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Name: Caffe Macaroni
Address: 59 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94133
Telephone: (415) 956-9737
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.30

Caffe Macaroni

59 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94133

(415) 956-9737
Store is closed

Caffe Macaroni Menu

Antipasti

Ostriche E Papaia

Avocado Con Gamberi

Involtini Di Melanzane

Pizza Marinara

Polenta E Zola

Carpaccio

Insalata Caprese

Calamari Marinati

Prosciutto E Melone

Pepata

Anitpasti Dalla Vetrina
Insalate

Timballo Di Panzanella

Insalata Cesare

Insalata Pazza

Finocchio E Arancia

Insalata Mista
Paste

Fettuccine Alla Bolognese

Trenette Al Pesto

Tortellini Carbonara

Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca

Cannelloni Francesco

Spaghetti Alla Pizzaiola

Rigatoni Alla Genovese

Spaghetti Con Polpette

Orecchiette Con Broccoli Rabe

Spaghetti Aglio-olio E Peperoncino

Rigatoni Con Salsiccia E Peperoni

Lasagna Al Forno

Ravioli Ai Funghi

Linguine Ai Frutti Di Mare

Penne All Amatriciana

Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina
Secondi Piatti

Petto Di Pollo Al Limoncello

Osso Buco Con Polenta

Bistecca Di Calimari Alla Puttanesca Con Pasta Nera

Bistecca Al Balsamico E Radicchio

Salsiccia E Pollo Alla Boscaiola

Specialita Del Giorno - Pesce Carne Pollo Pizza Pasta
Verdue E Contorni

Patate Arroste

Peperonata

Scarola Olive E Noce

Funghi Trifolati

E Pomodori Sciue Sciue
Dessert List

Pastiera Napoletana

Profitteroles

Tiramisu

Lemon Sorbet

Pineapple Sorbet

Orange Sorbet

Coconut Sorbet

Delizia Al Limone

Torta Della Nonna

Panna Cota

Chocolate Truffle Gelato

Zabaglione Affogato

Assorted Biscotti Plate

Bomboloni With Sweet Marsala

Vin Santo And Biscotti

Dolci Del Giorno

Healthy Meal suggestions for Caffe Macaroni

Antipasti

Ostriche E Papaia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Avocado Con Gamberi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Involtini Di Melanzane [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pizza Marinara [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Polenta E Zola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carpaccio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Insalata Caprese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari Marinati [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prosciutto E Melone [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Anitpasti Dalla Vetrina [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Insalate

Timballo Di Panzanella [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Insalata Cesare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Insalata Pazza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Finocchio E Arancia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Insalata Mista [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Paste

Fettuccine Alla Bolognese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Trenette Al Pesto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tortellini Carbonara [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cannelloni Francesco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spaghetti Alla Pizzaiola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rigatoni Alla Genovese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spaghetti Con Polpette [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Orecchiette Con Broccoli Rabe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spaghetti Aglio-olio E Peperoncino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rigatoni Con Salsiccia E Peperoni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lasagna Al Forno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ravioli Ai Funghi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Linguine Ai Frutti Di Mare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Penne All Amatriciana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Secondi Piatti

Petto Di Pollo Al Limoncello [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Osso Buco Con Polenta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bistecca Di Calimari Alla Puttanesca Con Pasta Nera [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bistecca Al Balsamico E Radicchio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salsiccia E Pollo Alla Boscaiola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Specialita Del Giorno - Pesce Carne Pollo Pizza Pasta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Verdue E Contorni

Patate Arroste [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peperonata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Scarola Olive E Noce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Funghi Trifolati [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

E Pomodori Sciue Sciue [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dessert List

Pastiera Napoletana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Profitteroles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tiramisu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemon Sorbet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pineapple Sorbet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Orange Sorbet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coconut Sorbet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Delizia Al Limone [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Torta Della Nonna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Panna Cota [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Truffle Gelato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zabaglione Affogato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Assorted Biscotti Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bomboloni With Sweet Marsala [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vin Santo And Biscotti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dolci Del Giorno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Jacob R.

Taking the woman out for Italian on vacation? Go here. Less touristy! I ate here while on vacation. Sat upstairs with the short ceilings and looked outside the window with my girlfriend at the traffic buzzing by. The chef and wait staff were very friendly/nice/straight out of Italy type people. My pasta, I forget the name, had italian sausage that was the best I've had. My girlfriend got the tortellini and was in love at first bite. We were both very pleased at the taste, atmosphere, and wait staff. Portions weren't large, but only American portions are large. These people are italian!
(5)
Dave C.

the food was awesome. I ordered the Linguine and Clams, sososoososo GEAT I also had an order of the garlic bread, ossossoososo great also
(5)
David S.

Lovely place, great staff, real Italian spirit!!!!!!!
(5)
Christie F.

Incredible food -- fresh and authentic, Neopolitan style Great salads, pastas and fish -- order the Brioche con nutella for dessert! Atmosphere -- Italianissimo! The owner is from Naples and some of the waiters speak Italian too! A great find for lunch or dinner between San Francisco's North Beach and Financial District.
(4)
Marie E.

Had lunch with a friend here. Very small place & tables are very close together - too close! The lunch menu was very limited. I ordered the Penna pasta & my friend had a pizza. The Penna was too salty & the favor was below average. Portion was very small. I had some pizza & the crust was very thick - too much crust. Service was okay. But, for my money, I'd like better portions & food with more taste & flavor minus the heavy salty tomato sauce. I'm glad I tried it, but won't be back.
(2)
Kristen M.

"Just try." That's what my daughter said when they brought us a "pizza" on stale focaccia with Walmart shredded mozzarella and 4 basil leaves. Terrible. The linguine di mare was good. Everything else-- no.
(2)
Amanda Y.

Cafe macaroni was an excellent experience. It reminded me and my husband of the place we ate at in Italy. The service was great and the food was good as well.
(5)
Kane P.

What a hidden gem...I was on vacation and a local friend recommended this place and it was a truly authentic Italian meal. The owner Mario was great....good conversation, excellent food and and a relaxing patio.
(5)
Julie M.

I have been going to this place for 8 months or so. I travel a lot, and it feels likea home away from home. The owners and staff are incredibly friendly and genuine. The food is always excellent, and there are so many options. You can't get a better experience than this.
(5)
Amber P.

This place is amazing! We come here often for authentic and delicious food. Total hidden gem :) they have a small space upstairs that we booked for 22 people for our rehearsal dinner. The owner is super friendly as well as all of the staff!
(5)
S G.

Best authentic Italian food in the city. Chef Mario and his team (especially Manuel & Michele) consistently offer warmth, fresh local & Italian ingredients and a delicious seasonal menu. Local Italians frequent as do I. Try the salad with fennel and any of the pasta or seafood dishes.
(5)
L D.

Our party of 4 had a fantastic experience here. Great service in a charming atmosphere. And yes the food was great. We loved the funky low ceilinged RED dining room upstairs. It's so refreshing to have non- cookie cutter decor that also isn't too "done". The staff was warm, personable and attentive, although it was 8 pm on a Monday so it wasn't too crowded. I can see how some people might find it claustrophobic as it is small and loud and you are basically eating with your neighbors. We liked talking with our fellow diners. All meals were delicious.. We had salad , gnocchi, seafood linguine. Only five stars because in my book nothing is perfect but this place deserves at least 4.5
(4)
Kevin S.

Started off with the captures insalata, excellent mozzarella. Fresh cod in a tomato based sauce with capers and potatoes. All very good!!
(4)
Angeline S.

We absolutely loved this place! Service & food were outstanding...especially more impressive for such a last minute reservation!
(5)
Julia I.

Wow! This was the best find! We spent the day in Chinatown and ended up in Little Italy. We were so happy to find this little restaurant on the corner. We were greeted by the owner/chef that directed our party of 9 to a private dining room upstairs. So quant!!!! Our server Mikael was such a delight and had great recommendations for food and vino! The food was amazing! We would come back here every night!!!
(5)
Tom P.

I thought it was very good and authentic etc. I know it's in a tourist area, but the menu is not tourist trap. The guys are Napoletano and were speaking the dialect that my family speaks so this made me smile! Food was very good. Had a burrata appetizer with caponata that was great. entrÃ©e pasta was spot on. dessert was also very good but kinda small... speaking of small - it's not stressed enough in other reviews just how small this joint is!! It is tiny... Maybe 10 people can fit inside - tops! bottom line is that it's a good fun place with good napoletano cuisine
(4)
Rob F.

Had a great meal with my wife that consisted of: Caesar Salad Burrata & Prosciutto Appetizer Gnocchi With Gorgonzola Sauce Linguine pasta with mussels, clams, garlic, chili, parsley Tiramasu The linguine stole the show, but everything was delicious!! Owners/waiters are characters too.
(5)
S L.

Authentic italian food using fresh ingredients. The waiters are funny and treat you like family. In my opinion, probably the best italian restaurant in the city.
(5)
Nupur S.

Amazing staff .Very friendly .Go for the hospitality more than anything .To add to it the food is really good .Must try is the cured meat and cheese platter .
(4)
Tracy M.

We decided to head into the Italian area of the city, and passed by Caffe Macaroni first. The friendly waiter was walking out with a plate of fresh burrata cheese and tomatoes while telling us to come in. We were skeptical because the inside appeared to have only three or four tables, the outside the same. We had a jogging stroller with us and our two kids. He still encouraged us to stop, took our stroller for us and cleaned off one of the tables outside. The staff was very friendly, and super helpful with food for the kids. We ordered the burrata cheese and tomatoes to start and a couple of the focaccia pizzas. Delish! The kids had Italian sodas and we had some Chianti. Great experience!
(4)
Pascal D.

Very nice place. A few dishes to select from. Perfect size portions. Good value for money.
(4)
Fairouz M.

By far the best Italian food I have ever had. Never mind the menu - the daily specials will blow your mind. Anything with seafood will be exceptional. Tiramisu is a must - going back tomorrow for pizza can't wait!
(5)
Kimberly C.

The gnocchi is delicious, the Gorgonzola sauce has a velvety texture and rich flavor and we loved the tricolor salad too. The only complaint is that the wines could be better quality.
(4)
David L.

Food: 3 Decor: 3 Service: 4 Came here for dinner on a Saturday night. 1. Spaghetti with meatballs, 16 ~Okay. Spaghetti was cooked al dente, but the overall dish just felt a bit boring. Service was okay, but my server didn't go over the specials. The garlic olive oil for the bread was okay, but the bread would have been better warm.
(3)
Jane S.

This place is really small, and the menu reflects it. There wasn't enough variety, and I didn't like my order. Also, the desserts weren't that good. Just meh. Given all the other great restaurants around that area, this one is NOT worth it. The worst part was that at the end, when we were paying the bill, they said that they take only cash. That was really inconvenient, and we complained, and after a while, the owner said he did have Square and we could pay with that. So, I really didn't like how it was cash-only, but then he changed his mind. I will never eat here again.
(2)
Ryan D.

Epitomizes the 'charming little Italian place'. Seriously little. The ceiling on the top floor must be under 6 ft high. If you're willing to walk to your table hunched over, you'll be treated to a great view of North Beach. Try getting a seat next to the giant window if you can. The calamari and pizza appetizers were both delicious - we were especially happy with the pizza. Seafood risotto was fantastic. Had some of the best mussels I've tasted and more of the tasty squid from the calamari appetizer. Service was on point. Gave us solid wine guidance and free limoncello shots at the end of the meal. We came with a party of 6, which seemed to be a little large for the restaurant. It looked like most of their tables are set up for parties of two. Might be better for a date than a big group meal.
(4)
Theresa M.

When I made a reservation for 8 people, I was a little dubious because of the name. Seemed a little cheesy to me but fellow Yelp'ers persuaded me to try it out. What a quaint little place. And I mean little! I didn't get to see the upstairs but we were seated by the front door and it was a bit tight. If I leaned backwards, I was hanging out the window. I guess that's why Yelp'ers have said it's not a great place for groups (although I saw another group getting seated). First of all, our Italian waiter was very friendly and helpful. Everything we ordered from the Squid Ink Seafood pasta, to the Pork Belly special to the Mahi-Mahi was done well and very delicious. We also enjoyed our desserts which was Panna Cotta; the best Tiramisu I've ever had; Ricotta Cake; and Zabaglione with Fruit. Price wise, it was great for the City! The only reason it got a 4 was because I was hanging out the window. Excelled Italian food. I will definitely be returning.
(4)
Cait P.

If I could eat here for every meal of my life, I would. The owner is very personable and easy to talk to. Very Authentic Italian. We were in San Francisco for 4 days and ate here twice for dinner because it was so good. The Margherita pizza is the best I've ever had. You might say "hard to mess up right?" True, but it was THAT good. The cheese is so creamy and delicious, the sauce is very flavorful and they do a great job of blending it all together. My boyfriend had some squid/octopus thing which was also equally delicious. Seriously, you can't go wrong with ordering anything here. It's a tiny hole in the wall but don't let that fool you; just go in. I promise it will not disappoint.
(5)
Christine H.

Perfect place if you want to sit, catch up with friends, drink wine and enjoy an authentic Italian experience. The owners are hilarious and warm and welcoming and it's one of the few places in the city I feel like I can sit for hours.
(5)
Kay R.

This place is perfection. Great staff, excellent food, exceptional wine. The staff are all Italian speakers who want to ensure your experience is the best. Servers in Italy didn't care this much! Just go.
(5)
Rosey F.

Chose this restaurant based on reviews and because they took reservations. I didn't want to wait to get seated for an hour as I had read in other restaurant reviews. When we walked in I admit I was very surprised at how tiny it was. We were seated downstairs, never saw upstairs, but the room was filled with 11 people. We were close to our neighbors for sure so thank goodness they were all nice. Started with Burrata as neighbors recommended and it was delicious. I had the pasta special in a Parmersan sauce with spinach & mushrooms and it was very good. Hubby had the gnochi with gorgonzola sauce and he really enjoyed it. I wish one of us would have gotten something with red sauce which is my favorite usually but couldn't pass up the special. Maybe next time. Overall enjoyed our dinner very much but definitely would not recommend for a quiet intimate dinner due to the size.
(4)
Reg T.

Really enjoyed my meal and the service. The wait staff was so kind as to "whip something up" for me off menu and it was spectacular. Can't stop thinking about the unique pasta and can't wait to go back.
(5)
Benjamin I.

Happy to have revisited Caffe Macaroni. I hadn't been in awhile and hadn't realized that they moved across the street. Amazing service, food, atmosphere and very affordable compared to other restaurants likely more visible to tourists further up Colombus. I pointed out something that I have always ordered on the menu that was no longer there and the owner quickly accommodated me. Great restaurant.
(5)
Karima A.

Amazing pasta and service! We loved the seafood pasta and the limoncello definitely coming back
(5)
Tonie C.

Ok Italian food. The waiters were nice but I'm not sure the accents were real. You have to sort of ask them to take your order, they don't offer. It made me late for a meeting which I didn't appreciate. It seemed a bit overpriced, but that's probably due to the location.
(3)
Grace C.

Authentic Italian food with a lively ambience, unforgettable owner and great prices. I recently went and ordered the burrata which was served over caponata. For my entree, I ordered the spaghetti with tomatoes, garlic and basil. The burrata was unforgettable and the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. If you have spent any time in Italy and you miss the food, definitely come here and you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Kevin A.

Phenomenal, and friendly.
(5)
Jean L.

Pasta is fresh and their red sauce is amazing. It's less tomatoey and more on the acidic side. Very flavorful
(4)
Yan K.

Came here with a group for a dinner. There were quite a few spaces available for our group and they were nice enough to take a reservation (which is always hard in SF), so that was good. Service was very friendly and attentive -- almost a little too much so, but overall had a good experience. Service did feel a little selective - very prompt in taking drink orders and refilling, etc, but I asked for water 4 times -- only 40 mins later and on the 4th time did I get the water. Food was good for the area, and pricing was fine - ended up being ~$35 all-in with an shared appetizer and an entree (no drink). I chose the seafood black squid pasta with essentially had a huge shrimp, clams, etc, which was delicious!
(4)
Chinnie l.

We had shellfish pasta and octopus pasta both dishes are served not fresh and way too salty ! We almost finished the whole glass of water because of the high sodium intake.
(1)
Viola Y.

Caffe Macaroni has been around for a very long time and, in a town that has high standards for great food, that says more than any Yelp review. I love their seafood risotto, I love the cozy atmosphere. There is no place quite like it. I always try to visit when I come to SF!
(5)
Mary T.

This place was quaint and the food was very good. The three guys are all Italian and take pride in their food and service. The music is old school and reminded me of my father. The tiramisu was fantastic! Will go there again the next time I'm in San Fran.
(4)
Erin P.

Great little Italian place. Good pasta--not super heavy. Mine with cheese, veggies, and sausage. The wine list is interesting; it gives you the type of grape but not the year or the vineyard, which could come off as a little suspect or cheap. If you know anything at all about wine, ask them what they're pouring for a little peace of mind. We split the tiramisu for dessert, and it was delicious. The place is intimate, to say the least. The inside seats about 12, and tables are packed in, so it's good if you: a) are comfortable chatting with your neighbors, and 2) aren't trying to have an intimate conversation. Good place, though. I'd definitely come back.
(4)
Scott M.

Just fantastic. Excellent food. Excellent service. Very authentic. You're treated like family here.
(5)
bret s.

I was excited to try this place since it got amazing reviews on Yelp (pretty much all 5 stars). We were a little disappointed that we didn't get water for ~25 minutes, bread didn't arrive until ~45 minutes after we had all been sitting down, and then our orders were taken. While I'm not sure how relevant this detail is, but the waiter(s) may not have realized when our party was all present, since 3 of my friends arrived before the rest of us arrived (5 total). We weren't in a rush, so it was NBD. The food was good & reasonably priced, and I disappointed my tomorrow self by hitting the "point of no return" (at which point I could not justify getting a box, so I ate every single piece of penne). So, the food was good, and the ambiance is definitely cool (as others have noted), and the waiter was kind and charismatic. I'd definitely try this place again.
(3)
Jessica K.

I would definitely come back here again. Made a reservation 1 day in advance for 18 people and they were able to accommodate upstairs. The food was amazing and not too expensive. The waiter was very sweet and helped a lot, and even recommended a good wine which me bought by the bottle. Fantastic! Food arrived promptly. The only reason I gave em 4 stars and not 5 was because of 2 small reasons. One is because they only had 1 high chair and we have two babies in our group. So if you have more than 1 baby in your group, call in advance so they can get another one for you. And two, the ceilings upstairs were super low. My husband who is 6ft tall had his head touching the ceiling. Overall though, It was a great place. I'd go back again :)
(4)
Maureen S.

As authentic Italian as can be had outside Italy. Mario, the owner, is warm and welcoming. The restaurant is small and intimate, perfectly suited to the cuisine. Pasta is absolutely delicious. Cannot say enough about this place - will come EVERY time I visit San Francisco.
(5)
Chris J.

Great traditional Italian food, served by a great staff for a great price! Lots of fun at this hole-in-the-wall.
(5)
Henry J.

Really good Italian food, some of the best you will find anywhere in the city. A San Francisco gem in North Beach. Very good food, service and environment. They do no wrong with pastas, meats, seafood, etc. Everything is fresh and well executed. Have eaten here 5 plus times and would give it a 4 rating each time! Service is casual, friendly and laid back. You feel welcome, like a member of an Italian family at the restaurant. Do not go here for a rushed meal, enjoy the experience in this unassuming old school environment. The owners are delightful and plan to go back many more times! Highly recommended!
(4)
Chris J.

We were in San Francisco attending a friends birthday party and decided to stay and have dinner in the city. We found this place on yelp and booked a reservation. Once we got there and walked in, it felt like we had walked into a restaurant in Rome. Everyone in the place had a great Italian accents and were supper warm and welcoming. The food didn't disappoint. Since our trip to Rome a few years ago, this is the first restaurant we've been to that felt like authentic Italian cuisine. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Nicolas L.

The best Italian restaurant I've been in a long time. The food is fantastic, in particular anything seafood related, and the service is spot on! Mario, who I suppose is the owner, is the quintessential Italian, on one hand playing the role of the old Italian immigrant, and on the other hand providing great advice on the food and wine. Starters (grilled calamari in red sauce, focaccia bread rubbed with garlic and fresh tomato + olive oil) were excellent, and main courses (seafood risotto, grilled tuna) were out of this world. The ricotta pie was a nice finish. Besides Mario, the rest of the staff was always there when we needed them, but not overwhelming present like in your typical american restaurant. We had booked just a few hours earlier through OpenTable, and they disn't seem to be aware of it, but they quickly put together some tables together in the cafe area, which had a great atmosphere. I'll certainly be back!
(4)
Kai C.

This place is not for the faint of claustophobia. It is a small restaurant with small seating areas on the 1st and 2nd floor. I arrived with a party of 6 and we somehow squeezed into a corner of the 2nd floor. I felt like sardines packed in a can. Service here is friendly and the owner is the friendliest of them all. Now, the food...I had a friend who came here before and recommended the place - he told me to just rely on whatever the owner recommended. Unfortunately, the owner did not come to take our order and we had one of the cute, young Italian waiters take our order. I ordered the linguine di mare, which is one of my many "go-to" Italian pastas that I love to order in restaurants. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed with my pasta because I did not think the seafood (mussels and clams) were cooked properly. The linguine was fine but the pasta was too dry and the seafood, especially the mussels, were overcooked. I suspect that they cooked the seafood separately before incorporating it into the pasta. Also, the dish was lacking the mussel and clam broth/sauce that I usually get at other places that serve this type of pasta. The other people at my table ordered gnocci and risotto but were not able to order the exact dishes on the menu because they ran out of some of the ingredients. Their orders looked good but I did not get a chance to try their dishes.
(3)
sue j.

We had such a great time and great meal here! Have eaten all over the city but missed this little gem until recently. Very small, very old. The waiter was engaging and fun, and chose a couple items for us that were not on the menu. The seafood pasta with squid ink was delicious and lighter than most pasta dishes. The house wine for $25/bottle was a Montepulciano and was good. We didn't realize until later that they have a full wine list as well which was very impressive. We will definitely return.
(4)
Aakash P.

This was one of the few places in the city where I was able to get a last minute dinner reservation on NYE. The food was absolutely mind blowing. The highlight was definitely the NYE special crab stuffed ravioli. Service was also top notch despite that the tiny restaurant was jam packed with guests. Overall, worth every dollar and I will definitely go again!
(5)
Terry A.

What a fantastic cozy place with superb food and friendly servers. It was our first time here but we were treated like loyal repeat customers. Felt like we were part of the family and it was definitely hard to leave when dessert was over. What a fantastic experience! Next visit to SF we will definitely return.
(5)
Neil A.

The food is ok, the service is good. The atmosphere is good and the price is great. I will be back.
(4)
Mary S.

So charming, lovely food, great prices.
(5)
Karen A.

We had such a good time at dinner! The gentlemen that work here were so much fun! They gave us a verbal list of specialities that were not on the menu and recommended a couple items. I had halibut with white wine sauce and more that was the perfect serving size and tasted very good! My husband had spaghetti and meatballs which he said were the best! We laughed throughout the meal with the staff. Outside seating was enjoyable too! I would recommend coming here for fun and great food. Casual and dressy attire worked!
(5)
Logan N.

A little gem in SF - we were made to feel right at home, and the food was incredible. We made reservations; however, seats were open at 6 pm. Fresh, fast, amazing.
(5)
Paul O.

This was a really cool experience. The food was good and the staff was excellent--very friendly and helpful. The place isn't terribly fancy, but it's very cozy and has a ton of character.
(4)
Duckee D.

AWESOME. Small, cozy, authentic Italian. Super friendly and efficient service. Make reservations just in case, since the place really is tiny and SOOO good. Because it's on the cusp of North Beach and the Financial District, the parking on the evening we went wasn't difficult at all. And eating in the "shadow" of the Transamerica building was awesome for our out-of-town friend. :) If you're anywhere near this place, you should go. Definitely.
(5)
Gordon O.

had the past with baby octopus and it was tasty! I loved that it had a good amount of spiciness from chili flakes. The sauce was rich while the octopus was tender. Service was also great, very friendly and nice folks.
(5)
Jessica N.

Food is amazing and truly authentic! Sauces are perfection and noodles are cooked just right, "al dente" as they should be! Space is very small with a whopping 3 tables, but the staff is extremely friendly and is old school Italian. For many of them, English is clearly their second language and their accents are thick. This is a true testament to the authenticity of the food, but can lead to a small, but easily overcome, barrier. Recommend!
(4)
dana c.

Weirdest restaurant experience we've ever had. The small bright red upstairs dining room is truly claustrophobic, with tables about an inch apart, so prepare to enjoy your neighbor's conversation! But we convinced ourselves that this was actually kind of cool and authentic. The waiters were loud, friendly and fun, with outsized Italian accents. But everything went down hill from there. We sat in our crowded corner for 25 minutes without water, drinks or even silverware. Then one bottle of beer was randomly delivered, and it took 4 more requests to get a glass of wine and water for the table. The food was good (fresh sardines on pasta was an unusual and delicious dish, although not for everyone!) and reasonably priced for San Francisco. The 3 stars are for the chaotic and extremely slow service. You can evaluate for yourself if you enjoy the atmosphere.
(3)
Antonio A.

Wow. Just...wow. Best CafÃ© ever. If you do not go here while in San Francisco, you have not seen San Francisco.
(5)
Bill L.

Wow. Wife and I came here on Tuesday night after work. Tired and hungry, we were seated immediately upstairs. The chef/owner and waiter greeted us warmly and went through the menu items with recommendation. What a welcome as this was our first time at this restaurant (it will not be our last). For appetizers, we baby octopus in spicy tomato sauce and calamari with beans. Our favorite of the two was the baby octopus. I had squid ink pasta with seafood - it was awesome - the clams mussels, octopus, squid and shrimp covered the entire plate!. You had to dig for the pasta. All items were so fresh that you could taste the sea. Yummy yummy yummy. Wife ordered the branzino. Very very good. For desert, had the panna cotta (definitely have this) and spaghetti cake. I just preferred the panna cota.
(5)
Kevin R.

Dreadful. They spilled our bottle of wine twice with only a laugh in response. The entrees were brutally over salted. The "mixed" pasta meant a mix of oversized rigatoni and small fusilli straight out of the box. Really? Sad place on the wrong end of Columbus. If you want good Italian food - go somewhere else. If you want a cute night out in North Beach watching the crowds walk by - go somewhere else. If you want a quiet romantic night out - go somewhere else. If you're visiting San Francisco and want to see the sights - go somewhere else. **OpenTable users: Note how many of the OT reviews are by reviewers who never rated any other restaurant. All sock puppets.**
(1)
Sarah R.

I come here for one dish and one dish only... the Spaghetti Con Polpette! What's that you ask? Well pretty much spaghetti and meat balls lol. If you think all spaghetti and meatballs are the same you are sadly mistaken. Besides the epic serving you receive here the food is spectacular! Homemade meat balls and italian food done right. I have yet to try any other dishes here but I will soon because they have to be just as amazing.
(5)
Aneil P.

very very disappointed with this restaurant. my wife and i made reservations for valentine's day dinner and were unimpressed. we had to wait about 45 minutes to first get our table. once we were finally seated, it took about 50 minutes just to bring us a glass of wine. i had to go and get my own silverware. they must have been understaffed or completely unprepared for v-day. it was full with couples who were all experiencing the same thing. i'm hoping it was an exception, rather than the norm, but for such a special day i was expecting much more. the appetizer was delicious. our main course was average. descent. we would have had dessert but we wanted to get out of there before sunrise. might be worth going on a different night, but this guy is not inclined to give it another chance. cheers.
(2)
Forrest C.

Had great meal and fun time tonight at Caffe Macaroni. Great interaction with the staff makes this a very fun restaurant.
(5)
N H.

Place is ok. We didn't experience the service everyone raves about. Owner made eye contact with me several times and never smiled, even frowned at me. Same with the cooks when I tried to smile at them. Waiter was nice, but when another couple walked in as well as another couple who looked like them came in, the staff were all smiles and super friendly. Heard the owner tell them the specials and discuss their wines. At this point we'd already finished most of our food, but my husband spoke up when the waiter came back and asked why we didnt hear about their specials. The waiter (in his thick italian accent) apologized. He really just sat the menu down when we got there. At the end, he brought out a free dessert for my son, guess he felt bad. We told him we appreciated it and he said he'd remember "the specials" next time we came back. For two people and a toddler and bill over $60 for only entrees, we expect more. Sorry. Will go back to Capannina next time we want italian.
(2)
Alex S.

The food was pretty great, but the upstairs area where we were seated was quite claustrophobic (think: low ceilings, next to a bunch of other diners). The food was good, but the waiter was really loud and irritating. Might return to this location.
(3)
Kelby K.

Poorly cooked pasta, waiter overstepped his place. Poor seating.
(2)
S B.

OMG!!! I can't believe we stumbled upon this gem!! I was in the mood for italian so my boyfriend and I headed to the North Beach area. Where else would we go? I had something very specific in mind, so initially when looking at the menu I didn't see it and was ready to leave. They asked me what I was looking for and the server's response was "Of course we can make that!." It was the best spinach ravioli in gorgonzola sauce i've ever head. The sauce was heaven! And my boyfriend who doesn't like creamy sauces was even jealous! As for dessert I was in the mood for something lemony. No dice. The tiramisu was delightful though. The service was great too! Straight out of an italian movie, we joked, and they made great suggestions. This is one of our new top 10's! Oh, right before we left they served us a surprise fruity shot cocktail. I asked "What's this?" and the server replies " You wanted something lemony!"
(5)
George P.

Came back for a meal after being gone for a dozen years and it was like I never left! Wonderful food, great service and engaging conversation with Mario. Thank you!
(5)
Stephanie D.

My husband surprised me with this place and it couldn't have been more authentic. They opened the doors to us as soon as we got dropped off from our cab. The staff, Michele and Mario, were so hospitable. We didn't care for the bottle of wine so they replaced it with no hesitation. Food was cooked perfectly. It's the smallest restaurant I've ever eaten at which I loved!! So romantic! I will recommend this place to anyone just as a friend recommended it to us! MOLTO BENE!!!
(5)
Geoff K.

A delightful find with amazing food and great personal service. Small but best bang for the buck I have had in years.
(5)
Cambria S.

Absolutely amazing food. The canoli's are out of this world and I would 100% come back here! Come here it is amazing!
(5)
Lisa G.

Excellent Italian cuisine with fantastic service! We stumbled upon this quaint cafe accidentally and will return many times on purpose! Love it!!! And as far as the low ceilings upstairs I didn't mind because I sit down to eat (lol) and the exceptional service and authentic, fresh food is worth it.
(5)
Christina H.

very attentive and helpful. delicious food. did not disappoint with that night's specials.
(4)
Vibhore S.

Just got done eating here . All I can say is WOW! Anything you order here is delicious. The atmosphere is amazing . The staff is very friendly . U can't get better Italian food in SF!
(5)
Sarah B.

Tiny, and real Italians doing the cooking. Love.
(4)
Kayla F.

My husband and I have been wanting to make it into this tiny little restaurant every time we walk by so we decided to make a reservation (which wasn't as difficult as we imagined on a Friday night). We ordered the Bufala & Caponata, a Caesar salad, Linguine di mare (Linguine pasta with mussels, clams, garlic, chili, parsley), and Gnocchi Alla Gorgonzola (Gnocchi With Gorgonzola Sauce). The antipasti was yummy, but we decided that we would probably get something else if we were to go back. The Bufala was superb so if you are a fan, definitely try. The caesar salad was honestly so incredibly good that I almost wanted to order another one so we wouldn't have to split it. Its an Italian staple and Macaroni did a phenomenal job on it. My husband's gnocchi is technically an appetizer (I believe) but when he sees gnocchi he orders it. It was incredibly rich and he wasn't able to eat barely half of it. Again, something that was very good, but we probably wouldn't order again. My liniguini was the best meal I've had in SF since we've arrived (September). At the end of my bowl, I was lapping up the sauce with bread, spoons, anything I could find. The atmosphere was perfect. My husband and I have never been to Italy, but from what our table guests next to us say, this restaurant transports you back to Italy. We had a lovely conversation with them as I'm sure everyone has great conversations in this restaurant as you are basically sitting with others. They had great Italian music playing the entire time, most of it we were able to recognize which really brought the ambiance to something that wasn't intimidating, but comfortable. We will be going back again and again!
(5)
Maggie X.

Good stuff! The food is delicious, pasta was actually al dente! It is not fine dining, just solid rustic food. Very friendly owner and staff, even gave us a complimentary drink which was very tasty. The place is indeed tiny and the ambiance probably not very romantic. The menu was confusing, but overall the place is great for what it is and I will for sure come back!
(4)
Lola S.

Caffee Macaroni is a true classic in SF. The food is always great. I never look at the menu but trust the servers or Mario to order for me. I have been dining at Caffee Macaroni for over 15 years and have never been disappointed. I have rented the entire restaurant out for family functions which is fantastic and reasonable. Everyone loves the kitchy Italian setting which is charming and intimate. The gnocchi is my absolute favorite item!!! The best part about the restaurant is the owner, Mario. He is passionate about food and always delivers a great meal with an awesome attitude.
(5)
Kristin L.

YAY!!!! So glad that Mario and Cafe Macaroni are back!!! My husband and I really missed the food and Italian hospitality while they moved back into their original location. The restaurant is very comfy, and love the upstairs. Very cozy! Great new menu, and waiters are the sweetest. Check out a great San Francisco restaurant...it is as authentic as it gets! Cafe Macaroni is the only Italian food I crave as they use the freshest ingredients available in San Francisco. Bar none best mozzarella in the city!!! Support a great spot, and a great family!
(5)
Juli T.

I had simple spaghetti and meatballs and it was delicious. We also got complimentary shots! Woop woop.
(4)
Alycia N.

This was our first visit to Caffe Macaroni and we selected it based on other reviews. It definitely won't be our last as the reviews were spot on. This is a quaint little restaurant on Columbus. It is pretty easy to find, but parking was a little bit of an issue for us - we got there around 8:45 and garages are only open until 10pm. We were finally able to find street parking without a meter. The restaurant has two parts: a front room by the kitchen and an upstairs. We sat in the front room and were right next to the window which made for perfect people-watching. The menu, along with the staff, is completely authentic (they might even be a family as it seemed like the two servers were brothers). We started with a Chianti and some bread and oil for dipping. This meal was worth it just for the oil! It had garlic and peppers and parsley in it. I try not to eat the bread and save room for the rest of the meal, but this oil was too good to pass up. Then, we had two Caesar salads that were delicious! We love a good Caesar, especially one with homemade dressing as this was. And they gave us extra anchovies on top. It was a great start to the meal. For an entree I got a shellfish special: clams, mussels, calamari, and a giant prawn with a cherry tomato sauce on top of black linguine. It was great! There was tons of the seafood and just the right amount of pasta. My single complaint was that the prawn was still in the shell. My boyfriend ordered the braised baby goat special with onions and potatoes. It was very tender, and my boyfriend had no problem cleaning his plate. Then, our meal ended with a shot of limeoncello and another half glass of wine for each of us, on the house! The service and the food just can't be beat here.
(5)
SCOTT L.

Cafe Macaroni is a culinary dream come true. Chef/owner Mario is a master. He combines old style Italian comfort food with local fresh ingredients. I've been going there for 20 years. Never have I been disappointed. It is hands down the best restaurant in North Beach. Fish dishes are some of the best in the city! And oh so Romantico.
(5)
Kim K.

Made a reservation and was forced to wait outside for over half an hour, only to get a terse response from the waitress. She came over and asked, "Can I help you?" and I said, "Yes, we had an 8 PM reservation," in a way that I thought was fairly polite. She responded with, "Yeah, well everyone else here did, too" and gestured to the line we were standing in. My date and I waited ten more minutes and then left for a place across the road. When we looked back to Caffe fifteen minutes later, the same couples were still in line.
(3)
Michael W.

Good pasta, fresh seafood.
(4)
Chris W.

Such a great spot. You wouldn't know from walking by, but they have an upstairs that has a nice little view. The menu changes daily, but I had a pesto chicken panini that was easily one of the better paninis I've ever had. I'm anxious to come back to this restaurant for dinner!
(5)
Martha A.

This has been and continues to be one of my very favorite restaurants. The most authentically Italian that I've found in San Francisco, from the beautiful food to the service!
(5)
Jacqueline K.

Caffe Macaroni looks unassuming from the outside, but once you step in, you feel like you're in an Italian cafe. The owner, Mario, still has his booming Naples (Napoli!) accent and welcoms you in with a pat on the back and lists the special menu out for you. We arrived a bit after 6pm, just before the heavy weekend crowd. There's outside seating and inside is a charming, close family feel seating. Although it is tight seating you forget that is small once you get used to it and enjoy your lovely dinner! Our group of gals ordered the margherita pizza and prosciutto and cheese as appetizers and they were both delicious and smooth as butter. We ordered the seafood, pesto pasta and spicy sausage pasta for entrees. It went along great with our Pinot Grigio and COMPLIMENTARY orangecello. We finished up with Nutella on warm bread (orgasmic!) and cannoli's. Both amazing. I just can't get over this lovely dinner. Not to mention the gorgeous and attentive waters, this place has the feel of a mini get away. I'm definitely coming here on every trip back to San Fran! Thank you for the delicious food and entertainment Mario, Antonio and I think Giovanni (he can flip wine bottles with one hand!)
(5)
Cindy C.

this restaurant was recommended by a tour guide and it was as good as decribed. the linguine di mare was excellent as was the ceasar salad and cauliflower soup. bread and garlic in olive oil was very good also. service was prompt and polite. food came out quickly and hot. if i lived here i would definitely return, often.
(5)
Oona F.

After reading the reviews on Yelp, we decided to visit Caffe Macaroni while on a vacation in SF. We were not disappointed! The food... the service...the ambiance. Fantastic and authentic Italian! We had the Tricolore salad (SO good!), I got the rigatoni with ragu, my husband got the Penne All Amatriciana, and they made my 6 year old son a delicious spaghetti with olive oil and garlic. For dessert we got Tiramisu with cappuccino. The only regret I have is that we don't live close enough to go every week! Go-- you will not regret it.
(5)
amrita b.

Omg. Never have I been so blown away with authenticity. From how he explains 'his specials' of the day to the dessert drink...I have found my new home. I asked if he had gnocchi, and he gave me sauce options. The best ever.
(5)
Helen M.

I brought an Italian- American friend here for dinner. It reminded her of her Sicilian family cooking. We both loved the place, the food and the friendly staff. We recommend the seafood dishes- they are of a generous size and spiced just right. Order the three color salad which pairs well with the seafood. Add a glass of wine and you will have a superb dinner !
(4)
Ryan O.

Simply excellent. A tiny, authentic Italian joint with lively Italian waiters.
(5)
Jonathan T.

I'd say the bread and dip were just OK. But I ordered some type of shellfish special with garlic and olive oil and it was really good. The place is small but the food was very tasty.
(4)
Julie Z.

Came with a large group for lunch that took up half the caffe upstairs. The service was very good and even though we showed up with more people than we had specified on the reservation, they were able to accommodate and were very nice about it. We all had sandwiches and everyone was very content. Will be back for sure!
(5)
Mary Y.

Wonderful experience having dinner here last night. We were greeted by the owner upon entry and got seated right away though our reservations were pushed back for almost an hour. Upstairs seating was very cozy which was fine for us! Wish the lights were a little brighter. The owner came to our table and told us the specials again. The mozzarala ball appetizer, the octopus pasta and the house meatball pasta were all wonderful. Will definitely come back.
(5)
Maxi B.

Great place, very cute, a bit cramped some might think, but I actually like the place for that. Our food tasted amazing, and was freshly cooked just when we ordered it. Seafood risotto was great, with looots of seafood in it, more than usual for sure. The pesto linguine was well cooked, truly al dente, with great flavour.
(5)
Susana I.

Cafe Macaroni is a little trip to southern Italia--a tiny, tidy place, with an open door and the scent of garlic wafting onto Columbus Ave. Proprietor Mario welcomes you as if it's a long awaited homecoming. Once you are seated and the wine delivered, he recites the menu del giorno-- homemade pastas, burrata cheese, and catch of the day in addition to a tempting menu of regular fare. Delizioso! Enjoy!
(5)
Tamara E.

Took my daughter and 5 friends to lunch for her birthday. The food was A-MAZ-ING! Seriously. Everything we had was phenomenal. So much flavor. So authentic. I haven't tasted Italian food this tasty and good since I was actually in Italy a couple of years ago. The past was perfect and the tiramisu was heaven. The interior is VERY small. We went at an off-time or I don't know that our group would have easily gotten a table. As it was, we pretty much filled the restaurant. There may have been 1 or 2 other tables (for two) inside. There are also a handful of tables outside. The owner (chef?) was friendly and hands-on. But, did I mention the food? Fabulous! I would go back in a heartbeat.
(5)
Steven S.

These folks run a true gem in North Beach--it is intimate, festive, with excellent food both on and off the menu. Ask what's good and let them guide you. We had black linguini with seafood (yum) burrata that changed our life, and an excellent porchetta with fennel that melted right in our mouth. Thank you Mario and Stephanie for a fabulous meal! We'll be back!
(4)
Brian T.

Delicious. Great menu, great staff (the kind that you want to take a photo with before you go), and amazing food. Showed up with a party of 11 or so without a reservation, and they pushed some tables together outside to make room for us. Chefs are happy to just make you something cool with minimal direction if you want. I ended up ordering pasta with a buttery sauce and squid. Simple stuff, but prepared perfectly and so so tasty. I don't recall what my friends ordered, but everyone else ended up being thrilled as well.
(5)
Zoe Y.

My family and I were staying in San Francisco and looking to eat dinner at an Italian restaurant. After doing some research on Yelp for a few minutes, I come across this little gem. This was definitely the best decision I made all trip. Authentic Italian food complete with Italian-speaking cooks and servers. This hole in the wall is easy to pass up because it looks a little run down and sketchy, but usually those turn out to be the best eateries. FOOD: 5 stars. Definitely the best Italian food I've had in awhile. I'm not a fan of extremely fancy food. I prefer the quality and taste of food over presentation. This place hit the spot. I don't remember the name of the dish I had, but it was basically a Baked Ziti. You could tell the sauce was 100% homemade. The pasta was cooked to perfection. It was delicious. My brother had the Margherita pizza while my mom and sister split the cannelloni. The cannelloni was fantastic. My dad had the Branzino (?) with spaghetti. This, in my opinion, was the most delectable because it had so many layers of flavor. I highly recommend that dish. SERVICE: 5 stars. Great service. The owner and bus boy/server were both very welcoming and made us feel right at home. They made jokes with us the whole time and were fantastic. No complaints at all. AMBIANCE/LOCATION: 4.5 stars. I think it could be better. Really tiny but it's places like these that I end up appreciating more because they are more friendly and tend to have great food. I just don't like the location of the restaurant. I think I would have preferred it to be closer to Union Square. Overall, I have ZERO complaints about this place. If you are looking for AUTHENTIC and QUALITY Italian food, this is your place! I will definitely be back in the future.
(5)
Jess C.

3.5 STARS Caffe Macaroni is a cute little Italian restaurant at the junction between North Beach, FiDi, and Chinatown. I was uncertain of what to expect, because the signage and decor seemed very old school / divey and reminded me of a mom and pop version of Buca di Beppo. Then, when I arrived I noticed the wait staff varied from stand-offish to boisterous; this place seemed to attract alot of European tourists and return customers. The service was a bit slow, and forgetful, but friendly in an almost obtrusive way. Our server described each dish like this, "Pappardelle bla bla bla" - literally. I don't know what to make of it. Venue: There are a few small outdoor tables for 2-4 people (no heating lamp), a few indoor tables (4-6 people), and a small upstairs section which could seat a few small parties or one large party of maybe 15. It's a bit claustraphobic, but cute and oddly decorated with neon green twinkle lights and parchment paper rolls, a low ceiling, and a nice street facing view. The upstairs area got really loud and there were only 6 other people there. Reservations were somewhat easy, and I saw several walk in (Tuesday at 7:30PM) without much of a wait. Food: * COMPLIMENTARY BREAD AND GARLIC OLIVE OIL - 3.5 STARS: Mediocre but fresh bread, soft on the inside but crusty on the outside. Served with their house made garlic olive oil, super flavorful and addictive. I think they use the same bread for the pizza. * BUFFALO MOZZARELLA E PROSCUITTO - 2 STARS: Small and mediocre piece of mozzarella (think: Costco, not bad but not great), served with maybe 4 slices of standard proscuitto. Meh, I've had better. * SQUID INK LINGUINI ($17) - 4 STARS: This is not on their menu (note: their online and restaurant menu differ slightly). The seafood was mediocre in quality and freshness, but it was really flavorful and one of the two favorite pastas of the evening. * PAPPARDELLE BOLOGNESE - Special ($17) - 4 STARS: This house special was very simple, yet so delicious - the other favorite pasta dish of the evening. The pasta and the sauce were perfectly executed - the pasta was nicely al dente, and the sauce and cheese were unexpectedly delicious. * SAUSAGE PASTA ($17) - 3 STARS: Mix of farfella (bow tie) and rotini pastas served with pasta. It was just not my cup of tea. * PORK LOIN - 2 STARS: A bit dry and flavorless, served over cannelloni beans. Skip.
(3)
Sylvain B.

It's just perfect. The atmosphere, the decoration, the feel, the owner, the cooks and of course...the food! I picked this place after reading some Yelp reviews about restaurants around little Italy. I got there around 2PM, for a late lunch. There was only one couple seating in this super tiny restaurant (4 tables of 2 outside, 5 tables for 2 inside. There might be an upper floor, I didn't check). The owner/waiter is Italian. Being from an French-Italian family, I ordered a special dish composed of Mozzarella and antipasti only, the sardine spaghetti, anchovies and a bottle of (excellent) Montepulciano. See photos for details. I won't describe all the great feelings I had while eating there. Everything was gourmet, well prepared and cooked (al-dente spaghetti). Sardines were amazingly grilled with herb and garlic and my antipasti was seasoned to perfection! I had a very nice espresso to conclude this amazing meal. 51$ for the whole thing. Unbeatable. Complementary bread and super garlicky olive oil. Its not a sophisticated cuisine, but the food is just plain good. I do recommend this place if you feel like having Italian food in San Francisco. Will definitely go back.
(5)
Catherine C.

Got drawn into this cute little old school trattoria because of its uni pasta! Yes, by little, I mean tiny. There is only enough space on the first floor for three tables inside and two small tables outside. There is an upstairs area that I haven't seen, but it's probably just as cozy. The uni pasta did not disappoint! I was actually sad that I had to share it with my friends during dinner. I wanted it all for myself! We also tried the porchetta, which I didn't like as much. I'm not one to shy away from fatty meat, in fact, I love fatty steak, but this was beyond greasy. I felt like I was drinking bacon oil. I was slightly disappointed by the bread they served before the meal as well. I was expecting piping hot fresh-baked Italian bread, but instead we got a generic stale and cold french baguette. The olive oil with marinaded chopped garlic that came with the bread made up for it a little though. I would come back though just for the uni pasta if I happen to be in the area.
(3)
Heather P.

This wasn't the kind of Italian place that I'd ever been to. As a matter of fact, I don't think that there was macaroni on the menu. Most of the entrees on the menu that I'd never heard of. I found myself here with a group of seven other fellow Community Ambassadors, including Ophelia M. whose review pretty much sums it up. I too ordered gnocchi and gorgonzola. The tiny bits of potato goodness leaves me thinking about it weeks later. The portion wasn't huge but it was enough to fill up. I guess I'm a big eater or I was really hungry that night. The fact that the waiter wasn't able to separate the ticket was a bit of a disappointment, but not a huge deal though. The waiter was effective and nice, but the place was practically dead, I think there was one other party besides us. The red stilettos hanging from the wall... how can I forget to mention those?!
(3)
Sau y.

Miguel was our waiter and such a delight! We enjoyed the calamari & white beans as well as the arugula salad, which was a bit too oily for me. Then we had the Gorgonzola gnocchi which was delicious, but the Gorgonzola was a bit strong so I probably couldn't eat this as a main dish on my own. We also got the black linguine with seafood, which was quite good as well. We had the tiramisu, which I could pass on, but it seemed homemade. Overall, wonderful service that was personable and funny/fun. I enjoyed the overall experience and the quirky decor/ red walls with short ceilings upstairs.
(4)
Jessica Y.

I was there late on a weekday evening around 8:30 and they close by 9:00. There is no line waiting and the food is phenomenal. I got ink fish pasta with seafood. I had similar dishes in New York City with triple the price here. It's such a authentic Italian place with reasonable prices! Would definitely come back!
(5)
Chad W.

Great people and awesome food. They will ensure you have a great experience. Feels like visiting family every time I go here. Love it!
(5)
Vivian H.

Don't let the name "Macaroni" fool you - this is a great, authentic Italian-owned restaurant in North Beach. The restaurant is tiny so be sure to make reservations early! Most of the dishes we tried were not on the menu, so wait to hear the specials before you order. We got the pancheta, sea urchin pasta, and seafood black linguini. Everything was delicious. My favorite was definitely the uni pasta - so creamy and perfectly cooked pasta. The linguini was delicious too - a little salty, but covered with mussels, clams, and lobster. I wasn't a fan of their bread but liked the garlic olive oil dip. For dessert, we also tried their tiramisu and panna cotta. Both were decent - but I've had better elsewhere. Overall, cozy atmosphere with great pasta dishes!
(4)
Brianna S.

Had dinner here last night. We made reservations through OpenTable. I'm not sure that actually reserved us anything though. This is a tiny, energetic spot to enjoy true Italian service and food. The staff were very pleasant and had vibrant personalities. We sat upstairs which was a little claustrophobic, but did have some charm to it. We had the burrata salad - 4 stars - loved the pesto vinaigrette, fresh tomatoes and arugula. We also had the halibut with linguine in a light tomato sauce - so fresh and the fish was cooked well. Lastly, we had the maccheronata pasta which was a steamy bowl of cheesy goodness. Would have loved if it had meat in it. All in all a fun experience with hefty wine pours!
(4)
Shirley N.

My friend had been eyeing this place for awhile and really wanted to come and give it a try. She suggested I read the Yelp reviews before agreeing. The reviews looked promising. So I said yes. We came for lunch today. There's five tables indoors each one table for two. And several outdoor tables. Great if warm and sunny. But I'm feeling claustrophobic indoors already. One guy in the corner with the best seat in the house. And another table with two elderly gents. And then us. Two glasses of water brought to the table. Mine has a dead bug floating. Not a good start. A bread basket with chopped garlic in olive oil for dipping looked promising. That turned out to be our highlight. My friend ordered the penne pasta. She thought too salty and not enough pasta. I ordered the Margherita pizza. I looked around the small kitchen and didn't notice a pizza oven. That should have been a clue. My pizza comes on a board. It resembled focaccia bread, with the bread bottom toasted. We paid $18.00 each inc tax & tip. Not worth it. We left very dissatisfied. The server was quick to give us our bill and quick to collect. We give him two $20s and he comes back with two fives. We gave him $5.00 tip. Overall 2.5-3.0 stars.
(3)
David T.

I love this place. It is a tiny authentic Italian restaurant with great food and character. I have some wonderful meals here. This is not an Americanized place. It makes you feel like you are in italy as you sit on Columbus Ave.
(5)
William W.

The owner's poor serving attitude, ah, he killed it... After a nice walk in the downtown, I found this nice and cozy store located on Columbus Ave. Since I was by myself and a student, I didn't seem appealing right away because there was only a few tables inside. The male owner gave me a table and bought out the bread 5 mins later... with no dipping sauce. I looked around and found it a bit awkward to ask them. Fortunately, a sweet lady server noticed it and brought it out. The dish I ordered was a fairly simple spaghetti plate with garlic, chilly powder -- pretty simple but tasty indeed. However, the male owner just bothered me so much. Every time I said "thank you", he never, never even looked at me. Since I was a server before, this just bothered me so much... is it that hard to be polite to your consumers? He was nice to the regular consumers but could I at least have some respect? Both lady servers were really nice and sweet -- chatted with me a little and shared some stories with me. This was a BIG plus to the consumer service... Overall, the food was great and the street view was nice. The space was tiny but quite cozy. But, yes, the owner's attitude -- not enjoyed it at all. Will consider whether to come back or not.
(3)
Kim W.

Could it be true? Could one really eat in North Beach without having to deal with tourists? Yes! Hubby found this gem thanks to other Yelpers and selected it for his birthday dinner. It's a tiny little place with 4 outdoor tables so you can eat with your pups plus room for 10 more people inside and a few more tables hidden upstairs. I really felt like I was in Italy. The owner is Italian, the servers were from Naples as was the chef. They yelled at each other in Italian. Everything was "no problem". Want to mix and match entrees - no problem! Another wine glass - no problem! Try the cannoli filling - no problem! More bread - no problem! The menu changes based upon what they find fresh. That night they had an elk steak and lots of specials with baby octopus. For the first time, I tried squid ink pasta with lots of fresh seafood (including those baby octopus). Delicious! Enough garlic and other spices to not need salt or other seasoning. I found that I actually like ink squid pasta (very salty) and baby octopus (yes, they take off the heads). We wrapped up with the ricotta cake which tasted like it was made by an Italian "nonna", the panna cotta was light and delicious and the lemon sorbet came in a real lemon. They ended the experience with complimentary shots of limoncello (this was after 4 glasses of wine so it may have been orangecello). Lovely atmosphere! Lovely service! Wonderful food! Don't forget to make a reservation. Wave to me if I see you there.
(5)
Wendy H.

Would never have found this gem if it weren't for all the other great yelp reviews. This was not only great food, but a great experience. The restaurant is very small so we had to wait a few minutes for a table. We chatted with several patrons who are regulars. They suggested that instead of ordering, we let the waiter bring us his recommendations. So we did. What a great meal. We felt like we were family. We ended up sharing 2 appetizers, 4 entrees, and 2 desserts. All were fabulous. For appetizers we ordered the calamari and the clams and mussels. We used the bread to soak up all the amazing sauce. Entrees included shellfish over black pasta, tuna with linguine puttanesca, spaghetti with baby octopus, and buffalo with mushroom risotto. My personal favorite was the buffalo, but every dish was fantastic. For dessert we got the tiramisu and the limoncello cake. While the tiramisu was good, we could have devoured an entire limoncello cake, not just a slice. We ate in 4 other restaurants during this trip, and this place was by far the best.
(5)
James J.

Don't let your associations with the word "Macaroni" get in the way, this place is an authentic Italian restaurant. The servers are fun and friendly and the upstairs seating area, while certainly tight, is charming. When presented with the specials, I heard porchetta and stopped listening. However when I ordered, the waiter informed me the porchetta dish was an appetizer. But he immediately offered to make it into an entree and it was incredible. The wife and kids loved their homemade pasta as well. I would advise to make reservations, as it is very small.
(5)
May C.

Rounded up my 3.5 stars to 4 stars because the owner is a great guy. My boyfriend and I made plans to come here after reading such great reviews of the place. We turned the corner and saw the owner standing outside greeting people and welcoming them into his restaurant. Actually a great tactic because a lot of people came in. It is a very small place though. Seating can only accommodate 10-12 people max. I think there was some seating available outside too. We were seated and given menus. We weren't asked about our drink order until 10 minutes later. They only have one server, so I gave them some leeway, but then it took another 10 minutes to get our water! Eventually, the owner took over as our waiter and it was a smooth ride the rest of dinner. The food is very delicious, but imo, not 5 star quality delicious though. My boyfriend liked his dish more than I liked mine. I can't remember the name of his, but it had sausage and broccoli rabe with tomato sauce. I got the pasta carbonara. Basically penne vodka but the sauce was just creamier. I found my dish to be too oily. The portions are also insanely small. Kind of like expensive restaurant quantity. I think they judge portions based on how you look physically, I am small, but I eat a lot of food, a lot more than most people would think. My boyfriend's dish was bigger than mine and the guy at the table next to us had the same dish as my boyfriend, but it was basically double the size! He was older and more on the heavier side. But again, just my theory, take it with a grain of salt (that's a saying right?) Overall, good food with nice atmosphere. If I'm ever in SF again, don't think I'll be coming back though. Probably will try a different Italian restaurant.
(4)
Jennifer A.

Don't let the goofy name deceive you. This food is freaking delicious! Although I could only understand about 20% of what the Italian waiters/owners said, I was more than pleased with some of the most delicious food ever in the former Little Italy of San Francisco. We had some fresh octopus appetizer that was amazing. I had the chicken parm and he had spaghetti and meatballs. We finished it off by splitting a calzone. The service was nice, and the food was amazing. The only downside is the front entrance of the cafe is super cramped so you're only about 4" away from your neighbors. I believe there is an upstairs though. I would come back, for sure! Incredibile! (yes, that's Italian for incredible).
(4)
Jerry L.

This has been the worst service I have ever encountered dining out. I had a reservation for 4 at 6:45. While we waited for 2 members of our party to find parking, which is notoriously difficult in North Beach, I politely asked the owner whether we could sit down first since it was a chilly evening and I didn't have a jacket. He had already mentioned at that point that the table was ready and he could seat us as soon as the rest of our party arrived so I thought it wouldn't be a problem. Not only did he refuse, he wouldn't even let us inside. I understand if it's your restaurant's policy to not seat guests until the full party has arrived but to force them to wait outside in the cold and refuse to offer any sort of indoor accommodation -- even if it's just a waiting area -- is appalling. I told him to just cancel our reservation as we were no longer interested in dining there. He then proceeded to chase us outside and tell us how unreasonable we were being. I don't care how good your food is -- that is an unacceptable way to treat your customers, especially coming from the owner.
(1)
Lina C.

My boyfriend and I came here for Valentine's Day. While driving by the restaurant to look for parking, there were a bunch of people waiting outside. Luckily, we made a reservation! We arrived a little early and checked in with one of the workers. They were extremely busy, but what do you expect? It's Valentine's Day. When you first get there, you'll see about 5 tables inside and 4 tables outside. This place was so small! While waiting, the waiters and chefs were really friendly and joking around with some customers. They seemed so nice and sweet! I was getting so excited for this dinner. 20 minutes after our reservation time, we got seated. The waiter brought us to the upstairs seating. Yup, that's right, it's not just those 10 tables downstairs and outside. There's also an upstairs! We were seated at this counter-like table facing the windows, so we got a view of the street. It was super cramped upstairs, barely any room to even move around. And the ceiling was so low, I could practically touch it without tip-toeing (and I'm not even 5 feet tall). It was really stuffy upstairs. But I didn't mind, it's Valentine's Day and I thought it was very intimate and cozy. Although I did think it was a fire hazard being up there. If there was a fire, which would happen downstairs because the kitchen is downstairs, the people seated up stairs would probably not make it out! The stairs are so narrow and steep. Anyway, we waited awhile before someone came to take our order, but we didn't mind, we understood that it was busy due to the holiday. A few minutes after we ordered, the waiter asked if we could move one seat over. Now, this seat was at the edge of the communal counter-like table. This seat, specifically, was back to back with another seat behind (which someone on the larger side was sitting at). The waiters kept trying to convince us to move a seat over, my boyfriend tried and he could not fit, there was no leg room. So after we literally tried and showed them that my boyfriend would not fit there, they had the audacity to tell me to try to sit there because I'm a lot smaller, HOW DARE THEY! Trust me, I knew I wasn't going to fit there, I don't even know why my boyfriend even tried himself. Brownie points to him for being a good sport. So after that whole ordeal was over, we got our food. It wasn't until our food came before we realized that we didn't even have utensils placed at our table for us. It's okay, they were busy, we understand. I had the linguine with clams. The portion was really small. I scarfed down the whole plate and was still SO hungry (like I said before, I am pretty small). The linguine was undercooked, it was still hard. The clams were bleh... I didn't like them. The best part was the bread that came with this garlic, olive oil, vinaigrette dip thing, WHICH WAS AMAZING (the dip, not the bread, I LOVE GARLIC). But they didn't give us our bread until we asked for it. They even gave bread to people who got seated after us, wtf! They also took forever to bring us water, we asked for it when we first got seated, and then asked again while waiting for our food, but we didn't get it until we were practically done eating. After we finished, we asked for the check, which took forever to come. The couple next to us saw how long we were waiting for the check and they asked for their check before they were even finished eating with their food. BUT THEY STILL GOT THERE CHECK BEFORE US. This is when I realized that the waiters were specifically being unattentive to us. Because we wouldn't move to a seat where we couldn't fit?!?! WTF WHO DOES THAT?!!? Overall, I am never coming here again. And I hope that you all have a way better experienced than I did. Only reason I'm even giving a star is for the garlic/olive oil/viniagrette.
(1)
Valerie W.

I love this place. It is a tiny little hole in the wall, but cute, quaint and authentic Italian. Great wait staff and the owner is adorable. The caprese salad can be skipped, but wow that chicken with gnocchi. Out of this world. Hubcap ordered the seafood risotto and it did not disappoint. I would suggest skipping the apps and going straight to the mains. Split a pasta and a secondi and all will be right with the world.
(4)
Christina D.

Having lived in Italy, I generally avoid Italian food in the US. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food at this place. I had the seafood risotto, which was prepared correctly and was very creamy. I subtracted one star because it seemed that my partners steak had a lot of fat, which the chef should have noticed before sending it out. Otherwise it was a great experience. We sat by the window and it was very romantic.
(4)
Michelle B.

Not only was this a charming little Italian eatery with wonderfully sweet and flirty service, the food was GOOD! My friend and I shared the spaghetti and meatballs. The Meatballs were huge!!!! They were tender and very tasty, the best Iv had thus far! The sauce was a touch salty, but still tasty! We LOVED the bread with garlic and olive oil dip! The service from ALL the staff is 5 STARS, the food fell just short of the service, but not by much! I wish I had some of those meatballs rt NOW!
(4)
Jason Ping T.

Let me just give you a heads up: Don't come here. 4 and a half star is a joke. Service is straight elephant shit and food was at best just okay~ The only good thing they have. I don't understand whats the hype about this place and how it even deserves 4 and a half stars. The waiter does not even pay any attention to us and it gave me the vibe as if we were not allowed to be here. He gave better service to the family next to us. I would write a longer review if I could but this place definitely made my experience complete shit. Don't come here. Theres more place to eat than this garbage caffe. NOT WORTH THE MONEY. Cost: $60. Never Coming Back.
(1)
Tamar F.

Not sure what all the good reviews are about but we had lunch here and was disappointed. Worse Italian food I've had. The service was not welcoming. The waiter looked like he was bothered by us coming in to eat. He did not pay any attention to us and instead gave special attention to the couple next to us who he knew. I really hate it when service is not equal. Menu did not even offer basics like real pizza or spaghetti with meatballs. Portions were small for the price. Not good value. Los Angeles has better Italian restaurants. I guess I'm spoiled.
(1)
Mark M.

We found and booked a reservation from NY for our visit with our daughter in SF. It was really a very fun place - not your everyday selection... which we liked. Charming and interesting. Not fancy, to be sure.... but the kind of place that locals might wish to go to for a celebration. It is small and intimate. Watch the low ceiling upstairs. Good service. Good food. Popularly priced.
(4)
Stefanie C.

We were in town for a conference and stumbled upon this wonderful little restaurant and all of its charm. We all loved this place!! A little concerned when we walked in but after being greeted by Chiro we had the best experience ever! He gave great recommendations of the food and we all loved everything we ordered-seafood, pizza and pasta! Dessert is a must! You won't regret the tiramisu!!
(5)
Lei H.

We stopped by here for dinner on a whim. We have passed by a so many times for years. We were surprised we found a table as it seems like a tiny place (later found they also have a upstairs) The printed menu was standard but then we heard about all the specials and fell in love. - burrata appetizer the freshest we ever tasted - petrole sole delicious and tender - shellfish squid ink pasta : subtle and perfect. Sauce is just slightly spicy too Ended with their barley pie which was surprisingly moist and some cannoli We will definitely be back. ;-) yummy.
(4)
Aimee P.

My best friend and I were standing outside debating on where to eat when the owner came out and asked us how our night was then we proceeded to let him know that we were debating on what to eat. His charming personality and welcome ness was the reason we decided to eat here. Food was so delicious. They made us spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs were juicy and tender with lots of flavor. ( not a fan of meatballs)The garlic olive oil with bread was top notch. I loved every garlic clove I ate. The whole environment was just great the waiters had a sense of humor along with charming personalities. It felt as if you were at home eating dinner with your own family enjoying each others company.
(4)
Gina O.

I wish no stars was an option. We had an 8 pm reservation knowing good and well that it's Saturday in San Francisco. When I show up to a restaurant with a reservation, I expect to be seated because I put in a reservation for a certain time for a reason. After showing up on time for our reservation, we were told it would be "five minutes" for our table. Currently approaching 15-20 minute territory, and seeing that none of these tables have food...well, I'm sure we will be leaving before we even decide to eat here. EDIT: my husband convinced me that we should stay....and we've been here for about an hour and haven't received our entrees, and have only been acknowledged once by anyone. It also seems the place is over booked. I've seen a few people come at the same time only to be told they'd have to wait. Not impressed with this. EDIT #2: an hour later, we finally received our food. The food was decent, but definitely not worth waiting an hour for. During that hour, we were only checked on once. We also noticed that the couple that was sat before us STILL had not left the building. They were at a table upstairs, the guys working there were so busy downstairs that they may have forgotten about them. TL;DR: food was decent, but the long wait, hurried service when we were actually given any, and the complete disregard for reservations (you could probably just walk up and say you have one and they would seat you without batting an eye) make this a resounding one star location for me.
(1)
Emilia S.

Three of us made a last minute (ie. 25 minutes out) reservation for a Saturday night dinner at Caffe Macaroni. Pleased by the high ratings on Yelp and Open Table, we figured it'll be a nice Italian spot for a chill dinner. Caffe Macaroni is teeny tiny, but has a solid offering of Italian cuisine ranging from pizza to pasta to paninis. Reservations seem to carry little merit as pretty much everyone huddled around the front door was welcomed in at random; no one asked the name on our reservation and we were seated about 20 minutes after the time. The downstairs area has maybe 4 tables and the door is open, so opt for the upstairs. Unless you're really tall, because the ceiling is just under 6 feet. The upstairs area is very cramped; I passed all the dishes to our neighboring tables as the waiters could not get through. Food is fine, simple. I had a baked cannelloni which was good but the rest of my party was not super impressed. If you don't eat pork, note that the olive oil served as an appetizer has prosciutto in it--although it sounds like a nice touch, I'm told the flavor was just odd. Perhaps the biggest question we had about the dinner was overall cleanliness. The space is incredibly tiny and assuming the downstairs kitchen is the only one, you'll notice food is prepared next to the dishwashing station. Plates are set down willy nilly so if you worry about your glass getting too close to a bottle of Windex, you'll cringe. All in all, a good selection of dishes that'll fill you up and leave you content, but not necessarily craving a return trip.
(3)
Ali A.

Perfect pasta. Great atmosphere--old school Italian. Very nice owners who make you feel welcomed. We ordered the pesto linguine, penne and had a side of must-try meatballs. Desert was their homemade cannoli. Yum!
(5)
Sheryl O.

Amazing food at this place along with charming and friendly staff and owner. Pasta is fresh and dishes are worth savoring.
(5)
James G.

Simply the best ive been here now 3x... I literally woke up at 6 am thinking about it... I need to eat here again next time im up in SF. When you care about the night... This place impresses . Food is perfection as well
(5)
Nancy S.

This was awesome! The service is great. I loved to hear the servers singing to the music. The food was delicious! We would definitely recommend Caffe Macaroni!
(5)
Lyann N.

We found Caffe Macaroni while walking around SF. Best find ever. Had one of their specials, pasta with baby octopus. It was so delicious. The octopi were tender & the sauce amazing. I've never tasted anything like it before. The service was excellent. Everyone was friendly. Definitely going back on my next trip to the city.
(5)
Michelle M.

cozy spot with authentic taste. I love the garlic spread. Pasta is cooked al dente and if you don't see what you like they will try to make it for you! Who does that?!
(4)
Sara A.

We never miss a chance to dine here! Every time we visit SF we eat here every night, even after trying other restaurants this lands as number 1 all around. The service is amazing with the staff and owner attentive and generous. The food was, "Don't talk to me" good. My husband has tried food throughout the country and puts this place as number 1 in seafood. Must have desert! All are to die for!
(5)
Maurice L.

One of the most amazing Italian restaurants in the city. The food is fantastic! I dine here a few times a week and have tried just about everything. The spaghetti and meatballs and the black ink pasta with seafood are two of my favorites. Great atmosphere and wonderful owners Mario and Stephanie who make you feel at home every time. The pastas, meats, and seafood are all super fresh and delicious. One of my top restaurant picks in the city!
(5)
Brandon W.

The restaurant, the location, and the food was amazing!!! We had a terrific time with service staff and would recommend it to anyone
(5)
E R.

Cute, little, Italian restaurant. Inside seats about 8, and small tables outside. Staff is very attentive and entertaining. Pasta dishes are great, as are the desserts. If you know any authentic dishes that aren't on the menu, the kitchen is willing to prepare them.
(5)
Donna H.

Loved it! I felt like I stepped into a tiny side street in Rome the instant I sat down. Service was excellent, all the specials sounded delicious, my lunch was wonderful, the panna cotta with l'amarena cherries more so. I'll be back soon, the music ranged from Dino to Bergonzi and the owner is clearly a gem who cares not only about his customers but of the food he serves. Keep in mind when you go, this place is tiny, the noise level is high between the music, the chef and waiters and the other patrons. To me it made listening to my companion a little difficult, and added to the charm.
(5)
Ronald S.

Have been coming here for over 20 years. The specials are always first class , the service exceptional. Today we had a pork belly special and a sturgeon special, both were perfect.
(5)
Eva Y.

What a gem! From the exterior, this place seems like any other place for Italian eats. The service is awesome and the food is fresh and very tasty! Their calamari is not breaded but the perfect blend of vinegar and sauce with the true calamari is superb! Their steak? Oh my, oh so good. One word sums it up for the food at this place... perfect balance of tart, sweet and savory flavors in each dish.
(5)
Gil S.

Caffe Macaroni is like a spontaneous ad hoc rendition of Tony and Tina's Wedding. The owners and waitstaff, mostly there for 15+ years, put on an unscripted amateur theater of the absurd for you and your date / family / gay lover / whatever, full of playacting, forgetting what you ordered, bringing free dishes and drinks, giving your date a kiss on the cheek speaking in Italian and the several other languages they know. Not because it's their concept or some corporate ownership requires it, I think they've just settled into this pattern for being in North Beach for the past few decades. Meanwhile, the food is pretty solid and reasonably priced. The ink squid pasta has been a constant "special" on the menu for the past 20+ years, always a good choice. The antipasti plate is nice. The tiramisu is kinda explosive in presentation, but delicious to eat. A word about the place -- it's grandfathered in, but basically if you're over 5'9" best you duck your head. Seriously. The upstairs dining room has a ceiling about 6'4", but due to some unevenness an average height American guy will bump his head. Also, the kitchen is the size of a small closet, all this food is coming from a small stove about 110 square feet. This could be a little too intense for children and unadventurous tourists, but if you're ready to forget expectations and have a good time over a moderately priced romantic dinner, go for it.
(5)
Courtney A.

Came here on a date with my husband because of good reviews and we just loved this little hole-in-the-wall. Don't let the cramped quarters or tiny upstairs scare you, the food is amazing, authentic and we were well taken care of. I love little Italian places with character and Caffe Macaroni has become a favorite. We've been back twice since and have told many friends in the area about it. Get the Burrata to start, although the Caprese salad was incredible as well. And as far as the pastas go, you won't be disappointed. So glad we found this little gem.
(5)
Michael B.

If you are looking for the quintessential San Francisco North Beach experience, this is it. The atmosphere is just awesome, you'll feel like you are part of the family. Mario is a delight, we couldn't have felt more welcome and looked after. Food was awesome and authentic.... we had just come back from a holiday in Tuscany, and this place was as good as anything over there that we have experienced. The place is very small which makes for a wonderfully intimate experience. Downstairs is where you'll want to be although the inside space only has enough space for about a dozen dinner guests. If you are a brave sort, we would recommend that you do what we did which was to hand over total control to Mario. We shared every selection across the table. Yes, the name Macaroni is a bit weird but don't let that put you of from recommending it to friends. We'll be back for sure!
(5)
Abby S.

We went here for dinner on our last night in San Francisco and it was phenomenal. The waitstaff is funny and entertaining, and the chef came up the dining room repeatedly to check in and make sure everyone was happy. I had the gnocchi in Gorgonzola cream sauce and it was incredibly fresh and hearty. I have never had such a fresh- tasting gnocchi. Make a reservation because they get very busy for dinner and it isn't very big. I highly recommend!!
(5)
Jennifer J.

All I can say is "grazie!" to the staff at Caffe Macaroni for our fantastic dinner! The owner immediately greeted us warmly upon entering, and throughout our meal, the waiters checked on us regularly ensure that we were happy (and had full glasses of water. So much water haha). The owner even taught us a few words in Italian and joked with us as we were leaving the restaurant. They made our dinner a truly personal experience! Regarding the food, this tiny bistro serves wonderfully flavorful food and is bustling at all hours. Our appetizer of garlic bread was light and crisp in texture but held a strong flavor of garlic and olive oil. My main plate of salmon with potato (~$19) was cooked just right; the fish was just slightly crisp on the outside but deliciously juicy inside, and the potatoes were hot and salty (in a good way). Definitely keep your ears peeled for the specials. My friend ordered a black linguini dish with crawfish, clams, baby octopus, and muscles (~$21) that looked super impressive and tasted even better. I cannot recommend this place highly enough! You'll just have to try it for yourself
(5)
Kevin M.

An incredible valentines dinner here. Stephanie and Mario were so entertaining. The salmon dinner was one of the best fish dinners that I've ever had.
(5)
Tanya B.

Great service and delicious, simple yet perfectly executed Italian food. Try the fettuccine al Nero di sepia you won't regret it! Little neighborhood gem, will def come back! :)
(5)
Victoria E.

On a date fifteen years ago I came here. It was the last time I was here. I dined often back then in North Beach, as most of the people I dated then lived around it, or liked to hang out there. It was sort of my turf. I came back on Valentine's Day, because it was the last restaurant I sat down as a single woman. Had the risotto. Delicious. Had the prosciutto and cheese as a starter. Completely perfect. Servers still were very Italian, the ceilings were completely short just as I had remembered. It was wacky and quirky, imperfect like me. I was concerned because my taste has grown more sophisticated and I was worried about this restaurant not living up to my expectation, but the food was just as good. Sometimes the best memories are best revisited, from time to time
(4)
Bobbie B.

Everything about this place demonstrates wonderful attention to detail and the well being of the patrons. ambience- greeted by friendly owner and staff. Upstairs tables with narrow ceilings but more space between tables than in a lot of sf restaurants. Very old large window faces columbus street. Food- incredible, well seasoned original italian cuisine. Rely on the waiter to give great advice. The burrata cheese appetizer plate and the linguini de mare and the fresh sea bass entrees were both incredible; but to die for was the panetta desert and their homemade lemon liqueur. The only item I did not like was the side salad because it was too salty. Price-very reasonable prices for the quality. Prices ranges for entrees from about $14 to $30. I plan to come back soon.
(5)
Bella L.

Where have you been all my life, Caffe Macaroni? I've passed by the yellow sign countless times, but did not even think to stop by until my coworker urged me to try Caffe Macaroni for the legit Neapolitan cuisine. I'm no expert when it comes to Naples but I booked a table here because my bf is part Neopolitan and wanted him to get in touch with his southern Italian roots :P Fortunately he didn't mind because the food was delicious! Our dinner here was one of the best meals I've had in North Beach. There are lots of restaurants in the area that are fluff and cater to tourists... Caffe Macaroni is not one of them. Our waiter had a dry, wry, sense of humor and was so friendly. We were seated in the upstairs dining area and we chatted about our favorite Italian dishes and haunts in Rome. My bf and I shared an appetizer with mozzarella and a selection of cured meats, like proscuitto and mortadella. Combined with the warm crusty Italian bread with seasoned olive oil and garlic, this was a fantastic starter, albeit a little pricey for the quantity of food ($13). I ordered the squid ink pasta with seafood and my bf ordered a special, which consisted of thinly sliced and seasoned steak with arugula and pecorino. As a general rule, I never EVER order pasta unless it's house made, and I have to say my squid ink pasta was phenomenal. The pasta was al dente and springy, the broth was a wine/herb/tomato/seafood mixture that begged to be mopped up by the crusty bread, and the squid, clams, and mussels and tender and flavorful, topped with a large head-on shrimp (I didn't let the brains go to waste). My bf loved his steak and said it was very flavorful, although it was missing the promised pecorino. It was light but filling and different from the usual steak he would've ordered, and allowed us to order tiramisu for dessert. Our tiramisu was a rectangle of creamy, espresso-y, chocolate-y goodness. I think there were legit coffee grounds in that thing, not just coffee mixed into the dessert. Amazing! Perfect because it delivered the caffeine we needed for a late night in the city. Service was impeccable from start to finish. And the best part? Our waiter cryptically asks me if I drink alcohol. I told him not tonight, because I wanted to make sure I would be able to walk down the stairs, which were dark and steep. He promised me a small shot of housemade liqueur. I asked him what kind of liqueur and he coyly responds "I don't know!" as he's walking down the stairs. He returns with two shots of orangecello and takes a shot with me. It was just enough to make my cheeks warm but not enough to make me slide down the stairs on my ass. On the way out, he gives my bf and I a hug apiece. Can a meal get any better than that? I think not! GRAZIE!!!
(5)
David J.

Love love love this place. My new favorite Italian restaurant in the country. Exceptional food and service.
(5)
Alice Y.

It's very good. I had a wonderful dinner in here . The place is very warm and I love the music in here. The pasta is very good and fantasy !!!!!!
(5)
Danny S.

By far the best Italian food I have tasted in San Francisco. The staff is super friendly and their recommendations are spot on. Can't wait to come back for more goodness. Luca, our waiter that night was awesome. Thanks Luca.
(5)
Sarah T.

Very authentic italian food... Nothing to complain about here... They give normal sized proportions which is usually fine but i guess i was really really hungry because i swallowed down my spaghetti and meatballs and was hungry for more. The oil they serve with the bread is very very delicious! Nothing on the menu is bad. The restaurant is very very small however.
(4)
David P.

Hands down the most incredible Italian food I have ever had. It's one of those places where you almost want to pay people to go because it's THAT good. Order anything on the menu, you can't go wrong. Literally. Nothing on the menu is bad or even just average, it's exceptional. I personally like to go with the specials, but one night I did feel like being boring and ordered a margherita pizza -- I will never order a margherita pizza again unless it's from this place. It was incredible...which I think is a true testament to the authenticity of this restaurant. Margherita pizzas only have so many ingredients and they're all pretty basic. So to be able to pull off a dish that blows the rest of the pizzas in the world out of the water, you're doing something right and you're going to get 5 stars in my book. Also, Mario is the owner and he's just about the friendliest and most genuine guy you'll ever meet. His staff is just as amiable and provide excellent service.
(5)
Ryan S.

Went here with my wife and parents and it was fantastic. Ciro was our waiter and he made us feel at home. Good laughs, great food and a unique setting...highly recommend.
(5)
B W.

Went there for lunch. Had the worst Italian sausage I have ever had in my life. Was just a crappy bland destroyed meat like substance on a torn up bun. I will not return there again nor recommend it. No flavor, plain, uninspired. I wondered why they would even serve something so sub par. As an Italian, I was embarrassed for them. I just grilled my own Italian sausage with sautÃ©ed onions and peppers at home and it blew theirs away.
(1)
Raffi A.

The margarita pizza was basically garlic bread. It is not traditional dough so keep that in mind if you're thinking about ordering. We sat in the corner next to a couple that were "usuals" and the waiter didn't give us an ounce of attention compared to them. No refills, no checking in on us, missing silverware, and late in the check. There are two tables seated and we still got crappy service. The ice tea was pretty much pale and tasted like the worst tap water. Go somewhere else! Jerk waiters can ruin everything.
(1)
Corey H.

Finding this place is by far the best thing yelp has ever done for me. Everything about this place was awesome. Almost too good to be true.
(5)
H B.

We wanted a special place for a dinner for 25 friends after our wedding so we chose Caffe Macaroni. We took over the upstairs dining room and Mario provided us with a fantastic Italian meal. Everything from the antipasti , pasta, meat dishes , and dessert were superb! It was an Italian tasting menu with each guest receiving a variety of menu items. If you have a large group, talk to Mario in advance, and he will give you a memorable dining experience. If you just want a nice authentic Italian dinner, this is the place also. We have eaten there many times and each time the food was outstanding.
(5)
Roy A.

Cozy friendly place where the owners are Italian and treat you like famiglia! Excellent lingune with pesto. Pastas are very fresh. Emphasis on sea food , but a number of meat dishes to choose from including oso bucco. Nice selection of Italian wines by the glass.
(4)
Molly M.

I used to come to CafÃ© Macaroni often and we even brought our twins when they were babies. Then we got busy with life and didn't come into the city often. Last night I was back in San Francisco with my daughters Ages 10 & 20 and we found ourselves back at CafÃ© Macaroni. It's the tiniest restaurant and I was afraid they wouldn't be able to seat us but we lucked out and scored a little window seat in the corner. The owner and his wife are so genial and accommodating, it's truly like you are in a small Italian restaurant in southern Italy. I was NOT disappointed, the girls each had the baked pasta and I had the Linguine di mare. Awesome, so fresh and the pasta cam out hot and perfectly al dente. There was not a speck of garlic left on our plates! If you go (and you should) make reservations or plan to be patient because this is a very small restaurant but worth the close quarters.
(5)
Chaz L.

Had the seafood risotto and it was amazing! Great place for causal dining and great food with great friendly service!!
(5)
Dave C.

Grazie Yelp community! I was in SF for a conference. After a long day my friend and I are looking for something close to the hotel...that is not in the hotel. One Yelp search later I see the Caffe Macaroni. Let's give it a try! We arrive and the owner is at the door to greet us. I see the front of the restaurant has about 6 tables close together (which reminds me of cafÃ©s in Europe.) I wonder what the rest of the place looks like and it seems this IS the entire restaurant. If you're looking for intimate privacy while you dine, keep walking. The wait staff consists of two guys - who are personable and super funny. It also adds to the ambiance that they speak to each other in Italian. If it's just schtick they're pulling it off well. Then there's the food...which was amazing. My friend had the tortellini and I had a pappardelle bolognese. Both were outstanding. Mine came with a good amount of fresh ricotta on top. It was filling, but not so much that we passed on dessert. We decided to split a tiramisu and I had an espresso to go with it. Damn that was good tiramisu! And the espresso was made the way it was supposed to be made. Smooth and just slightly bitter. One of the friendly waiters stopped by mid-dessert and gave us each a small fruit and whipped cream thing. I can't possibly eat any more...but I push on! Overall the service, ambiance, and food led to an outstanding dining experience. Something worth going out of the way for.
(5)
Dennis N.

San Francisco at it's finest! Food is great, fun atmosphere, friendly waiters inspired by the friendly owners Stephanie and Mario.. I work at Montgomery and Sutter and it's nice to be able to get away from the financial district crowd for lunch. So much less hectic and more fun than Perbacco or the other places in the financial district. Cheesy Italian-American music (think Dean Martin "That's Amore!") I had the linguine de Mare. Great, and about twice the size the other people got on Valentines Day . It's on my regular lunch list.
(5)
Alyssa N.

This place is amazing!! They will make whatever you ask for (within reason) so don't be deterred by what seems to be a small menu. There's 10+ specials that you find out when you get there, all sound delicious- and you know everything is fresh. I had an amazing meal. Calamari is a must. Even though it's not fried, the flavor is amazing and savory and the texture just right. For dinner I got one of the specials which was fresh lobster and shrimp stuffed ravioli. I asked him to make it with cream sauce instead of the tomato herb sauce it came with. Amazing!
(5)
Bob C.

Like walking into a Italian family house for Sunday Dinner.
(4)
Jessica L.

Tiny little no-frills place with impeccable food that tastes homemade. Have been walking by it for months. So glad I finally tried it.
(5)
Jack C.

So awesome. Love the owners and the staff. Wish I could come back every week!!!!!!!!! Food excellent, staff is the closest to Italy that I have seen on the states.
(5)
Sam S.

Came here at 10:00 p.m. and was told they were closed. Sign says 11:00 p.m. What a joke.
(1)
Jessica S.

hidden gem in north beach, very authentic (at least it felt like, i've never been to italy full disclosure) and the staff has such a thick accent sometime you can't understand them (but again, in a good authentic way). split one of the pizzas for apps, MAKE SURE TO GET THE CHICKEN GNOCCHI FOR ENTREE, and if you are feeling naughty definitely get the tiramisu.
(5)
A'lan A.

If you are looking for some Italian food that squarely on the 'beat'en track in little Italy... then this super friendly is the spot. I'd personally recommend: Sea Urchin Pasta Chicken Scaloppini Salmon Carpiccio I cant get over how friendly and welcoming the staff of Caffe Macaroni was. We were truly served well. I enjoyed each aspect, the greeting, the specials ... and on and on. I'm normally so focused on the food experience that as long as I get good service ... I'm happy. But this was different. I truly enjoyed the way the owner talked about each of the specials. He would go into loving details describing the dishes we asked about. His accent was lovely. And the food was just as delicious. The prices were on the lower end of Italian food in the area ... which is a bonus. Enjoy
(5)
Vol T.

Came here with my partner based on 5 stars average Yelp review. I had high expectations. First of all this place is really small. 10 people can sit inside, and they have tables outside maybe for 10 more people. I read that they have an upstairs but did not see anyone going up there. We had reservations but that didn't seem to matter.. they sat us right away without us mentioning that we had reservations. The server was really nice but I don't know.. he seemed a little TOO Italian.. the accent was really out there, as if he was putting on a show. The menu was strange.. it had the same sections of both sides but different dishes listed. There was no wine menu and we asked for wine, he offered us Australian cab. Um we're in an Italian restaurant.. maybe offer us something Italian? We asked for chianti, he offered us a bottle for $25 (discount he says). Started out with the calamari.. which is not fried, and served with white beans.. I really liked it. I read about the spaghetti and meatballs but that was not on the menu. I asked for it and they made it for me! So that was nice. And it was delicious. My partner ordered the tortellini on the menu and that was also good. So yes the food was good! It was just everythign else that was a little strange. Like the counter and kitchen faced the dining area so the cooks would be watching us if they were not cooking. A little weird. The credit card reader broke down and everyone had to pay cash (I had to walk over to an ATM). There was something amateurish about the place. We ended up spending $100 with tip included and for that kind of money I expect a lot more. Oh and we did not get the wine discount. I don't know.. I felt like a dumb tourist afterwards. Which is exactly what I wanted to avoid at North Beach. So.. meh.
(3)
Serafin K.

I decided to try Caffe Macaroni after reading the Yelp reviews. Everything from appetizers, main corses and desserts were impressive! Mario took great care of my party and my friends and I left planning our next visit to Caffe Macaroni.
(4)
Jim O.

Hands down, the most consistent and best Italian food in the North Beach/Financial District area. Mario's experience and attention are unparalleled and leave nothing to be desired except for the ability to consume more than one entree at a time.
(5)
Sophie W.

This place was so intimate and fun! The food was a little on the salty side, but the service was amazing. I had no idea how to pronounce any of the foods on the menu, but our waiter was extremely nice about it. Also, there was endless bread, which is always one of the highlights of Italian restaurants, in my opinion.
(4)
Jolie S.

The ambiance here is great. It's a cute, charming restaurant and they play great background music. The food is hit or miss. The "focaccia" and pizza are just regular white bread with toppings - do not order these items. The pasta, on the other hand was delicious. Do not sit upstairs if you are tall because the ceiling is very low.
(3)
Edward P.

this is a very small place, however Mario and his crew deliver decent food. I had the parma prosciutto and mozzarella di bufala as appetizer-very good. Followed up with gnocchi and arrabiata sauce-good. I've had better, however it was a good meal.
(3)
Lauren J.

Service was amazing and friendly with a warm "Italian family" feel. Food was to die for- everything was fresh, sauces were super flavorful, and the wine selection was a decent size (especially for how small the restaurant is).
(5)
Fred C.

A wine group had a lunch today at Caffe Macroni. Fantastic!!! Mario cooked a 7 or 8 course custom lunch for us to match the wines we brought. Every course was perfect.
(5)
Steve K.

This is my favorite neighborhood restaurant. The owner and his team are phenomenal. The food is what you want when you go eat Italian...the pasta is hand-made, the seafood is fresh, and there tons of daily specials. Go with the black squid ink seafood pasta. Only downside is the restaurant is tiny, but you can always go upstairs or sit outside.
(5)
Alyssa B.

I made a last minute Valentine's Day reservation here... and probably should have just stayed in and ordered pizza. My boyfriend (who is 6'3) was too tall for the upstairs seating where they sat us after waiting for 30 minutes. The service was terrible, I had to ask the waiter 3 times for water and another 3 times to open the bottle of wine that we ordered. The food was also nothing special. Maybe it was just because they were busy, but I will not be dining here again.
(2)
Lucia G.

Great lunch at Cafe Macaroni! I loved the grilled calamari. I also really enjoyed the fennel pomegranate arugula salad. Mario the owner is really hospitable. The staff is friendly and welcoming. Its an authentic Italian experience. The restaurant has a great vibe, really lively. It's a cosy intimate atmosphere, It's a gem in North Beach!
(5)
Julie G.

First time in SF. Found caffe macaroni on yelp. We are well seasoned travelers and diners. This is a fabulous spot for food and ambience!
(5)
Rebecca H.

is all I can say! The owner and staff make you feel so welcome! The food was outstanding! A must when you come into the city!
(4)
Kristen R.

The owner greeted me at the door like I was a long lost friend coming to lunch. The waiter joked with us and again made us feel very welcome The seafood black pasta special was absolutely amazing. It came in a bowl with a big bucket over it. Once the bucket was removed, I was surrounded by the smell of seafood and garlic. Large mussels, clams, and shrimp were piled on top of the linguine squid-ink pasta. It was a lot of food for me at lunch, but I couldn't stop eating it until the plate was clean.
(5)
Jackie M.

A hidden gem in Little Italy. Amazing food. On first glance, it looks tiny, but there is a second floor. Cute place, owner is Italian, food is DELICOUS. Taste: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Value for Money: 4/5 Would I come again: Yes
(5)
Corey B.

Oh 20-minute-ago-self. Why did you eat all that bread and garlicky olive oil? We needed that space for this marvelous Chicken Scallopini with Gorgonzola Gnocchi, and now our wife is offering us more of her delicious Squid Ink Linguine Di Mare... A curse of lethargy upon you 20-minute-ago self, and may your absurdly overstuffed belly serve as a lesson to all who follow!
(5)
J. K.

Fun place. Cozy seating. Waiter was hilarious. Food was very good. Every review raves about their squid ink pasta which is loaded with shellfish, small octopus and squid. Definitely call ahead if going with a group larger than 4, otherwise prepare to wait.
(4)
Geoff G.

The food, the ambiance, the owner (Mario) and his wonderful team are the real deal. Oh yes, this place is so Italiano! The red vinyl long bench, the bright red stilettos hanging on the wall and the dangling garlic garlands in the front windows will grab you the instant you step foot into this gem of a place located in North Beach. Inside this warm and charming caffe, rest assured the kitchen will whip up some of the best culinary delights imported from Italy. Listen to Dino belt out some Italian favorites to set you in the right mood.... "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie That's amore When the world seems to shine like you're had too much wine That's amore" So could Pavarotti and Bocelli! Mario quickly showed us to our table and served us a complimentary basket of warm crusty bread with a side of chopped garlic and olive oil as a tasty spread while we browsed the menu. A great way to start as an antipasto was CM's own Pan Pumarol ($6.75). This was a bruschetta-like grilled focaccia bread and came in four oversized slices. The bread was coated with garlic and topped with tomatoes, oregano, olive oil, salt and pepper. Fresh garlic gave the bread a strong, pungent and nutty flavor. The grilling gave the bread the perfect crunch. Delizioso! Next was another dish which honest to God, I've never had before prepared this way. It was labeled in the menu as Fasul E'Calamari ($13.00). This was fresh Monterey calamari served in a light tasty broth with cannelloni beans, wild arugula and chopped tomato. Compliments to the chef for not overcooking the calamari, as the calamari was soft and tender and so were the cannelloni beans. There was not quite enough liquid to drink as a soup but plenty that begged to be sopped up with focaccia. Highly recommended! The best dish tonight was unequivocally the Linguine Neri (Squid Ink) served with an assortment of Shell Fish ($21.75) like clams, mussels, calamari tentacles and a large shell-on shrimp. The full-bodied sauce as far as I can tell was a concoction of white wine, olive oil and garlic. What was interesting was the squid ink, a weird black colored ingredient that made the linguine look black, rich and briny. Contrary to common belief, while the black squid ink did add a subtle seafaring flavor, it was neither too salty nor briny. Instead, it paired well with the shellfish. I can say that if you love cioppino, you would love the flavors of squid ink linguine with shellfish. Mario, the owner, was the perfect host. He was loud, he was quirky and above all funny. It was quite a welcome change to hear only Italian spoken among his help with Mario (in a nice way) as their Godfather. He hails from Positano, Italy and makes no bones that he appreciates your patronage. Parking can be a challenge and it may be easier later in the evening when the cars are gone from the nearby FiDi. Grazie tanto!
(5)
Ena Y.

Came here for lunch on a weekday. Ordered a basic tomato basil evoo spaghetti. It was delicious. Usually I don't finish my entire plate but I cleaned up my plate this time! There was outside seating and limited seating available inside when I came at around 12pm. It is very small but cozy. The bread they served was a bit hard but the olive oil + garlic spread was excellent. The service was also great. I will probably come back.
(4)
Ophelia M.

Don't let the atmosphere and odd bedizenment fool you (frayed and scuffed ruby red stilettos hanging on the wall? what?!), this little hole in the wall is serving up some mean Italian eats. The sort of food that inexplicably reminds you, as you attempt to resist the urge to moan and pound your fist on the table (dining companions be damned), of Italy's rich artistic history. Michelangelo, Botticelli, Caravaggio... I mean, I'm not saying that my beautifully thinly carved chicken, delicately seasoned, then placed over a bed of gnocchi swimming in gorgonzola cream sauce was the culinary artistic equivalent of...say...the ceiling of the Sistine chapel or something--of course that would be hyperbole (barely, only ever so slightly, the teensiest bit, really--hyperbolic). I was dining in a large group (there were 7 of us). We literally stumbled into this place as we were in search of dinner somewhere that could accommodate our group without reservations. Caffe Macaroni sat us immediately. The service was prompt, lovely, and patient (given I ordered one thing, and then upon hearing another diners order which included the words "gnocchi" and "gorgonzola"--the cheese of the gods, my people!--changed my order). Side note of silliness? I could listen to the server with his thick Italian accent talk all night. He could literally read directly out of Pilgrim's Progress (one of the most boring books ever penned) and I would have been enchanted (I admitted it was silly). One final note: If you are in need of separate checks, let them know as you order as once the ticket is run, they were unwilling to rerun it and couldn't (or didn't know how) to run one ticket with multiple cards. A small thing--but something that is more convenient if you know going in! Get to it!
(5)
Wendy K.

Very cute restaurant with tiny store front, tiny kitchen, super friendly service, and great cooking! It was really cute, and you can talk to your next table because you're so close to each other. The reason for 3-star is for the freshness of seafood. We ordered a squid-ink seafood pasta, it was cooked super well with a gigantic prawn on top which was super tasty. However, the mussels and clams in that pasta weren't fresh. It's a pity because it was cooked well, with lots of flavor. The next table also order the same dish, and when their order came, I thought it smelled really funky - like some smelly cheese or stinky tofu. Not what I would expect in an Italian place. We also ordered some calamari with beans and that was super tasty. The tomato with mozzarella and basil was just OK, the tomatoes was quite tasteless. I think the problem is this small place tries to have a large menu, so not all the items can be kept at top quality. I would suggest the owners to only offer a small selection with fresh, good quality ingredients. You have great cooks, great location, and great serve staff, the only thing missing is better quality control.
(3)
robert s.

I had the pasta with sardines. I have to say this is majorly over hyped. The pasta was not fresh and the sardines were meh. The wait service was adequate. The garlic oil with bread was tasty but nothing memorable. This meal reminded me of tourist italian food - expensive and meh. Try the Trestle next door for a better quality/value meal. It's nouveau California.
(2)
Phillip T.

Had a great experience here. The food is all handmade, had a seafood stew with squid ink noodles, it was amazing! Tons of seafood, the squid was as tender as I have ever had, lots of clams, mussels, fish and shrimp. The wait staff is about as italian as it gets as well. Literally all the stereotypes of italian restaurant in the best regards. Definitely somewhere I would go again.
(5)
Sylvia L.

I really wanted to try the seafood linguine so I was a bit saddened when I didn't see it on the menu. I asked instead for the seafood risotto, but the waiter then recommended a "seafood linguine with black sauce"... so just a tip: they make it even if it's not rotated on the menu :D. Seafood linguine was amazing. Usually you get only a bit of seafood and a huge portion of pasta - but this was almost a 1:1 ratio. Really generous on the seafood (which was fantastic). My husband had the ravioli and I liked it, but the seafood linguini was definitely the standout of the two. Oh and the BREAD and the sauce. You're hit instantly with the mouthwatering, pungent aroma of garlic when they bring out the sauce but it's addictive. We ended up drizzling it over the buffalo mozzarella that at we got (very light and fresh tasting). Sad that I didn't have enough room for the Tiramisu dessert, but... next time! Ambiance notes: Waiter (or owner?) was hilarious and so charismatic.
(4)
Katie O.

Came here with a family of four and barely fit into the booths. Small and personal, but the staff makes you feel like you're at home. Penne was delicious, but every dish we got was different and fantastic in its own way. Dinner started with wonderful bread and olive oil to dip. Make sure to get the artichoke if you are a fan of it (it was the best I've ever had). I've been to Italy, and the pasta tastes the same if not better. Would recommend to anyone visiting San Fran.
(5)
Magda M.

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in all of SF! While north beach is full of them, few feel so personal and familial and authentic as this place. The service is super friendly and all the staff is just very welcoming and warm. I always leave with a smile with just the service alone... Then, there's the food- it's simply excellent. And what I mean is that I've gotten what I would consider to be dishes with simpler ingredients and somehow they all taste super super wonderful. I am typically someone that likes to get dishes and meals that are really different and unique, but I don't apply this rule to Caffe Macaroni. Definitely try this place. You won't be upset!... Just watch yourself going up and down the stairs... lowwww ceiling upstairs- but quite a unique dining experience :)
(5)
ingrid s.

This is probably the best "real" Home made Italian restaurant I have ever been to. Small cafe in a corner, few tables on the second floor but the service is OUTSTANDING, the food is full of flavors and freshness. It is now my favorite Italian and I definitely be coming back here regularly. We had the cannelloni( awesome), the calamari and mozzarella as fresh and yummy as you could dream of. For dessert the limoncello cake.... Phenomenal!!
(5)
Yin W.

The black linguine is such a small dish, not enough for my lunch, and tastes plain. Can't believe it is 4.5 star in yelp. And the price tag is definitely more than just "$$". I had got better linguine with double the amount and better flavor at the same price in time squre in Manhattan. But the waitor is very nice. And the street view is good.
(3)
Rick B.

Spring Break 2015 in CA...Oh my...this winner will take some explaining. On the corner of Jackson Street and Columbus Avenue on the border of the Financial and Chinatown districts sits this tiny little cafÃ© that puts out big food. The owner used to own a place called The Purple Onion across the street ... a joint where a young Bob Dylan among others got a start performing. The owner sold the building when prices got too high to ignore and moved his downsized Italian restaurant to this little closet on the opposite corner. CafÃ© Macaroni has but five little two-person tables right in the window on the first floor along with its open kitchen...yes that is seating for 10; upstairs under an exceptionally low ceiling there are maybe 15 additional seats - so this restaurant weighs in with seating for roughly 25. Now to the food...for our table of five that took up most of the first floor. For starters we shared two appetizers: Bufala mozzarella (roughly a third of a cup of fresh mozzarella with thin slices of prosciutto)...and their version of bruschetta (nice thick slices of soft Italian bread spread with a spicy olive tapenade and just a hint of tomato rather than a layer of chopped tomato). The main courses here start with a short menu of regular items that is supplemented with a nice array of daily specials...we had two of the specials. I had the pork belly (special) cooked in fennel (luscious pork belly sliced thin like bacon and served with the thin fennel slices it was simmered with)...one of our party had the spaghetti and meatballs (two large meat balls and very nice al dente noodles)...another had the special pollo giorno with potato gnocchi (the chicken was lovely but the gnocchi melted in your mouth)...another had the cannelloni stuffed with two cheeses in a light tomato sauce (mozzarella and ricotta and wonderful)...and the last had a pasta amiscat amatrice (delightful dish of pasta flavored with pancetta and pecorino cheese). We complemented dinner with a bottle of chianti and finished with tiramisu...how very Italian. The hit of the dinner were the two servers...both very Italian with thick accents. But you could understand their speech just enough if you paid attention to their hand gestures which accompanied everything they did. When we arrived they pretended to reel us in like fish, and they continued to entertain for the whole evening. They are a real draw for this place as they make dinner a memorable event. This place was highly recommended in YELP reviews and I agree. The little restaurant is noisy and the seating is close, but it is a delightful dinner place that can be romantic or just plain fun. Give it a try.
(5)
Sara V.

Amazing amazing amazing. I've literally never been happier, the food here is amazing. The waiters and chefs are the nicest people and it's the cutest family run restaurant. I feel like I'm in Italy when I eat here. Definitely go!
(5)
e. h.

holy smokes this place is amazing. hands down the best pasta I've ever had.. and I'm not one to turn down a nice big bowl of carbs. from the kitchen to the table, the pasta was fresher than will smith.
(5)
Dwigt K. S.

4.5 stars. So, yeah. This place is tiny as shit, the ceilings are low, and you can hear others' conversations if you're sitting upstairs. But the food is phenomenal. Like, don't-even-talk-to-me-when-I'm-eating phenomenal. Eating here is like eating in Italy, fo real. All of the dishes are simple, but fresh and made with love. Well, I think so. With the exception of the mussels/clams. I had their seafood linguine and while it was unbelievably delicious, the shellfish didn't seem quite as fresh. The noodles and sauce were all made in-house (or at least tasted that way). Still very good, nonetheless. And the two other dishes I tried (that I can no longer remember) were very nice as well. We also ordered the bruschetta with burrata, which tastes like heaven and like the cow whose milk it's made from was milked a couple hours prior. Thank you baby Jesus and miss cow. My dinnermates had a couple of cocktails. They said their drinks were a bit too sweet. We finished off with tiramisu, which I dare say, is better than the tiramisu at Stella's. Sacrilege, I know. I'm still going to stop at Stella's every time I'm in the neighborhood though. Anyway, I digress. My point is--their appetizers, entrees, and desserts are good, okay? The waitstaff is also super friendly, enthusiastic, and efficient. I'm coming back here soon. And when I do, don't talk to me.
(5)
Andrea W.

My family had a fabulous dinner here last night. Michaele made our time with them thoroughly fun and gave us lots of attention. The food and funky red second story dining area were great!
(5)
Y A.

Came here for lunch with my husband, mum and baby - we sat outside and were pleasantly surprised. The service was attentive and friendly and the owner was there and said hi. It's a lovely friendly place and the food is great - simple, delicious Italian. We had the calamari appetizer which was cooked with tomato, rocket and beans - it was fresh, perfectly cooked, simple and tasty. My husband had the spaghetti with sardines and chilli which was yummy and my mum had the shellfish linguine which she enjoyed. I had a simple pasta with pesto which was garlicky and delicious. All our pasta was perfectly cooked al dente and we washed it down with a glass of prosecco - perfect for a quick simple sunny lunch outdoors.
(4)
Lesley F.

This dinner was perfect! I wanted to get there early to make sure we could get seated. We were greeted and seated quickly at a very nice corner table. This restaurant is tiny but not short on character! We had our bread and drinks within minutes. We ordered caprese salad. The mozzarella was perfect with the tomatoes, basil and olive oil. I ordered the seafood risotto , it was perfect. Risotto can be a challenging thing and sometimes it comes out stick but this was just right and full of clams, mussels, calamari and delectable fish pieces. I tasted my husbands gnocchi and chicken scallopini. It was so very good! We shared tiramisu afterwards and I think it was the best I've ever had . Great dinner!! Cannot wait to return!
(5)
Mark S.

If you know it's going to be a warm evening in San Francisco, do yourself a favor and make a reservation to sit outside at Caffe Macaroni. You'll feel like you've found a little slice of Italy. We had a delicious burrata salad, sole, and a ravioli. Everything was superb. The portion sizes are generous, too. For dessert we shared a fantastic tarmisu and espresso. The service is funny, friendly, and on top of everything.
(4)
E C.

As a New Yorker who has been to Italy many times, I am spoiled when it comes to Italian food. But I must say that Caffe Macaroni serves up authentic, no frills, simple and delicious Italian fare in its tiny little restaurant. It really did feel like I was eating in Italy. We had the squid ink linguine with shellfish, sautÃ©ed squid with white beans, spaghetti with fresh tomatoes, baked penne, and canolis. Everything was absolutely delicious and well executed. The portions were not big but we did not leave hungry. The price seemed a bit high but I am used to NYC prices so it didn't bother me. Reservations recommended!
(5)
Christopher C.

Mario was an absolute delight. Regardless of being the owner of the establishment he took the time to speak to my date and I about the menu. He also told us about himself, his wife Stephanie, and his family which gave me a very nostalgic feeling of home. Atmosphere is important when going out and the amount of attention & care really made me want to come back Now in regards to the food I order the calamari, pork belly, baby octopus, squid ink, and spaghetti marinara. Everything was absolutely on point! The pork was juicy even though it could have easily been dry if left to cook for a minute more, the seafood tasted amazingly fresh, and the pasta was impeccable. My favorite was definitely the baby octopus! Oh and you can bring your own wine bottle!!!
(5)
Joe R.

Incredible food. Super local. The owner says hello to everyone who walks or drives by. Sat outside and the food is amazing.
(5)
John D.

Cute Italian restaurant at the crossing between Columbus Ave and Jackson St. There are only 15 seats inside and 15 additional outside, make sure to book if you come at night. We waited only 10min to be served our lunch and our food was OK- except for the Tiramisu (really great!). We were disappointed to see that pasta were not homemade. and that portions were really small. We don't eat a lot however these almost looked like Kids menu portions. Prices on another hand were quite high (and their online menu does not mention them): - $10 for small Ciabatta sandwiches - $15-18 for basic pasta - $25+ for pasta w/ meat or seafood - $5.95 for a Tiramisu (really worth it!) At the end of the day, hard to leave happy when you paid $22 ($17 + Tip + Tax) for a basic rigatoni plate with tomato sauce and peppers.
(3)
Johnny W.

Came here several weeks back, with my coworker ordering some simple spaghetti dish with garlic, while I went with one of their daily specials, the tagliatelle carbonara with eggplant. And, as many a place often does, they served bread as an appetizer. What Caffe Macaroni does differently though is that the olive oil they serve up is chock full of actual slices of garlic, which adds for some great flavor. The carbonara I ordered was not quite what I expected, thinking it was something more akin to the one you can get at Chez Maman. Still, enjoyable, though I'm admittedly not a huge fan of al dente style noodles. And, having tried a bite of my coworker's spaghetti, I can say that was quite tasty, despite being so simple. The chili flakes added after were definitely key. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Another fairly small space, but I'd say about half their seating is accessible, albeit a bit cramped. Bathroom - Didn't check them out.
(3)
Tanya W.

Caffe Macaroni is the kind of Italian restaurant you always dreamed about, but never believe existed. Red vinyl seats, tight quarters, red stripper heals above your head, a nice Italian man that greets you before you even walk in... yeah, they have it all. After rallying up some of the Community Ambassadors, we ventured through the area in search of a highly-rated restaurant that would be able to sit us on the drop of a dime. CM was only a few blocks from where we were staying and The Big Storm of 2014 hadn't started yet so walking was still an option. I was gabbing away so when an enthusiastic man with a heavy Italian accent and friendly smile invite us into Caffe Macaroni, I just assumed we got tired of walking and were going in... little did I know this spot had actually been preselected by a couple of the other Ambassadors. CM does have an almost perfect rating and I can see why. I love a business that's not scared to invite people in from off the streets when they have some tables open or are having a slow night. Our group was seven or eight-ish big so it's worth noting CM is hella small. We were seated downstairs and combined almost all of the two seat tables they had to accommodate our group. The mirrors on the back wall did help to open up the space. It turned out they do have space upstairs, but I'm not entirely sure how much so if you have any more than five people in your group I'd say call ahead. No macaroni... oh the irony. Somehow that made me love the name more. I settled on the Penne All Amatriciana (which I had to verify the pronunciation with the server). This place is Italian through and through. It would've taken me a bit to recite the menu aloud. We were brought bread and olive oil with balsamic vinaigrette during our wait and I probably ate more than my share. Before we knew it, our food had arrived. My penne was cooked perfectly and the sauce was impeccable. And the pancetta... the pancetta! Yes, just do this! I think I stole off of everyone's plate and everything was delicious. The only downfall of the night was the bill. Not the price, but when we asked for the checks we were given one for our group. And after it was brought we immediately let them know the bill needed to be separate. To which we found out couldn't be done. I've worked with a ton of different credit card machines... you can always cancel a check and start over... always. And they wouldn't allow us to use multiple cards (which that I understand). The whole paying escapade put a little damper on the night, but all in all I loved CM and I'm sure next time I'm in the area I'll be making a stop.
(4)
Matt B.

My fiancÃ©e loves Italian and we were in town for a romantic weekend getaway, so we found Caffe Macaroni on Yelp. We showed up on a Saturday night, and after a short wait punctuated by humorous conversation with the employees, we were seated on one edge of a a big hemispheric table upstairs. I ordered a pizzaccia (pizza on focaccia) with a Peroni and my fiancÃ©e had spaghetti and meatballs with a white wine sangria. We both had the lentil soup to start, and we finished with the tiramisu and cannoli. Everything was delicious and the upstairs was a cozy area to sit (but don't stand too quickly with the low ceilings!). At some point while we ate, another couple was seated at the other end of the same table, so we started chatting. He had just flown back from Intel, so they were having their own romantic city getaway before driving home. They also enjoyed their meals (squid ink pasta and I don't remember what else), so everyone was very happy with the place. Once we had all finished, we waited a bit for our checks, and eventually the other couple said their goodbyes and got up to leave, saying they'd just pay downstairs. When we got our check later, it just had a blank slip inside. The other couple had picked up our check! And we have no way to thank them. Well, thank you Caffe Macaroni and thank you mysterious, generous couple! We had a great time, great food, and great conversation - all with a surprise twist. Now we'll just have to pay it forward.
(5)
Steven S.

We wanted to love this place - as many of the reviewers have but we just couldn't. The staff, although charming were disorganized and inattentive. We were seated upstairs which is cramped with low ceilings at the back table which, at best, should seat 3 and we were a party of 5. We waited 20 minutes at the table before anyone spoke with us. Specials were shouted from the stairs across 3 tables. Didn't even hear them. Drink orders were made. The waiter brought our red wine unopened and there it sat for another 10 minutes before he returned with 2 glasses - we asked for 3. more time passed.... It was finally opened and served in white wine glasses. Water took even longer. The late bread was stale and cold but the olive oil/garlic was ok. Entrees were mediocre. Chicken scallopini well, wasn't even scallopini, it came in a lumpy cheesy sauce smothering an overcooked tough chicken. Too hungry to send it back. Seafood pasta smelled fishy. Pizza was more bread that pizza but tasted pretty good. The pesto was decent. One of the most disappointing meals we've ever had in North Beach.
(2)
Clarissa B.

The food is so good that it motivated me to post my first yelp review to share about it. I walk past this restaurant everyday and notice there are always diners inside. today the wait stuff saw me walking by and in true Italian fashion hailed me in. It was 6pm ( 45min before I wrote this review) so they were all perky and friendly. Only a few small tables inside, very cozy. Seats had crumbs on them and tables a bit sticky.. I decided to get a takeaway. Staff were attentive and kind. It was a nice atmosphere in a small space watching the Italian waiters communicate with the Spanish speaking helpers. Lotsa banter and smiles in loud voices. Biggest drawback for me is no wifi- no one knew the password. Back home when I opened the box I was surprised my pizza is rectangular. It's the fravecat. First bite into it transports you back Italy - very authentic flavors, fresh cheeses and rocca leaves. The crust was toasted perfect, not too hard on the outside. Really yummy. I notice tiramisu on the menu. I will go back for sure to try that soon. *Didn't read previous reviews before trying, but I can understand why it is so highly rated.
(4)
Beth D.

One of my all-time-favorite restaurants in San Francisco! It's small and intimate...like you would find in Italy. Caffe Macaroni has authentic Italian food (Napolitano-style). Let Mario, the owner, recommend a bottle of wine. All of the wines are affordable and you won't be disappointed with his recommendation. Everything on the menu is excellent. My personal fave is the chicken scallopini gnocchi (seriously!)
(5)
Irina Z.

This place is so good. The squid ink pasta with shellfish is my favorite! This is probably the best Italian food I've had in San Francisco. Every single pasta dish our group ordered was really good. I especially liked my boyfriend's gnnochi. It was in a really good creamy sauce. We also got Burrata and foccacia for appetizers and it was perfect. I especially like the all italian staff; our waiter was hilarious, when we could understand what it was that he was saying haha. It's a very small restaurant so groups are not ideal.
(5)
Shelly P.

Met Friends for dinner. Started with the soup of the day which was lentil; and it was very good. Followed by a Caesar salad which was also good. Our table (5 people) shared the spaghetti with tomato sauce, a couple orders of the cheese ravioli, rib eye steak, mozzarella cheese and prosciutto. The pasta dishes were delicious. The mozzarella cheese was also good. But the steak was very fatty and we ordered it medium but they cooked it rare. There was hardly any pieces ithat were good enough to eat. The Prosciutto was not fresh and it was very oily. The waiter was nice but forgot to bring water to the table which we reminded him three times. And once we finished the small glasses of water we weren't able to get his attention to bring more. The restaurant is very small and we were seated upstairs which has very low ceilings; not very comfortable.
(3)
K R.

Sardines spaghetti. One of a kind. Highly recommended. Our waiter Michael gave me free Italian lessons.
(5)
Alice W.

There aren't that many places like this left in North Beach and it's a shame. I came here for lunch with a friend and we both really liked the food and atmosphere at Caffe Macaroni. There were tons of locals, old timers that seem like they come here daily to read the paper, a chat with the friendly chef and of course, a delicious lunch. I've seen it on the bus going to work and wanted to give it a try. The place is very cozy and small so not a good place for large parties. The waiter and chef are so great -- real Italians and super friendly. Unlike other places, they offer free bread and this super yummy roasted garlic dipping oil with chili flakes. We opted for the meat and cheese platter and the spaghetti meatball and squid ink pasta specials to share. The meatballs were moist and flavorful, the pasta wasn't swimming sauce. The sauce was light with a nice tang, but not overpowering. There was a good amount of seafood in the squid ink pasta, even a whole langostine. The seafood was slightly overcooked, though. The ink pasta tasted like it was freshly made. We finished our meal with a small slice of spaghetti cake. Yup, you heard it right, it's made with leftover pasta. I loved the texture of it and it's not too sweet. Should definitely give it a try if you're not too stuff.
(5)
Ryan P.

People say this is a small neighborhood gem - they aren't kidding. There are like 4 tables inside, a few more upstairs, and a couple outside. It reminded my wife and I of being in Italy - old music, the decor, and a constant stream of Italian being yelled/spoken. The owner, Mario, is very involved in every part of the experience and has a good amount of specials. We started with a margarita pizza - which was good but was more on bread than I expected. I got the black linguine seafood pasta which was great. A ton of seafood and the black linguine was cooked perfectly. She had ravioli which she liked. The garlicky-spiced olive oil and bread was tremendous... better not plan on making out after a bit of this. Lastly, the desserts - wow. The tiramisu is outstanding and the cannolis were equally delicious. If come here often if I lived in San Francisco.
(5)
Kimo L.

had some linguine and the di mare thing. it was great. had a great bottle of vino too
(5)
Adrienne G.

The anchovies were soooo good. The fresh made pasta and sauce flawless. Such a cute little European hideaway. Not to be missed.
(4)
Amber S.

Once a week, I find myself indulging at Caffe Macaroni. It is a true italian gem. Chef Mario and his team are so warm and friendly, I always leave the restaurant happy and buzzed from their delicious Napoli white wine "Falanghina" :D My favorite starters are: * Porchetta with braised fennel (when available) Absolutely delicious.. Just like how they do it in Rome! * Burrata cheese - pair this with their tomato focaccia bread * Clams & Mussels Do not miss: * Breaded Sardine spaghetti * Baby Octopus spaghetti * Lamb ragout pappardelle with ricotta (when available) They also do a wonderful Branzino which Chef Mario fillets table side! If you have a sweet tooth, Don't forget their Ricotta barley cake and pair it with their super yum panna cotta!
(5)
M P.

We arrived early and were treated to the most attentive service. Great food! I had the black pasta with muscles, calms and shrimp. Yum!
(5)
Anthony A.

My family had booked a week-long getaway in SF and I was driving up with my gf. We decided to take the scenic route - you know, the 101 to the 1 at Morro Bay, riding the coast up for 123 miles to Monterey before cutting back over to the 101 - and it must have taken us a solid 11 hours or so, what with stops for food and bathroom breaks and leg stretching and all. It was a long haul, worth it, but very time consuming. And draining. What the hell does any of that have to do with Italian food? Because my parents, brother, cousin and his fiance were all waiting here for us, so we literally went from a half-day's drive straight into a seat here. Thankfully, Mario and his band of servers were so ebullient it got me back on my game in no time. My dad eats here whenever he's in the city, and being a fellow Italian he and Mario have become good friends, so our experience may have been a little more personal than most but that isn't to say anyone walking in off the street wouldn't be treated just as well. We began with wine. What else? Mario brought out a trio of appetizers for the table to munch on, including calamari, black mussels, and burrata cheese. I'm a big seafood eater and all of this was absolutely exquisite. Lots of bold flavoring and complementary flavors. But all this was merely a warm-up to the main course. I never even looked at a menu. Mario ran down the night's specials and mentioned a black pasta dish with mussels, fish, scallops... basically all the things I wanted to eat at that moment in time in a bowl together. Black pasta is fantastic, by the way. Definitely get some if you see it offered. Not saying it'll blow your mind or anything, just that it's different enough to warrant trying. Every morsel of sea-dwelling creature contained within this large bowl of beauty was divine. Mario and his guys know how to do amazing traditional Italian and this dish exemplified what that's all about. A couple desserts and an espresso later, I needed to be wheeled out on a gurney. There isn't a single complaint to be filed here. Not only was the food stupendous but Mario and his team were all personable and attentive.
(5)
Christina P.

WOW WOW WOW! This place really is as good as it gets. Got into town and went straight here to meet with the family. Ordered 3 appetizers, all so delicious! I'm not even sure what we ordered, pretty much just told Mario to bring us things. I had the spaghetti and meatballs, I just kept it original since I was overwhelmed by so many delicious options and specials. Such big tasty meatballs. I also tried bites of everyone else's food... that's a totally normal thing for girls to do right?? the squid ink pasta was by far my favorite of everyone's food.
(5)
Eve D.

If I lived close to this place I would gain 50 lbs, simple as that. This place adjusted my boyfriends palate so much for the next week nothing else "sounded good" to eat. He missed the cuisine here. 5 stars.
(5)
samuel a.

I was squeezed in upstairs, and on a warm night, when I had a pounding headache - to be placed in a small space, surrounded by people, in a really warm room ... well it didn't exactly set the "mood..." I"m 5'10" and if I was an inch taller my head would have hit the ceiling. I'm a sucker for anything spaghetti and meatballs and it was great here. The seafood risotto was solid, and the cesar salad was substandard, as well as the bread that comes out. I have no doubt that on the same night if I was sitting on the street in front of the restaurant that I would have had a much better, and comfortable experience.
(3)
Aleece G.

CaffÃ¨ Macaroni oozes charm and authenticity. The waiters were fun and friendly, and I had a blast practicing my Italian with them. We ordered 5 dishes and split them: panzanella (bread) salad, calamari with beans, seafood with squid ink linguine, cod with peppers and potatoes, and a delicious rum cake for dessert. Everything was fresh and absolutely delicious -- even the coffee. The digestif on the house was a sweet way to end the evening. Thanks to Mario and his wonderful team, CaffÃ¨ Macaroni has become a San Francisco favorite. Grazie!
(5)
Michelle J.

My boyfriend and I dined here for the first time during the Chinese New Year parade. Despite the chaos of the festivities going on outside, the staff were professional, courteous, friendly, and attentive. The food was absolutely divine. Fresh bread was served with an olive oil dipping sauce that was infused with chunks of garlic and chili pepper. We shared an order of fasul e' calamari, fresh calamari in a tasty broth with cannelloni beans, greens, and tomato. The caprese salad was fresh and delicious. My boyfriend enjoyed squid ink linguine with baby octopus while I had the risotto pescatore. Both dishes were absolutely smothered in seafood. They did not skimp. Every bite was filled with seafood deliciousness. We ended our meal with cannoli, espressos, and a couple shots of limoncello (I think it was limoncello, they just appeared at our table). Thanks, Mrs. Macaroni! ;-) But I can't say enough good things about the service. Even though it was our first time dining here, we were immediately made to feel like we were part of the family. It was crazy with the parade going on right outside the door, it was busy, it was crowded, it was delicious, and it was fun. I had a smile on my face the entire meal. Caffe Macaroni is our new favorite Italian restaurant and we intend to return here again and again.
(5)
Fabio V.

Mario the owner is super nice. I went there with my my family the pasta was outstanding the Alici marinate da paura!! I'll go back every time I'll be in town from LA:)
(5)
Scott C.

Friendly, attentive, accommodating staff. Avoid the elk. Stick with seafood if you can. Get the spaghetti cake. Have fun! Yoonjung says her black pasta with seafood was the best pasta of any kind she's had in years. Liana desired a salmon salad that was not on the menu ... So they made it for her. She was delighted with the results. John raved about his chicken parmigiana. I found my elk risotto just ok. I never had elk before and expected more flavor from the meat. Tasted too much like a bland cut of beef cooked a tad too long to me. Could've been worse. Could've tasted like chicken:-) I love my risotto al dente, but this was undercooked rice - and not arborio or another grain that absorbs liquid delightfully either. The sauce was far too salty to taste any other flavors that might have been there. The mushrooms were thus negligible. In a word: disappointing. I bet, though, that if I had complained, the owner who waited on us would've fixed the problem with an alternate dish quickly. My glass of $8 Montepulciano was worth about $4. The bottle sells for less than $8 at Trader Joes. My espresso was just ok. The cannoli was not quite forgettable -- but I wish we could forget the stale shells and bland cream with Hershey's chocolate sauce dribbled on top. We all loved the spaghetti cake for dessert. As good as it's simple mix of egg, sugar, olive oil and pasta is the owner's description. "What's spaghetti cake?" asked the diners next to us. His reply: "That's a cake made a from a spaghetti." And made well, I'd add. He later explained that they usually make the dish from capellini, but had run out. That would likely be the dessert to order no matter which pasta remained in the larder. Adorably small space plus a few tables on the sidewalk.
(4)
Manish B.

The staff was extremely rude and the food was cold! Went with a bunch of friends, all were disappointed !
(1)
John C.

I would give it 5 except for my wife's pasta and mine were undercooked. Kinda ruined it but the taste of the food was impeccable. Service was top notch, very friendly, very hip. The place is very small I think it had 4-two person tables inside and a few tables outside. Check out our picks to see what we ate.
(4)
Jason E.

Excellent food and great service provided by Mario. Lots of fresh items that change daily - ask for the specials that aren't on the menu.
(5)
T K.

I adore this restaurant. The food is always amazing and the wine and desserts are to die for. It's the perfect bookend to a day exploring North Beach. The only caveat is that it can get quite crowded and the waits can get long. The last time I brought one friend here we ended up sitting between two groups -- which was perfect as we all ended up sharing stories and dessert -- but if you're an introvert who wants a quiet meal, you might not love it. As someone who likes to eat communally, this is perfect. I wouldn't bring kids to dinner, and I wouldn't go here with more than 4 people but this is perfect for a fun date or friend-date if you want some flat awesome Italian food. Try the anchovies!
(4)
Jessica K.

Updated review: After having dinner at Caffe Macaroni on 5/23, everyone in our dining party got food poisoning within a few hours. Must be the mussels that didn't taste as fresh... Not returning ever.
(1)
Eric C.

Seafood fettuccine with squid ink was delicious. Fresh seafood with delicious tasting broth.
(5)
Nicole S.

This place was the best part of my thanksgiving weekend trip to San Francisco. Everything we ordered was amazing. The place is a little small but that is part of its charm. we were seated upstairs and felt like we were in a secret room tucked away nice cozy from the cold rain outside. I ordered the pork belly and the bf order the gnocchi with gorganzola sauce. My meal was delicious but words can't explain how truly amazing his was. when we switched plates I didn't want to give his back. If you live in San Francisco or are just visiting I strongly recommend this place.
(5)
Jessica P.

Service was alright. But the food was horrendous for the price you pay. The ravioli pasta I got tasted as if it were store bought frozen ravioli and had almost no sauce on it. With tip, it was over $20 for about 7 disgusting raviolis. Please spare yourself the disappointment of going here.
(1)
Jeff M.

Cozy small spot with an upstairs that's hidden. Pasta is definitely quality and well made. Ragu was delicious and cream tortellini with peas hit the spot. Servers are gregarious and entertaining Italians.
(4)
Richard L.

When arriving at this place it turned out to be a really small place and I just knew the food was going to be fantastic. It looks like a little hole in the wall, but probably accommodates about 30 guests tightly squeezed over 2 floors. If you're taller than 6 feet you have to bend down in order not to hit your head on the second floor ceiling. Service was very friendly and prompt. And as I thought the food was amazingly good. The black linguini with frutti di mare was very well prepared with just enough spicing and lots of flavor, not fishy. The prosciutto with buffalo mozzarella was great. Could have used a little balsamic glaze for extra spice. Above all, the prices are very reasonable. All in all a fantastic experience
(5)
Debby S.

Beware of the small inside seating. There are tables of 4,4,2 and couple of outside seating We had dinner there this evening. We arrived around 5:45pm and had no problem getting a table because it was early. We were starving after a long day of touring SF. We had our children and shared two appetizers; eggpllant with fresh mozzarella (cold dish) and squid with cannelloni beans (warm dish).. We each had an entree (salmon, fresh whole fish, linguine with shellfish, penne) and shared 4 desserts My husband and I each ordered a glass of wine then wind up getting a bottle. Food was fabulous! Waiters made us feel at home. We have been to Rome, Florence, Milan and many other Italian eateries in big cities such as New York. Loved the small cozy homey feel. Tab was high only because we ate like kings and queens! I didn't post any pictures but if you look at the photos already one Yelp, they are spot on.
(5)
Jenny G.

This is a long overdue review as I actually visited Caffe Macaroni for my birthday at the end of June. Shame on me. The restaurant itself is quite small and narrow, but they occupy two floors. We were seated upstairs by the window, with a view of the street below. One of my friends is fairly tall, so he had to hunch to be able to stand. Hilarious! We decided to start the night off with some sangria, which we quickly polished off. We decided to have the meal family style because we couldn't decide what to get. The one thing we knew we had to try was the burrata cheese. The burrata cheese dish at Drago in LA is one of my favorite things, so I had high hopes for this. This came in a quite generous portion and was amazing. We got two more pasta dishes - a seafood pasta and a pesto pasta. Both were delicious. As it was my birthday, the server came up with a slice of cake and a shot of their lemon liqueur. I was pleasantly surprised, especially when the server took a shot with us. The lemon liqueur was very refreshing; it reminded me of my vacation in Italy. The service is slow, but it forces you to enjoy your company. We tried to speed up the process to pay and leave, but the server joking told us that it was on its way. If you're looking to get in and out, this isn't the place for you. Caffe Macaroni is somewhere you go to have more than 1 glass of wine with dinner and to enjoy the night with a small group of friends.
(5)
Isaac R.

Let's start generously by giving Caffe Macaroni 5 stars, shall we? Slow service, minus 1 star. (oh, no, that sucks!) Small and cramped, minus 1 star. (ouch!) Had to ask for table to be wiped down, minus 1 star. (lame!) Flies buzzing inside everywhere, minus 1 star (gross!) That brings Caffe Macaroni to what I think seems to be a fair rating of one star. However, all of the above are excused by what probably was one of the tastiest Italian meals I have had anywhere. This hole in the wall, with all it's flaws and filth, and faults, manages to churn out some delicious, better-than-it-deserves-to-be food. The caesar salad was garlicky, lemony, crisp, and fresh. The breaded sardine spaghetti was drowned with olive oil, and was seasoned perfectly with parsley, tomatoes, and red chilli flakes - it cast its deceivingly delicious spell on me. Trust me, if this place did not have food as good as it is, it absolutely deserves a one star rating. The basic standards of cleanliness and service are inexcusable. A restaurant that has great food can get away with some things; Caffe Macaroni somehow manages to squeak by.... but just barely.
(4)
laura a.

This place is tiny so make a reservation or arrive early and ask to sit upstairs. The acoustics make it on the loud side, between voices & banging plates but it's still charming. We ate here with three year old, newborn & grandparents. Food was delicious and service warm & accommodating. We're adding it to our regular restaurant rotation!
(5)
Stefanie R.

We had the rib eye and the seafood risotto. Both were amazing and very authentic. The service was unbeatable. The atmosphere was tough. We were in the corner of the 4-table restaurant and my husband (5'11") could hardly fit his knees under the table. We were a little uncomfortable. We were also very close to the tables next to us, so there is really no privacy. As we were trying to order, other customers would even interject into our conversations. Other than that, it was a really great experience.
(4)
Gerald R.

NORTH BEACH EATING PART VI: NEOPALITAN CUISINE "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." - Michael Corleone from "The Godfather III". Sometimes when you keep on looking for new restaurants to eat you revert back to a particular restaurant because of certain items on that menu that intrigued you because you had them in the past or haven't tried them. Well this was the case with me. I came here for two reasons: 1) sea urchin pasta 2) whole roasted branzino. I've had the sea urchin before but I was craving it again. I love the presentation of the pasta in the sea urchin shell. In addition when I ate here for lunch about a month ago I noticed one customer had a whole roasted branzino, which is a Mediterranean sea bass found throughout Italy. The neat thing was Mario filleted the fish right in front of the customer. I ate here again last night with the specific mind of having the sea urchin pasta. When I asked Mario if he still sells the sea urchin pasta he said he ran out of fresh sea urchins. He said when he gets fresh sea urchins he will definitely put it on the menu. I did have the backup plan - the whole roasted branzino, which was available. I also asked Mario what kind of pasta will compliment with the branzino and he recommended small spaghetti with garlic while I was waiting for the roasted branzino. The spaghetti was perfectly light - it didn't make me full before having the roasted branzino. As usual the pasta was al dente. After eating the spaghetti, arrived the main course. If you want a performance art when you eat observe Mario filleting the branzino right in front of you. It is a great sight to see. Eating the whole fish is much better a fillet because it is juicier. Think of how cooking a whole rotisserie chicken is much different than cooking different parts of the chicken separately. The cool thing is even when Mario fillets the branzino the skin remains crispy. Is it the best fish I ever had? No but it's pretty damn good. Whereas you go to restaurants where they try to be fancy with their fillet fish, the art of roasting a whole fish is a skill that is underappreciated. And if not careful you can overcook the fish just as overcooking a steak. As with the last time I ate here I gave this a 5-star rating. Mario really looked out for me when he suggested small pasta instead of regular sized pasta that can tend to be huge portions. By having a small pasta I wasn't full when I waited in anticipation for the roasted branzino. Grazie Mario. Mario next time I'll order the sea urchin.
(5)
Jonathan C.

Caffe Macaroni! The best part of my New Years eve night with my girlfriend. We called around to so many restaurants and could not get anything. We finally got a table here and it turned out to be the best restaurant I've ever been to in the city. We are definitely going to keep coming back here ever year.
(5)
Joe S.

We've been coming to Caffe Macaroni for over 4 years and marvel at how consistently great the food is. I love the baby octopus pasta and my wife always loves the fish (and she's extremely picky about how fresh the fish must be). Mario is always around to chat a bit while somehow serving all of his customers. It continues to be our "go to" Italian restaurant in San Francisco.
(5)

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Address : 59 Columbus Ave
San Francisco, CA, 94133
Phone (415) 956-9737
Website https://www.caffemacaroni.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

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Caffe Macaroni

59 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94133

Caffe Macaroni Menu

Antipasti

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Dessert List

Healthy Meal suggestions for Caffe Macaroni

Antipasti

Insalate

Paste

Secondi Piatti

Verdue E Contorni

Dessert List

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