We went with this place for our daughter's birthday party, getting the super small bndt cakes (red velvet, chocolate, lemon) which are basically cupcakes. We got a ton of compliments on them. Placed the massive order ahead of time and we were good to go on the day of. Been back a few times since then for the occasional dessert and I've never been disappointed. They've also usually got samples out, which end up reeling me in. Great cakes, great service.

Solid, no-frills sandwich shop that moves quickly even if the line is long. It's probably pretty easy to forget given how many great lunch options there are in this area of the city, but if you need to grab something quick and are looking for a sandwich with a legit amount of meat, look no further. It's also a good one to keep in mind now that the Toaster Oven (a previous favorite for me) has closed.

I love how this place has science-y, physics-y stuff that kids can get their hands on - things like a fog machine, air vents that shoot foam pieces into the air, magnets that direct water around, etc. But it's also a (small) zoo, so after your kid has finished running around the hands-on area, they can check out the bobcats, birds, otters, and more.

If you live on the peninsula, it's a nice alternative to going all the way up to the SF zoo or the Exploratorium. Definitely not a replacement for either one, but it's way closer and cheaper.

There are also benches outside that serve as a nice picnic area for looking over the small harbor. Also a great spot for watching the SFO airplanes fly in (very) low as they come in for a landing.

Love how this place gives kids a way to run around and do a ton of diverse things, like painting, stacking blocks, splashing around in the water area, etc. Seems like the sweet spot age-wise is around 3-6 years or so. My daughter was a little too young to get a ton out of most of the things here, but she still had a blast, mostly in the water area.

Warning: think twice before coming here on a Saturday, especially if it's raining outside. It was pure mayhem in here when we came during such a scenario. I realize it's not usually possible, but damn, target a weekday if you don't feel like trampling over a ton of kids while chasing your own kid around.