consumed before. The mac and cheese, however, was a huge let down. Avoid if you can. For $ 5 – 6, I would expect pretty good mac and cheese (it’s not that difficult to make!). Unfortunately, it lacked flavor and felt watered down. Harrow slightly redeemed themselves by adding scallions (which kind of saved the overall flavor).
A cool establishment you should try if you’re in FiDi and want food on the slightly lighter side.

In love with this place. Seriously! I would love to meet the owner! So good and fresh! The interior is also awesome! Such a gem in the financial district!

This place is a bit pricy but you get what you pay for. The arugula salad is amazing. When I want some really good I go here.

Mornings in an accounting firm can be very demanding. For this reason, the lunch hour is often viewed as a welcome reprieve from the seemingly endless spreadsheets and emails. Fortunately for our three hardworking accountants, Harrow’s proximity to the financial district makes it the ideal place for these colleagues to spend their precious hour away from work. Everyone can look forward to their full hour under the restaurant’s calming décor, completely devoid of work-​related subjects.
«I hear they really Excel on their sandwiches here,» says the First Accountant while glossing over the menu on the wall.
«Yes, the Power of their Chicken Salad sandwich is on Point,» the Second adds.
«Word.» The third acknowledges.
«But maybe a paradigm shift in my diet can help me leverage my lunch options,» ponders the First out loud. «I am tired of just reaching for the lowest hanging fruit.»
And so the First Accountant walks over to the nice lady behind the register and begins to order.
«Hello, I might be thinking outside the box here, but I want to order two sides for my lunch today and I am looking for the most robust option. I’ve got the Quinoa Salad on my radar, but I also want another side that will value-​add to my meal. Something with good synergy, like the Mac and Cheese.»
And it was the Second Accountant’s turn to order.
«Not to throw my first colleague under the bus, but I am not going to drink the kool-​aid and order something totally new and end up not liking it. I’ll stick to what I know and go with the Roasted Pork Sandwich. I’m going to do more with less and skip the cilantro. I am a little hungry so don’t let the grass grow too long on this order, eh?»
And then the Third’s.
«I want to run this up the flagpole with you, first. How is the Butternut Squash soup? I need to know if the soup is Harrow’s core competency. If not, I guess I’ll just bite the bullet and write off the soup as a bad lunch spend. But if it turns out to be a game changer, I’ll ping this to my colleagues and maybe they’ll come and piggyback off my soup idea and you guys will gain traction in the FiDi lunch scene, eh?»
The accountants’ lunches are served to them fresh on the high tables of the restaurant. Our cubicle warriors begins to eat and evaluate.
The First speaks out about his Quinoa Salad and Mac and Cheese.
«Wow, Harrow might be able to grow organically into a market leader with just this Mac and Cheese. But they do need to take ownership over the immaterial amounts of arugula in the Quinoa Salad. Regardless, this lunch really wowed me.»
Then the Second speaks on his sandwich.
«It might be above my pay grade to weigh the pig on this sandwich, but the tenderness of the meat is definitely the X-​Factor. The bread is just dynamic across the piece. I don’t have any more arrows to fire, this sandwich is just an ace in the hole.»
And of course, the Third with his piece on the soup.
«Unfortunately, I am reasonably assured that the soup was made with aggressive mediocrity. I would love to have some face time with the kitchen and hear them fire away on why this soup missed the mark. Maybe I should upfeed my displeasure with the nice register lady, but I’d hate for her to be the fall guy for this. I guess I can always just absorb the loss on this soup and leave my lunch experience in the red.»
The three finishes their lunch just as their lunch hour approach its end. And then together, the three of them thinks to themselves, almost in unison.
«Ah, time to get back to the office and the spreadsheets. But I’m so glad we were able to have this relaxing lunch away from all those annoying business jargon!»

Got the roasted chicken with polenta and the roasted chicken was not quite roasted to a decent crisp. If at all. On top of that, I found a hair underneath the chicken. I cringed.
Their polenta was not flavorful and bland, ultimately. Luckily, they have house sauces on the side for adding some spice to the whole blandness.
I wouldn’t try this spot again when there are so many good selections on this lunch street!

Farmers Market Sandwich — white bean spread w Rosemary and garlic, roasted Roma tomatoes, citrus-​marinated fennel, kalamata tapenade and arugula. Veggie delight. Added a crisp glass of white for good measure. Light, tasty, perfect.

I was craving a light and fresh lunch and when my coworker suggested a farm to table spot with a menu that changed daily I was all ears. Harrow was wonderful and I’ll definitely be back for lunch next time I’m in SF.
The menu has a variety of soups, salads and sandwiches as well as hot plate entrees such as fried chicken and mac and cheese. It sort of reminded me of a fresh and independently owned version of Panera bread.
When we walked in the entranceway was super packed but luckily we managed to squeeze into a table in the back. I went with a half sandwich half salad combo– chicken salad sammy and a Caesar salad. The chicken salad was really interesting, it was pulled chicken and had less of a mayo base and more of a vinaigrette taste. Whatever it was, I really enjoyed it. The salad was also really yum, I’m a big Caesar fan so it’s pretty tough to mess up for me. The portion was perfect– I finished it all but wasn’t stuffed and felt ready to take on my afternoon.
Everyone else was really pleased with their lunch selections as well. I wish there was one in NJ!

I walk by this place nearly every day on the way to work. Looked super promising. I am trying to eat no carbs these days to lose a few pounds. SO I though I would treat myself to an expensive salad. The «seasonal salad» comes with arugula, peaches, fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced almonds in a citrus vinaigrette with a balsamic glaze. It also comes with croutons, I asked for none.
$ 11 later. The salad was small and not very satisfying… I would maybe have liked it more if it were a side salad, but as an entrée — I am sitting here HUNGRY!
The BLT looked great — and I would love to get ½ Sammy and ½ soup there (or ½ salad which they offer for a whopping $ 12)
I dunno — this place makes Tender Greens & Mixt look cheap by comparison — and we all know they are a rip off.

A menu that changes everyday, a line that rolls out the door, and not many Vegan options… mmmm Maybe this was the wrong choice for me, but it ended up being the perfect light lunch!
I choose a Cesar salad that they offered to add avocado instead of feta, it was dripped with a wonderful strange balsamic, and fruit! Yes Peaches on a salad! Other then the President Of the United States song, «Peaches,» usually aren’t my thing. What can I say I grew up on canned peaches at the dinner table, so those real fresh ones not bathing in a corn syrup sauce seem kinda weird to me!
And I will admit I would never put a fresh peach on a Salad, heck fruit on a salad in general usually not my thing, but the peaches mixed with the balsamic in a wonderful way and the flavor was pretty interesting and grand.
My work team mates all had soups and sandwiches and they looked great!
The place is small and if you are sitting 5 at a table try not to sit on the end, because ever waiter and or person going to the bathroom will bump into you about 300 times in the half hour meal!
But it’s a rad little spot! I would go back!
Millions of Peaches, Peaches for me!

So I’m a big fan of Mac and Cheese. If a place has Mac and Cheese, I have to get it.
Unfortunately Harrow’s Mac and Cheese is mediocre at best and looks better than it tastes. The flavors were just not there.
What I expected? A Mac and Cheese with flavorful béchamel sauce, toasted and crispy panko, sharp cheddar, mezzo secco and grana padano cheeses over the soft and savory cheese.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. The sauce was ‘meh’ at best, panko was not crispy at all, and the overall dish is just too rich for me. It was overcooked and just bland. No flavors at all, what a disappointment

Had a business lunch here on Mon. I had the Pork Sandwich. It was very good and I just wish it came with something on the side since $ 10 for just a medium sandwich is a lot. It was very good this place reminds me of Bead and Meat in Vancouver, BC just with a bigger menu. I would eat here again just wish the sandwich had 10%-15% more meat or has chips or something on the side.

Maybe I am spoiled, but I expect a salmon entrée to include some meaningful chunk of salmon. Instead (as you can see from the pic I posted), I got a slender slice of salmon. Less than twice the width of my thumb, it brought laughter to the whole table, but not much nourishment. Was it slippery that day? I dunno. Looks like they were running out.
I’m not going to give a two-​star review because I have eaten there (and ordered lunch from Harrow) on many occasions. The food is consistently fine, but unmemorable. I can’t remember anything I have ever ordered there before. But I will remember this.

Great casual spot that feels hip and upscale. It’s the local, farm to table type of place. It isn’t a order at the table set up – instead it’s more of a quick serve restaurant where you pay and order at the cashier and then get it handed to you later.
The pulled chicken sandwich with green goddess dressing is great as is the garden sandwich. They can do salmon pretty well too and it’s a steal for Financial District for the quality for both lunch and take out dinner. Portions are okay, not generous but not tiny either.

I was so impressed with the time and attention put into my meal here today that I spent a good portion of my afternoon crafting this review — only to mistakenly not save it and lose it to a poor internet connection.
Such is life.
And so here we go again…
Good food takes time.
Harrow is all about putting care and passion into their constantly rotating menu. It’s not one of your typical pop-​in and pop-​out Financial District eateries. You’ll instead find yourself studying their seasonal hand-​written chalkboard menu with the same intent and thought that went into creating it. It’s evident that the chefs and staff at Harrow take great pride in sourcing top quality ingredients and personally assembling each order with skillful presentation.
So be prepared to wait…
I ordered the Roasted Wild Salmon with a side of Arugula salad. I was impressed that they were conscious enough to source wild salmon versus much of the farmed salmon that you find in most downtown eateries. I watched them pull the salmon fresh out of the oven and lovingly place it in my to-​go box. They put just as much attention into assembling the arugula salad. While I prefer my salmon cooked a little longer — I loved how fresh the salmon was and the salad was delicious. Considering how high quality the ingredients were — the price was very reasonable.
If you have time to spare in your afternoon break and are looking for a downtown lunch spot (though they serve dinner as well) that genuinely seeks to provide artful and seasonal meals — come to Harrow. They don’t skimp on their ingredients and it’s refreshing to come across a space that serves up Financial District dishes with foodie flare.
Trust.

Work lunch w/​a fun buddy & she recommended Harrow. Loved everything about it!
The setup & ambiance reminds me of a laid-​back spot in the French Quarter in NOLA. Jazz music was playing, the wooden tables & grays & browns just took me there & I didn’t want to leave
We both chose their soup of the day — White Bean w/​Olive Leaf & Olive Oil. This was thick & hearty & extremely flavorful — hit the spot!
I paired my soup w/​a side of their quinoa & it was light w/​cherry tomatoes & basil — loved the grainy texture layer w/​my soup!
Buddy got the arugula salad & it had a ton of cheese (which was a very good thing) and a nice light dressing
Can’t wait to come back!

A bright spot among the tired options for the denizens of 555 Cali and other nearby workplaces.
Love the chicken leg: succulent with the right kind of herbs (rosemary?) and a slice or two of lemon under the crispy skin elevates this chicken dish. Usually like to get the polenta as a side but sometimes the quinoa if I’m feeling guilty.

When one of my favorite architects suggested somewhere along Kearny for lunch, Harrow stood out in my Unilocal search. This place has clearly been around awhile but today was my first time eating there.
Both Paul and I had the sandwich (BLT) and soup (tomato bisque) combo. The produce tasted super bright and fresh. The bread on the sandwich was toasted and the bacon crispy. I’m a big fan of half this and half that combos and Harrow’s choices include soup, salads and sandwiches for $ 12. I will definitely return for lunch. Maybe even happy hour or dinner?
The best part? We were able to snag a table fairly easily after arriving at 12:15. That will not be happening at the ramen place next door!

With so many lunch hour choices on this stretch of Kearny, it’s no wonder it’s taken me a while to try Harrow. First there’s that name. Harrow. According to Merriam-​Webster, it refers to «a cultivating implement set with spikes, spring teeth, or disks and used primarily for pulverizing». Sounds like the department at my last job. Rimshot please. It actually turns out that this eatery is run by two Ferry Building alumni, chef Daniel Hemmingsson of the dearly departed Tsar Nicolai Caviar and wine expert Jayne Droese formerly of the still-​busy Ferry Plaza Wine Merchants. What they run is an efficient operation that serves a mostly local, mostly organic menu of good-​for-​the-​soul American comfort food (photo:
). The space is small but homey, or more accurately, farmy, vintage feeling with Edison lights and lots of dark wood.
I’m sure you can order and take out like every other place on Kearny, but this one begs you to sit a spell and enjoy the food. My choice was easy. I’ll have the $ 13 Roasted Organic Chicken Leg with two sides please (photo:
). It was quite delicious with a rub made of preserved lemon and sage that was evident in every bite. It came with a little mound of arugula salad sprinkled with shaved grana padano and drizzled with a lemon vinaigrette. The creamy polenta was certainly not a letdown as it was mixed liberally in sage butter and grana padano cheese. Almost dessert-​like, it was far more luxuriant than the gyros sandwich I would have gorged had I not taken the effort to come here. As limited as the rest of their menu is (three sandwiches, a salad, a soup du jour and mac n’ cheese), I’d definitely make a return visit… maybe with my harrow.
FOOD — 4 stars… limited options but the chicken and polenta provide comfort supreme away from the office
AMBIANCE — 3.5 stars… quite compact but vintage touches make it feel farmy
SERVICE — 3 stars… nice enough
TOTAL — 4 stars… a rustic respite for the office drone