Bi-Rite brings soft serve ice cream, espresso and quesadillas to Civic Center Plaza

Jason Rose, a Bi-Rite cafe employee works at the cafe to get it ready a few days before it opens at Civic Center. Jason Rose, a Bi-Rite cafe employee works at the cafe to get it ready a few days before it opens at Civic Center. Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Bi-Rite brings soft serve ice cream, espresso and quesadillas to Civic Center Plaza 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

If you’re a company known for its high-end groceries and small-batch ice cream, how do you operate a cafe meant to meet the needs of almost everyone in the surrounding community? Bi-Rite Cafe opens today as part of the city’s revamp of the vast, often deserted Civic Center Plaza, with a mandate to attract families from nearby neighborhoods like the Tenderloin.

“We tried to engineer it so it wasn’t expensive,” said Sam Mogannam, founding partner of Bi-Rite and the city-backed operator of the cafe, which has only outdoor seating. “We didn’t want it to be too pretentious.”

Bi-Rite, which has two San Francisco markets, opens the cafe today on the southeast corner of the square, where it will be open daily — from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.

The new cafe menu, pictured below, tops out at $12 for a chicken avocado salad, and has a kids menu with $4 carrots and hummus, $5 quesadillas and $3 junior soft serve ice cream. The rectangular kiosk, which has decorative metal awnings that fold over the exterior at night, is right next to two brand-new state-of-the-art playgrounds. The city has also invested in other recent cleanup efforts to make the plaza more inviting to residents as well as tourists.

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle The Bi-Rite cafe menu is seen through a fence, just days before it...

“I’m determined that Civic Center is a safe, fun place for families,” Mayor London Breed said at the cafe’s opening ceremony on Tuesday afternoon. The cafe was built in partnership with the city and backed by a $2 million grant from the Mercer Fund.

Kids who visit the children’s or teen’s room at the Main Library across the street can get a sticker to present at the cafe for a free piece of fruit — even if they might prefer soft serve.

“I remember the days of bringing my daughters to the playground. If you didn’t have a snack you were screwed,” says Mogannam, whose children are now in middle and high school. “I think families are going to come from all parts of the city.”

But adult fans of Bi-Rite should have no fear — the espresso drinks are made with Sightglass coffee, the soft serve has a base of Double 8 Dairy buffalo milk, and bread and pastries come from the Midwife & the Baker, who use freshly milled flour.

“As a native San Franciscan, to be here in front of City Hall, I’m so excited,” said Mogannam.

Bi-Rite Cafe, 52 Grove St. Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends. https://biritemarket.com.