‘Picture it’: ‘Golden Girls’ pop-up kitchen comes to San Francisco

By Christina CampodonicoPublished Apr. 11, 2023 • 12:30pm

The Golden Girls have long occupied a special place in SF’s heart. For years, annual drag reenactments of the popular 1980s TV show about four sassy, fabulous female retirees have lit up the Victoria Theatre.

But now, a pop-up kitchen highlighting the iconic characters’ love affair with dessert lands in SoMa on April 26. The immersive, sweets-centric restaurant will give attendees the chance to nosh over cheesecake and dish about life, just like Blanche, Dorothy, Sophia and Rose—without having to endure a layover in Rose’s beloved St. Olaf (opens in new tab).

The Golden Girls pop-up features a replica of the popular TV show’s iconic kitchen set. | Courtesy Bucket Listers

The menu features sweets and savories directly inspired by the show, including both meat and vegan versions of Sophia’s lasagna al forno, Blanche’s Georgia-style cookie, the Lanai (a “Miami-style” Cuban sandwich referencing the show’s setting) and the Say It Fast—a bacon, lettuce and potato sandwich that nods to Sophia and Rose’s harebrained scheme (opens in new tab) to sell tomato-less sandwiches at a local construction site.

Cheesecake is the centerpiece of The Golden Girls Kitchen’s dessert menu. | Courtesy Bucket Listers

But cheesecake—the Golden Girls’ dish of choice for digesting life’s woes (opens in new tab)—is the menu’s centerpiece. Choose from chocolate, strawberry, pumpkin or Oreo flavorings or go for the Spierheoven Krispies, a slice of strawberry cheesecake à la mode with a dollop of chocolate ice cream served up by Shady Pines waitstaff.

Guests will also have the opportunity to snap selfies for the’ gram in front of Golden Girls-inspired backdrops, like Blanche’s iconic banana leaf print wallpaper (opens in new tab). Sidle up to Blanche’s favorite watering hole, the Rusty Ancho (opens in new tab)r, for a selection of specialty cocktails, “Southern Belle libations” and mocktails.

A nautical-themed bar with a lifebuoy on the front counter, a neon sign reading "The Rusty Anchor," liquor bottles, and maritime decor on black tiled walls. — Drink like Blanche and Dorothy at The Rusty Anchor bar featuring a selection of cocktails, mocktails and “Southern Belle libations.” | Courtesy Bucket Listers

A recurring drag brunch featuring local performers will entertain guests throughout the run of the pop-up, which has tickets available through the end of July. Tickets for this timed, immersive restaurant experience start at $40. It’s a whole lot better than crawling under the covers and eating a whole box of Velveeta, like Rose.