Just wanted to give an updated review for my absolute favorite cafe in Marin. D.G. Cafe always knocks it out of the park on every order. Whether it's a quick coffee, lunch or catering for my office, they're amazing. Thanks to Clive and Max for everything you do. You two are incredible. I honestly couldn't recommend them more highly, especially when it comes to catering. They provide a spread that never fails to impress. Fresh, tasty and on time. If you're near San Anselmo, be sure to stop by their cafe for breakfast or lunch. You won't be disappointed. read more

I wish I could give 3.5 stars. We came here after reading great reviews. It was my birthday so was hoping for something special. The sandwiches were good yet definitely didn't wow us . The interior is an average deli look . We wanted to sit at a larger table but one of the managers/owners had their laptop set up on it. The coffee was not terrific. I really hoped to like this place more as supporting small & local business is important to me. If I'm in San Anselmo again I'll take a peek inside to see if anything's changed. Perhaps it was just a one off day? read more

D.G. Cafe - Loved the Imagination Garden Sandwich. Lots of goodies in it. Would suggest a whole grain bread. - Cafes Near Me - San Anselmo, California

Such a nice people and delicious food. I love how u can make your own sandwich here. And how clean they are. Plus parking is easy out here. read more

D.G. Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Anselmo, California

Says a lot about the quality of a small, family owned cafe to come through the epidemic, while turning casual diners into loyal regulars. Impeccably clean, welcoming place with fresh, delicious, healthy foods. Fairly priced, good sized sandwiches, salads, pastries. Accommodating, fast and friendly service, love the walk- by window counter!. read more

Really great, fresh, delicious sandwiches. Staff is very friendly. Restaurant is very well stocked and very, very clean. Only slight con is the parking, although there are two green zones within walking distance. I try and get sandwiches here anytime I am downtown San Anselmo. read more

HANDS down D. G. CAFE is the best Cafe I have been to thus far in San Anselmo!!! Ca. Food was DELICIOUS! The ambiance is just LOVELY. The owner actually made my sandwiches , and so yummy. They are located in an Awesome location., just a Hop skip and a jump and you are there. Just the loveliest local Cafe. You'd be hard pressed to find a better cafe in town. I totally recommend D. G. CAFE!! In addition to the tasty sandwiches they also serve top notch coffee. I had an Americano while waiting for my sandwiches. The entire experience CHEFS KISS Thank You so much for a tasty lunch a delicious coffee pick me up and such wonderful service... I will definitely come back. Thank You Clive & Max read more

I love popping by D.G. Cafe. Great sandwiches made with precision and love by Clive Nisse. I also just noticed that they have a "walk-by"counter so you can order something quick from the sidewalk, which is what I did for my roast beef sandwich today, since Pablo the dog was with me. They are starting to do a solid breakast, so this might be my new way to get my coffee and pastry as well. By the way, D.G. stands for Defy Gravity. read more

D.G. Cafe - Roast Beef! - Cafes Near Me - San Anselmo, California

Sandwiches taste better when someone else makes them for you, according to a 2013 study by Carnegie Mellon University. That's because when you make your own sandwich, you sort of already know how it's going to taste - your brain treats it as "known information" instead of a delightful and satisfying surprise. By the time you take your first bite, it's like taking your fifth bite. According to the study, "The sandwich that another person prepares is not "pre-consumed" in the same way." This is one of the reasons people love delicatessens. As I watched D.G. Cafe owner Clive Nisse make my roast beef sandwich, I thought I could imagine how it would taste. And honestly, I was a little skeptical that it would be any good. From where I was standing, it looked completely straightforward. Tomato. Shredded lettuce. Red onions. Roast beef. Cream cheese. "Bummer," I thought. I'll tell you more about how wrong I was a little later. But first Clive's story... which he told me as I watched him work. Clive grew up in England watching his mum cook with a certain inquisitiveness. He loved cooking enough to enroll in culinary school. Like Steve Franchetti of Bruno's in San Rafael, Clive has always been in the food business - specifically the bakery side. He was the GM of Starter Bakery for four years and had leadership roles at Rustic, City Baking Co., Il Fornaio, Noe Valley Baking Co., and Au Bon Pain. So, like Steve, he knows what he's doing. In his case, he especially knows what he's doing with bread Also like Steve, Clive has wanted to open a delicatessen for some time. And last year, as yet another new wave of COVID-19 washed over us, a food-service-ready spot opened up on San Anselmo Avenue in the heart of the town's retail district - about a mile from his house. He could have put $100K into getting the spot exactly how he wanted it, but that would have taken a year. So he jumped right into the space and revved up the business, hiring his two teenage daughters to help him out on occasion. Not great timing, as it turned out - as the pandemic has continued to rage and the delta variant is only just now starting to level off (thanks in part to the huge, vocal population of self-centered, fact-averse idiots who don't like to be told what to do). But when Clive started the business in October 2020, we were all very hopeful that the vaccine would sort out the virus and we'd be back to flying, picnicking, shopping, and congregating en masse by summertime 2021. Alas, like most places on San Anselmo Ave, it's still fairly slow at D.G. Cafe. In addition to offering customers the "create-your-own" option (something I don't want to do when I open my deli, but may have to due to its popularity), Clive has seven sandwich concepts on the menu. He came up with the recipes on his own and validated them through tastings before opening the shop. All of the sandwiches are named after local landmarks: Tamalpais Tuna, Creek Park Chicken Pesto, Red Hill Roast Beef, etc. What I had underestimated about the roast beef sandwich that I watched Clive make was the power of fresh, locally sourced ingredients and how well the horseradish cream cheese pairs with the very fresh, moist roast beef. Also, I hadn't noticed this before, but the bread that it came on was a super fresh, soft, poppy seed onion roll. The man knows his bread. He also knows the importance of apportionment. To add the exact right amount of every ingredient takes sandwiches to another level. The freshness of the ingredients can take it to another level again. There was exactly the right amount of horseradish in the cream cheese and exactly the right amount of cream cheese on the sandwich (a nice big glob of it). Once the thing was in my belly, I was completely full and satisfied. Son Luka (14) had the Creek Park Chicken Pesto sandwich and raved about it. It had a nice fat chunk of fresh swiss and exactly the right amount of pesto. This is unique because pesto very often overpowers dishes. When it comes to delicatessens, the importance of "vibe" cannot be overstated. Yelp reviewers rave about the friendliness of D.G.'s cafe. James from San Rafael says, "Clive is a gracious and attentive host." Someone named Theart writes, "The folks working here were super friendly and the environment was very clean." "The owner was very friendly and welcoming," says Kenyn from Redlands. Clive and I had a lovely chat and his daughter was sweet and welcoming, too. I also love the idea that he's teaching his girls about the business. read more

D.G. Cafe - Red Hill Roast Beef Sandwich - the horseradish cream cheese makes it. - Cafes Near Me - San Anselmo, California

See all

Excellent sandwich and very friendly service. We were walking by and thought a sandwich sounded good. Clive was friendly, and made 2 amazing sandos for us! Also saw "pincic" menus available, great addition to downtown San Anselmo! read more

This is a fabulous with delightful, trendy decor, family run, and owner operated. Very friendly and welcoming! Located on the street in a beautiful building right in the middle of downtown San Anselmo. The food is so good! I had a great sandwich that was so fresh, very generous, and it was absolutely delicious. I would strongly recommend this deli- café if you are out and about town in San Anselmo and for anything that needs to be catered. I will be returning!! read more

What a great local gem! I devoured my lunch today at D.G. Cafe! I have a lot of challenges with my diet, I can't have gluten, dairy or nightshades, and D.G.'s menu was very accommodating! I had a custom salad that includes tuna, romaine, cucumbers, sunflower seeds, pickles and onions all mixed up together with oil and vinegar. It was delicious! They have a variety of choices of proteins and dressings and other ingredients that can be mixed in as well. In addition to salads, that have a great selection of sandwiches too. The staff and owners were so nice! The ambiance is very mellow making it a great spot to work while enjoying a meal or cappuccino. I'll be stopping by again for that salad the next time I'm in San Anselmo for sure! read more

My fiancé and I were road tripping to wine country and stopped into D.G. cafe for a quick lunch. It was perfect! Tasty sandwiches: I had tuna which they make w avocado vs Mayo (#healthy!) and my man had roast beef- he loved!! They had options to choose from along with "master" sandwiches which is an option to make yourself. Sandwiches are big! We only had half and saved the other for a picnic. Parking, super easy! Lots of 3 hr spots. Owners were there running the place. Spoke with them & they are a wonderful family owned cafe! They support local artists too. Support local- check them out read more

D.G. Cafe - Local Art for sale - Cafes Near Me - San Anselmo, California

See all

Clive is a gracious and attentive host, and D.G. Cafe will soon become a San Anselmo meet-up spot for a homemade lunch or coffee with friends. The environment is very homey, and the menu is very relatable. We were looking for something quick and simple, and Clive delivered! The Panini sandwiches are ready in a flash. I really look forward to when DG Cafe becomes renowned for their Grilled Cheese and Bacon (or not) Panini. Who doesn't love a heartwarming bowl of "Soup of the Day" and a Grilled Cheese Sandwich! read more

I was dubious when I entered D. G. Cafe, specifically for a salad. No customers and a menu that heavily weighted sandwiches. I was delightfully surprised. The Cobb Hobb Nobber was a refreshing and remarkably flavorful salad. The ingredients are perfectly balanced for optimum palate pleasure. Also it was well chilled. I didn't realize what difference that would make. Be sure to read the reviews about his culinary background. Clyde, the owner was charming and exceedingly accommodating. He didn't have the type of dressing that my friend wanted but made dressing from scratch, that my friend said was perfect. She was visiting from LA. and wants to come here for lunch every time she comes to visit. I inquired About the name D. G. That was the icing on the cake. It stands for "defying gravity". In part this is a statement about opening a restaurant during Covid. But it's also a celebration of his special needs daughter. "Defying Gravity" is her favorite song from her favorite musical,Wicked. And apparently a testimony to her. This cafe certainly defies expectations. Now, let's support it so it can spread its wings and fly. You'll be glad you did and that your told your friends about it! read more

Wow... Crazy inflated prices if you order takeout through Yelp. Pretty disappointing as a pregnant person who is just trying to minimize interactions with people during the pandemic by ordering online. We got a tuna wrap and pesto chicken sandwich and both were one step above Safeway and three steps below Woodlands. No comparison quality-wise to MH Bread and Butter down the road but they're charging MH prices. Both sandwiches we got were $14-$15 dollars each. The tuna wrap contained about $2 of ingredients. It was literally just tuna salad in a tortilla... no lettuce, no tomato, or anything else. The chicken sandwich had flavorless tomatoes, shredded iceberg lettuce, and white poached (?) chicken with a few inches of fat/gristle that hadn't been removed. Would have been fine at like $9 as it's convenient and edible, but these are not $15 sandwiches. Now I know I don't need to mix it up anymore! I'll just keep going to MH and Comforts. Wishing them all the best, though, and I'll give them another shot if their prices and quality get in line with each other. read more

Cute place, great food and like advertised, Made Well - I would add with love. Very nice staff - friendly and patient, will to go the extra mile to give great customer service! I can't wait until next time. I want to taste it all! read more

Great spot for a coffee, sandwich, pastry, salad- My chicken pesto sandwich was homemade, delicious and filling. Other's had tuna wraps -also delish. Eat in or take to the park- Creek park with Indiana Jones statue just up the block. Price is right too. read more

Great food, great location and atmosphere. Definitely recommend this cafe to all. Go get a great sandwich at a great price.... A+++++++++

Had a phenomenal sandwich today at DG cafe! Chicken Pesto! They had a solid menu of great sounding sandwiches and friendly owners and easy to get to / park locations right on San Anselmo Ave. I'll be back! read more

Very nice sandwich & salad cafe - & delicious pastries...perfect for grabbing breakfast or lunch to go

The Mt Baldy BLT is my favorite sandwich ever!! Could eat it 4 times a day. Service is amazing and they have the cutest shop. Love it here!!

This cafe is a must try if you are in the area! I got the red hill roast beef and the creek park chicken pesto and it was delicious. Amazing cafe and an amazing owner. Can't wait to come again!!! read more

I was looking to treat myself to a sandwich today and I saw that this cafe recently opened. I ordered the Imagination Garden with cheddar and feta, no pickles, and garlic aioli instead of oil and vinegar. I did add red wine vinegar at home, this part is very necessary for the flavor but I like to add it at home for soggy sandwich prevention. She is definitely delicious! The only change I would do is to get the bread toasted. I forgot to ask for that. I also got some egg salad on the side but wasn't much a fan because it had pickle slices. I did like how the eggs were boiled. read more

D.G. Cafe - Imagination Garden Sandwich with cheddar and feta - Cafes Near Me - San Anselmo, California

Love this place! Fresh food and great service! The salads are really yummy and the sandwiches are great too! It's nice to have a new spot in town to try out! read more

Fantastic cafe right in the heart of San Anselmo. They have a ton of great options, but we love their BLT sandwiches. Perfect for a quick lunch or picnic. read more

Walking by and noticed a large wooden sign on sidewalk, decided to go in and investigate. Ordered a tuna sandwich on wheat to go. Was absolutely delighted! Tuna sandwich was fresh with lettuce, tomato and cucumber, hint of lemon with spices in the tuna. Service was fast and courteous. I'll be back to try other goodies on the menu read more

Stopped here on a split second decision to get coffee before a hike in Samuel p Taylor. Service was extraordinarily friendly, great coffee and the not sandwich was one of the best we ever had. You can tell this business puts love into everything they do! Stop here for your next lunch picnic while enjoying beautiful west marin! read more

Yum! I hadn't planned on stopping for lunch but I happen to walk past this cute café. I ordered the roast beef sandwich and expected it to be a typical deli sandwich. However, with the poppyseed bun and fresh ingredients, I felt that is deserved a positive yelp review. I recommend this business and will return again. Great customer service too! read more

Sweetest family runs this business that does everything possible to make sure you are happy and satisfied with your orders. Ive trued multiple sandwich's and not once found a flaw in them, my favorite drink is there Mocha, its toasty and yummy %100! I recommend checking it out and trying there signature sandwiches! The prices are really great for the quality and amount, super filling. If you have a sweet tooth I remember there soft chocolate chip cookies and brownies. If you dont like chocolate as much they have many other sweet alternatives including fruit cups ! read more

Delicious BLT (and comes with avocado!) sandwich. Pressed sourdough bread is perfect. Portion is just right and the garlic aioli is amazing!! Not too garlic-y thankfully! The owner is super nice and we chatted while he prepared the sandwiches - can tell that he takes pride in his business and customer experience! Will be back! read more

Incredible sandwiches, salads and a great lattee too!. Very friendly staff. Covid safe with take out window. I will definitely order the picnic to go for my next hike. Brilliant. Highly recommend ! read more

I absolutely love D.G. Cafe and highly recommend it! Although I live in Los Angeles, every time I'm back in Marin I look forward to grabbing lunch at D.G. All of the ingredients are super fresh and their Master Sandwich Maker option allows you to fully customize your sandwich. In addition, the owners are great people that take pride in their establishment. Can't wait until the next time I'm back in the area so that I can enjoy another fresh roast beef sandwich! read more

We are delighted with the addition of DG Cafe to downtown San Anselmo. My husband and I hightly recommend the Creek Park Chicken Pesto and the Tamalpais Tuna ( love the addition of sliced cucumber). The Nisse family is welcoming and true to their word that " their food does the talking" ...delicious and creative! Lisa DV read more

Stopped in for a Latte in the morning and WOW was it perfect! The owner was very friendly and welcoming. I returned for lunch and ordered a BLT which was absolutely delicious. The sourdough had the perfect amount of crunch. The ingredients were very fresh. The sandwhich was prepared perfectly and was bursting with flavor. This place is definitely a hidden gem at the moment but when people catch on I wouldn't be surprised if this is soon a San Anselmo staple for breakfast and lunch! read more

Just tried DGCafe for the first time. Roast beef sandwich is killer. They have a to-go walk up window - very fast!

I came here from Pennsylvania and came to this cafe on my first day here and became so addicted! I have gone everyday since coming here. The food, coffee and service is truly amazing. 11/10 recommend read more

Fantastic atmosphere! The sandwiches are tasty & all fresh / local... and very polite staff, I definitely recommend trying here!

So yummy and reasonable prices for what you order. The owners are extremely nice and welcoming. We tried the roast beef and BLT. Both were full of flavor and the BLT had melt in your mouth, crispy bread. Highly recommend. Also, had an iced latte that was shockingly delicious. Will be returning to try more items. read more

I just ordered, and ate, a tuna salad from the new DG Cafe in San Anselmo. They're doing signature salads along with a "toss your own" version with protein and veges you choose yourself (like PLUTO's, a long time fav). I made my own with tuna and it was absolutely perfect. They do the same with sandwiches, signature or make your own. I'm doing that tomorrow. A fantastic addition to the downtown. Everyone should give it a try. Locally owned as well. read more

Just what the town lacked, a perfect sandwich and salad place. Each salad made to order with perfectly fresh ingredients. and I have now tried three different sandwiches and am working my way through the menu. The BLT today was amazing. Can't figure out what made it taste just right but it did. The town has several places to sit down and have a full hot lunch, but when I want a light lunch to eat quickly there or to take out, served with a smile and extra effort, boy have I found the place! read more