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Delessio Market & Bakery
Categories: Food Bakeries Restaurants Delis Event Planning & Services Caterers Bakeries, Delis, Caterers [Edit]
1695 Market St(between Gough St & Valencia St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
Neighborhoods: Hayes Valley, SOMA
(415) 552-5559
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 7:30 pm
Sat-Sun 9 am - 4:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
390 reviews for Delessio Market & Bakery
Review Highlights
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390 reviews in English
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Review from Ann S.
Everything here tastes amazing! Mouthwatering meals made with local, fresh, organic ingredients. The desserts are deserving of high praises as well.
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Review from Michael M.
San Francisco, CA
So this review is in regard to the horrible experience I had with their catering department. Earlier this month my partner and I decided that we wanted to have a holiday get together with some friends and wanted to have some sandwiches to supplement the food we were already preparing.
I called the the store a day ahead of time to place an order and the person who had picked up the phone had instructed me that i didn't need to call in advance because they can make the sandwiches right there and that all I would need to do was put in an order 30 minutes ahead of time. I thought that was weird - since it was my first time and it was a pretty small order it I might make sense.
The day of the party I went over the location on Broderick Street 7 hours before the party to place the order so I could run some errands while the order was being made. They had no idea what I was talking about and said that all catering orders should be made at the location on Market Street.
We drive to location on Market and let them know what we needed some sandwiches for a party happening in a couple of hours and that we called yesterday and someone had told us we should just show and and order - which obviously wasn't the case. They had told us that their phone system was down and that calls were being transferred over to the Broderick location.
The girl at the counter said she would get a manager to see if they could somehow get our order in because of the confusion and when she shows up she said that orders needed to be placed 24 hours in advance... something we had already tried doing....
After telling us she felt really bad about what happened she said she would check and see if they could pull together our order. Turns out after another 10 minutes of waiting around they didn't have the bread... WTF?!?! You mean to tell me that a sandwich shop can't make our sandwiches because it doesn't have bread?
She said that would comp us for the sandwiches but that didn't happen I was so pissed and irritated that I didnt even want to pay attention anymore as to why this too couldn't happen. Because she felt so bad she said she would issue us a gift certificate and to wait a while she goes and has one made. The manager comes back after a while and tells us to give her our name and number because their gift certificate machine wasn't working.... more time wasted....
We left irritated after having more time wasted with no kind of solution and no sandwiches - we had to scramble to figure out other options even more so since we had waited around there for so long.
She never called. I'm not surprised.
The 1 star is because the sandwiches we bought ourselves during the wait were great. Too bad there was no follow through on anything else. Very upsetting. -
Review from Jason B.
Cool whip yogurt.
I don't know how else to describe it. Sweetened with honey and a texture that reminded me of cool whip, it was some of the best homemade yogurt ever and went nicely with their house granola.
High price keeps them from a fifth star. Don't let that keep you from trying.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/25/2011
Thai jam shortcake.
Wait. No. Got that all mixed up. This is what happens when you sample too many… Read more »
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7/25/2011
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Review from Jason D.
San Francisco, CA
So a friend of mine HIGHLY recommended going to this place for having the best salad buffet ever in San Francisco. Sadly, I did not find this to be true. After having been spoiled by Fresh Choice Salad Buffet, I have to say that having to pay $10 or more each time I want to reload a plate is just outrageous. Then I noticed that they do specialty ordered cakes. So I ordered one for a birthday party. The design I ordered was a joke. Instead of putting it directly on the round carrot cake I'd ordered, the "Happy Birthday" pattern I'd asked for was put on a slab of rectangular white chocolate which sitting on a circular cake just did not look right at all. For having to pay separately for the cake pattern was bad enough.
Won't be going back anytime soon. -
Review from Eric Robert T.
Hilo, HI
This place intrigues me... always happy to be there, but always feel like I should have received more after I left. Right on Market street and next to Flax... this is where I go for a hot meal ready to eat... organic meats, fancy starches, greeny greens.. and more and more desserts now. Coffee is always freshly brewed and staff seems to be okay. Nice area to sit outside on a hot humid day. Expect to pay at least $10 per person if looking for a fill me up meal. Prices by weight.
50% chance that a panhandler's outside the door when you leave- just fyi. -
Review from Liz M.
Long Beach, CA
True story: I've seriously considered flying from Southern California for a day trip to Delessio Market.
Warm and cozy, this bakery is the stuff of dreams! When I do get the glorious chance to visit DM&B, I leave with a full belly and treats for later. I can't imagine a trip to SF without stopping for a meal and dessert.
DM&B puts the delessio in delessious ... er ... delicious. ;) -
Review from Nina B.
San Francisco, CA
Went here for lunch with my coworkers. While the food is a little pricey ($9.99 for a pounds of food), I was impressed by the diversity of lunch options and by the freshness of the food.
I remember really liking the polenta with tomato dish I tried, the tuscan chicken (which was juicy and very flavorfully seasoned), and the israeli couscous salad. They had both hot dishes and a cold salad bar.
The HIGHLIGHT of my meal, by far, was the miniature root beer float cupcake that I polished my meal off with. It was super moist, and the frosting was absolutely perfect. 100 times better than Mission Minis! -
Review from Kevin T.
I love this place.
It is the perfect example of how eclectic/schizophrenic/scattered SF can be while still managing to somehow bring it all together and send another foodgasm in your direction.
Bakery
Coffeehouse
Buffet
All-in-one.
So whether you're looking to drop by for a cup of coffee, or feel like throwing down a couple plates of food after having an afternoon cocktail (hey don't judge me) this place is guaranteed to have something to hit the spot. -
Review from Ly T.
San Francisco, CA
"What's that? ... A rabanada, Brazilian french toast."
My eyes widen. It looks so good, all covered in cinnamon. I've never seen such a thing!
It surprised me though because I thought it might be crisp all the way thru (like deep fried) but it was only the edges. The inside is super moist and full of flavor.
Lucky for me, I discovered it right before my Brazil trip and my hunt was on while I was there. We scored some as a snack during a hike, but I still prefer Delessio's better ;)
Not to forget, their peanut butter and jelly cupcake is not to be missed. It literally tastes like a PBJ sandwich and really moist as well.
So many baked goodies and great looking food too. Well done, Delessio!! MMMmm -
Review from Jay B.
San Francisco, CA
Ugh - I want to like you more. I loved a good salad bar/buffet with a good selection, which you have. The problem, for me, is the price is a little higher than the quality. I don't know, maybe its me, but I found most the salad items dry and uninspiring. I have certain expectations at $10 a pound. On the plus side, I found the staff to be very helpful and overall getting in and out is quick and efficient. The coffee was decent and the pastries i've tried have been ok. Nothing has been bad but nothing had made me say to myself, "self, lets head to delessio to eat." I haven't given up quite yet but I will probably only stop by if I have a reason to be around that part of market.
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Review from Kasie V.
San Francisco, CA
I come here at least once a week as it is close to my work. It's just a fantastic place to grab lunch. Something for everyone.
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Review from Del C.
Irvine, CA
Lavazza coffee. That coffee alone gets it 4 stars and the baked good we had kept it at 4 stars. Had the coffee cake and my wife had the blueberry muffin. The only complaint was that we were there kind of late in the morning and if I had to do it over again, I'd ask them to reheat those items. I know they would be better if they were warm. We thought they would have eggs and bacon and all that, but this is really a bakery.
They also have a food buffett/bar area in the middle that have hot foods as well as salads. We didn't try it, but on visual alone, it seemed like it would be good. They charge by weight for that kind of food, but I don't know if it's expensive.
If you're in a rush in the morning in this area and just want a muffin, this is your spot. Great coffee, good baked goods. Nothing better in the morning. -
Review from Linda n.
Sacramento, CA
My boyfriend had to use the bathroom and this place was the only place near us with a public bathroom.
I was excited to see that it was a grocery store with a bakery. Key word BAKERY. I love any and everything that is sweet. I stood at the display counter for quite some time but no one helped me. I had to find the guy behind the counter to help me (he looked like he was hiding from me). LOL
I decided to go for the Chocolate Caramel Tartlet which was $3.95 and I got a sprite for my bf. The tart was pretty good but uber sweet. Even for me! The crust tasted like it was store bought and not home made. It was okay but I don't think I will be coming back. -
Review from Ally L.
San Francisco, CA
9.99/LB of food, self-serve. Quite expensive... you can be walking out the door spending over $12 if you don't know what you're doing. Then you'll wonder, WHAT? I just ate a over a pound of food?!?! I wish they had better to-go boxes with dividers or something. Anyway, their mac&cheese and thai chicken is pretty tasty.
I haven't tried their coffee, desserts and pastries yet, but i sOooo want to. -
Review from Emily D.
Just moved in around the corner, went here for lunch yesterday (mac and cheese was better than I remember, and their chicken was great) and then I went here again for breakfast this morning.
Their croissant was the perfect size, super buttery, and extremely flaky. LOVE.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/18/2011
Its like that one night I had in college where I stopped a party and was like "Wait, I have… Read more »
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4/18/2011
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Review from Chad S.
San Francisco, CA
Such a good salad bar, complete with cous cous, meatloaf, Thai chicken, and salads. Pricey but delicious.
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Review from Mindy H.
Oakland, CA
Dear Lemon Poppyseed Muffin from Delessios,
You are the reason for waking me up from my no-Yelp-writing slumber. A coworker of mine shared with me a piece of your deliciousness and I immediately thought "OMG I MUST YELP". Its SO good. Lemon Poppyseed muffin, how are you so perfectly moist? I cut into you and nothing crumbles, not your sugar topping, not your crust sides, nothing. And your lemony custard filling: *moan* MY GAWD. It must be what the clouds of Heaven taste like; creamy and sweet with the right amt of tartiness. Its just so perfect.
I'm going to make it my personal mission to make you onto 7x7's 100 things you must try in SF before you die. I'm not going to lie...I have no idea how that process works, but I'll figure it out. Move over Morning Bun from Tartine! (okay, i cant really say this muffin is better because I havent actually had the morning bun yet. lol)
I know, I know, your friend the Rabanada is pretty popular and you feel it deserves the spot much more than you. But the Rabanada is far too decadent to be loved by everyone. (ie, Me). And I know there is wonderful hot items that are served later on the day that deserves equal praise, but LPM, they are definitely not as wonderful as you.
Thank you, LPM, for making my gloomy, rainy, freezing workday brighter.
Until next time,
XOXO
M -
Review from Johny X.
San Francisco, CA
This is my ideal Saturday afternoon lunch spot. Buffet style gourmet comfort food and salad that is priced by weight.
A big lunch kills my energy so I love to hear over for a light bite, typically a small salad and some mac and cheese or turkey, and a water. It's quick and you can leave with an awesome dessert (great dark chocolate brownies, morning buns, tarts etc.).
For some insane reason, they close at something like 5pm or I would hit them up more often for dinner. It's a bit expensive as well. -
Review from Annette H.
San Francisco, CA
If you go to the restaurant, either one, the food is great. Attitude - well not great.
Twice now we have used them for catering and twice they were late. The last one was a $3,000+ order and you would think they would make every effort to get it here on time since they were late last time. I think they need to take a look at their catering operation and change staff or drop the catering section. -
Review from Richa A.
I think this place is a great option if you prefer home-cooked meals but don't have the time to prepare them yourself. The self-serve lunch area was nice in that I could try a bunch of different things and keep the meal balanced. I liked most of what I put on my plate (except the cauliflower), but I definitely did not feel full afterward and paid about $8 or $9. It's $10/lb so choose wisely!
The desserts did look delicious though, so I will definitely be trying one of those next time. -
Review from J T.
Redwood City, CA
Went here for the first time today, cos it called to me as I drove by.
I had the chocolate carmel tart and my girlfriend had a rabanada.All I can say is WOW!!! Delicious! All washed down with my favourite Italian coffee Lavazza! Can it get any better? YES! Ice cream!
You have to stop and buy! -
Review from Art A.
San Francisco, CA
Grabbed a quick bite here yesterday and was pleasantly surprised.
The meatloaf was delicious, and how can you go wrong with mashed potatoes w/cheese or mac and cheese? Hah. What?! I was having a comfort food moment.
Yum! -
Review from Vira P.
I went here after eating at Absinthe. My friends and I weren't particularly tantalized by their dessert menu. So with their fancy phones, they found DeLessio not far away from where we were in Hayes Valley.
And I'm so glad they found this place!
The food looked so delicious! Everything smelled so homemade. But since I had just eaten, I went straight to the dessert counter and had their tres leches cake which was just a party in my mouth. I am definitely coming back here again to try out their entrees. -
Review from Cherylynn N.
San Francisco, CA
Some things happen for a reason...
For instance, if someone didn't steal the communal knife at work, I wouldn't have ever set foot into Delessio Market & Bakery.
Ever since I jumped back on the Health Kick Bandwagon (Day 3), I vowed to bring lunch everyday b/c there's only unhealthy food options aka Asian Fast food joints and Donut shops nearby work. So quite naturally, I was pissed when I went into the kitchen and found that the knife was missing. There was no way I could prepare my lunch w/o it, so Yelp came to the rescue once again. I was looking for salads (not the pre-made ones w/ wilted brown lettuce edges) and was led to DM&B which I had passed by on numerous occasions (near Zuni's).
DM&B has a Salad Bar Station, Hot Food Station and a Bakery Section.
1) SALAD BAR ($9.99/lb):
*Raw Spinach
*Mixed Greens
*Shredded Chicken
*Chopped Hardboiled Eggs
*Cherry Tomatoes
*Beets
*Cucumbers
*Carrots
*Feta cheese
*Prepared Salads: Quinoa, Macaroni, and Potato
*Three House made Dressings: Ranch, Caesar, and Garlic Cilantro. You get to place the dressing in a 6 oz. to-go cup that's not added to the $9.99/lb cost.
2) HOT FOOD ($9.99/lb):
*Roast Chicken
*Grilled Thai Chicken
*BBQ Pork Ribs
*Meatloaf
*Mac and Cheese
*Roasted Zucchini
*Roasted Cauliflower
*Grilled Broccoli
*Rice Pilaf
*Beans
As a side note, DM&B has one of the freshest salad bar and hot food station I've ever seen. The beets, carrots, and cucumbers are soaked in water to prevent them from drying out. The chicken, pork, and meatloaf looked freshly made as it looked juicy and moist (mind you, I came in after 1 PM).
3) BAKERY:
*Chocolate
*Cookies
*Brownies
*Pastries
*French Toast
*Mini Cupcakes
*Cakes
FOOD:
I got a mixed green salad w/ shredded chicken, beets, cucumbers, and chopped eggs. The mixed greens were fresh and crisp, along w/ the other veggies. The chicken was tender and well-seasoned. I opted for the cilantro garlic dressing that was fresh, vibrant, garlicky w/ just the right amount of citrus tang.
I also got a small piece of the following:
*Meat Loaf: OMG--SO GOOD! The meatloaf (beef/pork) was tender, moist, and very flavorful. The tomato sauce was deliciously savory and sweet w/ a nice kick. Probably, not SB Phase 1 approved (b/c of the sauce), but one bite can't hurt. :X
*Roast Chicken: One of the BEST roast chickens I've ever had! The crisp skin was sprinkled w/ rosemary and black pepper which gave it a woody flavor w/ a mild spice. The meat was amazingly tender, moist, and was very flavorful w/ a hint of garlic.
SERVICE:
Although DM&B is more of a self-serve type of establishment, it is nice to be acknowledged when you say "Hi" to someone. The cashier (the female w/ short wavy shoulder-length hair) seemed very cold and as if, she didn't want to be there.
AMBIANCE:
DM&B is more of a to-go place; however, if you want to get away from the office and eat on the premises, there are several small tables surrounding the food stations and several tables outside in the patio.
PARKING:
Metered parking and 2 hour parking on Gough which is difficult to get on weekdays.
I think I found my new favorite lunch spot in Hayes Valley and I have the Knife Klepto at work to thank! -
Review from Rose A.
The colorful exterior invites you in and the intoxicating aroma keeps you inside. The Tres Leche Square is delicious goodness - the meringue and strawberries are the perfect addition. The Oven Roasted Fig Tart is edible heaven. I didn't care much for the Flaming Velvet cupcake but The Elvis and the Lemon Sunshine are the ones to get.
But if you only decide to get just one thing, you MUST get a Rabanada...maybe 2 (I won't judge if you get 3)! So, Rabanada is Brazilian French Toast. It is a baguette soaked in condensed milk, fried to crunchy-on-the-outside-yet-moist-and-gooey-on-the- inside perfection and then rolled in...wait for it...cinnamon sugar. It is truly an amazing thing! I sadly made the mistake of buying just one and still had to share it with my husband and daughter.
I can't wait to go back and try other items... -
Review from Gary Y.
Summary: Good interesting selection of baked goods and a bar with hot foods. A bit dark inside.
Stopped by to try this out. Had a rabanada (Brazilian French toast - bread soaked in sweet milk, deep fried, then coated w/ sugar). As one might expect given what it was, it was really good.
Hot bar had a decent selection. I think it was $10/lb.
Was dark inside - functional but not the best place to relax.
Will stop by the next time I'm in the area to try the other foods. -
Review from Celeste B.
San Jose, CA
Really yummy cold and hot food bar- just $9.99 per pound. I had the veggie lasagna (butternut squash infused, OMG), mac and cheese, brown sugared carrots, and some plain cucumber and carrots.
This place is small but it was quiet and the staff didn't seem to mind the toddler or the big boy running around. Totally appreciated that!
And you have to try the brownie bites. They are sinfully decadent and delicious. -
Review from Loraine G.
San Francisco, CA
I got a new job nearby and have been seeking a tasty lunch place. I've tried espresso drinks and a sandwich here, but hadn't yet gotten to try the salad/hot food bars since they seemed a little pricy. Before today, I was still in the process of deciding if this might be a regular spot...
BUT....today as I was perusing the soup selection, what do I see on the buffet counter right next to the soup??? A COCKROACH, moderately sized, right out in the open during the lunch rush! This could mean a couple of things...perhaps this is one lonely brave little insect that happened to venture out of hiding to sample the delicious-looking fare? OR, more likely, there is some kind of big-time infestation at this joint to see a cockroach this size in the light of day with all kinds of people around. I understand, this kind of thing happens, but watching this bug scamper back into hiding under the soup warmer when my friend approached it was just TOO much.
Deal breaker. -
Review from Joyce C.
San Francisco, CA
For catering, this place appears to be run by people with two left feet on their hands. We ordered appetizers and a birthday cake for delivery for a party. They've called us at least 6 times in the last week to constantly rearrange the delivery time to fit THEIR schedules. And they still were late by almost an hour (for a time they set). AND THEY FORGOT THE BIRTHDAY CAKE (they thought it was to be picked up....THAT MAKES SENSE). Now they have go back to get it and we have to wait another hour on top of the hour they were already late for them to show up. This is not rocket science people. I really wanted to like you but you function like a high school-level project. Actually, I know some pretty smart high school students so I take that back.
So in the end, people did like the food. What a shame that the service was so complicated. -
Review from Jo V.
San Francisco, CA
My stubborn butt insisted that the boyfriend and I make a trip to Flax for some supply re-stocking and we had come here on empty stomachs. Before even going into the store we noticed the brightly colored fence surrounding what we soon discovered as Delessio! Boyfriend decided to check it out while I did my shopping and when he came back he reported, "They have a bunch of pre-made sandwiches and there's a buffet - which we are doing - with some yummy lookin' mac and cheese over there."
I quickly finished my shopping and our skipped breakfast/brunch hungry butts headed on over.
We were greeted with a friendly 'hello' from the person manning the registers as we headed in, grabbed a plate and started piling on the food. I don't entirely remember everything I tried because I was just so hungry I confess to ignoring the signs saying what the food was and just went for what looked good or good enough to try. My most positive comments go towards the Thai Chicken, Meat Loaf, Salted Caramel mini cupcake, and breakfast cupcake. The Thai chicken was just delish, not dry at all. The meat loaf was tender and had the right amount of sauce in ratio to the meat, the salted caramel mini cupcake was just plain yummy, and I was skeptical about the breakfast mini cupcake but it really tasted like breakfast in a cupcake!! (i believe it was maple pancake with butterscotch icing and an itty bitty bacon slice on top).
The rest of the food was pretty good - bonus points for how good it was because EVERYTHING tastes better when you're hungry. And in combination with an iced tea, I was stuffed and satisfied for the next few hours.
I also want to mention that the staff was friendly, the setting was very urban and fitting for SF plus the fact that it was next to FLAX - the location just added to the place's personality. I come to FLAX often enough for supply loading so I definitely guarantee that I will be back at this place with every visit to the area - like a combo trip. -
Review from Jeanette S.
Berkeley, CA
Wow .. my friend had a cake from here for her birthday. I don't even know what it's called, but it's chocolatey, and has this big circle of chocolate slab on top that doesn't really taste like chocolate and is kind of like a biscuit.
Wow that was a bad description. But it's the best I can give.
It was good though! So delicious, so sweet yet chocolatey and fresh! -
Review from Dave F.
San Francisco, CA
I ordered a birthday cake for my GF from DeLessio, and had it delivered to a local hotel for a birthday surprise.
The hotel was amazing - they gave us a comped bottle of champagne on ice, and presented it beautifully as soon as we checked in. For free. But, I digress.
The cake? No less than stellar. We got the Mini Triple Chocolate Mousse (serves 4) cake, and I'll say this: it was a chocolatey orgy of goodness that exploded as soon as it touched your tongue, which has ruined my tastebuds on chocolate forevermore.
It was pricey (not the Cake, but the delivery fee), but well worth it. 6 stars out of 5. -
Review from Monica R.
San Francisco, CA
Long story short... Terrible customer service-- in the afternoons anyway. And don't go in here if you're on a tight schedule. Even though they have food to go, you will be hard pressed for someone working behind the counter to awknowledge you. I really should have stolen this food after being ignored by the employees while obviously at the register waiting to pay. I have been working near here for years and hardly ever go in there and now I will NEVER return. Not worth my time nor money. Try Arlequin cafe on Hayes and Gough instead. They are friendly, just as delicious, and no bums stand outside asking you for money.
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Review from Susan D.
Tasty desserts and a great food bar. Thank-you for being open on Christmas Eve!
See ya there! -
Review from Ms. Krish d.
Los Angeles, CA
I went in the other day and something was amiss. The food hasn't been as yummy as I remember since the last time I came in during the holidays and the customer service ranked.
I used to come in for the bubble wrap chocolate and mini cupcakes but they didn't taste the same and the place was a hot mess.
I asked the people what happened to the food and why it tastes different and one of the staff members confided that their star pastry chef (the one responsible for the bulk of this location's 4&5 star reviews) was let go and was the last remaining chef to know all the Delessio recipes.
Whoever made that decision is an idiot and I will take my business elsewhere. So should you. -
Review from Sophie P.
San Francisco, CA
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Review from R M.
San Francisco, CA
Yeah, I paid $10 for a sandwich here and I don't have a job!
Ladies and Gentlemen THAT is how good the sandwiches are.
Couple of other insider notes:
1. As previously discussed it is a little pricey but, worth it especially if you have the company card with you (tear comes to eye as I relive glory days of being employed)
2. If you need an amazingly beautiful cake (for people who don't eat much) you can get them here. They are stunning and reasonably priced for what you get.
3. Miniature decadent gourmet cupcakes! This is my go-to for pot lucks. So, if you are on the same e-vite as me and you're thinking of popping by for these ---step off.
I get so much praise and adulation when I roll into a party with a couple dozen of these bad boys, I feel like a porn princess in a sea of Amish people. ...Amish people who really like chocolate. -
Review from Jason B.
Atlanta, GA
I've been to Delessio Market & Bakery 2 times now; both times I enjoyed the variety of dishes and desserts. Both visits ended up with me running to the nearest bathroom. The first time I ate here I thought, no it can't be Delessio. The second visit proved that it wasn't a fluke.
Delessio is a little on the pricey side for lunch, and its pay by the pound. I recommend buying a sandwich and staying away from the buffet unless you have an iron stomach. -
Review from Toro E.
San Francisco, CA
Anything chocolate here is very good!
Their pay-by-weight hot food and salad bar is pretty good. I wasn't impressed by their pre-made sandwiches (high gourmet price tag), which was wet from oily dressing when I unwrapped it.
TIP: Cafe does not have parking, but there are several opportunities to take risks on restricted parking, like Community College parking lot in the back or business next to the cafe, which might work for a quick pickup and go. (Note: Don't blame Toro E. if your vehicle is towed.)Listed in: The most addictive sweets…
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Review from Ed U.
There are sights of rare beauty deserving of a moment of silence. The Taj Mahal at noon. The Grand Canyon at sunset. DeLessio's bowl of baked mac-and-cheese (with that nice crust just cracked) anytime.
DeLessio is one of those cozy Parisian-looking places I know is there but hardly ever frequent. My loss. It's really quite a jewel with mounds of good-looking food on their two main serving tables. It gets buzzing at breakfast and lunch, and the traffic flows can get frustrating as it's a bit of a squeeze to get around with people holding onto their food-piled plates, but conquering your navigational phobia is worth it for the delectables found here. I just came here yesterday to sample the hot food table where they charge $7.95 per pound. It may seem expensive or cheap depending on how hungry you are, but it is amazing how much you can pile on.
As for me, I got a hefty slice of their tarragon-rubbed pork (quite tender even with the gristle), an even heftier dollop of their legendary mac-and-cheese (a bit oversalted that day), a few charred broccoli florets (perfectly crunchy) and a few slices of zucchini (a tad oily) - all for about $8.50. On other occasions, I've had their sandwiches which are in the $6.95 range...the Cuban Ham on pressed focaccia, the Muffuletta with salami, ham, mortadella, provolone and swiss. Solid, hearty stuff. On other occasions, I've also had a bite of the German Chocolate cake and the infamous Lemon Decadence. OK, maybe two bites. OK I sucked them up.
Grabbing an available table can be Manhattan-level intense. They do have a nice patio in front but alas, no heater on a brisk day. One of the highlights is going to the restroom. Seriously. Not the restroom itself, which is perfectly fine, but the sous-chefs at all the prep areas making the incredible culinary concoctions for their bakery and catering service.
FOOD - 4 stars...gourmet mac-n-cheese...enough said
AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...like a Parisian patisserie et butcherie...(goes into Maurice Chevalier impersonation)
SERVICE - 3.5 stars...they weigh the food with smiles on their faces
OVERALL - 4 stars...a little higher-priced for a regular eatery but a great once-in-a-while place
