Reviews

Down home Italian cooking and atmosphere make this a fun dining experience. Creative selections and authentic feel. Not fancy, but quaint.

An absolute gem for Italian food at 59 Columbus Avenue with friendly guests and servers. Just order what’s ever on special. Our son has been here 3 times on business and insisted we return. We ended up having a long conversation with the folks at the two adjacent tables – it is a very small place. The food was awesome – Linguini Puttanesca, Pappardelle with Pork Ragu, Roasted Branzino filleted by the owner. Lots of good vegetarian dishes as well. The owner has a strong and reasonably priced Italian wine list – we had a Barbera Di Asti and a Falanghina that were quite good. Try this one – you will be pleased! Walk two blocks to City Lights Bookstore for some poetry afterwards.

So, after spending several days in Napa (and you've ALL heard how wonderful the food is there. ..) we decided to slide down to San Fran for a few days of shopping. THIS is a restaurant NOT TO BE MISSED! Mario and his wife, Stephanie, are old-school hospitable restauranteurs!! Go early, drink late; take friends!!!

Fun place, good food, cozy space, farther from the hustle and bustle of North Beach. Recommend calling ahead for table or be prepared to wait.

Yes, this place is tiny. Room for about eight people, all sitting so close you're bound to wind up talking to your neighbours (I think there was also seating upstairs, maybe, but I'm not sure). Anyway, this place reminded me of being in Italy, the staff and food were the real deal. Gracious and boisterous. They have a small menu, but about 10 dishes on special. I recommend ordering off menu. We got a lamb ragu pasta dish that was to die for, and a couple of glasses of wine (the couple next to us brought their own bottle). Loved the food so much, our host brought me extra bread so I could mop up every last bit of sauce.

Very similar to family-run trattoria you would find in Italy. Small establishment: tall folk will have to mind the low ceiling upstairs. Rather loud. Wonderful service from delightfully genuine people. Have eaten here almost annually when I visit the city, and have never once been disappointed; the specials are particularly good.

This place is old school. Friendly Italian-speaking wait staff, always ready with a joke or a little more "vino". These guys serve REAL mozarella with the caprese, not the rubber for sale in many American restaurants and supermarkets. Also great plates of authentic pasta and an excellent tiramisu.

found this cozy, little restaurant by chance and it was fabulous. pasta dishes were fresh and sauces full of flavor. chef was right around the corner from our table and happy to take special requests. everyone else in the place seemed to be a regular or at least returning customer, but we were treated as much as part of the family as they. seating inside or out.

This restaurant is a hole in the wall in the hole in the wall. Tiniest place I’ve ever eaten in, but so very, very good. We nearly passed by after reading the limited menu, but were delighted when our waiter listed off a huge list of specials. We ordered cheese filled ravioli in a delicious red sauce and one of the day’s specials - an amazing pappardelle with pumpkin and a meat ragout. We snuggled on the well-worn red vinyl and delighted in our choices. Tip – might as well order a bottle of wine ‘cause you’re gonna want to sit an sip more than one glass while listening to the chefs and waiters banter back and forth in Italian.

A friend who lives in San Fransisco recommended this place as a great introduction to the city and a great place to have a casual and fantastic meal. What a find! The food was great, the wine was good and reasonably priced, but the thing which makes this place a must do is Michael! He is a waiter to put all waiters to shame with his attentiveness, his flamboyant, over the top customer centered approach, and his hilarious nature. He elevated the meal from great, to one of the most memorable parts of my entire trip. Thank you Caffe Macaroni - you made my trip!

I was out in San Fran for business and decided to stay the weekend and have a mini vacation. We had driven up to the Muir Woods and on our way back down decided to stop for some Italian. This was a random choice selected off of trip advisor. The restaurant is tiny (at least the area on the first level) this is where we were seated. Later I saw there was additional seating up a small set of stairs but I have no idea how small or large it may be. The staff was friendly and very helpful. We asked about a few items and were advised of the specials. All the food was wonderful. We ordered one special that was a seafood dish with a variety of things in it and a pasta dish with gorgonzola sauce. I believe they were both specials. We also shared the burrata salad....yummmm!! I would absolutely head back here for dinner

Nice little place with North Beach atmosphere. Good service and Downhome food. Worth the visit. Excellent pasta

This restaurant is like something you see in the movies. One of those "I found this place, just walking by.." Seating for 10 in front, really small, no room between, sat next to locals who advised us on dessert. Lemon cake, the best. Also told us, if not on menu, they'll make it for you. (Not desserts, other stuff.) Had the waiter order for me, just cannot begin to describe how good the food or the moment was. Perfect, perfect, perfect.

I loved this place! Great food, great atmosphere, great people! I highly recommend this place if you love authentic delicious Italian food.

Unbelievable dinner from family macaroni, I just call like that because when you come there and you open the door you smell in the air the flavors of home , and Mario is the boss of the place (CREATOR) mario make a really funny and. Enjoyable my night , he suggest of me the food spaghetti with baby octopus and nice sangiovese.... So that place I remember old rest of my life... The place really good the food excellent people inside elegant... So no words , I'll be back really soon... Thx MARIO ... TONY FROM LONDON!!! ❤️

I've been all over the world -- Mario has been making unbelievable lunch and dinners for years. If you love fish and pasta, there is no better place. Don't expect fancy, don't expect spacious -- expect extraordinary food at a fair price from the man himself. My wife and I never fail to visit when we are in the city.

As the title of my review states don't be fooled by the name. The owner is Mario who is from Napoli, Italy. They used to have a second location across the street but the owner of the building sold the building so they are back to one location. Caffe Macaroni has been in this spot for almost 30 years if not longer and in San Francisco that is a testament to the great quality of food they make. They are at the front section of North Beach when approaching from the financial district so this is not the busiest part of North Beach. Needles to say they are always crowded and the place is well known. This place gives new meaning to the word small so be prepared for an intimate dinner with strangers but it's always fun. I loved the Tuna Puttanesca when I had it. Absolutely delicious. they also have excellent specials. They bring the board with the written specials to your table and the waiter will answer any of your questions you may have. Also try the Cannelloni with mozzarella. They used to have a dish called rigatoni Calabrese but last time I went it was not on the menu. It was Rigatoni with Sausage and peppers with a marinara sauce. That was my favorite. They would most likely be able to cook you what you want from a previous visit since the menu changes quite often. Mario is really friendly as are the waiters as well.

Was looking forward to a unpretentious Italian restaurant. Made a reservation via Open Table and when we showed up, they didn't ask us our name but escorted us upstairs to a low ceiling garishly decorated second floor. Our table of six was not roomy and it was dark where we were seated. We needed the light from our phones to look at the menus. Ten minutes after seated, no one came upstairs to take our order or bring us water. At that point we decided we would change our table to one that had better lighting. As we started to move, the waiter came up, bringing another patron. And then they turned on the lights. The waiter did have a personality and made the evening fun, but the addition of Gorgonzola cheese to the grilled chicken dish was strange. My husband loved his ravioli and my burrata mozzarella salad was good. There was only one choice for dessert - cannoli' which was good, but another option would have been preferred for the rest of my family. The next night we went to a different Italian restaurant that restored our faith in the small neighborhood restaurants.

The restaurant has been operating in the same location for more than 25 years: testament to the great Italian food they cook up. The manager/owner listed off a lot of daily specials, which we picked many gems from for dinner. We started with the brussel sprouts and buffalo mozzarella cheese with arugula and cherry tomatoes. As someone who detests brusselsprouts with a passion, I have to sheepishly admit that I wolfed these down. They were well cooked and perfectly seasoned. The mozzarella was good as well. I had Pappardelle with a meat and tomato ragout which was very tasty and filling. Finished dinner off with an order of tiramisu, which is one of the best I've had. Definitely go for the specials!

This wasn't just about the great food, this was a great experience. This place is tiny and worth the wait. We were welcomed like family by both wait staff and fellow patrons alike. We made friends with other diners while we waited for our table. They suggested that we just let the waiter bring us his recommendations instead of ordering. So 4 of us shared 2 appetizers, 4 entrees, 2 desserts, and 2 bottles of the house red wine. Appetizers: Calamari, Mussels & Clams (all delicious). Entrees: Shellfish over black pasta, spaghetti with baby octopus (very tender), tuna over linguine puttanesca, and buffalo over mushroom risotto (my personal favorite). All fantastic. Desserts: Tiramisu (good), Limoncello Cake (Amazing). House red wine was perfect. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and so much fun. Everyone in our party absolutely loved this place. We will be back again and again. Come and be adventurous, you will be rewarded!

First, this place is TINY. The food was unusual and excellent, some dishes I've never heard of. The service was excellent and price reasonable. I would give 5 stars except for the blaring schmaltzy music in my ear.

Ambiance- A+ Staff- A+ Service - A+ Food- A+++++++++ Simply divine! I feel like everybody should come here, but at the same time I truly don't wish to share! The food was incredible!!! It was truly cathartic. I went into a food coma of deliciousness and flavor!

We want to this restaurant twice while in San Francisco. It's a tiny restaurant so call ahead for a reservation. Big parties are seated upstairs. It's a snug fit to get a large group in there and tall people should watch their heads due to the low ceiling upstairs. We had eight in our group and I think twelve would be the largest group they can seat together. From appetizers to sea food and pasta, the food is delicious. The pastieri Di grano (sort of a coffee cake type dessert with a barley crust) is to amazing and a must try! Loved this place and will definitely look forward to going back there during next trip to San Francisco.

This place is awesome. It is a small little Italian spot with real Italians making real Italian food. I've lived in Italy for 2 years, and this place is as legit as it comes. We ordered the Ravioli and Carbonara (which is not on the menu - but just ask and they'll make it for you). Both were made to perfection. There aren't many reviews on this place, but don't let that scare you off. You will not regret coming here. I will come again and again.

Caffe Macaroni retains the conviviality and great joy of "going out for dinner" that is too often missing these days. A completely unfussy experience, Mario and his friendly crew make you feel welcome the moment you step in the door, and offer both the contemporary for those who call themselves "foodies," to sublime standards like simple meatballs and spaghetti. This is real Italian, folks. Try it!

Very small, but packs a good punch. The food was good, the service was super friendly (although fairly slow). If you're seated upstairs watch your head as the ceiling height leaves much to desire, but the food does not. I recommend whatever is fresh from the market hat day, there were several choices all which were good.

Living in Denver there are some nice Italian restaurants, but not so many that I would consider "real authentic" other than maybe Cafe Jordano in Lakewood, Colorado. So coming to San Francisco is a real treat when it comes to feeding my Italian food addiction. I read reviews on TA and chose Caffe Macaroni based on the reviews of their meatballs. That may sound silly, but my husband loves meatballs, and I wanted real meatballs, and Caffe Macaroni did not disappoint. I made reservations, and due to a weird Uber experience (a whole different review) we were a little late, which drives me crazy! But it was great, when we got to the restaurant, which is in the heart of San Francisco's Little Italy, we were given a small table outside facing the street. That was fine, it was a lovely evening and we like to people watch anyway. Hubby got what else, meatballs (which were not actually on the menu) and I had a Lamb Ragu with Papardelle. All was lovely. Nice wine, lovely food, and the owner and servers (all Italian) were super friendly and nice. Great meal, a good time!

This has been the worst service I have ever encountered dining out. I had a reservation for 4 at 6:45. While we waited for 2 members of our party to find parking, which is notoriously difficult in North Beach, I politely asked the owner whether we could sit down first since it was a chilly evening and I didn't have a jacket. He had already mentioned at that point that the table was ready and he could seat us as soon as the rest of our party arrived so I thought it wouldn't be a problem. Not only did he refuse, he wouldn't even let us inside. I understand if it's your restaurant's policy to not seat guests until the full party has arrived but to force them to wait outside in the cold and refuse to offer any sort of indoor accommodation -- even if it's just a waiting area -- is appalling. I told him to just cancel our reservation as we were no longer interested in dining there. He then proceeded to chase us outside and tell us how unreasonable we were being. I don't care how good your food is -- that is an unacceptable way to treat your customers, especially coming from the owner.

OMG this place is GOOD GOOD GOOD. Charming, quirky, a bit off the tourist path and divinely delicious. I can't believe we haven't been before, but this is now our go-to Italian restaurant in SF. I won't think of going anywhere else! The dining room is cozy and welcoming. Service was wonderful and the entire staff is a delight. Our meals were TDF and I want to try everything on the menu. Over and over. I had a seafood pasta that was super yummy. My better half had a pumpkin/chicken papardelle that was fantastic. And tiramisu for dessert that was heavenly. Run don't walk to Caffe Macaroni!

Was walking toward North Beach area for Italian food and as I was walking past here I noticed that the presentation of food looked great. Very little spot. 6 little tables outside, maybe 12 inside. Very full at 1PM. Very friendly atmosphere. Almost seems like you are in Italy. Decided to try it. Order a salad and a special, black linguini with clams mussels shrimp octopus and squid. Wanted a glass of wine but couldn't decide. The owner came over and introduced himself, gave me a taste of each. Bread comes with olive oil loaded with garlic. Best I've had. The salad was not special( I ordered basic) but good. The pasta and seafood was one of the best meals I have ever had. Because I usually don't eat like this at lunch I can say that this might have been the best lunch I have ever had. The server was so friendly. The owner was so friendly. As I sat there I realized that almost everyone there was a regular or brought by a regular. Multiple people told me they have lunch there at least once a week. Everyone told me that anything and everything on the menu is great. I was on a business trip and done with my meetings. The weather for sitting outside was perfect. Having a fantastic meal in this location on a beautiful was one of the nicest experiences in my life. Thank-you Café Macaroni!

OMG after traipsing The Streets of San Francisco for hours in Castro Embacadero etc I found somewhere to eat!! A taste of Abruzzo in SF Great bistecca al rugola con pecorino with some nice DOC Castellani montepulciano d'Abruzzo Great settig character which is hard to find in SF You could almost be in Italy Just one thing the dipping oil is vegetable oil not olive oil or de Cecco d'Abruzzo If it wasnt for this I would have given a 5

Went here on a food tour with Explore SF, and the food was amazing. We had pasta puttanesca and it was the best I'd ever had, and I'm an expert! Highly recommended!