I’ve passed The Warming Hut countless times on my runs along the Bay, always curious as to what is inside and tempted to stop in when the winds push against me, forcing my pace to one mile an hour. I finally visited this antiquated building and San Francisco Certified Green Business on Mother’s Day, with my mom and sister, after a long run, hungry and thirsty.

The Warming Hut’s enchanting name reflects the cheery vibe. Perhaps because this building is decades old, it feels charming and comfortable. The exterior and interior are painted the whitest white and large, glass windows allow for a great deal of natural sun light to brighten up the inside space. Of course, the backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge also makes this place feel special (and dramatic!).

Those looking for eco-friendly gifts and knick-knacks should definitely stop by. Though my focus is the food served at this establishment, I was distracted by the purse made from a Washington Post “Obama Takes Oath” newspaper article, a belt composed of soda can pull-tops, and wine bottles repurposed as drinking glasses. Though I could have shopped around the abundance of sustainable goods for much longer, I turned my attention to the quaint café.

A coffee shop-vibe included a glass case displaying baked goods and a long bar for making and delivering lattes and caps. A chalkboard menu hung on the wall and displayed a variety of options from root beer floats and popsicles for the warm summer days to vegetarian chili and soup for those foggy, crisp days. You can also find sandwiches, salads, and a rather large dessert and caffeinated drink selection. Ingredients are organic and sourced locally.

I went ahead and ordered the Spring Veggie sandwich. As a vegetarian who is bored of the typical avocado, tomato, and sprouts veggie sandwich I find at most restaurants, I was thoroughly impressed with and refreshed by the components of this little gem: white bean and artichoke spread, spinach, roasted asparagus, red peppers, pine nuts, and green beans on a baguette. The sandwich had a strong hummus flavor and exploded with spinach, which made me feel strong and healthy after my workout.

Another sandwich stood out on the menu so I asked my Mom to order it. The Brie Baguette, with butter, rhubarb jam, and of course brie was absolutely delicious. I found this to be another unusual but much appreciated vegetarian sandwich. Though the rhubarb and brie were a little overwhelmed by the thick, chewy baguette, the flavor of the sweet and sour rhubarb and mild brie with a whisper of butter was smooth and tasty.

I also ordered a lemonade made from organic concentrate (not the freshest lemonade I’ve ever had) that came in a compostable cup with a compostable straw. One of the highlights of the Warming Hut is that it offers a compost receptacle in addition to recycling. All the silverware is also biodegradable, so I didn’t feel guilty about throwing away the knife I used to cut the sandwiches; I could compost it instead.

The Warming Hut is a place where I walked out feeling good. Not only had I enjoyed new vegetarian flavors made with local ingredients, but I also did not contribute to a landfill. Even more, because it is a part of the Golden Gate Parks Conservancy, purchases help fund programs that bring kids to the park.

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