I like to pick up a panini and an espresso, sit down at a table outside in my all black outfit, and read a copy of Jean Paul Sartre's "The Age of Reason," and act like I'm the most enchanting and enigmatic dark creature that ever darkly darked in this little techie enclave of San Francisco. (I didn't get attention in high school, so I'm compensating). True, I can do all those things anywhere else, at any other point in time, not just on my lunch hour at Caffe Centro. It's the panini that keeps bringing me back, though. I have a strict attitude about sandwiches. When i was a little girl, my mother made me sandwiches - simple slices of bread, with butter and cheese. They were the most delicious thing on the planet. Not heated up, just cold. Nice creamy butter. Layered wedges of swiss or cheddar. Sometimes she'd put salami int here. The little half size panini at Caffe Centro come close to those of my childhood. They have a salami and white cheddar, and some cheese and pesto one, and I think a turkey one. Simple, easy to hold in the hand, they don't fall apart from too many ingredients, and they taste really fucking good. In fact, if everything in my life was as perfect, easy to handle, and brought such a smile to my face, I would be the happiest and most envied person on the planet. read more

Decent place to have lunch if you're in the mood for salads and sandwiches, and are in the South Park neighborhood. I work close to Cafe Centro, so its a regular visit for me. 1. You can either eat inside (though it can get a bit cramped and noisy, so get here early) or outside (they have some tables out on the sidewalk) or grab food from their take-out counter and head to South Park to watch the yuppies, the hipsters, the bikers, the construction workers, the dog walkers et all take in the sun... and if you're in the mood to let your inner child out... get on the swing! whee! 2. In the salad area, I've tried the green salad, the caesar salad and the pasta portofino salad and all are made fresh, are tasty and pretty healthy. The pasta portofino salad is a bit on the heavy side but good all the same. 3. In the sandwich area, I've tried the caprese sandwich, the egg salad sandwich and the turkey sandwich are all are might fine and consistently good. 4. They have pretty good espersso to go which is how I wash my lunch down as I head out to sit in South Park and peruse the public. Good place, dependable food, good service, reasonably priced (salads are in the $7.95 range and sandwiches are in the $4.50 to $6.75 range); location is good and all in all, good place to get lunch. read more

I talk with my mouth full. I shove as much food in my mouth as I can with every bite. I eat as fast as I can. I drop food on the ground and on my clothes. I barely chew. I often get the hiccups because I forget to drink while eating. Sometimes I eat with my hands. Basically, I am a pretty gross lunch date. But my lunch today wasn't so repulsive and I would like to give thanks to Caffe Centro. I was able to hold my squealing/fussing 5 month old in one hand, walk outside while eating, drop food on the ground without feeling bad (I left a tip) and not rush because they gave me my food in a to-go box. Hooray! I know that the table next to us wasn't a big fan of me, but I consider lunch a success if I only get 2 hairy eyeballs from patrons. And while I used to live off of Centro's nicoise salads, I really enjoyed my mushroom panini today. This is especially shocking because I opted out on cheese... And as we all know, a panini should really have cheese. Anyhoo, it was pretty tasty and I would order it again. As always, the $4 counter paninis are a solid choice for a quick cheap yummy belly fill. Of course my lunch was improved greatly by the company of Miss Angella S. and Ting A. Lovely to see you both as always. read more

I have a strong suspicion this place is owned by the workers. Seriously, I've never seen anyone so happy to be at work. I got so many smiles, laughs, jokes and... well smiles than ever. Mexican run, mexican owned and goddamn is the food good. Line was really long, but it moved fast and the food came out even faster. I had a grilled chicken (added avocado for free whoopee!!) and was really happy. Good quality chicken.. but the bread stole the show. Melty, tasty delcious light foccaccia. Seriously so damn good I wanted to ask where they got it. It's definately fresh day of (at least) and made me want to cry sing and dance. Also, the place is next to the park with plenty of outdoor seating which is great. I'll definately be back time and time again! read more

I recently visited SF for my first time last weekend and i fell in love! Me and a few friends visited this Caffe one morning and it was pretty popular and the food and drinks were great! I ordered an iced coffee and the avocado & fried egg on toast and it tasted great! They served the toast in a paper box carrier, so it was kind of awkward to eat because the sides were raised. Instead of trying to eat it with a knife and fork, I picked up the avocado toast and began to eat it by hand. I took my first bite and it tasted so good!! However, as i went to go put the toast back into the box - so could take a drink of my coffee - i accidentally dropped the toast on the floor :( The yolk from the egg drizzled all over me and the toast landed face (and avocado) down. I was so sad because i had just paid $6 for this and i only got to enjoy one bite. I went up to the cashier and told him what had happened and asked if he had a brush of some sort, so i could brush up the mess i had just made. I've worked at many juice bars previously and the fresh ingredients at juice bars are hella expensive - however, if someone drops their juice by accident, we are more than happy to replace their juice without a problem! Accidents happen and the customer shouldn't be penalized for it; this is common sense and basic customer service. I explained to the man at the register that i had only taken ONE bite of my sandwich and i hadn't got to enjoy it & if he could make me another one i would really appreciate it. A group of 6 of us had came into the caffe that day and all ordered multiple things - so we definitely gave the shop some good business. The man at the register then proceeded to give me attitude about how he wouldn't replace my toast... A SINGLE SLICE OF TOAST, HALF AN AVOCADO, AND A FRIED EGG PROBABLY COSTS THE COMPANY ~ $1 OR $2 AT VERY MOST. He kept refusing to replace my toast and after shock and honest curiosity if the guy was being sarcastic and joking, he reluctantly said he would make me another one if i gave him $2. In the scheme of things, for this company, $2 is nothing at all. Caffe Centro seems like a popular business & out of all of the plethora of coffee shops in SF, choosing to give Caffe Centro our business was a choice that i shouldn't regret. I gave the guy $2 and i got another avocado toast soon enough. The toast was great and the flavors worked so well together - but even the great taste of the toast and coffee couldn't make up for the terrible service. If someone chooses to eat at your caffe, they are speaking with their dollars. With so many choices of eateries in SF, companies should appreciate their customers. I did not feel appreciated at Caffe Centro and that disappoints me because the food and drink were great (my friends also enjoyed their food/drink)! It's sad that one mans attitude (about a slice of toast, half of an avocado and a fried egg) can ruin an eating experience, but it definitely didn't ruin my trip to SF! read more

Sometimes it's annoying when the South Park hipsters/tech-entrepreneur-whatever people hog the tables and babble loudly, but that shouldn't take points away from how good this place is. The coffee is good, though maybe a little pricey, the food is great and the people working there are cool. Definitely worth a visit read more

A very cute spot in a little piece of quiet in SoMa. We ate al fresco in front of South Park which really brought up the work day with it's Mediterranean feel. I got the bean salad which had the perfect amount of vinaigrette and hit the spot perfectly. Bustling with laid back workers, it really is a great place to forget work and revitalise for a moment. read more

I just went to write these fabulous fellas a review and realized I already did. I love starting out my day with a perfect latte and a green juice and some friendly conversation. A+ to the Centro crew! :) read more

A South Park standby...friendly service, a good variety of salads and sandwiches and outdoor seating make it an easy stop-in for lunch or a coffee. I do wish more places in South Park were open on Sundays, though.. The cobb salad was surprisingly large and had tons of chunky ingredients (the works)- I was definitely impressed..and full. The staff had 94.9 playing on the loud side- which was fine by me as I enjoy a side of hip-hop with my salad...but it didn't really go with the cafe vibe of the place. read more

I've come here for dinner and drinks with friends on a few occasions, though I know it's a particularly popular lunch spot. What I appreciated most about this place is the service: the staff seems to have a philosophy of old-fashioned customer service. Smiles, thoughtful questions about what else I need (as opposed to only questions about what else they can sell me), and a genuine caring demeanor. Love that. The food was better than expected. I've had the chicken sandwich and the caprese sandwich and both were incredibly delicious. Something about the softness of the bread and the flavor combinations did it for me. I also love their desserts, especially the cookies and brownies. This is the first place I visit when I'm heading down to the ball park or find myself in this part of town. read more

I love the location - it's nestled right in South Park so it's super cute. I came here to get a sandwich to go. Caprese Sandwich: It was ok. The half sandwich was actually big enough to fill me up so I'm glad I didn't get the full sandwich. I heard the guy in front of me order the same thing but heated so maybe I'll try that next time. Although when I think Caprese, I think cold. I kind of wish I stuck around to eat there because that probably would've made my experience more enjoyable. However, I ended up eating at my desk to try and get some more work done. I could see myself coming back to try some of their other sandwiches. Note - their online menu hasn't been updated with their new prices. Ex: The Caprese was listed as $4.50 for a half sandwich but the menu there showed $5.37. read more

I know I'll be back for coffee cause it was quite good last time I had it, but I'm quite disappointed in the soup I paid $4.60 for today...It's about a 12oz cup not filled to the top and they call it a bowl. Quite pricey for a simple broth filled with vegetables and barley. It always upsets me when restaurants overcharge for soup...you KNOW it doesn't cost them much to make a giant pot of it and that cup you're buying is worth like 2 cents yet you pay $5...I totally respect complicated soups or those with expensive ingredients and am willing to pay extra for them - but $4.60 for chicken noodle soup? Come on! On the other hand, the salads look decent and the sandwiches too so I might come back to give them a try...and like I said, I'll definitely be back for coffee!!! :) read more

I am still swooning over the Roasted Tomato soup I had for lunch here today! It has a similar tartness with the acidity you would taste in a seasonal Gazpacho, I think maybe some Heirlooms are used.. with a heavenly pureed mouth-feel. The only dismay I've experienced is that I opted for a cup instead of a bowl :( Shame on me. It is definitely a smokey soup to relish over in the cold winter. Little did I know, i'd be whetting my appetite a bit early in the day this Valentines Day. read more

Cafe Centro: really friendly staff and especially tasty bacon. They play soft world music, have local art on the walls and there are an equal amount of lunchers as there are people working on their laptops while drinking some coffee. There's seating inside & outside. If by chance both of those are full, you can always take your order to go and grab a bench in South Park. The menu is mostly soup, salads and sandwiches. They make a mean cobb salad. Everyone from the guy who took my order, to the guy who rang me up and the guy who brought me my food were total sweethearts too. "Down the hall and to the left," one guy said to me, knowing I was looking around for the bathroom. Boom. Thanks, pal. read more

Caffe Centro - Cobb - Sandwiches Near Me - San Francisco, California

Despite the very serious looking business men and women who frequent this place, and the tiny flies buzzing through the open windows, this place is really cute. It's the perfect lunch and coffee joint in SoMA, nestled in South Park and snuggled between several other lunch destinations. It's relaxing to just sit at the tiny tables, eat, and people watch. I like to get the pasta portifino salad, which is a bed of mixed greens tossed with vinaigrette and topped with a generous portion of chicken pesto bowtie pasta and pinenuts: always a healthy and refreshing lunch option. Every day they boast specials, usually a soup du jour and a sandwich or pasta, usually around $8. Some swear by the tuna casserole on days they have it. The menu board also lists dozens of sandwiches, salads, breakfast options, and coffees and teas. The service is really friendly, and there's even a box where you can pay for your coffee if you're in a rush (now that's trust!) read more

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Caffe Centro! I cant say enough good things! 1. Great coffee, lattes, and teas 2. AMAZING home-made soups- gotta love the gazpacho on a hot day. 3. I love love love their caprese sandwich 4. I also love their salads, too. So fresh and full of flavor! When I worked on this side of the city, I ate here nearly every single day. When I am back on this side of town, I make some excuse to get a bite to eat here. So good....I need to make a trip over there...its perfect on warm days- when you can walk around South Park, have lunch and enjoy the weather. read more

Love the setting of a little cafe looking over the park. Love the little pickup window on the side. Love that Jeremy's in on my way home after having lunch here. Love that you have the option to get all sandwiches on multigrain bread. That being said, the food is good, but lacks a certain finesse. There are lots of vegetarian options and everything looks and tastes good. A solid lunch spot, or a place to pick up an afternoon espresso to drink while walking through South Park on a sunny day. read more

Hmm, so apparently I'm the only person who works in SOMA and has never been to South Park. Until today that is...I'm literally beaming as a result of my stroll through South Park this afternoon, mind you it is a sunny, warm day... We stopped at Caffe Centro outdoor counter for a quick bite. Great sandwich and salad selection and quite reasonable. They even have these 'counter panini' for $3 that are really the perfect size for lunch, combine w/ a sack of chips and Martinelli's apple juice and you're in store for a great snack. Oh, and definitely recommend the counter service, as you can hop across the street and sit in the park. Pretty much everything you could ask for in a lunch spot - only wish I worked a tad closer. read more

The first time I went here I ordered a panini sandwich expecting a smushed grilled sandwich, only to be disappointed when they handed me a tissue wrapped baguette with salami and cheese. Looking at that boring baguette lowered my expectations of how good it would taste, until biting into it and realizing I had underestimated this simple sandwich. Though simple, the bread was fresh and cheese and salami were high quality. No need to hide these ingredients behind fancy sauces and such. My next visit I got a caprese sandwich. It was not only delicious, but wonderfully built. This is something that messy eaters like myself take into consideration. The roasted tomatoes, mozzarella, and olive oil squeezed between fluffy fococcia is well constructed to not drip or fall apart on you when biting into it. Since ordering this, I don't care to order anything else off their menu. I'm sure the other sandwiches are great, but that's how much I love their caprese sandwich. read more

even on a foggy day, south park is bustling. I love walking past the cafes blaring music and seeing all the happy faces in the park...its just a nice place to be, especially in the middle of the city, and amid warehouses no less. i felt welcome immediately here, and the guys behind the counter were so cute and friendly! but they didn't even have to try, you could tell they were just jolly. Im pretty sure jolly is the only word I can use to describe them. although my heart broke when he said they were out of bagels, my latte was DELISH and big (for a very reasonable price) and i had a half grilled chicken sand that was yum yum yum! everything on the menu looked good and im sure it all is...maybe ill come back everyday till i try everything! muahaha... also, mega points for having Sierra Nevada, even in the bottles. if you're in the area, definitely stop in. Then we can head to 21st amendment :) read more

Definitely one of my new favorite lunch places in SoMa. It's right across the park from my office, the staff is VERY friendly, and the food I have tried has been delicious! Today I had the Nicoise Salad, and it was absolutely stupendous--the tuna salad was simple and tasty, the green beans were perfectly blanched, and the balsamic dressing they serve with it is the perfect salty/tangy binding agent. It's a great place to have nearby while trying to be semi-healthy AND still manage to enjoy my lunch break. *I have been told by coworkers that their coffee is also top notch* read more

The pasta portofino salad is my go to lunch when I am in the area and sometimes I will go out of my way to go get it if I haven't had it in a while! The dressing on it is amazing, I always ask for a little extra on the side Incase they go lite with it that day. I wish they would bottle it because I'd buy a case of it! read more

Yes, oh yes. I'm back at Centro. Like the two dudes who also just reviewed below me, I used to work across the street during the hog heaven years of 97-00. (Hyah! take that!) Now I'm back working on Townsend, and I can fill my belly once a week with my crack like addiction to: Cafe Centro's TUNA SANDWICH! washed down with their watered down lemonade. it's the best. and just crazy it's not changed in 10 years. read more

This has become one of my go-to places for lunch. The foccacia is delic, although they often run out after the lunch rush so you have to order early. Solid sandwiches, salads, blended mocha caffeine drinks, and pastries. My favorite sando is probably the roasted veggies or roma on foccacia to take outside and eat in the park. You can order inside and eat or to-go at the outside window which is convenient. South Park is a cute little spot tucked behind the bustle of 3rd street, great to stroll and check out the other mostly french-themed restaurants on the block. Apparently years ago it wasn't so nice -- had more of a Tenderloin-park theme so it always shocks my parents when I say I'm eating in South Park a they remember it a bit differently. read more

This is the closest coffee shop to work and my coworkers go there religiously for coffee or lunch. I got a coffee latte as a precautionary move for the busy day one morning. The coffee was ok, until it started getting cold and a cardboard taste started to emerge. Maybe I should've drank it faster, or that's a natural taste in the coffee (organic?). Not a fan, but I might give it a try again. Another morning, I got to work early and decided to sit in the cafe and read my book. I ordered an OJ--it was nice and cold, a little too tangy, and had a good amount of pulp. Sitting by the window and having the sun shine in felt like I was in a walking city, where everything was more intimate. There's been a pretty long line both times i've been, but that's probably because everything was just getting to work and getting their dose of caffeine. Service was nice and the line moved pretty quickly for how long it was. read more

Three bucks for a double mocha. It tastes like it's made with dark chocolate. Big, huge brownie points. Low prices, good coffee? How do you stay in business? Please, stay in business. Forever and ever. read more

Food here is decent. Highlights: Mac and Cheese, Pasta Portofino. They have a rotation of specials every day but I think the specials are predictable. The tuna sandwich here is bad though. Soups are too small and salty without flavor. Pre-made sandwiches taste like they sound, pre-made. Otherwise it's pretty good. Self-serve coffee which is convenient if you just want a coffee. This place is on the corner of South Park so if you can get outdoor seating it's glorious. Inside is pretty nice too, usually windows open and sunny. read more

Just wanted to write a quick review so this one doesn't fall off my radar. Went there for lunch today - right on the edge of south park. When the weather's beautiful I really want to make a practice of coming down here, grabbing a salad or sandwich and enjoying the park. As for the food I had a Roma sandwich (tomato, mozzarella, olive paste basil and greens on a baguette) and I think I'm in love. It was so fresh tasting and was exactly what I was looking for on a day like today. It was a little slow but not horrifically so. I could definitely make this a regular Wednesday spot! read more

Very rarely do I find a place where I like everything I have eaten there, let alone a dish I will order every single time. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to the Pasta Portofino, you probably won't go back (to ordering anything else). Cobb, grilled chi sand and macaroni and cheese (when they have it) are also can't miss selections. read more

The folks at Centro are great. They are always there for me when I need a quick caffeine fix or if I'm craving a refreshing salad after gorging myself on burritos and curry the rest of my work week. It's always fun having a reliable coffee house with incredibly friendly baristas that know you by name and can guess what you're about to order. They are so conveniently located and they're coffee/espresso drinks are reasonably priced. My only one complaint is that sometimes my lattes aren't as hot as I'd like, but maybe they're just looking out for me since I often burn myself when pouring my drinks down my throat. Thanks guys! read more

This is a really great little cafe located in SOMA's best kept secret, South Park. The prices are very reasonable, the food is good, service is great, and it offers a warming atmosphere to read a book or have a nice coffee in the rain. I like to get an everything bagel with cream cheese + a coffee. I have yet to try a sandwich for lunch but will very soon. Simple but delicious. Highly recommend if you're looking for something small but sweet read more

Got the Nicoise Salad. Tuna was extremely dry and smelled bad. Hard boiled egg smelled. And the balsamic vinegar dressing made the whole thing a smelly mess. Food did not mix well and gave it to a coworker. They threw it out. Keeping 2 stars because they have cool Valentine's Day cards and workers. But food was crap. read more

They make a very good nicoise salad that includes a sliced, hard-boiled egg, red potatoes, olives, green beans, and of course, tuna. The dressing is a little heavy for my taste, but the price is light ($7 plus tax). I've never tried their sandwiches, since I keep going back for the salad! The place is usually packed during lunch hours. Don't want to wait in a long line? Order at their "take out" window outside, right around the corner from the entrance. read more

I've passed this so many times on my way to HRD but since their closed i decided to grab a light sandwich. I ordered a full Tuna sandwich $8, full is basically 2 pieces of bread. I sat down and 2 minutes later they gave me my sandwich, stuffed with lettuce. The tuna had zero flavor, a very light mayo as others have mentioned but mostly no taste. It tasted something like you would get at Starbucks or Barnes and Nobles. If you check in you get 1 free sweet, i got a chocolate chip cookie which was freshly made and tasted really good. read more

So many cafes try to force a European cafe atmosphere, and it just doesn't work. Caffe Centro is a happy exception. I think my heart made a little "awww" sound when I saw the cappucinos being served in tall glasses, just like they do back in Portugal. Between that sight, the smell of toast, and the guy behind me in line speaking in French, I could have sworn I was in a place where they get far more vacation time than we do. Walking outside and seeing the lush trees of South Park does little to break the illusion. Prices seemed reasonable to me, overall, and my latte was perfect. Perhaps $5 for a breakfast sandwich is a little high, but normal for SF. Jonesing for some European comfort? Visit South Park, it's far cheaper than a plane ticket. read more

Disclaimer: This review is for ambiance and coffee only. (Sorry!) I'll write another review when I have more experience, haha. Positives (+) (+) Super cute little cafe in South Park with great little cafe ambiance (+) Outdoor and indoor seating, great little area to catch up on some work or have an informal interview (as was my case) (+) The food looked very good and the menu looked good as well. Also a great variety of stuff to try. I definitely want to come back. (+) The coffee is decent too! read more

I come here for breakfast pretty much every day. The coffee is great and the breakfast is good but limited in selection. Everyone that works there is really nice and they rarely ever screw up an order. Centro is also a good option for lunch if you're looking for something quick. The vegetarian sandwich is great, I opt for foccacia though. Also, their cobb salad is great. They use top quality ingredients in most of their food. In all reality, the only complaint I have is that the place is a little pricey. That is to be expected since it's in South Park. Overall, I definitely recommend Cafe Centro. read more

If you haven't had the Caprese with fresh mozzarella, oven roasted roma tomatoes, fresh basil, and extra virgin olive oil, served on focaccia bread with Proscuitto, you have not been to Caffe Centro. If you have worked in SOMA you know there's a little secret window on the side of the cafe in the alley where you can order to go. There are usually two really sweet ladies who take your order. If not you can go inside and order from the two gentlemen and sit down. Its such a cute park, why not sit outside on the benches or on the swings with dogs playing frisbee, birds chirping, and leaves falling. Hey! You can even make friends with squirrels. That's nuts. I have tried everything on the menu, and my favorites are the Caprese sandwich and the Cobb Salad with grilled chicken, bacon, sliced eggs, fresh tomatoes, avocado, blue cheese, on a bed of mixed greens, served with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing with bread. Both very filling and delish! Since I work downtown now, I eat at the yerba buena park, but birds always tend to attack me. I give one bird a piece of bread and 20 come cooing at me. Only one with an angry look had to poop on my tights the other day, urgh. This never happened to me at South Park! I would go almost everyday to CC, but, I will definitely return for more someday. I miss you CC. read more

Today was my first visit to Caffe Centro, even though I've been in the neighborhood for more than two years. I ordered the "Counter Panini" with NY white cheddar and salami. Thinnest amount of cheese and salami ever, but somehow it worked. At only just over four bucks, with its toasted crustiness, it was well worth it. Knowing that there wasn't enough meat, cheese and bread collectively to satisfy me today, I opted to ask about the soups. Corn chowder or red potato leek. I love potato leek soup! I get it back to the office, open the lid and think, it's awfully light-looking. Already, I'm nervous. I dip my spoon in...and...BLEH!!! It's the most watered down, flavorless soup I've ever tasted. Okay, I take that back. Bad miso soup comes damn close. I went to a colleague's desk, grabbed his Tapatio, and started shaking in the name of the Lord for improvement. What did it give me? Tapatio-flavored red potato leek water. Place is cute, it was like Cheers where the dude behind the counter knew everyone's name, and the vibe was young, hip, and broke. Wait, or is it, young, fabulous, and broke? Young, broke, and fabulous? read more

If you're coming to Centro then you probably have no other choice. You work in SOMA and probably on some technology that most Americans will never use or even hear about. So get used to going to Centro, getting a coffee and sitting in the park to talk to your coworkers about the next big thing. The coffee is good. The people are nice for a coffee place. It's across from a great park. The food here is a little overpriced for what you get. It's a deli not a bistro. The little sandwiches go on sale at 3pm so if you can wait until then, it might be worth it. read more