If you're heading to Chase Center or having a doctor's appointment ar UCSF, this is a great choice for lunch. They serve locally roasted Pacifica's Soul Grind coffee, along with breakfast favorites, pastries, quiche, open-faced toasts, sandwiches, salads, and bowls. Everything looks tempting so it's a hard decision but make sure you save room for their neatly packed desserts! Service is fast and friendly. We split their Honey Mustard Sandwich, Quiche Lorraine and a tart- heavenly! Plenty of seating, lots of natural light, and a welcoming atmosphere make it a great spot to relax and eat alone catch up with friends. Caffe Central 490 Illinois San Francisco read more

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This is one of those occasions that I don't like having limited star choices. If I could be more exact this would garner 3.75 stars. I came here in the morning and ordered a hot Cuban Latte, which was delicious. I asked for it to be less sweet and it distributio did have the perfect level of sweetness for me. It could've been a little hotter. Where the star points come off is when I came back for lunch. I ordered the Sicilian Sandwich which has mortadella, salami, provolone, cornichons and aioli on focaccia. The man taking my order was unclear on whether it was a sandwich or a panini. After a little bit of confusing back-and-forth, I was told I could order it as a panini, which I did. The flavor was really good, but here's the problem... Great care must be taken when crafting a delicious sandwich. Attention should be paid to the distribution of ingredients across the bread. Whoever put this sandwich together, slapped a little aïoli on willly nilly, piled all of the meat and cheese in a stack and threw on a few Cornishons that had been cut in half. The result was that the edges of the sandwich were nothing but dry bread and all of the flavor was in a few bites in the middle. Plus, the unwieldy chunks of cornichon kept escaping. Clearly whoever made this sandwich never heard the phrase 'crust to crust is a must'. The other thing that bothered me was they have examples of each menu item on the counter and the sandwich that I received was much smaller than the example. The café itself is minimally, decorated and clean. Definitely a decent place to grab a coffee and quick bite if you're waiting for somebody at UCSF. But if you're fussy about your sandwiches (like I clearly am), you might want to be specific with your expectations when ordering. read more

I love the Caffe Central at the Parnassus location, so I was excited to visit the one here at Mission Bay. The initial service I received from the shorter long-haired gal at the counter was lovely, but then a taller long-haired gal with glasses approached to answer a question I had, and the disdainful attitude was palpable. The couple of requests I had, including a little extra ice in a bigger cup, was met with practically a roll of the eyes. I'm not sure if she was having a bad day or if there was something else going on, but I wish I had said something in the moment to ask why she was presenting me with such an attitude. As for the espresso itself, it was as delicious as the other location. read more

I've walked by this place multiple times and it's always so busy. My team finally tried it and it is a hit. I got the raspberry swirl coffee cake and double chocolate loaf. The chocolate loaf was rich and delicious and the raspberry coffee cake had a nice crumb with the raspberry swirled on top. I also go the chicken pesto club and it was so good. The ciabatta has a nice crunch on the outside but is so soft and fluffy inside. The chicken was tender and moist, the pesto was mixed in a creamy aioli, and the produce was fresh. Will definitely come back to try more! read more

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Caffe Central is a local cafe with multiple locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. What sets them apart from other cafes is their dedication to fresh ingredients and locally roasted coffee beans. Although their beans are globally sourced, the business partners with a local Pacifica business (Soul Grind Coffee) to roast their coffee beans (we love local businesses supporting each other)! This particular location is conveniently located near UCSF Mission Bay, UCSF Bayfront, and the Chase Center, which makes it a perfect spot to stop-by and great a bite to eat or a coffee to-go. I tragically forgot to bring my lunch to work one afternoon, but was fortunate to learn that Caffe Central was just a quick walk away from me. I placed an order for an acai smoothie and a turkey avocado BLT via DoorDash for pickup (to time it with my lunch break), and was notified when my order was ready to pick-up (right on time). Upon reaching their storefront, I was pleasantly surprised with how spacious and airy it was inside. There was plenty of seating and the wide windows let plenty of sunlight in, making it a great spot to stop and enjoy a bite. Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy my meal in-store as they were closing, so I went on the hunt for somewhere else to sit and enjoy my food (if I had the time I would have definitely enjoyed my food in-store). Their turkey avocado BLT features smoked turkey, bacon, cheddar cheese, arugula and mayo-pesto all on an acme baguette (it comes with tomato too, but I took that out). The sandwich was perfect - exactly what you expect when ordering a sandwich like this. all the ingredients tasted fresh and delicious, especially when paired with the creamy mayo-pesto and the crunchy acme baguette. The acai smoothie was equally tasty, and the acai flavor wasn't overwhelmed by the other smoothie ingredients. I guess you can say I was almost glad to have forgotten my lunch at home on this day, since I was able to enjoy a delicious meal like this! I'd definitely recommend checking out Caffe Central the next time you find yourself at/near any of their locations and craving a bite to eat or something to sip on. read more

Caffe Central - Turkey & Avocado BLT + Acai Smoothie - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

This little cafe has very fresh plated food and gorgeous pastries. I come to UCSF mission bay for appointments once or twice a month and I run into this little cafe for coffee every time. The Vietnamese iced coffee is great and this is the only hospital cafe I've ever seen it at. I've also tried several of their pastries, quiches, and the avocado toast is also fantastic. Service is always quick even when there's a line. read more

Caffe Central - Vietnamese iced coffee with a view. - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

We stopped by for a quick lunch. My husband ordered the turkey BLT and I got the farmer's mkt salad. Both were fresh and delicious! Definitely come again! read more

Caffe Central - Farmer's mkt salad - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food and service is always good here. They make the BEST Americano. My husband really enjoyed his bagel sandwich. Its very filling. read more

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The iced matcha latte was decent. It was not as strong in flavor as I would have liked. They had a good selection of baked goods that I would love to come back to try out. The staff was nice, and the cafe was not too busy on a Thursday late morning. There were plenty of seating for dine in. read more

Caffe Central - Iced matcha latte - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here this past Thursday for lunch. I got the Spinach & Mushroom Quiche + Salad. This was very good, and I enjoyed it. The quiche came out warm. Spinach and mushroom always go well together. The salad was refreshing. I liked that the dressing was light. The cafe is spacious with plenty of tables and chairs. This is located right down the street from Chase Center and right next to a Muni stop. read more

Caffe Central - Spinach & Mushroom Quiche + Salad - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Cute cafe nestled inside the eye surgery center at UCSF. Great coffee- I had a special one time with a hojicha whip and it was everything I needed that day! Very nice workers, quick service. read more

I just had the most disappointing chai latte from this place. Right after ordering, I noticed that the barista was using this chai tea latte box from Oregon Chai. It's a liquid mix. You can buy it from Amazon or the grocery store. It's so commercial and cheap considering they get multiple servings out of it. I just am really disappointed that they don't use better chai. The chai flavor was so minimal and the latte was way too sweet, which was frustrating since I asked if the chai would be very sweet and the register person said no. Well, my taste buds and the Oregon Chai's nutrition info say otherwise! I just think the latte was lame and lazy. The milk wasn't even that frothy. This is San Francisco. Caffe Central needs to up its chai game. read more

Caffe Central - Caffe Central heavily uses a lousy mix. - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Cashier made a mess on my order waited 10 mins and bringing me the wrong order then they told me to paid $2 more for their mistake sigh and had to wait another 15mins more for them to made, that spent my whole lunch time there just to wait for my lunch. And I already gave them 18% tips and the order ending take out instead of dine in but this kind of service not deserve tips sigh . Bad service! read more

I met a friend here at Caffe Central for breakfast on a weekday morning. I was dropped off on the Illinois St side which made finding the cafe inside UCSF a little tricky (it's easier to spot from the 3rd St side), but fortunately I was able to ask someone. We arrived before the lunch rush, so it wasn't crowded and there were plenty of available tables inside. The space is bright and airy with large windows that let in a lot of natural light, although there's not much of a view if that's what you're looking for. I ordered a coffee and The Marina on an everything bagel. The sandwich was hearty and satisfying, so it was a great option for brunch. It came with a generous side of fresh fruit - everything looked and tasted great. read more

Caffe Central - The Marina - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

this is only my 2nd time ordering from here and both times my orders were made incorrectly. i only get a bagel with cream cheese, and they have gotten that simple order wrong both times. the first time, they made it incorrectly x3 in one day. i hope they get the more complicated orders correct at least. will not be returning. read more

Bright airy cafe that's part of the hospital. The food is good and surprisingly cheap. read more

Caffe Central - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

This shop is near the hospital, so it was quite convenient. The food is good, the coffees wonderful, and the staff are quite efficient. It is best to order in advance if you are taking to go, but if you don't, it isn't too terrible of a wait. read more

8am Thursday: Ambience, sparkling clean, modern, plenty of seating with back support. Most of the patrons at this hour were wearing scrubs &/or ID badges, as the former shipping docks have been replaced by UCSF medical building village. I saw a few people outside walking dogs, they most likely live in those slick (expensive ) buildings nearby. Definitely well paid under 40 crowd. I'm sure I was the only person to foolishly drive here, having snagged the last street space 3 blocks away. I have an hour. I suggest arriving just before the 7am opening, otherwise be prepared for a long line. Best to take public transit, T 3rd line stop is a couple blocks away. Finding Caffe Central is not easy. Don't let your gps take you to the downtown Caffe Central. Yes, this Caffe is in 390 Illinois building, but the entrance is on 3rd street, & to further confuse their receipt says 480 16th street. On to the main event. Avocado Toast options 1- sliced avocado & boiled egg 2- sliced avocado & tahini 3- guacamole toast I'm a purist, so #1 please I probably should have ordered the guacamole, which has some kick. Too bad I didn't see the salt & pepper packet. Without seasoning the avocado toast was pretty bland. Those deli level tomatoes, no thank you. No chili flakes, pickled radish or pink Himalayan salt here. The bread was yummy & actually toasted, although this toast was not suitable for eating with your hands, as it was piled high with greens, avocado slices, tomato slices & what I think was a thin layer of melted cheese. Bonus points for the serrated, non-plastic knife. IMO this was a lunch item. In the morning I'm not in the mood for a pile of dressed greens no matter how delicious. I ordered a side of bacon, generous 7 small strips with that perfect combination of crispy & chewy. The menu has a lot of coffee & sandwich choices, the refrigerated case full of juices & snacks. Super friendly staff, 4 people working the counter, so pretty fast service. Bottom line, a solid choice if you're in the hood. read more

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Lots and lots of sweet treats to satisfy your sweet tooth. I had this brioche pastry that was pretty goo. I also ordered a cortado; super rich, creamy and strong! Service was good; the cashier was patient with me as this was my first time ordering. Ambience is like a small intimate coffee shop you would find in Paris. Definitely will return! My stuff cost about $7 not too bad. read more

Caffe Central - Brioche - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Hands down, the BEST breakfast sandwich I have ever eaten. I don't know how they do it...had the classic French sandwich with perfectly cooked ham, on a warm toasty baguette, with melted Swiss cheese...and refreshing cold sliced tomatoes. It was...perfect in every way. read more

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Excellent place to get a coffee & made to perfection. Seems like they're trying with the food; however it's got that cafeteria flavor and it's not cheap either. read more

I visited Caffe Central on a weekend, so it wasn't very busy, but I imagine the weekdays can be a bit crowded. The place is really nice: it's modern, clean and spacious. I only had a coffee, which tasted very nice, and not any of the food, which looked pretty good for a cafe. read more

Caffe Central - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Its a nice moderate noise cafe. They have plenty of options but the upcharges they do aren't worth it. The "extra" meat that they give you for a $4 upcharge is upsurd. I got the smallest extra side. The salad was overall great but double check before you leave if you ask for modifications. I asked for not tomato or onion but add cucumber and they left the tomato and onion there but at least they added cucumber ($1 upcharge) The crème Brule is super good. The sugar crust is soggy so ther isn't that signature crunch unfortunately but its super smooth and creamy. The staff was nice and it wasn't too much of a wait. Overall would try again but I wouldn't ask for any extras and I would just double check my order. read more

Nice place , great coffee, food is good , expensive. Overall great , will come back due to convenience and lack of competition.

I tried out the King's Bowl today, and it was a large portion with even ratios of ingredients. Lots of complimenting flavors from the bitter greens, the creamy avocado, and the salty dressing. The salmon was very delicious. It's a well suited space to enjoy lunch with a friend or some colleagues. read more

Caffe Central - King's Bowl - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

I work nearby. I usually order the king bowl salad and use the dirty bird dressing. Sat at there tables eating my lunch. I said F*** it to myself. I'm not going to keep eating a this ($16.95 without tax) salad. I was so hungry and barely had enough bites. Mixing all together to see if anything changes on the taste. It became a soggy salad that was leaking (push all the stuff to the side seeing liquid stuff remain) and still tasted bland. I showed them the salad (I wish I took a picture). Stating I order this all the time when I come here. Asked how I paid. Door dash. Person asked what you like to do. I said refund. Person mentioned well you need to call them or you can get something else. I didn't want to get the same salad. At this point, mind you I'm on my lunch break I wasn't thinking clearly. Said I will just get a dirty bird salad ($14.50 w/o tax). Person said OK they will make it and wait for your name to be called. Which took about 15mins and I had to be back to work. FRUSTRATED! I checked my door dash app and it wasn't even there. I actually order for there website. I'm pissed off and should of just ask for my refund back. Quality went down. It never happened to me in the past when I order this item. To be honest I don't know if I would order here again. Not sure would get the king bowl salad. read more

I try to avoid the urge of going to Caffe Central since being so convenient to work located in the lobby. But needed a quick lunch that wasn't too far. The dirty bird salad was actually pretty good to my surprise. The salad had a heaping of bbq chicken, mixed greens, avocados, baby tomatoes, red onions, sliced cucumbers and a small side of vinaigrette dressing. The price was quite high but expected. A solid cafe for some rare lunches at work. read more

Caffe Central - Dirty Bird Salad - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Outside lunch nicely set up by waitstaff. Moved tables and chairs for our party. Food brought out promptly. One sandwich and two salads all delicious. read more

The best staff, food and coffee always consistent. Would definitely recommend this cafe.

Place has a following! In town for a conference and saw this place always full, came at almost opening, 15' after opening, what a mistake. 30' wait for food and coffee, good but not that amazing worth that wait. My coffee was warm by the time the groups food was ready. read more

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I had a nice baguette sandwich and a coffee. The counter service was fast. They brought my sandwich ti my table. The sandwich was excellent. Nice fresh baguette, fresh ingredients and very tasty. I'd recommend it for a quick lunch if you at UCSF Mission Bay or somewhere else nearby. read more

I ambled in here after taking a long stroll on Third Street from Bayview. I just assumed this was simply a coffee spot opened for the benefit of UCSF students in a hurry between classes. However, it turned out to be a full-fledged cafe with entree-size salads and soups, two-handed sandwiches, and generously sized baked goods, as well as the expected coffee selection. On a Thursday afternoon, it was quite a popular meeting spot for UCSF staff in scrubs. Seating was at a premium, but I managed to snag a little cafe table near the window. I'll know better next time to make room for lunch here, but all I had was the $4.75 Chai Latte which turned out to be tasty sweet (photo: https://bit.ly/3LlAeD2). Gee, I can't get that TLC song out of my head, "I don't want no scrubs..." COFFEE - 4 stars...a latte that hit the spot AMBIANCE - 4 stars...busy but pretty well organized SERVICE - 3.5 stars...attentive enough TOTAL - 4 stars...a sea of scrubs here RELATED - Exploring Mission Bay? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2JVPV55 read more

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The food is fresh and delicious. The avocado toast, overnight oats, and salads are consistently good. It gets busy.

Lovely new spot in Mission Bay for coffee and a place to bunker down. It is really open and spacious with a pretty a good amount of space/seating. Free wifi if you're connecting to UCSF Guest. I took a zoom call from the guest wifi and didn't have any issues with lagging or glitching so it great. I will say it got pretty noisy, so probably not ideal if you're a speaker on the call. Plus the open space really makes the sound reverberate around. Lots of coffee, tea, juice options here. They also have a pretty big case of baked goods, plus sandwiches/toasts and healthy bowls. Definitely recommend coming here for breakfast, lunch, or a coffee run. The lattes are all pretty popular and I saw a lot of people ordering their bowls and sandwiches. read more

They carry absolutely divine pastries. I had the orange cake and loved it, but had the hardest time choosing! I wish I had room to try their ube puff and croissants. I also got their acai smoothie, which was the perfect pick-me-up on an afternoon. It came out quickly and was quite filling. Their kitchen was closed during the afternoon, so I wasn't able to try any dishes. Huge space if you want to hang out there and work! read more

I look forward to eating here every time I come to S.F. for My Dr. appointment. Its DO Delicious! I have tried several things from the menu, including bakery. The place is very clean., staff are so friendly and professional. Food portions are a great size for the price. And I do appreciate that it's not so over priced. Everything I eat here is very fresh! read more

This place is incredible! The prices are reasonable (especially compared to some other coffee shops in Dogpatch) and the staff is very friendly. The owner remembered my name only on my 2nd day in. Love it! read more

I work nearby so I stopped here for lunch. I ordered the tuna sandwich and an iced matcha latte. Matcha was very good, would definitely get again. Tuna sandwich was good too, wished it was bigger for the price, also wish it was made with a different bread because the bun it came on was kind of small and crumbly once toasted. Nice workers here, will probably be back but order a different sandwich. read more

Caffe Central - Tuna Melt - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Professional, cordial, friendly and efficient. Nice and inviting atmosphere. Very clean. Amazingly quiet for the number of folks working and dining at lunch time. Latte was just perfect. The Hummus Avocado Toast was delicious. Would definitely dine here again when in the area. Thank you for a very satisfying experience. read more

One of my favorite local coffee shops to support! The staff are always so nice and welcoming. There is also always the most impressive display of food and bakery items out on their counter - I will definitely need to try their food options next time. With huge windows, the interior is nice and bright. There are plenty of tables and outlets for your work from home or studying sessions. My favorite thing to get here is the Cuban latte or the central latte. Their coffee is definitely strong and it is very much well worth your money. read more