Polk Street Pizza Dive Has 70+ DoorDash Store Fronts; Dominates SF

Google Maps (Left) / DoorDash (Right)

An investigation into a single, divey San Francisco pizzeria has unveiled a staggering virtual storefront empire, operating at least 70 different ‘restaurants’ out of a solitary address, according to a Reddit thread and subsequent research from Hoodline SF. The Polk Street location, known by its brick-and-mortar name Fresco Pizza - Shawarma & Ice Cream, purportedly provides a smorgasbord of cuisines under myriad brand names like "The Pasta Slut" and "Daydream Breakfast Burritos" through DoorDash. Yelp reviews and Reddit user testimonies raise questions about the quality and authenticity of the food served.

Source: DoorDash App, Search for 'Lasagne' in San Francisco | Paisanos Lasagne is located at 1338 Polk

DoorDash search queries for items such as "Calzone," "Vegan Burger," "Breakfast Burrito," "Cheesecake," and "Cheesesteak" all point customers to the same 1338 Polk Street address, revealed via detailed DoorDash app searches, shedding light on a shadowy food delivery practice. This high-concept operation blurs the line between convenience and deception, as the names appear separate and distinct, but orders for "Celebrity Vegan Burger" or "The Pasta Slut" are seemingly fulfilled by the same tiny kitchen, the Reddit investigation showed.

In contrast to its digital presence, reviewing Fresco Pizza Shawarma’s Yelp page provides an earthen view of the establishment from customers who've experienced its actual service and offerings. Descriptions ranging from "Worst Mediterranean food ever" to a more forgiving "When you're tipsy and hungry, food just tastes better" evoke a divisive take on the eatery’s menu quality. This apparent inconsistency has stirred ongoing concerns regarding the impact of such practices on genuine restaurants and the local dining scene.

Source: DoorDash App, Search for 'Calzone' in San Francisco | Calzones SF is located at 1338 Polk

Source: DoorDash App, Search for 'Cheesecake' in San Francisco | Cheesecake And Dessert Bar is located at 1338 Polk

Hoodline performed a sample of many different search queries from the DoorDash mobile app on a phone in San Francisco. We found the following locations associated with 1338 Polk showing up for the follow and other key searches:

Source: DoorDash App, Search for 'Meatballs' in San Francisco | Ma's Meatballs is located at 1338 Polk

Source: DoorDash App, Search for 'Pasta' in San Francisco | The Pasta Slut is located at 1338 Polk

Source: DoorDash App, Search for 'Falafel' in San Francisco | Falafel Way is located at 1338 Polk

Virtual branding raises significant issues about fair business practices and consumer trust one reviewer called out the business as scammers, while another reported an over hour-long wait for a never-fulfilled order this strategy risks alienating customers seeking culinary authenticity. Established in 2010, the restaurant's proprietor, Jamil, boasts over fifteen years in the industry, and despite facing fierce backlash, the business maintains a vision of satisfying guests and creating a 'Fresco family,' according to their Yelp business owner's statement. While Fresco's Polk Street façade dominates DoorDash queries, the real-world implications of these digital dupes continue to stir up heated online and offline discussions among San Francisco locals and beyond.

Source: DoorDash App, Search for 'Vegan Burger' in San Francisco | Celebrity Vegan Burger is located at 1338 Polk

Source: DoorDash App, Search for 'Cheesesteaks' in San Francisco | Juicy's Cheesesteaks is located at 1338 Polk

Source: DoorDash App, Search for 'Breakfast Burrito' in San Francisco | Daydream Breakfast Burritos is located at 1338 Polk

“It's the virtual equivalent of having 20 different types of Charmin toilet paper on the shelf that are all pretty much the same product just to take up retail real estate,” said one user on Reddit, referencing the manipulation of consumer choice. Meanwhile, other social media users are advocating for a comprehensive avoidance of such delivery apps, with one commentator within the Reddit community urging, “I encourage everybody to boycott these delivery apps,” blaming an allegedly broken system that purportedly favors the apps over restaurants, customers, and delivery workers.

The following at the DoorDash storefronts that were discovered to be associated with 1338 Polk Street: