Just Opened: Seed+Salt

There are lots of little bellies that can’t handle gluten or dairy, and even more parents who crave a place where they can pick up fresh, healthy and tasty bites for the whole family. Seed+Salt to the rescue—this new casual eatery in the Marina District of San Francisco serves up delectable dishes made with only the best ingredients, and completely forgoes any dairy, gluten or cane sugar. And thanks to an inventive menu and a talented chef at the helm, your crew may never know the difference.

Eat Clean
Seed + Salt was started by Mo Clancy, a mother passionate about providing convenient, healthy options to people of all ages. She worked with New York chef Ariel Nadelberg to develop the menu, which emphasizes whole foods and superfoods, and eliminates cane sugars, trans-fats, gluten, MSG, and GMOs. But beyond its impressive list of clean eating credentials, it’s the tasty bites that will convince you: The S+S Beet Burger is bursting with flavor (it’s packed with beets, walnuts, lentils, mushrooms, brown rice, raisins, spices, smoked sea salt + ranch and served on a gluten-free bun), while the eggplant BLT (made with eggplant bacon and egg-free pimenton mayo) is a healthy take on the more-sinful original. Kids can munch on the Jam and Cheese sando (Balsamic fig jam, cashew cream cheese, caramelized onion and pea shoots) and for dessert or a sweet breakfast treat, don’t skip the spouted S+S nut loaf spread with raw lemon curd.

Eat Pretty
While the menu offers a healthy reprieve for your insides, the restaurant’s lovely and calming interior offers a mini vacation for your other senses. The bright and simple space is set with long communal tables and oversized stools, and an incredibly cool and colorful yarn installation adorns the main wall and may inspire a game or two of Cat’s Cradle. Be sure and check out the tree out front as well, which is wearing a colorful striped sweater knitted by the same artist. And although pretty as a picture, the space is decidedly casual, so young kids wandering the room or older ones getting goofy with their friends are common sights. Guests order at the counter and take a seat wherever they please—on warm days we recommend the benches built around the sweater-wearing tree up front.

Eat Easy
The aim of Seed+Salt is to making eating healthy and easy option, so the food is designed to be taken on the go (it’s all served up in compostable containers) and can even be ordered straight to your door through Postmates. A brand new kids’ menu lets families opt for smaller portions of popular dishes, plus adds a few new ones to the mix, such as an Almond Butter and SuperFood Jam Sandwich ($6); Dill Cream Cheese and Toast ($7); Carrots and Green Garbanzo Hummus ($5); and a Mini Banana Smoothie ($5). Plus, they open at 8 a.m., so picking up a bite on the way to school or work is a tempting option.

2240 Chestnut St.
San Francisco, Ca
415-872-9173
Online: seedandsalt.com

Have you tried Seed+Salt? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

—Erin Feher

All images by Aubrie Pick and courtesy of Seed+Salt