Infamous Castro Bottomless Brunch Returns Behind a Fake Pawn Shop in SoMa

A notorious bottomless brunch at the Castro’s Bisou Bistronomy will return in a new form at the Pawn Shop, a recently-opened restaurant from Bisou co-owner Damien Chabaud-Arnault and the team behind adjacent 6th Street club Monarch. Diners will find brunch at the Pawn Shop starting this weekend from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 993 Mission Street (just off 6th), but they’ll need to know what they’re looking for: The front of the new restaurant and bar is disguised as a literal pawn shop, which customers enter like a speakeasy before they’re whisked into the dining room behind it.

The dizzying effect of that entrance will be enhanced by brunch drinks at the Pawn Shop’s deco glamorous bar. Options include bottomless ($18) or by-the-glass ($9) red sangria or mimosas. Brunch fare will absorb drinks nicely: There’s a “lady croq” (a croque madame with Mornay sauce and a fried egg), a media noche-style Cubano sandwich (with Parisian ham, pastrami, Swiss cheese, and Dijon mustard mayonnaise on toasted sourdough), and five eggs Benedict options. The whole menu is below.

Patricia Chang

Bisou’s blitzed bottomless brunch found its bottom last summer, when the restaurant closed on Market Street. Its sibling, Spanish-inspired Beso, persists on 18th Street. Chabaud-Arnault branched out with the Pawn Shop last month, a restaurant also in a Spanish tapas style akin to Beso.

As for the brunch, “I don’t know if it’s going as crazy as Bisou, but it’s a little inspired by that,” Chabaud Arnault says.

Those looking to really party need only stick around for a show at Monarch: The next door dance club will soon be accessible right from inside the Pawn Shop.