Fast Slow Food
By Patrick Heig, San Francisco Editor
San Francisco may be the capital of slow (sustainable, local, organic) food, but we're just as busy and impatient as the rest of America. Fortunately, these slow food spots use Alice Waters-grade natural ingredients but serve'm up with Mickey D's quickness--so you can eat right, and eat right now.
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Blue Barn Gourmet
2105 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA
"Slow food on the go" is the mantra of this gourmet sandwich deli in the Marina featuring local cheeses and meats from Sonoma's Oak Hill Farm. Try the Skirt Sandwich: Meyer Ranch skirt steak, Pt. Reyes blue cheese, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, arugula & horseradish dijon on ciabatta. -
Mixt Greens III
560 Mission St, San Francisco, CA
Don't let the cafeteria-style ordering of this financial-district favorite fool you: the customizable salads and signature sandwiches here are made with strictly organic and local ingredients, and long lines move quickly--faster than Subway. -
Bi-Rite Market
3639 18th St, San Francisco, CA
This neighborhood grocery store makes "easy for you to know where your food comes from"--usually, it's from a nearby organic farm--and the quick service deli turns out everything from sandwiches to whole pre-prepared dinners from the store's massive slow food stock. -
Greens Restaurant
Fort Mason Center, Building A, San Francisco, CA
This meat-free Buddist restaurant at Fort Mason has been serving natural food from Green Gulch Farm in Marin since "vegetarian" was code for "communist"; they have plenty of to-go options, too. -
Cafe Gratitude
2400 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA
Far beyond organic, way past vegetarian--and just way out there in general--Gratitude uses raw, vegan cuisine from their own farm in dishes you'll be embarassed to pronounce (e.g., the "I am luscious" smoothie); we told you it was way out there. -
Lilah Belle's
3801 18th St, San Francisco, CA
Grab a picnic lunch for nearby Dolores Park or dinner for the family after a long day's work at this Castro carry-out eatery focused on organic, healthy and convenient meals. -
Amanda's Feel Good Fresh Food
2122 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA
Skip the grease bomb at the nearest fast food place and head to this healthly, eco-conscious diner downtown for a cheese-and-fries fix, made with the impossible: organic American cheese. -
Spruce
3640 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA
This new high-end, loca-organic restaurant and bar is one of the hardest reservations to get in town; good thing some of their greatest hits are available from a carry-out counter near the entrance. -
Chilayo
2150 Chesnut St, San Francisco, CA
This farm-fresh, organic Marina restaurant is dishing out Mexican a la carte favorites, like tamales, tortas, enchiladas and a daily taquito special.
