Cook’s & Company

I work at fort mason and this is a go to lunch spot for me. The woman who works there is so friendly and funny. Her food is always delicious and not expensive. She is cash only but there is an atm right there to use.
She makes killer guac and salsa so every time she has a quesadilla as her daily special I get the chicken one. delicious.

I thought I had reviewed this already but I was wrong. I used to like to go to the Interval for coffee or tea and then pick up something to go from here. The sandwiches are pretty standard but the lunch specials were awesome. True homestyle cooking. Flavorful, big portions, inexpensive.
I miss them and wish there was something remotely like Cooks close to where I am now.

I’m sure other Unilocalers have been jokingly scolded by the lady proprietor (Linda) of Cook’s & Company as told in many of the reviews here. Alas, I am not one of them. Must be my beautiful shining face or something. Melting hearts since 1990. Anyways…
Cook’s & Company is a great little to-​go lunch joint at Fort Mason Center. Since lunch offerings in this area are fairly sparse, you’re more apt to come here if you work in or around Fort Mason, or are a lost tourist. C&C has a decent menu of build-​your-​own sandwich options, and usually a soup of the day and daily special — hamburgers, enchiladas, pastas, etc. They also have a good selection of drinks, chips, and sweet things if your sweet tooth is growling louder than your stomach. I believe they also do some morning pastries and coffee if you’re around in the morning.
My order: a smoked ham and cheddar sandwich on wheat, w/​salt & vinegar chips and a Diet Snapple. It’s a good amount of food for $ 10 and some change. My sandwich was not skimpy in the slightest. Layers of thick, smoky ham and a couple slices of cheddar, and lots of lettuce and tomato. They even included a nice dill pickle spear for extra goodness.
If you’ve found yourself wandering around lower Fort Mason and have a hankering for a good lunch, definitely stop by Cook’s & Company for a tasty meal.

Come here often usually looking for a sandwich, but she has these amazing lunch specials (enchilada, korean beef bowl, turnovers, curries, linguine, it changes everyday!)! Food is reasonably priced $ 6 – 8, fresh and made-​to-​order! Sometimes she bakes muffins and croissants in the morning.
Did you know that Linda (the owner) is a French cuisine specialty chef? She was educated both in California and Paris for French cooking. Super impressive. Chat with her in French if you have the time.
She is vivacious, talkative and friendly. Sometimes she’ll make fun of you for taking too long to order, but in good spirits. Time is money.
Will definitely return when I am in the area. 5 stars!

Been eating there for 1 to 2 weeks in February for 15 years never disapointed! !
Great sandwich and soups!

Funny owner! Interacted great with my two young kids who were shy and took a while to commit to what they wanted to eat (eventually chose grilled cheese and ham sandwiches). My reuben was yummy. I’ll stop here multiple times for lunch and snacks the next time I am here for an entire day at Fort Mason.

This is 2015. cash only is lame. Especially when the atm next to it charges $ 3 just on their side. I bought a bagel only. The bagel was Ok, but the lady there was not patient with me, a first timer, as I tried to navigate the menu, which for a tall guy was partially obstructed by a light. She seemed more preoccupied with what was on her ipad than engaging with me. Not impressed. It takes no talent to resell packaged bagels and cream cheese. That means you really of have convenience and relationships left to offer. Fail on both accounts in my experience.
There is no seating here.

Best salad under $ 10 anywhere. Fresh, large, tasty. Two scoops of chicken salad on top, in a handy box for eating by the bay. Fantastic.

Great hearty sandwiches, fresh bright vegetables. Quick and convenient for bay picnic. Amusing, sarcastic staff.

I like Rubens. And Cook’s does a good one.
Linda talks some good sh*t while she makes a great Ruben for seven bucks.

I love this place everything is really good and I’m fairly certain it’s mostly homemade. The lady here, Linda, is a hoot and makes visiting fun. I’ve had the egg salad a couple of times, but recently discovered something that has made this place one of my new favorites: thai chicken curry soup. You can get it over a bed of rice for $ 5. AWESOME! Also, remember, it’s cash only here!

Linda is the best! She is great, I love her selections and she is from La Condon Bleu, Paris. Her offerings are very imaginative, delicious and Linda by far is a legend. Great coffee, excellent selections of sandwiches, salad, and entrees!
Stop by, you won’t regret it!!!

Owner Linda, according to others at the counter, is a «legend». I didn’t get an explanation but the regulars seemed to know. Linda was incredibly personable and in good spirits the morning of my meeting at Fort Mason. I won’t forget her so that’s legend enough for me.
Half-​Caf Americano and a very fresh, homemade oatmeal blueberry muffin… the muffin so fresh out of the oven warm and chock full of blueberries that stained my thumb when it pushed through the crispy outer shell. You can get a variety of sandwiches to go at Cooks & Company, fresh green salads, and desserts. Linda catered out meeting at Fort Mason and I can assure you no one went hungry. Everything is good but it’s really Linda’s shine that brings the four stars to light. I would definitely go back nest time I am on the prowl on the SF waterfront.
I was out in the San Francisco sunshine and bay breeze! So between Linda’s smile, blueberries, and Fort Mason I was having an excellent day.

Haha I love the lady here! She is funny! But I can understand where the other Unilocalers are coming from when you guys say she has an attitude problem. I’m sure she is just joking. Check out her pictures on the side of the cookie stand. Her dog is cute!
I ordered a cup of coffee here since I work nearby and I really didn’t want to walk all the way to Starbucks! The coffee was refreshing and woke me up!
During lunch, I ordered the roast beef sandwich for $ 5.50, it was kind of pricey since it wasn’t that big and the beef didn’t seem so fresh. The deli place by my house is only $ 3.75 but what do you expect? It is in Fort Mason. it is actually cheap compared to Greens I guess. But anywho, would like to try other things besides sandwiches and will definitely come back for the coffee !

As someone who likes, no, make that loves, actually, more like is obsessed with ketchup, I never quite figured out why I didn’t like tomatoes as a kid. Makes no sense.
I’m glad I got over it, because otherwise I might never have had the freshly prepared tomato soup at Cook’s & Company. Made from freshly chopped tomatoes and little else, it was one of the best I’ve ever had. Indulging on a misty «summer» day was ever so appropriate.
As other Unilocalers have mentioned, the lady running the place has a bit of an attitude. You either like her or you don’t. As soon as she told me she could care less what a Los Angeles Unilocaler was complaining about, I decided I liked her. And I really like her tomato soup.

I like a bit of vinegar w/​my honey — something a bit brisk, even ballsy. That’s a perfect description of the owner of this sandwich spot in Fort Mason. You love her or you hate her. I love her! She’s gruff and acerbic — not for the shy. But watch her — you’ll see her generosity to both regular patrons and visitors to Ft. Mason in little ways. If you’re easily spooked, go with your mouth shut or go to Green’s overpriced take out. You like a bit of gutsy interchange, you’ve got the best in SF at Cook’s & Company.
As for the food — fabulous! Her BLTA sandwiches are to die for as is her soups in the winter. Salads are generous. Baked goods are from outside vendors — ok. Great pumpkin chocolate chip bread, FYI.
One big plus is the location in Building B of Ft. Mason. The lobby space is shared by the art gallery of CCSF. Great art that changes w/​the semester’s class assignments. Very nice.

My co-​worker asked if it would be ok to use a $ 20 to pay for an orange. She knew it was a a pain, but since it was a tuesday and banks were open, she figured she would ask anyway. «HELL NO!», the woman screamed at her. Thinking she was joking, my co-​worker stood there in line waiting for the punch line. After a couple beats, she screamed again, «GET OUT OF MY LINE!» It was in no way busy, so there was absolutely no reason for this bitchy-​ness. I will never go back there again.

Grouchy. And with Greens across the way who needs that?

Ah, the attitude is why I love this place! She is not really surly at all, just sarcastic. And who doesn’t like a little sarcasm with their peanut butter and jelly — i ask you?
And as for her food, mmm. Generous portions and awesome daily specials. One of my favorites — tofu teriyaki sandwiches. Its the biggest slab of tofu I have ever seen and was so delicious. She also does small to mid-​size catering jobs for the nonprofits that work around the Fort Mason area. I have been to an event with her doing catering and, oh my god, the food was excellent — crab cakes, German chocolate cake, chicken curry, rice pilaf, etc.
I think I’ll go and have something to eat now.

I’m taking off one star for the attitude of the owner, who is usually surly and only occasionally friendly.
The sandwiches are great (egg salad, fresh roast turkey and cranberry — when they have it, and meatloaf). The coffee will put hair on your chest (superb if you like strong coffee!). The hot chocolate is excellent too.
I’ve heard that the soups and salads are good, but haven’t tried them.
Open for breakfast, lunch, and catering. Across the way from Greens (upscale vegetarian restaurant), it’s a less expensive and meatier option.