This spot fits the bill of a classic Italian joint in North Beach. We were hungry and looked for a place with no wait and they had a table for us outside. Our party of four shared a bottle of Chianti and it was perfect (taste & portions) All the food we tried was great. They came by to clear plates and were gone before we could ask for things. They gathered we weren't rushing the meal, but after awhile had to get up and ask for the check. I'll take the quirks of the OG staff as part of the authentic experience read more

Caffe Macaroni - Soup of the day (vegetarian) - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food was authentically Italian. The appetizers (tuna carpaccio & sardines) we had were very light and clean to the pallet. The husband and wife team runs this place very well. Felt like you're in their home and everyone is welcome. Customers hug them before leaving. Our table was even treated to shots of limoncello. I will definitely go back. read more

Caffe Macaroni - Pasta Nera Amalfitana - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

It's so fun visiting this little Italian restaurant. The owner and his wife are so friendly and kind and the food is delicious. My friend and I, who meet for lunch monthly, have come here three times now. The pasta is always cooked perfectly and they have lots of delicious seafood and meat options. Looking forward to coming back here again! read more

Caffe Macaroni - Octopus spaghetti and Pork/Pork Belly - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

The interior of this tiny restaurant seats maybe a dozen at most however the exterior out front maybe twice as much? I think this would make a great date night if you dined inside. The owners are attentive and the place feels like what an old school Italian/ Sicilian establishment should be like. It's old and cozy inside. You'd be surprised how small it is. Don't let the name fool you. This is a place you'd like to return. We had a bottle of Barbera to share. Thought it was an excellent selection for a red. Bread was initially warm. Additional servings to the table maybe not so much. For appetizers we had burrata salad and one other item whose name I don't remember. Also had the pizza that included arugula and mortadella along with one other ingredient. I loved this light dish. I had the spaghetti and meatballs. Usually I'm more adventurous but meatballs sounded good and it didn't disappoint. They were moist and warm. The entrees were not large but the quality and love put into it were. Recently at other restaurants I've noticed dishes being served lukewarm sometimes but not here. We shared four desserts as shown here in my pics. The photos do not do justice as to how they all tasted. I was truly impressed with the taste. Some of the desserts are made in-house. read more

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I was going to a bar close by so decided to stop in for some dinner and was pleasantly surprised. The food was top notch, we got the burrata, pizza of the day, and the ravioli. The service was great, everyone was super nice and willing to answer any questions we had. It was in north beach and majority of their dining is outside, they had heat lamps. read more

Caffe Macaroni - Margarita pizza of the day - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Saved my 1,300th review for a special place: Caffe Macaroni. I chose this restaurant because it was unique and quintessentially San Francisco to celebrate my son's 17th birthday. Caffe Macaroni is the kind of restaurant where you can go enjoy a great meal, no need to drop a lot of money, yet the food, experience and location are top flight. Caffe Macaroni isn't priced "For Special Occasion Only" yet the meal is everything you'd ever want for dining out. In fact, the restaurant was populated by people who come twice a month or once a week. It truly is that good. The owners were enjoying a glass of wine at the sidewalk table when we walked up. They seated us at the beautiful banquette overlooking Columbus. There's also a parklet to accommodate more tables. And the food, ah.. so, so amazing and authentically Italian. We started with the daily special appetizer, Tagliere, a generous board of mortadella, capocollo, tarelli, prosciutto and olives drizzled with fine olive oil and lightly dusted with peperoncino, delicious. We also ordered the yellowtail carpaccio with lemon, olive oil, red onion and capers. Onto the pasta plate: Ravioli Pecorata ($19.50): Delicious homemade ravioli filled with ricotta in tomato sauce drizzled with pesto, perfection on a plate. The showstopper was my son's dinner: Porkett e Fnucch ($27.95): Finely sliced pork belly and loin with fresh fennel, rosemary and lemon zest. It melted in your mouth and made you wonder how you'd eat pork prepared any other way. I had the gorgeous, perfectly rare ribeye over a bed of wild arugula with pecorino and lemon ($31.50). Every bite was savory. And of course, cake, Meyer lemon and a specialty of the House with a complimentary shot of limoncello for mama. We strolled back to our car, marveled at the meal we just enjoyed and looked up at the beautiful TransAmerica building. I felt lucky to have a wonderful child, live in this beautiful city and to have enjoyed a perfect meal. You must come! read more

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My roommates and I were looking for a place that was still open in the area and came across this little gem! We walked up and they were so sweet from the very beginning! We got seated right away and then they came by and it was like they treated us like family! They often checked up on us and took an interest in what we were getting up to for the night and where we were from so it was like we were sitting for a family dinner! The music was going but not too loud, and we were still able to hold a good conversation. The food was most excellent and flavorful. It really brought me back to Italy. I would absolutely go there again! read more

We came here Saturday before a comedy show with a longtime friend and wow... one of the BEST meals we've had in a while! Calamari: Hands down the BEST we've ever had--perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Specials: We tried the puttanesca (and another special I can't even remember the name of, but it was so good). Everything was incredibly fresh and delicious. Dessert: The limoncello cake was light, nostalgic, and absolutely perfect (even better than the cannoli for me!). What truly makes this place shine is the hospitality. Stephanie (co-owner) and her husband Mario (chef & co-owner) make you feel like family the moment you step in. Mario's passion comes through in every dish, and Stephanie's warmth makes the whole experience unforgettable. The cozy, rustic vibe seals the deal. Bonus: we even saw their daughter having dinner with her fiancée--it really is a true family spot. AMAZING VALUE FOR SAN FRANCISCO -- it doesn't get better than Caffe Macaroni. Great food, warm hospitality, and being treated like family every single time. We will definitely be repeat customers. read more

Caffe Macaroni - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This family owned restaurant was so good. The Yellow Finn Carpaccio and Minestrone soup were amazing. Fresh and simple but, so flavorful. Service was great and entertaining. I don't think you could ever improve the pasta dishes. I enjoyed the visit. read more

One of my favorite places in San Francisco. Mario and Stephanie are wonderful. This is a spot I love taking out of town guests

I want to acknowledge that the service was really lovely, and the other diners seemed very happy with their food. However, my observation is that they ordered mostly seafood, and my table ordered paparadelle bolognese and a rib eye steak, medium rare. The steak was...scary. It was gray in color, the fat unrendered, it looked pan fried and cooked with olive oil (which doesn't have a good burn point for a steak)...and it tasted like grisly, under seasoned, burnt olive oil - and unnaturally gamey. The pasta sauce had no flavor, and you could tell it wasn't from scratch. If it was, it sure needed seasoning. The only highlight was a nice homemade tiramisu that we ordered because we were wishing for something tasty. This is why I gave 2 stars instead of 1. But in all honesty, it was the worst sit-down dinners I've ever had in my life. Yes, it was that bad. I feel like they should stick to seafood. But I won't ever go back to try, I just say this based on the plates on other tables and people seeming pleased with their food, but all of it seafood. I saw no other beef-based dishes on other tables. read more

Caffe Macaroni - Gray colored rib eye - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

I don't have any pictures because I ate my food too quickly... it was that good. Clearing my extra pasta sauce with bread good. Eating my girlfriend's because I ran out of my own good. I didn't know what to expect with 4.9 stars on 700+ reviews but I think it deserves a 5. Amazing couple who have owned the restaurant for 35+ years and DEFINITELY know what they're doing. 11/10 read more

Caffe Macaroni - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Lovely place, lovely food, lovely staff and owners. Hoped for a bigger portion of the gnocchi dish but it was satisfyingly filling read more

Caffe Macaroni - Potato gnocchi, radicchio, chicken - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Caffè Macaroni is our favorite restaurant in all of San Francisco. It's a little-known gem, serving delicious Neapolitan food, out of a teeny tiny kitchen. Make sure you get the limoncello cake for dessert, it's not printed on the menu, and we ate it before I had a chance to take a picture. read more

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I love the food here! I came here with a party of six. We had the burrata as an an appetizer, the Caesar salad. I had the zuppa di Pesce, which was fantastic! The cheesecake was probably the best I ever had and everyone loved it in our group. We sat outside. Such a wonderful place to get true Italian food!! read more

Cafe Macaroni on Columbus is a solid spot for great food. The dishes are consistently excellent, and you can tell a lot of care goes into the preparation. The owner/chef is always present and incredibly kind, which adds a nice personal touch to the experience. read more

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Wonderful Italian you'd get and your grandma's house. Everything we had was great! The ravioli, seafood linguine and spaghetti and meatballs were all delicious. read more

We have been to Caffe Macaroni many times. Never disappoints. Even when busy, the food is consistently good. We enjoy visiting with Stephanie and Mario. Their hospitality is inviting. Our table for 4 was outside. There are heaters and we were comfortable. The food is Amalfi coast style Italian. Our appetizers were awesome- carpaccio and buratta nzallanut, . The dinners we chose were all perfect. Zero left overs: gnocchi with chicken, linguine d'mare, petrale sole, and tortellini. We were all so happy and will return. read more

My wife and I stopped in (made reservations) for dinner tonight. There is very little seating inside so we sat outside with heaters and it was just fine. We started with the Burrata and it was very good. We had the gnocchi and ravioli and they were both outstanding. We finished by sharing a piece of tiramisu and it too was outstanding. Everything was fresh. What a great little Italian cafe. Don't miss this one. read more

This is a North Beach gem. It's limited on indoor seating but they've been able to expand outdoors in a parklet. There is a roof and plenty of heaters, so don't let SF weather deter you from checking this place out. I loved the baby octopus spaghetti. The octopus was cooked to perfection - tender and flavorful without being rubbery. Paired with perfectly al dente spaghetti and a rich, mouthwatering sauce, this dish was a symphony of textures and tastes. And they have more than just great food. The owner and his wife truly elevate the dining experience. We had the pleasure of chatting with Stephanie, the owner's wife, who was incredibly friendly. Their genuine warmth and passion for their restaurant make the meal even better. read more

Caffe Macaroni - Baby octopus spaghetti - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Excellent location, Excellent Service, Excellent Food. The food is all fresh, you can taste the ocean on the seafood.

A very tiny inside Italian restaurant. We sat outside and enjoyed the great service. Dishes were portioned and priced well to allow a diner to try multiple items. Enjoyed the Burrata, Carpaccio, Sicilian cod special and Tiramisu. read more

Caffe Macaroni - Siciliane spevial - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had walked by this place many times when visiting SF and it was often very busy, so I thought I would make a reservation. My companion ordered the Spaghetti Siciliana. The fish almost smelled ammoniated and the pasta was undercooked (crunchy) and no sauce. The portion of fish was about 3 oz. with the pasta being about lunch-size.My Ragu Pappardelle was okay but nothing special. The aglio olio was made with inferior olive oil or it may have been a blend, but didn't taste luscious as a good olive oil can be. I didn't realize my peach ice tea would be pre-sweetened; I don't think it was house made. The diningroom decorations had a layer of dust. No one checked in with us during our dinner. The entire "experience" took 35 minutes. $70 + tip for 2 dishes and ice tea. Not a good meal at all. read more

This place is great. Felt like an Italian grandma was cooking for me (which isn't far from the truth!) Squid ink seafood pasta (5/5) Panna cotta (3/5) FOOD Was very pleasantly surprised with the pasta dish. The sauce was super delicious and the seafood was plentiful. The seafood from the shrimp, to the mussels, to the clams were cooked perfectly. The pasta was a perfect al dente. The sauce was so delicious I mopped up all of it with the bread they gave. The dessert was a bit more disappointing. The flavor of the panna cotta was excellent, however the cherry syrup was too artificial tasting and honestly reminded me of cough syrup. And once I bit into the sugar syrup dunked cherry on top it was game over - my entire palette was ruined. A shame really. Next time I'll get the tiramisu! SERVICE The man who served me was your classic Italian uncle through and through. Very kind and attentive to everything I needed (I think he may have owned the place). Could not have been happier with the service. AMBIANCE I thought the inside of the restaurant looked a bit dingy and outdated. However, the outside had a nice seating area and that's where I chose to dine. Overall, not a great date spot if you're looking to impress, however excellent spot if you're looking for a no frills Italian joint. read more

Caffe Macaroni - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Our server was a lovely lady, who happened to be the owners wife after we got to talking. She was very kind and personable. Our food was delicious and I loved the outdoor seating! read more

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Been hitting a lot of old school places lately. This certainly is one of those. I've known about to this Columbus Ave. institution since a famous columnist for our local newspaper talked about the "power people" dining here for lunch, likely often to wheel and deal (talking City Hall). Fast forward thirty years and it looks the same in my eyes except the addition of the dining parklet. Coming here around noon on an overcast Friday late morning, the gentleman at the door offered me a sidewalk two-top table. The inside looked small as I remembered so I had no qualms about it. As he ask my drink preference (water), he left a menu sheet while I noticed the taped QR code photo which linked me to the regular menu. When he returned with bread and a olive oil, garlic, and basil mix and my water, I ordered my meal. I started with the Cesare Romana (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=VUkjV8Jq11mJUUKwESWzBA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q), described as Romaine, egg yolks, anchovies, mustard, and parmagiano; the portion is generous and the greens nicely dressed. I will order this again. From the specials menu, I tried the pappardelle (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=s1F2HdxJ5jJqSBG3yRwfGg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q), listed as fresh ribbon pasta with wild boar and beef ragu with peas and fresh ricotta. I was a bit apprehensive as I am not a big ricotta fan (reminds me of cottage cheese). Guess what, it was pure perfection. The noodles were tender with a slight chewiness. I was worried about the wild boar making this gamey but it didn't. And the fresh ricotta gave this a richness, adding another element of flavor, besides the sweetness from the peas. I used the bread to clean every last drop of the sauce and ricotta. Portions wise, it was perfect with my meal probably two bites over satisfied. There were two parties in the dining structure, a couple at one and four guys at the other table. As I ate, a couple ladies took a table on the other side of the entrance while a gentleman and his dog sat at the table next to me so definitely dog friendly here. Thanks to Dario. for the pasta recommendation and for meeting all my needs. Another lady helped in clearing my dishes and refilling my water glass. A very satisfying and delicious meal and I will be back. Wish you were open for weekdays for lunch. read more

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Food is always good. Mario and his crew have been providing good food at reasonable prices for years. Any time I need a comfort food fix, I just pop in here. Glass of wine and a little pasta always hits the spot! read more

The ambiance of the restaurant is that of an Italian household, loud, and the best damn food you've ever had. The service was fantastic- hearing how the waitstaff conversed with their regulars sealed the deal. My waiter did a great job of pairing my meal with a delicious wine! The portions are perfect- not too small that you're still hungry, not too large that you're about to blow the button off your pants or eat leftovers for days. They have fantastic cappuccinos as well. I heard two different parties talking about the amazing desserts as they left the restaurant, can't say I disagree. I had a runner's high (dinner high?) after finishing my meal with them! I can't recommend this restaurant enough read more

Caffe Macaroni - Cappuccino and cannoli - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Whatever you may now think of him, I hope you'll agree that the best of Woody Allen's films consistently invokes a certain feeling about Manhattan and the romance of living there. Leaving Woody behind, I'd like to suggest that Caffe Macaroni is capable of giving you that exact same romantic feeling towards being alive at this time, in San Francisco, enjoying life despite whatever. It certainly did that for me. For those who can remember all the way back to the 1990's they may recall the quirky little Caffe Macaroni as the "it" place for a hot moment. That it endures all these years later - shines, in fact - is a testament to their ability to do things right. Everything. I'd just sat down outside, at the seats added during Covid. The night was chilly but I had a nice wine fever keeping me warm. I asked for a real, physical menu, which I so prefer over the QR-code option but then the owner told me of an Anchovy special ($13) and I didn't need to stare at the menu to decide that those were a requirement. Delicious shared, with bread to dip in the herbed oil that topped them. Burrata ($15) was my next choice and though nothing can compare with the serving size (or price) experienced in Florence, this serving caused joy. The finale - I thought - was a final shared dish, the sort of baked, cheesy, tomato-flecked pasta that warms everything inside you. With each forkful, long springs of melted cheese draped south. Sharing this dish al fresco on a cool night was reminiscent of the spaghetti scene between Lady and the Tramp. Insert heart emojis. An accompanying Italian red wine (house) was the perfect pairing and, though I thought everything was already fantastic, I realized moments later that the most-fitting finale was yet to come. Out walked the owner with 2 shots of Orangecello, a gift from him to us. It is just the small gesture of welcome that should - but rarely does - end every perfect meal. I walked back up Columbus Street in bliss. I think I even heard some romantic jazz playing, in my head, as the credits rolled. If you haven't been to Caffe Macaroni in a while perhaps now is the time. read more

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We were out for an overdue date night and decided to have dinner here after having tried it over 10 years ago. We remembered it being quaint and aunthentic...and it's still true today. We were seated in a corner which gave us a little bit of privacy in the small and cute interior space. It was raining outside so when the server offered us water it was slightly hot/warm which we felt was super thoughtful. We ordered the Cesar salad, linguini and baby octopus pasta. The Cesar salad was delicious, creamy and I could taste the hint of anchovy. Loved the al dente-ness of my linguini pasta and flavor of the clams and mussels together in the light sauce. The baby octopus pasta had a rich tomato flavor with a little kick that we used to soak our bread into. For dessert we ordered the tiramisu which tasted like layers of pillows with a drenched thin layer of lady fingers...yummm. It was the perfect ambiance accompanied by delicious and authentic Italian food. read more

Caffe Macaroni - Baby octopus pasta - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Spectacular dinner. I did not even have to order off the menu after Mario told me the specials! Will make it a stop every time I visit San Francisco. read more

Had a delicious meal here tonight with two friends! Everything was amazing. We ordered 3 pasta dishes to share. Each one was great. The eggplant appetizer was good. The pastas were the stars of the meal though! Black linguine with seafood: nice generous portions of octopus, claims, shrimp and calamari. Pasta puttanesca: I loved this dish. Very flavorful. Fish was fresh. Ragu special with ricotta: yum yum yum. Also light and not too heavy on the meat. We got Pannacota and cannoli for dessert everything was amazing. Mario and his wife were delightful. read more

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The food is amazing, and the owners are super nice and welcoming. You can tell they really care about their customers. Would definently recommend this place to anybody! read more

Tiny little Italian restaurant that had great service and food. The seating was a little crowded so if you have a large group and want something more spacious this might not be the right choice for you. I got the lasagna Al forno and it was absolutely delicious. There's so many places to try in this part of town but I'll definitely be back if I'm craving some good lasagna read more

Caffe Macaroni - Lasagna Al Forno - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Not bad. Service is pandering-tourist (lots of "Prego"'s). Tagliere was a mixed bag - some meat was coarsely cut, but some was quite good. House pinot grigio by the glass was abysmal. Meager portion of fennel salad. And pappardelle dressing was more beef than wild boar, but the noodles were sublime. Outdoor seating was pleasant. read more

I asked the counter guy if I could borrow a chair from his outdoor area and bring it a door down to the next door restaurant so my 93 year old relative could sit down for 10 minutes until that restaurant opened. Without hesitation, he said yes. I took his chair, which was then out of his line of vision and brought it next door before returning it once the restaurant had opened. The fact that he trusted me and was more concerned about my 93 year old relative than his chair shows the care this restaurant affords to people who are not even their customers yet. I will definitely check this restaurant out next and recommend them for the warmth and care they exude. read more

I dined here last night with friends.we were WELCOMED and seated promptly.the owners Mario and Stephanie were SOO nice and friendly (it's me Mario,who owns the bar in the Richmond district) we had..the most amazing meal burrata,carpaccio,rockfish a beautiful Caesar salad(with real egg yolk) plus various pastas.one of the best dining experiences I've ever had and to top it off Mario treated us to 3 tasty desserts thank you so much I'll be back read more

Happened upon Caffe Macaroni on our way to another dinner when visiting our son in SF. Looked like a quaint Italian restaurant and we wanted to try it. Glad we did. Small restaurant with only a few inside seats and an outdoor heated sidewalk patio. Mario and Stephanie are the best! They make you feel welcome and like you're at a family member's home. The food was delicious! I had the spaghetti and meatballs. So good. The meatballs had good flavoring and cooked to perfection, the sauce flavorful and did not over power the pasta. Husband had the pappardelle and son had baked pasta. There wasn't a bite left to take home. Had the panna cota for dessert and it was decadent. Dreaming about our next visit. Ciao! read more

Caffe Macaroni - Papperdelle - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've wanted to eat here for so long. Every time I passed by they were closed until last night. It's off the beaten path of North Beach which I prefer. There was way less foot traffic for sidewalk dining. I had the wild boar ragu with pappardelle and it was delicious. I loved the addition of the peas and the cheese. Service was good. Not overly attentive but just attentive enough. I docked them a star because they added fresh ground pepper to my dish before I had a chance to say no. Please wait one second for your customer to answer the question and if you're going to put anything on my pasta, make it freshly grated Parmesan! My friend and I shared the burrata appetizer and it was delicious. If I ordered that on my own, it would be a whole meal because it was so big. The pesto on it was delicious, as were the cherry tomatoes. All in all, a good time. I would definitely go back. So glad they were open and I was still in town to enjoy it. read more

On the outskirts of North Beach, this quaint restaurant gives the other Italian joints some stiff competition. Limited menu, but what they serve is really good. Perfect for whether you're hankering some shellfish or just want some comforting baked pasta. Pasta Nera Amalfitana: With so many Italian joints nearby focusing on cioppino, it was nice to find seafood put to a different use. The were 7 clams, 7 mussels, 1 super large shrimp and various octopus pieces in a light broth reminiscent of bouillabaisse. All set against such dark black squid ink linguine. It wasn't just a coloring gimmick, it tasted more ocean-y than regular linguine. This alone could fill up one hungry adult, without really needing other courses. Maccheronata Al Forno: I'm kinda addicted to lasagna for Italian takeout, but that's not served here, so baked pasta was a logical substitution. Turned out to be a great choice, more cheesy than most lasagna even. I especially liked how a good amount of the cheese was quite stringy. Though less fancy the pasta nera amalfitana, it was pure comfort! read more

Caffe Macaroni - Maccheronata Al Forno - Italian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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