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    D.G. Cafe

    4.9 (42 reviews)

    D.G. Cafe Photos

    D.G. CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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    Roast Beef!
    Nish N.

    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.

    Red Hill Roast Beef Sandwich - the horseradish cream cheese makes it.
    Todd A.

    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.

    Local Art for sale

    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

    Imagination Garden Sandwich with cheddar and feta

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    5 years ago

    Business owner information

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    Clive N.

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    5 years ago

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    Clive N.

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - D.G. Cafe

    Dear D. G. Cafe, I would love to know if your salads are organic? I am looking forward to hearing back from you. Thank you

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    4.4
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    This quickly became my favorite place in town once I discovered it. It's hard to find fresh,…read morehealthy food in Novato (especially in South Novato) and this checks all the boxes. Great options for vegetarians and carnivores alike! The Acai bowls are yummy (some of the better ones in Marin) but I personally love their Bay Bowl (pictured here) because it's the perfect balance of sweet and savory. I order it almost once a week. I was also hooked on their smoothies while I was pregnant! The staff is super friendly and the food is ready quickly. They also offer curbside pickup through the app!! It's a great spot to hang outside when the weather is nice. We bring many friends and visitors here, and they are always impressed. Truly something for everyone on the menu. They offer local deals a few times a month through their newsletter or text!

    Loveeee Active Culture! I work down the street and love to…read morego here for a filling, healthy lunch. Their salads and food are so fresh, are made with quality ingredients, and are served in large portions as well! The Eastern Trade Winds salad is my absolute favorite - the dates in this salad add the perfect amount of sweetness! Staff is always kind and attentive. Definitely recommend trying their salads and soft serve! Only downside is that it's kind of pricey (average salad is about $20 and shake is $13ish), but worth it once or twice a week!

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    Lou's Takeaway

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    4.8
    (323 reviews)
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    Home Run! The food here is exceptional. They don't do quantity, they do quality. Some of the most…read morediverse flavors I've had recently. You should probably plan ahead and order before you get there, even though there is a possibility of showing up and ordering if they have plates still available. Better to know you have the food you want to order. They only do lunch and dinner and the menu is listed each day with times to call and place your pre-orders. See website for times. The place is mostly take out, although there is a small out door first come seating area. Service is exceptional and the food is incredible. Never had a bad meal here. In fact everytime I order I am amazed at the quality of the produce, ingredients and flavors. The chef has an amazing ability to satisfy even the toughest food critic in your family. If you are looking for a great food experience that compiles exceptional food with top notch customer service from people who truly love what they do, look no further!

    This is one of my best eats of the year and it's only March! Lou's takeaway caught my attention…read morewhen I was looking for a grab and go dinner for a sunset picnic I had planned and they didn't disappoint at all. I assume I talked to Anthony (Lou) while I was ordering and he helped me and my friend choose between all the options they had for the day. I love how it's really no frills, but just really good food. My friend and I ordered the sunset fried chicken(?) and the local fried rockfish to share. Both were fried to perfection and we loved how the sauces complimented the meal so well. The chicken's sauce was spicy, savory and you could really taste the Calabrian chili kicking through. The rockfish's sauce was tangy and was perfect with the fish. The salad was also the perfect side for the meal. Portion were huge and we were able to eat it for another meal.

    Photos
    Walk up counter/front
    Walk up counter/front
    360 -wINDmill dUNK--hAPPy crY-over a "FLyOver fRIED cHICKEN SandwiCH"
    360 -wINDmill dUNK--hAPPy crY-over a "FLyOver fRIED cHICKEN SandwiCH"
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    Blue Barn

    Blue Barn

    3.8
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    My family had lunch today at Blue Barn. This is such a great place! We have been a bunch of of…read moretimes to their Corte Madera location, but I love the seating area here both inside and on their huge back patio. This is a counter service place and the line can sometimes can take a lot during busy days. They have a lot of great options here for food and a good size kids menu! My wife and I opted for salads on this visit. The cost feels a bit high, but the salads are huge and feel well worth the cost. I had the Thai Chicken salad. I love the dressing on the salad and the crunch from the peanuts and crispy wontons is so good! The chili lime chicken has a nice tangy flavor and the veggies all give a nice, herby flavor. My wife had the Tostada salad, which has a delicious, smoky and sweet flavored dressing. My daughter had their chicken tenders and fries, which she enjoyed. This is a great place for larger groups, and its location on Grant Ave is brings a lot of excitement to this downtown Novato neighborhood.

    Blue Barn is a must visit in downtown Novato for salads and sandwiches! I stopped in on a Tuesday…read moreafternoon and they were packed! I ordered their tomato soup with a slice of focaccia and my friend ordered the winter salad with brussel sprouts, butternut squash, broccoli, kale, pomegranates pinenuts, quinoa, parmesan, meyer lemon-balsamic dressing and seasonal mixed greens. The salad was huge and looked delicious! I will be coming back to try that! My soup was very flavorful and full of croutons & scallions. The food came out very quickly for them being so busy. They have a cute indoor seating area as well as patio seating, which would be perfect for the warmer weather months.  The staff was very friendly and helpful when placing my order. I would recommend this place when in the area!

    Photos
    Inside view
    Inside view
    Blue Barn
    Outside seating

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    Outside seating
    Wrap N Kabob

    Wrap N Kabob

    4.5
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    Wrap N Kabob is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, you can tell this place takes pride…read morein both their food and customer service. Keivan, the owner, is incredibly welcoming and clearly passionate about making sure every guest has a great experience. The steak wraps were outstanding--packed with flavor, perfectly cooked, and incredibly satisfying. Every bite was fresh and delicious. You can really taste the quality and care that goes into the food here. After trying the steak wraps, I already know I'll be back because now I want to try all the other dishes on the menu. If they're anything like what I had, this place is a winner across the board. Highly recommend Wrap N Kabob to anyone looking for amazing food and friendly service! I forgot to take a picture of the steak wraps but I'll repost when I go back to try all the other items.

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    Wrap N Kabob
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    sweetgreen - Healthy Salads, Wraps, and Bowls

    sweetgreen - Healthy Salads, Wraps, and Bowls

    3.1
    (110 reviews)
    2.9 mi

    I have never ate inside here but it is very clean inside this establishment. I've order take out…read morethe food is amazingly healthy and very fulfilling. I have never had to wait long when ordering inside because the service was pretty fast. It has a lunch line way of ordering your food if you want to build your meal like Chipotle or you can order off their amazing menu. This place is amazing plz go.

    Really disappointed in them lately. The other week I ordered for pick up and received minimal…read morechicken and a stale end nub of bread that was about the size of their dressing container lid. I received credit online for the disappointing food and placed another order on Friday for pick up. It was placed at 1:54pm after the normal lunch rush with an estimated ready time of 2:15. I left my office at 2:15 to pick it up since it hadn't updated on the app. Usually it's always ready by the time I get there so I got to the restaurant about 10-15minutes later. It was empty, no other food on the shelf expect my order. I went to pick it up and everything was checked off on the receipt. The sticker and bread were covering most of it so I didn't open the sealed lid to check. Once I got to my office I opened the container and saw that there was no chicken even though it was ordered and the receipt shows it was checked off. I was hungry and really disappointed that the main part of the meal was missing. No notes about it. Then at 3:37pm I get an email that it's ready to be picked up.... If I had waited until then that means my food would have been sitting out at room temp for almost an 1.5hrs which is unacceptable. If they were waiting to cook more chicken I don't think it would take 1.5hrs and they definitely shouldn't have had the food sitting out. There should be some communication if there are issues or if they are out of something. It shouldn't be checked off if it isn't in the container. On the app they offered me the same $10 credit I received for the other order with very small portions, but I feel that I can't trust them anymore to fulfill the order. I used to order from them often and haven't had any issues until this month.

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    Serving Counter
    Serving Counter
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    sweetgreen - Healthy Salads, Wraps, and Bowls

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    Sol Food

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    One of the best dining experiences we've had in the area…read more There's almost always a line when we visit, but it moves surprisingly fast and never feels frustrating. The restaurant uses community-style seating with shared tables, which adds to the lively and welcoming atmosphere. The staff is consistently friendly and helpful. The ordering process is simple--you place your order at the counter when you enter, find a seat, and the food is brought out shortly after. Despite how busy the restaurant can get, the food arrived quickly. On this visit, we ordered the Mariquitas, Tostones con Mojo, Camarones a la Diabla, and the Sándwich de Pollo. Every dish was excellent. The portions were generous, the ingredients tasted fresh, and everything was packed with flavor. The Camarones a la Diabla had just the right amount of spice, while the sides and appetizers were equally enjoyable. What stands out most about Sol Food is the consistency. Great food, friendly service, reasonable wait times, and excellent value for the quality and portion sizes. This has become one of our favorite spots, and it's a place we make sure to visit whenever we're in town. Highly recommended.

    Finally made it and I'm glad we did! A friend told me about this place. Very busy on a Sunday night…read morewith a short wait as guests did keep rolling in. They ran out of the Rotisserie chicken (which must have been very popular) but we tried other dishes. Next time I wanna the Cuban sandwich Bustling inside, Puerto Rican music filled the room and loud chatter was in the air. Loved the bright green colored building and colorful decor inside! If you go to the Bodega next door, you can see how many people are busting their tails in the kitchen, wow!

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    Interior
    Interior
    Bistec Sandwich
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    Spicy shrimp with side of fry's  Hard for me to pronounce the name sorry

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    Garden Cafe

    Garden Cafe

    4.5
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    1.8 mi
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    We had such a lovely time at Garden Cafe with my favorite people--it made the whole experience even…read moremore special. We ordered a little bit of everything: the bacon scramble, cinnamon pancakes, burger, chorizo Benedict, and corned beef hash--and honestly, every single dish was delicious. Everything came out flavorful, well-prepared, and satisfying. The vibe was cozy and welcoming, perfect for a relaxed meal with people you love. Definitely a spot we'd come back to again!

    Driving through San Rafael, I decided to get something from Garden Cafe to go. I ordered the…read moreBreakfast Burrito and thought I had ordered the Garden Scramble, but I guess accidentally ordered the Veggie Scramble instead...which didn't come with eggs. Oh well, it had good flavor and I haven't been eating many veggies these days, so it worked out. The breakfast burrito was very good! The hot sauce that was served with it had a good amount of heat, and I really enjoyed it. The variety of fruit served with the burrito also pleasantly surprised me. I ordered a juice with my meal as well. When I called to order, the employee said they had recently renamed their drinks, so she listed off ingredients for a few of them and I just picked based off what she said was inside. The juice was good, but so small! I think it was around a 6oz cup; I was expecting more than that for the price. I also went into use the restroom when I picked up the ordered and employee glared at me, which I thought was weird. I guess he assumed I wasn't a customer and was just wandering in? Overall, good quality and tasty food. However, I do think the price point is a slightly higher than it should be.

    Photos
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    Entrance
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    D.G. Cafe - cafes - Updated June 2026

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