Automat

You know how sometimes you wake up on a Sunday, and, sure, it’s barely 9 am, but all you want is a double smashburger with garlicky cheddar? When that happens, head directly to this all-day restaurant and bakery from a former Lazy Bear sous chef, which serves bread, pastries, savory breakfast items, and heartier lunch fare starting at 9 am. Pop in starting at 8 am if you’re just craving a coffee and delicious pastries, like the Brioche Donut or the Cinnamon Berry Crunch Breakfast Cookie.
How to enjoy: Walk in for indoor seating between 8 am and 3:30 pm, Tuesday through Sunday. You can also order here for takeout, which you can take with you or enjoy at the restaurant.

An important but often under-appreciated component of a quality burger is the humble pickle. We tend to take it for granted—until someone makes us think about it in an entirely new way. That’s exactly what the chef at Automat (formerly at Lazy Bear) does with the perfectly tart and crunchy dill-pickled onions that top the Cheezy Buddy, a double smashburger with garlicky cheddar on a pillowy milk bun. Maybe it’s just us, but we crave dill pickled anything whenever we imbibe a little too much the night before, so it’s extra amazing that Automat starts serving its burger at 9 am every day (except Monday when it’s closed).
How to order: Walk-in during the day or reserve online for dinner.

Automat, a restaurant and bakeshop from the Lazy Bear folks, is the one spot on this list that is not on the Divisadero Corridor proper, but the “from the Lazy Bear” folks part alone should give you all the info you need to convince you it’s worth the walk two blocks west to Baker Street (where you can also snag a donut from Bob’s on Baker Street until 9 pm, seven days a week). Automat is a casual coffee, pastries, sandwiches, beer, and wine spot during the day (8 am to 3:30 pm) that transforms into a slightly less casual dinner destination in the evenings, with grown-up dishes like a Grilled Pork Chop, Crispy Sourdough Pancake, and Seared Duck Breast, plus a menu for “big and little kids” with $4 crispy beef tacos, a $7 grilled cheese, and a $16 double smashburger ($21 with fries).
How to book: Walk-ins only during the day. Make dinner reservations but note that some tables are saved for walk-ins.