Caffe Puccini

02/15/08

Good coffee-house also has good food

by rkishore at Citysearch

You think espresso or cappuccino when you pass by here, but they have good food too (without the hassle of a wait). Their long-time employees provide excellent service, and they don't mind if you get a cup of coffee and stay for a couple of hours. The owner is often sitting at one of the tables.

Unlike their neighbors, Caffe Greco, they roast their own coffee. (I buy their beans regularly.) Their coffees and their Italian sodas are among the best one can find in the US. The walls have a lot of Giacomo Puccini, who's from owner Graziano's hometown (Lucca) in Italy. The outdoor seating is great for people-watching and stealing a smoke. :-)

I have not tried all of their food (their do have a long menu for a coffee-shop), but I would mention the following specially:

pasta with mushroom sauce; eggplant lasagna; crisp foccacia with smoked salmon, mozzarella and capers; all of their specialty sandwiches; affogato (get it with gelato instead of ice-cream), tiramisu, Italian flan,...

The SF Chronicle rated Caffe Puccini's pasta among the top three in San Francisco, in their quest to find the best pasta.

• Pros: Own coffee beans, good food for a coffee-house or restaurant
• Cons: Parking, as with any place on Columbus Avenue

04/12/06

Beware...go for the coffee not the food

by shopgrl34 at Citysearch

A friend and I just had a horrible experience at this place. We started smelling burnt smells coming from the kitchen and once her lasagne arrived, we realized it was her pasta. We both work in the restaurant industry and almost always feel embarrassed to say anything about poor food. However, we felt it necessary to notify the counter person, who took the pasta to the chef. The chef came out and became very angry, telling my friend she had to leave, that she didn't know what real italian food was. Obviously our mistake for attempting the food at a coffee joint!

• Pros: ambiance, coffee
• Cons: Poor hospitality, Food

03/13/06

A Great Meal

by sixteencmg at Citysearch

We chanced upon this place while travelling in San Fran and it was such a treat. My husbands clam linguine was packed with clams and my papardelle bolognese was delicious.

• Pros: Great Value, Delicious Food
• Cons: Noisy