Caffè Macaroni

If you’re searching for a local, cozy and authentic restaurant with a warm welcome and a great service, this is the place! I’ve travelled the world, and rarely do you find such an authentic spot. The cutest family run Italian restaurant. Before I been sat down I was welcomed with a glass of red wine, greeted with smiles and offered delicious specials from the menu. I felt like I was back in Italy for a moment. The burrata and the chicken Parm was insanely good and I was treated with a limoncello to top it all off. Wow. On a cold evening, this place was full of warmth. 10 stars if I could!

I had the best panna cotta of my life tonight! We had such a special dinner, every dish was delicious, perfectly al dente pasta, moist and flaky sole, the freshest heirloom tomatoes in the insalata di caprese, cozy and authentic environment…I will be back!!

The food was delicious and the people were great! Ask for recommendations, but everything my group ordered was fantastic! From ravioli, to pizza, to cannoli, lemon cake, and terra misuse- all amazing! It feels like they allowed us into their Italian home. We sat beside a table of regulars and it was awesome to see the camaraderie.

What a gem. Always passed it by and always wanted to try it out. So glad we did!!! Made a reservation for table for 4 few days before we went there. It was Friday night. I re called the day itself to confirm and then called again to say we were 30min late. They were so friendly and polite over the phone to still welcome us eventhough we were running late and this place is fairly small. We arrived and sat outside for 5min as our table was getting ready. They have about 4 tables outside, a good seating of 10 people inside and 10 more people in a small seating upstairs. Inside it felt like an old ancient place but so cozy! Everyone is so welcoming and so Italian :) I speak Italian myself so enjoyed talking to the staff who were making jokes right and left and being so warm to all the clients. Between the 4 of us we shared: - Arang e Fenugn - Fasul e Calamari - Linguini di mare - Ravioli pecorata - Spaghetti Pizzaiola - Aglio Uoglio Everything was so simple but so tasty and delicious. Just like food in Italy. Pastas were amazing and the appetisers like fasul and calamari really stood out! We ended strong with panacota and a slice of the limoncello cake. That limoncello cake though... I can't wait to try this place again. Miss that warm fuzzy feeling of great Italian food and company in such a cozy ambience :) Highly recommend!

I love this place! Haven't been since pre-COVID but finally got a chance to return. I stopped by with my partner without a reservation and was able to get seated for outdoor dining with a short wait time. The menu has dwindled down in size and I'm sure you'll be able to find something. I ordered the Pasta Nera Amalfitana - squid ink linguine with seafood - and it was sooooo good! My partner ordered the Maccheronata al Forno and that was super tasty as well. We also got the caesar salad, some wine, and white sangria. Finished our dinner with a shot of limoncello. Def check this place out!

Hannah Kemp

one of the best dining experiences of my life! felt like we were dining in the owners home. people stopping off the street to say hello and give hugs. it’s so obvious how much the neighborhood and community love them and this restaurant. the spaghetti and pistachio ricotta cake which were the best we’ve ever had and we did not want to leave when dinner was over. thank you, Mario and Stephanie!

Tom B.

Another fantastic dinner at Cafe Macaroni last night. Probably the fourth or fifth visit for me over 15 years, and each time I recall thinking, "It's been too long!" I gotta stop doing this to myself! This restaurant is a favorite! The service provides an authentic family vibe, as the staff/owners are determined to ensure your good time as if you're guests in their home. We had two seafood appetizers (clams/mussels in tomato sauce and a dish of lovely mild anchovies) to start. Entrees, we also opted for seafood options, one accompanied by a perfect risotto, the other a sublime snapper alla puttanesca. The soup of the day was a divine Italian bean soup (vegetarian) that featured incredible flavors, leaving us all oohing and ahhing in delight. A feast like that demands a sweet finish, and the Tiramisu sent us off into the night smiling. Now I need to return in months...not years!

Sam Breach

After walking through FiDi, Barbary Coast and the entire North Beach looking for just the right place to eat, we finally settled on Caffe Macaroni run by a husband and wife team for over 30 years. This is old school, it’s simple and tiny (we had to sit on the sidewalk). The menu is focused with a solid set of specials and the food was spot on. A fennel orange salad was bright, juicy and salty. A piece of sole over a bed of caponata was perfection. Bread with a garlicky dip was generous. Service was warm and personable and thankfully they were able to provide the tangible version of the menu on request so we didn’t have to view by phone . Prosecco could have been a touch colder for my tastes but all round - this was a dinner that surpassed our expectations and that we thoroughly enjoyed.

Cole Crossen

We really enjoyed this spot. After walking by it many times we finally stopped in for dinner. The food is closer to what you would get in Italy than the normal Italian-American eateries in North Beach. Get one of the seafood pastas and a glass of wine. A taste of Napoli in North Beach.

Eddie Cotillon

Mario and Stephanie are the Owners of this Italian Restaurant. "Love Them"! A must visit with Superb Dining and Excellent Service! "When Mr. Coppola periodically comes out to eat here down the block from his place, you know they are doing something right!"

Suzanne Pech

We loved everything about Caffè Macaroni - it is the cutest little restaurant with tons of charm, the service from Mario was perfect, and everything we ate was delicious. The tiramisu was the best we've had, and every entree felt fresh, delicious, and hearty. This feels like a hidden gem and we will definitely be back.

Jack

Awesome!!! Everything was sosososo good! Love the owner of the restaurant < food taste are super tasty and delicious 😬 Wine have a lot of choices ~

Austen

What a romantic little Italian spot! All in all we couldn't have asked for a nicer dinner experience. The wait staff were so friendly and the food was delicious. A distinctly different vibe from some of the more gimmicky/American style restaurants in the area.

Cari Carter

This restaurant hit it out of the park for me. It is a small place, so reservations are recommended. There are so many delicious options to choose from, including a specials menu for the night we were there. The service was a gentleman and his wife, both of whom were very charming and fun to talk with. I got an octopus spaghetti (I cannot remember the actual Italian name). It was rich and flavorful with just a hint at spice. My husband had squid ink pasta with clans, muscles, and other seafood. His was creamy and fresh and was seasoned perfectly. Generous portion sizes, along with the bread (included) and wine (order by the glass or bottle) it was a perfect meal. I cannot wait to go back when we are in San Francisco again. (Our pictures don't do it justice since they were taken art the end of the meal)

Anny Z Chan

They're nice with people. The place is quite small but good and relaxing. Food is good. Their meatballs are really huge! I love their ravioli :) it seems like is not enough but I feel stuffed. They also serve sliced bread with something that looks like oil with chopped garlic, parsley and maybe chili. Really good. I'm sorry for the picture of the bread. I was hungry and ate almost all of it...

Cole

The linguini di mare and the pappardelle special were the most delicious pastas I’ve had in North Beach. Incredible and authentic experience.

Martin Landgreve

If you’re searching for a local, cozy and authentic restaurant with a warm welcome and a great service, this is the place! I’ve travelled the world, and rarely do you find such an authentic spot. The cutest family run Italian restaurant. Before I been sat down I was welcomed with a glass of red wine, greeted with smiles and offered delicious specials from the menu. I felt like I was back in Italy for a moment. The burrata and the chicken Parm was insanely good and I was treated with a limoncello to top it all off. Wow. On a cold evening, this place was full of warmth. 10 stars if I could!

Elizabeth Silvers

I had the best panna cotta of my life tonight! We had such a special dinner, every dish was delicious, perfectly al dente pasta, moist and flaky sole, the freshest heirloom tomatoes in the insalata di caprese, cozy and authentic environment…I will be back!!

Jules C

The food was delicious and the people were great! Ask for recommendations, but everything my group ordered was fantastic! From ravioli, to pizza, to cannoli, lemon cake, and terra misuse- all amazing! It feels like they allowed us into their Italian home. We sat beside a table of regulars and it was awesome to see the camaraderie.

Heliana Mano

What a gem. Always passed it by and always wanted to try it out. So glad we did!!! Made a reservation for table for 4 few days before we went there. It was Friday night. I re called the day itself to confirm and then called again to say we were 30min late. They were so friendly and polite over the phone to still welcome us eventhough we were running late and this place is fairly small. We arrived and sat outside for 5min as our table was getting ready. They have about 4 tables outside, a good seating of 10 people inside and 10 more people in a small seating upstairs. Inside it felt like an old ancient place but so cozy! Everyone is so welcoming and so Italian :) I speak Italian myself so enjoyed talking to the staff who were making jokes right and left and being so warm to all the clients. Between the 4 of us we shared: - Arang e Fenugn - Fasul e Calamari - Linguini di mare - Ravioli pecorata - Spaghetti Pizzaiola - Aglio Uoglio Everything was so simple but so tasty and delicious. Just like food in Italy. Pastas were amazing and the appetisers like fasul and calamari really stood out! We ended strong with panacota and a slice of the limoncello cake. That limoncello cake though... I can't wait to try this place again. Miss that warm fuzzy feeling of great Italian food and company in such a cozy ambience :) Highly recommend!

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.

I only wish I had more stars to give. Last week my wife and I went to San Francisco for a business trip. Unfortunately it coincided with her birthday, so after a day of meetings all we wanted was a nice dinner to celebrate. We wandered into this amazing restaurant by chance. The food was spectacular, but that was only a small portion of the experience. Mario and his wife Stephanie acted more like friends hosting a dinner party than owners of a restaurant. Stephanie even sat down with us for probably a half hour, chatting about life and toasting with us. When the evening came to an all too soon conclusion, she and Mario waved us down the street as we headed to our hotel with full stomachs and huge smiles on our faces. Top 5 all time dining experience, and we will certainly be returning at the first opportunity!

Jason Dorris

I only wish I had more stars to give. Last week my wife and I went to San Francisco for a business trip. Unfortunately it coincided with her birthday, so after a day of meetings all we wanted was a nice dinner to celebrate. We wandered into this amazing restaurant by chance. The food was spectacular, but that was only a small portion of the experience. Mario and his wife Stephanie acted more like friends hosting a dinner party than owners of a restaurant. Stephanie even sat down with us for probably a half hour, chatting about life and toasting with us. When the evening came to an all too soon conclusion, she and Mario waved us down the street as we headed to our hotel with full stomachs and huge smiles on our faces. Top 5 all time dining experience, and we will certainly be returning at the first opportunity!

Anam H

Love this place. Hidden gem! Mario and Stephanie feel like my long lost friends, always so welcoming! Amazing service. Fresh food. Everything on the menu tastes great and is so balanced! Love the carpaccio and the bread and dip. And love all the pastas. And the panna cotta is amazinggggg.

I actually really enjoyed the main dish here, but there was just a couple things that made me choose 3 vs 4 stars. Ravioli - 4 stars super tasty Table bread - 4 stars really good oil mixture Spaghetti - 4 stars my friends said (but hard to believe it’s better than Berettas on Valencia but i’ll try it next time!) White sangria - 2 stars skip it Red sangria - 3.5 pretty good I’d try it again Tiramisu - 2 stars, frozen in the middle 😑 Even tho I only gave this place 3 stars I would go back and try more things, i think the mains will be worth it!

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.

E T

I actually really enjoyed the main dish here, but there was just a couple things that made me choose 3 vs 4 stars. Ravioli - 4 stars super tasty Table bread - 4 stars really good oil mixture Spaghetti - 4 stars my friends said (but hard to believe it’s better than Berettas on Valencia but i’ll try it next time!) White sangria - 2 stars skip it Red sangria - 3.5 pretty good I’d try it again Tiramisu - 2 stars, frozen in the middle 😑 Even tho I only gave this place 3 stars I would go back and try more things, i think the mains will be worth it!

Sayana

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.

One of the worst front-of-house experiences I’ve had in a long time. We booked a reservation in advance, arrived exactly at our scheduled time, and were immediately dismissed. The hostess was openly condescending and made it clear our reservation meant nothing, directing us to wait in line instead — despite the entire point of reserving. It felt chaotic, poorly managed, and unnecessarily hostile. We ended up taking our business at Sai Vietnamese, across the street, where the staff was incredibly warm, respectful, and delivered top-notch food.

Devin Perales

One of the worst front-of-house experiences I’ve had in a long time. We booked a reservation in advance, arrived exactly at our scheduled time, and were immediately dismissed. The hostess was openly condescending and made it clear our reservation meant nothing, directing us to wait in line instead — despite the entire point of reserving. It felt chaotic, poorly managed, and unnecessarily hostile. We ended up taking our business at Sai Vietnamese, across the street, where the staff was incredibly warm, respectful, and delivered top-notch food.