Caffe 817

03/13/2007 Posted by amandy

Found this place on my way to court today, very small but cute and by far one of the best cafe au lait's i've ever had. The staff was very friendly and the pastries were also delicious. I'm sure I'll head back again soon.

Pros: Service and Coffee

Cons: Small space

10/05/2006 Posted by goodfood1234

Locally-sourced ingredients, nice preparation, helpful service. Less fluff, more quality - this place is great!

Pros: locally-sourced

09/13/2006 Posted by emilybrannan

I always go for breakfast on Saturday morning for the poached eggs, fruit salad and the best latte but last time I met with a friend for lunch I had one of the daily specials on the menu the Fresh Porcini Mushroom Risotto and I have to say it was delicious. The charming family that owns the caffe it go out of their way to make the caffe the best it can be and the staff is very helpful specially the girls that work the front. v

09/01/2006 Posted by eamber

cafe 817 hasn't been the same lately. i've been going there for about 5 years and the quality has certainly declined. lately the food and especially the coffee isn't up to par and you feel like you're being rushed out the door. but today was the coup de grâce. i'd just arrived and met a friend seated at one of the bench tables outside and had put my feet up on the chair opposite me underneath the table. a few moments later the owner or manager came by and yanked the chair out from under my feet and told me that they didn't allow people to put their feet on the chairs there. he immediately got bumped up to the top of my list of worst restaurant experiences i've ever had. unbelievable. i believe that in this day and in this area there's no reason to put up with such things. i won't be going back, my money will be going elsewhere.

07/22/2006 Posted by tres_fontaine

On a nice day, a sidewalk table and a poached egg concoction are a perfect breakfast. Very european and simple but excellently prepared. I also highly recommend the nicoise salad for lunch, every morsel on this salad was fresh and tasty. The family that run this place is friendly but also very european and direct, some tacky loud americans may not appreciate the european simplicity of the food, atmosphere, service.

Pros: Sidewalk tables, eggs, salads

Cons: simple menu with limited choices

01/17/2006 Posted by 1897

A trendy caffe serving unique and delicious breakfast and lunch with changing daily specials. wall art that changes every couple of months and the ambiance is so european as if you are in a caffe in Florence. The mahogany tables and chairs, the high ceiling and gorgeous counter bar all make this caffe a very nice place for a breakfast meeting and an enjoyable lunch. The food is outstanding, the soup changes daily the pastas all have been exceptional and in Spring the salads are seasonal and amazingly creative and are a match to many high exposure restaurants. I see many regulars, who like me enjoy fresh ingredients and gastronomic dishes. I choose from the specials, but their sandwiches are fresh and are one of a kind wether they are on baquette or as a pannini. Yes the coffee is really the best and so is the food

Pros: lunch specials, ambiance, freshness

Cons: small

11/18/2005 Posted by zirkus

Caffe 817 has excellent coffee and food. However, the staff and management can be a bit aloof. I was actually asked to remove my purse from the table where I was sitting by the owner because he was afraid of scratches. Personalities aside, it's the best cappuccino on the way to the office.

09/28/2005 Posted by nadine333

Cafe 817 brings back that good old time feeling of walking into an establishment run by people who care. Serving food that not only satisfies the palate, but also makes a statement in terms of uniqueness, freshness, creativity, and conveying a true sense of Italian/European origin. Variety is insured here as the menu changes regularly to keep up with seasonal changes. While dining there and talking with other patrons, I discovered that some who live in San Francisco go out of their way to regularly have breakfast or lunch at Cafe 817. The reason is obvious; even SF does not have a restaurant that matches what is offered here. Do yourself a favor, go to Oakland (it's cheaper than flying to Italy), and try a PLT (pancetta, lettuce, and tomato panini) or truffled eggs benedict with real truffles!! You will be pleasantly surprised at what you find.